Chapter 293 - Battle Preparations
Everyone has a flaw or two.
Some are trivial, others are fatal, and these 'flaws' (quirks) vary from person to person—but even so, this was just too much.
As she looked through the series of photos her best friend had sent, she—Mitsueda Hiyori—was overcome by a profound sense of weariness and lethargy that could be described as a form of 'despair.'
"…You know, Nia-cha."
`Yes?`
The text of the reply appeared on the display she was speaking to. She tried to choose her words carefully… but then abandoned the effort. Having been woken up after an all-nighter, the busy young woman let out a syrupy sweet voice and declared:
"So, when should we schedule the heartbreak party?"
`WHY?!`
There was no 'why.' It was because every single one of the 'date outfit ideas' she had sent over was so utterly, hopelessly, monumentally awful that it made her want to clutch her head in her hands.
"Honestly… I stayed quiet because you said you'd try to do it yourself, and this is what I get. If you can't do something, just ask for help."
`Y-You don't have to be so harsh… The third one wasn't that bad, was it…?`
"If you want to have your first meeting with your beloved dressed like a daruma doll, then by all means, be my guest."
`A daruma…?! It wasn't that bad!!`
Personally, she thought her fluffy friend was adorable, but the color palette was dead, and she really needed to consider the season. Was she a little old lady who got cold easily?
"Stop dithering and just lay out your clothes in your room already."
`But…`
"No 'buts' or 'becauses.' Your meetup is in the early afternoon, isn't it? It's almost noon. Do you still have time to be indecisive? Do you? Hmm?"
Knowing her friend's 'catastrophic fashion sense that applied only to herself,' a trait unbecoming of a clothing artisan, Hiyori ruled it impossible and mercilessly hurried her along.
A short while later, after the replies stopped, a photo of a room covered in clothes was posted in the chatroom. Placed squarely in the middle, as if in protest, was the complete outfit she had called a 'daruma,' a truly pitiful sight.
`Fine, here! I'll leave it all to you!!`
"Now, now, don't pout—I'll take full responsibility for making you as cute as can be, so you just focus on the date itself, Nia-cha."
Honestly, when her friend, who had finally resolved to act, reported that she had 'secured a date in the real world,' Hiyori had been so shocked she was at a loss for words.
After the shock, she had lectured her.
Meeting a boy she only knew from the virtual world in person right off the bat was just too dangerous—even if he was someone who had rocketed to a 'position' where he couldn't do anything reckless.
Even if, to seriously pursue the fulfillment of a budding love—she had to show her real self first to be fair.
However,
'But,' and 'Still,' and 'Even so'… she wouldn't budge an inch, so there was nothing to be done.
From what she heard, 'he' had been considerate enough to make up for Nia's reckless charge. The plan he proposed, which seemed to consciously choose crowded places from meetup to parting, felt reassuring and convincing enough.
All she could do was trust what she had heard of his character, and the earnest 'young man' she had seen with her own eyes the other day.
All that was left—was to hope that 'he' wouldn't lose control upon seeing the cutest best friend in the world. If anything were to happen, she was fully prepared to chase him to the ends of the earth and make him take responsibility.
…That aside,
"Nia-cha."
`Yes?`
"Take out a skirt."
`WHY?!`
She knew her friend had never been comfortable with them, but for someone who had the gall to suddenly ask a guy out on a real date, she desperately wanted to ask why she was getting cold feet now.
Honestly, she had to get a grip.
For someone with those looks to refuse to wear frills was a loss on a global scale. There was no excuse that could ever justify it.
"You're going to give it your all without holding back, right? I'm going to support you with everything I've got, so you go out there and hit him with all your charm."
When she stated it as a final decision, a sticker of a character with a 'this is the end of the world' expression popped up in reply.
Trying to curry favor with a sticker of her favorite character, one Hiyori had once voiced as a seiyuu, was useless. Unfortunately, she had no intention of going easy on her now—
"Alrighty then… let's begin the production!"
—The goal was love at first sight, in return.
She would unleash a completely invincible 'maiden in love' upon 'him,' the man of the hour.