Chapter Thirty-One: Crazy Women: My Favourites
Now that I think of it, I never really did say who Crazy Aunt looks like.
If I were biased and simply going for pure looks, I'd say Tsukatsuki Rio.
Personality-wise, though, she's different; I'd say Claire Kagenou.
So, pick your poison.
Of course, I don't know if I'm giving people hope, and hey, I might decide to try romance.
If my writing takes me there, then sure, I don't mind; I quite like romance after all.
With all that said.
Tengu City Mall
Women's Clothing Store
In front of the Dressing Room.
Morgan sat slouched on a chair, directly in front of two curtained changing rooms.
His elbows rested on his knees, fingers intertwined and pressed lightly against his lips.
...What am I doing again?
Right. Right.
He was dragged here.
By Maya.
And since when did Kurumi of all people start showing interest in him?
Morgan had no clue if she was doing this genuinely or simply to tease him.
After all, although a flirt, she wouldn't do this for just anyone.
Especially not for someone she wasn't interested in, and unless they actually piqued her interest.
Or if she was personally interested in them.
For example, Shidou.
'What kind of mess did I get myself into this time…'
In the first place, he wasn't averse to making drastic changes.
He was fully committed to that, if anything.
But Kurumi…
He had no plans for her or concerning her.
Just as his thoughts fully drifted off.
Shhhck-
The curtain covering the changing room slowly slid open, revealing two women.
Both of them stepped out of the changing room with a somewhat satisfied expression on their faces.
"Mhm~ so, how is it, Clair~?"
"Yes, yes, how do we look, Clair-san~?"
Both of them said that striking a provocative pose along with alluring smiles.
It was like they exchanged outfits.
Except this time, it was more provocative.
Kurumi wore a sharp, office-style ensemble, the kind a teacher might wear, though noticeably missing the jacket.
Just a crisp shirt, a tight skirt, and stockings.
Even then, the skirt was far too short, and the top two buttons of her shirt were undone.
In a way it looked tight on her, accompanied with the glasses she donned on.
Leaning forward, hands resting lightly on her knees, in that posture.
It was as though to highlight her dangerous curve for him.
[Readers put images]
Morgan's eye twitched.
'To set the record straight,'
he thought grimly, looking away,
'This is not a cosplay store... right?'
He turned toward the sales floor to double-check, and sure enough.
When Morgan looked toward the store, one of the female clerks caught his eye.
She stared straight at him.
Then, wordlessly,
She lifted her middle and index fingers pressed together, and pointed them first at her own eyes, then at him.
It was as though to say:
…I know what type of person you are.
A bead of sweat slid down Morgan's temple for a moment with a somewhat cringed expression.
Then, slowly, very slowly, he turned his head to Maya, who was wearing a JK-inspired outfit.
A tight, rolled-up, long-sleeved white shirt and a short skirt accompanied it, with a jacket tied around her waist.
Instead of stockings, she wore thigh-high socks that only emphasized the line of her legs.
And, of course, she was smiling.
That self-satisfied, teasing grin of hers practically radiating confidence.
[Readers put image]
'Fuu..'
Crccch-
Once more, the world seemed to slow down several paces.
Although he didn't have Beta's opinion here this time, he still relied on cold, hard logic.
① [While that's good and all, I prefer something that reveals more skin.]
② [Wow, the both of you look cute]
③ [I'm okay with anything you both wear]
Of course, there were only so many viable choices.
The third option was truth and lie at the same time, and the number one was... well.
While both would not necessarily refuse.
He just didn't know what to think of it.
Not when there was a clerk across the room silently burning holes through his back.
I see you.
–her eyes seemed to say.
"..Mmm.."
Morgan rubbed the back of his neck.
Now then… how should he respond?
Despite how composed he acted, he was still a young man at heart.
Well, young at soul might be more accurate.
If he added his past life's age and this one together, he'd already be pushing thirty.
But.. the same for these women here.
Despite her youthful expression, if one calculated it, she'd be in her late twenties to early thirties.
She was actually older.
But since she was a spirit, she didn't age.
Maya, however, was in her late twenties, but like Kurumi, she didn't look like it.
All in all.
Safe.
But that's neither the problem here.
"Too erotic."
Morgan's words came out half-playful, half-serious. He genuinely meant it when he said that.
