DLK— 8

Title: Shopping (1)

"Three days left," Nik muttered. This will be his third adventure and if allowed to speak the truth, he really didn't want to leave the comfort of this house. Nik looked through the mirror and combed his hair. 'Damn, I look fresh,' complimenting himself, Nik smiled and posed slightly. 'Hmm, good.'

Pushing the door open, Nik sauntered out with a pleased expression. He had already bought clothes more fitting to his age. A pair of denim with a forest-green t-shirt over his shredded body covered with a brown jacket. "Ready?" Nik inquired as Kurumi hastily bit on her toast and grasped her bag pack, "Rueaddy!" She said, toast still in her mouth.

"I had only heard that a woman loses her elegance once she feels too comfortable... seems like its true." Sayako pointed out calmly. Her fingers pushed back the strand of her golden locks behind her ear while sipping on her orange juice. Her clear blue eyes, however, gazed at Kurumi's indignant expression with a sprinkle of amusement floating within.

Pointing, Kurumi was about to unleash her destructive speech when Nik smiled and hugged her from behind followed by a peck on the nape of her neck. "You shouldn't be too loud, Mitsuko is sleeping." He whispered while winking at Sayako, "And who says you aren't comfortable? You aren't even wearing your wide-necked sweater, much less a skirt."

He eyed Sayako's comfy sweatshirt and thick pajamas. "Well..." Sayako dragged while looking away, "I kinda enjoyed teasing my classmates with that sweater, you know, nip slips and all, as for that skirt... it's way too cold!" Groaning, Sayako placed her glass down as she bit on her toast with a snort.

"See? This is the difference between professionals and amateurs," Souko coughed. Her outfit to the point. Seeing her, both Sayako and Kurumi grumbled softly.

"Anyway, I am leaving Kyouko! Do you want anything from the market?"

Nik called out as Kyouko with her link hair pulled into a ponytail walked out of the kitchen while rubbing her fingers against the apron settled over her generous, buxom figure. "Hmm, let's see. I planned to prepare stew," as she said these, Souko clenched her fist and whispered an excited— yes! "So, bring me half-pound belle pepper. Oh, a bottle of soy and chili powder too."

"Sure!" Nik chimed and pulled Kurumi away as she focused on her breakfast. "You good on money?" Souko inquired as Nik wore his sneakers, "Yeah, I stole plenty from you guys."

Nik smiled and waved before leaving. "Ah," Nik came back and hurriedly walked in to give each one of the girls a peck on their lips before leaving with a grin, "Almost forgot, am I right?"

The trio smiled without saying anything. 'Well, If he had forgotten, I would have swung by his store...' Kyouko thought with a foolish grin, 'I heard that they have lots of fun in that store.'

"Kyouko-saaann~ There's evil on your face."

Sayako pointed out with a grin as Kyouko flushed softly, "Sorry. Oh, be sure to take your bento this time."

Kyouko spoke sternly before swinging her hips and walking into the kitchen once again.

"Why would you even leave such a bento?" Souko inquired, her tone almost accusing as if to testify Kyouko's skill while Sayako shrugged, "Wasn't on purpose. I forgot about it. Been living on canteen snacks for too long."

***

"So? 3 days before you leave... you must be excited."

Kurumi stated with a fickle expression. Her grip over Nik's palm grew tight while she looked down. The other hand clutched the bag pack of hers tightly and waited for Nik's approval. Traveling to other worlds, it should be pretty awesome, right? To interact with different kind of existence, the rush of battles, the romance of adventure—

"Not really. I mean, from the moment I joined the system, I had basically given the Transmigration Paradise permission to seep into my existence. It's like the permissions of applications in mobile phones... so, no. I am not excited to be a part of any of... this."

Nim mumbled. How could a person understand the information belonging to a higher level of skill once he invests his skill points? If it isn't the system infusing it, then what else? Nik simply couldn't fathom the sheer control the system might have over his body. "Anyway, the adventures are difficult too."

"But you never had a problem!"

Kurumi retorted while tilting her gaze to match Nik's eyes.

"Two parts luck, one part strength. I shared all my adventures with you guys. That is to prove that I never try to bite more than I can chew. I mean, there are necessary risks, but I never tried to jump in a volcano for 'adventurous' spirit, right?"

Kurumi turned silent as they walked without speaking with each other.

"I wanna join. I don't care if the system takes a control—"

Nik's brows furrowed as she pushed Kurumi against the cemented walls tracing the street. His free palm placed next to Kurumi's head while his grasp over Kurumi's right hand tightened. "Are you saying that you would rather let another existence control you under my watch? Hmm?"

