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I wonder why I’m here right now. Despite this being my first day off, Kaori dragged me away to the shopping mall. Though since she’s the owner’s daughter, I’m not really surprised that she knew my schedule.

「So, why are we here?」
「Of course to get ready for the beach, obviously.」

Kaori called me for something, so I was wondering what it was about, and suddenly we’re here in a swimsuit shop. Yeah, I don’t get it.

「Miyako asked me to find you something to wear, since you didn’t look like you’d buy a swimsuit at all.」

I guess my reply was relayed word by word then. Did I look that reluctant back then?

「We’re probably going to go to the beach around the start of August, you see.」
「Mandatory participation, huh.」
「You have no other plans outside working anyways, right?」
「Well you’re right about that. But it’s not like you need a swimsuit to go to the beach, yeah?」

I know that it’s heresy, but I want to at least make a resistance.

「You think that would be forgiven?」
「Not a single bit. Sorry.」

She seriously glared at me, so I honestly apologized. Still, swimsuits… As a man, I only cover the bottoms and wear nothing on top, so at first I thought I could just go with that sort of mindset. But that thought shattered during the swimming class.

「In the first place, swimsuits and me don’t really sui-」
「Finish that sentence and I’ll be angry.」
「I’m sorry.」

Scary. You’re scaring me, Kaori. That was just a joke to buy more time, okay? So please don’t take it that seriously. Honestly, I’m already taking enough mental damage just being in the women’s swimsuit corner.

「Hmmm, with your figure, something with a lot of exposure should suit you, but…」
「Could you not, please?」

The academy specified swimsuit was embarrassing enough for me, I can’t show myself in public wearing something with more skin exposure. Why is only this part of my mentality that of a sheltered girl?

「Come, what about this?」
「Listen to me.」

The swimsuit she gave me was, if I’m right, one commonly known as a bikini-type. It shows too much. What is Kaori expecting from me? A nip slip?

「Want to try it?」
「Absolutely not.」

Looking closely, other than the parts for covering the body, it’s all just strings. This, won’t it seriously cause a nip slip if the knots aren’t tight? Moreover, the back would be completely exposed.

「Why’d you choose that?」
「It looks like it’d suit you well.」
「And what you really want?」
「I wanted to see how you’d react wearing it.」

Like I thought, she’s playing with me. Regardless of whether it suits me or not, she’s messing around and teasing me. Who’d wear something like this, even just to try it?

「But it really seems like it’d look good, though.」

Don’t give me that side glance. No matter how much you want me to wear it, I absolutely won’t. What exactly does she want me to dress like? Well, yeah, it’s clear to see, but still.

「Tch.」

Don’t you click your tongue. That’s bad manners, young lady. She reluctantly returned it. Now, there shouldn’t be any more swimsuits that show off too much skin.

「Then what about this?」
「Kaori. Do you have the guts to wear something like that?」
「Nope!」

Don’t recommend something you can’t wear! Is this really a swimsuit? It does cover the important parts, yeah, but just the bare minimum. The shop shouldn’t be stocking up on this. Who’d even buy this?

「Stop playing around, and choose.」
「Well fair enough. I wonder who’d buy this?」

I want to hear that myself. It’s either someone with immense confidence in their body or an exhibitionist. Or maybe it’s just the salespeople being playful.

「Since you don’t like the skin exposure, then I guess a onepiece type?」

That already has too much exposure, though. Still, if not that, the only ones left would be the type that covers the whole body. And that’s embarrassing in its own right.

「White probably won’t suit you, so what about black or navy?」
「Well, even if you ask me, I really have no clue.」
「Like I said, can you get just a bit more interested fashion?」

If only it didn’t cost so much, then it might have caught my interest. Still, I won’t be able to wear long sleeves for much longer. I’ll have to buy some short sleeved stuff soon.

「Hmm, let’s try this one out. Come on, try wearing it.」
「Do I have to wear it now?」
「Obviously. You need to check if the size fits, after all. Wouldn’t it be annoying if you can’t actually wear what you just bought?」

They might not allow returning of purchases either, huh. In that case, it’ll be a waste of money. Only that, I will never allow.

「Just saying, don’t peek on me, okay?」
「I won’t, but tell me when you’re done changing. I’ll have quick look inside.」

That should be fine. It’s much better than having the curtains wide open. Letting out a sigh, I entered the dressing room and changed into the swimsuit, but it’s cold. Probably because of the air conditioning.

「I’m done, but…」
「Then, excuse me.」

Sticking only her head in, Kaori looks through the curtains. Normally, it should be the opposite, right? I feel like the one from the inside peeking outside is a common thing. While being embarrassed, of course.

「Ooh, that looks pretty nice. Are you fine with it?」
「I’ll just go ahead with this. Since you might start dressing me up with more if I take too long.」

While it might be fun for the ones choosing the clothes, it’s exhausting to the one being dressed up. Enough for one to just have a blank, unfeeling stare.

「That sounds pretty fun too, but anyways, it’s time for me to choose.」
「I’ll pay for mine and wait outside. I feel real tired somehow.」
「Geez, I wanted you to choose for me though.」
「As you know, I have zero fashion sense.」

I really can’t choose. At most I could give my opinions, but swimsuits all just look so similar. So I wouldn’t know what to say anyways.

「Then I’ll go and choose mine now.」
「Roger.」

I guess I’ll change then. Still, now that I’ve paid, swimsuits are pretty expensive, huh. There’s less cloth used but it costs a lot more than normal clothes. I suppose it’s the difference in material, huh. Or maybe because of some sort of functionality?

「Now, let me rest for a while.」

Women have long shopping times in general, but I wonder which applies to Kaori? Does she buy the first thing she likes or does she ponder about it for a long time? I feel like she shops quickly when alone though.

「Hm?」

It feels like something’s pulling on my sleeve. Looking at the arm I’m not holding anything with, I see an unknown girl pulling on my sleeve. Now who is she?

「Mom.」
「……」