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The Shibuya 109 department store building is located right in the heart of Shibuya. The constant stream of people provides ample customers for this location.
109 Department Store is operated by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Tokyu Corporation and can be considered one of Japan's pop culture centers.
As for how it's "pop culture," generally, it can be considered synonymous with "fashion" here.
The interior of 109 Department Store isn't as bright and spacious as one might imagine a typical department store to be; it's more like the Yiwu clothing wholesale market.
Each shop belongs to an individual owner. Although there are branded clothes, most of the clothing is actually "off-brand," or more politely put, niche brands.
But precisely because of this, amidst the countless niche brands and variously designed unique fashion items, who knows which piece of clothing or style might become the next trend.
There are a great many students inside 109 Department Store, especially female students. The main reason is that the brands here are quite varied, and the clothing prices are relatively cheap.
The cost of living in Japan is very high, but the price of most clothes here can rival affordable brands like Uniqlo.
However, clothes from chain brands like Uniqlo can only be called basic, definitely not associated with trends.
For people chasing individuality and fashion, coming here is practically like arriving in paradise.
Fujiwara Toru accompanied the Yukinoshita sisters, browsing through clothing shops one by one in the building. Subconsciously, his mind recalled the former young mistress of the Toyokawa Group he had met yesterday.
That young lady's clothing style was quite decent, just lacking a bit in workmanship and material quality. Perhaps her clothes were also bought here.
"Fujiwara-kun, what do you think of this piece?"
Yukinoshita Haruno was browsing in a shop. She excitedly held up a jacket, comparing it against herself, then twirled back and forth in front of the mirror.
Truly unsure what to do, she turned around with a beaming smile and asked Fujiwara Toru.
Fujiwara Toru glanced at it twice, locked onto the clothes, and said, "Do you want the truth or a lie?"
"What's the lie?"
"The lie is that Yukinoshita-senpai, you look very pretty in this outfit. I think it's nice. I imagine most men who go shopping with women offer flattery like this."
"Then the truth?"
"The truth is that Yukinoshita-senpai, your fashion sense really isn't that great."
Pausing for a moment, Fujiwara Toru then looked towards Yukino, who stood with a cool expression, like a delicate flower, also lingering before a pile of clothes, and continued:
"...Your sister is the same, her taste is practically identical to yours. Clearly, you sisters are very pretty, but I have to deduct two points for your clothing choices."
Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't help but glance at Fujiwara Toru.
Fujiwara Toru's blunt way of speaking gave her a sense of déjà vu. Isn't this just like my usual self?
Never caring about the occasion when speaking, not reading the atmosphere, not knowing how to be tactful, directly stating one's thoughts.
It was precisely this way of life that left Yukinoshita Yukino with few friends, lonely like a plum blossom on a snowy mountain.
Luckily, her abilities were strong; otherwise, a girl both pretty and aloof could easily become a target of bullying at school.
Still, it's annoying! As a girl, being directly told your fashion sense is bad!
Yukinoshita Yukino was quite angry inside!
Her cool face stared stubbornly at Fujiwara Toru, as if saying, 'If you don't explain why my fashion sense is bad, I'll get mad at you.'
Compared to Yukino, who wore her emotions on her sleeve, Yukinoshita Haruno made it impossible to discern her thoughts.
She looked at Fujiwara Toru with a beaming smile: "Fujiwara-kun, can't you put it a bit more gently? Saying it like that makes me sad."
"Lies don't hurt people; the truth is the swift blade."
Fujiwara Toru's one sentence completely deflated Yukinoshita Haruno.
How did I not realize this man's words were so venomous!
Haruno narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Then tell me, where is Yukino's and my fashion sense bad?"
"Yukinoshita-senpai, you have short hair and a rather sharp temperament. Your clothing style itself isn't problematic; it aims to showcase your disposition. It's just that these clothes you're looking at are too plain/dated."
"Your sister is the same. She has a strong girlish feel. That dress inside is actually very nice, highlighting her strengths. But that jacket is just like yours, equally plain and dowdy."
"Should I say you truly deserve to be sisters? Even your 'plain' styles are so consistent."
Fujiwara Toru couldn't help but complain. He had always criticized Haruno's dressing style. She was clearly a ten-out-of-ten beauty, but her clothes instantly deducted two points.
