The Villainous Uncle in the Adult Game Gets Unusually High Praise from the Heroines - Chapter 20

Shopping.

Naturally, I wasn’t buying anything suspicious. While in the original story, Takeshi Tendo purchased dubious devices and medicines, doing something like that would obviously get me arrested by the police. 

So today’s shopping was completely ordinary—I was just here to buy groceries.

The supermarket “Unreal” was about a 5-minute walk away. Though I thought the name sounded rather chuunibyou-ish, given that this world was originally from an eroge, that was to be expected. 

I wondered if they sold strange things, but it was just an ordinary supermarket. Well, there was a corner with various contraceptives and adult toys that customers and staff treated as completely normal, but otherwise it was thoroughly normal.

Just your regular store with lamb, rabbit meat, dragon fruit and durian lined up normally. Who even bought those things anyway?

Naturally, being someone who disliked buying such bizarre items, I did my shopping like usual. Today I came to buy pork, milk, yogurt, flour and such. 

The pork would be split up for several days’ meals, so I bought a large pack, around 900 grams, planning to freeze what remained after today’s portion. 

Then there was milk, yogurt, and flour. These items got used up quite quickly since besides meals, I used them for making sweets too. 

As Tomoe-chan often came to visit, and I sometimes made sweets to put in Sakurako-chan’s lunch box for dessert, I bought these in bulk. They sold economy-size flour, but unfortunately, there weren’t such options for milk and yogurt. It was quite expensive, so maybe I should cut down on making sweets.

“Oh? Tendo-san?”

While walking through the supermarket checking for discount stickers or other things I should buy, I was suddenly called from behind. When I turned around, there was a black-haired woman. It was Aina Rindo herself.

“Ah, yes. Rindo-san.”

“Are you shopping too, Tendo-san?”

“Yes, as you can see.”

I showed her my basket. She was also carrying one, though it had considerably fewer items than mine. Perhaps because she was a woman, she preferred buying smaller amounts at once?

“How refreshing.”

“Refreshing?”

“Well, I had the impression you were more of an indoor person, Tendo-san, so seeing you out shopping is a bit surprising.”

“I see.”

Come to think of it, she had a point.

“Well, even I go out sometimes. I could shop online, but that gets expensive. Besides, you need to move your body or you’ll get out of shape.”

“Oh, so it’s for exercise?”

“It’s also better to choose good ingredients yourself.”

“That’s certainly true.”

She nodded in apparent agreement. As a housewife, she surely understood such things.

Still, I discreetly observed her appearance. Flowing black hair. Bright red eyes. Plump, cherry-colored lips. As expected of Aina Rindo—she had a mature allure. Yet at the same time, she seemed mentally stable, with a strong guard up. Well, having raised a son alone all this time, it was natural to be defensive.

No need to probe too deeply—let’s just make small talk.

“It’s been unbearably hot lately, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, it has. Though the air conditioning in these supermarkets is so strong, I might catch a cold. And my son likes it really cold because he gets hot easily. I keep telling him to make do with a fan.”

“That’s how boys that age are. They say men get hot more easily than women—something about different base metabolism, I think.”

“Oh, really? You’re quite knowledgeable, Tendo-san.”

“No, no, I’m just sharing what I happen to know. Besides, this kind of talk is just small talk, it doesn’t go anywhere. I’d rather learn to talk better with women than just share trivia.”

“Oh, but I think you talk just fine?”

“I’d like to naturally say the kind of smooth lines that charming men use.”

“Ahaha, you’re good at jokes, Tendo-san.”

Aina-san giggled. Hmm, she was delicate and cute. And with that mature feminine appeal on top—how formidable.

“Though you shouldn’t say such things to other women, Tendo-san.”

“Why’s that?”

“It could be taken as harassment. It sounds like you want to act like a smooth-talking ladies’ man toward me.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind being that way with you, Rindo-san.”

“…! Oh stop it. Don’t tease an old lady like me, Tendo-san!”

“You’re too young to be called an old lady, and I think you look quite youthful.”

She showed a moment of confusion at those words, but quickly regained her composure and sighed.

“Really, just like Sakurako-chan said.”

“…Huh?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. More importantly, we shouldn’t keep standing here talking—it’s inconsiderate to other customers. Let’s finish our shopping.”

“Mm, ah. Right.”

We then shopped for our planned items together. And naturally, since we were neighbors, it made sense to walk home together as well. Seeing that her bags looked heavy, I offered to carry them.

“Thank you for everything, Tendo-san.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Ah, right. While you’re bringing these to my house, would you like to come in for some tea?”

“Eh?”

Score!