I Became a Spirit in Date A Live, but I Refuse to Date

A few minutes passed before Lingmeng finally stopped her angelic work.

"Um... aren't you being a little too cruel? They look like they're about to die."

Shido had been one of their victims, yet watching Lingmeng deal with the thugs, he actually felt a little sorry for them.

What he had just witnessed was so bloody and brutal that even remembering it made him shudder.

"Huh? Really?" She glanced at the thugs sprawled on the ground. Their faces were bruised and swollen, and they looked utterly defeated.

"Don't worry! I held back. They'll only need a few weeks in the hospital at most. You're really kind, though. They just beat you up, and you're still speaking up for them."

"Uh... maybe I just can't stand seeing people suffer!" Shido scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

"Ah—that cursed kindness of yours!" Lingmeng walked over to Shido. "Does it still hurt anywhere?"

"My cheek still stings a little, but I don't think it's anything serious."

"That won't do! You got hurt because of me. Sure, stepping in didn't help at all, but I still have to take responsibility!"

With that, Lingmeng took Shido's hand and led him out of the alley. The gesture caught him completely off guard.

As an innocent virgin, it was Shido's first time holding hands with a girl. Kotori, his little sister, didn't count.

(Kotori: "Resentment +1")

"Um... aren't we a little too close? A man and a woman shouldn't be so... familiar... (///ˊ?ˋ///)"

Shido sounded embarrassed, but Lingmeng wasn't shy in the slightest. She had once been a man, after all, so she didn't see it the way he did.

"Why are you so embarrassed? I'm the girl here, and I'm not complaining. What are you scared of?"

Lingmeng looked back at Shido and teased him. Having a man's mind herself, how could she not know what he was thinking?

He's so nervous. Bet he's a virgin who's never had a girlfriend. That expression is stupidly cute! (?ω?)hiahiahia

Uh... not that I'm much better than him. (╥ω╥`)

After a moment of silence, Shido asked, "Where are you taking me?"

"I saw a pharmacy when I passed by earlier. I'm taking you there to treat your injury, of course! Don't worry, I'll pay!"

Lingmeng spoke generously. She had a hundred thousand yen in cash on her, so she could easily afford some medicine for an injury.

"Uh... thanks." Shido couldn't think of anything else to say, so he thanked her and fell silent again.

Wasn't there something I forgot? Oh well, whatever!

Lingmeng had the nagging feeling she had forgotten something important, but she couldn't remember what it was. She decided to set it aside for now and quickened her pace, pulling Shido toward the pharmacy.

Meanwhile, back in the alley, the three thugs lay helplessly on the ground and cried out through their tears.

"Big sis, don't leave us here! Call an ambulance..."

I'm Ah Wei

"We're here. This is the pharmacy I was talking about."

Lingmeng stopped in front of a storefront.

Shido looked up. He didn't recognize the pharmacy at all. It must have opened recently.

"Ah Wei Pharmacy?" Shido read the sign aloud without thinking, then muttered, "What a strange name."

"The name doesn't matter. Come on, let's go in!"

"...Okay."

Still holding Shido's hand, Lingmeng led him through the pharmacy entrance.

With a soft swish, the automatic doors opened, and Lingmeng and Shido walked inside.

"Welcome! I'm the owner, Zhang Wei, but you can call me Ah Wei. What can I get you?"

When the owner saw Lingmeng and Shido enter, he gave them a businesslike smile from behind the counter.

He was a rugged-looking man in his twenties, with black hair and dark eyes.

"Sure, Ah Wei!" Lingmeng gave him an okay sign and smiled. "Do you have anything for injuries? My friend here needs some."

"Medicine for an injury? No problem. Just a moment."

A Wei left the counter and went into a storeroom nearby. Before long, he returned with a rectangular cardboard box in his hand.

"Here you go. This is Yunnan Baiyao, made in China. It's great for treating minor injuries like this! And since it's your first time shopping here, I'll throw in two bottles of Jizhi Syrup."

The owner produced two bottles of syrup from somewhere and set them on the counter beside the Yunnan Baiyao.

"Ha, thanks! How much is the Yunnan Baiyao?"

Lingmeng wasn't surprised to find something made in her own country at a pharmacy. She had seen that plenty of times in her previous life. She simply thanked him and asked the price.

"Two hundred and fifty yen in total."

"Here you go."

Lingmeng didn't give it much thought. She pulled out a banknote and handed it to Ah Wei.

"Thank you for your purchase. Here's your change and receipt."

A Wei quickly took her change from the register and handed it to Lingmeng along with the receipt.

"Thanks!" Lingmeng opened the box, took out the Yunnan Baiyao, removed the cap, and sprayed it straight at Shido's face.

"Huh—"

"Ha! Why are you so jumpy? It's just a little medicine! Pfft."

Lingmeng laughed at Shido's startled expression, clearly enjoying herself.

