INTERLUDE â FIRST TIME SHOPPING AS KOTONE (PART 2)
Well, whether it fits or not aside, why the heck are you wearing the same clothes as I am? A white t-shirt with jeans, thatâs the exact thing Iâm wearing. It is true that I always wear this and all, but isnât that still weird?
ăMatching clothes, donât we look like office workers going home from work?ă (Akira)
ăKyousuke, did you not tell her off?ă (Kotone)
ăWell, I seriously thought that you would wear something different this time. You are shopping out today, after all.ă (Kyousuke)
Iâm sorry, for not being that attentive and stuff. To begin with, you think Iâm the type to dress up every time I go outside? Consider how I dress regularly, please.
ăI kind of anticipated it though.ă (Akira)
ăComing here like that despite anticipating this is just nasty.ă (Kotone)
ăWell, I thought it would be funny.ă (Kyousuke)
Hmm, still, thinking about it calmly, itâs not like this is causing any inconvenience. And having matching clothes isnât really a problem either.
ăEven with the same clothes, Kotone, I think youâd still stand out more. Mostly due to your figure.ă (Akira)
ăOh my bad, for being the slender type.ă (Kotone)
I donât think thatâs a bad thing though. Itâs the combination of height, figure, and facial features that makes or breaks oneâs looks. Besides, everyone had different preferences.
ăSo, where are we heading? All I know is that you two are going out shopping.ă (Kyousuke)
ăThe objective is to buy underwear, so any place that sells underwear is fine.ă (Kotone)
ăUnderwear, huh. So thatâs why itâs Akira. Right, since if this was with Mizuki, then things might turn out real crazy. The old man is going to have a heck of a hard time too.ă (Kyousuke)
ăIf you donât have a particular destination, then letâs just head somewhere good enough. A large shopping mall is fine, yes?ă (Akira)
ăI donât mind.ă (Kotone)
As long as I can buy underwear, anywhere is fine. I should probably ask about colors and stuff though. Since itâs summer, Iâm mostly lightly dressed, so some fuller colors might stand out. Iâll have to ask for professional advice regarding this.
ăStill, wouldnât you normally go with friends for this? Why us?ă (Kyousuke)
ăThose friends and acquaintances of mine are occupied today. Besides, buying underwear in regular places with Kotori or those from well off families might cause some trouble.ă (Kotone)
ăThatâs a good point, butâŠâŠ Ah, sorry.ă (Kyousuke)
ăI know precisely what that apology is for, but I wonât touch on it any further.ă (Kotone)
Iâve only got a few friends anyways. Iâm aware that my acquaintances are pretty much either the same age as me or older than me. Rather, maybe I even have more from the older side.
ăNow then, weâve reached the place in the middle of our chat, but Iâll be watching not too close not too far as usual.ă (Kyousuke)
ăNothing will likely happen this time, I think. Since there shouldnât be any idiot foolish enough to attempt a kidnapping in such a populous place.ă (Akira)
Thereâs no telling how many obstacles you need to overcome, after all. To begin with, trying to kidnap me with Akira always by my side would be a mistake. Well it might work out with enough people, but thatâd be the opposite of inconspicuous.
ăWell then, letâs go now. Underwear isnât something to be worried over, after all.ă (Akira)
ăNo, it is. Particularly price wise.ă (Kotone)
ăSay design wise there. I think about this all the time, but you really make me doubt that youâre a member of the twelve families.ă (Akira)
Designs are secondary. Either way, itâs something to wear underneath clothes, so thereâs no point worrying about the design. I naturally donât have anyone to show it off to anyways. Though if I did, thatâd likely shock a lot of people.
ăI realize that. Still, Iâm already kicked out from that world.ă (Kotone)
ăThe fact that you can calmly accept that is weird, you know? Wouldnât the normal reaction be to stubbornly cling to your family?ă (Akira)
ăIâm at the point where I have not a single scaffold to cling to, you see. Besides, I also know people who can let go with ease.ă (Kotone)
There are people who just leave their families since the high society stuff conflicts with their personality. And arenât there a lot of people who donât really fit the definition of normal? Those people too, Iâve seen a lot around me.
ăHmm, I guess itâs just a wealthy girl problem. I canât really imagine being in that position. Not that Iâd want to be.ă (Akira)
I guess thatâs because of her being in close proximity to them. Or perhaps dealing with kids with twisted personalities got her thinking about stuff. I guess after all thatâs said and done, Akira has been through some hardships herself.
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ăSo, weâre here. This place is fine, right?ă (Akira)
ăWell, we certainly are here. Yes, it should be fine.ă (Kotone)
I wonder, is it just me or is it blinding here? Also, as I thought, itâs really awkward to step inside. I know that Akira isnât stepping forward because Iâm not moving, but I have a hard time taking the first step.
ăI have no idea why youâre hesitating, but itâs just like any normal place. Though compared to the ones you have previously, the underwear here are of a considerably lower grade.ă (Akira)
ăNo, itâs not that I particularly worry about that. Iâm just a bit nervous about entering a place Iâve never went to before.ă (Kotone)
Both as Souji and as Kotone. Still, thereâs no point being frozen at the entrance forever. First, to be brave and take a step forward. Though this is definitely not a place that requires bravery at all.
ăWant some really flashy ones? Since you wore flashy ones before.ă (Akira)
ăYouâre saying that understanding how different I am from how I was before, arenât you?ă (Kotone)
ăI understand that your preferences have changed completely. But just making sure.ă (Akira)
She asked while deliberately showing off a pair of red underwear. If I wear that with my current attire, itâs definitely going to show through. White or beige is good enough. Thatâs all I planned to buy to begin with.
ăActually, why donât you try touching it? The tactile feel should be an important factor, after all.ă (Akira)
ăR-right.ă (Kotone)
For some reason, even though I should be used to handling underwear back at my room, now that Iâm about to touch one in a store, it feels weird. It shouldnât be any different.
ăItâs my first time seeing a woman being embarrassed looking at female underwear.ă (Akira)
ăItâs my first time too.ă (Kotone)
ăNo, I was talking about you.ă (Akira)
Good point. Iâm completely aware of the absurd difference in sensibilities. This is the inconvenient part about me being a muddle of male and female. Iâm probably the only one whoâs so affected by this.