The night in Tokyo remained bustling and brilliant. The sidewalks were crowded, bathed in a mix of vibrant neon signs and massive digital billboards, casting kaleidoscopic reflections like a moving oil painting.
As soon as they left the quiet old street and stepped into the lively downtown, Shirou quickly brought Erii, who was curiously exploring the nighttime city, into a fashion boutique.
After explaining the situation to a shop assistant, Erii was promptly showered with the trendiest outfits of the year: high-waisted wide-leg pants paired with off-shoulder tops for that chic and fresh look, or simple A-line skirts matched with soft white blouses and a light chiffon jacket that promised both comfort and breathability.
Erii stared at the endless color combinations and clothing options, utterly baffled. She truly couldn't comprehend why there needed to be so many variations.
In the anime she watched at home, the characters usually wore the same outfit from episode one to the finale, didn't they?
Of course, having grown up in her clan treated like a monster or tool, she had never been taught basic life knowledge. Much of what she knew came from anime.
That's why she thought wearing miko robes year-round was perfectly normal.
Now faced with a sea of novel clothing, she was totally at a loss. She simply shook her head and gently poked Shirou with her finger—passing the decision to him.
This was one of the rare times Shirou found himself being the one making fashion choices while shopping with a girl. He wasn't used to it.
With Nono, she'd try on this and that, easily seventeen or eighteen outfits, carefully picking through them until finally selecting a few… and poof, half a day was gone.
But now, Shirou was in charge. He asked the assistant to bring over a few styles that matched Erii's figure, scanned them a couple of times, and quickly picked the one he found most pleasing.
In just a few minutes, the outfit was settled.
By the time they stepped out of the shop, Erii had transformed. She now wore a light-colored tank top with a loose jacket, high-waisted denim shorts, canvas shoes, and white knee-high socks that covered her calves perfectly, outlining her slender waist and legs with graceful curves that swayed naturally with each step—drawing the attention of passersby.
Gone was the odd Edo-era shrine maiden look. In her place stood a fashionable and curious young student enjoying her holiday.
But that wasn't all.
Next stop: a large beauty salon named TAKAMI.
After discussing the styling plan with the staff, they moved forward. Erii didn't express any preference even after seeing bold hairstyles in the model booklets—she simply felt all humans looked the same, whether they were monsters, Ultramen, or otherwise.
So Shirou decided for her: her long, naturally dark red hair would be dyed and curled into a "cold brew milk tea" tone with soft waves. They'd add some Bohemian-style makeup and a Givenchy gloss lipstick to give her a radiant, weightless glow.
The whole makeover process would take at least two hours.
Erii, having never seen any of these beauty tools or procedures, was initially fascinated—curious about how she'd be transformed. But soon enough, she began yawning and dozing off.
While she rested, Shirou chatted with a nearby stylist. He pointed at a familiar-looking glam photo of a performer.
"Hey, haven't I seen this guy somewhere?"
"Oh, that's Kazama Ruri," the stylist replied excitedly. "He's been rising to fame lately—performed at the prestigious Kabuki Theater!"
Shirou suddenly remembered—he'd just seen this person's face on a poster outside that very theater. The makeup looked slightly different here, but the subtle changes created a completely distinct vibe despite it being the same face.
Such refined makeup skills... terrifyingly powerful.
The stylist didn't seem to appreciate Kabuki itself much, but he knew how to spin Kazama Ruri's success story into a beauty salon legend.
Apparently, Kazama Ruri, before becoming a famed Kabuki performer, disguised himself and worked at salons to master makeup techniques firsthand. His talent was so terrifying that he surpassed senior stylists in no time.
When he revealed his true identity, the salon owner—being a lifelong Kabuki fan—was stunned, realizing he had a genius in his midst.
From that day forward, Kazama Ruri promised to promote their brand. Thanks to his massive female fanbase, TAKAMI exploded in popularity and soon topped national skincare sales.
Shirou raised an eyebrow. "This story sounds awfully familiar… 'Ten years of silence in the beauty world, one billboard and you're world-famous' or something like that."
The stylist tried to prove it by showing him a group chat labeled "TAKAMI Makeup Techniques," where Kazama Ruri's ID was listed.
"…Has he ever actually posted in there?"
"Uh… no." The stylist wilted, then perked up again.
"But! Our manager has his direct contact! If you register as a VIP, you might get access!"
"Why would I become a beauty salon VIP?"
Here we go again…
Even a casual chat turned into a sales pitch. Another modern consumer trap. Shirou sighed.
But just as he was about to dismiss the whole thing—
Wait. I might not need makeup tips… but Nono might.
Damn it. Looks like he had no choice but to step into the trap.
———
By the time the transformation was complete, Erii could no longer be called a red-haired miko. Now she looked like a fresh and pretty junior student—young and trendy. Compared to Xia Mi, she had a fuller chest but lacked a certain spiritual charm.
They made their way to the Kabuki Theater Shirou had visited earlier with Nono. Erii curiously examined the massive building as they walked in.
This was a knowledge gap for her.
"If you want to see a performance, why not just turn on the TV at home?" she thought.
To her, the exaggerated poses, cryptic lines, and subtle hand movements of Kabuki were confusing—not as flashy or simple as anime.
But Shirou patted her head, signaling they weren't here for the show—they were meeting Kazama Ruri.
Thanks to the salon manager, he got Ruri's contact info.
The manager warned he might not be available. Even fans rarely got a face-to-face meeting.
Yet when Shirou called and gave his name, Ruri surprisingly invited him right away. Said he was backstage at Ginza's Kabuki Theater—come by if nearby.
See? Tokyo folks are super warm-hearted. I really do feel at home here.
They briefly watched a performance—shamisen, drums, and dramatic moves. Erii didn't fully get it, but she was deeply impressed.
Following the signs, they passed into the staff-only backstage area and entered a room marked "Actor Makeup Room."
Inside were rows of makeup stations, wigs, and tools. Most seats were empty—except for one, where a beautiful, graceful girl sat quietly in the corner.
Erii didn't react much. Instead, she played around with colorful wigs in front of the mirror.
Shirou whispered for her not to break anything, then approached the girl.
"Excuse me, do you know where Kazama Ruri is? He should be around here."
The girl turned with a gentle smile and a clear, youthful voice:
"I've heard a lot about you, Shirou-san. I'm Kazama Ruri."
Shirou blinked at the lovely figure before him—completely devoid of masculine traits.
Wait… you're what now? A naturally born trap physique!?
(End of Chapter)
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