Chapter 252: Date with Yoshino (2/2) (1/2)

”You're done changing?” I say once Yoshino steps out of the dressing room while carrying a folded rabbit pajamas with her puppet on top of it.

As a response to my inquiry, Yoshino simply nods her head before walking over to me and offering me the pajamas.

Upon taking from her hands, Yoshino is left with her puppet which she immediately puts on her left hand.

Beaming a smile, I reach my arm out to pat her head for a few seconds before turning around and walking over to the cashier.

”Thank you for your purchase,” the cashier simply says with a smile.

”You don't need to pay for the clothes,” Kotori's voice reaches my ears, ”You just focus on making the date enjoyable.

”Sure,” I mutter.

---3rd POV---

”Commander, what has happened to him?” a girl with brown wavy her says as she turns around in her seat to face Kotori, ”It's almost like he's a completely different person.”

”I don't know,” Kotori responds with furrowed brows, ”But isn't this good?”

”Indeed,” a gray-haired middle-aged man interjects, ”He simply doesn't seem to need any guidance anymore. His actions and responses are slick and without fault to the point that it seems like he is constantly reading others' thoughts and acting upon them…”

”Could this be the result of the training?” the girl with wavy hair asks dubiously.

”No,” Kotori bluntly responds, ”This change was too abrupt. Perhaps, the shot from that day didn't cause him brain damage, but improved his EQ instead?”

At this moment, a girl with long dark hair opens her mouth and says, ”They're leaving the clothing store.”

Following that, everyone shifts their focus back to the screens with serious expressions on their face.

---1st POV---

Holding Yoshino's hand, I walk through the mall while casting glances at stores we pass by.

After a few minutes, I notice that Yoshino has once again taken interest in a store. Checking out, I realize that it's a hat shop mostly consisting of female hats.

”Let's go there,” I say while tugging on her arm and shifting our direction to the hat shop.

Yoshino's eyes practically shine as she inspects the shop with an amazed look on her face.

”Go on,” I say, ”Pick one for yourself.”

Hearing my words, her puppet's mouth begins to move as a voice reaches my ears, ”Well, well, Shido; No need to rush.”

Is this her way of saying that we should take our time here? Thinking as such, I beam a smile at her and nod my head before looking around the hat shop.

A while passes before Yoshino seems to have set her sight on a certain hat as she begins walking toward it.

Looking over at the hat that has caught her attention, I see that it's a purple hat similar in color to her dress, albeit a few shades lighter.

Appearing in front of the hat, I grab it before turning around to face the startled Yoshino and placing it atop her head.

”Great choice,” I say before pointing at a mirror attached to the wall nearby.

Understanding what I mean, Yoshino walks over and inspects herself in the mirror as a small smile forms on her lips.

”It's a shame that it hides your lovely hair, but it suits you well. Would you like to get this one?”

Yoshino simply nods her head as she continues to observe herself in the mirror.

A few minutes later, Yoshino and I exit the store hand-in-hand as we make our way to the next destination.

”Great job,” Kotori's voice resounds within my ear, ”You seem used to this now.”

”It's nothing complicated,” I mutter as I cast a glance at the gleeful Yoshino.

As long as she's happy, then the date is considered a success. Still, I call it a date, but it feels more like a family outing more than anything else.

”So, where will you be taking her next?”

”About that, is there any café with pastries nearby?”

”Yes,” Kotori responds, ”I'll guide you to it.”

As such, I follow Kotori's instructions for a few minutes before Yoshino and I found ourselves standing in front of a rather large café.

For obvious reasons, this section of the mall is much more crowded than the sections we've been to so far.

At this moment, I feel a tug on the left part of my shirt.

Looking down, I find Yoshino using her right hand to hold my shirt with a slightly uneasy look on her face.

Curious about the reason for her discomfort, I look around a little only to notice that a lot of people are looking our way.

Well, nothing less is to be expected from Yoshino's outstanding cuteness.

”It's fine,” I say while placing my palm against her left cheek, ”I'm with here with you.”

Yoshino simply nods her head before tightening her grasp on my shirt, causing a wry smile to form on my lips.

”We should head inside,” I say.

--

”You're taking them off?” I say as Yoshino takes her hat and puppet off and neatly places them aside.