"Oh, mom, why are you back already?" Ryuuto greeted the girl with a forced smile.
He remembered that Manaka was supposed to be at a cooking class downtown today. Based on her usual schedule, she wouldn't normally return until evening.
Why was she back so early? Could it be that—
"During the cooking class, a middle-aged man suddenly burst in and climbed to the window, threatening to jump and kill himself. The police closed off the area and made all the housewives leave the classroom, so I had to come back early."
Manaka answered his question in a casual tone, all while staring pointedly at where his and Morgan's hands had just been.
"...I see."
What an unlikely coincidence, he thought. Mom, you didn't somehow arrange that suicide attempt just to come home early, did you?
Manaka looked up at Ryuuto, then turned toward Morgan standing beside him. She blinked her eyes and said in a soft voice, "Good morning, Miss Caster... you look so beautiful today. Where are you taking Ryuuto?"
…
Despite Ryuuto's terrible mood, he couldn't control the weather with his feelings. It was actually a beautiful day that would cheer anyone up. The winter sun shone brightly on the Tokyo streets, bringing life to the city after several dreary days.
Morgan, Ryuuto, and Manaka walked together toward the subway station, lined up in that exact order from left to right. With Morgan at 170 cm, Ryuuto at 150 cm, and Manaka at 160 cm, they formed what looked like a dip in the middle when viewed from the front.
When Morgan mentioned wanting to buy some clothes, Manaka had happily chimed in that she needed new clothes too. Just like that, their shopping trip for two became an outing for three.
"I'm not getting in the way of you two, am I?" Manaka asked sweetly, clasping her hands behind her back as she looked past Ryuuto to ask Caster.
"Of course not, how could you be?" he quickly answered before Morgan could even open her mouth.
"I was actually planning to pick you up from your cooking class while we were out shopping, so all three of us could shop together. What a coincidence that you came home early!"
"...Hmm." Manaka made a soft humming sound, neither agreeing with nor denying his explanation.
Since they'd left the house, she had been directing most of her conversation toward Morgan instead of him.
He felt oddly left out today. Is there really any reason for her to feel this upset? he wondered. It's not like he doesn't go out with girls all the time, so what makes today so different? He glanced at her and continued, "It's actually great that you came along, Manaka. Morgan, you should know that Manaka has amazing taste in clothes, all her dresses look fantastic. I'm really not good at this stuff. I don't understand much about women's clothing."
"You certainly don't," Manaka said with a raised eyebrow and a slight smile. "Our Ryuuto is the kind of kid who suddenly develops stomachaches, headaches, or toothaches whenever his mother asks him to go shopping."
"...!"
He shuddered as a chill ran down his spine.
So that's why she was mad at him...
Serves you right, Morgan thought to herself, trying not to smile.
Normally when Manaka got annoyed with him, her mood would improve after about 20 minutes. Today she'd set a new record by staying upset for a full half hour.
But after they'd been out for about thirty minutes, his mom finally forgave her thoughtless son.
When they got off the subway and stepped onto the streets of Shinjuku, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by crowds of people.
Since Morgan had turned off the spell she usually used to make herself less noticeable before they left home, the three of them caused quite a stir in the busy shopping district. People started staring as they walked by, even stepping aside to make way for them as countless eyes followed their every move.
Despite being quite the playboy at heart, Ryuuto appeared to others as a cold, beautiful young man with an almost ascetic quality. Manaka looked as if she had just stepped out of a fairytale book. And Morgan somehow perfectly balanced three contradictory qualities: pure, bewitching, and dignified. The three paid no attention to the staring crowds around them, instead focusing on their own "simple" conversations that contained hidden meanings.
Manaka smiled pleasantly. "Miss Caster, your skin is absolutely radiant. What's your secret? I'd love to preserve mine half as well when I reach your age."
Ryuuto thought to himself, How nice... Mom is actually getting along with Morgan. I was worried they'd clash like fire and water.
Meanwhile, Morgan was thinking, Is this young woman subtly mocking me for my age?
Out loud, she replied, "I never expected to meet someone with British ancestry like Miss Manaka here in the Far East. I hope you'll show me around today."
Ryuuto's thoughts wandered again. Yes, I always thought she was fully Japanese too.
And their conversation continued in this manner.
Unknown to him, the two women with the sharpest minds were smiling politely while secretly sizing each other up.
After exiting the Shinjuku Sanchome subway station and walking for a few minutes, they arrived at their destination for the day, the Isetan Main Store.
Founded in 1933, this department store has been a Shinjuku landmark for 60 years and is one of the more upscale shopping destinations in Tokyo. As soon as they stepped onto the women's clothing floor, both ladies immediately stopped their subtle jabs at each other.
Since it was a weekday afternoon, the store wasn't very crowded, and the atmosphere was relatively quiet.
Morgan looked around at all the colorful women's clothing on display and let out a small sigh through her slightly parted red lips.
"Is this your first time in a department store?" he asked, watching the witch trying to hide her excitement, though her wide blue eyes sparkled with interest.
"Yes. The Holy Grail gave me knowledge about such places, but seeing one in person is different... it's quite nice."
He thought about how despite her long life, she was still just a witch who had spent most of her time confined to a garden..
Just as he was about to say something, a voice interrupted his somewhat melancholy thoughts.
"Ryuuto, come look at this," Manaka called, waving at him from nearby.
"Coming..." he replied.
But before he could move, Morgan reached out from behind and grabbed his wrist.
...
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