"Ohh, so this is the dress Tetsuya-kun picked for you today..."
Sakiko lightly applauded while looking at Mutsumi, who was currently wearing the dress, with sparkling eyes.
It was an off-the-shoulder tube dress. Although a tube dress would normally seem lacking in presence on a slightly flat figure like Mutsumi's, this cocktail dress cleverly utilized an abundance of lace and ruffles to dilute the original sexy elents, transforming it into a more innocent, yet equally adorable dress overflowing with feminine charm.
"I think it suits you perfectly, Mutsumi."
"...Mhm, thank you."
Mutsumi nodded, a hint of a shy smile on her face.
"But I need to slightly correct one thing. To be precise... we chose this dress together."
Then, Mutsumi truthfully explained today's sequence of events to Sakiko, starting from not daring to make a choice at first, to gradually daring to voice her thoughts after experiencing a date with Tetsuya, and finally the almost unhesitating decision when she returned to the dress boutique...
"In other words, the one who made the final decision was you, Mutsumi."
While marveling at Mutsumi's experiences and growth today, Sakiko once again looked at the outfit on Mutsumi with intense curiosity.
Since she hadn't seen the other alternatives with her own eyes, Sakiko couldn't yet evaluate Mutsumi's choice based on her own aesthetic sense. However, given Tetsuya's eye and aesthetic taste, since even he said he couldn't pick an optimal solution from them, it ant those other dresses definitely had a charm no less than the dress Mutsumi was currently wearing...
"Even though Tetsuya-kun himself couldn't make a choice... how did you pick this one, Mutsumi?"
Sakiko asked with imnse curiosity.
Hearing Sakiko's question, Mutsumi first looked down at the cocktail dress she was wearing, then, using her trademark flat tone, gave an answer that almost made Sakiko choke on her own saliva—
"Because this one is the most erotic."
"...Pfft-cough!?"
Although Sakiko had long known that Mutsumi's way of expressing herself was always straightforward, actually hearing such an answer still made her lose her composure a bit.
"T-The most erotic... isn't that motive a bit too impure!"
As an outsider, Sakiko said with a heavily shaken tone:
"Besides, this dress... although it does slightly expose the shoulders, it absolutely can't be called erotic!"
"It's just the most erotic compared to the other few."
Compared to Sakiko, although Mutsumi's face was also slightly flushed, she at least tried hard to keep her tone steady.
"And among all my own clothes, this one should also be the one with the highest degree of exposure."
"Well... that's true."
Sakiko nodded, acknowledging Mutsumi's statent.
Because of her background, both Mutsumi's aura and clothing style were full of the reserve of an aristocratic young lady. Combined with her inherently pure, adorable, and pitifully cute appearance and aura, all her clothing basically maintained the lowest possible degree of exposure.
And although the degree of exposure of this cocktail dress could only be called ordinary in terms of won's clothing, at least before this, Mutsumi would never wear this kind of dress that exposed her shoulders, much less a skirt with a hemline that only covered half her thighs...
"Most of my previous clothes were chosen for by Mother. If it were her, she would absolutely never proactively buy this kind of clothing for ."
Mutsumi said:
"Therefore, at this banquet, I also want to use this dress to let Mother see a little bit of the ways I am different from before I left ho."
"...I see."
Hearing this, Sakiko imdiately showed an understanding expression.
"I think that's very good. It's not too extre, yet it can properly make Minami-san realize your changes."
However, the next second, just as Sakiko planned to follow Mutsumi's explanation and praise her a bit more, Mutsumi quickly gave a second reason that made her involuntarily choke on the spot.
"Also, if I wear this outfit and stand next to Chihaya-san, it should be able to slightly act as protection for him."
"Ah... indeed."
Co to think of it, when the Wakaba family hosted banquets, other guests would indeed bring their own children along. And among them, there would naturally be young won of similar ages to them. The current Tetsuya had already gained a bit of fa in the fashion industry due to the joint exhibition. Coupled with his handso appearance, excellent taste in styling, and that aura that was a special attack against won, there was indeed a very high probability that he would attract so young won to proactively approach him...
If it were Mutsumi's previous well-behaved and slightly childish dressing style, even if she followed beside Tetsuya, everyone would only view her as a child attending the banquet with an adult. But with this dress, the "age gap" brought about by her clothing style would disappear, transforming them into a well-matched and suitable pair of young man and woman, naturally isolating those young won who might have ulterior motives.
"To think Mutsumi would consider so many things through a single piece of clothing..."
Unlike her usual apathy of not caring about anything, the deep consideration Mutsumi displayed through clothing right now made Sakiko look at her in a new light.
But right after, Sakiko smiled and shook her head.
"No, if you really think about it, Mutsumi has actually always been very good at thinking."
Although Mutsumi herself wouldn't proactively express it, Sakiko could still occasionally sense her delicate thoughts through her seemingly go-at-her-own-pace actions.
Like when she proactively picked a song the first ti they went to karaoke with the band mbers. Although it seed very ordinary, for this girl who lacked the desire to express herself, was that action truly going at her own pace, or was it to take care of the others who were consistently unable to blend into the atmosphere on the other side?
Or when she proactively proposed a eting after hearing about Tetsuya from her for the first ti. That was also completely contrary to her usual style of doing things, but out of care and worry for Sakiko, she still mustered her courage to et with a strange man.
Of course, because she severely lacked experience in proactively expressing herself, she often made various mistakes in the process of executing what she had in mind, and her wording and way of speaking were always too direct and inflexible... But one day, Mutsumi would gather these small improvents and courage into substantial growth, and it would ultimately lead her to find the "correct way" that was most suitable for her, while also no longer hurting others.