Then, he leaned back onto the chair letting a soft exhale.
"Honestly… what exactly are you both expecting from me?"
He still tried to sound respectful, especially toward Kurumi.
Judging her intentions was always a losing game.
For all he knew, this could even be one of her clones.
And, when he thought about it… that actually made a lot of sense.
However–
"Clair-san~ it's just what you think."
Just as he'd shaken his thoughts about Kurumi off, she suddenly looked at him with a sly expression.
No, if anything, it was a daring smile.
Even her words were so much so.
"Ah?"
Morgan involuntarily let out that dumb sound, his lips twitching as his expression faltered.
Just for a moment.
Yet, both females caught it. And instinctively, he came to the realization almost quickly.
C-crap.
"Mmm. I see, that's not enough for Clair, huh?"
"Seems like we'll have to double our effort, right, Maya-san?"
Wait, what!?
No way. ...since when did they even exchange names? Since when were they teaming up!?
Morgan could already feel an incoming headache.
"Aaa, wait.."
Before he could finish, both women had already dashed back into their changing rooms.
He froze, face paling slightly.
That was when—
Tap tap
Footsteps approached from the side.
It was Mana.
Her expression was completely lifeless, her eyes dull and hollow as she walked up in new clothes.
It was no longer the black uniform.
Rather, it was a white inner shirt, a dark blue jacket on top of the inner, and shorts to accompany it.
But still, her eyes…
"...Maya?"
"Hahaha… they said small… hahaha… I'll go get some groceries."
Right, that reminded him too.
She too was like the rest of them.
By rough estimate, she'd be somewhere in her forties now, considering the first Spacequake had occurred about thirty years ago.
At that time back then, she would've been barely around the age of fourteen or fifteen.
What halted her age like this was probably that experiment they did on her.
Not that anyone would ever believe that just by looking at her.
Still, age was the least of their concerns right now.
At present, what mattered most was the fact that she had apparently just been called flat.
By the store clerk.
And her trembling voice said it all.
"R-right…"
Morgan slowly bobbed his head up and down, raising his hand briefly in farewell as Mana trudged off.
Once again, he found himself in a confused mess of emotions.
Yes, he knew best to enjoy himself, but how much further was he planning to go?
He hadn't thought about it.
But for now, until he'd gotten his custom unit, and until his plans were feasible...
Morgan decided not to think of it for now.
But as always, with great willpower came great temptation.
And temptation, of course, never bothered with the weak.
No. Temptation existed only to torment the strong.
Sure enough…
The curtain slid open again.
Maya stepped out first.
Wearing a white, fitted halter-style top, exposing the shoulders with long sleeves that hang off the arms.
However, the front chest and sides were cut, showing everything.
Not to mention the short denim bottoms in a washed blue-gray tone, with lace-up sides that reveal skin along the hips.
[Readers put image]
"What? Too stunned to speak? Are you finally captivated by me?"
For a brief moment…
Of course he was.
But before Morgan could even make his verbal comeback,
"Kihihihi~ And don't forget about me, Clair-san~"
Like Maya, Kurumi too confidently strutted out, with her own new dress too.
White one-piece swimsuit designed with a deep neckline and a bow at the center of the chest.
Side cutouts that are held together with thin straps tied into small bows at the hips.
Finally, accompanied by a wide-brimmed sunhat decorated with a large white flower.
[Readers put image]
"Fufu~ so? How is it?"
Morgan blinked, once and then twice.
Quietly, he came to a conclusion.
'Right… the universe has definitely decided to test me today.'
Seeing Kurumi's outfit, Morgan's head slowly turned toward the two women.
He stared.
Then tilted his head back, eyes closed, as if trying to commune with whatever higher power governed his patience.
A moment later, his eyes snapped open.
Without a single word, he stood up under their surprised gazes and marched straight toward the clerk.
Reaching into his pocket.
He pulled out his card and extended it toward her with the gravity of a man accepting his fate.
"As much as possible."
Morgan said flatly.
The female clerk, who had been giving him a judging and watchful gaze all this while.
Suddenly twisted her lips into an expression that could only be said to be Lloyd-worthy.
"...I can finally prove it."
She whispered.
Yes.
Perhaps Morgan Sinclair really was into crazy women who could ruin him.
Was he complaining?
Hell no.
If one were a man, one should simply accept one's fate at times.