Vol. 2 Chapter 52 – Summer Festival (3)

“Hmm… I wonder which one would be good…” (Hikaru)

“How about this color? It’s a little bright, but don’t you think it would look great next to you, Hikaru-chan?” (Ichiru)

“True… But I also feel like this chic color scheme suits Reiya-kun better…” (Hikaru)

At the kimono rental shop we’d come to for yukatas, the girls were happily examining the lined-up garments.

In contrast, we guys, indifferent to fashion, were just watching them from the sidelines.

“Sorry ’bout this… Reiya… I’ll make it up to you next time…” (Taiju)

As I waited, wondering just how I was about to become their plaything, Taiju-san apologized.

“You don’t need to make anything up. It’s not a lie that it’s more fun with more people,” (Reiya)

“Yeah… Sorry…” (Taiju)

“Seriously, you don’t need to apologize. More importantly, I’m surprised you invited Ichiru-san yourself, Taiju-san,” (Reiya)

“Honestly, at first, I thought I’d really screwed up… If she’d turned me down, it would’ve been more than just awkward…” (Taiju)

“By the way, how did she react when you asked her?” (Reiya)

I decided to probe a little to see where their relationship currently stood.

“Hm… Well, at first, she seemed like she was genuinely considering it for a bit, so when I said, ‘It’s okay if you can’t make it,’ she was like, ‘Since it’s a special occasion, maybe I’ll go’…” (Taiju)

“I see…” (Reiya)

I’d witnessed Ichiru-san being asked out by guys several times during our part-time job.

Her usual response was to turn them down almost immediately.

And she did it in a way that, while apologetic, made it clear to the other person that it was absolutely impossible.

Even considering she felt indebted about the clothes, it was quite rare for her to even show hesitation from the start.

What’s more, she ultimately said yes and even lent him my uncle’s yukata.

“She might actually think quite highly of you, Taiju-san,” (Reiya)

Integrating all that information, I frankly stated the conclusion I’d reached.

“H-Highly…? I-It’s not like… I l-like Mizumori-san or anything… S-so even if you say that…” (Taiju)

“You’re the only one still trying to argue that point, Taiju-san,” (Reiya)

While his little sister was trying to set them up, he was still dragging his feet far behind everyone else.

But maybe Ichiru-san was the type to find that endearing, thinking he couldn’t be left alone.

“M-More importantly, that new character idea you submitted wasn’t bad,” (Taiju)

Perhaps feeling embarrassed, he blatantly changed the subject.

“New character? You mean the one I submitted with the event proposal the other day?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, yeah, the female paladin who swore an Oath of Radiance, was it? Sphere seemed to like it too, said they’d start drawing the concept art right away,” (Taiju)

“Ah, uh… i-is that so…” (Reiya)

“What’s with that lukewarm reaction? Your idea got approved, be happy about it,” (Taiju)

“No, I am happy… Really…” (Reiya)

Taiju-san, despite appearances, doesn’t compromise when it comes to game development. The event concepts I made before were heavily criticized, and less than half were approved.

So, it was genuinely great that a major idea like a new character got through.

I was happy, but…

“Especially that event where she’s forced to wear a maid outfit by exploiting her oath. That was good,” (Taiju)

That character is based on your sister… is what I couldn’t bring myself to say.

“The placeholder text had a lot of effort put into it too. It might be interesting to make that event line a bit longer. Think about it a bit,” (Taiju)

“Y-Yes… I’ll think about it…” (Reiya)

As Taiju-san tilted his head at my less-than-enthusiastic response—

“Reiya-kuuun! Come try this on for a sec—!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru, having finished deliberating over the yukatas, called out, and I headed over as if escaping.

“Try this on! And this one, and this one… this one too!” (Hikaru)

“Four of them…?” (Reiya)

“I figured I wouldn’t know which one suits you best unless you actually try them on…” (Hikaru)

“Well, alright…” (Reiya)

Taking the yukatas handed to me in a whirlwind rush, I started to enter the fitting room, but…

“…Why are you coming in too, Hikaru?” (Reiya)

“To help you get dressed, of course,” (Hikaru)

“A man’s yukata isn’t that complicated, is it…? Look, there are simple instructions posted right here,” (Reiya)

Inside the fitting room, there was a paper explaining how to put on a yukata with pictures.

