Delphina’s election is over and it’s time to feel a little more relaxed in your daily life.

I was in the middle of getting ready to go out as usual.

Looking at the two pairs of shoes in the shoebox right before going out, I suddenly remembered the faces of the two people who gave me the two pairs of shoes as a gift.

A pair of black shoes were bought by Delphina as a birthday present when I entered the academy.

A pair of navy blue shoes had been bought by Ruru as a birthday present for her birthday in the fall.

It’s comfortable to wear, so I’ve been wearing it quite a lot lately, but thinking about it, it was a bit of a conscience.

Unlike Lulu, who has already brought me birthday presents twice, I have never done anything special for her.

Of course, having a birthday among our colleagues was not just a welcome act to celebrate the birth of a new life.

That’s why even in the Demon God Subjugation Team in his previous life, the mention of his birthday would go unnoticed.

Stella and Lulu did not know their birth date, and elves like Xian-senpai were long-lived species, so they did not care about their own birthday.

Saint Claire had also grown up in the church for a long time, so it had become a habit not to celebrate her birthday.

Of course, the gift Lulu gave me must have been her pure kindness, but of course, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Lulu.

It was the second unilateral gift I received after the cloak, and I had never properly reciprocated it.

In his own words, he told me not to worry because my help made his life easier, so it was a reward for that.

No matter how much, I wasn’t shameless enough to wipe my mouth and move on after accepting the favor twice.

“I should give you something in moderation as a gift.”

Today’s goal was set, so I decided to put it into action right away.

Probably, if there is a place where Lulu could be at this time, it would be a restaurant street, so if you browse the regular stores, you will be able to meet her right away.

The first thing I had to do was meet Lulu, so I immediately moved to the shopping street.

Because it was best to ask yourself what you want to have.

* * *

As soon as I looked around three of Lulu’s regular shops on the shopping street, I immediately found the girl with the familiar black ears and tail.

I was able to confirm that I had come to the right place once I saw them hanging around in front of a restaurant they had been to together a few times.

“Here you are, Lulu.”

“… Oh, it’s Conrad.”

“What are you doing not going in? Aren’t you here for lunch?”

“That’s true, but I haven’t decided on the menu yet.”

“You can go in and choose. Why are you lingering in front of the store?”

“Oh, how is that! Then, I haven’t even picked out the menu yet, so what if the waiter comes and asks!”

… Yes, Lulu had this kind of personality.

Normally, her personality wasn’t revealed because she was only with our party members, but originally, Lulu was timid and shy.

I took Lulu’s hand and went straight into the store.

“I was just about to eat, so let’s go in together since we’ve already met.”

“Oh, come on, wait. Let go of your hand… !”

“Welcome~.”

After finding an appropriately vacant seat and sitting down, he immediately called the waiter and ordered Lulu’s regular menu.

“One salmon cream risotto and one chicken cutlet sandwich.”

“A chicken cutlet sandwich with salmon cream risotto, right?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Your order has been received. Please wait.”

It was only after the waitress with the order disappeared behind the kitchen that Lulu timidly protested.

“I haven’t chosen everything on the menu yet.”

“Weren’t you worried about the two? Anyway, at this store, we always only ate those two.”

“That’s true, but I couldn’t decide which of the two to eat.”

“Take it easy until you eat. I can eat the rest.”

“… … .”

To Lulu, who nodded as if she understood, she talked about the purpose of the day in earnest.

“Lulu, I just want to ask you one thing.”

“yes? What is it all of a sudden?”

“Have you recently… .”

The moment I was about to ask if there was anything I needed or wanted recently, Lulu’s reaction to a similar question from a previous life flashed through my mind.

I’m sure I was going to give Lulu something as a gift back then, but the reaction that came back was probably this.

‘Gift? It’s okay, it’s okay, do friends take care of things like that? I don’t have anything I want, so I don’t have to worry about it!’

I instinctively sensed it.

Even if I asked a similar question to Lulu now, she would surely come back with a similar answer.

I think it would be better to turn it around a bit and express it.

“Recently, what?”

“… I was wondering if you know what girls like to receive as gifts lately.”

“… … .”

I don’t know why, but Lulu’s expression visibly hardened.

Was it a rude question?

“Who, who are you going to give it to?”

“yes?”

“You asked what a girl likes to receive as a gift, yes, since it depends on the other person, maybe what she likes is different too!”

“Ah, yes.”

It seems that the expression came out because he was seriously thinking about my sudden question.

In reality, he was choosing a present for Lulu, but if he revealed that, he would be evasive and say that he didn’t need it again.

“I’m just going to give it to a friend.”

“Are you close? Are you a magician?”

“It’s not the Ministry of Magic, and friends are definitely close friends.”

“Oh, how friendly are you? Are you a female friend who is closer than me?”

“… He’ll probably be close to you.”

It was almost as if she answered that it was Lulu herself.

Of all my ‘friends’, there was only one woman with whom I was as close as Ruru.

“I’m as close as I am, but if it’s not the Ministry of Magic… Stella or Xian senior… ?”

As soon as Lulu heard my words, she took on a serious expression and started muttering something to herself in a low voice.

Fortunately, it seems that I did not think of myself.

“What do we do? Do I have to choose the right one that the other person will like? But then, if Conrad goes out with Stella or Xian… .”

“Dinner is served.”

“But if you choose something absurd, Conrad will be treated strangely… . What do we do? What should I answer in a case like this?”

