Epilogue: The White Devil’s Disguise Situation – Part II

The sunlight gleamed harshly off the gray forest of buildings and glass. Window frames caught the glare everywhere. It was nothing like Arius or Trinity—in fact, if anything, this place probably resembled where I lived in my previous life.

It was an unseasonably clear day, so bright it felt like the sun might burn my eyes out.

"I'm going home! I’m going home, right now!!"

"What are you talking about? We’ve come all this way! It’d be way harder to go back now—just move already!"

"Quiet! You’re drawing too much attention! Get over here, both of you!"

Those deep-green eyes must have been catching every bit of sunlight—and every bystander’s gaze, too. I pulled my hood down tighter and sighed.

---

Dragged into an alley by Saori, I ended up kneeling beside Mayumi. Facing us, Saori stood tall and imposing. When did she learn to project that kind of authority? I don’t remember teaching her that.

"Suou. Mayumi. Even if this is the Millennium District, we’re still in public—inside the city. People are watching. You understand that, right?"

"Y-yeah…"

"More importantly, Mayumi, weren’t you the one who said we needed to stay alert? And yet you’re the one who wanted to go shopping for Suou’s clothes."

"F-fine, I get it! I’m sorry already!"

Right—this was part of the Millennium District’s shopping area. Mayumi had practically dragged me out here to buy clothes for my disguise.

"Suou, you too. I get how you feel, but…"

"I’m not doing this… I’m going home… Do you have any idea how much clothes cost? Even cheap ones could feed me for a week…!"

"Wait, Suou-san, that math doesn’t make sense. It really doesn’t."

No, it makes perfect sense. The cheap clothes from those chain stores I remembered were around two thousand yen. If you’re fine with a ration biscuit a day, that’s more than enough to get by for a week.

"…And besides, I’ve been earning pretty well through inventions and investments, you know? You don’t have to worry about money. Not that I’m on the same level as those freaks in the Engineering Department or the seminar treasurers, but still—I’m not investing every cent into ‘romance’ like they do."

"I still worry…"

"Just this once, okay? This one time. Also… I want to see you in different outfits, Suou-san."

"That’s purely selfish…"

Sure, I felt a bit bad about the money part—but that wasn’t really the issue.

Even if I was wearing Millennium’s uniform and the wings I’d been given—even with the wig and hood on—only a little over two weeks had passed since the Eden Treaty incident and the attacks. Saori and the others kept telling me to stay calm, but online, the name “Kirihana Suou” was still infamous.

And honestly… I was scared.

"If I get recognized here… I’ll drag you all down with me…"

After all this time—after finally gaining a bit of freedom—the thought of Saori and the others being forced back into that dark, suffocating life again… I couldn’t stand it.

"…Azusa. Give me your phone."

"Here."

"Suou, take a look."

"…?"

Saori handed me the phone. The screen was bright and hard to make out at first, but once my eyes adjusted, I saw a girl with wings staring back. It took me a few seconds to realize it was me.

"See? There’s no way anyone would connect that with your usual self."

"…"

"And besides, we’re not weak. If something happens, drag us into it all you want, Suou."

Before I could reply, Saori pulled down my hood and gathered my long, wigged hair into a neat bundle behind me.

"So don’t be so afraid."

"…Okay."

The weight at the back of my head felt strangely nostalgic. It reminded me of the days I used to tie my hair like this.

"…Sorry, Suou-san. I should’ve been more considerate too. But you know… that whole incident—sure, it was a huge deal in Millennium, but for most people, it’s something that happened far away. They’re not personally involved. No one’s going to think the girl walking next to them might actually be you."

Now that she said it, she had a point. Maybe I’d been too paranoid.

"If you just act natural, no one will suspect a thing. So… try to have fun, okay?"

"Have fun…"

Have fun, huh. Even if it was just a disguise, choosing clothes I wanted to wear—freely, based on my own taste—was something I’d never done in this world.

I didn’t know what kind of clothes would suit me, but… maybe it could be fun.