Oh, if she wasn't wearing clothes, Fujiwara Toru would give her twelve points.
"Since Fujiwara-kun puts it that way, why not give us some advice? Yukino and I can both be your models. An opportunity like this..."
Saying this, Yukinoshita Haruno grabbed her sister's shoulder and pulled her over.
Yukinoshita Yukino frowned slightly, resisting. "If you want to be his model, go be one yourself. Don't drag me along. I'm not interested."
She struggled forcefully a couple of times, freeing herself from Haruno's hand.
Haruno raised an eyebrow, apologizing: "Sorry, Fujiwara-kun. My sister always speaks like this."
Yukinoshita Yukino stood aside silently, her long eyelashes slightly lowered.
In the past, her parents' friends always said she was an obedient and sensible child.
But only Yukinoshita Yukino herself knew she wasn't sensible; she was actually quite rebellious. It was just that as long as she stood there quietly, didn't say a word, didn't express any opinions...
Then in the eyes of those elders, she was sensible and well-behaved.
So Yukinoshita Yukino had also developed a habit: don't speak unless absolutely necessary, then there won't be any problems.
Actually, she strongly agreed with the sentence Fujiwara Toru just said: "Lies don't hurt people; the truth is the swift blade."
She felt this sentence suited her very well.
Yes, it's not that she can't speak; it's just that she likes speaking the truth.
Yukinoshita Yukino thought, chuuni-style.
For Haruno, Yukino's attitude was just a minor interlude; her attitude wasn't important.
She again stepped forward, moving closer to Fujiwara Toru. Her full bosom, distinctly different from her sister's, pressed closer to Fujiwara Toru's arm.
"Since Yukino isn't willing, let's not bother her. Right now, I'll listen entirely to you. How about letting you dress me up?"
Haruno blinked gently, her smile warm and ambiguous.
Standing aside, Yukinoshita Yukino's fine eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly. In her memory, her sister wasn't usually this forward.
Plenty of men had orbited around her since childhood, but she could always handle them easily, let alone speak with such a provocative tone.
Could it be... sister likes this Fujiwara?
If so, then should I perhaps change my attitude? He might very well become sister's boyfriend, and in the future, might even become my brother-in-law?
Yukinoshita Yukino's thoughts ran wild.
Fujiwara Toru helplessly threw up his hands. "I'm just an armchair quarterback, only capable of spouting nonsense. If you really asked me to coordinate outfits, I wouldn't know how."
"Miss Shop Assistant, I trust your aesthetic sense more. Why don't you put together an outfit for her? Don't worry about the price of the clothes; she's a little rich lady, she won't mind."
Yukinoshita Haruno couldn't help but laugh out loud. "So Fujiwara-kun doesn't know anything either! Then what were you saying earlier?"
Different from what I imagined, she found Fujiwara Toru wasn't stuffy at all, possessing a youthful spontaneity. Being with him felt quite relaxed.
For Haruno, being able to chat relaxedly with someone was already not easy.
No one could understand her. Behind the facade of social grace lay the pressure of having to constantly maintain perfect etiquette.
The shop assistant was also amused. She immediately started recommending enthusiastically. Having seen many customers, she knew this group was genuinely planning to buy clothes.
It had to be said, the assistant's aesthetic sense was much better than Haruno's. For clothes of similar styles, the assistant could always help her coordinate them to look fashionable.
After picking out several outfits, Haruno went to the fitting room.
Fujiwara Toru felt something was missing beside him. He looked left and right, seeing Yukino had gone to a nearby stall at some point and was intently staring at small accessories.
Fujiwara Toru walked over and asked, "What are you looking at?"
Yukinoshita Yukino snapped back to reality. She said coolly, "No, nothing."
Towards strangers, she was always covered in thorns.
Fujiwara Toru might be familiar with Haruno, but with her, it was still a stranger relationship.
Yukinoshita Yukino left the stall and returned to where they were buying clothes earlier.
Fujiwara Toru watched her retreating back, his expression playful.
Truly a girl like a hedgehog. She seals off her own heart using this method, proudly believing she doesn't need contact with anyone, that she herself is the most outstanding.
"Still lacks tempering from society." Fujiwara Toru complained inwardly.
