Chapter 169 - Dress Up
"Haruka-kun, you seem to be in a good mood?"
It was the fifth day since my university life and training had begun. During lunch, where I was once again crashing with the Toyama group—or rather, the Ashiwara group, judging by the overall dynamic—I found myself next to Kaede as usual, and she posed the question.
"Ah, well, yeah, a little."
Toshiki and Mizuki were exchanging thoughts over an open notebook, likely having something to discuss from the lecture. Shoko was poking at her dessert nearby, observing them. Ignoring them, I replied "It's nothing major" to the eyes peering at me from the side.
I'd gotten a handle on everyone's personalities over the past few days, and Kaede was a little—just a tiny bit—similar to Sora.
Like the way she'd blink her big eyes and peer into my face... and how, when she did, she would unconsciously get a little too close.
And she's probably from a well-off family. Her posture, her subtle mannerisms, and how she's always observing her surroundings and showing consideration for others... her good upbringing is plain to see.
She's definitely going to be popular here at university. She's cute enough that guys are already sneaking glances at her.
—If this were before my time in the virtual world, where I've mingled with all sorts of fantasy beauties, I might have been instantly smitten, just like those other guys.
Yeah... the Sword Saint's lap pillow was a weapon of mass destruction.
"What is it, what is it? Can you tell me?"
"Hm? Mmm..."
Naturally, I was keeping the fact that I'm an 【Arcadia】 user—or a 'player,' as the general public would say—a secret. So I couldn't just give a cheerful "Of course," and instead offered the polite smile I'd perfected at my part-time job.
It would have been a different story before I made it into the rankings, but now I'd stumbled my way into the bottom rung of the top players, who were lauded even in the real world.
I had no desire to reveal anything that might connect Haruka Nozomi to 'Haru,' even if it meant pretending to be a regular person—besides, I'm not the type to show off and declare, "I'm an Arcadia player!"
I'm well aware that my real-world personality is more on the quiet side when I'm not in-game.
"Let's see... it's like, a custom-made outfit is arriving? Something like that."
Still, I could keep the conversation going without revealing it was about the virtual world. I said it smoothly, since it wasn't a lie, and Kaede made a surprised face, like, "Huh."
"Haruka-kun, are you surprisingly fashionable? Do you get all dressed up and head into town on your days off?"
"Eh...? Ah, no, it's nothing that special."
Now, that was a lie.
Not only was it 'something special,' but it wasn't even 'mine,' nor was it being 'delivered.'
"I see... Hey, let me know when you really have some free time, okay? We've finally become friends, so I'd love to talk outside of university too."
It didn't seem like she'd lost interest, but perhaps the word 'holidays' that she'd just used had steered her thoughts. She pressed me with a familiar reminder, and I smiled back, saying, "I will, I will."
Right now, I've had to keep declining the four's various invitations due to the hectic pace of the virtual world, but I've promised them I'll have free time after April.
I'm looking forward to it, too. It feels like a real slice of youthful life, which is great.
◇◆◇◆◇
—But, that aside...!!
◇ 【Harunia】 Talk Room ◇
【Haru】: Yo!
【Haru】: It's a fine day today, how's your mood!!
【Nier】: ......
【Nier】: What's with that energy? It's so different from usual it's kinda creepy
【Haru】: What do you mean, what's with it?
【Haru】: This is your fault too for getting my hopes up so much. Please take responsibility.
【Nier】: Yeah, I get it, but still...
【Nier】: Something about this is annoying. I'm gonna smack you once when we meet.
【Haru】: Why???
【Haru】: Anyway... it's done, right?
【Nier】: Heh, of course.
【Nier】: You'd better keep those expectations high. I'll meet them two-hundred percent.
【Haru】: So God was here after all...
【Haru】: Lady Nia.
【Haru】: Should I bring an offering?
【Nier】: You're really starting to piss me off. Three smacks.
【Haru】: But why???
