"What's with that attitude? You act like you can't stand the sight of me. I'll have you know I'm a total knockout too!"
Seeing the exasperation written all over Geno's face, Belle felt her blood pressure spike.
What was this guy's problem? Was she really so unappealing? The nerve, looking that put out!
"It's not that. It's more that we hang out so much day to day, you've just become a little too familiar," Geno explained, his tone even.
And it was true—he was over at Sixth Street looking for Belle every couple of days, whether to drop by or to handle business. They really had gotten far too used to each other.
"Never mind that. Did you come on your own? Wise didn't tag along?"
The two siblings were practically inseparable, so if Belle had turned up here, Wise couldn't be far off.
"Oh, my brother took Eous out to deal with a commission. As for me, I'm—"
"Lady Belle! Come look, is this one cute on Vivian?"
Before Belle could finish, another bright, vivacious girl came over, her indigo-violet hair swaying gently. The gorgeous dress she wore showed off a young girl's energy and charm to the fullest.
"Oh my, there's someone I know here. Whatever shall I do—Vivian's getting so shy."
For all her words, there wasn't a trace of shyness to be found. Instead, she sidled right up against Belle, pressing in close.
Feeling the touch at her side, Belle put on a helpless look and could only manage a dry laugh to smooth over the awkwardness.
"Anyway, that's how it is. Vivian and I came out shopping and left my brother home alone with the work."
Wise, you really have it rough. So Geno thought to himself. Then he caught the distinctly off look in Vivian's eyes and could only silently pray Belle wouldn't be led down the wrong path.
Otherwise Wise really would end up in tears.
"Geno, come see how these look on us—oh, it's the manager."
Just then, Alice and Twiggy stepped out of the fitting rooms, changed into their new outfits.
"Wait, isn't this a little strange?"
Looking flustered, Twiggy was pushed out by Alice until she stood right in front of Geno.
She wore that same orange-and-white jacket as before, the inner layer still its unshakable black, but now set with green stripes.
Alice had also picked out a pair of emerald earrings for her. Feeling Geno's slightly fixed stare, Twiggy's cheeks flushed as she tucked her long-grown hair behind her ear and asked what he thought.
"Well?"
"Stunning!"
Geno pronounced it utterly perfect—so much so that a certain part of him swelled.
Especially that white thigh strap, which bit into her full thigh with a faint dimple, one glance enough to tell just how soft she was.
"Is that so."
Praised, Twiggy quietly savored her delight. Beside her, Alice stepped up in front of Geno to show off as well.
"So? This lady has pretty good taste, wouldn't you say?"
Gone was her usual bashfulness—right now Alice was all confidence and sunshine.
Having faced her own heart squarely, Alice carried herself with far more poise in front of Geno.
She'd traded her everyday school uniform for a fresh, dainty sundress, a pink bow tied in her hair—symmetrical, of course.
She played it cool, but from her constantly swishing little tail and her feet that wouldn't stay still, you could tell she was a bit nervous.
"Mm, Alice really does have great taste. I can hardly look away."
"R-really? That's a relief, then."
She let out a quiet breath, and only then did Alice's nerves fully settle.
Off to the side, Belle sighed too—she'd known Twiggy for ages, yet this was the first time she'd seen her dressed up like this.
"Hmph."
Vivian wasn't in nearly as good a mood. Piqued, she stamped her foot and puffed out her cheeks, the grip of her hands growing a few degrees heavier.
"Ah, of course—Vivian's gorgeous too!"
Sensing her companion's little sulk, Belle hurried to soothe her.
Only then did Twiggy and the others notice Belle. They came over to say hello and fell into chatting.
Watching the four girls talk up such a storm, Geno figured he could finally rest for a while—only, before his seat had even warmed up, he saw all four walk right over to him.
"All right, you're up next."
"Huh? Me?"
Geno pointed at himself, disbelief all over his face. There was something for him too?
"Of course. Don't forget, our whole reason for coming out was to get you into some new clothes, so—"
Twiggy exchanged a glance with the three girls beside her, then, wicked grins all around, they hauled Geno to his feet.
"Prepare to face your trial!"
"!!!"
For the stretch of time that followed, Geno was dressed up in outfit after outfit by Twiggy and the other three, like a living doll.
Vivian went a little easy on him—after all, she and Geno weren't that close yet—but the other three girls took the word "thrilled" to its absolute limit.
At first it was just the basics: suits, sweatshirts, jeans and the like. Once they'd run through the staples, they started mixing and matching—business, casual, minimalist, retro, they tried the whole lot.
On they went, tugging Geno all over the shop, and every time they spotted a piece they liked they'd pull him into it, then move on to the next, and the next, and the next after that.
After trying on so many clothes, Geno felt less like a person and more like a clothes rack come to life.
About two hours in, the farce finally ended. Like a man set free, Geno slumped back onto that little stool he'd been sitting on before, oozing into a puddle of jelly with not an ounce of strength left.
"Please, let me rest for just a bit—just a little…"
Geno lay there in a daze, muttering nonsense in a faint, spent voice.
Meanwhile, Twiggy and the others, thoroughly satisfied, carried their bundles of bags over to the counter to pay.
"I'll take it all! Have it packed and delivered here!"
With that, Alice handed over a black card, not forgetting to write down Geno's home address, and paid for Belle's and Vivian's clothes along with it.
"That's really too much—we can pay for our own."
"It's fine. I've got plenty of allowance left, no need to stand on ceremony with me."
"Allowance…"
If Belle remembered right, just those few outfits Alice had tried on already amounted to a month's income for their shop. And to her that was merely pocket money…
Cursed rich people!
Yet once Belle actually got her hands on the piece Alice had paid for, she decided that being friends with a wealthy lady felt pretty amazing after all.
The whole scene fell into Vivian's eyes. Beyond quietly biting her little handkerchief, she also resolved to pick up a few more part-time jobs so she could buy even finer clothes for her beloved Lord Phaethon.
Vivian would absolutely never admit defeat!
____
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