What's under Kamiyama-san's paper bag?

Harusame-san chooses a T-shirt

“Welcome!”

When Arai-san and I entered the store, we heard the cheerful greeting of the clerk. Then, we were approached by a young male clerk who was sorting through the merchandise nearby.

“Is there anything you are looking for? You can try on some clothes if you like.”

I was about to say, “No, not particularly,” when Arai-san, who was looking at skirts next to me, spoke up.

“Uhm, Excuse me, do you have some uniforms?”

“Is it a school uniform or…?”

“Yes, a school uniform.”

The clerk turned to me with a silent smile on his face which, with just a glance, seemed to ask me.

“How can I help you?”

“Well, let’s see… I’m going to take a look around for now, and I’ll let you know if there’s anything else.”

“Oh, okay, let me know if you need anything else.”

The store clerk said that and quickly walked away from us. One of our goals today was to pick out Arai-san’s casual wear, but more importantly, we now have to wait for the two of them to enter the store.

As Arai-san and I returned our attention to the shelves, we heard the clerk’s greeting again.

“Welcome…!”

I turned my gaze towards the entrance of the store, and there stood a tall, soaking-wet Kamiyama-san, wearing a paper bag with a girl’s face painted on it.

The store was buzzing at once. Everyone in the store, customers and staff alike, was looking at the strange figure that had suddenly entered the store.

Kamiyama-san shook her head from side to side like a machine, checked the store, and began to walk awkwardly with her right hand and right foot out at the same time. The marks left by her steps were covered with countless drops of water as if she was dragging something wet behind her. After walking around the store for a while, she stopped in front of a shelf filled with T-shirts.

I couldn’t see Harusame-san, so I wondered where she had gone. While I was thinking about that, the male clerk from earlier spoke to Kamiyama-san with a drawn-out smile.

“Um… is there anything you’re looking for?”

Before the clerk could finish, a voice came from behind Kamiyama-san’s back.

“Look at this! Isn’t this super cute? But I think I prefer a brighter color. I’m sure you think so too, right? I know, right?”

That’s Harusame-san’s voice.

She was stuck right on the back of Kamiyama-san’s back. She said, “Look, look.” but probably all she could see was Kamiyama-san’s back. I didn’t realize this was the “good thing” she came up with. I wonder if it means that if you don’t look at the other person’s face, you won’t be embarrassed.

Harusame-san continued with her face stuck tightly to Kamiyama-san’s back.

“Oh, oh, a brightly colored T-shirt… won’t be… a good fit for… A-chan. I’d like to get one… but I wonder if I can find one somewhere…”

“I think I’d like to get one… but I wonder if I can find one somewhere…”

The clerk was suddenly startled by a voice coming from an unexpected direction, but he looked around the shelves in a hurry and picked up a T-shirt.

“It’s a bright, spring-like yellow, like this one… Yellow is a popular color this year, and I think it’s a good choice…

Harusame-san said with her face still attached to Kamiyama-san’s back.

“That’s right! That’s very nice! I’ll buy one of those!”

Harusame-san says, reaching out her hand from behind Kamiyama-san’s back. The clerk was surprised to see a third hand suddenly appear between Kamiyama-san’s body and arm, but handed the T-shirt to that hand, said “Thank you very much” and left.

Harusame-san held the T-shirt in front of her face to check it and looked a little disappointed. She didn’t like it.

I let out a big sigh and walk up to them and said to Harusame-san.

“You didn’t really like that, did you? What do you like?”

Harusame-san, who had noticed my presence, said as she slumped her shoulders behind Kamiyama-san.

“Oh… Kominato-kun… you know… I like this T-shirt’s… design, but I thought pink would be better… than yellow…”

I put the T-shirt, Harusame-san was holding back on the shelf and took a pink T-shirt with the same pattern instead and handed it to her.

“Is this okay?”

“Yeah… you know, Kominato-kun. A-chan… thought that if I put my face on Kamiyama-san’s back, it would be okay… But it didn’t seem to go so well… I guess my practice was a failure…”

Harusame-san’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. As she said so, I gently spoke to Harusame-san.

“You don’t have to say that. Even without A-chan, you could have chosen what you wanted.”

‘Oh… yeah… this T-shirt, Kominato-kun took it… Does that mean even if A-chan is not there, you can shop if Kominato-kun is there…? Yes, I’ll thank him just in case… Um… that… thank you very much… I’ll wear it with care.”

Harusame-san said and hugged the pink T-shirt tightly to her chest.

Arai-san, who was watching our exchange next to me, called out to Harusame-san.

“Harusame-chan, good job! If you were able to choose the one you like, then we in the conversation club won the spearhead battle!”

Kamiyama-san also followed.

“Harusame-chan… you did a great job..! It’s great that you were able to do your shopping properly…”

Harusame-san’s face turned red, perhaps feeling embarrassed.

“Of… of… of course! It’s your turn, Kamiyama-san! I’m rooting for you, so go for it!”

You guys, this isn’t a club game, it’s shopping. S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G. There’s no spearhead match, and there’s no general match.

I suppressed the urge to say that out loud and watched the three girls rejoice with their first-round victory.