"Besides, we might even get to pick outfits for Saori and the others, too."

"…What was that?"

Pick outfits for Saori and the others? For Saori and the others? For Saori and the others!?

"Let’s go! Right now! Every second counts! Come on, move it!!"

"Why are you suddenly—hey, let go of me!!"

I grabbed Saori and Azusa, one under each arm, and charged out of the alley. Now then, what should I have them wear? With Saori’s great figure, something like her old Arius uniform—a style that really showed off her legs—would look amazing. Azusa, on the other hand, would shine in something elegant and vibrant.

"…You know, we never actually agreed to wear anything."

"I can’t hear you~."

And Misaki, too—I’ll make sure she tries on a few outfits.

Ignoring Misaki’s quiet muttering, I made that vow to myself.

---

We arrived at a massive department store. “Massive” didn’t even begin to describe it—it was beyond words.

Not just one or two stories, but ten. And apparently, there was a whole food market in the basement too. Honestly, it was bigger than the entire Arius branch campus. According to Mayumi, even in Millennium, it wasn’t common to find one this huge.

"Here’s the floor guide. The clothing stores… let’s see, the closest one from here should be on the third floor."

"It looks like a maze."

Right? I thought the same thing. Why are there more than ten shops on the first floor alone? And what’s with those trees growing on the tenth floor? This place makes no sense.

"Uh, n-no… actually, the nearest one should be here!"

Hiyori pointed to a section on the map labeled Fashion Items. Fair enough—clothes would be there, right?

"Good eye, Hiyori."

"W-well, I’m used to reading layouts like this because of my job, hehe…"

Ah, right. Sniper instincts. Makes sense.

"If it’s close, let’s go there. Hiyori, can you lead the way?"

"L-leave it to me!"

Following her lead, we pushed through the crowds. It was a weekend, so it was packed, but the space was wide enough that we wouldn’t get lost.

After a while, we reached a store glowing with warm amber lights. The front was glass-walled, showcasing its line of stylish clothes.

"…This feels kind of… unfamiliar."

"Yeah…"

Misaki and Atsuko muttered the same thought, and I silently agreed. When I turned to ask Mayumi for advice—since she seemed the most used to this—her face was oddly stiff.

"Mayumi?"

"Suou-san… in Millennium, our postal tech is really advanced."

"…Meaning?"

"In other words, you don’t actually have to leave the clubroom to get new clothes. You can just order them online."

Ah. So in short, Mayumi is—

“Hikikomori, huh.”

"Hey, Suou-san!? That’s such a terrible thing to say! Nobody would say that out loud!!"

"I was joking."

But this is a problem. If even Mayumi—my last hope for guidance—is like this, I really am going to have to feel my way through this whole thing. It’s not exactly something I bothered remembering from my past life, so I’m kind of lost here… If only Mika were around, she’d make this easy.

"For now, let’s just go inside. If you get stuck, you can always ask one of the store clerks for help."

"Huh?"

As I tilted my head in confusion, Azusa reached out and smoothly opened the automatic door.

"The other day, I went shopping for swimsuits with Hifumi and the others. So, I kind of know how these places work now."

"Azusaaa…!"

Little sisters really do grow up in the parts of life their older sisters can’t see. When did she get so dependable? She’s turning into quite the reliable girl. Still, I’m definitely asking to see that swimsuit later. I’d be worried if it’s too revealing—and honestly, I’m curious what kind she picked.

"Whoa…"

As soon as we stepped inside, Atsuko let out a small gasp of wonder. The others stayed quiet, but I was sure they felt the same way.

Bright lights illuminated the store, shining off spotless fabrics. Each piece of clothing was neatly sewn, perfectly shaped—and most impressive of all, brand new.

Even in Arius, we could buy clothes, but they were expensive. For hygiene, we were given soap, sure, but we had to repair every frayed edge and patch every hole to make our clothes last as long as possible.

That’s why this—this world of freshly made, flawless clothes—felt so dazzlingly new.

"So this is what it’s like…"

"That room with the mirrors… oh, so that’s where you try clothes on."

