Chapter 80
Chapter 80
“Did you rest well? How’s your body feeling?”
Tetsuya’s question carried a note of concern. Miyuki responded with a nod, though her expression was awkward.
“Yeah, I’m feeling a lot better.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Did someone say anything in the Kendo club?”
“The Kendo club? Don’t you mean the student council?”
“No... Since Matsuda-kun couldn’t participate in the club activities because of me... I was just curious.”
“They didn’t really say much. Just acknowledged it...”
Sitting between Miyuki and Tetsuya, I leaned my elbows on the desk, eavesdropping on their conversation.
“How’s Kendo going these days?” I asked Tetsuya.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Are you doing well? Last time, you were getting extra lessons from the coach and Inoo Sunbae.”
“Ah... It’s going alright, I guess.”
“Keep at it.”
My encouragement lacked any real sincerity, and as I finished, I felt a light tap on my elbow from behind. Turning around, I looked at Miyuki.
“What are you doing?”
“There was some dust on you. I brushed it off.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.”
“Why don’t you open your book? Class is about to start.”
With a shrug, I pulled a textbook from my desk drawer. Glancing sideways at Tetsuya, I noticed he seemed a bit flustered. He must have been surprised by Miyuki’s brief touch.
It was rare for Miyuki to touch me, except when scolding or hitting as a form of nagging. I guess I’ll have to show more of that in the future.
**
Lunchtime.
After eating quickly, I went to the Kendo club alone and stopped by the storage room to inspect the gear.
Everything was meticulously cleaned.
The shinai too, looked glossy as if it had been well oiled.
Stepping outside, I chuckled as I saw all the dojo uniforms spread out to dry.
Chinami must have finished everything up. It must have been tough doing it all alone. Good job.
With nothing left to do, I kicked a pebble and was about to leave when,
“Heh heh.”
I heard a smug laugh from behind. Turning around, I saw Chinami standing with her arms crossed, and I widened my eyes in surprise.
“When did you get here?”
“Just now. I called you to say you didn’t need to come, but you didn’t pick up.”
“You called? When?”
“About 20 minutes ago.”
Checking my phone, sure enough, there was a missed call from Chinami. It had been during my meal, and my phone was on silent, so I hadn’t noticed. I nodded a couple of times before speaking.
“I told you to only do half. It must have been hard by yourself.”
“Gear like this needs to be cleaned regularly. Besides, I usually do it alone, don’t I?”
“Did it take long? Didn’t you get home late?”
“I was only about 10 minutes late. I focus better when I’m alone.”
“That sounds like you’re saying I’m a disturbance. I’m a bit hurt.”
“Oh...! You should listen to the end. I was bored without my hubae-nim.”
Chinami came closer and patted me on the back energetically. She seemed in high spirits. Was there some good news?
Chinami’s encouragement made me smile wryly and I asked,
“Sensei seems to be in a really good mood today?”
“I have to be. I found a limited edition Momo doll at a good price online, and decided to buy it. I spotted it just as I logged onto the site, and contacted the seller right away to make arrangements. I was really lucky.”
“Is that so? That’s great...”
I was about to congratulate Chinami but then clamped my mouth shut.
Something felt off. This Momo doll was something Chinami had been struggling to find even after much effort. Listings were rare, and when they did appear, they were priced prohibitively high for a student.
Could a genuine article be listed at such a good price?
“Sensei.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you think it might be a scam? It’s suspicious that such a rare item is listed at a good price.”
“Heh heh... I understand your concern. But I checked the seller’s phone number on a scam prevention app and confirmed it’s safe. We agreed to meet in person, so it should be fine.”
Meeting in person does reduce the risk of being scammed...
“Is this your first time doing a transaction like this?”
“No. I often buy Momo goods this way.”
“And you’ve never been scammed?”
“Never. Everyone’s been kind.”
Chinami had built up a reputation through numerous transactions...
I had a hunch... the innocent Chinami might be about to taste the bitterness of life.
“When is the transaction?”
“Today.”
Her eyes sparkled, and her hands came together as if in prayer, her excitement evident.
I smirked and said, “Are you heading straight to the transaction place after club activities?”
“No. I’m going to have cake with a friend first, then go to the transaction place.”
“Isn’t Inoo sunbae going with you?”
“No. She mentioned she had something to buy today... I didn’t ask what it was, so I’m not sure.”
It’s related to animation.
She must have recently finished watching an anime, and today, perhaps to commemorate it, she planned to buy some merchandise, likely heading to Akihabara or Nakano.
Maybe I could meet up after helping Chinami...
“So, you’re going alone? Should I come with you?”
Chinami’s eyes widened.
“You? With me?”
“I’ve recently become interested in Momo goods myself. I’ve only ever seen them online; I’d like to see them in person.”
“Oh...? Is that true?”
Chinami clapped like a seal.
It seemed she was thrilled to have a companion to discuss Momo-related topics.
“Yes. Where and when are you meeting with the seller?”
“At Ikebukuro Station at seven.”
There’s still plenty of time.
I’d drop off Miyuki, stop by home to change, and then head out.
“Alright, then. Shall we meet at the station around 6:30?”
“That sounds great! I’m looking forward to today.”
Chinami crossed her hands and bowed deeply. Her unusually demure appearance made me chuckle. Suppressing the urge to touch her flowing pink hair, I bowed my head in return, playing along.
**
“I’m off. Thanks for the ride.”
Miyuki unbuckled her seatbelt and placed her bag on her lap. I remained silent, prompting a puzzled look from her.
“What’s up?”
