I had finally arrived at the Hydra Kingdom Founding Anniversary Festival... for the second time. Well, since the travel was instantaneous, it wasn't as if I’d struggled to get here; I simply found myself at the venue before I knew it.
Was it just two days ago? Strictly speaking, it wasn't, but in my mind, it felt like only the day before yesterday when I’d attended the festival with Alice. As I’d expected, the crowds were immense.
I knew Shiro-san wouldn't be noticed by others thanks to her Authority—essentially a superior form of Recognition Inhibition Magic—but the mere fact of her being in the heart of a city was so overwhelming that I felt strangely on edge.
Then again, Chronoa and the others were likely far more stressed than I was...
"There really are a lot of people, Shiro-sa... Huh?"
"Is something the matter, Kaito-san? Is there something on your mind—primarily regarding my appearance, my outfit, or anything of the sort?"
When I turned back to her, I was startled to discover that Shiro-san had changed her clothes in the blink of an eye. Even though I knew she was perfectly capable of it, seeing her in a completely different outfit immediately after teleporting was quite a surprise. Her self-promotion was so potent that I noticed the change instantly... or rather, it was impossible not to notice, given how different she looked from her usual self.
Shiro-san was currently dressed in a casual style, perhaps prioritizing ease of movement, wearing what looked like denim jeans. On top, she wore a white shirt paired with a cardigan, and her hair was gathered into a ponytail.
Her vibe was so drastically different from her usual self that I wondered if people would even realize it was Shiro-san if she were somehow recognized... though her sheer presence was so powerful they’d probably figure it out anyway.
Still, seeing her in different clothes drove home a single thought: this woman really could pull off anything. Her physical specs were just too high; she had long legs and an incredible figure, so even a simple pants-and-shirt combo looked sharp on her. It was a perfect blend of coolness and beauty.
"Lest you misunderstand, this is A Style."
"R-Right? What do you mean by that?"
"Since this is a special occasion, I intend to change my attire periodically. I have studied fashion as well, and I wish to try various looks... You may praise me each time, you know? It pleases me when you do. For the time being, I believe now is your chance?"
"...No, you're right, it really does suit you. You don't just look beautiful; there's a coolness to it too. I've always known you look good in anything, Shiro-san, but seeing a different side of your charm like this makes me really happy."
Changing outfits on the fly was well within Shiro-san's capabilities, and I could understand her wanting to show off what she’d studied.
Besides, I wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to praise my lover when she’d clearly put effort into her appearance. When I offered my honest admiration, Shiro-san nodded with a look of quiet satisfaction.
"...That was even more pleasant to my ears than I expected. Please, praise me just a little more."
I had to admire her for asking for a second helping of compliments. It was just like Shiro-san to be so nonchalant about it.
"Well, that outer layer is very stylish, too. It’s more refined than casual, but it matches the rest of the outfit perfectly. Honestly, I’m a lucky man to have a lover like Shiro-san, who can be beautiful, cool, and cute all at once... How was that?"
When I provided the additional praise she’d requested, the corners of Shiro-san’s mouth curled into a slight, happy smile. I was glad to see her pleased... but that relief was short-lived. A moment later, my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
Suddenly, a massive 3D "Doyaa" rose from the sea ahead of us, soaring toward the heavens before vanishing into the sky.
...This was bad. In that single instant, I suspected several people’s stomachs had just suffered catastrophic damage. Unlike the beach trip, we were currently in the capital of the Hydra Kingdom in the middle of a massive festival. A huge number of people must have seen that giant text.
To the average person, a word suddenly appearing from the ocean—well, it was in Japanese, and it was so enormous they might not have even recognized it as text—but they’d certainly seen a mysterious, gargantuan object fly into the air. Laguna and her people definitely had.
The surrounding area was already growing noisy, and it wasn't just my imagination. I could practically see Laguna clutching her head, wondering how on earth she was supposed to handle this.
Chronoa was undoubtedly doing the same. There was no way she could explain to Laguna that the text was just a physical manifestation of Shiro-san’s smugness. She’d have to scramble for some kind of plausible excuse... I truly worried for both of their stomachs.
Serious-senpai: A massive 3D "Doyaa" rising from the sea toward the heavens... it’s just too surreal. I can imagine Noin staring at it with her mouth hanging open.