"Anyone would be startled if someone suddenly sprayed something in their face!"

Shido looked utterly exasperated when he realized Lingmeng was making fun of him.

"It was just a joke. Don't take it so seriously. How does it feel now?"

Lingmeng shrugged, showing no sign of remorse.

"You..." Shido scowled for a moment, then answered, "My face feels a little cool, and it smells a bit like herbal medicine. Overall, it's not bad..."

"I see. Spray it a few more times when you get home, and you'll be fine in no time. Take these two bottles of Jizhi Syrup too. I won't use them anyway."

Lingmeng put the syrup and Yunnan Baiyao in a bag and handed it to Shido.

"Ha, you two get along so well! Forgive me for asking, but are you a couple?"

For some reason, Ah Wei chuckled and teased them from beside the counter.

"A... a couple?" Shido hurried to explain. "N-no, you've got the wrong idea..."

"Oh, we're not a couple. We only just met, and we don't even know each other's names. We might not even count as friends. ╮(￣▽￣)╭"

Compared with Shido's flustered stammering, Lingmeng was perfectly relaxed. She explained their relationship in a few simple words.

"Right! It's exactly like she said! (///ˊ?ˋ///)"

Shido nodded quickly, his face still flushed.

"Oh, I see. So how did you two meet?"

As she spoke, A Wei wore an openly curious expression.

"Why are you gossiping like some nosy old lady?"

Though she complained about A Wei's behavior, Lingmeng still told him what had happened earlier.

"Wow, young man, that was pretty brave of you!"

A Wei praised Shido and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Ha, thanks. Though stepping in didn't seem to help much."

Shido scratched his cheek, looking shy.

"Okay, we've got the medicine. Let's go, Shido!"

"...Oh, right."

After reminding Shido, Lingmeng headed for the door. He hurried after her.

"See you, Ah Wei."

"Come again."

After saying goodbye, Lingmeng and Shido left the pharmacy.

"Shido, can I ask you something?" Lingmeng asked suddenly outside the pharmacy.

"What is it? Ask away, if it's something I know." Shido said in puzzlement.

"Are you free for a while? It's my first time in this city, and I could use a guide to show me around."

If I get home a little late, Kotori probably won't mind, right?

After thinking it over, Shido agreed to Lingmeng's request.

"You want me to show you around the city? Sure."

Lingmeng smiled when Shido agreed.

"Thanks! My name's Qian Lingmeng, but you can just call me Lingmeng. What about you?"

"I'm Shido Itsuka. You can call me Shido."

"Okay, Shido. No problem, Shido. Let's go!"

With that, Lingmeng slung an arm around Shido's shoulders and pointed ahead.

"Um... Lingmeng, where would you like to go first?"

Shido had offered to show Lingmeng around, but he couldn't think of where to take her. All he could do was ask.

"A phone store! I want to buy a phone!" Lingmeng answered without hesitation.

She had been in this world for a month, which meant Lingmeng hadn't touched an electronic device in a month. For a shut-in like her, that had left every day feeling unbearably empty.

Now she had money, and AST wasn't hunting her down, so Lingmeng felt safe asking Shido to take her to a phone store.

"A phone store? Sure. I think there's one nearby." Then something occurred to Shido. "Lingmeng, the money you used to buy my medicine, and the money you're about to spend on a phone... don't tell me it came from—"

"Uh... don't worry about that! Where's the phone store? Take me there!"

Lingmeng looked deeply embarrassed and hurried to change the subject.

"...That counts as robbery, doesn't it? (ー_ー)!!" Shido stared at her, speechless.

"I can't hear you! Can't hear you!"

Lingmeng covered her ears and shook her head vigorously, trying to avoid reality.

"Ah... fine. Just don't do it again, okay? Follow me!"

"Aye aye, captain!" Lingmeng gave Shido an excited salute.

And so, with an air of utter helplessness, Shido led Lingmeng toward the phone store...

A Toast to Friendship?

"Ohoho! I finally have a phone again! My darling, Daddy swears she'll never abandon you for as long as she lives!"

After leaving the phone store, Lingmeng gazed at the brand-new "Big Rice" phone in her hand. She felt as though she had the whole world.

Lingmeng was happy, but Shido, who had accompanied her the entire time, wasn't having nearly as much fun. He had thought she would buy a phone quickly and move on. To his disbelief, she had spent two whole hours in the store.

She had insisted that choosing a phone was serious business: it needed plenty of storage, a good camera, a responsive screen, a comfortable feel, a reliable brand... and dozens of other requirements.

Lingmeng had spent two hours wearing down the salesperson with those demands before finally finding a phone that met every one.

The price was frighteningly high, wiping out half the cash Lingmeng had on her, but she paid without batting an eye. She had been longing for a phone, so what was a little money?

...All right. The truth was, Lingmeng just didn't mind spending someone else's money. -_-||