Volume 2 Chapter 82 Let's Think About Fumi-Chan's Birthday Present
So, yesterday I had a really busy day.
I went to Lalaport to buy a dress for the birthday garden party, then had a sort of tea party at "Afternoon Tea Tea House," and finally had meat tea at Kokonoe-san's house.
And today is Monday, but since it's Marine Day, school is closed.
The next upcoming events are on July 21, when I'll participate in a small doujin event with Shibata-san, and on July 29, when I'll go firefly watching with Saikachi-san.
Then, from August 1 to 3, I'll be at the beach with Fumi-chan's family, and from August 5 to 8, I'll be camping in the mountains with Kokonoe-san's family.
Oh, and Fumi-chan's birthday is on August 10.
The small doujin event is set to be a smaller gunblade-only event in Asakusabashi, and for the firefly watching, we're going to the Ichikawa City Zoo and Botanical Garden, which isn't too far.
However, the Ichikawa City Zoo and Botanical Garden is located more than a 30-minute walk away unless you take a bus or taxi, so it's a bit inconvenient to get to.
Also, since the beach and mountain trips are with family, the adults will decide on the details of the accommodations.
So, I should start thinking about what to get Fumi-chan for her birthday.
The problem is, I really don't know what would make Fumi-chan happy.
Honestly, this is quite a tough question.
In reality, this isn't a gal game, so there aren't any items that are guaranteed to make her happy, and Fumi-chan is not only good-looking but also smart and athletic.
Plus, she has great communication skills.
To be honest, she's almost perfect and doesn't seem to have any real flaws.
Well, that can sometimes make close acquaintances feel inferior.
The real childhood friend, Haga, probably felt that way, and if Fumi-chan had siblings, they would likely be compared to her, which could be mentally tough.
That said, I'm not sure if Fumi-chan has the kind of charm or charisma that would make her shine in social or entertainment circles like Kokonoe-san does.
In that sense, you could say Fumi-chan and Kokonoe-san are polar opposites.
If we go for something safe, like a handkerchief in a color or pattern that a girl wouldn't find strange, I don't think it would be disliked, but it feels a bit too safe.
Speaking of which, since she seemed to really like the rose garden date, sending a bouquet of roses might be a good idea.
So, maybe it would be better to give her a flower with a meaning that suits Fumi-chan from the birth flowers of August 10th?
Ah, but if it's a potted plant, it might be a hassle to take care of, and if it's a bouquet, she might be unsure what to do with it afterward, so maybe a birthstone would be better?
I think there are some gemstones that aren't too expensive, and if it's not too big, it wouldn't be hard to keep it in a desk drawer.
If it's not too flashy, there might be something she could wear when going out.
I quickly searched on my phone, and the birthstones for August 10th are star ruby, pink sapphire, sunstone, rutilated quartz, citrine, and iolite.
However, star ruby and pink sapphire don't seem to be in a price range that a high school student could afford, so let's skip those.
By the way, among the minerals made of aluminum oxide, the darker red ones are called rubies, the blue ones are sapphires, and the others are called fancy sapphires.
Pink sapphire is a type of fancy sapphire, so basically, rubies, sapphires, and pink sapphires are the same thing.
Rubies and sapphires are the second hardest minerals after diamonds, and they started being commercially polished around the late 15th century during the Renaissance, but the discovery of the 6-ray star in cabochon rubies happened only in the 20th century, so that history is relatively new.
The beauty of gemstones originally lies in their color depth and transparency without scratches or impurities, but exceptions can occur, and star rubies, which emit star-shaped light due to inclusions or crystal structures inside the stone, are a prime example.
As for the remaining sunstone, rutilated quartz, citrine, and iolite, they seem affordable enough for a high school student, as long as they're not rosaries or something large.
The meaning of sunstone is hidden power, sparkle, and love opportunities.
The meaning of rutilated quartz is strong will and love.
The meaning of citrine is friendship, hope, and prosperity.
The stone language of iolite is "shows the way" and "sincerity."
None of that sounds bad, but...
Iolite is a natural stone that shines in violet and blue, and because it looks similar to sapphire, it's also called "water sapphire," which I think looks nice.
Now, I just need to decide what kind of accessory to make.
Should I combine it with aquamarine to make a bracelet, or go for a large single stone necklace?
The bracelet seems easier to wear, but even if I get both, it shouldn't exceed 10,000 yen.
By the way, aquamarine is said to enhance love luck and relieve stress and anxiety, promoting emotional healing.
I wonder if Fumi-chan would be happy with something like this?
Sometimes, things bought online can feel cheaper than expected, so I'd prefer to see the actual items in person.
In that case, I'll check out the jewelry store in the south exit shopping street of Kenbune Funabashi.
Good things come to those who hurry, so I changed from my loungewear to going-out clothes and left the house.
"Ugh, it's so hot..."
Unlike my air-conditioned room, it's ridiculously hot outside.
After riding my bike to the station and parking it, I took the Tobu Urban Park Line to Kenbune Funabashi.
Then, I entered a jewelry store that deals with gems, precious metals, and luxury watches in the south exit.
It seems to be pretty busy, probably because they have reasonably priced gems.
I found a mixed bracelet of iolite and aquamarine, and it's about 6,000 yen for an 8mm one.
Honestly, that's not bad.
A single stone necklace of iolite, around 10×5 mm, is about 3,000 yen.
If it's under 10,000 yen together, that's not bad at all.
Well, I think I'll officially come back to buy it once my part-time job paycheck comes in.
1. Weekend Recap:
- Went to Lalaport to buy a dress for a garden birthday party.
- Had tea at "Afternoon Tea Tea House."
- Ended the day with dinner at Kokonoe-san's house.
2. What's Coming Up:
- July 21: Doujin event in Asakusabashi with Shibata-san.
- July 29: Firefly watching with Saikachi-san at Ichikawa Zoo (need a bus or taxi to get there).
- August 1-3: Beach trip with Fumi-chan's family.
- August 5-8: Mountain camping with Kokonoe-san's family.
- August 10: Fumi-chan's birthday.
3. Gift Ideas for Fumi-chan:
- She's smart, pretty, athletic, and super nice—basically perfect, so it's hard to pick a gift!
- Thought about giving a handkerchief or flowers, but that feels too simple.
- Decided on something more meaningful: a birthstone accessory.
4. Birthstone Shopping Plan:
- Birthstones for August 10: Iolite and aquamarine are affordable and meaningful.
- Found a bracelet and necklace combo at a jewelry store in Kenbune Funabashi for under 10,000 yen.
- Plan to buy it after my part-time paycheck comes in.
Conclusion:
The protagonist want to get Fumi-chan something thoughtful and special, so he has settled on iolite and aquamarine jewelry. It feels just right—pretty, meaningful, and within budget!
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)