I Was Unreasonably Dumped By My Girlfriend And Had My Heart Broken. When I Rescued A Beautiful Girl Who Was My Former Classmate And Idol In My Class From A Group Of Yarisa, My Gray College Life Started To Shine - Chapter 46

Episode 46: To Use the Couple Discount?

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Hand in hand, it was a precarious situation in a sense.

Finally reaching the clothing store Aoba had her eye on, things seemed to ease up as she let go of my hand… but a new dilemma awaited us.

The store specialized in women’s clothing with a monochrome theme―and somehow, it felt uncomfortable.

I felt like I didn’t belong.

Like oil floating on the surface of a long-cooked pot, I stood out.

As I glanced around nervously, I noticed there was an underwear section within the same store and quickly turned away.

“What’s wrong, Keito-kun?”

Aoba looked at me curiously, which wasn’t surprising.

To anyone else, my actions might have seemed suspicious.

“N-nothing, really.”

I couldn’t exactly say what was on my mind.

Instead, I changed the subject.

“Do you like that outfit?”

“Yeah, it’s a new arrival for spring. Isn’t this black camisole dress cute?”

Aoba lifted the hanger with the dress to her shoulders, holding it against her body.

She seemed confident that it suited her, as her lips curved upward with a hint of self-assurance.

That just made her even cuter and more troubling.

I could only nod in agreement.

Well, to be fair, there were hardly any clothes that didn’t suit Aoba.
With her figure, face, and vibe, she could probably pull off anything. She might even look good in childish prints.

I thought she didn’t need to worry, but Aoba hesitated as she returned the hanger to its place, pondering.

“It’s a bit expensive…”

Even though it was Aoba, as a university student living on an allowance without a part-time job, there was only so much she could do.

Looking at the price tag, it was about the cost of a bill.

Compared to men’s clothing, it was significantly pricier.

I wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Yet Aoba seemed quite shaky, deliberating with an uncertain expression.

“Can you afford it?”

“W-well, sort of. I brought money expecting to shop, so I do have it. And they say things like this won’t be available again if you miss them…”

Ah, she’s the type to spend recklessly.

I thought that to myself, hearing her gulp down her saliva.

“We’re having a promotion right now, up to 50% off!”

A female clerk approached us with this offer.

Normally, I would have a knee-jerk reaction to reject it, but Aoba was different.

“Really?!”

She eagerly leaned forward, her eyes sparkling.

“We have a couple’s discount and a fitting room discount. If you visit as a couple and try on clothes, you’ll get a half-price discount. Are you a couple?”

What kind of discount is that? Wouldn’t it be better not to antagonize singles like this?

As someone who was being presented with this situation by her, I wanted to make a retort, but I held back.

I’m a broke student.

When it comes to money, and especially when it’s a half-price discount, I can come up with any lie.

And since Aoba looked a little flushed and stumbled over her words, I couldn’t say anything.

“Yes, we’re dating. So does that mean it’s okay as long as she tries it on?”

I interjected into the conversation, decisively.

Before, it was embarrassing to pretend to be lovers, but if there was something to gain from it, this was easy.

“Yes, that’s right! Is there anything you’d like to try, miss?”

“P-please…!”

Perhaps Aoba had the same idea.

She reluctantly went along with the charade and headed to the fitting room with a dress in hand.

After waiting for a while, Aoba came out of the fitting room.

“W-what do you think… Keito-kun?”

It gave a different impression from the vibrant dress she was wearing earlier.

The contrast was clear, and the dress with its sharp lines looked chic and mature, yet still cute.

“Yeah, it suits you just as I thought.”

The store clerk had been watching our exchange from the side.

So, I responded with what would seem like a normal couple’s interaction.

“Yes, your boyfriend is right, it looks great on you.”

The store clerk’s endorsement added to it.

Blushing furiously, Aoba stammered.
“T-then, I’ll take this…!”

She hurried back into the fitting room.

After changing back into her original clothes, she proceeded to the checkout counter.

I had heard that there was a solid half-price discount, and Higuchi-san, not Yukichi-san, paid the bill.

“Thank you for today! Please continue to enjoy each other’s company!”

We were bid farewell by the store clerk as we left the shop.

I sighed with relief, but Aoba, holding the paper bag in her opposite hand, once again grabbed my hand.

“Are you still going to do this?”

“T-the store clerk might see us, you know? And we might run into your ex-girlfriend.”

“There are too many enemies for us today…”

But well, if it costs money, I could behave naturally.

I walked much more smoothly than before.

“Hmm, you seem more relaxed.”

Against that, Aoba pouted for some reason.

And then, she pulled my arm tighter and entwined hers with my left arm.

… Deep within the somewhat stiff fabric, I distinctly felt something soft.

There was no need to explain what it was.

“D-do you really need to do this?”

“I-It looks more like a couple this way. That’s better. What we did before, saying you were my boyfriend, was the problem from the start.”

“Well, that’s true.”

My opinion was once again not accepted.

Blushing furiously, she leaned in even closer.

Because of that, we awkwardly walked through the floor together.