kscans

Chapter 185 - You Left Yourself Wide Open

As Hikaru prepared for the night, the junior high combo was also getting ready at Sarna’s house. A massive amount of food covered the table. One might mistake the scene for an eating contest, but for them, this was a perfectly normal portion. Unless they intentionally restricted themselves, people from the Supernatural World inevitably became big eaters. This tendency was more pronounced the stronger they were, and these two promising girls were quite the gluttons themselves.

"I get that we have to eat a lot and store up energy, but... even though it’s for me, this amount is honestly a bit much."

"Ahaha, I agree. As a girl my age, it feels like my sense of normalcy is getting a little warped."

Every bite they took was stored as surplus energy. Tonight would be a long haul, a series of battles with no time to rest, that much was certain. Considering this, the decision to store as much energy as possible to enhance their endurance was the correct one. However, that was a judgment made as people of the Supernatural World. From a young maiden’s perspective, it was understandable to feel a little conflicted.

"Right? I’m kinda scared that when I change back, my stomach will have stretched out and I’ll end up eating more than before."

"I know what you mean."

Even as they spoke, their hands never stopped moving. Despite the fear and guilt, the pleasure of eating as much as they wanted was an irresistible temptation.

"By the way. If this is how much we eat, I wonder what the max is for Oji-san."

"Hideo-san…"

If capacity increases with strength, then just how massive was Satou’s storage tank?

"He said he hasn’t been truly full since he let himself go around the age of eighteen."

"Yeah. He said he tried to find his limit, but it was endless, so he just gave up."

"We’re chowing down right now, and even we can feel ourselves gradually getting full."

"And he doesn’t feel that at all. I wonder how that’s even possible."

"I doubt even all the food on Earth would get him to eighty percent full. It might not even get him to ten."

"Oji-san, wandering the cosmos, devouring star after star in search of a full stomach…"

"Sounds like a final boss, doesn’t it?"

If you had to say whether such a final boss existed or not, it probably did. After chatting and eating for an hour, the two of them finally put down their utensils.

"Okay, let’s get changed."

"Right."

Without a moment’s hesitation, they stripped off their clothes. It was only natural, since they were the only two there, but the way they disrobed was far too boyish. It was so brisk you could almost hear a crisp shupan! sound effect.

"So, Sarna-chan, which costume did you pick?"

"I… chose this. You might laugh and say it’s uninspired, though."

Sarna pulled a skull mask and a black cloak from a paper bag.

"A Death God! Well, it’s straightforward, but I think it’s good, don’t you?"

"What about you, Rika-san?"

"Me? I got this."

Rika took out a red, hooded poncho.

"…Little Red Riding Hood?"

"Yup! Though, it’s been given a horror twist."

Looking closely, the poncho was spattered with black stains that looked like dried blood. And the red of the poncho itself was a dark, somber shade, like congealed blood.

"Still, it’s pretty generous of the Mutual Aid Society to lend out costumes for free."

"Rika-san, it’s not like this is just for cosplay, you know."

"I know, I know. But you can’t deny it gets you in the mood, right?"

They were changing into these costumes not merely to enjoy Halloween night. Every year, members who participated in the Halloween subjugation were provided with free rental costumes from the Mutual Aid Society. The purpose was camouflage. They cloaked themselves in disguises to blend into the festive atmosphere of the city, and more importantly, to deceive the eyes of supernatural beings. The former was easy enough to understand, but what about the latter? It was a conceptual matter. In the original traditions of Halloween, people wore costumes so that demonic beings would not recognize them as human. The costumes the two girls now held were created using this very concept, imbued with an effect that would grant them a high degree of concealment for this one night only.

"Besides. I’m sure the folks at the Mutual Aid Society are thinking about more than just practicality."

"W, well…"

Sarna was at a loss for words when she saw the next item Rika pulled out. A ridiculously revealing dirndl and a pair of fishnet stockings. If asked whether these were absolutely essential, it was no wonder she was speechless.

"I bet yours is something like that too, isn't it, Sarna-chan?"

"…………Yes."

The underlayer to be worn beneath the cloak, that was the problem in Sarna’s case. Dejectedly, she pulled it from the paper bag. It was a fishnet, bondage-style inner garment. Her shoulders, chest, and sides were completely exposed, and the sheer fabric covering her stomach was perversely suggestive. No matter how you looked at it, this was… something else.

"The guys’ costumes are normal, but the ladies’ are almost always like this, right?"

Rika’s observation that their personal desires were peeking through was not wrong. It was the absolute truth. This was the result of the artisans in the Mutual Aid Society’s creation department, both men and women, deciding, "We gotta put some erotic elements in these!" The upper echelons had expressed their disapproval at one point, saying that was going too far, but…

"‘Fine, then. We’re goin’ on strike.’"

The craftsmen, regardless of gender, abandoned their work. As a result, management had no choice but to accept their demands. The craftsmen’s stance was that if you didn’t like it, you could pay up and get something made elsewhere, and they refused to accept any complaints. What made the situation so egregious was that the performance of these costumes was actually quite high. To procure something of the same level would require a considerable sum of money. For that reason, most of the female members who participated in the Halloween subjugation event simply,

"‘…Well, if it’s just for one day.’"

They accepted their fate with a sense of resignation. That was the current state of affairs.

"…Anyway, Rika-san, are you okay with this? Something so…"

"Well, I’m not a fan of strange guys staring at me, but…"

A glint appeared in Rika’s eyes.

"Oji-san seems to like cosplay. I was thinking I might have a shot."

"What, Hideo-san likes cosplay!?"

To defend Satou for a moment. He may be a man with a few screws loose, but he possessed enough common sense not to discuss lewd topics in front of children. He had never once revealed his personal proclivities in front of Rika. So how did she know? The answer was simple.

"Yeah. When I went over to his house, I secretly went through his PC history and bookmarks and found out."

Satou Hideo, a devastatingly careless mistake…! He never would have thought! That the sweet junior high school girl he doted on would do such a thing… he would never notice! Not a single shred of a clue! Satou was sharp, yet dense. He could sense the affection from those close to him, but he was incapable of noticing when romantic feelings were mixed in. He could pick up on it from someone at a distance, but when it came to those in his inner circle, he was completely useless. If he had noticed Rika’s feelings, his deeply affectionate nature might have prompted him to be more cautious, but it was too late now.

"Oji-san thinks I’m just a kid and underestimates me, but with the erotic cuteness of Little Red Rika-chan… fuhehe."

Rika was dense. Like any girl her age, she loved talking about romance, but she was completely oblivious to the subtleties between men and women. Even in situations where it was obvious to anyone that one person liked another, she was the type to be genuinely shocked, saying,

"‘Wait, really!?’"

That was the level of her denseness.

"…"

Therefore, she had no way of noticing the meaningful look Sarna was giving her own costume.