落とし穴１６５堀：こうして彼らの物語は走りだす (Part2)
"……Ah, yeah. You're right, even if you're staying here, that's definitely necessary. But the sun has already set, so we can go get the supplies tomorrow. For tonight, just something to wear... though, money is the issue."
As expected, it seems her wallet suffers from the typical woes of a student. In some gal games, characters spend money in strangely unrealistic ways, but it seems this game isn't like that. Well, that’s actually a relief for me. Because...
"Ah, you don't have to worry about that. I have some money I was entrusted with, just in case you ended up here. My parents said it was a token of gratitude for how much your parents have helped me out."
"Ah, I feel a bit bad about that, but I suppose I can't be picky when I'm in a bind. I'll be sure to thank them if I ever see them."
With that, Naoko Sudo accepted my proposal, though she wore a look of apology. Well, the part about the money coming from my parents is a complete lie. If I didn't say something like that, she wouldn't have agreed to just take the money.
By the way, regarding my own savings—I checked my bankbook while guiding her through town earlier, and there were several million yen in there, so I don't think I'll be struggling for funds while living here. I took the money from that account. ...Though, it’s not like that money will exist once I wake up from this dream anyway.
"Then, let's go shopping right away."
"Yeah, let's."
And so, we headed out into the night town, but...
"Whoa! January nights are really cold, aren't they?"
"They sure are."
Whenever the wind howled, the cold air bit into our exposed faces. It truly felt like the dead of winter.
"……Yuki-san, we’re supposed to be in our futons, so what is this cold?"
"Who knows. Maybe you kicked off your blanket or something?"
Actually, it’s probably because Luna is doing all sorts of things to us. It’s a bit late to be questioning it now. However, since it would be a pain to catch a cold even in a dream, I’ve taken precautions.
"I'm glad I got the bath ready. Please, be the first to use it when we get back."
"Oh, thanks for everything. It’s good to have a cousin you can rely on."
Naoko Sudo smiled at me and gave a thumbs-up. I can't have her catching a cold and collapsing, after all. Thinking about that, we arrived at the shopping district... and stood frozen in a corner of the arcade where the wind was whistling through.
"……I suppose I can't really follow you into the lingerie shop, can I?"
"……Yeah."
Right. Perhaps it was a mistake to give her too much money, but she said she wanted to get new undergarments and stopped by a specialty store. Well, she’s a girl, so she’s probably particular about her grooming. Even for undergarments no one will see.
"Well, maybe she was being considerate of us, but she picked out her clothes pretty quickly."
"I actually would have preferred if she spent more time on those and less time on the other."
"Still, it’s only been about ten minutes. Actually, why don't we just contact Sudo-senpai and wait at a cafe or something?"
"Ah, that’s true."
A fact I realized a bit late. I had somehow convinced myself that I had to accompany her on her shopping trip. You know, like someone waiting in line for a New Year's lucky bag?
Anyway, setting aside such lonely New Year's talk, we contacted her and moved to a cafe, but...
"Hm? Isn't that one of the heroines?"
"Eh? Ah, isn't that Ayano Meue from the other class?"
It seems my perception wasn't wrong, and Taiki-kun agreed. At the end of our gaze, sitting all alone on a bench outside the shopping district in this freezing weather, was a girl. Her silver twin-tails were fluttering in the wind, looking beautiful as they reflected the lights.
"……That’s a Japanese girl, right?"
"……It should be. I don't really get the silver hair, though."
For Taiki-kun and me, who only recognize black or brown hair, we couldn't be certain that the silver-haired girl was Japanese. More than the fact that she was a heroine, such trivial things were what occupied our minds.
"So, how should we approach her? Want to give it a try, Taiki-kun?"
"Eh! Isn't that just acting like a pick-up artist!?"
But if we don't talk to her, her mystery scenario will probably progress on its own. Actually, we need to confirm what state she's in. So, we have to talk to her. Even if the difficulty level is insanely high!
It’s a basic rule of gal games that flags start popping up all at once, right? Which one do I prioritize? Or do I go for both?
Also, since the New Year is over, should I keep this pace to once a week and start the main story? What do you think? I’d like your opinions. Oh, and don't suggest making a separate "First Dream" arc. I’d die.