I endured the humiliation and humiliation while being besieged by the ghost story elder sister.

She immediately noticed the plates that were originally used to serve breakfast on the table, and Arisa could faintly smell the aroma of cheese and fried ham.

Comparing it to the bread she ate that morning, Arisa felt a pang of jealousy, jealous that Honoka could so legitimately enjoy Nozomi's care.

So much so that the way she looked at Fanxia on the sofa became less friendly.

"What? You want to fight?!"

Honoka, who also noticed Arisa's gaze, glared fiercely at the girl, looking determined not to back down.

Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was suddenly tense, Mio quickly pulled the two who were about to fight back and told them the purpose of Arisa's visit.

"Hey? Want to go shopping this afternoon?"

"Yes, you can go with Aunt Ami and the others. If you don't want to go, that's fine too."

Once back on the sofa, Xi Ling spoke to Fan Xia, her light blue eyes seeming to anticipate her reply.

After a moment of silence in the living room, Fanxia pondered for a moment, and then, seeing Arisa's ambiguous smile, she decisively agreed.

After that, she went back to her room, seemingly wanting to find some clothes to change into before going out.

"I'll go back and tell my mom~ See you later, Mio."

Having finished her task, Arisa planned to go back and tell Ami, and also pick out a nice outfit for the afternoon's shopping trip.

a long time.

Since they had agreed to go to a restaurant later for afternoon tea, Nozomi didn't prepare lunch.

She had already changed into her outdoor clothes, a pure white oversized hoodie, and was still wearing shorts, but she had added a pair of warm black leggings underneath.

The curves of her legs, without an ounce of excess fat, were perfectly outlined, while also avoiding the risk of catching a cold.

At least, when they saw Nozomi's outfit, both Honoka and Arisa approved of it.

Aunt Ami, standing to the side, had a rather intriguing expression, but it was unclear what she was thinking. Nozomi didn't pay much attention to it.

"By the way, although this trip is supposed to be shopping, Aunt Ami, is there actually something you want to buy?"

Walking along the road, Ximiao asked with some curiosity.

"Indeed, it should be said that it's preparation for the holiday."

"Eh?"

At this moment, Himiko still didn't quite understand what she meant by those words.

They came to a pedestrian street where most of the people passing by were beautiful women dressed in kimonos who looked like wealthy people.

Xi Miao thought they would go shopping in Ginza again today, which made him feel a little curious.

Then, Ami, with practiced ease, led them to the entrance of a shop that looked quite retro, but Nozomi didn't see a sign on the eaves.

"here it is?"

"I often order clothes from this store, and I've known the owner for a long time."

As Ami introduced Hime to Hime in this way, she seemed to be in a very good mood.

Chapter Ninety-Eight: All Riddlers Must Die!

jingle--

As Ashi pushed open the shop door and led the group of people inside, the sound of the bell behind the door continued to echo inside, seemingly reminding the proprietress that customers had arrived.

The shop's interior is decorated in a retro style, with tatami mats covering the floor throughout. Only in the entryway is there a small floor tile for customers to place their shoes.

"Welcome! Are you here to pick up a pre-ordered garment, or are you a customer who wants to have one custom-made?"

Hearing the commotion at the door, the beautiful woman, dressed in a gorgeous kimono, slowly emerged from behind the counter.

Then, upon seeing Ami smiling at her, her previously serious, business-like fake smile suddenly turned into one of surprise and genuine emotion.

"Ashi? It's you~ You didn't even tell me you were coming. And who are those people behind you?"

The proprietress instantly transformed into Ashi's best friend, stepping forward and pulling her into the shop.

This left Hiyo and Arisa, who were behind them, completely stunned, feeling utterly speechless.

"This should be a kimono shop, right?"

Ximiao asked Fanxia in a low voice, looking around curiously. This was his first time visiting a shop that specialized in selling these kinds of clothes.

"Not only kimonos, but also yukatas are displayed in that showcase over there."

"So, what does Aunt Ashi want with us here?"

Unable to reach a conclusion, Nozomi and Honoka both looked at Arisa, who hadn't said much since earlier.

It seems he wanted to get an answer from the girl.