When I saw him muttering to himself that I still couldn’t understand even after the rice was served, he seemed to think of it as seriously as if it were his own, even though it was my concern.

It seemed that it would stay that way for a while, so without saying a word, I took a fork and knife, divided the two dishes in half, and transferred them to the plate in front of me.

“It’s good to think seriously, but let’s talk while eating.”

“Oh sorry. I haven’t decided what to do yet… .”

“I thought so, so I divided it in half, so you can eat both of them in half.”

“Uh, huh?”

I thought of an appropriate solution in my own way, so I made it that way, but Lulu rather blushed and looked embarrassed.

“why? Have you made up your mind?”

“Oh, no, not that… . Conrad, does it matter if I do this?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Eh, sharing and eating like this is usually done between lovers rather than between friends… .”

“yes?”

“Oh no! I will eat well!”

After saying that, seeing Lulu lower her head and start eating, I also thought of a spoonful of cream risotto with a spoon.

I think today’s Lulu is a little different from usual.

* * *

Thanks to Lulu’s thoughtful consideration as if it were her own, by the time the meal was over, her thoughts had been sorted out to some extent.

Although he seemed to be gibberish about this and that, in the end, he returned with an acceptable answer asking what it would be like to be an accessory.

The ornaments aren’t bad either.

It’s something that ordinary women would like, and if it’s enchanted, it’ll be pretty good in terms of practicality.

I don’t know if Lulu will like the design that normal girls like, but anyway, the final decision has been made with accessories.

All that was left was what kind of design it was.

There was still time until the afternoon class, so there was no need to go back to the classroom right away.

… Probably the same for Lulu.

“Luru, do you have some time from now?”

“Uh, huh? It could be… .”

“I wanted you to help me choose the present I was talking about earlier. Because I think seeing you will be much more helpful than me.”

So, I want you to go to a nearby accessory store with me. Is it okay when the time is right?”

“… Well, do whatever you want.”

Fortunately, Lulu seemed to have enough time to respond to the offer to help with gift selection.

Although he had a sad expression on his face as if he didn’t like something.

When I entered an accessories store about two blocks away with Lulu, the waitress immediately spotted us and started talking to us.

“Welcome~. Is there anything you are looking for?”

“… … !!”

As soon as the waitress actively started talking to her, Lulu immediately felt a sense of crisis and disappeared behind my back.

The waitresses at these stores are usually much more friendly than the average restaurant waitress, so it must have been an unpleasant stimulus to Lulu, who is very shy.

“Oh, it seems that your girlfriend is shy.”

The other person, like a veteran employee, skillfully changed the target to me as if this kind of thing was not rare.

It seems that Lulu’s behavior caused some misunderstanding, but I didn’t bother to correct it because I thought it would be easier to choose a present anyway.

“I would like to see the jewelry for gifts. If possible, in a non-combat kind.”

“If it’s an accessory that doesn’t bother you in battle, I recommend a bracelet or a ring.”

“Then show me the bracelet.”

“All right.”

The waitress nodded lightly, then pulled out some samples from the cabinet and showed them.

A plain purple bracelet, a black and white striped bracelet, and a navy blue base with some points.

“There are probably three things here that would suit your girlfriend.”

“Now, wait a minute! I’m not his girlfriend… !”

“Which of these products is enchanted?”

Before Lulu’s useless protest continued, I asked if enchantment was possible one last time.

“The black and white bracelet cannot be enchanted, and the other two can be enchanted with one new enchantment each.”

“Yes. Lulu, between purple and navy, which one do you like better?”

“Me, you want me to choose? It’s too dark to begin with, so I don’t think it would suit others… .”

“Don’t do that, pick one. Do what you like.”

“… Then, in indigo blue.”

“Please make it navy blue. Oh, and give it an enchantment to increase luck.”

“If you enchant a bracelet of that design with increased luck, would it be okay for this amount of money?”

I was momentarily surprised by the number of gold coins written on the bill, but it was still worth paying for.

I paid a lump sum with the gold coins I took out of my wallet, and as the waiter asked me to wait for the enchantment to complete, I sat down with Lulu in a chair in the store.

“I was thinking about what kind of gift to give, but Lulu, thanks to you coming with me, I survived.”

“… it’s okay? It wouldn’t be a design that would suit Stella or Xian-senpai.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because indigo is a dark primary color, it doesn’t match Stella or Xian-seniors a bit.

If it’s Stella, a slightly brighter tone would suit it, and if it’s Xian-senpai, a pastel sky blue or light green… .”

“No, not that. Why are their names suddenly appearing?”

“… yes?”

Before Lulu’s words with a puzzled expression continued, an employee reappeared from the back of the store holding a bracelet.

“How would you like the packaging?”

“Oh, just please. I’m going to use it right now.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Lulu, hold out your left hand for a second.”

“Yes? I hope it’s not someone else who’s giving it as a gift… .”

I put a bracelet on Lulu’s wrist, who seemed to have finally noticed.

It was definitely a color that suited her quite well according to the employee’s eyesight.

“It is a gift.”

“Uh, huh? to me? Go, suddenly?!”

“Because these days, I have received many things from you, such as clothes and help.

So accept it. After all, I can’t give it to anyone other than you.”

Lulu’s face blushed as if she was taken aback by the sudden gift.

Still, as if he didn’t hate it, he gave me a shy smile.

“yes. I will cherish… .”

That smile of pure joy, to the point where even I was thrilled.