Aide

Midori returned in her school uniform, holding the dress in her hands.

Although her expression remained apathetic—neither frowning nor smiling—there was still a lingering redness in her cheeks and ears.

"I'd like to thank you for the gift. It's my first time receiving something like this from the opposite gender," she said.

"Oh, really?" Eric looked at her. "Well, that makes two of us. I've never given a gift like this to a girl before," he added, his tone direct and matter-of-fact.

'In my past life, let alone giving a gift to a girl who wasn't a relative, I don't think I ever spent more than two hours alone with anyone of the opposite gender,' he thought.

His statement only made Midori more flustered and self-conscious. Suddenly, walking together felt more embarrassing than ever. Her heart raced so much that she feared Eric might hear it.