The Pain of an Inferior: A Blistering Love Comedy That Begins After a Broken Heart - Chapter 24

Haruka and Shinku are walking side by side on a busy street.

Both of them are silent for a long time, but Haruka has a habit of enjoying the silent space, and he looks somewhat happy.

Occasionally, he looks at the profile of Shinku. Whenever she noticed him, she reminded him to walk forward with a gesture as if she was trying to get rid of him.

“You’re on a social networking site, aren’t you, Claudia-san?”

“Naturally. The number of followers is also a measure of one’s success.”

“Thirty-seven thousand followers! That’s amazing!”

“Don’t look it up!”

As Haruka suddenly said the exact number of her followers, she was convinced that he had put the number in the window while others couldn’t see it. She grabbed Haruka’s shoulders and shook him as if panicked.

There was already a note about the cat café they had visited today. It also showed the picture that Haruka had given to her.

It did not mention Haruka’s name directly, but it did mention the fact that she was on a date with a boy in her class.

“I’m glad. I got the date right.”

“Of course. Otherwise, what’s the point of me going out with you?”

Shinku grabbed Haruka’s and pulled it, telling him not to look at it anymore because she was embarrassed.

He looked up in response and started to walk at his original pace.

“But, I’m honored to have a date with you, Claudia-san”

“You’re just the instigator, you know that!”

“Yes, yes.”

And so they walk again, matching their speed, side by side.

With a soft smile on his mouth, Haruka steals a glance at the expression on Shinku’s face with a side glance, hoping that, little by little, she would recognize his existence.

While looking forward, Shinku opens her mouth.

“…. By the way, I’d like to ask you about Ise-san.”

“What’s wrong with Ria?”

“You know that she has won the first place in the competition against Ember in the past, don’t you?”

“Well…”

The expression on his face was not cheerful as he answered.

It’s called [Ember], a VR online game, a major title.

Basically, players cooperate with each other to conquer the game, but if you become a member of the Dark Forces, you can do Players Kills

Even if you are not a member of the Dark Forces, you can play PvP in tournaments, and Ria has won the first place in a tournament in the past.

In addition to the first place in the tournament, Ria seemed to have a good reputation in Ember. However, it seems that she is not playing anymore, but that is understandable.

“If Ise-san has the talent to win the first place in a major title against others, I think he could use that to raise his citizen rank right away.”

“I know what you mean, but Ria isn’t good at separating the two.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“It’s hard to explain in words, or I’d be speculating, so I can’t say.”

Haruka didn’t mean to sound cold. However, the seriousness of his expression changed from his usual attitude, which made Shinku flinch a little.

Noticing this, Haruka tried to adopt his usual attitude.

“By the way, Claudia-san. Talking about other men on a date, isn’t it bad manners?”

“I’ll knock you down!”

Haruka made fun of her by imitating the ojou-sama’s words.

She lightly patted Haruka’s back while she stared at him with narrowed eyes.

After playing around like this, they arrived at their destination, the clothing mall.

Two thousand stores are lined up in a row in front of them.

Basically, the more highly rated stores are located in the upper floors, far from the ground, and the unknown stores are located in the lower floors near the ground. The stores that do not gain a certain level of reputation within a certain period of time are evicted without any mercy.

Aside from the lower floors, where the unknowns are prevalent, the upper floors are guaranteed to be of high quality.

Even a student can afford to be on the 40th floor or so. As the stores change slightly each time he visits, Haruka gets the list of stores from the guide as usual.

After taking a quick look at a sample of stores, he decides that the 39th floor seems to be a good place to start, and gets into the elevator with Shinku.

They press the “39th floor” button and wait for the elevator to arrive.

“Do you often come here to buy clothes, Claudia-san?”

“Yes. I come with Yunika here often.”

“It would be very picturesque if you two were standing side by side.”

“It’s a nuisance to have strangers staring at us.”

Shinku doesn’t deny it. She was aware that her and Yunika’s appearance attracted people’s attention.

It is natural that they would be the center of attention when they are walking in the city with their shining aura.

They arrived at their destination floor and got off the elevator.

Haruka pointed out a women’s specialty store that had just caught his eyes and asked her if she liked it. She nodded and they entered the store.

The store was called [Council Flying Squadron].

The store was lined with clothes with a unique atmosphere. There were blazers reminiscent of military uniforms, frilly and lacy skirts, and many other types of clothing. The workmanship was good, and the design sense was worthy of the upper class.

“This store looks quite nice, doesn’t it?”

Shinku muttered to herself as she looked around the store.

“Everything looks like it would suit you, Claudia-san.”

“You’re a man who only speaks lightly when he opens his mouth, aren’t you?”

“I’m just being honest.”

Immediately, he pulled the ruffled blouse and black corset that were by his side to Shinku.

“How about this?”

