Chapter 19: Weekend department store date (2)

Did agonizing at home backfire?

I turned on my phone belatedly and realized that the meeting time was tight.

‘Ah… It says it’s a 20-minute distance to Shibuya, but there are only 30 minutes left, this is really bad.’

Moreover, the subway time was cutting it close.

So I ran towards the subway.

While running, I looked at the complicated subway map of Japan, solved that labyrinthine subway problem, and arrived at the meeting place.

And I ran again.

Unfortunately, I was wearing loafers, which were uncomfortable to run in, but I thought I could somehow manage.

Moreover, I was wearing a blouse full of frills, a light purple checkered skirt, and a cute ribbon on my head… I was wearing clothes that were hard to run in, so they only got in the way.

But even though I was struggling to run, I had other thoughts.

‘I, I won’t stand out too much, right?’

Fortunately, I arrived at the meeting place about 5 minutes early.

But.. as expected.

Both of them were already waiting at the meeting place.

The first thing that caught my eye was the tall Aya.

Aya in a flowing pure white dress.

She was truly a goddess itself.

Even though there was no special decoration, she exuded a more elegant and luxurious atmosphere.

Her long silver hair swaying slightly in the wind and her clear blue eyes that seemed transparent drew the attention of those around her just by existing.

Next was Mizuki.

As her usual lively personality, she was wearing a blouse full of a refreshing feeling and slim slacks.

It was casual yet classy, and thanks to her lively smile, the word ‘active young lady’ suited her perfectly.

Seeing the two of them, who were so perfectly beautiful girls, I swallowed unconsciously.

“Rina!”

Mizuki, who found me first, welcomed me with open arms.

I belatedly waved my hand and ran.

“Huf, huf… Ah… Hello!”

“Wow, Rina! You’re cute~ You really put in an effort, didn’t you?”

Mizuki smiled at my outfit.

I took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat dripping down, answering.

“I, is that so…? I tried to dress a bit plainly…”

Mizuki circled around me once and gave me a thumbs up.

“Plain~? You look great! You really dressed up!”

“I, is that so…? Hehe.”

Aya also quietly came to my side.

Aya tilted her head slightly and looked at me carefully.

She didn’t make a fuss like Mizuki, but just making eye contact with her created a strange tension.

“It suits you, Rina.”

Aya’s calm words, just one sentence, so naturally seeped into my heart.

‘Ugh, Aya is really unfair, unfair!’

My face flushed, and I lowered my head for no particular reason.

Aya quietly looked at me and smiled softly.

“Rina, you seem to like this style.”

“Um… because it’s cute?”

I mumbled and scratched the back of my head.

‘I just chose the clothes that Rina wore when she was in middle school…’

“Ah! Aya too… the dress really suits you!”

I quickly changed the subject to the pure white dress Aya was wearing.

Aya smiled slightly at my compliment, and lightly grabbed the hem of her skirt.

“It’s just something I had at home. Dresses are comfortable because there’s not much to think about.”

‘No, that’s what you call not thinking about clothes…?’

It was unbelievable.

But everything looks pretty on Aya.

Mizuki tapped my shoulder and said.

“Rina~ You were so plain at school that I wanted to dress you up~ But I guess I don’t need to?”

Ah, was I almost going to become Mizuki’s dress-up doll?

Thank goodness… Rina from middle school… thank you so much.

“Okay, okay~ Let’s go inside the department store!”

Mizuki walked ahead energetically, and I followed with Aya.

And maybe it’s because I’m standing next to Aya wearing casual clothes?

Aya is literally a head taller than me… I felt a strange urge to lean on her.

‘Wow… so this is the department store that the protagonist admired.’

I looked at the luxury department store in front of me with my mouth half-open.

This was almost more like a palace than a department store.

The huge glass building and the sophisticated exterior, and the classical music that flowed out softly the moment you entered, overwhelmed

the small person entering.

But,

Mizuki walking in front,

and Aya walking next to me…

Both of them are people who match this department store so well.

I thought the two of them would naturally go to the luxury brand stores on the first floor. The first floor, full of glittering luxury brands under the brilliant chandeliers.

Aya chatting with jewels at a sparkling luxury accessory shop,

Thinking of Mizuki, a wealthy young lady, walking leisurely in the VIP lounge…

I unconsciously tensed up and took a cautious step.

‘What are they going to buy in a place like this…?’

But contrary to expectations, Mizuki naturally took the escalator to the second floor.

I whispered ‘Thank goodness…’ to my wallet and followed them.

On the second floor, there were women’s clothing stores.

There were brands that were somewhat luxurious for a student to wear, but they were much more realistic than the luxury brand stores.

It was a price range that I could barely afford if I managed the allowance I received today well.

‘Hmm… it’s still expensive.’

I walked down the hallway and glanced at the price tags in the surrounding stores.

A neat blouse was 15,000 yen… a skirt was 20,000 yen…

‘…gulp.’

It was much more expensive than the clothes I wore in my past life.

Maybe it’s a reasonable level for Takamari Academy students to wear…?

‘I’m glad my mom gave me 50,000 yen…

When I told my mom that I was going to the department store with my friends (I often talked about them while eating dinner at home), she gladly opened her wallet.

At that time, I thought, ‘This will be enough’…

Now I realized that it was barely enough to survive.

“Rina, here!”

Mizuki entered the store first and gestured.

So when I entered the women’s clothing store, I saw a display of gorgeous dresses and neat blouses arranged here and there under

warm lighting.

And, I somehow felt my heart pounding.

