Ugh, this is awkward...
Swimsuits as far as the eye can see... wait, is this even a swimsuit? What's with this string? This has to be out of bounds.
In a swimsuit shop filled with such items, Riran was choosing something with a serious expression.
"Hmm. As expected, a triangle bikini... no, maybe a one-piece type... an off-shoulder one is also nice. I can't decide~"
...She seems to be having fun.
Riran turned toward me, holding several swimsuits in her hands.
"Hey Akito, which one do you prefer? Tell me your tastes!"
"Even if you ask me to expose my fetishes all of a sudden..."
I looked at the swimsuits Riran was holding.
A black triangle bikini, a white monokini, a floral high-neck bikini, a yellow off-shoulder one, and a ruffled one-piece.
Honestly, I thought she would look good in any of them.
The triangle bikini and the off-shoulder one in particular would likely emphasize Riran's proportions.
Personally, I didn't want her wearing anything too revealing in front of other men.
But then again, if I missed this chance, I didn't know when I'd get to see her like that again... I had to choose carefully here.
"Hmm."
"............"
"Gunu-nu-nu..."
"............"
"Fumuuuuu...!"
"...Um, it's embarrassing when you agonize over it that much."
"What are you saying? You're buying a swimsuit to show me. How could I not choose seriously?"
"I'm saying that's what's embarrassing!?"
I got scolded. Riran really doesn't understand a man's heart.
There isn't a man alive who wouldn't be desperate when it comes to seeing the woman he likes in a swimsuit.
"Aren't you going to try them on?"
"No. Even if I did, I wouldn't show you. It's something to look forward to when we go to the beach."
Hmm. In that case... ah.
Instead of the swimsuits Riran was holding, another one caught my eye.
The shape was a bikini.
However, the colors of the top and bottom were different; the top was white and the bottom was black.
Furthermore, the top had ruffles like the tail fins of a goldfish, creating an air of elegance and glamour.
"How about this one?"
"Eh? ...Ah, that might be good..."
It seemed Riran liked it too.
She took the swimsuit in her hands and checked the size and texture.
"...I'll go try this on for a bit. Wait for me."
"Then I'll be outside."
"You can just stay in the store."
"A guy alone in a women's swimsuit shop is a shade of gray that's basically black."
"Muu... I guess it can't be helped. Then let's meet up at the rest area on the same floor."
"Got it."
After parting with Riran, I finally made it out of the shop.
Phew... ah, my mental energy has been shaved away... A women's clothing store is fine, but a swimsuit shop is truly taxing.
Riran will probably take some more time, so I'll go buy a coffee or something... hm?
"...An accessory shop, huh?"
And it wasn't even expensive stuff. Cheap items were a few hundred yen. Even the expensive ones were only a few thousand yen.
Among them, one accessory stood out remarkably.
This... is nice.
"Um, excuse me.—"
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Ten minutes later. Having finished her shopping, Riran arrived at the rest area.
"Akito, sorry for the wait—"
"No, I wasn't waiting. Here, Strawberry milk. I bought it for you."
"! As expected of Akito!"
She sat down next to me and drank the Strawberry milk with relish.
Seriously, she really loves strawberries.
"Ah, that's right. Also, this."
"Hm? What's this?"
"A present. I thought it would suit you, Riran."
"Eh, a present!? For me!?"
She took the small, gift-wrapped box with a full-faced smile.
But in the next instant, she turned a suspicious gaze toward me.
"A sudden present... how suspicious. You didn't do something bad, did you? You aren't cheating on me, are you?"
"I'm not."
I'm not the kind of idiot who would go after other women while dating my fated person.
"There was an accessory shop near the swimsuit shop. One of the items there looked like it would suit you. I bought it without thinking."
"............"
"...What's with that look, like you're seeing something strange?"
"No... I just thought that Akito was actually capable of doing something like a surprise..."
"Yeah, I'm surprised too."
When I thought about wanting to see Riran's happy face, it just happened naturally.
I won't say that, though. It's embarrassing.
"Can I open it?"
"Sure."
Riran carefully peeled off the wrapping and opened the box.
"Ah... earrings?"
"Yeah. They're glasswork earrings made to look like small anemones. For some reason, I felt they would suit you."
Despite being quite detailed, they were apparently treated to be break-resistant.
Riran, with her blonde hair and crimson eyes, wearing red anemone earrings.
The moment I saw them, I knew I had to buy them.
"............"
"...Riran, what's wrong? Do—don't tell me you don't like them?"
"N-No. It's not that... what should I do? I'm so happy I'm at a loss for words..."
"I... I see."
It's kind of embarrassing when she reacts like that...
"...May I put them on?"
"Ah, yeah. Go ahead."
She took out a hand mirror and carefully put them on both ears.
Riran doesn't usually wear accessories... but the earrings added an accent to her glamorous looks, making her even cuter. ...I think.
"How do I look?"
"...Seriously, you're cute. It suits you. I love you."
"Fufu, thank—wait, what are you saying so naturally! A-And in public...!"
Ah, oops. It just came out of my mouth normally.
Riran seemed to really like them, as she kept smiling while looking in the mirror.
I never thought she would be this happy.
But... I'm glad I bought them.