"Ah, I think I remember! They called it… a fitting room, right?"

"This is amazing…! It’s even prettier than what I saw in the magazines!"

"Hey, you guys! Don’t just scatter around like that!"

As everyone began wandering freely through the store, Mayumi called out in exasperation.

"I understand how you feel, but that kind of behavior looks really suspicious…"

She sighed, clearly fed up—but she was right, so I couldn’t even argue. Reluctantly, I shuffled back and gathered everyone around her again.

"Actually, there’s no need for everyone to stick together, you know? Feel free to browse however you like."

"No. I’m going to find clothes that look good on my little sisters. And then I’m going to make them wear them. That is my entire purpose here."

"…You haven’t completely lost sight of your goal, have you?"

Saori, my goal has always been pure and true—to make my sisters look adorable. And at this point, I’ve already got a pretty good idea of what will suit each of them.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Hmm… this one, and this one… ah, this size is a bit small. Excuse me, do you have this one in a size larger?"

"The wide pants, correct? Would you like to keep the same color?"

"Yes, that’s fine."

"Understood. Please wait just a moment."

Phew. Good. I was worried they’d say that was the only size left.

Saori seems like she’d look better in something cool and refined—an office-style outfit rather than something cute. That one should fit her perfectly.

"Hold on—how do you even know my clothing size!?"

"Huh? Well, I’m your big sister! Of course I know! I’ve got Misaki’s and the others’ memorized too."

"Ugh…"

"Don’t look at me like that!"

Still, it’ll probably take the clerk a bit to return. I might as well use the time to pick out clothes for the others.

"Geez, you’re way too efficient about this… Fine, I’m gonna go pick out my own stuff real quick."

"I-I’ll go with you…!"

Ah, they got away. Oh well. Let them enjoy themselves—after all, they haven’t been able to do something like this in ages. Besides… I’m going to make them try the outfits on later anyway.

"…You’re making a weirdly evil face."

"Oh? You’re not running away, Atsuko?"

"No particular reason to."

"I see."

Alright then, let’s start with Atsuko’s outfit. Azusa’s already picking things out on her own, and Saori’s still frozen in confusion.

"Any idea what kind of style you’d like?"

"…Hmm."

Atsuko pressed a finger to her lower lip, thinking for a moment. Then, as if struck by an idea—

"I think… a long coat would be nice."

"I see… a long coat, huh…"

Considering the season, Kivotos is about to get cold, so that’s not a bad idea. But there are still some lingering warm days now and then… so maybe something easy to adjust. A light coat, with a simple inner layer to match.

Under those conditions, a trench coat seems like the perfect fit. Atsuko looks great in skirts, so I’ll go with that too.

"…How about this one?"

I picked out a beige trench coat. A skirt in some kind of pale brownish color—ah, the tag says mocha brown. I’m not sure what that means exactly, but it’s a nice tone. A long skirt with a waist belt, paired with sneakers in the same color, and a white blouse underneath.

Atsuko’s already slender frame will look even smaller in this, but that delicate look actually makes her seem more endearing. Yep, good choice, me.

"Still… it feels like something’s missing. Like it needs a little accent."

"I’ll try it on for now."

"Do you know how to use the fitting room?"

"Yeah, I’ll be fine."

Saying that, Atsuko took the clothes and swiftly closed the fitting room curtain behind her. Even if she was only guessing, she seemed to know how it worked.

"Suou, where’s Atsuko?"

"Oh, Saori."

Looks like Saori finally recovered from her long mental loading screen. She walked over, basket in hand, glancing around restlessly as if searching for Atsuko.

"Sacchan? What’s up?"

"…So it’s already decided then. It suits you well."

"Thanks."

Hmm. Yeah, it does suit her. It really does. But still, something feels incomplete. Like… it’s missing that little something that makes it perfect. You know, like a beef bowl without pickled ginger. Not the best comparison, but you get the idea.

"What did you bring, Sacchan?"

"Ah, well… I didn’t really know where to start, so I began by looking at hats. And, uh… I thought this one would look good on Atsuko."

