Sitting together in the back seat of the car, Mei Mei and I conversed as we headed toward Shinjuku.
"Do you go out to the city often, Mei Mei-san? I wouldn't really know, since I rarely have an excuse to visit," I asked.
Mei Mei-san seemed to ponder my question for a moment before shaking her head.
"Hmm... No. There are only two reasons I ever venture into the city. For a mission, or to meet with my financial planners. It's quite rare for me to come out like this with another person. Especially... this is the first time I've come out with a man."
As she said this, I watched her run a tongue slowly over her lips. Feeling my face begin to flush, I quickly averted my gaze.
'If I keep this up, I'm going to get swept away by her pace. For some reason, I just can't seem to win against her.'
I shook my head a few times to clear my thoughts before looking back at her.
"Well, you're the first person I've come out like this with as well. Even if I'm a bit clumsy, please bear with me."
Mei Mei-san gave a predatory smirk and turned her entire body toward me.
"Oh my. To think I get to share Touya-kun's 'first'—what an honor. To share each other's firsts and then complain about clumsiness? Would any woman actually do that?"
I gave an awkward laugh as she sat facing me directly, her eyes fixed on mine.
"I'm glad you think so. Since we're out to enjoy ourselves, let's make sure we have a good time."
"Of course. I'm looking forward to it. Since Touya-kun has such impeccable manners, I'm sure you'll lead the way quite well, won't you?"
"Haha... please don't set your expectations too high. I told you, I'm quite unrefined when it comes to this."
The Assistant Manager, who had been watching us chat amicably through the rearview mirror, spoke up with a hint of envy.
"I wondered why you asked me to wait... so this was it, Mei Mei-san. I'm jealous. A date with Zenin-kun?"
Mei Mei-san engaged in a brief exchange with the driver.
"Fufu. Are you jealous?"
"Of course I am. Among the Assistant Managers, Zenin-kun is a figure of respect—the absolute best partner we could ask for."
I waved my hand in dismissal.
"Come now, a figure of respect? What have I even done... and what do you mean by 'best partner'?"
"You're the best partner in every sense. First of all, you never treat us poorly; you show respect to everyone regardless of who they are. You're so strong that there's rarely a concern about you getting injured, and missions finish incredibly fast when you're involved, meaning we get to go home early. Of course, Mei Mei-san is also extremely efficient, but..."
I blinked blankly at the Assistant Manager's rapid-fire praise, while Mei Mei-san spoke up.
"Hehe... Touya-kun, you really are loved by many. It makes me feel quite proud."
"Haha... stop flattering me. It's not like I can give you anything for saying such things."
I leaned back into the seat and closed my eyes, feeling as though a smile might escape if I listened any longer.
"What's this, Touya-kun? Are you blushing? Fufu... you're acting so cute. I might just have to devour you right here."
"Mei Mei-san! Touya-kun is still young. You'll get yourself into serious trouble acting like that."
I gritted my teeth and feigned ignorance of the spine-chilling conversation happening beside me. With my eyes shut, time passed until Mei Mei-san eventually called out to me, announcing our arrival.
"Touya-kun, we're here. Aren't you coming to our date?"
"Ah... yes, of course."
Stepping out of the car, I bowed politely to the Assistant Manager.
"Thank you for the ride."
The Assistant Manager waved it off.
"Don't mention it. My house is nearby, so I was just dropping you off on the way. Honestly, the flirting in the back was a bit of an eyesore, though. I'm kidding... Have fun. Youth passes by in the blink of an eye."
With those words, he immediately turned the car around. As he drove off, Mei Mei-san stuck close to my side.
"Now then... where should we go first? Do you have a plan, Touya-kun?"
I scratched my head at her question and admitted the truth.
"No, I'm not really sure. I'll go ask someone nearby. Please wait just a moment."
I gently unlinked her arm from mine and looked around the area.
'Hmm... If I'm looking for fashion advice, I should probably ask a young woman, right?'
I approached a woman who appeared to be the most stylishly dressed in the vicinity and spoke to her.
"Excuse me, I have something I'd like to ask you."
The woman turned around and looked visibly startled.
"Y-Yes? How can I help?"
She seemed unable to keep her eyes steady, which I found curious, but I pressed on.
"I was wondering where the most famous place for clothes shopping is around here. You seem to have the best sense of style out of everyone here, so I figured you'd know best."
"O-Oh, clothes? Well... if you go this way, there's a large fashion department store called Isetan. That's where most people go."
I followed the direction she was pointing, nodded, and gave her a smile.
"I see. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful day."
I bowed and was about to leave when I heard a voice calling after me.
"U-Um! If you'd like, I could show you the way? I know the area very well..."
She spoke with her head bowed, her voice so soft it was barely audible if I hadn't been paying attention. I was slightly surprised, but I responded.
"Oh... really? That would be very helpful. However, I'm with a companion..."
"A companion? Who..."
