Chapter 173 - Camp Preparations

Due to the overnight weekend camping field trip that was soon to happen, many students were frantically scrambling to get everything they needed.

Since lodging would be given, there was no need to go out and buy personal tents.

Most of the things that students needed were for hygienic purposes such as toothbrushes, towels, shampoo, an extra set of clothes, and some other various items.

No one would want to sleep overnight with someone else that stinks, right?

Hopefully the answer to that was yes.

With that prelude, this brings us to the current day.

"Let's go shopping for the trip!" Akari barged into Takei's room with extreme enthusiasm.

Takei was in the middle of playing a fighting game on his tv, so he wasn't exactly paying the most attention. "Yeah, okay..."

Seeing her boyfriend be inattentive, Akari pouted in response. "Mou... I'm inviting you out to a date... You dummy."

She snuck up behind Takei and wrapped her arms around him. "Your cute and adorable girlfriend is waiting for you to come with her~"

Akari was intentionally pushing her two massive assets onto Takei's back, which resulted in him blushing and folding instantly. "Alright alright, I'll go with you. You're pushing those things onto me, you know?"

"Hee hee, of course! That doesn't matter though, let's go shopping right now!" Akari giggled as she pulled him out of his room.

After a short train ride, the two reached the shopping mall that Akari wanted to go to.

"I heard they sold everything here that's necessary for a camping trip, so let's buy as much stuff as we can!"

"I think you forget that we're high schoolers with no jobs sometimes..."

It was true that Takei wasn't hurting for money after the incident during spring break, but there was no way to replenish that money after it was spent.

In other words, he was constantly using money without getting any more.

The first thing on their list was to get some new towels and soaps for the trip, so they headed for an essential necessities store in the mall.

As they walked in, Akari handed Takei a list of items that they needed. "I carefully mapped out which items are on which side of the store, so we can finish fast if we split up and buy the items on our respective sides of the store. Then, we can have as much fun as we want after!"

He had forgotten that his girlfriend was a meticulous and intelligent person due to how much time he spent everyday with her.

Better keep my mouth shut about this or she'll have my head.

Takei read the list and nodded. "Seems simple enough, I'll see you in about 15 minutes. Let's meet up at this spot after we're done.

"Okay, good luck~" Akari waved as she left.

Now that it was just him, Takei went to the first spot that would have the first item on his list.

He was instructed to get toothbrushes, toothpaste, and some floss from this area of the store.

They were just everyday items that Takei had seen for a long time, so it wasn't any trouble to find them at all.

Next up on the list was shampoo, conditioner, and other various types of soaps and lotions.

"Oh sh*t... I think Akari messed up on giving me these items..." He mumbled.

Whenever he would take a shower, Takei would just use whatever soap was available to wash his hand.

At the age he was at, it was a surprise that he still couldn't tell the difference between shampoo and hair conditioner.

Luckily for him, someone behind him tapped him on the shoulder.

"Takei Tanaka... From Shirakawa High?"

Turning around to face the person who said his name, Takei vaguely recognized the student from another class. "Hasebe Takahashi... If I'm correct?"

"Phew... I'm glad you remember me. I'm in your sister class, Class 2-B."

If he remembered correctly, Hasebe Takahashi was the captain of the girls' basketball team and an overall prominent figure in the school.

"I was in the middle of shopping for the camping trip when I noticed that you were having trouble shopping, is there anything I can help with?" Hasebe asked.

"Um..."

"Ah, don't worry. I'm not hitting on you, I have a boyfriend already. Please make sure the goddess knows this, so I don't die a painful death," Hasebe laughed.

Takei decided to take advantage of her good will and ask her for some help. "Okay, I'll make sure to inform her. As for my troubles... I'm a bit embarrassed to say, but I don't really know much about these soap and lotion products. Can you show me where they are?"

"Of course, follow me!" Hasebe motioned for him to follow her.

For the next few minutes, Hasebe would point out where all the products were and explained to Takei what differences each soap and lotion had.

Once they were done, Takei breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, I would've been screwed if you didn't help me out."

"No problem, I just wanted to help out a fellow classmate in trouble," Hasebe shrugged. "I'm going to go finish my shopping now, but I hope we'll be able to have lots of fun on the field trip."

"Yeah, I think it'll be a lot of fun," Takei nodded. "See you then."

"Bye bye."

With that, the mysterious helper was gone in a flash.

I need to get done with my own shopping.

Takei returned to shop for the last few items that he needed and reunited with Akari soon after.

"What took you so long?" Akari asked, worried.

"I just had trouble finding some of the stuff, but I got some help from someone so don't worry."

"Oh, but you could've just asked me right?"

"Ah..."

It was true that Takei could've asked Akari at any time.

Realizing his blunder, Takei's expression crumpled as he realized that there was unnecessary stress for no reason.

"Hehe, you're really cute when you're embarrassed."

Akari's comment didn't end up helping his embarrassment at all.

—

Go Explode! Idiot Couple Meter: 78 -> 82%

He bought the rest of the items needed with a shadow covering his expression and a beet red face.

Serious-san: When's the part-time job arc?

Sugar-chan: Takei should work in a bookstore!

Serious-san: Why?

Sugar-chan: He can give off that mysterious handsome guy vibe >:)

Serious-san: I can see that