Chapter 16: Smoopy-Doopy Skin

Chapter 16:
Smoopy-Doopy Skin

 

IT WAS WARMING UP in Kalta now that the sun was out longer. The weather wasn’t impossible to deal with—it wasn’t nearly as humid as Japan—but the sun was still as strong as hell.

As I rested my chin on the counter, Vivi tugged my shirt. “Reiji! Reiji!”

“Hey, lake fairy. Man, it’s nice and cool when you’re nearby.”

“Tee hee! I need to stay cold all the time, so—hey! I’m a spirit, not a fairy!” Vivi punched me lightly several times; it didn’t hurt.

“What’s the matter, Miss Spirit?”

“Well…I’ve spent most of my life either in the lake or under trees,” Vivi said. “So, I’m pretty sensitive to sunlight.”

“Hunh. Is that so?”

“Ugh! You can’t pretend to be interested?” Vivi pouted. “Anyway, you understand what I’m saying, right?”

“Uh…you need to go home early? That’s fine. It’s not busy today.”

“Stop trying to get me to leave! That isn’t what I meant!”

“Then spit it out!”

“This might have to do with my skin tone, but when I’m in strong sunlight…”

“You melt?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I melted!” Vivi yelled, swinging both arms at me. Needless to say, the blows didn’t hurt in the least. As usual, teasing her was a blast. “In strong sunlight, my skin starts to sting,” she finished.

I looked at Vivi’s face; she was ruddier than usual. The backs of her hands were red too. “You can go home early.”

“Stop trying to send me home!” she yelped. “You know I look forward to working! I can’t just go back to the lake!”

“Right. I forgot—all you have waiting for you is your pet goblin.”

“He’s not a pet. And he’s not at the lake either!” she snapped. “He had to go train, and he hasn’t been back for ages. Urgh—that’s beside the point!”

“So your skin’s sensitive to the sun, and you want me to do something about that?”

“If you understand, stop trying to change the subject!”

“My bad.” I patted her head apologetically. Teasing Vivi was so fun, I sometimes went overboard. “I’m happy to try to keep you from getting sunburnt. Still, nothing’s wrong with a nice brown tan.”

Vivi’s skin was a fantastically pure white. By human standards, she hardly looked healthy.

“Well, I’d like to have the same complexion as Mina, if possible,” she said. We took it for granted, but Mina was in fact a ghost, so she was obviously pale too.

“Then you’ll need a product for UV protection,” I replied.

“Will you make something?”

“Sure. We’ve got no customers.”

“Yay! Thanks, Reiji!”

I left the store to Noela and Vivi, heading for the lab. Just as I started working, Mina brought me some tea. “What’re you making this time?”

“Vivi asked for a product to prevent sunburn.”

“You can make that?”

“Well, it won’t protect your skin 100 percent, but it’ll make a big difference.”

“I’m sure that’ll sell like crazy! Women all over want to avoid sunburn. Good luck, Mr. Reiji!” Mina cheered me on as she left the lab, looking overjoyed.

She’d also brought me some snacks; I ate them gratefully as I wrapped up my work.

 

Sunscreen: Protects against UV rays. Helps prevent sunburns. Washes off.

 

Perfect. Done!

As I poured the gel into a wide-mouthed bottle, Mina and Vivi rushed in with perfect timing.

“You’re finished, Mr. Reiji?”

“All done, Reiji?!”

They must’ve been spying on me from the doorway. I knew I felt eyes on me. “Calm yourselves, fair ladies. The first one to test this sunscreen will be…”

Both young women immediately knelt and raised their hands. They must be dying to use this stuff! I put the sunscreen bottle between them; their faces lit up as if they were children who’d just found treasure. Seeing them this thrilled makes formulating a new product worthwhile.

As simply as possible, I explained how to use the sunscreen. “Put a little on your finger, then spread it over the area exposed to the sun.”

Vivi and Mina nodded, listening carefully. Following my instructions, they rubbed sunscreen on their arms, hands, and faces.

“It’s nice and cool!” Mina exclaimed.

“Mm-hmm! My skin feels soft.”

They headed out to sunbathe right away.

“Oh, gosh!” Vivi called from outside. “This is amazing, Reiji! The sunlight isn’t bothering me!”

“Good to hear.”

Noela tugged my sleeve, puzzled by Vivi’s excitement. “What wrong with Vivi, Master?”

“Oh, she’s pumped because I made sunscreen.”

“Noela use too!”

“Er…seriously? I mean, that’s fine, but it’s kind of surprising.”

Noela snorted and retrieved the sunscreen.

Meanwhile, Mina came in to question me about Noela’s demand. “Frankly, I’m surprised,” she admitted. “Noela doesn’t strike me as the type to be interested in skincare.”

“My thoughts exactly,” I replied. “She usually only has eyes for food.”

“She must be that age.” Mina sounded like an elder sister watching a sibling mature.

Vivi rushed in too. “Reiji, come here! Touch my skin! It’s smoopy-doopy!”

What the hell does that even mean?

She patted her cheeks gently, so I did the same.

“It is smoopy-doopy! Your cheeks feel awesome!” I exclaimed. I could get addicted to this!

“Wait a sec,” I added. “You start work at the drugstore in the morning, and you leave after dark, right? You spend the whole day in here. Why’re you terrified of sunlight if you’re barely in it?”

“Uh…”

“You seriously didn’t think about that?” I teased as I cupped Vivi’s cheeks.

Noela grabbed my arm. “Noela too, Master!”

“Huh? Oh, uh, sure.” I patted Noela’s face just like Vivi’s.

Mina nodded as she watched. “Now it’s all clear to me,” she giggled, heading from the storefront to the house.

What exactly is clear to her?

Vivi ate dinner with us, and I walked her to the town gate.

“Thank you so much for the sunscreen, Reiji! Now I can stay in the sun without worrying.”

“Says the spirit who spends her time in the shade or at work.”

“Why do you have to say stuff like that? Keep it to yourself!”

“Well, at any rate, you can’t use the sun as an excuse for days off now,” I ribbed her. “All’s well that ends well.”

“Bye!” Vivi waved and left.

When I got home, Noela pushed her face into me. “Touch, Master! Squishy.”

“You sure are. Your skin feels awesome.”

“Garroo!” Noela dived onto the couch, tail wagging happily. Mina couldn’t help giggling.

“Hey, Mina, what exactly was ‘all clear’ to you earlier? Was it something about Noela?”

“Yes. It was quite simple,” Mina admitted. “You know Noela and Vivi are very close, don’t you?”

“Of course. So?”

“Well, you flattered Vivi a ton. Noela couldn’t put up with that, especially since Vivi’s her dear friend.”

“That’s why she used the sunscreen too?”

“She was a bit envious,” Mina confirmed.

“I get it now,” I told her, but I didn’t quite understand why Noela had been jealous.

“That’s how women are,” Mina added, but I was still kind of lost.

Later, the drugstore started carrying the sunscreen, and it sold like hotcakes to young women and wives in particular. It was no exaggeration to say it caused a long-term skincare craze in Kalta.