Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 136: A Day of Shopping with a Troublesome Woman

Sunday Morning

"Those guys really love practicing! They might as well sleep with their gloves and bats and marry their baseball gear in the future!" Sendo muttered to himself.

In the end, the only male who went shopping with Wakana and her friends was Sendo.

The group of four started their journey by taking the Shinkansen and then strolled through the shopping streets of a nearby town.

Sendo occasionally dropped sarcastic remarks, fully aware of how terrifying it could be to shop with girls.

They could shop for hours without tiring, which was especially daunting considering the presence of one particularly troublesome girl: Reiko Sakura, the girl Sendo had labeled as "super annoying."

What made Reiko so troublesome?

She was a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, drawn to handsome guys like a moth to a flame.

But her romantic pursuits weren't entirely shallow—she only approached those whose personalities seemed compatible with her ideals.

The problem was her tendency to dart off toward any attractive guy she spotted, striking up conversations only to be repeatedly rejected.

It wasn't due to her appearance—Reiko was undeniably beautiful with an impeccable figure.

But modern Japanese culture didn't favor random approaches, especially when asking for contact details, which often got her labeled as creepy.

Even so, Reiko persisted, chasing the "pure love" experience.

To make matters worse, Sendo himself was undeniably attractive—a mix of outer coldness and inner warmth.

Mature, reliable, and gentle when it mattered, his personality was magnetic.

As a result, whenever Reiko's romantic endeavors failed, she'd inevitably turn her teasing attention to Sendo.

Their dynamic had become a cycle:

1. Reiko spots a handsome guy.

2. She approaches him and fails.

3. She teases Sendo, who coldly rebuffs her.

4. Repeat.

Though Reiko's traits, apart from her romantic obsession, aligned with Sendo's preferences (non-romantic ones, of course), the combination was so exhausting that Sendo often felt like closing his eyes whenever she was around.

...

"Alright, stop complaining! The others are just working hard for your baseball team's success! It's not like they haven't been winning all their matches," Reiko chimed in, her light blonde hair catching the sunlight.

"And by the way, Ohno is pretty good-looking! Does he have a girlfriend?" she added without missing a beat.

"Yes, he does," Sendo replied.

"Really?" Reiko looked surprised.

"Yeah, his beloved bat."

"That's not cute at all… but I don't dislike it. Anyway, how about—"

"I refuse," Sendo interrupted before she could finish.

"I really don't dislike you!" Reiko said, sticking out her tongue playfully. Her innocent, doll-like face gained an odd maturity with that sultry gesture—a contradiction that somehow worked for her.

Sendo, visibly unfazed, took a subtle step away from her.

"How do you usually shop for clothes, Sendo? You always seem to have great taste!" Wakana cut in, trying to defuse the situation.

"Really? It's nothing special," Sendo replied.

"Hmph, I agree! Your outfits are well-coordinated—simple yet stylish, with great attention to detail," Reiko said, eyeing him from head to toe like a predatory animal.

"Please don't look at me like that," Sendo said, his expression deadpan.

"What? Are you shy? It's not too late, you know. Why not give dating me a shot?" Reiko teased again.

"...!" Sendo chose to ignore her entirely, relieved she didn't seem serious this time.

Reiko's teasing, however, often went beyond words. Being familiar with Wakana and her friends, she'd sometimes cling to Sendo's arm or give him a quick, playful hug—gestures that could easily lead to misunderstandings.

"Are middle schoolers supposed to act this mature?" Sendo often wondered, exasperated.

...

"Since we don't have anything specific to buy, how about showing us how you pick your clothes?" Wakana suggested.

"Sure. I do need some winter clothes—last year's are getting a bit tight. And I need new sneakers too."

"Great! Let's start with the shoe store!" Wakana clapped her hands, decisively setting their destination.

The group headed to a well-known chain store, its three floors stocked with a wide variety of footwear.

Following the signs, Sendo quickly made his way to the second floor and began browsing.

Two minutes later, he picked up a pair of sneakers from the shelf.

"Wait here. I'll go pay for these," he said casually.

The girls stood frozen, utterly stunned.

"Wait… what? With so many options, aren't you going to look around a bit?" Reiko asked, still processing what she'd just witnessed.

"No need," Sendo replied.

"Aren't you at least going to try them on?"

"Brand-name shoes rarely have sizing issues. Besides, I always buy a size up, so they won't be too small."

"...That's not what I meant! Are you seriously going to buy those?" Reiko pointed at his feet, her expression one of disbelief.

"Why not?"

Reiko slowly gestured toward the sneakers he was wearing—they were the exact same model and color as the ones he had just picked up.

"You're buying an identical pair?"

"Yeah, I really like this style. It's convenient, and I don't have to waste time picking something else."

"...I mean, liking something enough to buy it again makes sense, but isn't that a bit… boring for someone your age? Your shopping style is way too mature!"

"Do you have a problem with these shoes?"

"Not really… but wouldn't it hurt to try something different? There are so many nice options!"

"No, thanks. I prefer black shoes, and I'm used to this design."

Reiko let out a resigned sigh, lowering her hand in defeat.

"This is the first time I've seen someone shop like this—so conservative!" another girl, Rika, commented.

Sendo simply smiled and went to the counter to pay.

...

"Alright, next stop: clothes," Wakana announced.

"You're not going to buy the same clothes, are you?" Reiko asked skeptically.

"Of course not. This isn't a school uniform," Sendo replied. "Besides, having duplicates would make laundry annoying."

"Still, I'd rather get everything in one go at a single store to save time."

"...!"

Sendo's aversion to unnecessary hassle was consistent to the extreme.