"A hat?"

Click. Deep in my mind, something clicked perfectly into place.

A hat. Yes—a hat. That’s what had been missing all along.

"Saori, may I see that?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah… this one."

What Saori brought over was a brown beret. No visor—just a simple, elegant beret.

"Let me try it."

Before I could even say anything, Atsuko snatched it from Saori’s hands in one smooth motion and placed it on her head—well, more like perched it there lightly rather than wearing it properly.

She loosened her long, faintly colored hair—a delicate shade of pale violet—and let it flow down her back. The hat rested softly atop that fragile-looking cascade of hair.

"Mm, yeah, that looks good."

"Saori, you’re amazing! As expected of my sister! A genius—a true genius!!"

"I-Is that so? Well, if it helped, I’m glad…"

Of course—Saori nailed it. That was exactly what had been missing. That one item tied everything together perfectly. It gave Atsuko a slightly mature charm, but not so much that it overpowered her natural cuteness.

"Alright, I think I’ll go with this look… Sacchan, you still haven’t decided on anything?"

"Yeah… honestly, I have no idea what would suit me."

"Hmm… but Saori, with your figure, I feel like you could pull off just about anything."

Maybe that’s exactly the problem—too many choices make it harder to decide. Come to think of it, the outfit I ordered earlier should be arriving any moment now.

"Thank you for waiting, ma’am. Here’s the L size of the product you asked for earlier."

"Oh, great! Thank you so much!"

Speak of the devil. It might be a little snug, but this size should still fit Saori perfectly fine.

"Saori, here."

"N-No, I really—"

"Here."

"…Fine, fine. You win."

I’d already decided what outfit Saori should wear. Whether she’d actually like it was another question—but personally, I was confident it would suit her.

"There were a lot fewer parts than with my outfit, huh."

"P-Parts…? Well, technically, that’s not wrong…"

As Saori disappeared into the fitting room, Atsuko spoke up beside me. True, I’d hesitated a little, but I figured keeping things simple would work best.

"And why the bag?"

"Accessories are part of fashion too, you know. Just… be careful. If you ever say something like ‘You’d look good carrying a bag, Atsuko,’ people might get mad at you."

"Huh… interesting."

Wait, how do I even know that kind of thing? Oh, right—probably from my previous life. My older sister must’ve rambled about it back then.

"Suou… could you, uh, help me out a little?"

"Hm?"

While I was lost in thought, Saori called for help from behind the curtain.

"This thing—whatever it is—it came undone…"

"Ah, I see what’s going on here…"

What was that called again? Bow… bow-something… Not mosquito larvae, definitely not that—ah, bowtie! It wasn’t sewn in place, huh? No wonder I didn’t notice—it’s not the same color as the blouse.

"It’s basically like tying a necktie… not that that helps much, right? Hold on a sec."

I draped the long strip of fabric around Saori’s neck and looped it once.

"Not too tight, is it?"

"No problem."

I crossed both ends loosely, slipped one through the loop I’d made around her collar, adjusted the length a little—

"There, done!"

"You saved me… I’ve got the basic idea now, but teach me properly next time."

"Leave it to me! Alright, let’s show everyone!"

I took Saori’s hand and pulled open the curtain.

Her deep indigo blouse was just a shade darker than her hair, paired with light gray wide-legged pants that gave off a bright, balanced impression. Polished black leather shoes grounded the look, while the finishing touch—a small, perfectly white bag that caught the light—added just the right accent.

"I went for an overall cool aesthetic. What do you think, Saori?"

"Hm? W-Well… this bag looks like it could hold ammunition quite nicely."

"That’s… not what it’s for, you know?"

Well, to be fair, in Kivotos that logic actually kind of works.

"Wow, that looks great on you. Didn’t expect you to pick something so normal, though."

"I-I’m honestly surprised too… I was bracing myself for something with ‘I love my sister’ printed on it or something equally awful…!"

Before long, Hiyori and Misaki came back, both carrying shopping baskets with clothes already inside.

