The next day.
"What do I do... Seriously, what the hell do I do..."
I was completely lost.
After what happened yesterday, I managed to get the money I needed for Eve's shopping trip, so I contacted her and told her I was ready. She replied, "Then let's do it tomorrow," and I agreed. After that, I went straight home and passed out, trying to forget everything. My bed felt like pure bliss.
Then this morning, I woke up, stretched out nice and big, and suddenly snapped back to reality. "What the hell is this?"
First of all, I have no idea why Rafine is even in Magicosmaia. I never told anyone where I was going.
And yet, it feels like everyone I got involved with last time is about to show up. If Reti and Wedd are here too, it'll be a full reunion. This has to be a joke.
"I mean, she's the Fourth Princess. A princess like Rafine shouldn't just be walking around the city like this...!"
From what I saw, she didn't even have any guards with her. Well, with her Word Spirit Magic, she probably won't get into any real danger, but still, it's way too careless.
She most likely snuck out without telling anyone. If she had told somebody, there's no way she'd be wandering around alone. She'd have a ton of guards around her.
Which means... the entire country of Universia is probably in total chaos right now. Her fan club and the King are probably losing their minds.
The way Rafine was talking yesterday, she's probably watching me from somewhere right now too... This is really unsettling. I've been nervously looking around like a suspect for a while now.
"...What's wrong with you?"
While I was acting all shady, a girl with light blue hair wearing cute, fashionable clothes, Eve spoke to me with a worried voice.
It was still early in the morning. I had forced myself to wake up early for Eve's shopping trip, and we had just met at the meeting spot, ready to head out.
"I'm fine, no problem."
I was clearly not fine, but I said it anyway. If I tell myself I'm fine, then I'm fine... right? (I'm losing it.)
"Want to cancel?"
"No way. I'm not canceling. Absolutely not."
Eve saw how I was acting and offered to call it off, but I shot it down instantly. That was the one thing I couldn't let happen. I need those tickets.
"It's really nothing. There's just someone I don't want to run into... I'm using Magic Power Disguise today too, and I changed my hair to red with the Illusion Ring. It should be fine."
"...I see. ...If you really don't want to be found, you could just change your face too."
"You're right, but... changing my face too many times messes with how things feel and it gets creepy. I hate that."
The Illusion Ring can change your appearance however you want, but if you go too far from your real self, your senses get weird and it feels gross.
Plus, becoming a completely different person just feels wrong. I'm me. Changing my hair color a bit is fine, but changing everything? No thanks.
"Besides, I like my own face... I'm pretty handsome, right?"
"...Not with those dead eyes."
Ouch. That hurt.
"If you want something to hide your face... wait here a second."
Eve said that and quickly walked off. A little while later, she came back carrying a bulky metal-looking thing — a full suit of armor and a full-face helmet.
"Put this on."
"You bought this for me? ...Sorry. How much was it?"
"It's fine, don't worry about the money. Just put it on."
I tried to pay her, but she shoved the helmet into my hands. Guess I'll accept her kindness.
"Hmm... it's pretty light. Must be for cosplay."
When I picked it up, it was much lighter than real armor. Looked like a replica for costumes.
I put on the bulky full-face helmet to hide my face. With Magic Power Disguise active too, no one should recognize me unless something crazy happens. Finally, I can relax—
"Put this on too."
I thought I was good, but Eve started pushing the armor piece toward me as well.
"Uh, I think just the helmet is enough...?"
"It'll look better if you wear the whole thing."
"It's a pain, so I don't really need to—"
"It looks cooler with the armor on."
"But—"
"Tickets."
"I'll wear it."
And so I ended up putting on the full armor. I love armor!
"...Yeah, perfect."
Eve looked at me and nodded several times, looking satisfied. I don't really get it, but if she's happy, that's fine.
"Alright... let's go shopping."
With the biggest worry taken care of on the surface (it really wasn't), Eve and I started our shopping trip.
"This store."
After walking for about ten minutes following Eve, we arrived at the clothing store.
"...It's pretty normal."
I muttered without thinking after seeing the outside of the shop.
The store name was Village Island. It was a well-known clothing store that sold clothes for commoners and slightly wealthy people.
To be honest, since she said "buy me everything," I thought she was going to take me to some super high-end brand store. That's why I went through all that trouble to get the money.
"...What? You thought it would be somewhere more expensive?"
"Yeah, I did. I thought I was gonna get forced to buy you a bunch of luxury brand stuff."
"Not really... I only said that on a whim. Also, expensive doesn't always mean better."
Eve slightly furrowed her brows and made a pouty face as she said that. She was surprisingly down-to-earth. That was a nice surprise for me since it meant I wouldn't have to spend as much. I can use the leftover money to buy some magic tools.
After we entered the store, Eve quickly picked out a few outfits she liked and took them to the fitting room. That's when the mysterious event I was asked to do — "Watch Eve's fashion show and give commentary" — officially began.
"How...?"
The first outfit Eve changed into was a stylish, light-blue themed set.
"Hmm, it looks good, doesn't it?"
"Does it suit me?"
"Yeah, I think it looks nice."
"...I see."
The fitting room curtain closed with a shaa sound. I could hear the rustling of clothes as she changed again.
"...What about this one?"
The next outfit was also a stylish, light-blue themed set.
"Mmm... I think it looks good too."
"...I see."
The curtain closed again, more rustling, and the next outfit was yet another stylish set.
"...This one?"
"Looks good, right?"
I answered instantly. Eve walked over to me, grabbed the sides of my full-face helmet with both hands, and squeezed hard while saying,
"Answer me seriously."
Her face was blank and her eyes weren't smiling. Scary.
"I am being serious though..."
"You have to actually tell me what's good, why it suits me, stuff like that... Otherwise it's useless. This is no different from just looking in a mirror."
Eve clearly wasn't satisfied with my reviews.
"Even if you say that... I don't know anything about fashion. Honestly, all the outfits so far looked the same to me. ...I mean, as long as you can wear clothes, isn't that good enough?"
When I said that, Eve puffed her cheeks out and replied,
"They were all different... You should really pay more attention to how you look."
"I do pay a little attention... like comfort and stuff."
"That's not what I mean."
Eve started explaining the names and details of each outfit, but none of it was going into my head.
Honestly, I think as long as clothes aren't super ugly, they're fine. Once you're wearing them, they all feel the same anyway.
"...Sigh."
Eve let out a big sigh, apparently giving up on me since I wasn't really listening.
"...Fine. Next time I'll wear something easier to understand."
Eve said that, picked up several more outfits from the store, and went back into the fitting room.
...This is bad. Her voice sounded a little angry. I need to think properly and give better answers from now on. I gotta try harder.