Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 252, Section 27: "Gifts and Surprises...Shocks"

At 10 p.m., Masumi was huddled alone in the kotatsu table, the light was off, and the curtains, which should have been drawn, were still open.

The light from the streetlights shone through the glass, illuminating his face along with the cheap glow from the laptop screen.

Although it was late at night, there was a very important matter that needed to be addressed, namely—
"...Christmas presents."

Masumi stared at the online shopping page on the screen and murmured to herself.

Although he doesn't value Christmas very much, gifts represent the giver's sentiments. If it's only the girls who are giving, Masumi would feel really bad, and it would also disappoint their expectations.

After all, it was their first Christmas together.

For all the reasons mentioned above, Masumi decided not to be perfunctory and to prepare Christmas gifts with care.

only……

Because she has never paid much attention to such matters, Masumi has very little experience in this area.

Giving "premium plums" or "local specialties" as a souvenir? That wouldn't work.

Last time at the aquarium, I gave a body chain to three girls, and thankfully none of them minded.

This time, we absolutely must make a satisfactory arrangement.

Since you're going to give it to them anyway, you should at least make sure they're satisfied.

Anime DVDs are only for Mami, and if you're going to give Rinne... Nekofuku Sandy would be a good choice, and Umizuki would be even easier.

but……

To avoid spending money, Christmas gifts are exchanged, so you only need to buy one gift.

That's why Masumi is so conflicted.

Even so, he couldn't relax at all, which meant that no matter which girl he randomly gave his gift to, she had to be satisfied.

Sigh, it feels like a middle school boy giving a girl in his class his first Christmas present.

Masumi pressed her temples in exasperation.

Try searching online.

Enter the keywords "girls, Christmas, gifts", press Enter, and click search.

The next second, a whole bunch of search results filled his field of vision.

many.

He reluctantly selected a few items from the dazzling array of goods, added them to his shopping cart, and then fell into decision paralysis.

There's no other way but to turn to the deeper layers of the network once again.

Masumi opened the Q&A app, and since Christmas was approaching, he was not alone in having such questions.

"Christmas is coming soon, what would be a suitable gift to give to a girl I like?"

Answer 1: Give yourself to her.
-
A reply in the thread: If it's not Hoshino Gen or Takahashi Issei, the other party won't accept it, right?
Answer 2: Five-figure sum in cash and a luxury apartment in the port area.

Answer 3: Go die now!

Answer 4: If they ask on social media instead of their female friends, it means you've already lost your chance.

Answer 5: What's the point of celebrating a holiday that doesn't give you time off and costs money?

Answer 6: There are more and more Japanese people with abnormal minds.

"..."

Masumi sighed; it was completely useless as a reference.

However, the fourth answer is worth considering, especially for female friends...

Seeking inspiration from fellow women is indeed a good idea.

So, who can I ask for help from...?

Toyama was the first to respond.

Star Rhythm: "I went shopping with Arisa today for Christmas presents. I bought a cute opal star pendant, and you can even have your name engraved on it!"

She sent back a photo of a star pendant, slightly smaller than two finger joints, lying in her palm, engraved with the word Kasumi.

Masumi: "Kasumi?"

Star Rhythm: "This is the stage name I came up with for myself, Kasumi."

Masumi: "I see."

A gift engraved with a name sounds very meaningful, but—

Masumi: "By the way, is there a craft that can engrave the names of five people at the same time, and then only display the name of the person touching the pendant?"

Star Rhythm: "Huh?"

Then there's that eccentric freelance writer, Shiratori... Shiratori Hitomi, I guess.

Because her name is written in hiragana, Masumi never remembers the kanji.

Hitomi: "A Christmas present, how wonderful!"

Hitomi: "I have absolutely no one to exchange Christmas gifts with, and my savings are almost gone. My next paycheck is still a long way off... Will I even survive this Christmas?"

Ugh, I feel like my resentment is about to overflow through the screen.

Masumi quickly closed the chat window with her.

Neither one nor two are very reliable.

Since Senior Gu didn't reply, he's probably already asleep.

Masumi yawned; she seemed a little sleepy herself.

Let's finalize a few options for now, and eliminate them one by one tomorrow.

Thinking this, Masumi closed her laptop and was about to go to the bathroom to wash up when she suddenly received a LINE message.

It was sent by a dog feeder.

Yuyuko: "For Christmas presents, I'm planning to give my friends lip balm and hand sanitizer."

Yuyuko: "Because winter is very dry, it's very important to pay attention to moisturizing."

Yuyuko: "The one I chose is not only practical, but also has beautiful packaging. It's a trendy star product featured in magazines!"

That's right, Inukai, who's obsessed with fashion magazines, is definitely a qualified strategist.

Masumi then told her about her situation.

Yuyuko: "I hope this is a gift that all the seniors at the coffee shop will be happy with..."

