Once we had killed enough time, I started thinking about where to have dinner. Alice suggested a restaurant she wanted to visit, so we decided to head there.
I felt a slight sense of unease regarding what kind of place it might be, but since Alice was the one insisting on a "luxurious dinner," I doubted she would turn the meal itself into a prank. If anything, it seemed more likely that she would joyfully pick an ultra-exclusive establishment frequented by the high nobility.
"Oh, come on, it’ll be fine. You made a killing just a little while ago, Kaito-san, so you’d better treat me to a feast!"
"...Y-Yeah. Well, I don’t mind doing that, but..."
"Don't worry, it's a proper restaurant, okay?"
"No, that's not what I’m worried about..."
Alice spoke to me with a bright smile as she walked by my side, while I replied with a conflicted expression.
To be honest, I was in a bit of a bind. It wasn't exactly a problem with the dinner itself. Well, perhaps it was slightly related, but that wasn't the main issue.
"What’s wrong? You’ve got a strange look on your face."
"...How—no, I mean... when did you change into that dress?"
Exactly. The problem was Alice’s current outfit.
Until just a moment ago, she had been wearing her usual attire: a functional long-sleeved shirt and pants with multiple pockets. But the moment I looked away, she had somehow swapped it for a dress.
The soft orange—a honey-hued dress trimmed with lace—complemented her bright blonde hair perfectly; it really did look good on her. Perhaps because it was a look I rarely saw, seeing this different side of her made my heart race. Of course, because she was still wearing that mask, she looked more like an attendee at a masquerade ball...
"It's cute, right?"
"W-Well, yes, it certainly is... No, that's not it! I’m asking why you're wearing a dress in the first place!"
I didn't really care about the fact that she had changed in the blink of an eye. Knowing her, she could probably teleport home and back in less than a second if she felt like it, so that didn't surprise me anymore.
However, the fact that Alice, who usually wore her common clothes even on dates, had changed into something else meant there had to be a reason.
"Eh? Well, the place we’re going has a dress code."
"...What?"
A dress code—clothing restrictions, exactly as the name implied. It was a concept usually reserved for formal ceremonies or high-end French restaurants. Simply put, you couldn't get in unless you were dressed to the nines.
I remembered hearing that restaurant dress codes varied by establishment, unlike formal ceremonies... but what about my own clothes? I was wearing a white shirt, a thin black jacket with a loose fit, and pants that looked like jeans. It was questionable at best.
"...There’s really a dress code?"
"Yes. It’s a pretty strict place. Semi-formal is the standard."
"..."
Semi-formal... Oh, I’m doomed. They’ll turn me away at the door.
Even if the fashion standards here differed slightly from Japan, semi-formal was the next step down from full formal attire. It was definitely a level where casual clothes wouldn't cut it. In that case, my current outfit was a total deal-breaker.
"...I don't think I'll be able to get in. Should we pick a different restaurant?"
"Hehe, don't you worry... I anticipated this! Ta-da! I’ve prepared a formal suit for you, Kaito-san!"
"...I see you planned this all along."
"A-Ahaha... W-Well, let’s get you changed quickly. Let’s see... ah, that house over there should work."
Alice had suggested the restaurant, the restaurant had a dress code, my clothes didn't meet that code, and Alice just happened to have a suit ready for me. She was a total repeat offender.
It was obvious she had chosen that place on purpose just to see me panic, but for now, I decided to swallow my complaints and change as she suggested.
However, just as I was wondering where in the middle of the city I was supposed to change, Alice walked toward a private residence.
"H-Hey, Alice? That’s someone’s house..."
I called out in a panic, but Alice didn't seem to care as she stopped in front of the door. Immediately, the resident came out and knelt on one knee before her.
"Let us use a room, will you?"
"At once! Please, use it as you see fit, Phantasm King-sama."
"..."
Right... as usual, the owner of the house was one of Alice’s subordinates.
I changed into the suit at the subordinate's house, tucked my old clothes into my Magic Box, and rejoined Alice to head for the restaurant.
The suit I was currently wearing had a sophisticated, black-based design with silver thread woven into a subtle pattern. It was an incredibly stylish piece.
That aside, the suit was remarkably comfortable, likely due to some incredible elasticity in the fabric. Even while walking, I felt no restriction in my movement or any sense of tightness.
"...It’s really easy to move in. It actually feels like a perfect fit."
"Of course it does. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece I made specifically for you, Kaito-san. I was obsessed with the materials to ensure it was the highest quality."
"N-No, I appreciate that, but... why do you know my measurements as if it's the most natural thing in the world?"
Indeed, the suit fit my body perfectly, down to the exact length of the hem. It felt like a bespoke, made-to-measure item. But I had never told Alice my size.
"Hahaha, what are you talking about? I even know exactly how many moles you have on your body, Kaito-san!"
"...I feel like I’ve asked this before, but do you even know the meaning of the word 'privacy'?"
"I do! It’s that thing you don't have, Kaito-san!"
"...The fact that I can't even argue with that is painful."
Where had my privacy gone? Well, I suppose I knew that with Shiro-san around, privacy was essentially a myth anyway...
(I am aware of everything, including all the age-restricted items you possessed in your original world.)
Whoa, don’t you ever speak a word of that, you Natural Goddess! That’s way beyond the level of a shameful secret. For a guy my age, that’s practically a death sentence for my dignity.
(If you wish, Kaito-san, I can recreate the exact same items for you here?)
...Wait, let's talk about the details of that later.
"...Kaito-san?"
"!? Ah, no, sorry. Anyway, let's go."
"Understood!"
Alice couldn't hear my mental conversation with Shiro-san. I gave a hurried reply to Alice, who was tilting her head in confusion, and we resumed our walk toward the restaurant.
Dear Mother, Father—We ended up going to a super-high-class restaurant with a strict dress code. I’m grateful for the perfectly tailored suit Alice provided. However, as I’ve come to realize... for me, there was no such thing as privacy.