Sorry for the late update!
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Chapter 3: Hindrance or Help?
"WHAT?!" cried Momo and Kikumaru in unison which caused Kaidoh and Ryoma to jump in surprise.
"You don't even have something for her? A gift?"asked Kikumaru looking flabbergasted.
"I was planning to buy something on the morning but as I've lost count of the days…"trailed Ryoma. He glanced at his wristwatch: 8:50, he noted with relief. He could still catch the last train.
"What is done is done, Echizen." Momo shook his head. "You should still buy for her."
"Is it really necessary?" Ryoma scratched his head. "I mean I could just buy it one of these days. I don't have time anymore."
Just then Kikumaru yelled a triumphant cry and pointed his finger to a bright building. "Look! The shopping mall is having a midnight sale!" He grabbed Ryoma's arm and started to drag him when Ryoma pulled himself free.
"But Kikumaru-sempai, I'm already late," explained Ryoma.
Momo grinned and locked Ryoma's head between his arms. "So young! So young!" He rumpled Ryoma's hair much to the latter's displeasure at being treated like a child. "Ochibi, a gift would soften any girl's heart."
Kikumaru nodded, jumping enthusiastically to get inside the mall. Kaidoh looked bored. "What a waste of time," said Kaidoh looking uninterested.
"Fine," said Ryoma.
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"And what am I supposed to buy?" asked Ryoma sitting in one of the benches inside. He had just emptied his ATM card and having no idea what to buy, proceeded to counting his money.
"What are Ryuuzaki-chan's favourites?" inquired Momo.
"Er…cooking," said Ryoma as he tried to think. He remembered that he had never asked anything about her preferences. She's always been the one asking him.
"Give her lots of chocolates!" suggested Momo immediately. The thought was already making his mouth water in anticipation.
"…Stuffed toys, I guess,"continued Ryoma as he strained his mind to think.
"A large bear would be perfect like that one!" cried Kikumaru happily as he turned Ryoma around and gestured to a lifesize white bear displayed on a glass window opposite them.
Ryoma suddenly remembered her concern for his Himalayan cat, Karupin. "I think she likes animals too."
Kaidoh jerked his thumb to a pet store at the end of the shopping mall's lobby. Inspite of Kaidoh's not-so-friendly face and attitude, he seemed to have a soft spot for animals.
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"Holy cow! How much did you spend for all those, Ochibi?" asked Momo as he adjusted himself inside the cramped taxi. Ryoma had stubbornly refused to put the things he bought at the compartment and said that his sempais could go in there if they liked.
"More than my allocated budget and its partly your fault," said Ryoma addressing all of them. "Would you please move? The flowers are being squashed, it's going to smell."
Kikumaru and Momo laughed while Kaidoh just snorted trying to hide his laughter.
All in all, he bought a three-foot tall white teddy bear, a large box of chocolates, a bouquet of flowers and a white-gold bracelet, upon Momo's advice which ate a large chunk of his money.
Ryoma glanced at his wristwatch: half past ten. He tried calling her again but it was turned off. He was starting to feel uneasy despite his sempais assurances,
"Don't worry Ochibi. We're only fifteen minutes away from the venue," grinned Kikumaru. "And besides, all sins would be forgiven once she seens all that gifts."
"She woud surely kiss you for that," added Momo with a malicious wink.
Ryoma turned red and he was thankful that the lights inside the cab they were riding weren't turned on.
"Why are you suddenly quiet, Ochibi?" asked Kikumaru. Then, he jabbed his fist in triumph as he came to a sudden conclusion. "Don't tell me that after all these months you guys haven't kissed yet?!"
"Really?!" further inquired Momo incredously. Next he broke into a laugh – not just a fun laugh but a maniacal laugh that Ryoma could never forget. "So young! So young!"
"WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT UP?!" Ryoma shouted. But his voice was drowned by the combined hilarity of his two sempais. He was grateful that Kaidoh didn't join in the jeering but he had a feeling that he was also secretly laughing about him. "SHUT UP!!!!"