Shinku reads the data from the chip embedded in the dress. A window appears, showing how she would look in these clothes. Since the Talisman has measured her exact size and sent it to her, there is no mistake. However, the actual fit can only be determined by trying it on.

An off-white blouse with ruffles and a Shinku upper body with a brown corset are shown. Combined with her blonde hair, she looks like a doll.

“It looks good on you. Shall I match a skirt appropriately?”

“You’re very into this, aren’t you?”

“I can’t pass up the chance to have you wear something I like.”

Haruka replies while rummaging through the skirts.

“Here and here, preview them.”

Haruka brought a pannier and a beige miniskirt with lots of lace and ruffles to Shinku.

The tip is loaded, and the image of Shinku, which had been showing only the upper half of her body, is zoomed out to show the whole image. Underneath, she was wearing the skirt chosen by Haruka.

It was a steampunk outfit that made her look like a doll.

“It’s not bad at all desu wa.”

“Claudia-san, would you like to try it on?”

“There’s no helping it.”

Taking the clothes in her arms, she went into the fitting room at the back of the room.

In the meantime, Haruka looked for two or three items of clothing that would suit her.

Then, after she had finished changing her clothes, Shinku comes out of the dressing room. She rolls her eyes when she sees that Haruka has prepared several pieces of clothes for her.

Haruka was thrilled to see Shinku after she had changed her clothes. It suited her very well.

He immediately press the “buy” button and present it to her.

Suddenly, a green gift window appears, and Shinku opens her mouth in surprise.

“Huh?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, it just happened.”

“Are you an idiot?”

“It looks great on you, so I hope you’ll wear it as it is.”

“Like today’s date, like this outfit… You’re very good at flushing people out, aren’t you?”

She looks at Haruka with half-lidded eyes. Haruka half-smiles in return and prepares another set of clothes.

“Would you like a preview of this next one?”

“You know, I’m not your dress-up doll…” she says reluctantly.

She seems reluctant, but it seems that she has already decided that she can trust Haruka’s sense of fashion, and she silently looks at the clothes prepared for her.

Feeling freshness from the different body from Yuzurika and Ria, Haruka was excited to find a large number of clothes.

Though she was a bit surprised, she previewed all of them, and sometimes actually tried on the clothes in the fitting room.

Haruka looked around the 39th, 40th, and 41st floors, and was so impressed that he bought a drink without waiting for Shinku’s answer.

The clothes were sent by a delivery drone, and the two walked around the mall empty-handed.

Shinku also sends the clothes she wore on their date with the delivery service, she’s currently wearing the steampunk outfit he gave her.

“Are you sure your wallet is safe after spending so much?”

“No problem at all. I don’t spend much money except for my own fashion.”

“Oh… Thank you very much. For the clothes.”

“Wear it on your date with Shun.”

Haruka imagined Shinku on a date with Shun wearing the clothes he has chosen for her. It feels immoral even though he has nothing to hide.

Haruka leads them to a coffee shop by the mall, and they take a break.

Seeing that Shinku ordered a cup of coffee, Haruka ordered a cup of coffee as well.

“Thank you very much for accompanying me today, Obi-san.”

“Did you enjoy it a little?”

“Yes, well… I had a pretty good time.”

“I’m glad.”

Although she was a little embarrassed, she honestly told him that she had a good time.

Haruka rested his tired feet and took it easy.

As he was doing so, a notification rang. It seems that the Shinku’s LAINE that he had just followed had been updated.

She posted a few pictures of the clothes she tried on that Haruka had chosen, and she wrote in an aggravating manner that her date had chosen the clothes for her.

While conversing with each other, the two of them took time to finish their coffee and watch the sunset through the window of the coffee shop.

It was just before six o’clock in the evening, and they decided to leave the coffee shop.

They left the coffee shop and walked to the station.

It had been warm recently, but it was a little chilly today.

“I’ll walk you home.”

Haruka said, and went home with Shinku.

When they arrived at the station, she took a few steps ahead of Haruka and looked back at him.

“That’s all for now.”

“I see. Well then, thank you.”

“No, it’s my pleasure…”

“Good luck with Shun”

“I’ll make it happen even if you don’t tell me. Then, good day to you.”

Shinku gives a small bow and turns away.

“See you tomorrow.”

Haruka gave a small wave to her as her back is getting farther and farther away.

Shinku responds to the voice of Haruka with a flutter of her left hand.

Seeing this, he couldn’t help but smile.

After seeing her off until she was out of sight, Haruka finally walked his way home.

On the way home, a notification rang.

It seems that the LAIN of Shinku has been updated.

It is a continuation of the previous one.

It says that she had a good time on today’s date. Whether she meant it or not is not clear.

A picture of Shinku from a few hours ago is shown.

It is a picture of smiling Shinku playing with a cat.

Haruka is sure that this expression was genuine, that it left him speechless.

“Truly, she is a beautiful person.”

His little murmur fades away in the distant sunset sky.