It wasn’t because I liked this space, but because of those expensive price tags, and the

feeling that I was in a space where I shouldn’t be, a ‘women’s clothing’ space.

‘Ugh…’

I smiled awkwardly and entered.

Mizuki looked around the store familiarly and her eyes lit up.

“Rina, how about this style?”

Mizuki held up a frilly blouse and showed it to me.

It’s similar to the frilly blouse I’m wearing, but that one looked much more expensive.

I was embarrassed and waved my hands.

“What?! I, I’m just looking…”

But Mizuki smiled and pushed my back slightly.

“Just looking~? If you come to a place like this, you have to buy. Here, try this and… this black skirt too! I think it’ll suit you!”

I just sighed inwardly and took the clothes Mizuki gave me.

As soon as I took them, I checked the price tag and froze.

‘Pr, pr, price…?!’

At that moment, Aya, who had quietly approached, whispered in my ear in a soft voice.

“It’s okay, Rina. It’ll look good on you.”

“…!!!”

A whispering mixed with wind that brushed between my ears.

At that moment, Aya’s asmr pierced my head, and a thrilling shiver ran through my whole body.

‘Ugh…! Aya…!!’

All sorts of warning lights went off in my head.

The trace of her breath near my ear made even my hair flutter slightly.

I instinctively flinched and waved my arms.

“Uh, uwaaa!”

In my embarrassment, I dropped the clothes I was holding.

Mizuki saw me and laughed, approaching.

“What~ You’re surprised just because Ayarin whispered? Rina, are you ticklish by any chance? Hehehe~”

“N, no! It’s not like that…!”

I waved my hands and desperately made excuses, but it was already too late.

Mizuki looked at me with a playful glint in her eyes, curled her fingers, and approached me as if she was going to tickle me a lot.

‘Ah… there’s nowhere to run…’

In the end, I blushed furiously, hurriedly picked up the clothes, and fled to the fitting room.

I closed the door, looked at my reflection in the mirror, and couldn’t help but sigh.

‘Sigh… really, why have I become so girly, me…’

But did Mizuki follow me all the way here?

A mischievous voice was heard from just beyond the curtain.

“Rina~ Your embarrassed look is also cute~”

“Kyaa…!”

“Yeah, since you’re in there, show me what you look like!”

“Ugh… alright.”

I answered in a weak voice to the sound coming from beyond the curtain.

And… a sound that I hear a little later.

“Then~ Ayarin should try it on too, right?”

“Hmm…?”

“Come on, how about matching with Rina?”

“Mi, Mizuki. Your eyes seem to have gone crazy.”

“Hehehe…!”

Hmm…

Well, I thought it would somehow work out.

I slowly walked to the mirror and tried on the blouse full of frills and the black flare skirt that Mizuki had picked out, on top of my clothes.

“It’s really cute…”

My reflection in front of me was definitely a typical ‘cute high school girl’.

What Mizuki picked out was a more sophisticated black and white outfit.

If only it wasn’t for this price…

The blouse is 20,000 yen, the skirt is 20,000 yen, and the brooch is 4,000 yen.

‘Ouch… it’s too expensive. Is it about 440,000 won in Korean money? I’ll really spend all 50,000 yen…

As I was worried about the price tag, Mizuki’s excited voice came from outside.

“Rina! Did you try it on? Show me~ Ayarin already came out~’

“Ugh… wait, I’m not ready yet!”

In the end, I half gave up and put on the clothes.

A white frilly blouse, a black brooch, and a slightly flared black flare skirt.

When I finished dressing and slowly went out, Mizuki’s eyes sparkled and she admired my appearance.

“Wow~ Rina, you’re really cute! It’s perfect!”

And… Aya next to her.

She said she picked similar clothes to mine… but it was a completely different atmosphere from mine.

I’m short, so no matter what I wear, I only feel cute, but Aya had become a black and white young lady with a noble atmosphere.

“Wow…”

“Stand next to each other. You look so good together~ Let’s take a picture.”

“Hmm~ Then shouldn’t Mizuki try it on too?”

Aya smiled mischievously, not fitting her beautiful face.

Aya glanced at me, met my eyes, and I smiled and agreed.

“That’s right~ It’s Mizuki’s turn, isn’t it?”

“Huh?”

Eh…

“Mi.zu.ki.?”

“Ah, ahaha…!”

Mizuki noticed and tried to run away, but Aya’s arm was longer than the space Mizuki had to escape in a short time.

Mizuki, who had her shoulder caught, had no choice but to obediently take similar clothes to what we were wearing and enter the fitting room.

And… Mizuki came out after about 5 minutes.

Mizuki, who was wearing a lively, androgynous outfit a little while ago, was nowhere to be seen

A graceful young lady came out of the fitting room with a blushing face.

“… …”

“Yeah, let’s take a picture now~”

Wow

This is the first time I’ve seen Aya so proactive. ,

Aya smiled, her lips twitching like Mizuki’s.

It was also Aya who called the clerk.

“Excuse me! Could you please take a picture of us?”

“Yes~ Of course.”

The clerk answered kindly and walked over to us.

And after receiving Aya’s phone and moving around to take a picture of us, she carefully opened her mouth.

“Ah, I’m sorry. The tall person is not in the frame, could you please change your posture a little?”

“Yes, I’ll bend my knees!”

“Yes! Now it’s good. I’ll take a picture! Cheese~”

‘Ah, cheese…!’

I tried to smile belatedly, but it was after I heard the camera shutter sound.