When Horikita Suzune pulled Kitagawa Ryo by the hand to the full-length mirror just two meters from the fitting room, Ryo finally began to understand what Suzune had meant earlier by "shopping with someone makes life feel longer."
Buying clothes for someone and being led by someone to buy clothes were two completely different experiences. It was nothing like waiting quietly by the mirror, hearing a girl ask if the outfit looked good on her, and offering praise with a smile. This time, Ryo only needed to stand still and let Suzune do her thing.
Perhaps because he often wore white uniform shirts, Suzune had picked out a summer outfit with a similar tone: a simple white T-shirt that emphasized his clean and fresh look.
Suzune reached out to smooth out the wrinkles on Ryo's shoulder. Since she was shorter than him, she had to lift her arms higher, which made her top hug her chest and form a graceful arc.
"How is it?"
She slid her hands down from under Ryo's armpits to his waist, straightening the shirt completely before stepping back with satisfaction to admire the result.
"Looks good," Ryo replied casually.
He spun slightly in front of the mirror. Honestly, it was hard to see one's full appearance just from a mirror. These gestures were mostly for the benefit of whoever was accompanying you—the same reason people often bought clothes in the first place: to be seen.
Besides, Ryo had a near-perfect build for wearing clothes. Even if Suzune had no fashion sense at all, anything she picked would still look good on him.
"But wouldn't a white T-shirt be a pain to wash?"
Though satisfied, Ryo had already considered the practical issues.
Most students at Advanced Nurturing High School did their own laundry. While the Keyaki Mall had a laundry shop, it wasn't popular. Not only did it cost personal points, but students also disliked the idea of mixing their clothes with others'. Only large items like down jackets warranted a trip there.
White shirts, while refreshing, stained easily.
Especially considering Ryo had a cat in his dorm and liked cooking, imagining the possible stains was already giving him a headache.
"That's not something you need to worry about. I'm really good at this."
Suzune sounded confident. Considering she had lived independently since a young age and was highly skilled at cooking, it was no surprise she excelled at domestic chores too.
"If it becomes a hassle, just call me. I'll wash and return it once it's dry."
She said it so naturally, like it was already a settled fact.
Borrowing and lending things was one of the easiest ways to close emotional distance. It not only created a shared topic, but also ensured two direct interactions: one when borrowing, one when returning.
"Let's get this one wrapped up, then."
Before Ryo could respond, Suzune told the salesperson to wrap it up and handed Ryo another outfit, pushing him gently into the fitting room.
She stood quietly at the fitting room entrance with the shopping bag in hand, catching a glimpse of her own smiling reflection in the mirror.
Dressing up for someone you like, or dressing up the one you like—at their core, both stemmed from the same emotional logic: inner satisfaction and peace.
"Horikita-san?"
Just as Suzune was lost in this blissful daze, the shop door opened. Footsteps and a familiar voice snapped her out of it. She turned calmly to see the newcomers.
"Shiina-san, Karuizawa-san. Are you two here to shop together as well?"
"This floor is mostly men's clothing. The women's section is one level up."
It had been a long time since Suzune used such a cool and sharp tone, but she had already sensed it: the two girls before her were here for the same reason she was.
Just a few days ago, she had wondered if Sakayanagi Arisu's actions were too aggressive. But seeing them now had made everything click.
Suzune didn't think her connection with Kitagawa Ryo was unique. But at the same time, she firmly believed their bond was irreplaceable.
So of course, she couldn't just stand by and watch as Ryo ended up with someone else.
She was the type to obsess and dig deep, never letting go.
And that applied to love, too.
Maybe it was because of how little interaction she had with others growing up, but even she hadn't realized just how much emotion she'd stored away in her heart—as if ready to spend it all on this one chance.
Sakayanagi's words had brought all those buried feelings surging back. Maybe "resurrect" wasn't the right word. They had never left.
But she didn't mind.
Shiina Hiyori was about to explain how she and Kei had met, but Kei spoke first:
"We were just about to head upstairs when we saw you and Ryo here. Are you helping him pick clothes? He never really liked shopping. Probably because he wore too many costumes in theater—he was always rushing from one performance to the next."
"Yeah, Ryo was really busy back then."
Shiina nodded, catching on to the conversation.