As for now... as her childhood friend and close friend, she should just properly witness her efforts and results from the sidelines—
"Since you've already seen this dress, Sakiko, I think I'll go change back out of it first."
"Eh? You can... but you finally got all dressed up, wouldn't it be nice to let everyone else see it too later?"
Because the other people in the house hadn't returned yet, Sakiko naturally wanted to let Mutsumi show off this adorable new dress to everyone else too.
However, Mutsumi imdiately shook her head in refusal:
"Although I did choose this dress myself... and I do intend to wear it at the banquet, right now... I still can't completely adapt to it."
As she spoke, she unconsciously placed one hand on her shoulder, while her other hand gently tugged at the hem of the skirt.
"Currently, wearing it for you and Chihaya-san to see is already my limit..."
"Mmm, there's no helping that. After all, this is also your first ti wearing this type of dress..."
Sakiko was very understanding of Mutsumi's embarrassnt. Although she did have the determination to make a change, there still needed to be an adaptation process after all.
Moreover...
"...Before you completely adapt to it, you really shouldn't let just anyone see you looking like this right now."
Sakiko looked at the girl in front of her, whose face had already turned red.
If she could display this outfit with a more calm and generous posture, then it could rely be considered cute. But if it was this slightly shy posture, then that beca debatable. Mutsumi's doll-like exquisite and adorable appearance, along with her well-behaved and youthful aura, would originally only inspire feelings of wanting to protect and cherish her. However, when this well-behaved nature was combined with the shy expression on her face, it made her much more approachable and tempting.
Sakiko also suddenly understood by extension at this mont why Ai's clothing was treated with such importance by Tetsuya and the agency. For a girl with this level of beauty, this kind of unintentional "seduction" phenonon could easily occur... Ai could at least make corresponding adjustnts through her extraordinary acting skills and adaptability, but Mutsumi here would probably only be able to leave herself maintaining this dangerous posture...
"When the ti cos, Tetsuya-kun might not be the only one who needs protection..."
Sakiko sighed, then watched as Mutsumi trotted back to her own room. Not long after, Mutsumi returned to her wearing her usual, tightly-wrapped dress.
"...For so reason, I instantly feel at ease."
The covering over her shoulders and legs allowed Mutsumi's expression and tone to return to their usual calmness.
"I suddenly admire those girls who dare to wear crop tops and miniskirts on the streets..."
"Well, after all, sothing like clothing also depends on the wearer's own preferences and aura. You don't need to force yourself so much, Mutsumi."
Sakiko said:
"If you really feel shy, try thinking about it this way: this outfit is also Tetsuya-kun's choice. If you trust his taste, then you should accept this dress more generously... Even if sothing really goes wrong, Tetsuya-kun will be an accomplice sharing the sa cri as you!"
"..."
Hearing this, Mutsumi first froze slightly, then said softly:
"As expected, ever since you got together with Chihaya-san, Sakiko, even your way of thinking has beco more and more like his."
"...Hm? Why say that all of a sudden?"
"It's nothing, just that you two said very similar things to ."
Recalling the words Tetsuya used to encourage her to continue expressing herself this afternoon, Mutsumi felt the sha in her heart dissipate quite a bit...
"Right, now that the matter of the dress is settled... I have one more thing I want to discuss with you, Sakiko."
"Oh?"
Sakiko imdiately showed an incredibly surprised expression upon hearing this.
Based on Sakiko's understanding of Mutsumi, sothing that could make her proactively want to discuss it absolutely wouldn't be a trivial matter.
"Whatever it is, just say it."
"...Before the banquet officially begins, I want to teach Chihaya-san how to ballroom dance. Is that okay?"
"Eh?!"
...One hour ago...
"Did you just ask ... if I know how to ballroom dance?"
On the way ho, when Tetsuya heard Mutsumi's question, he imdiately pointed at himself with an expression of disbelief:
"I'm really not exaggerating; let alone dancing, I'm the type who hasn't even touched morning calisthenics."
Back then, in order to beco a designer, Tetsuya had used all his available ti to study clothing knowledge. Naturally, highly difficult activities like dancing, which required a massive amount of ti to practice, were completely unrelated to him.
"Why ask this all of a sudden? Ah, could it be... that the Wakaba family banquet will require us to dance?"
"Although they will indeed prepare a dance floor and music, there's no mandatory requirent to dance."
Mutsumi shook her head and said:
"It's just that... when the ti cos, there might be people who proactively invite ."
"Ah..."
Hearing this, that scene naturally surfaced in Tetsuya's mind.
Considering Mutsumi's current age, as well as the highly likely presence of young n of similar ages among the guests, being invited to "dance together" was indeed a very natural occurrence. If the past Mutsumi could still use her age as a reason to reject others, then for the current Mutsumi, that reason probably wouldn't work so well anymore...
"But if I can learn how to dance, I'll be able to directly occupy that position and make everyone else give up the idea of inviting you to dance, Wakaba-san!"
Tetsuya imdiately grasped Mutsumi's thought.
And upon hearing Tetsuya's guess, Mutsumi nodded slightly:
"Mhm... that is indeed the case."
However, while confirming this explanation, Mutsumi's gaze flickered slightly because she was hiding sothing.
Not wanting to dance with other people was indeed a very crucial reason, but besides that, Mutsumi had other, equally important purposes—
She wanted to show off this dress she chose together with Chihaya-san to others, she wanted to... she wanted to show off to others the intimate relationship of being able to dance together with Chihaya-san.
(I want to make Chihaya-san realize... my existence.)
Therefore...
"I will take responsibility and teach you how to dance, Chihaya-san. Could I ask you... to be my dance partner on the day of the banquet?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers