Reading is like other activities: the more effort you put forth and the more skill you possess, the better; but you will only grow in skill as you challenge yourself. This means that you and I must read things that demand something of us. Portions of the book must be difficult to understand, or perhaps difficult to apply. However, when we engage such books, the mind passes from understanding less to understanding more. This takes work, but unless you are reading merely for entertainment, some level of effort is required. I believe that making a habit of reading books is useful for training the mind for critical thought. For this to occur, one must learn how to read well, or skilfully. This doesn't apply to just books but only people.

I like reading because it allows me to relax and live in another world. A mass coming onto the bed disturbed my relaxation.

"Hachi, could we talk for a moment."

Shame, in relationships of other men, usually a girl coming onto the bed to disturb the man, will result in something intimate in nature. Unfortunately neither of us are normal people. I placed my bookmark onto the page and set my book into the nightstand of my side.

"What's up?"

"Its about Yuigahama san."

Oh shit…what now…

"Is everything okay?" I ask in a cautious tone.

"She said that she would be resuming club activities and hope things won't be too awkward between the three of us." Yukino explained.

"Does she know we are living together now? "

"Yes, I told her so. But she does not seem phased as she told me she met someone in her apartment complex during these few months and have gone quite close with him."

"So she moved on? That's good."

"Indeed."

"Well, maybe you two could try to be friends again."

"That's exactly my intention. Since tomorrow is Sunday, would you like to go out with me to buy her a gift each? It could work as an ice breaker of sorts."

"Repairing relationships with a bribe or a gift? Seems like the Yukinoshita way." I teased her.

She pouted then elbowed me on the stomach before lying down next to me and snuggling close.

"You sleeping already?" I asked rhetorically.

"What does it look like?" She retorted with her voice muffled.

"What about the lights outside. In the living room?"

"I'm, in a comfortable position though…" Yukino said slyly.

"Fine. Lazy girl." I kissed her on the back of the head, got off the bed, and went to the living room to turn off the lights. Then it came to me. Jesus, I so became whipped in this last year. I returned to the room laid back onto the bed, turned off the nightstand lights, and laid down.

"I being lazy is your fault. You are rubbing it off to me." She finally replied after I did my labours. I placed my arm around her and whispered into her ear.

"Why, I am glad that my perverted nature is also rubbing off on you."

She squirmed slightly and we went to bed.

Department stores. The world's biggest scam centrals. They dominate the market by flooding with everything you could buy forcing small business's out of business with their cheapo made in china products. The also to mess with us. Using sales as an incitement to make us pay for things albeit at slightly lower price but still gaining a massive profit. I noticed this over and over again with diapers; the department store would display a rack of them with a huge sign above them displaying the price – but it would be the same price I paid for them a week ago. But, Ever noticed how you go to the store to just pick up one thing, then by the time you get back to the checkout aisle, you have five or six things in your cart and a bigger bill than you could have possibly anticipated? This happens repeatedly because department use an array of techniques to get you to pick up these items. Most of the items I go to a department store to buy, like light bulbs and laundry detergent, are located many, many aisles from the entrance. This means I spend my time walking by many consumer goods on my way to find the item I actually want. Since these consumer goods are effectively marketed to me, there is a good likelihood that I will spy something that I do not necessarily need and toss it in the cart. Most department store customers enter the store only intending to buy an item or two, but the shopping carts are right there by the entrance and oh wouldn't it be convenient to have it so I can lean on it a bit while walking around and also put my stuff in it? The cart has a huge bin compared to the size of most items for sale in the store, making it psychologically easy to toss in an item you do not need – after all, there is room for plenty more, right? Stores stock the latest DVD releases and "froth" magazines there, along with overpriced beverages and candy. Why? Because people leaving the store are thirsty, and they are going to be standing in line for a bit, which is the perfect place to hook them with some entertainment options. Look sometime at the arrangement of different choices for a particular product, such as laundry detergent. Almost every time, the most expensive options per unit are placed at eye height, so that you see them first as soon as you enter the aisle. The bulk options and better deals are usually on the bottom shelf. If I am just looking to buy some new socks, I have to traverse through a number of racks full of different types of clothing in the clothing section just to reach them. Why? If my mind is already open to the idea of buying clothing, I would be more likely to look at other clothing items. If you see something in a glass case that has lots of space around it, your gut reaction is to believe that it is valuable and prestigious to own, and for many people it can be attractive like a light to a moth. The truth is that these items typically have tremendous mark-up – you are literally just buying an idea, not a product.