"A few days ago, I saw some outfits here that really suited him. That time when the drama club brought back Hotaru, I cleaned Ryo's room and noticed how few clothes he had."
Suzune tightened her grip on the shopping bag and smiled.
"I even washed his clothes back then, so I memorized his sizes. My fashion sense isn't too bad either—Ryo liked what I picked."
She held up the bag.
"I always thought light colors looked great on him. Since he was worried about laundry, I offered to wash them for him. Saves some personal points too."
Sensing Kei was about to speak, Suzune continued:
"You and Shiina-san are from different classes. If people saw you doing laundry for a Class D student, rumors would fly. The school allows inter-class relationships, but in a competitive system like this, it's hard to maintain them."
"Especially you, Karuizawa-san... You're Class B's leader, right?"
Kei glanced at the still-closed fitting room door, then looked back at Suzune.
"No need to be so roundabout, Horikita-san. We've known each other long enough. The whole class competition thing? It doesn't matter to us."
Even now, as Class B's leader, just one step from A-Class, Kei had never cared much about rankings.
If it hadn't been for Ryo enrolling here, she wouldn't have chosen Advanced Nurturing High School at all.
Her point was clear.
Suzune got the message. She stared at Kei for a while before shaking her head.
"No one ever says things outright."
"You know that better than anyone."
Kei turned away. She wanted to glare, to say something more fitting for her mood. But in the end, she didn't.
She knew: in this rivalry, the one who breaks down first loses.
What frustrated Kei just as much was the fact that none of them had the right to force Ryo to choose.
Love wasn't a dinner invitation. There was no such thing as "first come, first served."
Shiina Hiyori, either unaware or simply uninterested in the emotional tension, was now scanning the racks of menswear like a detective examining a crime scene. She wasn't looking for clues, though—just the best new outfit for him.
When Kitagawa Ryo stepped out of the fitting room, this was the scene that greeted him: Suzune and Kei facing each other in silence, Hiyori holding up a shirt against herself to measure.
"Kei, Hiyori, morning. You two came to shop too? Perfect timing. Help me pick something."
Ryo's voice broke the awkward air. But before he could instinctively offer his hand for Suzune to guide him to the mirror, Kei had already linked her arm around his right.
It was summer, and the outfit was sleeveless. Her smooth ivory arms wrapped around his, natural and unhesitant—no awkwardness, no embarrassment. Their skin touched without resistance.
"It's been a while since I saw you in new clothes. Come on."
Before Suzune could respond, Kei had already led Ryo to the mirror, guiding his movements as she offered cheerful feedback.
Ignoring the salesperson's disapproving look, Ryo turned with a smile and asked:
"Suzune? Hiyori? What do you think?"
He was wearing a light-colored summer jacket with a beachy, trench coat vibe. The contrast with his jet-black eyes was striking. Hands in pockets, he looked every bit like the ideal image of summer and the seaside.
His golden talent, [Unparalleled], had already maxed out his charm. Combined with the newly manifested [Charisma] trait from his last simulation, he didn't need to rely on affection. Just standing there with a smile was enough to melt away any emotional turbulence.
"It really suits you," Hiyori said, holding up her pick to compare sizes, prompting Suzune and Kei to return to their senses and share their thoughts:
"Light tones definitely work best on you."
"You could be a tourism ambassador for summer beach getaways."
Ryo nodded with a chuckle. He asked the clerk to wrap it up and casually patted Hiyori's head as she fiddled with the shirt in front of him.
"Two outfits are enough for me. Should I buy new swimsuits for the three of you too?"
"Yes!" Hiyori replied instantly, completely forgetting her earlier claim that she didn't like swimsuits.
"...Sure," Suzune answered next. She had already seen through Ryo's stance on love. Just like he had said to Arisu that day, he didn't want to reject anyone's feelings.
"Mm-hmm."
Kei, after a pause, was the last to agree. Then she added playfully:
"I trust your taste, Ryo."
From the moment she was reborn, that scar had already vanished. Beneath the old wound was fresh, new skin.
Tender, fragile, like it couldn't withstand sunlight.
But time had passed.
Now, it had become something she could proudly show him—a sign of her growth.
Thank goodness Ichinose Honami wasn't here.
Kei thought quietly to herself.
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