Nik inquired with his eyes gazing straight into Kurumi's.

"What about you? I idea of having you in someone else's control isn't—"

"It is death or control, in my case. If I could 'live' even after dying and leaving the restrictions of the system, I would have done that."

Nik smiled and the back of his index trace Kurumi's cheeks as he tilted his head in defeat. "All things said and done... it all boils down to my current overall strength. Sure, I have been lucky, more than a newbie should be, but I plan to capitalize on such moments. Gaining strength, not only in quality but also in quantity."

"Bah, just say that you wanna ride otherworldly girls."

Kurumi pouted and turned her head, swishing her twin tails in the process.

"Honey, even you are an otherworldly beauty for me, quite literally." Nik missed her cheek before pulling himself back as Kurumi held her hand out one again with flushed cheeks. Smiling, Nik took her hand as they continued making their way towards her school. Kurumi, alongside Megumi, were already in their third years. In a few months, they would be giving exams for their chosen colleges. Kurumi already planned to join the same University as Sayako's and Souko's. Meanwhile, Megumi still didn't know what to apply for. Previously, she wanted to strive for the same university Manabu wished to enter, but now she seemed slightly laid back.

"Oh, I completely forgot..." Kurumi smiled with a wee bit of evil sprinkled on top of her lips, "Kaya's daughter inquires about you... awfully lot. I mean, she, alongside her group from the gym would ambush me and Megumi every now and then."

"Isn't that great? I am popular with your friends and Kaya's daughter doesn't hate me for banging her mum."

"If only she knew that you and Kaya fuck crazy every afternoon."

"Well, give Sakura my best. She is your junior, after all. And do well in your club activity, don't let any bitch stand in your way."

Nik smiled. Only club activities continued even during the winter breaks. The school was barely populated with only eager third-year students willing to squeeze every bit out of their club before they graduate.

"All right, I'll see you later tonight."

Kurumi stretched her toes and pecked Nik before walking into the school premise. Megumi wasn't joining the club activity today and stayed back at her home— the store where Nik worked. As Nik fantasized an oversexed Yuuko alongside Megumi in thin, depraved lingeries squishing against each other and begging him to just drive them down until they fell unconscious—

"MASTER, GOOD DAY!"

Nik almost rotated to kick the shit out of Rick. Touching his chest, Nik took a deep breath before he turned with a pained smile while nodding towards Rick.

"Good day to you, too, Rick."

"Master—"

"Good Morning, Gunta." Nik smiled and waged at Gunta before he could shout. Beside him, Sakura waved her hand excitedly as her gaze seemed to be sweeping his entirety with a note of approval.

"Nik-san! Here to drop Kurumi?"

Nodding at Sakura's inquiry, he looked towards Rick and sighed deeply, "Can you not shout?"

"I need to appreciate master in the most robust manner!"

Rick's tone inclined towards refusing Nik's pleas as the apostle pursed his lips.

"We just met in the gym."

"That was different!"

"How so?"

Nik inquired.

'You looked yummy in shorts~'

Sakura pointed out internally while Rick spoke religiously, "Gym doesn't count."

"All right, all right." Nik almost groaned, "Enjoy your club activities."

Nik excused himself not before Sakura jumping to seal his exits as Rick and Gunta gave each other a look and raised their thumbs before disappearing into the school. "Nik-san~ Wanna join the new year's party? We will be having a gathering at my friend's house." The blonde, dark-skinned gal inquired excitedly as Nik shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"I'll be at my hometown by that time."

"Oh... huff, I understand."

Sakura recovered from her glum state before waving her farewell and returning towards her house. She wasn't here to participate in club activities after all.

'Kaya, your daughter is returning home... so, I guess, I won't be waiting for you.'

Nik turned to his heels and contacted the bespectacled brunette with perky hips and a knack of creating sweets. 'Sorry. If I leave Sakura alone... she would try to eat all the products.'

'No worries. It's just shopping for supplies.'

Nik and Kaya continued to chat as he took the bus to reach his store. In between the chats, Sakura had already returned with a despondent expression, allowing Kaya and Nik to understand all about the lively girl's feelings.

'Well... I don't mind—'

'Think about me, darling. I am a functional member of society... let me, at least, take some time out to work. If I just have sex all day... my own life would grow dull. And who knows, Sakura might just get wilder by the time?'

'I suppose you're correct.'

Kaya sighed.