Volume 2 Chapter 84 You Have To Put Your Feelings Of Gratitude Into Form To Convey Them
So, I decided to ask Kokonoe-san for advice on a birthday present for Fumi-chan.
But just asking for advice without giving anything in return felt a bit off. I needed to find a way to show my gratitude.
Speaking of which, Nakagaito had been a huge help with the video shoots. Maybe it was time to get him a little something too. Nothing too expensive, but still nice enough to feel like a proper gift.
I typed "gift" into my computer and started searching.
And then, something caught my eye.
A convenience store voucher for premium ice cream.
Vanilla, cookies & cream, green tea, strawberry, macadamia nuts, chocolate duo, or crispy sand rich caramel—plenty of choices. And since it was summer, who wouldn't appreciate a cold treat?
The price was reasonable too—just 351 yen, tax included. Not a burden on my wallet.
I headed to the nearest convenience store and picked up two gift cards for the ice cream vouchers, along with two coffee vouchers. Then, I stopped by a 100-yen shop for some wrapping paper and a ribbon. Wrapping the gift cards neatly, I tied the ribbon diagonally to give it a little flair.
That should do it.
After finishing up, I sent Nakagaito a message.
"We're shooting again after school tomorrow. That okay? I was thinking we could film just the two of us again this time."
His reply came almost instantly.
"All good! Just the two of us again."
"Yeah, the content this time is about summer break activities."
"Got it. See you tomorrow then."
* * *
The next day, Thursday, after school.
As usual, we used the home economics practice room for the shoot.
"Alright, today we'll be chatting casually while focusing on the topic of high school debuts, just like I mentioned in the message. Specifically, summer break activities."
"Yeah, I'm ready whenever."
"Alright, let's begin. Now then, the virgin Kenji and—"
"The virgin girl combo," Nakagaito chimed in.
"—delivering a messy high school debut channel. Now, today's topic: summer vacation activities. First, some general advice."
"What kind of advice could there possibly be for summer vacation activities?" I said with a wry smile.
"Well, up until now, we've talked about summer homework and how to survive the break. But this time, it's about something more fun—how to enjoy summer events with the opposite sex, like a proper student."
Nakagaito blinked. "How to enjoy summer events with the opposite sex... like a proper student?"
"Exactly. And before we get into that, a small thank you."
I pulled out the neatly wrapped envelope and handed it to him.
Nakagaito raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"
"This channel wouldn't be as popular without you. Think of this as a token of my gratitude. It's not much, really."
He took the envelope, looking a little surprised.
"Can I open it now?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
He carefully untied the ribbon and peeked inside. "Premium ice cream vouchers and a coffee coupon. Not bad."
"I'm glad you think so. Bringing cake to school in this heat isn't practical, and chocolate melts. But with these, you can grab ice cream whenever you want. Convenience store coupons are pretty handy. So yeah, thanks for always helping with the shoots."
Nakagaito's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink. "I-it's nothing. I enjoy it too."
I nodded.
"People often think their feelings will be understood without words, but that's rarely the case."
"That's true," he admitted.
"That's why I think it's important to properly express things—like giving a birthday gift to a friend, or returning the favor when you receive a present for Christmas or Valentine's Day. Even if it's just 'giri choco' (obligation chocolate), you shouldn't ignore it. And if you make a habit of giving back, it makes it easier to plan fun things like summer outings."
"Yeah, I get that."
"Of course, choosing the right gift depends on the person and how close you are to them."
"Yeah... It'd be weird to get a gift from someone you barely know."
"Exactly. And when inviting someone out—especially a girl—it's best to plan ahead. Their schedules get packed months in advance, especially for events like firework festivals, summer festivals, or firefly viewing. Better to book a day early than miss your chance."
Nakagaito narrowed his eyes at me. "You sure know a lot about this stuff."
I shrugged. "It's nothing special."
"Hmm... I mean, I get what you're saying, but I can't say I fully understand it."
I chuckled. "Well, whether you understand it or not, expressing gratitude in a tangible way always helps make sure the message gets across."
"Yeah, I guess that's true."
"As I've said before, life is short. You only get one shot at it, so it's best to live in a way you won't regret—especially during your student years."
And with that, we wrapped up another video shoot.
This one turned out pretty good.
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