But Arisa just shrugged, indicating that she was helpless against her mother's unpredictable thoughts.

"I don't know...maybe she has something on her mind."

However, Ashi didn't keep them waiting too long. After exchanging pleasantries with the proprietress, she called them over.

She spoke softly to Xi Ling and the others.

"Come on, let them take your measurements."

"Eh?"

This time, not only Nozomi, but also Arisa and Honoka were dumbfounded and didn't quite understand why she did this.

"Wait...isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Seeing that Ami seemed to want to buy each of them an outfit, Honoka quickly stepped forward and tried to dissuade her from the idea.

"It's just a yukata for each person. The proprietress only charges us the cost price because of our friendship, so there's no need to worry about the price."

As she spoke, she walked over to Fanxia and whispered something in her ear.

Anyway, Himeko, who was watching from the side, clearly saw the change in Honoka's expression and couldn't help but wonder what Aunt Ami had said to her.

next moment.

Fanxia changed her mind and nodded in agreement for Xiling. Then she eagerly pushed the boy over to get his measurements taken.

"Hey... Honoka-nee? What are you doing? What did Aunt Ami say to you just now?"

"Well~ Mio, you don't need to worry about that. Just go and try on the clothes. I'll pay for them for you~"

After saying that, Himo was pushed into the shop by Honoka, which was a room used to take customers' measurements for custom clothing.

For a moment, only Ximio, who was standing still, and the shop owner, who was smiling at her, remained in the room.

"Oh my, I didn't expect you to come in first. Come on, raise your hands."

She took out a measuring tape and walked around Xi Ling, seemingly observing the boy's physique, before finally tightening the tape around his body.

a long time.

With the proprietress's skillful operation, the group quickly measured their respective dimensions.

After a flurry of activity, having missed lunch, the group found a café near the pedestrian street and decided to have some afternoon tea to tide them over.

Finally able to sit down and rest, Nozomi didn't even look at the menu before asking Aunt Ami directly.

"What are we going to do with buying yukatas, Aunt Ami? There aren't any festivals or anything like that lately..."

however.

Asumi still doesn't intend to tell Nozomi and Arisa what her plan is.

On the contrary, Honoka, who was sitting next to Nozomi, was leisurely drinking lemonade, looking like she was watching a show.

Just now, when they were in the store, Ami had already told her about her plans, which is why she agreed to buy her a yukata without hesitation.

As for Ami, who was facing Nozomi and her daughter's questioning gaze, she smiled slightly.

"I'll tell you what you need the yukatas for when you come back from school next Monday after you get your grades~"

"Eh--"

Her words immediately drew the ire of the two men.

But apart from that, the two of them didn't dare to say anything more, and could only silently pick up the menu and look at what they wanted to eat.

……

After such a peaceful weekend.

On Monday morning, Hiyo and Arisa, who had gone back to school to pick up their grades and winter break homework, were sitting in their seats listening to the teacher on the podium talking about precautions for the holiday.

Judging from your expression, you seem to have done quite well on the exam!

Feeling bored, Hiyo couldn't help but glance at Arisa's pretty face sitting next to her. She seemed to be in a very good mood.

As for the report card, it's been kept secret since just now. They won't show it to him, saying they'll let Aunt Ashi see it when we get back.

Before long, the teacher finished delivering all the notices to them, and he and Arisa quickly packed their bags and prepared to go home.

Before leaving, Nozomi made sure to go to the third stall in the men's restroom to say goodbye to Hanako, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.

During holidays, he would occasionally bring some desserts to visit her, and then leave in a hurry. He would change into his indoor shoes at the foot of the teaching building and leave the school with Arisa.

On the tram.

"Arisa, do you remember what Aunt Ami said?"

"They said they'd only tell us about that after the results were released, right? Mio, didn't you get anything out of Honoka?"

After hearing what Arisa said, Nozomi shook her head helplessly.

"No matter how I tried to get information out of Fanxia, ​​it was no use; she just wouldn't tell me..."

He had no choice but to obey and wait until the results were released today before asking Aunt Ashi what she was planning to do.

She specially bought a yukata without telling them what she was going to do with it. It felt like she was preparing some kind of surprise for herself and Arisa.

Nozomi couldn't help but think that.