【Haru】: By the way
【Haru】: Harunia kinda sounds like hernia.
【Nier】:
【Nier】: Shuuuuuut uuuuup, idiooooot!!!!!
◇◆◇◆◇
"—Right this way, one guest!!"
"W-Wha—!? What, wha... what is this...!?"
"I told you!! Stop bursting in like that!!"
Friday, from 5 PM for about an hour.
That was the regular time when Sora-san, busy in real life, could pop in for a bit. I was lying in wait, and the moment my partner logged in, I practically abducted her and delivered her to Nia's atelier.
I entrusted Sora, who was spinning in confusion, to Nia, who followed through on her declaration and smacked me three times. Then, being the guy who would only get in the way of a costume change, I promptly made my exit.
And then—
"—————————..."
"—!? ..., ? ......!?!?"
"I'm terrified of my own talent..."
After waiting for the master's permission, I once again set foot in the atelier of the jewel crafter—no, the god-like tailor. There, I came face-to-face with a literal 'angel.'
To describe it, it was a dress of the azure sky.
The main body was a stunning gradient, shifting from pure white at the sleeveless shirt to sky blue at the flare skirt. The hem of the knee-length skirt, which billowed softly, was adorned with decorations reminiscent of the 'feathers' it was made from, and the tantalizing line of her slender legs could be glimpsed through the sheer fabric.
Draped over her shoulders was a short cape of a deeper blue than the skirt. Its texture was slightly different from the dress itself, and it seemed to glitter faintly depending on the angle.
Red and blue—though contrasting colors, the design sense was impeccable, perfectly accentuating the [Crimson Rabbit Choker] that shone at her open neckline.
From the detailed ornamentation to everything else, the craftsmanship was so exceptional that my vocabulary failed me, leaving me with only "Nia-chan is the best." But on top of that, Kagura-san's work had exceeded my wildest imagination.
The [Meteor Serpent] series armor protecting the arms and legs of the girl clad in her new dress was made from the same material as mine, yet its form was completely different.
Crafted from a fabric of navy blue speckled with white, like a scattering of stars in the night sky, were dress gloves that reached her upper arms and a pair of lace-up long boots.
The boots, while different in shape, were just as sturdily made as my own deep boots.
Yet, they didn't clash with the soft, airy impression of the dress. In fact, the solid foundation at her feet seemed to further accentuate the charm of the dress itself.
But what truly stood out were the gloves. The hands were fingerless, just as Sora-san had requested—specifically, the type that hooked around the middle finger. From there, up to her upper arms, they depicted a delicate gradient, like the transition to dawn, from navy to sky blue, and finally to pure white.
And as a finishing touch, the [Floating Meteor Fragments] adorning the tops of both the gloves and boots had been polished to a shine, transformed into teardrop jewels that cast a serene glow.
Kagura-san is incredible... To think she possessed such delicate artistry...!!
Of course, Nia too... no, both of them were gods. Through the divine work of these two pillars of craft, the very incarnation of cuteness had manifested here—!!
""Seriously cute—...!!""
Both Nia and I brought our hands to our mouths, striking a worshipful pose in perfect sync as we uttered the exact same words. Unlike Nia, I probably looked incredibly creepy, but in that moment, I didn't have the capacity to care.
Sora, lost in confusion, kept fidgeting with her exposed upper shoulders, her open sides, and the knees that peeked out every time her skirt swayed. She was so cute, it was a total victory. I have no regrets in this life...
"U-Um... um...! This, wha... wha...!!"
I collapsed onto the sofa as if fainting, and Nia, drawn in by the same force, embraced Sora from behind as if it were her divine right.
The victim (our guest), at the mercy of one of the artisans who had prepared this surprise outfit, could only sink into the embrace like a doll, her confusion deepening.
She looked back and forth between us—the ones who had done this without her knowledge and were now overwhelmed by the result—utterly flustered and unable to form a single word.