Chapter 33, Does It Suit Me?

Translator: Lizz

  

After finishing their purchases, the two walked through the dungeon shop and moved to a different section.

 

Now that Masato had finished shopping, it was Rika’s turn.

 

“Have you decided what to get?”

 

“Yes. What do you think about this?”

 

What Rika picked up was not a sword made from the heat stones or cold stones she had been agonizing over earlier, but a sword made of adamantite.

 

Its blade was longer than a knife’s, making it even heavier, but now that Rika had reached Level 2, she would not be overpowered by the weapon. She would likely be able to handle it.

 

“Are you sure an adamantite sword is what you want? Isn’t it a little too rugged?”

 

“Is that… a problem?”

 

Holding the sword as if cradling it, she looked up at Masato through her lashes.

 

“I was thinking about switching to equipment that prioritized durability too.”

 

“…If Rika-san think it’s a good choice, then I’m all for it.”

 

Using a weapon she liked would probably help keep her motivated.

 

With that casual thought in mind, he gave his approval.

 

“Thank you very much!”

 

Seeing the delighted smile on Rika’s face, he knew he had made the right decision.

 

Still hugging the sword as though it were a precious treasure, she moved on to the armor section and began choosing armor as well. These armor were made of dungeon iron. She did not have enough budget or stamina to outfit herself entirely in adamantite armor.

 

“May I try it on?”

 

Masato nodded, and Rika entered one of the large fitting rooms to check how it fit.

 

As soon as the curtain closed, a series of loud clanking noises echoed from inside. After a short while, Rika emerged.

 

“How does it look?”

 

Her neck, chest, and abdomen were covered with dungeon iron, protecting her vital areas. There were no gaps, and attacks from something like a goblin would probably not even faze her. Her arms were protected up to the elbows, and her legs up to the thighs, making her much better protected than before.

 

It was not quite as heavy equipment as a full suit of plate armor, but it carried a similar sense of weight and solidity. It suited the lively, short-haired Rika well and further enhanced her athletic appearance.

 

“It looks reliable. It also matches your appearance, Rika-san. I think it looks cool.”

 

“Thank you…!”

 

Being praised by Masato made her face flush slightly.

 

Her spirits lifted, but the feeling did not last long.

 

“Can you move your shoulders easily? Is there any part that restricts your movement?”

 

Hearing the calm, businesslike questions as he methodically checked the armor, Rika suddenly realized something.

 

This was different from a girl shopping for ordinary clothes. She was choosing equipment that would help her survive battles against monsters. Realizing that, Rika reconsidered and decided that she should pay more attention to the condition of the equipment and how her body moved in it, rather than worrying about Masato’s opinion.

 

She rolled her shoulders and repeatedly mimicked the motions of swinging a sword. She carefully checked movements she would use in combat, lightly jumping and crouching.

 

“It’s heavier than my previous armor, but I think I’ll be able to move without any problems.”

 

“From what I could see, you looked the same as usual. Are you going to buy it?”

 

“That’s a relief… I’ll take this! I’ll go to the register now!”

 

“Whoa, whoa, wait a second!”

 

She looked ready to charge straight into a dungeon at this rate, so he instinctively placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

 

“I know you’re excited to use it right away, but you should change first.”

 

“Oh, right!”

 

Her face turned bright red, and she hurried back into the changing room.

 

After waiting for a while as a series of hurried noises came from inside, Rika emerged in her regular clothes. Her rugged adventurer’s appearance had vanished, replaced by a feminine outfit with a long skirt that swayed softly as she walked.

 

She did not quite give the impression of a refined young lady, but she had a gentle charm that put people at ease.

 

If Rekka had seen her, he would probably have thought, ‘Who are you?’ Her expressions and mannerisms had changed so much from when she had been at school.

 

“I’ll go pay for it.”

 

Carrying the full set of equipment, she headed to the register by herself.

 

She handed her unfamiliar credit card to the clerk and successfully completed the purchase.

 

Having significantly reduced the balances in their bank accounts, the two decided to take a walk through the streets of Shibuya.

 

Rika had only recently started living on her own, and there were still many things she lacked. This time, she intended to buy some urgently needed clothing.

