Since picking out clothes in a single large group would have been inefficient, they decided to split up and browse the store separately. Kaori, though trembling inwardly at the exorbitant prices, did her best to maintain her composure in front of her junior, Kaito, as she continued her shopping.
Finding her way alone proved difficult, however. In the end, Kaori found herself asking the staff for help—or rather, leaving it almost entirely up to them. They selected an outfit for her, and she took the opportunity to head into the fitting room.
"……Oh, wow……"
Looking into the mirror at the ensemble the staff had chosen, Kaori let out a long, admiring sigh. The slightly loose slacks were paired with a top featuring subtle, tasteful frills and an elegant, lightweight cardigan. The entire outfit captured the mature, refined look she had been aiming for. Popular brands certainly lived up to the hype; the sense of style was impeccable.
(……I think I can still pull this off, right? A teenage look is definitely out of the question, but I could totally pass for someone in her early twenties. Is it just because the design is so good? It’s incredibly stylish…… and honestly, maybe even a little cute? No, no, most of the credit goes to the clothes, I’m sure……)
Satisfied with the fit, Kaori opened the fitting room door. By pure chance, she spotted Kaito standing nearby, browsing through some items near the staff. Since he was right there, she decided to ask for his opinion.
"Kaito-kun, what do you think? It's a pretty good look, isn't it?"
"Yes, it suits you perfectly," Kaito replied with a warm smile. "The apron-like attire you wear at the restaurant is lovely, but this kind of style is also wonderful. You have long legs, Kaori-san, so you really pull off a pants look. It has a nice balance of cool and cute."
"Ghu... You... you really are something, aren't you? Seriously, you need to watch it."
"Uh, what?"
Hearing Kaito’s effortless praise, Kaori’s face flushed a deep crimson. She stood there, wearing a look that was impossible to describe.
(What a terrifying young man…… To naturally and casually praise not just my current outfit, but my usual work clothes too…… That's a masterstroke! So this is the power of a man popular with women…… I can feel the aura of a romance powerhouse radiating off him.)
Kaito’s straightforward compliments were embarrassing, yet they made her genuinely happy. To hide the fact that she was on the verge of a sappy grin, Kaori turned back to the staff.
"Excuse me, by the way…… how much is this all together?"
She genuinely liked the coordination, and since Kaito’s reaction had been so positive, she felt inclined to buy it if the price was reasonable. That inclination was shattered into pieces by the staff’s next words.
"That set comes to 5800R, ma'am."
"……A-Ah, I see."
As she replied, Kaori felt her cheek twitch. Her mind whirled in a state of pure confusion.
(What? Come again? 5800R!? That’s 580,000 Yen!? So... so expensive! Which part? Which piece costs that much? Or is everything just pricey? ……No, there’s no way. 5800R is about twenty times the price of the clothes I was wearing until now. This is way over my budget……)
Kaori was stunned by the astronomical price, but in truth, the staff had specifically selected some of the highest-ranking items in the store for her.
There was a reason for this. The clothes Kaori had been wearing previously were from a generic shop in the Friendly City—nothing branded or special. However, the staff had mistaken her attire for a high-end vintage brand they simply weren't familiar with.
The logic was simple: everyone else in the group was at that level. Kaito’s clothes, though not a known brand, were crafted by Alice using high-quality materials without any regard for cost. Megiddo’s clothes were from a famous luxury brand in the Hydra Kingdom. Akane and Frau were also dressed in premium quality. Consequently, the staff had judged Kaori to be a customer of the same caliber as the other four and chose the finest quality items in the shop for her.
(It looked great, but I have to give it up.)
Even stretching her budget to the limit, 5800R was far beyond what Kaori could manage. Just as she was about to ask the staff to find her something more affordable, Kaito spoke up.
"Ah, in that case, I'll pay for that outfit. Actually, just send the bill for whatever Kaori-san buys in this store to me."
"Wait! Kaito-kun, wait! You can't do that! These clothes are so expensive……"
"Please, don't worry about it. You helped me so much during the shipboard party, Kaori-san. I've been looking for an opportunity to repay you. This is perfect timing, and since the outfit looks so good on you, please let me give it to you as a gift. If you see anything else you like, don't hold back. Fortunately, I have a fair bit of money, so this amount is no problem at all."
"……A-Ah, thank you. Okay, then... I'll go change back into my original clothes."
"Sure. I'm going to keep looking around, so I'll see you later."
After confirming that Kaito had moved off, Kaori closed the fitting room door and leaned against the wall, covering her eyes with her arm.
(……Ugh, dammit…… That’s just unfair. There’s no way my face isn't bright red right now.)
It was true that Kaori had given advice regarding the cooking at the shipboard party, but she had already received an advice fee for it. However, because Kaito had framed it that way, it made it easier for her to accept his generosity.
Precisely because she knew Kaito’s wealth was on another level—and that 5800R truly meant nothing to him—she found it hard to refuse.
(Honestly, that boy is just…… so cool! He makes my heart skip a beat every single time. Doing something like that so casually…… I can see why he’s such a hit. He was standing so close when I came out of the fitting room, too. He probably realized I was panicking over the price and was waiting for the right moment to bail me out, didn't he? When someone does that for you, a simple woman like me can’t help but be charmed…… He really is unfair.)
Her face was burning hot and her heart was pounding. Kaori leaned against the wall of the booth for a while, waiting for the feeling to subside.
Even so, the look on her face was one of unmistakable happiness.
Serious-senpai: "Ugh-ack!? I thought this was going to be a stomach pain development, but I was suddenly blindsided by a romance development instead!?"