Mahiro and the Gifted Experience

Mahiro and the Gifted Experience (まひろと思い出ギフト, Mahiro To Omoide Gifuto) is Chapter 42 of Onimai: I'm Now Your Sister!. It was originally published on Pixiv on July 25, 2020.

Summary
Mahiro decides to celebrate Mihari's birthday by taking her to an amusement park that they once went to as children.

Plot
Mahiro empties her piggy bank and groans at only having ¥771. She notes that it is Mihari's birthday next week, so she wanted to get her something, but can't with this meager amount. She thinks how Mihari is old enough to deserve something nice, but that's out of her price range.

Mahiro decides that she has to go the handmade route and sketches out a chore coupon. Mahiro then tears it up, realizing that it's the same thing that Asahi did.

Walking to school with Kaede and Momiji, Mahiro mutters out her dilemma of having no idea what to get Mihari, noting that it has to be something she'll be happy to receive. Kaede wonders what's up with Mahiro, but Momiji has no idea.

Mahiro asks Momiji what she would want for her birthday, and Momiji says that she would be fine with anything as long as it's from Mahiro. Mahiro thinks to herself that that doesn't help at all, and Kaede realizes that Mahiro must be planning for Mihari's birthday. Kaede tells Mahior that it doesn't have to be an item, and Mahiro asks her what she means.

Kaede explains that spending a fun day together as sisters might be a pretty nice gift all on it's own. She adds that she wouldn't want her sister to spend all of her allowance on her. Mahiro notes this, and tries of think of something fun she and Mihari could do together.

The weekend before Mihari's birthday, Mahiro asks her if she's free. Mihari, who is reading a book on the couch, says that she's not particularly busy and asks why Mahiro asked her that. Mahiro says that that is good and suggests that they go have fun. She suggests that they hit the amusement park, much to Mihari's surprise.

The two arrive at the amusement park Oshimaen. Mahiro asks for two adult tickets, though Mihari tells her that she doesn't need to go that far. Mahiro says that she doesn't have the money for the tickets anyway, and Mihari tells her not to worry saying that she'll pay.

Mihari is amazed at the park, but notes that it seems kind of deserted. Mihari asks Mahiro if she thinks that the park's business is in trouble, while Mahiro thinks to herself that she's just glad that there's nobody around.

Mihari notes that this really takes her back, as the last time she was here when she was just starting elementary school. Mahiro remembers that, noting that the whole family went. She remembers that Mihari got separated from them and started crying, and Mihari is amazed that Mahiro recalls that, wondering if it really happened.

Mihari asks Mahiro what sparked all this, and why she chose an amusement park of all things. Mihari guesses that the park is doing a promotion with an anime that Mahiro enjoys, but Mahiro says that it is nothing like that. She says that she knows that she's been causing Mihari a lot of problems recently, so she figured that she should give Mihari a nice day to make up for it. She suggests that they enjoy the day to the fullest with no holding back. Mihari is touched, and notes that the only thing that could make it better was if Mahiro could afford to pay for it as well. Mahiro excuses herself for being a worthless lump.

Mahiro and Mihari begin to have fun at the park. They make sure Mahiro is high enough for water ride before going on it. Mihari has a blast while Mahiro screams in terror. The two go to an alpaca petting zoo, where one of the alpacas bites Mahiro's top strand of hair, much to both of their surprise. Mahiro points out a shooting game and wins Mihari an "Oshima" stuffed toy. The two race bumper cars, go to a haunted house, and Mihari watches Mahiro sit on a cute panda seat. Mihari snaps a picture of the latter and laughs with delight at such a wonderful day.

Towards the end of the day, Mihari gets them both ice cream saying that today was great. Mahiro thanks her for the gift, saying that it was nothing. Mahiro notes that she is completely exhausted, and Mihari admits that she is also pretty tuckered out. Mihari notes that she thinks that they managed to see everything, and Mahiro gets out their map to see if they missed anything.

Mahiro notes that the park has an arcade near where they are sitting. As they walk through, Mahiro notes with delight that places like this are usually full of retro classics. Mihari tells Mahiro to just enjoy the demo screens.

Mahiro notices a "A Double Dose of Good Memories" photo booth and decides that it's perfect. She suggests to Mihari that they do a photo booth together. Mihari beams and teases Mahiro about loving them, calling her "little kitty". Mahiro tells her not to get the wrong idea.

Mahiro notes that using the photobooth costs ¥400, which is within budget. Mihari offers to pay, as she paid for everything else, but Mahiro says that she's got it. She claims that she has to cover it herself, as it is Mihari's present after all. Mahiro begins to edit the photo and comments that it is a little early though, as Mihari is surprised.

The photo, acting as Mihari's present, showcases her and Mahiro. Mahiro has doodles that make her look like a cat saying happy birthday to Mihari who has a birthday crown, with the word "Birthday" written below them. Mihari bursts into tears of happiness saying that that's not fair, as one can't buy such happy memories.

That night, Mihari lies in bed with a smile on her face and the stuffed toy that Mahiro won for her lying on the table beside her bed.

Characters

 * Mahiro Oyama
 * Mihari Oyama
 * Kaede Hozuki
 * Momiji Hozuki

Trivia

 * Since Mihari's birthday is on April 22 and Mahiro describes it as being "next week", that means that the chapter could take place as many as one to thirteen days before it. This means that the events of this chapter could take place at any point between April 9 and April 21.
 * Mahiro is shown to have ¥771 in her piggy bank. That ¥771 is composed of one ¥500 coin, two ¥100 coins, one ¥50 coin, two ¥10 coins, and one ¥1 coin. Since using the photobooth cost ¥400, Mahiro could've only used the ¥500 yen coin to pay for it. That would leave her afterward (including change) with ¥371 composed of three ¥100 coins, one ¥50 coin, two ¥10 coins, and one ¥1 coin.
 * ¥771 is, as noted by the chapter, the equivalent of $5.65 USD.
 * ¥331 is the equivalent of $2.43 USD.
 * Mahiro's chore coupon reads "Valid through April 20XX", this keeps with the series' decision to not tie it to any particular year, only tying it to some point during the 21st century.
 * Mahiro references when Asahi gave her a similar chore coupon for her birthday in "Mahiro's Surprise Party".
 * Mahiro asks Momiji what she would want for her birthday, but since Mihari's birthday is close on April 22, and Momiji's is on October 20, there is still a log way to go before Mahiro has to worry about it.
 * As noted by the chapter, the name of the theme park that Mahiro and Mihari visit, Oshimaen, is derived from the Japanese title of the series "Onii-chan wa Oshima i!" with "en" being added on meaning "park".
 * Mihari references the first time that Mahiro used a photo booth in "Mahiro's Little Adventure".

第42话