"Finally got it!"
Eriri clutched two sets of limited merchandise, happy as a golden retriever.
After waiting in line for over an hour, she'd finally gotten her hands on both the game and the special edition goodies she'd been dreaming about.
Though······ while waiting in line, she'd felt quite a few people giving her and Mio weird looks. But none of that mattered now—nobody had recognized her anyway.
Just then, a familiar voice called out: "Shirai-san, and Sawamura-san too. What a coincidence~"
Eriri stiffened at the sound. As a member of the art club, she knew this voice all too well. It was the club president's.
Why? Why am I running into the president here of all places!?
Compared to the frozen Eriri, Mio remained perfectly composed. She even smiled and greeted the president. "President, you're here to buy the game too?"
"Yep, I've been looking forward to this one for ages. Didn't expect you two to be interested in it too."
"I'm the one interested in the game. I dragged Sawamura-san along so I could get two sets of the limited merchandise."
Eriri, who had been scrambling for an explanation, stared at Mio in surprise. Back when she'd discovered Mio's secret hobby of drawing doujinshi, Mio had been absolutely terrified. But now she was voluntarily taking the blame onto herself?
"I see." The president glanced at Eriri and nodded thoughtfully.
She'd actually been about to mention that she'd already witnessed their intimate display earlier. But after hearing Mio's explanation, she decided it was probably better to keep that to herself.
As expected of me, the president. My emotional intelligence really is top-tier.
"Ah, I just remembered I have something to do. I won't disturb your date any longer."
"It's not a date!"
"Ah, yes yes, I understand."
Not wanting to be a third wheel, the president waved at the two of them and headed off, quickly disappearing into the crowd.
Only after the president left did Eriri quietly say to Mio, "Just now······ you didn't have to say that. It's my thing, after all."
"It's fine. Everyone knows I have lots of hobbies anyway. Even if I liked bishoujo games, nobody would care."
"But you were scared to death when I found out you draw doujinshi."
"Drawing that kind of stuff is obviously something to be nervous about. This game isn't even 18+, so what's there to be nervous about?" Mio said matter-of-factly.
Really, she just felt a bit guilty toward Eriri. Thanks to this stupid mission, she'd gotten Eriri misunderstood by quite a few people. Sure, they were all strangers, but still—misunderstandings were misunderstandings.
The mission the System had issued earlier was already completed half an hour ago. Eriri's conquest rating had gone up by two points, and she'd even obtained [Eriri's Drawing Technique].
"Either way, you really helped me out. As thanks, let me treat you to a nice meal~"
"Sounds good~"
And so, Eriri brought Mio to a place she'd always wanted to visit but never dared to go alone.
A maid café.
After watching a fair-skinned, beautiful, and well-endowed maid walk past, Mio turned to look at Eriri, who had already removed her mask. "What made Sawamura-san want to come here?"
Eriri looked a bit embarrassed. "Actually, I've wanted to check this place out for a while. I just never found anyone to come with."
"Hearing Sawamura-san say that······ I'm actually kind of happy~"
"There you go again!" Eriri gave Mio a helpless look. Did this white-haired beauty not realize how devastating some of her words were? Even as a fellow girl, Eriri sometimes felt her heart race.
"Ehehe~"
As if struck by a thought, Eriri said with interest, "Oh right, this place has costume rentals. You could try on a maid outfit too~"
"Does Sawamura-san want to see? If you want to see, I'll go change."
"Huh!?"
That's not the right reaction at all. Most girls would either be eager to try it or shyly claim it wouldn't suit them. Why was Mio throwing the question back at her?
It felt like Mio was asking a lover if they wanted to see her in it.
Something felt weird.
But······ she did kind of want to see Mio in a maid outfit. And she was curious how Mio would react if she said yes.
"Really? Then I want to see!"
As if she'd predicted Eriri's answer, Mio smiled. "Then could Sawamura-san come help me change? It's my first time wearing something like this, and I'm worried I won't be able to put it on properly by myself."
"Sure!"
After explaining to a maid that they wanted to rent an outfit, she led them to the changing room. There were not only maid outfits here, but also cosplay costumes.
Everything from modest to daring.
Though Eriri was tempted to see Mio in some of these flashier outfits, she ultimately chose a standard maid uniform matching the ones worn by the café staff.
Then, under the astonished gaze of the maid attendant, Mio pulled Eriri directly into one of the changing room stalls.
"Why are you pulling me in too?"
"I told you earlier—I'm worried I won't be able to put it on properly by myself." While speaking, Mio began removing her clothes.
Just as she was about to put on the maid outfit, she seemed to remember something. With a completely serious expression, she said to Eriri, "Sawamura-san, should I take off my panties too?"
"There's no need for that!" Eriri glanced at Mio, swallowed, and immediately averted her gaze, pretending she hadn't seen anything.
She's a girl just like me. Why am I so nervous?
"Oh well."
Hearing the disappointment in Mio's voice, Eriri didn't even know what to say anymore.
If those boys at school who were chasing after Mio found out what she was really like in private······ they'd probably be even more excited, right?
Who wouldn't like a white-haired beauty who looked pure but was secretly so flirty?
If Eriri weren't a girl herself, she'd totally be into her!
While Eriri's mind wandered, she suddenly heard Mio's voice: "Sawamura-san, how does it look? Is it weird?"
Only then did Eriri realize that Mio had somehow already finished changing.
······