Yuyuko: "I think a decent gift like hand sanitizer, a handkerchief, or hand cream would be good. It might not get a perfect score, but it should be enough to pass."

Yuyuko: "But as for Miyazawa-senpai... I think a 'gift for adults' would be better."

Masumi: "A gift from an adult?"

Yuyuko: "That's right."

Yuyuko: "The kind of gift that tests economic strength, a gift for adults!"

So it was a gift for adults.

Masumi: "So... how about perfume?"

Yuyuko: "In terms of economic strength, it's indeed quite good, but... perfume is a very private item, and if you don't know the other person very well, it's easy to make things worse."

Masumi: "That's really reliable, Inukai."

Yuyuko: "Eh, that's not true. I was just reading from the magazine."

Yuyuko: "If Miyazawa-senpai really intends to give perfume as a gift, there are a few common brands that you should avoid, because public restroom deodorizers also smell like that, and passersby will think it's cheap."

Yuyuko: "Also, if you're giving a gift to a girl, rose-scented perfume is probably the safest bet."

……

After chatting with Yuyuko for a while about gift selection, I felt a little more relaxed.

Masumi chose a gift she liked and decided to buy it at a nearby shopping mall the next evening.

I always feel more at ease seeing things in person than buying them online.

Moreover, packaging the items that are being sent takes a lot of effort, and if it were in a store, it would definitely not be able to hide it from the other girls.

Maintaining a sense of surprise is also important.

Masumi: "Thank you so much for today, Inukai."

Yuyuko: "Yes, yes, I am very honored to be able to help you, senior."

Yuyuko: "A short-haired boy in military uniform saluting.jpg"

Huh? Could this expression be from the same anime as Mami's?

...But let's not think about that for now.

Masumi stretched, feeling a stretch in her muscles.

Perhaps due to sitting for a long time, I heard a "clicking" sound from my joints.

Go wash up and go to bed.

Masumi put her phone into the pocket of her loungewear top and then stood up from the kotatsu table.

Although I just turned off the power, it's still very warm inside; the insulation is excellent.

"The best way to get through the winter is to stay huddled in a warm lattice table and play games all day."

As Masumi thought about what Mami had told him before, he walked toward the second-floor restroom.

The unlit corridor was shrouded in darkness when a slender figure emerged from it.

"Rinne?"

As Masumi got closer, she called out the girl's name.

"Oh, it's Masumi."

She wore a strikingly bright red cheongsam and slippers, a combination of skin-toned loungewear that shouldn't be seen in winter.

"Why... did you change into this outfit again?"

Having learned her lesson from the daytime, Masumi decided to be more careful with her words and actions.

"Can't you?"

Rinne asked indifferently.

"It's not that it's not possible, after all, Chiai made it for you..." Masumi scratched her ear awkwardly, "Ah, did you wear it especially for me?"

"I'm not a fortune teller, how would I know you would come here at this exact time?"

Rinne spoke calmly, her face as indifferent as ever.

"Oh, I see."

It seems that I was just being too sentimental.

But the fact that we can see the heiress wearing a cheongsam again means she doesn't intend to completely shelve this outfit, right? Lucky you!

“…So I plan to come directly to you.” Rinne’s words were surprising.

"what?"

"You keep saying I'm a pervert during the day, so I'll use that ability to deal with you!"

Her voice was like melting snow, clear and cool, yet gentle.

She took a step forward, and seemed serious. Was she going to deal with me? What was going on?

"Oh, I was just kidding, because you looked so stiff." Masumi waved her hands in front of her face in a flustered manner.

Is your way of comforting people simply to deflect blame?

Rinne frowned slightly.

"Looking back, it was the first time I met you, and it was also at Mount Rokko and Mount Daikichi."

"Uh, I just think this is more efficient. By the way, is Rinne criticizing me?"

"I'm just stating the facts."

Rinne spoke quietly, glancing at Masumi once more.

Was my tone that harsh?

"nor."

"So, it's because of what happened during the day that you're bothered by it."

Rinne rested her chin on her hand and asserted this.

"If that's the case, I apologize... I'm sorry for using violence against you."

She bowed deeply and earnestly, pleading that it wasn't necessary to be so polite while wearing a cheongsam with an open neckline.

"I didn't care at all, Rinne, you don't need to take it so seriously."

"That's good."

Rinne's tense expression eased slightly.

"I was so overwhelmed by shame that I did that."

"Yes, I understand that."

Masumi nodded.

"In that case, let's begin," Rinne said seriously.

"Start, start what?"

"I don't know if I can do it well, so I'll start with..."

Her lips were slightly parted, revealing her white teeth and pink tongue.

Masumi roughly guessed what Rinne wanted to do.

"I bought a reference book at the bookstore. Although the content confused me, I hope it will make you happy this time."

Wow, no wonder he's a top student from the university; his pursuit of excellence is evident in every aspect.

Just as Rinne approached hesitantly, a phone rang.

