When Two Wounded Hearts Find Solace In Each Other, Snow White (The School's Beauty) And I Were Mistakenly Labeled As A Silly Couple. - Chapter 46: Birthday Date - Shopping Edition.

Birthday Date – Shopping Edition

“The movie was interesting, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, it was.”

After finishing the movie, Himeno and I visited the shopping mall in front of the station.

We couldn’t totally ignore romantic movies, and in the end, we ended up watching it with full concentration.

Some people were crying, making the movie quite emotional.

“It felt like something similar to us was happening.”

The protagonist gets rejected by his first love, and the heroine, who was being bullied and feeling down, is comforted by him, and they end up being together, leading to a developing romance.

It resembled the current relationship between Himeno and me, and we silently hoped for a happy ending while watching.

“I chose this movie with that in mind… to make you aware.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

She’s turning red, so there might be something, but since it might be something she doesn’t want to talk about, I won’t press her.

Even though there’s a desire to know more about someone you like, there’s a fear of being disliked if you ask too much.

Since being disliked is absolutely undesirable, I won’t press her with questions.

“Um, there’s a place I want to go. Is it okay?”

“Of course.”

***

“This place is…”

The place Himeno brought me to was an accessory shop inside the shopping mall.

For Takashi, who likes anime, places like this, where lovey-dovey couples seem to frequent, are not familiar.

The customers are clearly mostly couples, and it seems like she’s asking her boyfriend for rings and such.

“Well, I said it’s okay to rely on me, but is it alright to ask for a present?”

She looks up at me with a pleading look, our hands still linked.

“What do you want?”

If she’s asking for a birthday present, I can’t refuse. Besides, I was already planning to give her a present, and if she wants jewelry, I’ll gift it.

“I want matching couple rings with you, Taka-kun.”

“Huh?”

Now it’s a request from Himeno, her cheeks turning bright red.

(Are those couple rings the rumored ones that lovers wear?)

I felt so flustered that the end of my thoughts sounded strangely funny.

Normally, couple rings are for couples in a romantic relationship, not for Takashi and Himeno, who have a comforting relationship.

“Well, people around us think we’re dating, so I thought it would be better to have matching rings…”

“Indeed.”

Since we’re constantly called a idiot couple by our classmates, it might be a good idea to wear a couple rings. Increasing the recognition of the idiot couple might make more guys give up on Himeno, and if that happens, the girls who bully her will disappear completely.

Originally, she probably didn’t plan to ask for a present, but maybe she wanted one after seeing the scene in the movie where the protagonist gives a ring to the heroine.

We’re almost always together at school, so there’s no more bullying.

“So, is it okay if I ask for it? I want to wear matching rings.”

“Understood.”

Wearing matching rings would undoubtedly invite more teasing as a silly couple, and it’s embarrassing, but the desire to wear couple rings was strong.

Wearing a couple rings with someone you love is the best feeling.

“I wonder which one would be good?”

I went to the section where the rings were sold and looked at what they had.

There were many types, and even for the same type of ring, there were subtle differences in color and shape for men and women.

“Which one do you like?”

I asked Himeno.

Since it’s her birthday, I withdrew some money from the convenience store, so it’s okay if it’s a bit expensive.

“I want you to choose, Taka-kun.”

“Me? Is that okay?”

“Yes. I want what Taka-kun chooses.”

Blushing, Himeno nodded, looking truly adorable, and I wanted to keep looking at her forever.

However, I need to focus on choosing the ring now, so I don’t look at Himeno and instead examine the rings on display.

Choosing couple rings is something I’ve never done before, but I need to choose something good for the person I love.

(Come to think of it, I bought a ring for my older sister in the past.)

Even though I’m choosing a ring for Himeno, memories of buying a ring for my older sister, Kana, come to mind.

Back then, I was still in elementary school, so I couldn’t afford rings that were even a few thousand yen, like the ones here. I gave her a ring that cost only 100 yen.

I vividly remember her happily accepting it and putting it on.

Back then, I seriously thought I wanted to get married, so I intended it as an engagement ring. However, from Kana’s perspective, it probably served as a way to ward off guys.

Kana, who was already a first-year high school student, must have known that siblings couldn’t get married. With her silky long black hair, blue eyes, and attractive appearance, she was quite popular. The gifted ring likely served its purpose as a deterrent.

Although she was Japanese, the blue eyes come from our mother, who was from Touhoku. It seems that occasionally, people with Touhoku ancestry have blue eyes.

Takashi has brown eyes like his father.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I can’t say that I remembered my sister, so I refocus on choosing the ring.

“How about this one?”

I point to a silver ring.

It might be straightforward, but a silver ring would suit Himeno’s silver hair.

“Then I’ll go with this one.”

“Is that okay?”

“It’s something Taka-kun chose.”

With a shy smile, Himeno speaks to the store clerk, asking if she can try on the ring.

“Does it look good?”

With a slightly blushing face, Himeno asks as she puts the silver ring on her right ring finger.

“Umm… it suits you.”

I answer, trying not to misunderstand that it’s on the ring finger. Since silver rings worn by lovers are usually on the ring finger, it’s easy to misinterpret and think that she’s in love.

“Thank you very much.”

Blushing, Himeno buys the ring, and Takashi also buys one for himself.