“Hey, Sanada. How does this look?”
“...You’re going to wear that, Kuonji?”
“Y-Yes. That’s right.”
No, this is...
The next thing she was looking at was something called a one-shoulder top, which leaves one shoulder exposed.
It was primarily white, but by design, it inevitably showed a lot of skin.
Not just the shoulder; even the chest area was quite provocative.
To be honest, I think it would look great on her. I think so... but as I thought, the exposure is a bit too much and it bothers me.
“I’ll try it on for a bit. Come over here.”
“Eh. H-Hey!”
Because she moved so suddenly, I reflexively followed her... but this might be bad.
The curtain of the fitting room in front of me was closed, and from inside, I could hear the rustling of clothes as Kuonji changed.
There were shoes lined up outside the curtains of other private rooms, so there must have been other customers inside as well.
Moreover, this was a women’s specialty store.
This is bad. This is definitely bad.
——! Those eyes...!
I involuntarily turned around.
When I did, a shop assistant was looking at me like I was some kind of suspicious person...!?
Well, I guess so! Normally, men aren't allowed in the fitting room area of a women’s specialty store!
“Sanada—, are you there?”
“Eh!? O-Oh, I’m here! But is it okay if I go outside!?”
“Wait just a little longer. You’re so impatient.”
I have every reason to be impatient!
However, the shop assistant seemed to realize I was with the person in the fitting room, so she gave a little smile and went somewhere else.
Did that... save me?
Haa... this is bad for my heart...
“Alright. Then, I’m opening it.”
“Oh.”
“Ta-da!”
——She’s cute...
With the unique look of the one-shoulder top, there was a level of skin exposure I couldn’t have imagined from her school uniform or her clothes today.
The neckline was also quite open, and her cleavage was clearly visible.
But surprisingly, I didn’t feel much eroticism or sexiness. I don’t know if it’s because Kuonji is the one wearing it, but it felt like a complete sense of ‘beauty.’
Kuonji did a quick spin as if to show off and flashed a smile.
“Ehehe... how is it? Does it suit me?”
“............”
“...Sanada?”
“...E-Eh... Ah, it suits you, really...”
I involuntarily looked away.
Because I couldn’t look at her directly. That’s unfair.
“Hmph. ...D-Do you really hate outfits with a lot of skin exposure...? Do I look like an unrefined woman...?”
“I-It’s not like that. It really suits you, and you’re cute. But...”
“But?”
“...I can’t look at you directly.”
Right now, it was all I could do to turn my face away.
She was so cute I couldn’t look straight at her, and it really did suit her.
But it didn’t change the fact that while it was a feast for the eyes, it was also poison for them.
That’s what I meant by it.
“...Hehe. ...I-I see. ...Fufu...”
Kuonji looks happy.
Well, no woman wouldn’t be happy to be called cute, in fact.
Even Neika, who usually seems to have zero motivation, gets normally happy if you praise her.
But... as I thought, she really is the number one among all the women I’ve seen so far... Is this the effect of the Red Thread?
...It’s almost like a curse.
“T-Then, I’ll buy this one.”
“O-Oh... wait! H-Hey, Kuonji...!”
“What is it?”
“What happened to... that...!”
“That?”
Kuonji tilted her head in confusion.
No, well... is it okay to say this...?
“Well... y-your underwear...”
“Underwear? ...Oh, a bra? Of course I took it off.”
“Wh-!?!?”
“Because if I wore it, the straps would show, wouldn’t they?”
Don’t say that like it’s the most natural thing in the world!?
Does that mean—this person standing in front of me is currently going commando!?
“! ...Fufun. What’s wrong, Sanada? Your face is bright red.”
“H-H-H-Hey. Don’t get so close...!”
“Why? What’s wrong with it?”
Th-This girl, she’s getting close while purposely emphasizing her chest...! I took a step back. Kuonji took a step forward. And then... Thump. Dammit, the wall is behind me...!
Seeing this as a chance, Kuonji got even closer—approaching until we were almost touching.
“Wait, there are other customers too...!”
“Then, we’ll just have to make sure we don’t make any noise...”
She’s not this kind of character, right!? Ah, geez... I can’t...!
“...Pfft. Hehe... Hehehe. Oh my, it was just a joke.”
“—Eh?”
A joke... a joke? Wait, what do you mean a joke?
“There’s no way I’d try things on without a bra. I anticipated wearing clothes like this, so I’m wearing a strapless bra.”
“............”
What was that... I feel both disappointed and relieved... I suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion... Kuonji went back into the fitting room, and as she put her hand on the curtain, she looked back.
“Hehe. Dummy.”
She threw a cute insult at me.
...My heart won't last...