Kaoru thought they had some secret, but it turned out they were just discussing what clothes to buy at a women's clothing store.
Girls are always very interested in clothes.
Even though they wear school uniforms more often at school, they still find ways to dress up.
Being different during adolescence is girls' way of survival.
Especially Kei Karuizawa.
As a qualified hot girl, she has to keep up with all kinds of fashion trends.
If she and her girlfriends aren't talking about makeup and skirts, what would they talk about? Studying?
Kaoru remembered she privately bought fashion magazines.
Boys just need to admire the models, but girls have to consider many more aspects.
"Does this look good?"
Kei Karuizawa was wearing a light-colored long-sleeved dress with a bow tied at the collar, resting on her slightly raised chest.
The skirt had a light, floating feeling, tightly cinched at the waist to accentuate her slender figure.
Holding the hem, she spun around in front of Kaoru and Ichinose Honami, her black stockings flashing briefly, swaying with a faint, ethereal charm.
"It looks great! It gives off a young lady vibe!"
Ichinose Honami's eyes sparkled as she pushed Kei Karuizawa in front of the mirror.
"If you let your hair down and style it in big waves, you'd look even more like a young lady!"
"Isn't that too mature? I'm just a high school student!"
Kei Karuizawa complained while examining herself in the mirror.
"This style is different from my usual look. I feel this set would suit little Honami better."
"Eh, why?"
"Because you're usually very gentle, giving off a big sister feeling."
"Don't say that, it's embarrassing."
Kei Karuizawa pouted, showing no sign of actual embarrassment.
"Let me try other clothes."
"Wait!"
Just as she was about to change, Ichinose Honami stopped her and suddenly pushed her in front of Kaoru.
"We still don't know what this person thinks. Shouldn't we ask him if he thinks it looks good?"
Kaoru met Kei Karuizawa's gaze.
Her slender, petite figure carried a different strength than usual, like a willow branch swaying in the wind, inexplicably giving the illusion of the girl next door.
Her fair, clean skin looked so delicate it seemed it might break at a touch.
He had to admit the girl successfully blurred his rational thinking about emotions.
"You look good in anything."
Facing the girl's slightly expectant gaze, Kaoru didn't disappoint her.
"W-what kind of answer is that? So sneaky." Kei Karuizawa was easy to placate, though she wouldn't admit it verbally.
"I've heard you boys often play dating sims. Did those games teach you to say such things?"
"Indeed, the game's strategy taught me to speak my true feelings to girls."
Kaoru's expression made it impossible to tell whether he was humoring Kei Karuizawa or being completely serious.
Kei pouted, wanting to say something but feeling too embarrassed.
She sensed these were genuine words.
"Alright, let's ignore him and continue."
Ichinose Honami laughed and led Kei away to browse clothes.
After all, Kaoru's only role was to keep them happy—such was the nature of accompanying one's girlfriend shopping.
When a girl asks for your opinion, she simply wants compliments.
How exactly you praise her doesn't matter to her.
Standing casually by the clothing rack, Kaoru nonchalantly accepted the surrounding attention.
Besides the shop assistants, other students were naturally present too.
He was the only boy wandering through the entire women's clothing store, drawing everyone's notice.
"Good morning~"
At that moment, someone covered his eyes from behind.
"Planning to peek at girls changing clothes in the women's clothing store today?"
"I don't peek. If I wanted to watch, I'd just push the door open and go in."
Kaoru grabbed her wrist. "Senpai, is this your standard entrance routine?"
"Ahaha, not at all. Only with you."
Asahina Nazuna released him, but he didn't let go of her small hand.
Belatedly, she grew somewhat shy. "I saw you here with little Honami and the others, so I sneaked over."
"I thought you might want to complain to me about Nagumo."
Kaoru turned around to see his tall senpai standing behind him.
His sudden turn nearly made him bump into her chest.
"Why are you still bringing him up?"
Asahina Nazuna took a small step back, realizing she had been standing rather close.
"I was thinking tomorrow is Kei-chan's birthday, so I came to check things out."
"Honami-chan told you?"
Kaoru instinctively recalled the sound party, then found the thought ridiculous and shook his head with a light laugh.
