The Lingerie Boss Battle

(Bai Ziye)

Holographic advertisements covered every surface of the air-conditioned mall. Every single one featured magical girls.

These days, products endorsed by magical girls sold far better than those promoted by idol stars. It was a “dimensional reduction strike” across industries—popular influencers and standard celebrities were doomed. The income from these ads was substantial, so many magical girls relied on commercial endorsements to earn extra cash.

Advertising income, of course, depended on popularity. And a magical girl’s popularity was tied directly to her combat record. In other words, the stronger the girl, the more popular she was, and the more she could earn through these channels. The one most enthusiastic about idol activities was the top-ranked magical girl in the world—the “Galaxy’s Cutest Idol.”

Sirius.

However, she donated almost all of that massive income back to the Association, turning it into bounties for other magical girls.

Sailuno leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Ye Zi, we’ve been in here for over half an hour, and just as we hoped, nobody recognized us!”

Even though it was just a normal shopping trip, she was as excited as a child.

“It’s only natural that they don’t recognize you,” I replied. “Everyone’s impression of you is based on your pink, fluffy hair. Plus, you’re wearing a mask. The only person who could recognize you like this would be a true, hardcore fan.”

“Hey, Ye Zi, you say you don’t care, but being able to hang out with a beauty like me—you’re secretly enjoying it, aren’t you?”

She was acting incredibly lively. Whether this was an act for her “training” or her genuine feelings, I couldn’t quite tell.

“Don’t talk about ‘enjoying it.’ It’s not like you’ve given me any reason to.” I made a joke and countered, “Besides, do you actually want me to treat you like a real girl?”

“Can’t you just treat me like a girl for today?” She furrowed her light brows and gave me a pitiful look. “It’s specifically for this purpose that I started this training.”

As she said this, she twirled in front of me. Her black high-waisted pleated skirt flared up like a flower. Her casual glance back at me made my heart skip a beat.

Seeing that I remained silent, she blushed and laughed. “Ye Zi? What? Dazzled by me?”

She really was cute. Even without the pink hair, she was top-tier. Her appearance was squarely in my “strike zone.” If this was all acting, she was doing a terrifyingly good job. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t happy to be out with a beauty like her.

But when I thought about it carefully, if A-Yao really became a “real girl,” with our current relationship, it wouldn’t be surprising to naturally cross “that line.” The situation I, as Miluno, had been trying so hard to avoid might actually come true in a completely different way.

“Alright. Until we go home today, I’ll treat you like a girl. Consider this part of your training.”

“Great! Ye Zi, you’ve finally seen reason!” Hearing this, Sailuno broke into a radiant smile.

“This is merely a compromise for your acting,” I declared, reaching out. “Here, let me carry the bags.”

“Thanks~”

“It’s only natural to help a girl carry her things, even if you are technically stronger than me now.”

“Hehe, are you practicing your ‘boyfriend skills’ too?”

A-Yao had always come from a wealthy family, and after becoming a magical girl, she had become even richer. With her financial cushion, she shopped without restraint. She didn’t even blink at items she liked, buying several without even trying them on. In just over half an hour, she had added more than a dozen casual outfits to her wardrobe. Her lifestyle was thoroughly “bourgeois.”

At heart, she was still an otaku. She picked out styles like collared shirts, pleated skirts, and knee-high socks, happily modeling them for me. When she went to pay, the shop assistants looked at us with knowing smiles.

I was being treated as her boyfriend. Or more accurately, a “kept man” whose girlfriend paid the bills.

“We’ve pretty much finished with the clothes. Next up is the Boss Battle,” she whispered.

She meant the lingerie shop.

I reminded her, “A proper young lady wouldn’t use gaming metaphors for shopping. You need to break that habit.”

“Huh! But there are plenty of girls who play games!”

“Of course there are. But don’t forget your goal. What kind of girl does Yang Yan want you to become?”

“Ye Zi, you’re so strict.”

“Just a friendly reminder.”

Unlike other stores, lingerie shops were a male “forbidden zone.” There was no explicit rule against men entering, but even if a girl brought her boyfriend in, they would get awkward looks. Sending Sailuno—who hadn’t fully adjusted her mindset—in alone could indeed be called a Boss Battle. Conversely, if she could conquer the lingerie store with poise, she would officially pass as a girl.

Due to the mall’s layout, the lingerie stores were clustered together. I found a bench nearby and sat down.

“Ye Zi, you’re just going to sit here?”

“Silly, I can’t very well go in with you, can I? Look around—all the people sitting here are men. Why do you think that is?”

The row of benches looked like birds on a wire. Boyfriends and husbands waiting for their loved ones sat crowded together, boredom and awkwardness written all over their faces.

Sailuno clearly understood the awkwardness. She was currently struggling to overcome that same feeling.

“Then I might need some time. You’ll wait for me, right?”

“Go on. Take your time and choose carefully. After all, you’re the one who has to wear them; you’ll be uncomfortable if they don’t fit.”

“Oh! Ye Zi, you sure know a lot!”

“A bit more than you~”

The expression on Sailuno’s face as she entered the store reminded me of myself a year ago. But she was even worse than I had been; her cowering demeanor and nervous glances made her look like she was about to commit a crime. She was probably going to be mistaken for a shoplifter.

Still, she would adjust quickly.

Then came the waiting. But I hate waiting. So, I decided to find a quiet moment to slow down my personal time, skipping through this boring interval.

(Sun Yao)

I walked in alone.

The lingerie store truly lived up to its reputation as a “men’s forbidden zone” and a “women’s sanctuary.” The air felt sweeter… Oh, they actually sprayed a light fruit fragrance. The female staff and customers didn’t cast any strange looks at me. After all, I looked just like them now. I naturally belonged here.

Even though I understood this logically, I still felt a massive sense of guilt. I forced a calm expression, but I couldn’t help blushing. I had only been a girl for two days; I hadn’t adapted yet. Indecent thoughts kept popping into my head unbidden.

No! I have to hold myself back! This is part of my training. Picking out lingerie with composure—that’s the proper behavior for a lady. Even if I’m just pretending, I need to project that feeling.

The styles in this store were fairly girly. They didn’t sell “erotic” or “battle” lingerie; the designs followed a cute aesthetic, using sheer fabric and ribbons rather than lace. It matched my current appearance quite well.

I knew I was cute. Ye Zi also thought I was cute. So, I wanted to become even cuter.

I walked around, looking at the dazzling array of items, and soon realized something. Since I’d had a physical at the Association, I knew my three sizes. But I couldn’t understand the sizing system on the tags. I didn’t know which one to buy.

Normally, this is when you would ask the staff. But social anxiety was an occupational hazard for an otaku, so I chose to search online for a size chart instead.

Just as I took out my phone, a kind-looking woman spoke to me. I nervously turned around, and standing there was…