Yukinoshita Yukino might be outstanding, but not yet to the point of vastly surpassing ordinary people. If she truly maintains this personality, she will definitely suffer greatly in the future...
He glanced at the accessory Yukinoshita had been looking at earlier – it was a panda pendant.
On Yukino's shoulder bag, there was also a panda charm. It was evident she had an extreme fondness for pandas.
"Fujiwara-kun, how's this outfit?"
Haruno emerged from the fitting room. A grey, light wool sweater, layered over a white base shirt, paired with a pure black denim jacket and a white knee-length skirt. Although it was the simplest black, white, and grey combination, the style of the clothes was very fashionable.
Fujiwara Toru gave a thumbs-up. "Not bad. This set looks valiant and formidable. Much better looking than the dowdy jacket from before."
Yukinoshita Haruno smiled. "Then, Miss Shop Assistant, this set it is."
She then looked towards her sister. "...Yukino, don't you want to buy an outfit too?"
"Not needed." Yukinoshita Yukino said stubbornly.
She didn't want to spend her sister's money, nor did she want to owe her sister a favor.
"Fine, if you don't want it." Yukinoshita Haruno never spoiled her chuuni younger sister. This was perhaps also why Yukino feared her.
After paying, Fujiwara Toru and Haruno continued walking side-by-side in front, browsing other shops. Urged by enthusiastic shop assistants, Haruno eventually bought several more outfits.
Around noon, the three found a ramen shop in Shibuya with decent flavor and had a meal.
After eating their fill, because Yukino needed to go to the library to find a book in the afternoon, Fujiwara Toru and Haruno didn't want to move around anymore either, so they accompanied Yukino to a large library occupying several floors of a building downtown.
The library was very quiet. Some people were diligently studying books, while others wore headphones, idly scrolling through videos.
Fujiwara and the others found an empty corner and sat down. He asked the Yukinoshita sisters to wait for a moment while he went to the library's concession stand and bought three drinks.
"Your favorite lemon tea, without too much sugar added." Fujiwara Toru handed a hand-shaken drink to Haruno.
Haruno's eyes lit up, revealing a bright smile. "I didn't expect Fujiwara-kun to still remember my preferences. Thank you."
Fujiwara Toru then handed the other drink to Yukino. "I didn't know what you like, so I bought the same as your sister's."
Yukino accepted it reservedly. "Thank you, Fujiwara-senpai."
She looked at Fujiwara Toru and her sister chatting quietly together, then stood up. "You two chat first. I'll go ask the librarian where the book I want is."
"Go ahead." Haruno waved her hand at her.
Fujiwara Toru and Yukinoshita Haruno casually placed books they had grabbed on the table. Neither was reading; they were mostly chatting here.
Just then——
"Mitsuhiko, look! They have the Kamen Yaiba Setting Collection 4.2 here!" A child who was definitely overweight exclaimed excitedly.
"Genta, lower your voice! This is a library!"
The chubby boy called Genta immediately covered his mouth.
Yukinoshita Haruno witnessed this scene, shaking her head helplessly. "Little children really are annoying sometimes."
Fujiwara Toru nodded in agreement. He turned his head sideways to look at several children gathered around a book nearby, discussing excitedly in low voices, who gave him a strong sense of déjà vu.
And when his gaze fell upon Conan wearing glasses, coincidentally, Conan also looked over.
"Eh, why did I run into this guy here?" Conan thought, vexed.
However, even more vexed than him was Fujiwara Toru. Ran into the elementary school shinigami! I feel like nothing good will happen.
Meanwhile, Yukino was asking the librarian.
"Excuse me, which shelf is this book on?"
"Please wait a moment, let me check on the computer for you... The book you want is in Section G, right in the farthest corner." The librarian said with a kind smile.
Yukinoshita Yukino thanked her and walked towards Section G. This area contained all English books; very few people came here. And the book she was looking for was even rarer, located in a completely deserted corner.
Fortunately, the bookshelves here were relatively clean. She moved a stool over, stood on it, and searched through the upper shelves for the book she wanted.
As her hand touched a book deep inside the shelf, she paused.
From the outside, the book looked very thick, but holding it in her hand, it felt extremely light.
Yukinoshita Yukino curiously took the book in her hand and slowly opened it...