Although I have seen through the scam of the department store, my girlfriend has not and before we even got to Yuigahama's present she has already bought multiply things that are completely useless. Granted forcing me to pay for some using ridiculous excuses.

"Did you really need that Pan san scarf?" I asked her annoyed at the bill I just paid.

"It was on sale and I see no reason to not purchase it."

You mean for me to buy it for you, despite neither of us have full pay jobs and you come from a ridiculously richer family.

"It's April…." I retorted in an annoyed tone.

"I bought it for the graduation trip that we are going together. It's cold in Hokkaido." She defended her shopping choice with a relentless cold voice.

"Fine." I answered her with a sigh, better to shut up than disagree.

Why did I even agree to go there….

I see something that caught my eye that Yuigahama might like.

"I'm getting her this." I said to Yukino. I held up a plush of a dog that reminded me of sable with a pink shirt and hat. Seems cute and stupid. She would like it.

"Sure." Yukino said with a slight shrug.

"What's, with that condescending tone."

"Nothing. It just seems kind of simple."

"Do you expect me to put much thought in a gift for your ex love rival best friend." I teased.

However, honestly. Yuigahama is a close friend of mine too.

"She's not my love rival!" Yukino pouted.

"Yeah, Yeah. Whatever. So what are you getting her. So far, you bought more for yourself than anything else."

"You know my gifting tastes are….abnormal…." She says with a faint flush.

"Well, I enjoyed my present." I teased.

"Please refrain from saying anything of a sexual nature in public."

"I didn't say anything….. Just get her a summer wear or something. Make sure they are bright pink, flashy and something that looks like it belonged to a person with a low IQ and she would surely like it."

Actually a nice and dumb girl like Yuigahama would like anything that people give her…..

"Fine. I will buy her a pair of sunglasses."

Wow, she is easy to manipulate when it comes to buying gifts…

"Good, get anything that rings your bell. You wanna go home now?"

"Sure, but let's drop by the pharmacy and the market. I need to get some female necessities and to buy groceries for dinner."

"Sure. Housewife- san."

"Don't even.." Yukino taunted in an angered and cold tone.

She always felt females should also work and not be stuck at home to take care of kids or be a homemaker. Typical feminist mind-set. I wonder how it ends up for her though.

Next day.

"What are you doing standing outside the door. Go in." I said to the pink haired girl.

"Ah, Hiki. Uh long time…no see huh, Doesn't the air taste nice!?"

"Sigh… You've used that to try and defuse the situation before. It didn't work last time and it's not going to work this time. Let's go."

I said as I opened the door and walked into the clubroom. It has been months since all three of us stood inside this room together.

"Yahallo…Yukinon."

"Good afternoon….Yuigahama san."

I went in and sat in my usual seat.

"Eh, Hikki, Yukinon. Before we go forward. I just want to say I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused." She said and then bent over for a bow.

"It's fine." I said casually.

"Agreed. We are fine." Yukino said with a warm smile.

"Thank you, you two…." Yuigahama says as her eyes slight water up."

"Ah, by the way, Yuigahama, we both got you something as a welcome back present." I said to change the mood.

"Indeed."

Yukino pulled out her gift and so did I and we handed it to Yuigahama.

"Thank you guys…" She said in a touched tone.

"By the way Yuigahama, you told Yukino that you met a guy?"

Better change the topic and to reassure Yukino's potential unconscious insecurities.

"Yeah! He lives in my apartment complex. He goes to a prestigious culinary school!"

"Wow, It seems like you might find a compatible mate that you won't poison to death with your cooking."

"That's so mean Hikki!"

"Although Hachi's words are quite mean, I do have to agree to an extent…"

"Eh, not you too Yukinon…."

We then spent the rest of the session catching up about the things that happened in the last few months when she wasn't here. Maybe genuine friendships also exist after all.