Chapter 41

Synopsis
It is Inomata's first time at the mall with a friend, and Ushimaru is excited for their trip to a pâtisserie as well. But when Inomata takes it upon herself to help an old lady find a toilet at the mall, the two become separated and she fears that she ruined their big day until two familiar lost boys appear and comfort her.

Long Summary
Ryuuichi and Hayato are at the mall for an economics project and have brought their little brothers along with them. Taka asks Hayato to buy him a bullet train toy, but Hayato refuses, saying he had only brought him along because he promised not to get anything. Ryuu tries to calm Taka and Hayato down while also telling Kotaro that he cannot buy a book. Ryuu informs the children that messing around would bother a lot of people and that if they ever get lost, they just have to wait until Ryuu and Hayato find them. Hayato threatens his brother that he will return home without him if he gets lost. Ryuu sees Inomata pass by and whispers to Hayato, saying that he is keeping his voice down in order to not have Taka overhear and going over to disturb her. He says that she looks very excited, and Hayato asks Ryuu why he is being so nice.

This is Inomata's first outing with a friend and she feels very nervous. She has arrived half an hour early, and fifteen minutes later, Ushimaru shows up. Ushimaru says that the pâtisserie she is interested in is in the B-block of the mall but has plans to go to a shop in the current block they are in. Just then, Inomata goes up to an old woman who is trying to find a bathroom. Inomata decides to escort the old woman, who has poor eyesight, and tells Ushimaru to go on without her. Ushimaru looks at Inomata with amazement and admires her kindness; she thinks about her own hesitation towards helping others, and notes that Ryuu would always be quick to help as well. She recalls the time when she told her friend that she plans to invite Inomata to an outing. Her friend says that it is strange that the two will be hanging out together, as they both like Ryuu and are thus romantic rivals. Suddenly, a boy notices and approaches her, presumably to ask her out, but she quickly evades his question and dials Inomata's number.

Inomata takes the old woman to the nearest restroom, but it is out of order. She tells the woman to wait for her as she searches the other floors. She finds an unoccupied and functional bathroom on the fourth level. Ushimaru arrives at the broken bathroom and wonders where Inomata could have gone. She goes to the help desk and asks the receptionist if she has seen her. The receptionist informs Inomata that the old woman asked her to thank the person who had helped her to the bathroom. Ushimaru believes that either the woman used the broken toilet or was brought to a different bathroom. Either way, Inomata is not around.

Inomata, now in the B-side of the mall, wonders how she got to a different part of the mall when she was supposed to return to where the old lady was. Inomata feels depressed because half an hour has passed. She remembers the time when Ushimaru asked her to out to the mall and how rare it was for her to be invited. When she was much younger, her classmates had considered inviting her, but figured that she was too boring and serious. Inomata tears up as she thinks that she is still boring. Taka and Kotaro tug at her skirt and ask if she is lost and crying. She becomes flustered and denies being lost. She asks why the children are here by themselves, to which Taka replies that Panda-san had brought them here. He looks around for Ryuu and Hayato but they are nowhere to be seen. Taka also starts to tear up and asks Inomata who she was with. Inomata sinks down and tells them that she had come here with a friend, but she will probably never be invited again. Kotaro pats Inomata and Taka and proceeds to sit down, saying that he will wait for Ryuu as he had instructed him to do so. Ryuu then comes rushing over and finds the children and Inomata. Hayato immediately hits his brother on his head. Ryuu asks Inomata if she is lost, but she starts to cry and denies that she is lost, but thinks to herself that she feels relieved to see him. Ryuu informs her that they can help her find her way back, although Hayato is rather unwilling to assist her. Inomata stands up and says that she will find her friend. Ushimaru finds Inomata but instinctively hides behind a wall after seeing Ryuu. Inomata runs up to her and apologizes. She asks Ushimaru if she would still like to go shopping with her, and Ushimaru, also starting to cry, agrees. They both apologize to each other about worrying the other. Hayato tells Ryuu that it is time to go. Ryuu wants to do something since the two are crying, but Hayato says that he cannot stand the sight of crying girls, which makes Ryuu flustered.

At the pâtisserie, Ushimaru asks why Inomata did not pick up the phone. Inomata explains that her phone is at home because she is not used to being in places that allow mobile devices. Ushimaru says that Inomata is quite cute, just like an old lady, which makes Inomata flustered and start to blush.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Taka Kamitani
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Inomata Maria
 * Ushimaru Yuki