Saturday had arrived, and I had whatever for breakfast before getting ready to go out. The skies were clear; the chance of rain was zero for the whole day. Perfect day to go outside.

“…” Mana stared at me from a corner of the room.

“…What?”

“Where are you going?”

“Going for a stroll at Hamadani.”

Hamadani was the biggest shopping district around. There was a mall, as well as enough fun spots to spend a whole day there.

I was ignoring Mana’s stare while I changed when I got a text from Fushimi.

I just left my house!

Which meant she’d be there in around five minutes.

“Bubby, that outfit… Don’t tell me you’ve got a date?”

“No. I’m just going with Fushimi.”

“Sounds like a date to me.”

“I said no.” I got changed, then checked to make sure I wasn’t missing anything before I left my room.

“Whoo. Nice outfit, Bubby.” Mana gave me a thumbs-up.

’Course it is. It’s the outfit you recommended to me a while ago.

“I am such a fashion genius,” she added.

“Awfully proud of yourself, huh?”

I went downstairs, and Mana followed me, purportedly intending to see me off. The doorbell rang just as we approached, so Mana opened the door.

“Hi, Hina!”

“Oh, Mana. Morning.”

They greeted each other with a smile.

“…Hina.”

“Yes?” Fushimi tilted her head while Mana studied her whole figure, up and down. Fushimi didn’t pay my sister much attention, instead leaning over and waving at me behind her.

“Hey, Bubby, c’mere.” Mana turned around with a grim expression. “Is that really Hina?”

“Can’t you see? She even answered your greeting just now.”

“Don’t you think her outfit’s kinda wild?”

Wild? I doubt she’d wear anything too gaudy.

I curiously peered at Fushimi over Mana’s shoulder.

“…Yeah, that is wild.”

She was wearing a T-shirt featuring some weird character, like a barely known local mascot or something, and a frilly skirt like you’d see on a much younger girl.

Is this some sort of joke? Is she waiting for me to deliver her punch line?

I knew nothing about girls’ clothes, and even I realized that this was kinda wild.

“Bubby, what is going on? How can this be the taste of such a beautiful teenage girl?!”

“W-wait, maybe it’s so tacky it’s actually…”

“No way in hell. If anything, it goes beyond ironically good back to being bad again.”

“I know what you’re getting at, and…yeah. This is indefensible.”

“If she says she meant to do this, I will pass out on the floor.” Mana’s eyes opened wide, as if she’d just had an epiphany. “She’s trying to make you laugh, Bubby. That has to be it. There’s no way anyone would wear such an ugly T-shirt for non-comedic purposes.”

“Y-you think so?”

“You can’t leave her hanging. Give the poor girl a reaction.”

While we were whispering to each other, Fushimi asked, as if nothing was wrong, “What’s the matter?”

Mana pointed at her with her chin. I nodded.

“Um, uh, your clothes… You’ve got good taste, huh?”

“Oh, really?!” Her eyes sparkled as she gleefully turned around 360 degrees. “I’m sooo glad! I was thinking about what to wear the whole night. Hee-hee.” She bashfully smiled.

“Yeah, you’re a comedy genius! Bravo, bravo! It’s hilarious!” I clapped like I’d just heard a rousing orchestra performance.

“Huh…?”

“All right, now change into your real clothes and let’s get going.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I…I tried really hard…choosing what to wear…”

T-minus five seconds to bawling!

Now what, Mana?! It wasn’t a joke!

I turned toward my sister, but she wasn’t there. She was on the floor, her eyes rolled back into her head.

“Th-this is…the fashion sense…of the prettiest girl in town…”

“Manaaaaaaa!”

“It’s…so ugly…”

No, don’t say that out loud!

“!!!” Fushimi was legitimately shocked— She crouched down right there on the floor. “It’s not a joooooooke!”

Our plans for a day on the town went out the window after that carnage.

I took Mana and Fushimi to my room after the former came to and the latter calmed down.

“Is this all you’ve got?” The fashion police kicked off the interrogation.

