Chapter 12
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 12: Gothic Lolita Is Cutely Decorated With Frills X
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were a high school student.”
“It’s okay, because people often make that mistake.”
When I started high school I was seated in the parents’ section, and I still get asked to pay the child’s fare for movies and bus tickets.
First, they started with makeup. Haruka-nee doesn’t care much about that, so this is my first time with makeup. That means, when I’m wearing girls’ clothes, no one thinks I’m a boy, but I’ll try not to dwell on that right now.
“Okay, all done. Thank you for your patience.”
“Thank you very much.”
I looked at my made-up face. My skin had been painted white, and I couldn’t even understand the principle behind how my eyes seemed so much bigger. It almost felt like even the shape of my face had changed.
“But since you’re in high school, please take care of Rei-sama’s whims. Despite appearances, she gets lonely easily.”
“Sure.”
While we were chatting, I slipped my arms into the sleeves of a kimono. They did the makeup first to avoid getting powder on the clothes. It’s quite a process. As I spread and lowered my arms, the kimono was carefully wrapped around me. There’s no way I could do this myself. I’ve heard that an elderly woman nearby runs kimono dressing classes sometimes, and I can see now that this really is a fine skill.
“Let’s hurry and show Rei-sama. She’s probably waiting eagerly.”
Thanks to taking extra care with the hem, my feet felt stable, and it was easy to walk. When I returned to the storefront, I made eye contact with Rei-sama, whose face clearly showed how bored she had been. There’s nothing more tedious in the world than waiting while someone shops, so I couldn’t blame her.
“Finally? Couldn’t you have been quicker?”
“I apologize. First-timers do tend to require more attention.”
“So, it’s Nao’s fault then?”
Yeah, yeah, sure, let’s go with that.
Rei-sama took a notebook from Bakuya-san and began flipping through the pages, pen in hand.
“Hey, Nao, don’t just stand there spacing out. Strike a pose or something.”
“Easier said than done.”
I’ve never modeled before, so telling me something that vague doesn’t help. Plus, it’s my first time wearing a kimono, so I have no idea what to do.
For now, I mimicked a pose I’d seen in a kimono catalog: hands together in front and my head slightly tilted. What is this? Even though the only people looking at me are Rei-sama, Kanshou, Bakuya-san, and the shop staff, I feel more embarrassed than if I were walking outside.
“Your expression is too stiff. Smile a bit more.”
For some reason, even the shop staff was enthusiastically giving me advice. Rei-sama alternated between looking at me and the notebook, scribbling furiously.
“That’s good, Nao. You’re sparking my imagination.”
“I’d rather not spark anything.”
“Oh, come on. You’re my doll, so I can do what I like with you.”
With that, Rei-sama’s gaze returned to the notebook. I wondered what kind of image of me was taking shape on those pages. Considering even my gender had been altered, it was a strange feeling—I wanted to see it, yet didn’t want to at the same time.
“Hmm. Since we went through all this trouble, how about going out somewhere?”
“Please spare me. What if someone sees me?”
“No one’s going to recognize you as Nao.”
It’s true that when I looked in the mirror earlier, I could hardly believe that was me. I was transformed into someone so different that it made me uneasy, like beauty could be manufactured.
I was made to model for about an hour, changing poses as Rei-sama instructed. She finally seemed satisfied, and that was the end of it for the day.
“I managed to draw something quite nice. I’ll let you go for today, but I expect your help again.”
I’d heard the phrase “curiosity killed the cat” before, and this was exactly how I felt. I never imagined that opening that notebook out of sheer curiosity would lead to all this. I’ll never again snoop through someone else’s belongings, that’s a lesson I’ll remember for sure.
Since I couldn’t go home in the kimono, I was taken to the back room again to get changed. I also needed to have the makeup removed.
“You looked really adorable.”
“Even if you say that, I have mixed feelings.”
I’m not sure if it was because Rei-sama was such an important customer, but the shop staff stayed with her right until the end. From the way they seemed to forget about their work halfway through, I got the impression they might enjoy dressing up boys. Actually, all the girls around me seem to be like that.
“It’s such a shame to remove it when you look so cute.”
“Yes, it is.”
The person in the mirror looked like a completely different person, and it felt almost strange that I was the one moving this body. But no, I reminded myself, this was all because of Rei-sama, and I wasn’t enjoying any of it. That was a close call.
“Are you going to head home like that?”
“No, please remove it all.”
Even if they sounded disappointed, there’s no way I could go home with the makeup still on.
They removed the makeup for me and put away the kimono. I was told I could leave, so I changed back into my uniform, not Rei-sama’s clothes.
“What should I do with this?”
“Just leave it there. I can’t put it on by myself anyway.”
“Well then, we look forward to your next visit.”
The shop staff bowed deeply—not the standard farewell, but with an air that suggested they wanted to dress me up again. Rei-sama, pleased with all the drawings she’d made, was in a good mood, humming and walking lightly.
“I’ll ask for your help again sometime.”
“Well, once in a while, I suppose.”
As I watched the scenery pass by, I let out a small sigh.