Vol. 1 Chapter 11: God’s Misfortune

Translated and Edited by: ynlucca.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you’re close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it’s cutesy and childlike.
-sama: A respectful suffix for individuals of a higher rank than oneself, or that one greatly admires.

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And so, it begins.

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“Haru, you said you mentioned you want some new clothes, right? Then, let’s go to the department store now!”

After lunch, we chatted for a while before Usami looked at her wristwatch, suggesting we go to a department store.

“Sure, let’s go.”

We get up from the bench and walk toward the nearest store around here. As we walked side-by-side, every man we passed looked back at us, admiring her sheer beauty. Even a guy with his girlfriend was admiring Usami, resulting in his cheeks being pinched hard.

I thought this before, but Usami truly stands out. Who knew I’d be on a date with such a girl, huh… You never know what life has in store for you.

As these thoughts ran through my mind, a store came right into view.

“We’re here, so let’s hurry inside!”

“Hey, Usami! You’re gonna fall down the steps if you get too excited!”

As soon as we arrived at the department store, Usami put on a huge smile and ran into the store. I hurriedly followed in her footsteps.

“Look, look! A cushion that even cats can’t resist! Let’s try it, Haru!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Her sheer energy pulled me along into the store, and I followed her lead.

“Clerk, may I try to lay on this?”

“… Huh?! E–Eh, sure.”

Walking a bit further into the store, she pointed at a cushion so large it seemed able to swallow a person whole and asked an idle clerk if she could try it. He took a second to respond since he was admiring her.

“Thank you very much! Well then, hoo—!”

She kicked the ground and dove into the cushion. It managed to catch her speeding jump easily, and she sunk into the soft furniture.

“Wooooah! This is so fluffy! Haru, you should lay on it too!”

Usami seemed extremely comfortable fused with the cushion, leading her to outstretch her hands, inviting me so we could test it together. If I did that, though, I’d be glued to her.

The clerk watched our exchange. His glaring eyes said, “Hey, are you gonna do it?”

“C’mon, c’mere!”

Well, screw it, Hoo—!

I lay down right beside her on the soft cushion.

“Mmm~ Doesn’t it feel great?”

“Yeah… Feels amazing…”

And it really did, but the glares were very painful, to be honest. The lady at the checkout counter looked at us like we were a couple of idiots. However, Usami’s sweet peach perfume overwhelmed all of that.

… I can’t take this any longer! I couldn’t bear the clerk’s glare anymore, and I quickly get up from the soft cushion.

“Hm? You done, Haru?”

“Y, yeah… Had enough of this.”

If we kept laying together for a second longer, the shame of being stared at by the clerk, along with the excitement of being glued to Usami, would smother me.

She lingered on that soft furniture a moment longer, then finally stood up from it.

“Yup! This felt great, right?”

“Yeah, it did.”

“Ah! They’re having a Hokkaido product exhibition over there! Let’s check it out, Haru!”

“Eh, hey!”

After that, I was dragged around the department store by Usami for over two hours.

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“That was fun!”

“G… Good to know…”

After being dragged around the department store for so long, I take a seat on a bench nearby. She soon sat down beside me, then looked into my eyes, her expression clouded.

“Haru… Perhaps you didn’t enjoy it?” Her eyes wavered.

“No, that’s not it… I haven’t moved around like this in a long time. I’m just a little tired.”

“Whew, good to know!”

With my denial, her face lighted up. Her innocent smile made me smile too.

“Oh, no! I didn’t buy you clothes yet!” She stood up, remembering our original purpose. “I can’t let this happen! Quick, let’s go back to the store!”

“Oi, Usami, don’t go too fast.”

“We need to strike when the iron is hot!”

Usami took my hand, and we hurried back to the store.

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After a five-minute walk, we arrive at the clothing department. They sold both women’s and men’s clothes. Usami was the first to enter, and after a short while, she returned and said, “Haru, why don’t we pick out clothes for each other?”

“Eh,” my eyes widen at her suggestion.

“It’s more fun that way, and besides… You can dress me in whatever clothes you like, okay?”

“—!”

Her proposal as she looked up at me with those upturned eyes of hers made my heart skip a beat. It was every man’s dream to choose an outfit for such a gorgeous girl, so I happily accepted it.

“Y–Yeah, you’re right! Let’s do that, then.”

“Okay! Well then, I’ll meet you in front of the fitting room in about 20 minutes, okay?”

“Sure, okay.”

“Fufu~ Let the clothing selection commence!”

She cutely signaled the start, and we each scattered to the opposite gender’s section.

Soon, 20 minutes passed.

We finished selecting the outfits and gathered at the agreed rendezvous point.

“Fufufufu~ I see you’ve made your choice, Haru.”

“Yeah. It’s perfect.”

She smiled like a prankster, and I responded confidently.

“Hehe~ Well then, let’s start with the clothes I’ve chosen for you to try on!”

“Come at me!”

She went inside the dressing room with her shopping basket hidden behind her. After a moment, she peeked out of the curtains and stepped out soon after.

“I hung a set of clothes inside the curtains. Come on, Haru! Step inside!”

Hearing her theatrical lines, I walk inside the cubicle. With a wry smile plastered on my face, I put on the clothes hung beside me.

“Usami, I’m ready.”

“I’m so ready for this! And now, coming out of the curtains, drumrolls please… Haru!”

With her signal, I open the curtains of the fitting room.

“Whoooah! Haru, you look so coooool!”

Her choice was a long T-shirt with a bordered pattern, a pair of tight-fitting black pants, and a cardigan on top. If I was the one choosing, it wouldn’t have looked this good… As expected of Usami.

“Fufu~ What shall I have you wear next?”

After the first fitting, Usami begins to select her second outfit. After trying on three more outfits, her turn to choose comes to an end.

“Ahh~ I’m extremely satisfied!”

“Haha… That’s nice to know,” I chuckle at the sight of Usami enjoying herself.

“I’m next. I can’t wait to see what kind of clothes you picked out for me, Haru!”

“Just don’t get your hopes up too high.”

I then walk into the fitting room and hang the clothes I chose for her, just as she did earlier. After I left, she stepped inside the curtains.

“I’m ready, Haru.”

A few moments passed after she went inside, and soon she signaled that she finished dressing up.

“Roger!” I give her the OK.

“Mkay then, here I go—!”

The curtains swung open to reveal Usami…

She was gorgeous in that white one-piece dress. Furthermore, the stringing at the waist made her body line stand out even more, just as a cherry on top.

I was in a daze for who-knows how long, just admiring her sheer cuteness. However, she coughed to call my attention, snapping me out of it.

“So… What do you think? Does it suit me?”

“Y–Yeah! You’re very cute, Usami!”

My words made her face light up, soon burning up to a crimson red. She quickly turned away from him.

“Ehe~ Ehehehe~ He told me I’m cute!”

Looking at the curtains, she muttered something I couldn’t hear. Her giggling went on for a minute or two until she suddenly looked back at me.

“Well, to the next outfit we go!”

“O–Okay.”

Once again pulled by her enthusiasm, I hung her next outfit in the changing room and waited for her to change soon after. A minute passed, and she suddenly called me from inside the cubicle.

“Haru, I can’t lift the zipper on my back… Could you help me?”

My heart starts racing at these words.

“U–Usami! No way I’ll do that!”

“Hmm, if you don’t do it, I guess I’ll have to show my bare, soft skin. Oh, is that better?”

“No no no! That’s not a good idea!”

“Then come here and lift the zipper~”

I hesitate for a second, but I pulled myself back together. With determination, I reached my arm into the cubicle, trying my hardest not to look inside. It wasn’t something easy to do, for sure.

Meanwhile, I accidentally touch her body a couple of times. Whenever I did, she’d softly moan words like, “Ah~”, “Yeah~”, and “No, not there~”. That made me gradually more nervous.

In the process, I lost my footing and ended up inside the changing room with her.

“I–I’m sorry, Usami! I didn’t mean to do… that…”

She had her back to me, and I noticed the zipper was already all the way up. Usami was messing with me!

“Oi, you got your zipper closed already! You were making fun of me, weren’t you?”

“Oh noes, I’ve been caught~”

“You b*stard, Usami!”

I tickle her sides to get back at her.

“Ahahahahahahahaha! S–Stop it, Haru, I’ll die of laughter!”

“Shut up! That’s your punishment for messing with me!”’

And so our noisy yet enjoyable shopping trip came to a close. After we finished paying for the outfits, we left the store and headed home.

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“Today was great, right?”

“For sure it was!”

Usami was all smiles ever since we left that department store, and I found myself less nervous than I was at the beginning. A natural smile found its way across my face.

“I’m glad you smiled a lot today, Haru.”

“Eh?” I raised a dumb sound at her observation.

“Well, you haven’t laughed much since you came to our house… That’s why I’m so happy you had fun today!”

“Usami…”

So that’s why she was so preachy today. She was trying to make me laugh… I thought I looked okay, but I made her worry instead…

“Thank you…” I tell her my heartfelt feelings.

“Oh no, don’t mention it! I just want you to be happy… That’s all I need, really.”

She smiled tenderly with these words. Her kindness saved my life, and someday, I’ll repay her for it.

I vowed that inside the depths of my heart.

“Oh, but it’s getting dark soon, so let’s go home.”

She pointed the time out, and I look down at my watch. It was almost 5 PM.

“You’re right… Well then, let’s go.”

“Mhm!”

And so, we began walking home.

I was happy from the bottom of my heart back then…

But misfortune strikes when we are at our happiest. Always.

“… Haruki?”

That voice… My chest tightened.

It was one I heard many, many times. One I never wanted to hear again.

I turned my head around to see my ex-girlfriend, Mei Ayagawa, standing there surrounded by her groupies.

“You’re still alive? Pfft—!”

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Oh boy, can’t wait for the next chapter.

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