“No! Since we’re doing this, we have to do it properly!” (Hikaru)

“Then just help me with tying the obi at the end—” (Reiya)

“Properly means doing everything thoroughly, from start to finish!” (Hikaru)

With Ichiru-san and the shop attendant smiling beside us, what else could I do but nod?

In the end, we both entered the fitting room, and I resigned myself to being dressed by her.

“Okay, take off your clothes,” (Hikaru)

“Okay…” (Reiya)

I felt hesitant about undressing in front of her, but figured it was weird for me, the guy, to be embarrassed, so I took off my top as told.

Seeing me in my undershirt, I thought I saw Hikaru’s nose flare slightly for just a moment.

“I took it off,” (Reiya)

“Your pants too,” (Hikaru)

“I can take them off later after putting the top on—” (Reiya)

“Your pants too,” (Hikaru)

“Okay…” (Reiya)

Just as commanded, I had no choice but to take off my pants as well.

I was left wearing only a thin shirt on top and boxers below.

Although we’d spent many nights together, this was naturally the first time I’d shown her such a state of undress.

To think I’d end up being undressed before I got the chance to undress someone else…

“Okay, first, put the top part on…” (Hikaru)

However, was I the only one feeling strange—

“Left side over right, make sure the back seam is aligned with the center of your body…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru was completely composed, dressing me in the yukata deftly with practiced hands.

“Then, wrap the koshihimo waistband and tie it… Finally, take the obi like this, wrap it around… Done!!” (Hikaru)

And just like that, the dressing for the first yukata was completed in no time.

“Ta-da! How does it look!?” (Hikaru)

The fitting room curtain was opened, revealing me to the two outside.

“Wow! It looks amazing on you!” (Ichiru)

“Right!? I knew it, these kinds of calm colors really suit Reiya-kun!” (Hikaru)

“R-Really…? I honestly can’t tell myself…” (Reiya)

Maybe because I wasn’t used to being complimented on my clothes, I felt kind of embarrassed.

“Yes, it suits you very well. Can you show me the back for a second?” (Ichiru)

“The back… like this?” (Reiya)

Doing as Ichiru-san said, I rotated my body 180 degrees.

“The way the obi is tied is stylish and really nice too. Have you done this before, Hikaru-chan?” (Ichiru)

“Nope, this is my first time, but when I thought about making Reiya-kun look even a little bit cooler, I somehow just managed it!” (Hikaru)

She displays her talent even in things like this, huh…

“Okay, next! Try on the second one! This one’s a bit brighter, but—” (Hikaru)

After that, I was made to try on various other yukatas, ultimately ending up with six different types in what felt like a one-man fashion show.

“…So, which one did you like?” (Reiya)

After showing off the final yukata, I asked for their opinions.

“Well, honestly, I have no idea…” (Reiya)

From my perspective, lacking any aesthetic sense, they all looked pretty much the same, and I certainly couldn’t judge which was better.

“What do you think, Mizumori-san?” (Hikaru)

“Hmm, personally, I still think the first one was the best…” (Ichiru)

“The first one, huh… Yeah, that might have been the one that struck me the most too! Okay, let’s go with that one!” (Hikaru)

Even though it was about me, Hikaru somehow exercised the final decision-making power and pulled me back into the fitting room.

I was completely like a dress-up doll at her mercy.

However, knowing that this seventh change of clothes would be the last brought a small sense of relief.

As I waited in that state of mind for the dressing to finish—

“…Hm?” (Reiya)

Hikaru’s hands, which were adjusting the collar as a final touch, suddenly stopped.

“Is something wrong?” (Reiya)

I called out again, but there was no reply; she just remained frozen, staring intently at my face.

“Hikaru…?” (Reiya)

“Reiya-kun…” (Hikaru)

When I called her name, she called mine back… or rather, murmured it like delirious rambling.

I felt like her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing had become heavier.

“I’m sorry…” (Hikaru)

“F-For what…?” (Reiya)

Her sudden apology left me momentarily confused—

“I… I really can’t hold back anymore…!” (Hikaru)

Saying that, Hikaru grabbed both my hands and slammed me against the wall with her body.