Without a word, I tapped my cheek with my finger. Miyuki smiled sleepily, leaned in shyly, and kissed my cheek, making a slight popping sound that was delightfully pleasing to my ear. She then half-opened the passenger door.
“I’m really going now. See you tomorrow.”
“Do it again. I didn’t like that one.”
“What... No way.”
With a playful stick-out of her tongue, Miyuki quickly got out of the car. She gently closed the passenger door, waved brightly, and hurried towards the front door of her house.
After parting with Miyuki, I went straight home to change clothes, rested a bit, then headed out again. I drove in silence to a public parking lot near Ikebukuro Station.
Despite it being a weekday evening, the area was bustling due to its unique location. I watched the throng of people as I made my way to the agreed meeting spot, examining the photo of the Momo doll Chinami had sent on my phone. There, amidst the crowd, I spotted Chinami.
Her pink hair made her instantly recognizable.
Today, her outfit was simple—a plain sweatshirt and jeans, complemented by pristine white shoes that stood out due to their small size. It added a certain cuteness.
I approached Chinami from behind and playfully poked her delicate shoulder.
“Muhut!”
As usual, she let out a quirky exclamation and stiffened her shoulders, quickly turning around.
“Hubae-nim...! You’re here?”
“Yes.”
“Then say something... Why are you pressing my shoulder?”
“Can’t I do that?”
“It’s not that you can’t, but... ahem... anyway, it’s nice to see you again.”
She didn’t warn me to be cautious. Our relationship seems to be progressing smoothly.
Of course, it’s slow, but it’s clear we’re making our way up step by step.
“Was the cake good?”
“Absolutely. I had it with a peach smoothie.”
“You didn’t try a peach-flavored cake, did you?”
“No, it was a new café and unfortunately, they didn’t have it. So I went with chocolate.”
Peach-flavored cake... Although it exists, it’s not something you see often. I’ve never tried it myself and am curious, though I’m also afraid it might permanently damage my taste buds.
Best not to willingly open Pandora’s box.
As Chinami and I chatted our way towards the meeting place, I noticed a man with a deeply pulled-down hat sitting on a bench, tapping on his phone. When his fingers stopped, Chinami’s phone vibrated.
“There he is.”
Chinami’s expression fluttered as she checked her messages, clearly filled with anticipation about finally acquiring the Momo doll.
I suggested, “Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
Chinami responded energetically and took the lead. Approaching the seller, she greeted him politely.
“Hello? Are you the person selling the Momo doll?”
“Yes, that’s right. Hello.”
“Thank you so much for offering it at such a good price...! It’s unopened, right?”
“As I mentioned, only the outer wrapping was removed, but the contents are unopened. Please, have a look.”
“Thank you! I’ll just check!”
Chinami opened the box handed over by the seller. The doll, properly packaged in plastic and non-woven fabric, was exactly as advertised, melting her eyes in delight.
“Wow...! It’s just right...!”
Seeing Chinami’s genuine reaction, I decided to take a closer look at it myself and took the box. It matched the picture Chinami had sent perfectly but selling it at just above cost didn’t make sense, especially given its recent release and high value.
Drawing in a deep breath, I asked the seller, “Why are you selling it at such a price?”
“Ah... It was hard to find, but my daughter didn’t like it much. And my wife has been urging me to sell it quickly...”
“I see. May I take a closer look?”
“That’s possible, but I’m in a bit of a hurry...”
“Didn’t we agree to meet at seven?”
“Why does that matter...?”
“It’s only 6:45 now. We still have fifteen minutes. We assumed we’d meet at seven, so there’s still time.”
“... It seems like everything has already been checked... If you’re still uneasy, go ahead and check again.”
“Thank you. I’ll only need a couple of minutes. I’ll be quick.”
I proceeded to carefully inspect the doll once more, ensuring that everything was as promised. It was crucial to be thorough, given the deal’s unusually favorable terms, to ensure that everything was legitimate and Chinami wouldn’t face any issues later.
As I reached to check the label on the back of the doll,
“Here is the money...! Thank you for selling it at such a good price!”
Unaware of our conversation and immersed in her own world, Chinami had taken an envelope of money from her crossbody bag and was handing it to the seller.
“Wait...”
I tried to intervene quickly, but it was too late. The envelope had already left Chinami’s hands.
“Please enjoy it. Take care now.”
The seller had already turned away with the money in hand. He had agreed to let me finish checking, yet the instant he received the money, his eagerness to leave was suspicious—it screamed scam. The audacity to attempt a scam in a face-to-face transaction almost deserved a begrudging respect.
In a typical romantic comedy, the protagonist might have let him get away, leading to a chase or a call to the police. But I was not so dull.
In a swift motion, I grabbed the hem of the man’s jacket as he tried to slip away. His center of gravity shifted backward, nearly pulling me along.
“What are you doing...!”
Even as I stabilized myself, I kept a firm grip on his jacket. The man burst out angrily, but he fell silent as I murmured my next observation.
“You’re not wearing a wedding ring.”
“Excuse me...?”
“You said your wife told you to sell it. But there’s no wedding ring on your ring finger.”
“That’s—”
Sure, maybe he couldn’t afford a ring, or perhaps there really was an urgent reason for him to rush. But those possibilities didn’t eliminate the fact that he was likely a scammer. Because the evidence was clear—not just circumstantial, but physical.
Sighing, I looked at the perplexed Chinami and the scammer, pointing to the box that had fallen to the ground during our scuffle.
“.....”
“.....”
There lay the Momo doll, having bounced out of the box and rolled onto the cold ground. Tragically, the doll’s head was almost detached, separated within the plastic wrap, clearly indicating it had been tampered with.
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