Do I really have a thing for female voice actors?

It wasn't until she changed into a dress suitable for spring that Toru Tazaki said, "It looks good."

Rin Tachibana's earlier annoyance vanished in an instant, replaced by a smug and disdainful expression.

The sales assistant next to her was also full of praise for Tachibana Rin, repeating the same words hundreds of times a day.

"Your boyfriend has great taste."

Rin Tachibana scoffed, "He's not my boyfriend."

However, the girl had an expression of undisguised delight on her face. The sales assistant was already used to this kind of talk from female customers and smiled without pointing it out.

"Does this dress come in other colors?"

"This model comes in black and white."

Rin Tachibana tried on a white dress. After a moment's thought, she said to the sales assistant, "Please wrap both of them up for me."

"Okay, wait a minute."

"Buy two?" Tazaki Toru asked.

"I want to wear it myself too."

Thus, Tazaki Toru said no more.

Since it was intended as a gift, Tazaki Toru and Tachibana Rin split the cost.

As for Rin Tachibana's outfit, she paid for it herself.

Because Tachibana Rin doesn't like going out, most of the clothes she wears are bought by her older sister and are quite expensive. She rarely wears pretty clothes that are more affordable.

Today's decision might just be a whim.

As for the reason.

It wasn't because he said "it looks good".

261. Rin-nee is right, but the cat doesn't buy it.

Tazaki Toru originally thought that it would take a lot of time today to choose a good gift for Aoki Hina.

The outcome was much smoother than expected.

At noon, I had a simple lunch at a nearby set meal restaurant.

Since it was still early, Tachibana Rin suggested that since she rarely went out, she should continue to explore the surrounding area.

Tazaki Toru had no work scheduled for today. Although he wasn't very good at it, he didn't want to spoil Tachibana Rin's mood, so he nodded in agreement.

As for Aoki Hina, even after learning that Tachibana Rin had been ordering him around all day...

Just say in private that Tazaki Toru personally picked out this dress and even complimented it on how beautiful it is.

That way, you can perfectly avoid the possibility of Aoki Hina being dissatisfied, and she might even praise Rin for doing a great job.

Don't let Tachibana's usual carefree attitude fool you; when she gets clever, she's anything but stupid.

That's your sister Rin's clever little trick.

Do you really think that Rin-nee and Mika Kohinata are sitting at the same table?

She's not really stupid.

Walking along the bustling street outside 109 Department Store, Tachibana Rin nibbled on a crepe, thoroughly enjoying herself.

She usually follows Aoki Hina around, but today the roles have been reversed, and she's ordering Tazaki Toru around as she pleases.

Although she initially went out to pick out a birthday present for Aoki Hina, at some point, Tazaki Toru found himself carrying various shopping bags, all of which were Tachibana Rin's spoils for the day.

On their way home, the two went to a bakery near their home to pick up the cake they had ordered.

It was almost dusk when I got home.

Upon entering the house, Aoki Hina was nowhere to be found in the living room.

Although she didn't show it on her face, Tachibana Rin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But soon, Rin Tachibana's left and right brains started fighting each other again.

She, Tachibana Rin, hasn't done anything wrong. She went out with him today for your sake, Aoki Hina.

What's there to be ashamed of?

By hypnotizing herself in this way, Tachibana Rin regained her confidence.

"Miss Tachibana, I'll go to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients. I'll cook tonight."

"Hmm... Ohh."

At the Kubo family home, there are usually three types of dinner options.

Eating out, ordering takeout, and cooking with Toru Tazaki.

Today is the third type.

"Um... Tazaki."

Tachibana Rin suddenly called out to stop Tazaki Toru.

Tazaki Tooru turned around and looked.

This man always looks intently into the eyes of girls and pays attention to their expressions when listening to them; he listens with complete focus.

For some reason, Tachibana Rin became slightly shy.

"Well... how should I put it, thank you for going out with me today."

Tazaki Toru chuckled and said, "No need to thank me. I greatly admire the friendship between you two. I think Miss Aoki will be pleased."

"Well……"

When Tazaki Toru carried the ingredients into the kitchen, Tachibana Rin stood there for a long time.

Tazaki Toru's answer, as always, was very characteristic of him—perfectly flawless and absolutely correct.

Rin couldn't explain where this slight itch, as if an invisible hand were piercing her chest and tickling her heart, came from.

I gently pursed my lips, and the creamy aroma of the crepe seemed to linger between my teeth, making it exceptionally sweet.

"Rin-chan, what are you doing?"

The sudden sound beside her ear was like a boulder thrown into a lake, startling Tachibana Rin.

When she met Aoki Hina's slightly indifferent eyes, Tachibana Rin clearly felt a slight tingling sensation on her scalp.

"Oh... Hina, you're awake." Tachibana Rin forced a smile.

Hina Aoki couldn't help but squint.

"Stop talking nonsense. It's almost evening. Where have you been?"

Rin Tachibana calmed herself down a bit and replied, "Didn't I just say that I went out shopping?"

"one person?"

"Forehead……"

Rin Tachibana's gaze flickered for a moment.

Hina Aoki looked around, and when she saw the cake box on the table and the messy shopping bags on the floor, she understood.

She softened her tone, understandingly refraining from pointing out the truth, and instead offered a gentle smile: "Call me next time."

"Oh...oh, sorry."

Hina Aoki stretched, pretending not to see the cake box, and went straight to the restroom.

While they were there, Tachibana Rin put the cake in the refrigerator.

In the evening, Tazaki Toru and Aoki Hina went to the music room as usual.

No one brought up the fact that Tazaki Toru and Tachibana Rin went out alone.

……

……

Midnight.

The bells rang for January 5th.

The once brightly lit music room was suddenly plunged into darkness when the lights went out.

Outside the door, Tachibana Rin walked in, carrying a cake covered with candles and singing a birthday song.

The moment the lights went out, Hina Aoki had already imagined this would happen.

There was no surprise whatsoever.

However, this did not mean that Hina Aoki was not happy; she cooperated by showing a genuinely joyful smile.

In particular, Toru Tazaki was singing a birthday song for her.

For this alone, Hina Aoki was already incredibly satisfied.

After the birthday song ended, the lights in the music room came back on.

The Kubo family's rule is that eating is not allowed in the music room, but since it's Aoki Hina's birthday today, they're ignoring this rule for once.

"Hina, this is a gift for you. Tazaki and I spent the whole day shopping."

Upon hearing this, Hina Aoki's eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

"...Thank you."

Taking the shopping bag of clothes from Tachibana Rin, she felt inexplicably complicated for some reason.

"Oh, I forgot to bring my cutlery."

"I'll go downstairs to get it," Toru Tazaki said.

While waiting for Tazaki Tooru to leave, Aoki Hina took a deep breath and looked at Tachibana Rin with a strange expression.

"Rin-chan, you mean you went out with Tazaki-kun today?"

"Yes."