 

Since their equipment would be shipped to them, they were not carrying any bags. They stood a little too close together to be described merely as coworkers, and they could easily have been mistaken for a couple.

 

Weaving through the crowds and passing through the automatic doors, they entered the first floor of a fashion mall filled with various brand-name stores.

 

It was early summer. Swimsuits, sandals, and brightly colored bags for the coming peak summer season were displayed throughout the stores, while female shoppers and couples browsed them happily. Whether they themselves realized it or not, Masato and Rika also looked close enough to fit naturally into the scene around them.

 

“What do you want to look at?”

 

Masato had nothing he wanted to buy, so he left the decision to Rika.

 

She gazed at the merchandise displayed throughout the store, humming thoughtfully to herself, until she remembered a certain item and finally made up her mind.

 

“I’ve been wanting a new swimsuit. Would that be okay?”

 

Rika’s budget was tight, but she decided to buy one anyway.

 

Precisely because it was not a necessity, it had been something she had dreamed about since childhood. Seeing the mannequins dressed in colorful swimsuits made it impossible for her to resist any longer.

 

“Huh? Is it okay for me to go with you?”

 

“Of course! I’d like to hear your opinion!”

 

Masato wondered whether she would not be embarrassed to have a man accompanying her, but seeing that she did not seem to mind at all, he decided it was probably fine.

 

“I’ll do my best to give you useful feedback.”

 

When they arrived at the swimsuit section, Rika picked up hangers one by one and carefully examined each swimsuit at length.

 

There were many different designs available, but she seemed to be selecting only bikinis, and many of them were quite revealing.

 

“Hmm… The size is the problem…”

 

The swimsuit hanging from the hanger in her hands was also a bikini. The amount of fabric was extremely small. The cut around the hips was especially high, and to Masato it looked little different from underwear, or even being naked.

 

It seemed far too provocative for a former high school girl to wear.

 

Wanting to persuade her to choose a different swimsuit somehow, he spoke up.

 

“What are you having trouble deciding?”

 

“This one’s really cute, but the bust size doesn’t fit. I was wondering if they have it one size larger…”

 

A sticker marked with the letter ‘D’, indicating the cup size, was attached to the hanger.

 

In an instant, Masato’s mind was filled with the phrase ‘secretly busty girl’.

 

He had even carried her in his arms before, yet he had never realized that she had a large chest. It might sound better to say that he had never thought of her as a member of the opposite sex, but it was just as possible that he had simply not paid attention or had not been interested.

 

He desperately pushed the distracting thoughts aside.

 

If she was that well-endowed, then a revealing swimsuit was even more unsuitable, he thought, and decided to continue trying to persuade her.

 

“It really is cute. I think the polka-dot design suits you especially well, Rika-san. But… personally, I think this swimsuit would look good on you too.”

 

The swimsuit Masato picked up was also a bikini with separate top and bottom pieces, but the top was designed like a tank top, making it far less revealing. The bottom had frills attached, which greatly toned down its provocative appearance.

 

“The pink color is really cute, but doesn’t it look a little childish…?”

 

This was the reason Rika had been choosing more revealing bikinis.

 

Having owned nothing but school swimsuits for most of her life, bikinis represented freedom, aspiration, and adulthood to her.

 

Now that she had begun living independently and had grown closer to Masato, who seemed very much like an adult in her eyes, Rika wanted to shed her childish image. For that reason, she was willing to buy a bold swimsuit. Those feelings lay behind her choice.

 

“I don’t think that at all. I think this one would bring out your charm better, Rika-san. …What do you think?”

 

“My… charm…”

 

She muttered to herself as she thought it over. After a while, she raised her head and looked at Masato.

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah. I can’t say what other people would think, though.”

 

“If you think so, Masato-san, then that’s enough for me. I’ll go with this swimsuit.”

 

The person Rika wanted approval from was no one else but Masato.

 

If he said it suited her, then she had no reason to object.

 

Taking the swimsuit, she headed toward the register with such excitement that she looked as though she might start skipping. She quickly completed the purchase.

 

Watching her go, Masato felt a sense of relief in his heart.