She looked up and scanned the area. Finding something behind me, her eyes began to tremble. Curious about her reaction, I turned around only to find that Mei Mei-san had already closed the distance and linked her arm with mine.
"Oh my, Touya-kun. I thought you were just asking for directions, but what's this? You can't just go around enchanting people like that."
Mei Mei-san leaned into me even more, intentionally flaunting her proximity to the woman. The woman who had offered to lead the way let out a small gasp and stepped back.
"I-I'm so sorry! Now that I think about it, I have an appointment. Excuse me!"
As I watched her rush away, I turned to Mei Mei-san.
"That's a shame. She offered to take us all the way to the department store. I suppose she really was busy. Regardless, I know the way now. Shall we?"
Mei Mei-san looked up at me while still leaning against my shoulder.
"Of course. Will you lead the way?"
There was a chilling edge to her expression as she spoke, but I brushed it off as my imagination and headed toward the location the woman had described. We walked and talked until a massive fashion plaza came into view.
"This must be it. Isetan Shinjuku. It looks incredibly high-end just from the outside."
"Indeed it does. Am I being pampered today? Walking through here, won't I look like some third-generation heiress enjoying a leisurely shopping trip with her younger kept man?"
I burst into laughter at Mei Mei-san's playful remark.
"Hahaha. Doesn't that make me sound like some gold-digging gigolo? Usually, in dramas, it's the rich ones throwing money around while keeping someone pretty by their side."
"Oh, you. Don't say such things. Let's just go inside."
Mei Mei-san pulled me into the building by my arm. As I looked around in wonder, she called out to me.
"Touya-kun, if you look around with that much curiosity, they'll treat you like a country bumpkin."
"Is that so? Well, I suppose I am just a bumpkin from Kyoto."
"Touya-kun, your value is far too high to be called a bumpkin. Don't belittle yourself so much."
"Yes, yes, Mei Mei-san. When you talk like that, you sound just like a caring eldest sister."
Mei Mei-san suddenly stopped in her tracks. She looked at me, gave a small chuckle, and spoke softly.
"Eldest sister? Hmm... I see. So you see me as family..."
Her voice trailed off, and I could barely hear the latter half of her sentence.
"Pardon? What did you say?"
"Oh, it was nothing. Let's keep moving. It'll probably take quite a long time to pick out my clothes, so why don't we pick something for you first?"
"Sure. Lead the way."
We found an escalator in the vast building and headed up to the second floor, which housed the menswear section.
"Touya-kun, you always wear a hakama for important matters, don't you? How about we get a suit tailored for you?"
'Come to think of it, I've never once worn a suit.'
"That sounds good. I've never tried one on before."
As we moved toward the luxury brand boutiques, I spotted a familiar name.
"The clothes here look nice. Giorgio Armani? I think I've heard of it."
"Indeed. Let's go in."
Led by Mei Mei-san, I stepped inside and was immediately attended to by a clerk who began taking my measurements.
"Suits are entirely bespoke unless you want off-the-rack, so the production will take some time. Roughly two months. How would you like to proceed?"
Being new to this, I hesitated, but Mei Mei-san stepped forward and spoke with refined poise.
"First, I'd like to see him in something off-the-rack that's closest to his size. Would that be possible?"
"Yes, of course. Please follow me."
Following the clerk, I was handed a suit and directed to the fitting room. When I emerged and presented myself to Mei Mei-san and the clerk, the two of them—as if they had rehearsed it—simultaneously began clapping and nodding in approval.
"It was a good choice to come here. Touya-kun, you need to throw away that hakama right this second."
"Sir, is this your boyfriend? You absolutely must not let him go. You'll be thinking about this even in your sleep later on."
I stood there, slightly bewildered by their reactions, as Mei Mei-san approached to straighten my collar.
"We definitely have to do a custom order. Touya-kun, it suits you far too well."
The clerk chimed in again like a songbird.
"It would be a tragedy for someone like you to not wear suits. You must settle the payment immediately!"
"Is that so? Well... please proceed with the payment then."
After finalizing the purchase, the clerk saw us out with a deep 90-degree bow.
"Please come again!"
Leaving that behind, Mei Mei-san and I wandered around, and I ended up purchasing four additional outfits. Deciding I didn't need any more for myself, we headed to the third floor's women's fashion section for Mei Mei-san. Her eyes gleamed at the thought of free clothes, and she began pulling me along with surprising strength.
"What do you think? Does this color suit me?"
I eventually lost count of how many times I had to give my opinion as she held various garments against her body.
"It's beautiful. Why don't you try it on and come out?"
"Oh, should I? Hehe... please wait just a moment."
After enduring some awkward eye contact with the shop assistants while waiting for her, I heard Mei Mei-san's voice from the fitting room.
"Touya-kun. Could you come over here for a moment?"
Wondering what she needed, I approached the fitting room. Suddenly, the door swung open, and she yanked me inside.
'Wait... this is moving a bit too fast...'