"Since we're at it, why not do this too?"
With a mischievous grin and a hushed voice, Yata-chan pulled something out.
It was a jade ring—a simple band made entirely of jade stone. It looked like something you might find as a souvenir from China or Taiwan. The colors blended in a gradient of white, green, blue, and purple, all with a transparent glow. It was beautiful.
The ring's simple structural beauty was possible only because jade has a unique hardness of 7 and no cleavage.
(This? Really?)
I discreetly pointed at the ring with my index finger and thumb, making sure not to draw attention.
Misago was still being swarmed by the inn's staff and hadn't turned this way.
(Yep.)
Yata-chan nodded confidently, flashing a thumbs-up as if saying, Go for it, YO!
A mental debate flared up—should I really follow through with this setup? My inner nerd hesitated, but my inner comedian wanted to see Misago's reaction.
"Hey, Misago?"
"Yes?"
Misago finally turned toward me.
"May I borrow your hand?"
"Huh?"
She extended her right hand.
"Not that one. This one."
I lightly pushed her right hand down and took her left hand instead.
"Eh?"
"Stretch your fingers. Like a 'high five.'"
I spoke softly while holding her fingers in place.
(Will it fit?)
What size is this anyway?
Setting aside my internal questions, I slid the ring onto her left ring finger.
It fit perfectly.
A murmur of awe rose from the people around us.
Misago opened and closed her mouth, as if trying to form words. Her eyes seemed to glisten with tears.
"If you don't like it, you can take it off," I said cautiously, unsure if her reaction was good or bad.
...
...
...
Silence stretched on. Had this flopped? Should I take it back?
"NO!"
Just as I reached to retrieve the ring, Misago pulled her hand away at lightning speed.
She moved like a startled cat, even hunching her shoulders in a defensive stance. And speaking of cats—when did those two get here?
A sharp-eyed tabby and a wide-eyed calico with a tiny mustache were sitting beside Misago, mirroring her pose.
"I will NEVER take it off!"
Her response was firm.
"Well, that's great. Please take good care of it," I replied with a smile.
Behind us, several people clutched their chests, looking like they were about to faint.
Heartburn, maybe? Should I recommend a doctor?
After this, it became a trend for people to accessorize their jade pieces after getting "claimed."
Author's note :
The sharp-eyed tabby is named Chinpira-san.
The mustachioed calico is called Buchou-san.
Both are the inn's official mascot cats. They won't respond unless you address them properly with "-san."
By the way, the jade ring—carved from a single piece of domestic jade—costs about 100,000 yen retail. Since it's multi-colored, its rarity makes it worth even more.
Material-wise, it's comparable to that thing Misago used to pick up from the beach every day in Episode 1. If we ignore labor costs, it actually makes for a pretty profitable souvenir. On the books, Yata-chan cleverly balanced the cost using proceeds from that milky-white liquid they once sold. Yata-chan never works for free.
To Misago, the ring itself is very familiar. But the fact that it was sent directly to her and placed on her finger makes it priceless.
To Misago, it's like a cheap festival toy ring that she just can't bring herself to throw away.
Growing up surrounded by jade, her sense of value is completely skewed.
This novel has been lovingly translated by https://www.patreon.com/Jenuinez_translation