And Hiyori—yeah, I can hear all those muttered comments you’re making under your breath. It’s not like I didn’t think about it, okay?

"So, are you going with that outfit then?"

"Yeah, probably… though I’ll check out a few more things before deciding."

"I see."

"What about you two, Misaki? What’d you pick?"

When the conversation naturally hit a pause, I took the chance to ask what I’d been wondering.

"What we picked? Well… this, I guess."

"Come on, you might as well try them on! I want to see you two looking cute!"

"…Sigh… fine. Give me a minute."

Okay, Misaki, what was that sigh just now? That definitely sounded like a “Ugh, she’s going to hover until I do, isn’t she?” kind of sigh.

"Here."

Barely any time passed before Misaki came out of the fitting room.

"A… hoodie?"

What she had on was a black hoodie—something very close to her usual look. Underneath was a white layer that peeked out just enough to add a soft contrast. The loose fit gave her an unguarded, casual charm.

"Yeah. What about it?"

"No, nothing bad, just… hmm…"

I could’ve sworn the clothes I saw in her basket earlier weren’t that.

"Excuse me."

"Hey, what are you—!?"

"Ah, I knew it."

Inside the fitting room, there was still a basket left behind. When I peeked inside, I saw the black hoodie Misaki had been looking at earlier. Since it had a zipper, that must’ve been what had felt off about it.

"Why this one?"

"Don’t—!"

When I unfolded it out of curiosity, it turned out to be nothing unusual—just a normal hoodie.

"…"

"Ugh, seriously…!"

Except for one thing—on the chest, there was a small, embroidered bear in a cutesy, chibi style.

"It’s adorable."

"…This is the worst."

Misaki looked absolutely irritated—probably because her secret had just been exposed.

"Misaki, take off your top."

"Huh? Why?"

"Just do it."

Grumbling under her breath, Misaki reluctantly began removing the hoodie she was wearing. I took it from her and, stretching a little, helped her put on the other one instead.

"Yep. It looks great on you. Super cute!"

"…Whatever. I don’t care."

Fuming now, she yanked the first hoodie back from me and tossed it aside, though she didn’t seem eager to take off the one she currently had on.

"I-I put mine on, just so you know…!"

Right beside us, the curtain slid open with a soft shff. It was Hiyori’s voice.

"So, Hiyori… what did you pick?"

When I glanced her way, the first thing that caught my eye was her check-patterned outer shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to her forearms, giving her a slightly energetic vibe. The top buttons were left undone, while her culotte shorts were a calm, modest tone.

It showed just enough of her soft skin to seem effortlessly charming—not indecent, but dangerously cute. She gave off this… alluring little-sister energy that could easily make someone misunderstand her intentions. And to top it off—

"A bandana?"

"Y-yes…!"

Her usual side ponytail was tied not with a hair tie, but with a white bandana. Clever—just a small touch, but stylish. As expected of Hiyori; she does read fashion magazines, after all.

"Wait—oh!"

Before I could say more, the bandana slipped loose, and her hair cascaded down in a silky wave.

"A-ah…! I knew it, I just can’t get it right… The usual way really is best for me, huh."

"Hiyori, turn around."

"Huh…?"

"I’ll fix your hair. Turn around."

"O-okay!"

She obediently turned her back to me. I gathered her hair strand by strand, careful not to pull. My hands—small, but steady—worked to collect every piece.

"This takes me back. I used to tie everyone’s hair like this a long time ago."

"That was because you forced us, Suou-san…"

"Was it?"

"…Maybe not entirely."

The method for tying hair—it lingered faintly in my memory. I never learned any fancy styles, but I remembered the basics.

First, make a half-up… then slip a scarf under the elastic… tie it up, lift the hair over, bring the front strands back, tie again… loop the scarf over and tie once more.

"…And, done! All finished!"

It was a loosely braided half-up style. I never thought the rope-tying skills I’d learned would actually come in handy for something like this.

"U-um…"

This hairstyle had a lot of little details to appreciate, but the most important part was one simple thing.