"To be precise, I asked Tachibana-senpai."
Asahina's voice inexplicably grew quieter. "I... I'm a bit scared of little Honami now."
The impression Ichinose Honami had left on her in the Student Council office days ago was too vivid - her mind had completely blanked out on the spot.
Who would have thought the first-year archangel could have that side to her?
The corner of Kaoru's mouth twitched.
He could understand her fear of Ichinose Honami - even he sometimes felt intimidated by these succubi.
"Senpai, are you afraid we might do something S&M to you?"
"Wah!"
Asahina quickly covered his mouth, her face flushing.
"Don't, don't just say that out loud here! Someone might hear!"
Kaoru licked her hand - a girl's hand really was fragrant and sweet.
"You, you, you..."
Asahina was speechless, pulling her hand back as if electrocuted.
"I couldn't help myself."
Kaoru said, "Actually, I wouldn't force you to do anything strange, senpai. I haven't touched you before, have I?"
"I, I know. It's not your problem, though you can be quite perverted sometimes."
Asahina's pretty face reddened slightly before she grew somewhat serious, lowering her voice.
"I'm just a bit scared of Honami. She seems even more stubborn and perverted than you."
Seeing Kaoru's confused expression, Asahina suddenly bit her lip, realizing she shouldn't have said that, and quickly changed the subject.
"Are you all planning to buy clothes?"
"Yes. Would you like to join us, senpai?"
Kaoru extended the invitation.
Asahina shook her head: "I'm just passing by. My friends are waiting outside. Just pretend you didn't see me. And whatever Kei-chan wants to buy, I'll pay for it. Consider it my birthday gift to her this time."
"Why are you avoiding them?"
Kaoru found it strange.
Asahina opened her mouth, then said with slight annoyance: "I'm scared of the sound party, okay!"
It was Kaoru's turn to be speechless, while Asahina also closed her mouth, her face bright red.
After a long moment, she whispered: "Anyway, it's not that I'm scared of doing H things with you. I just... don't really... that kind of... with many people together... it's too indecent."
She covered her face with her hands.
What was she even saying?
Seeing this, Kaoru chuckled, "In your eyes, am I only about throwing parties?"
He naturally understood why some girls would mind such things—otherwise why would Asahina Nazuna keep rejecting Nagumo Miyabi's advances while holding onto her reservations?
"I believe you."
Asahina Nazuna patted her slightly flushed cheeks, though she didn't trust Ichinose Honami—the other girl was definitely scheming to drag her into those parties.
How terrifying.
This archangel might just end up luring her into bed.
Despite her frustration, Asahina didn't feel much disgust.
After all, the person involved was someone she liked.
Even if Kaoru forced himself on her, the worst outcome would be her staying angry for a few days before things returned to normal.
Beyond that, she was actually quite curious about Ichinose Honami's true intentions.
After Asahina left, Kaoru accidentally wandered into the lingerie section and had to quickly retreat.
Just then, he saw Karuizawa and Ichinose emerging from the fitting room together.
"Kaoru, how about this one!"
Kaoru glanced over and instinctively replied, "Too lewd."
"Huh?"
Both girls froze for a moment, not understanding what he meant.
Soon, Ichinose caught on, wearing a mischievous grin identical to Kushida Kikyo's, her eyes gleaming like a cat spotting prey.
"I see~ So Kaoru likes this kind of vibe~ A bit naughty, huh~"
"No, I meant it's too revealing."
Kaoru pointed at her soft lower abdomen, "Even your navel is visible, and the skirt is too short."
"I know! I'm already embarrassed enough, but doesn't Kaoru have a peeping habit?"
Ichinose originally wanted to tease him longer, but his pointing made her genuinely shy.
"Peeping?"
Kaoru pointed at himself, "You mean me?"
Did he really look that perverted?
"Yeah, you wrote it in your notebook."
Karuizawa Kei naturally backed up Ichinose, "You like watching girls' skirts, enjoy seeing girls..."
"Wait, stop!"
Kaoru cut her off. Having shaken off his obsession with the wish-granting device, he now felt an inexplicable sense of shame.
No wonder the wish-granter dared only outsource such perverted desires—if others found out, they'd probably die laughing.