“It’s the best one I have, but I do own more, like…” Fushimi listed all her clothing that she thought was fashionable.

Mana’s expression turned grimmer and grimmer with every article. “This was a hopeless case from the beginning…”

“Don’t say that!” Fushimi cried.

“I’ll burn that cursed closet on sight.”

“No, don’t!”

Mana breathed a deep sigh. “I hear Bubby’s going on his first date, and whaddaya know—it’s with Hina. ‘So far, so good,’ I thought.”

“Hey, i-it’s not my first.”

“Don’t lie. I know it is.”

…It is.

…How do you know?

Fushimi finally broke her dejected silence then. “I’ve never bought my own clothing… I always just use whatever I have at home…”

“What have you been doing since middle school?”

“I always say no when it’s on weekends.”

“Uh-huh. So you’ve only gone out in your school uniform.”

“Yes,” she said, nodding.

Mana must’ve felt for her— She stood up. “Fine. I’ll lend you my clothes!”

“Are you sure…?”

“Yeah! Bubby likes my style anyway, so that’s two birds with one stone!”

Fushimi squinted at me suspiciously.

“No, that’s not true! That’s not my thing! Where is this info even coming from?”

“C’mon—let’s go,” Mana said, taking Fushimi’s hand and leading her to her room.

“First, take off that T-shirt. It’s ugly as sin.”

“You don’t have to be so rude about it…”

“Pretty small boobs you have there, Hina.”

“I’m quite aware, thank you.”

I could hear them happily quipping at each other from my room.

I don’t think gyaru fashion would fit Fushimi, but I guess we’ll see.

“You also need some makeup.”

“I have makeup on!”

“No, no. I mean makeup that goes with your clothes. It all needs to be matching. Cohesive.”

“…Okay.”

Mana would suggest something, Fushimi would refuse, and then Mana would refuse the refusal. Despite the back and forth, they sounded as if they were having fun.

“There! Perfect!”

“O-ohhhh?!”

What? What’s happening?

I peeked at the hallway, and just then, the door opened, letting Mana out.

Fushimi was hiding behind her, so Mana had to pull her forward.

She had on a sexy lace (I think?) top that was slightly transparent around the collarbone and arms, and a skirt with a floral pattern.

“So? So? How’s my makeover, Bubby? Fashionable and cute!” Mana made Fushimi turn around in a circle.

I could see an entire third of her back. The sexiness made my heart skip a beat.

Her long hair was now in a wave with a little fluff to it.

“What do you think, Ryou?”

“I—I think…it’s incredible.”

“Yes!” She hopped and high-fived Mana.

Fushimi was already pretty, so this only elevated what was already there. I had seen those clothes many times before, since they were Mana’s, but they gave a different impression on Fushimi.

The poser gyaru look she’d had during middle school wasn’t quite right, but this fit her amazingly. It wasn’t nearly so aggressive—Mana had meticulously adjusted the style to suit her.

“But, Mana, isn’t my bra showing…?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Let ’em see that baby.”

“N-no!” Fushimi blushed and kept turning to show Mana different angles. “How is it? Can you see it?”

“I’m telling you, Bubby’s gonna be a fan.”

“…”

“He always tells me to stop when I do it, but I know he loves it.”

“Huh?” Fushimi’s voice was low. She looked at me as if I were trash left out on the street.

“I—I do not!”

Mana cackled. “Let’s go buy some clothes together sometime. I’ll give you more advice then.”

“Yeah. Thanks, Mana.”

Mana’s been playing with her since she was little, too, so they’re also childhood friends, now that I think about it.

“Let’s go, Ryou.”

“Ah, yeah.”

Maybe the change was just unfamiliar, but I felt as if the girl at my side wasn’t Fushimi. I couldn’t tell whether it was fresh or just unsettling.

Her exposed white skin and flashes of shoulder blade were really sexy, though.

Oh my God! I can see her bra when she leans over!

I quickly looked away so she wouldn’t be able to tell I’d seen it.

And so the fashionable Fushimi and I left my house one hour later than planned.