"This feels so awkward…!!"

"Hahaha, it’s a treat for the eyes!"

For once, I could see Hiyori’s left eye—normally hidden by her bangs. With her hair pulled back, a few hairpins were enough to keep it parted just right. Honestly, it looked great, if I do say so myself.

"Wait, doesn’t that mean you can’t do it yourself…?"

"If that happens, I’ll do it for you again! Now, let’s show everyone!"

With that, I yanked open the curtain with a loud swish. I thought I heard a small squeak from Hiyori, but probably just my imagination.

"…Oh, Hiyori. I thought you were someone else."

"Th-that’s so mean!"

"I get it, though. That other eye… this is my first time seeing it."

At some point, Azusa had joined us. And—hold on, Azusa? What’s that in your basket? That shirt with the weirdly cute bird on it—don’t I recognize that?

"I’ve already bought plenty for myself, so I’m getting souvenirs for Hifumi—and pajamas, too. Look! I found a Skullman hoodie!"

"Oh, that’s adorable…"

Yeah, it really was. Both Skullman and Azusa wearing it looked cute. I’ll just… not comment on the bird shirt.

Come to think of it, what Azusa was wearing now was her casual outfit: a frilly, off-shoulder white blouse and a short black skirt tied with a big ribbon at the waist. The outfit was a little revealing—it worried me—but it had a stylish, casual feel.

And now that she had wings, I understood. That kind of outfit must feel really comfortable. My own waist area had been sticky and sweaty for a while now…

"Everyone about done picking things out?"

"I’m good. What about you, Suou?"

"Huh?"

"Your clothes, Suou. What are you getting?"

Azusa added on to what Atsuko had started.

Ah… right. My clothes.

My clothes, huh…

"My… clothes…?"

"Why? Why is it that you were so full of confidence a moment ago, but now your brain just shuts down!?"

"B-but, I mean…"

For Saori and the others, ideas for outfits had been overflowing—plenty to choose from. But for me… my clothes? What even suits me? Something like a shirt that says ‘I love my sisters’ on it…?

"I just thought of something perfect. I’ll go look for it."

"Saori, stop her. She’s got that look again—the ‘up to no good’ face."

"Yeah, absolutely."

"Let me go!! I was kidding! I swear!!"

Ugh… clothes, huh. Let’s see. I don’t want anything too revealing, and skirts just make me feel awkward, so those are out… what should I even do?

"Oh my, has everyone already decided?"

A familiar voice called out, as if she had sensed my distress.

"Ah, Mayumi. I was just trying to pick out my—wait, what’s with all that stuff behind you?"

Hold on. Mayumi was carrying an enormous pile of clothes—like, six baskets stacked high. What even is that mountain?

"Hm? Oh, these? They’re all outfits I want you to try on, Suou-san!"

"Huh?"

All of that? The entire mountain behind you? Seriously, this kind of overkill proves you really are a Kivotos student after all…

"I just couldn’t decide on one! I picked out some for Saori and the others too, but looks like they’ve already made up their minds."

"Uh, actually, I thought they were still planning to look around a bit more—"

"Oh, no, we’re done. The only one left is Suou."

"Saori!?"

Hey, why are you looking away from me like that? You totally just made me the scapegoat. Don’t think I didn’t notice.

"Alright, Suou-san! Try this one on first!"

Mayumi handed me a long skirt and a light knit top.

"Since you’re petite, I think this kind of style will really suit you!"

"Who are you calling petite!? Are you here just to make fun of me!?"

"That’s not what I meant! Now hurry up and change!"

I tried to protest, but she shoved me into the fitting room—clothes and all.

"Ugh… seriously? You want me to wear a skirt? Me…?"

It’s not like I’ve never worn one before. But those were special circumstances—out of necessity. This time, though… it just feels wrong.

"Suou-san, hurry it up! There’s a line forming!"

"Ghh…!"

Please spare me. Please. But I knew they wouldn’t.

"Grr…!"

