Life In The Limelight : I Married A Gamer Girl-Chapter 56: Research : Shopping

Kazuma and Masako sat together in their cozy living room, laptops open as they focused on the next aspect of their slice-of-life game research—shopping mechanics. They wanted to implement an immersive in-game economy where players could buy furniture, electronics, groceries, and collectibles, all with realistic pricing.

Masako, lounging comfortably on the couch, tapped her chin. "Alright, dear, I've been looking through different online stores, and I think we need to base our in-game pricing system on real-world market trends."

Kazuma, typing away on his laptop, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, some games make everything either too cheap or ridiculously expensive. We need to balance realism with fun."

Masako smirked. "Exactly. Players should feel like their in-game money has value, but at the same time, shopping should be rewarding."

Kazuma leaned back, stretching. "So, we're basically giving ourselves an excuse to online shop for hours?"

Masako gasped dramatically. "How dare you imply I'm just looking for an excuse to shop! This is professional research, dear."

Kazuma chuckled. "Uh-huh. Sure."

The two spent the next hour scanning through different product pages, taking detailed notes on pricing, descriptions, and how various sites structured their transactions. They compared grocery costs, household items, and even decorative collectibles that could add personal touches to a player's in-game home.

But as they worked, a silent plan began forming in both their minds.

Kazuma had an idea. Masako had always been a huge Dragon Ball fan—she watched the anime religiously, collected figures, and even had a custom phone case featuring her favorite characters. While scrolling through an online merch store, Kazuma spotted the perfect gift—a high-quality Dragon Ball desk mat featuring all of her favorite characters in vivid detail. Without hesitation, he added it to his cart and ordered it, making sure to hide the transaction from her view.

At the same time, Masako had a similar thought. She knew Kazuma was obsessed with Nikke, and his favorite character was Rupee. He had spent countless hours gushing about her charm, collecting her skins in-game, and admiring fan art. So, when Masako stumbled upon a premium Rupee figure, she grinned, knowing exactly what to do. She added it to her cart, made sure Kazuma wasn't looking, and quickly completed the purchase.

Neither of them realized the other was doing the exact same thing.

After another hour of research, Masako stretched her arms. "Alright, dear, I think we have enough data for today."

Kazuma nodded. "Yeah, I'd say we've covered everything."

Masako closed her laptop with a satisfied hum. "Now, all that's left is to—" freёnovelkiss.com

Ding!

Both of them turned toward the door as the doorbell rang.

Kazuma blinked. "That... was fast."

Masako tilted her head. "Did we order something for same-day delivery?"

Curious, they both got up and walked to the door. As soon as Kazuma opened it, they found two packages sitting on the doorstep—one addressed to Kazuma and the other to Masako.

The couple exchanged confused glances before picking up their respective boxes.

"Huh," Kazuma muttered. "I don't remember ordering anything recently..."

Masako held her package, inspecting it. "Same here..."

A pause.

Then, realization struck them both at the same time.

Masako's golden eyes narrowed as she smirked. "Dear... did you buy me something?"

Kazuma smirked right back. "Did you buy me something, sweetie?"

For a moment, they stared at each other in silence.

Then, at the same time, they burst into laughter.

"Oh my god," Masako giggled, holding her package to her chest. "We both had the same idea?!"

Kazuma chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess we really are too predictable when it comes to spoiling each other."

Masako smiled. "Well, let's see what we got!"

Excited, they moved back to the couch and eagerly unwrapped their gifts.

Masako was the first to open hers. As soon as she pulled the Dragon Ball desk mat out of the packaging, her golden eyes widened with pure joy. It was gorgeous—the design was vibrant, the material smooth, and it featured all of her favorite characters in action poses.

"Kazuma...!!" She gasped, holding it up like it was a legendary artifact. "You got me this?! I was eyeing this last week but didn't say anything!"

Kazuma grinned. "I noticed, sweetie. Figured you'd love it."

Masako practically tackled him, wrapping her arms around his neck in an excited hug.

"I LOVE it!!" she squealed. "Thank you, dear!!"

Kazuma laughed, hugging her back. "You're welcome, sweetie."

Meanwhile, Kazuma opened his box and pulled out his gift. The moment he saw what was inside, his jaw dropped.

It was a beautifully detailed Rupee figure. The sculpt was flawless—from her confident pose to the meticulous detail in her outfit, everything was perfect.

Masako leaned in, whispering in his ear, "You love it, don't you?"

Kazuma swallowed hard, staring at the figure like he had just won the lottery.

"This... this is amazing," he muttered, carefully lifting it out of the box. "I love it, sweetie."

Masako giggled, watching his awestruck expression. "I knew you'd like it."

For a few moments, neither of them spoke, just admiring their respective gifts. Then, without thinking, they both set their presents aside and wrapped each other in a loving embrace.

Masako snuggled into Kazuma's chest, closing her eyes as she sighed happily. "I love you, dear."

Kazuma squeezed her waist gently, his voice soft. "I love you too, sweetie."

They stayed like that for a while, simply enjoying each other's warmth.

Masako eventually pulled back slightly, smiling. "So, should we add a shopping system where couples can buy gifts for each other in the game?"

Kazuma chuckled. "Honestly? I think that'd be a great feature."

Masako beamed. "Then it's settled! But first..." She stretched out, yawning. "Let's just enjoy tonight."

Kazuma nodded, pulling her close again. "Agreed."

They spent the rest of the night admiring their gifts, talking about their game, and just enjoying another perfect memory together.

Their research might have started as work, but moments like these made every second worth it.