Part 3
After lunch, Touma continued showing Shizuki around different parts of the city.
They visited museums, shopping centers, and even took a peek into a boutique she found "interesting", though she never admitted to actually enjoying the outing.
During one of their stops, while Shizuki went into the restroom, Touma slipped into a small trinket shop he had noticed earlier.
It was a modest little place, tucked between buildings, with striped awnings and a tiny bell that chimed cheerfully every time someone entered.
—Welcome! —greeted the shopkeeper with a kind smile.
—Hi. I'd like to buy these three, please… and if possible, could you wrap them as a gift? —Touma asked, placing two white bunny keychains and a matching hair clip on the counter.
With quick, practiced hands, the clerk wrapped them delicately and tucked them into a small, elegant gift bag.
—Alright, I'll give it to her later —Touma murmured, carefully placing the bag inside his backpack.
Shizuki returned shortly after, finding him sitting on a nearby bench with a relaxed expression.
Without saying much, they resumed their walk. They strolled in silence for a while, letting time flow between them peacefully, almost naturally.
Eventually, they reached a hill that offered a clear view of the ocean.
It was one of the city's highest points, with a white railing and wooden benches lined up facing the horizon.
A perfect spot to watch the sunset.
Touma bought two crepes from a nearby stand and handed one to Shizuki.
—Strawberry and cream. Doesn't stain too much… I think —he said, handing her the crepe.
Shizuki accepted it with a faint smile.
—You really thought of everything.
—It's nothing. I just tend to pay attention when people talk —he replied, trying to sound casual.
They sat on one of the benches. In front of them, the sky began to turn shades of orange and pink as the sun slowly descended toward the horizon.
The sea breeze was gentle, and the whisper of the waves reached them like a distant sigh.
For a long while, they said nothing. Just ate in silence, watching the view.
Shizuki was the first to speak.
—Thanks for staying with me today.
Touma glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
—I had fun. Though… I feel like you saw more of me than I saw of you.
—Oh, really?
—Yeah. You showed me what you like, how you think, even how you pick a sofa. I just… wanted to be there with you.
Shizuki lowered her gaze.
—Maybe… that's what I needed.
—Just that? To have company?
—No. Just… to have a normal day. With someone who didn't expect anything from me.
Touma didn't respond right away.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped package.
—It's nothing fancy, but… I wanted you to have something to remember today by —he said, offering it to her with a slightly awkward smile.
Shizuki accepted it with a mix of surprise and disbelief. She untied the ribbon carefully, and inside, she found two small white bunny keychains and a matching hair clip.
—One of the keychains is for your phone, so it matches your case and your wallpaper. The other's for your bag… and, well, the hair clip… I think it'd look nice on you.
Shizuki smiled softly.
—They're really beautiful… thank you —she said as she clipped the bunny charm onto her phone and carefully tucked the rest into her purse.
Then, she saw her car making its way up the hill. It was time to return.
—Thank you for today, Touma. It made me think about a lot of things. I wish I could stay longer, but I have other matters to attend to —she added, subtly gesturing toward the approaching vehicle.
—I'm glad you enjoyed it. We can hang out again sometime… maybe with the others, do something different —he suggested with a smile.
Shizuki nodded naturally.
—Yes. I'd love that.
Then she glanced toward a nearby bush and raised her voice just slightly.
—And you two, I know you're there. You can come out now.
Hina and Mirai slowly emerged from their hiding spot, covered in leaves and twigs, wearing expressions somewhere between guilty and embarrassed.
—How did you know we were there? —Touma asked, surprised.
Shizuki simply pulled out her pocket watch, opened it for a brief moment, then tucked it away again with elegance.
—Let's call it… intuition —she said with a half-smile, as if hiding more than she let on.
—She's right, Touma-sama. According to my logs, they've been following you since you left Seisen… but I didn't think it was worth mentioning. Tehe~ —Ellie whispered in his ear with her usual mischievous giggle.
—We weren't following anyone, you homewrecking cat… we just happened to be walking around and saw you —muttered Hina, with the shamelessness of a low-budget soap actress.
Touma looked at her, dumbfounded.
"Hina, that lie only works on yourself…"
At that moment, Shizuki's car came to a smooth stop, and her butler stepped out with his usual grace. He opened the rear door with a flawless motion.
—William, right on time —Shizuki said calmly.
Before leaving, she stood in front of Touma and, with natural elegance, gave a slight bow.
—Thank you for this non-date. I look forward to the next one.
—Of course. I'll plan a better itinerary next time —Touma replied with a confident smile.
She nodded subtly, and before getting into the car, she walked over to Hinata and handed her a small package. Then she gave Mirai a brief wave and stepped into the vehicle with the same grace she'd arrived with, disappearing into the sunset.
Hina, still confused, opened the package.
Inside was a book.
The cover was colorful, with illustrations straight out of a first-grade classroom.
The title: "Learn Manners Through Pictures."
Hina clenched her teeth.
—That damn… she's definitely going to pay for this —she muttered, already imagining Shizuki laughing with that classic villainous noblewoman tone:
"O-hohoho~"
—Come on now, don't take it so personally —Touma said, trying to defuse the situation—. How about we head to the rec zone for a bit? Jake messaged me, said he's at the batting cages.
Hina naturally grabbed his arm and smiled.
—Yes, let's go! I feel like having some fun.
—Hey, don't just cling to me like that! —Touma protested, though not very seriously—. What do you say, Mirai? You coming?
—Y-yes… of course —she replied softly, timid as a bunny.
And so, the three of them walked off toward the shopping district, where Jake was waiting.
As the car rolled quietly through Tenryu's lamp-lit streets, the interior remained wrapped in a near-ceremonial calm.
Shizuki gazed out the window, one hand resting against her cheek, the other holding her phone—now adorned with a small white bunny.
At the wheel, William broke the silence in his usual serene tone.
—Did you find what you were looking for, miss?
Shizuki didn't answer right away. She stared at her reflection in the glass for a few seconds, then shifted her gaze toward the starry sky.
—I can't give you a precise answer —she said softly—. But I can tell you this… I had fun.
William nodded without looking at her, as if he had already expected that response.
—Then that's enough.
Shizuki leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes as the car continued on its path beneath the night sky.
For the first time in a long while, she wasn't in a hurry to get home.