I grabbed the waistband of my shorts. Just doing that made the skirt in front of me seem to whisper, You’re really going to wear me now.

"N-nope! Nope, can’t do it!! Mayumi, anything but a skirt! Please, give me something else!!"

I flung open the curtain, pushing the outfit back toward her.

"Hey, what about this one? It’d look good on Suou, right?"

"Yeah, and if we pair it with this, the colors would go nicely too."

Why… why did the pile of clothes grow? And why were there more skirts—frilly, cute ones, at that!?

"Suou, what’s wrong? There’s still plenty more to try on. Come on."

Saori—don’t tell me this is payback for something. No, wait. Those are genuine, innocent eyes. That makes it worse.

"Suou-san, listen. People who are on the shorter side look better in skirts, you know? And besides—since you’ve got wings instead of a tail, the clothing options made for that body type are mostly… skirts."

"What!?"

So this is the price I pay for choosing wings!?

"Come on, Suou-san. Go on! Go on!!"

"Ugh… ah…!"

Deep breath. I can feel the heat rushing to my face, but I hold it in. I close the curtain, take a sharp breath, and lower my shorts. My plain, unflattering underwear stare back at me.

I grab the skirt. Widen the waistband. Step my right foot through. Then the left. Pull it up to my waist and tighten the belt.

"Ghh… ugh… uuuhhh…!"

I throw on the knit top, then open the curtain.

Mayumi’s face lights up instantly.

"You’re adorable!! You look so cute, Suou-san!!"

"…True. It’s a complete transformation. The skirt length makes your legs look a little longer… more mature, even. It suits you well."

"Don’t narrate your observations like that!!"

Just hearing it made my face burn so hot, I thought it might actually melt off.

"Next outfit, Suou-san! Try this one!"

"Wait, maybe let’s do this one first—"

"No, I’ll pick next!"

Why… why are they all so excited while I’m dying of embarrassment?
As the footsteps of my impending social death drew closer, I could only stare into the void and wonder.

---

"I'm… exhausted…"

On the way home, I walked slowly, still wearing the clothes they’d bought me. Before I knew it, the sun had already set. I was tired. Truly tired. Today, as soon as I get home, I’ll just collapse into bed. Whether I’ll actually be able to sleep is another question, though.

"I'm sorry, Suou-san… I got a little carried away…"

"We were the same… sorry about that."

In the end, I think I spent over an hour being treated like a dress-up doll, swapping outfits over and over. Just today, I must’ve worn a lifetime’s worth of clothes.

"…No, it’s fine."

Still, even so…

"It was so much fun!"

It really was. I felt it in my heart.
…Cyan and Anna… I wish I could’ve brought them along too.

"…Right… right! Then that’s fine! I’m glad…!"

"…Hm?"

Suddenly, Azusa’s phone chimed with a soft ping. It wasn’t the usual Momotalk tone—I didn’t recognize it.

"This… it’s for Suou."

"Me…?"

"Yeah. From Mika."

Mika…? Since when does she have Azusa’s contact info…?

"Uh, let’s see… ‘Suou-chan, long time no see…’"

Emails. They’re rare these days. With that thought, I began reading it aloud.

"Have you gotten used to your life there? Are you doing well? Make sure you’re eating properly☆ …Not that I’m scolding you or anything. I just sent a package to Mayumi, and I wanted to let you know so there wouldn’t be any confusion."

I glanced at Mayumi, wondering if she knew, but she just shook her head.

"It should arrive tonight☆ Inside, you’ll find something matching what Azusa-chan has… Remember that outfit we made a long time ago? And Samuel’s cosmetics! Try dressing up a bit, Suou-chan! Next time you have free time, let’s meet at Trinity☆"

"This… is from Mika," Azusa explained.

Cosmetics… Samuel, if I recall, is a high-end brand…? No, more importantly…!

"…Suou-san. Once we get home, I’ll teach you how to put on makeup."

"Pl-please, not today!! I can’t handle it!!"

Mika… I appreciate it, but I kind of resent her a little. I felt that irrational frustration stir inside me.