I finished buying my clothes quickly, but as is usually the case, the women took much longer to make their selections. It was only natural; after all, they had far more options to weigh than I did.
There were many more styles of dresses than there were suits, and the color palettes were far more diverse. Once you factored in accessories and other details, the choices became truly infinite. It was no wonder the process was time-consuming.
Standing around waiting was dull, so I decided to see how they were getting along. I found Hina first, staring at a row of dresses with a look of intense concentration.
"Having a hard time deciding, Hina?"
"Ah, Kaito-senpai... Yeah. They’re all so cute and wonderful, I just don't know... Which of these three do you think would look best on me?"
"Let’s see... Hmm."
I looked over the three options she was torn between. The first was a traditional design—well-balanced, safe, and dependable. The second had a more mature, refined air; it was subdued, elegant, and looked quite expensive. The third was a charming piece with just enough ornamentation to be cute without being overbearing. Compared to the others, it felt a bit more modern.
"They’re all great, but personally, I think something bright and cute like this third one would suit you best, Hina."
While they were all lovely, Hina had the image of a cheerful, energetic junior. A vibrant design felt much more her style than anything too reserved.
"I thought that one was cute, too! Hmm, okay, I’ll go with this one then!"
"You should consider how it looks with accessories, too. It might be worth trying a few combinations out."
"I see... but I don't really own many accessories, you know?"
"Oh, that? We can just buy them while we're here."
"Eeeeh?! But that would be an astronomical amount of money!"
"Don't worry about it. Like I said before, you can just let me treat you today."
"I feel like you're always treating me, not just 'today'... But if you're sure, Kaito-senpai, I'll take you up on it. I promise I’ll find a way to pay you back later, though!"
She gave me a bashful smile, radiating a sort of small-animal-like charm. It was a heartwarming sight that made me instinctively want to reach out and pat her head.
After watching Hina pick out her dress and accessories for a bit, I moved over to check on Aoi. She seemed to have already narrowed down her choice; she was currently studying her reflection in a full-length mirror.
"Have you settled on that one, Aoi?"
"Kaito-san? Yes, I looked at a few others, but I think this is the one."
"It looks great. The design is very refined—it suits you well."
"Thank you very much."
Aoi had chosen an elegant white-based dress. It was a simple design, but it suited her perfectly. Since she was a slender, sophisticated beauty, a restrained style complemented her far better than anything too flashy.
In fact, she looked remarkably comfortable in it. Despite the high-end nature of the garment, she didn't look like she was being overwhelmed by the dress; she carried it with effortless grace.
"By the way, I told Hina this as well, but please feel free to pick out some accessories here. My treat."
"Is that all right? Then I'll take you up on your kindness... Actually, since we're here, would you mind picking them out for me, Kaito-san?"
"Me? I don't mind, but I'm not exactly an expert. Do you have any preferences?"
"Let's see. I'd like a necklace and a brooch. I'll leave the specific designs to you, but... I would like at least one of them to have a pearl."
"Got it. Do you have a thing for pearls?"
"Yes... It's a bit of a word-association game for me, though."
"Hmm?"
I tilted my head at her mysterious phrasing but headed over to the display cases to find something that would look good on her.
"I have high expectations for your taste, Kaito-san. Though, back in that game, your equipment coordination was always a bit... lacking."
"Ugh. W-well, that was because I prioritized stats over everything else."
"Did you know? They've finally implemented a system where you can change your appearance while keeping your stats."
"Wait, really? That's a great feature. Top-tier gear always tended to look so clunky and overbearing. Being able to change the look must really open up the customization options."
"Among other things. A lot has changed since you stopped playing, Kaito-san."
"You mentioned it once before, but they finally added the Third Classes, right?"
"Yes. What’s interesting is that with the magic-type Third Classes, Earth-attribute Magic suddenly became the meta."
"Really? Earth magic?"
In my memory, Earth magic was always the underdog attribute... but if the game balance shifted, I suppose it made sense for the favorites to change.
"One of the magic Third Classes is called the Elemental Master. It has passive skills that grant bonuses based on the total level of the spells you've learned for each attribute."
Passive skills were abilities that provided a benefit simply by being equipped or learned.
"For instance, Fire magic increases your magic attack power... but the Earth passive lets you ignore a percentage of the opponent's Magic Defense equal to your total spell levels."
"I see. That’s incredibly strong. If you maxed out all the Earth spells up to the Second Class, that would be nearly forty-percent magic penetration right there."
"Exactly. It put Earth magic in the spotlight overnight... though for me, it was a bit of a complicated feeling."
"I get it. When the niche thing you've loved since the beginning suddenly becomes the popular standard, it feels a bit weird."
"It does. Though, I am happy it's stronger now."
We chatted about the online game while I browsed the accessories. It might have been my imagination, but whenever Aoi talked about the game, she seemed a little more carefree than usual, showing a childishly innocent side that I found quite charming.
Serious-senpai: "I'm guessing it’s Shell to Clam to Pearl? But honestly... she’s a high school girl with long black hair, the daughter of a massive conglomerate's CEO, reunited with her childhood first love, and she's deeply into his hobbies. She looks cool but has a competitive, childish side... Even with all these high-tier tropes, she’s basically been a background character for the entire story..."