Led by Wakana, the group arrived at a boutique that offered a wide range of men's and women's clothing. Wakana, fond of the shop's spacious layout and variety, immediately began exploring.

Sendo, meanwhile, followed quietly, already bracing himself for what he knew would be a long day.

"This shop is quite nice," Sendo remarked as he surveyed the decor and layout of the store. "The owner clearly has great taste and knows how to cater to customers."

The shop offered both budget and high-end options, appealing to a wide range of customers.

Its tasteful but not overly luxurious design created a welcoming atmosphere for both ordinary folks and wealthier shoppers.

...

"Um, Sendo-kun, I know you're not particularly into fashion, but your outfits are always stylish. Could you teach me how you do it?" Rika shyly tugged on Sendo's sleeve.

"I'd like to know too!" Reiko chimed in enthusiastically.

"If you want to see how I shop for clothes, sure, it's no big deal," Sendo replied casually.

"Really?!" Even Reiko seemed genuinely curious, a rare sight for her.

"I have a three-step method for shopping:

Step 1: Find a store clerk.

Step 2: Ask for help.

Step 3: Go with the flow."

The girls stared at him, dumbfounded.

Unbothered, Sendo approached a store clerk, explained what he needed—long pants to match black shoes, nothing too flashy—and let the clerk guide him through the options.

One of the great things about Japanese store clerks, Sendo thought, was their genuine dedication to customer satisfaction.

They focused on building long-term relationships rather than just making a quick sale.

With the clerk's help, Sendo quickly picked out a few outfits and completed his shopping in no time.

The girls, meanwhile, stood frozen, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief.

...

Afterward, Sendo offered a concise summary of his approach:

"This method relies on finding a knowledgeable store clerk, giving them clear instructions, and being decisive. It's important not to leave everything up to the clerk—that would only create trouble and wouldn't solve your own problems. And if you don't like what they suggest, don't hesitate to reject it."

"Store clerks are essentially fashion and styling experts. Asking for their help is far more efficient than picking things out yourself—it's like having a temporary personal stylist."

"That's amazing!" Rika said, genuinely impressed.

"Classic Sendo—always finding the most hassle-free method," Reiko teased.

"Exactly," Sendo replied without missing a beat.

Of course, the girls didn't adopt his method. Shopping, for them, was about having fun, not efficiency.

Sendo could only stand by, resigned, as the girls spent hours browsing and trying on clothes.

...

At one point, Reiko plopped a hat onto Sendo's head.

"How about this? It suits you, doesn't it?"

"Of course. Everything looks good on me," Sendo replied dryly, bored out of his mind but willing to humor her.

As Wakana returned with a store clerk holding an outfit she had selected, the clerk remarked, "You two look so close! How long have you been dating?"

Sendo froze, momentarily speechless.

Reiko, however, was quick to recover. Realizing their interaction might easily be misunderstood, she smiled mischievously and leaned into the joke.

"We just started dating, right?" she said, wrapping her arms around Sendo's.

"She's just a friend—a female friend. Stop pretending to be my girlfriend," Sendo retorted instantly.

"Couldn't you at least play along for once?!" Reiko glared at him, clearly annoyed. "And what's this 'friend who's a girl' nonsense?"

Sendo sighed and rubbed his temples, silently enduring the headache.

The store clerk, amused by their antics, couldn't help but laugh.

...

After visiting a few more shops, Rika ended up leaving empty-handed.

"It's like not being able to find the perfect handsome guy," Reiko said, explaining Rika's predicament.

"Do you have to bring that into everything?" Sendo shot back, perfectly timed.

"Isn't it the same thing? Oh, wait—Sendo, you're actually talking to me? It's not too late, you know. Wanna give dating me a shot?"

"Hard pass," Sendo replied instantly.

"Hmph! A cute girl like me offering herself for free, and you still refuse! Do you prefer guys or something?" Reiko huffed.

"I like women, but I don't think it's smart to be so casual about it. It's not like I'm looking for a fling."

"Hah, so you do have a solid sense of values. I'm liking you more and more," Reiko teased.

"Stop with the nonsense," Sendo muttered internally. Being stuck with her was more of a hassle than anything else.

...

By the time their shopping spree finally ended, Sendo's legs felt like they were about to give out.

They stopped by a café for some desserts before heading to the station to return home.

As the group of three girls and one boy entered the café, they attracted considerable attention.

The sight of Sendo with three girls sparked waves of jealousy from the onlookers, particularly the men, whose glares practically burned holes in Sendo's back.

Even worse, the girls accompanying those men couldn't stop glancing at Sendo, which only fueled the fire.

On the way back, Sendo couldn't help but marvel at one thing: how on earth do girls have so much stamina for shopping?

...

After returning home, Sendo collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep instantly, only to be woken up in the evening by a call from Fumino.

He gave her a brief rundown of the day's events, mostly venting his frustrations. He even asked if Fumino had the stamina for long shopping trips.

Her response? "I don't know. I've never had the time for that."

Sendo understood. With Fumino's struggles in math, most of her free time was spent studying.

Thanks to Sendo's tutoring, however, her math skills had significantly improved.

By focusing on logic rather than memorizing formulas, he had made the subject feel as engaging as literature, leading to much faster progress.

Still, Fumino's true passion lay elsewhere: cooking. Her dream was to become a bride, and any spare time she had was spent experimenting in the kitchen—often leaving it in complete chaos. Many of her late-night chats with Sendo happened while she was cleaning up the mess.

...

Time flies when things are lighthearted and fun.

-------------------------

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful readers! May your holiday season be filled with joy, warmth, and cherished moments with loved ones. Thank you for your support and for being part of this journey.

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