It was Masumi's phone ringing in her pocket.

The person calling was my senior, Rugu.

"Sorry, I'm going to take a call."

Masumi picked up her phone, feigning composure.

"Rinne, wait for me here for a moment."

Rinne didn't answer, but just stared at him intently, her expression heavy.

Masumi left the corridor and walked to the staircase connecting to the first floor, where she greeted her senior.

"Good evening, senior."

Good evening, Masumi. Did you miss me?

It's been a long time since I've heard my senior's voice.

The last time I heard that was before we set off for camping.

"Senior, why are you calling so late...?"

"Hey, wasn't it Masumi who contacted me first? Didn't you want to discuss Christmas presents with me?"

"Yes, but it's not needed anymore."

"What? Masumi is so stingy. I was taking a shower and didn't see it at all."

“That’s not true.” Masumi sighed.

"It's because it's already been resolved..."

A cheerful laugh came from the other end of the phone.

"Just kidding, I hope Masumi doesn't mind."

"I'm more concerned about the fact that my senior had a bad personality."

"Oh dear, is this a criticism of me?"

Masumi recalled Rinne's words from earlier, "She was just stating the facts."

"Hmph, from which cat that stole fish did you learn this line from?"

The senior's tone sounded like an interrogation.

Masumi's throat tightened.

"Well..."

The ears caught a rustling sound.

Masumi stood at the end of the stairs, her gaze moving upwards.

"Well."

Rinne pulled her cheongsam tighter, seemingly concerned about the slit at the hem, which was understandable.

From here, you can see everything clearly.

Masumi held the phone in her palm and hid it, then whispered:

"It's okay if Rinne's attitude is even more open and aboveboard."

"I wasn't eavesdropping."

The heiress said nonchalantly.

"...Um, um, I didn't mean that."

Masumi, without thinking twice, agreed first.

"That's so perfunctory." Rinne shrugged, as if she had no idea what to do with him.

"Masumi."

"Masumi?"

Hearing his senior call his name several times on the phone, Masumi quickly answered the phone.

"Oh, sorry, I was a little distracted just now."

"Seriously, how can you get distracted when chatting with a girl?"

"I said coquettishly."

Because I'm chatting with two girls at the same time right now.

"It seems that Masumi needs some guidance from her seniors."

"Please don't do that, senior...!"

"Ok?"

This is……

Masumi lowered his gaze and saw Rinne looking up at him with a timid gaze, like a little girl caught playing a prank. Her lips, however, were moving passionately.

Before he could react, the voice of his senior urged him on repeatedly.

"Masumi? So you didn't hear what I just said either."

"...Huh, uh...what did you just say, senior?"

The sound Masumi forced out of her throat was several times more pathetic than usual.

The senior probably wouldn't notice the distortion during the radio conversation.

"Hey, how about we meet up sometime?"

"Meet?!"

Huh—Masumi couldn't help but take a step back, but there was a wall behind him, so doing so only caused him to bump his head.

Rinne was able to catch her breath slightly as a result.

That face remained aloof, but the corners of her eyes were flushed, her lips were a deeper shade of red, and even the tip of her nose was tinged with a slight blush.

With each breath, a faint mist of warm air seemed to rise, blurring the features of the face.

Masumi took a deep breath and feigned calmness, saying:

"Um, senior, the shop has been quite busy lately, so I can't go to Miyako Island for the time being."

"It's ok."

He didn't pay much attention to the senior's voice.

"I happen to have some free time recently, so I'm planning to come to Kobe to see Masumi. How about it? Are you excited?"

"Eh."

My breath caught in my throat, and at a certain moment, the words of my senior suddenly seemed very distant.

"...Well then, I'm really looking forward to spending Christmas with everyone at the coffee shop."

After leaving those words, the senior hung up the phone. His decisive and efficient personality was very much in line with his style.

Masumi compromised.

If both parties are satisfied, it doesn't matter if the process is a little strange.

He stared blankly at the beautiful girl with long, straight black hair.

Rinne's face flushed red, which was even more noticeable since her skin was already very fair.

Her long, black, lustrous hair was bathed in moonlight, like a river reflecting light.

"I feel like I've seen this painting somewhere before," Masumi thought to herself.

"Cough cough."

"Ah, sorry."

He suddenly realized what was happening.

Rinne said nothing, turned her face away, and raised her left hand again.

With slightly bent knuckles, her fingers rested lightly against her cheek, as if trying to conceal her loss of composure or perhaps to offer herself some support.

"It's okay." Rinne shook her head gently, as if to tell him not to worry. "After all, I couldn't do anything last time."

"Being in a passive position all the time doesn't suit my personality."

"Oh, oh..."

"Well then, that's all for today. Goodnight."

After finishing her sentence in one breath, Rinne nodded and fled in a panic, like a weak little bird, treading unsteadily back to her room.

(End of this chapter)