The Guy Who Messed Up Is Gradually Doing His Best - Chapter 18

The next day.

To finish the bento I got before it spoiled, I had two last night, three this morning, and three for lunch. I really pushed myself. My stomach feels like it’s going to burst.

“Phew.”

No, I heated it up and it was delicious. Especially Makino-san’s bento. It looked and tasted amazing. But overeating isn’t good.

The stomach medicine I relied on often in my past life. There was a similar stomach medicine in the medicine cabinet at home, so I took it. I really don’t want to drink it because it’s bitter, but I do.

“Phew.”

The problem is the lunch box. Of course, it’s only natural to wash and return it, but I felt a bit hesitant to return it empty.

So, just when I received a video on how to dance folk dance from Niiyama-sensei on MAIN, I consulted with her.

I received a bento for lunch, but I should thank them, right?

Then I said, “Sensei if you tell me it was delicious and to make it again, that would make me really happy, so that’s enough for me.” I joked that since Sensei also likes making bento, maybe Gouda-kun would like to try it too. I thought Sensei was a serious person, but it turns out she has a sense of humor too. I replied, “Please do,” with humor in return.

But you know, I’ve been thinking about it since last night. It’s okay to say it was delicious, but asking you to make it again is a bit too much, or rather, even if you did make it again, it would be a problem for me… Whoa, that was close. Just because you made it once doesn’t mean you have to make it again. I have to be careful because my 16 years of memories can lead to misunderstandings.

So, I decided to do a little something to show my gratitude. Sorry, sensei. Asking you to make it again was a bit too much.

But I’ve never given a present to a girl, or rather, do the men in this world ever give presents to women?

——…

There was no need to think about it. It felt like getting a man was a given. I felt the same way too.

I search for small gifts on Guruguru.

“Oh.”

Soap, aromatherapy, and hand cream are all hits. And they’re popular too. That’s great, isn’t it? They’re consumables, so they won’t stick around.

“Which one should I choose… alright.”

Since we’re entering the dry season, I’ve decided on hand cream for you. The price is around 500 yen, so it shouldn’t be too heavy and scare you off.

“Yeah. I feel like this is good.”

If that’s decided, I should head out shopping right away. Remote learning? Hehe, since we have sports festival practice, remote learning will only be in the mornings for a while.

Besides, I really overate, so I need to move a bit. Maybe this is a good opportunity to start jogging.

——Hmm.

I’ve come all the way to the front of the general store, but the atmosphere… it’s hard for a man to enter. But since I’ve come all this way, I’ll go in anyway.

The moment I walked into the store, the staff and other customers looked at me. The next moment, they all had shocked expressions on their faces.

While apologizing in my heart and looking around, I head towards the space where what seems to be hand cream is placed.

——So this is popular…

I quickly grab ten of the hand creams that were said to be popular and head straight to the register.

Since it was a gift, it took a little longer because they wrapped it individually, but the staff was kinder than I expected, so it was good.

I even received a business card from the store saying, “Please visit us again.”

On the way back, I stopped in front of the men’s clothing store.

“Since I’m here, I might as well buy some clothes.”

I was wondering what to wear on the weekend. I have quite a few baggy clothes at home, but since I’ve lost weight, I only have a few clothes that I bought online.

I was planning to buy online again this time, but then I noticed a men’s clothing specialty store.

Besides, since I will probably be appearing on netTube, I don’t want to wear the clothes I wore during the last Nohara Construction shoot.

“Yeah.”

I thought this must be some kind of fate and went into the store. It was a men’s clothing specialty store, but the staff were women.

Without even thinking about it, it’s because the man hardly works that it ends up like this.

So, this store seems to be one that women use when giving gifts to men, and there were a few female customers inside. There also seemed to be some stylish clothes.

“Welcome.”

The store clerk who noticed me was indeed surprised, but I didn’t mind and went inside to pick up the clothes that caught my eye.

If possible, I’d like clothes that don’t feel too stiff but still give a good impression, and if I could be a bit picky, something that feels a little more mature would be nice.

——Hmm?

There were quite a few nice-looking clothes, and after about 20 minutes of deliberation, I discovered a poster of a female model dressed as a man, wearing men’s clothing.

——I see.

A coordinated outfit with a dark-toned checkered jacket paired with a lighter cardigan.

Another one is a navy set up coordinated with white innerwear and sneakers. I like it because it has a clean look.

I feel like these two are good enough. If I take the same items as the model to the register,

“Oh, did you like that outfit?”

And the clerk with a happy-looking face.

“Yes, wait, what?”

That’s when I realized. The woman in the poster was the clerk right in front of me.

“Hehe. That model is me, you see.”

Spoilers come early. The other posters also feature the staff member in front of me, and it seems that the staff member in front of me is actually the manager here. And it turns out, she really is a model for women’s magazines.

“You’re Gouda Taketo-kun, right…? I came up with an outfit that would really suit you. Want to model it? Just once, please.”

The manager goes ahead and continues the conversation before I can respond.

“No, I…”

Even if it’s the currently popular Sawakaze Kazuya-kun, I tell him that having me as a model would only cause trouble, but the manager puts her hands together in a gesture of pleading.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Of course, I’ll pay the modeling fee, and if you want, I’ll even give you that outfit as a gift, okay?”

The manager is a beautiful woman with a classy look, just like a model. It’s hard to say no when such a beautiful woman asks for a favor. Besides, the clothes I’m holding right now are quite expensive. Should I do it, model?

“If it’s just once, then it’s fine. But I won’t be responsible for what happens.”

“Thank you.”

The manager, who seems to be happily sparkling with joy, is apparently Aikawa-san. I was surprised to find the filming team properly set up as soon as I was led to the office in the back.

————

“Gouda-kun, thank you for today.”

With a bright smile, it was the manager, Aikawa-san, who handed over today’s model fee and business card.

“N-no.”

I shouldn’t have trusted her when she said “one time.” It was one time from the start of the shoot to the end. About four hours, from around 2 PM to 6 PM. I think I changed clothes more than ten times.

I won’t do it again.