For ordinary people, shopping with others was probably still quite troublesome—however, Shin felt there was no problem.
Probably because two beautiful girls, Kato Megumi and Hayasaka Ai, were fully displaying themselves before him, it was very pleasing to the eye. At least Shin felt it wasn't boring.
"How about this outfit? Victorian-era maid outfit."
Kato Megumi wore a loose maid outfit, walked out from the fitting room, spun around before Shin with a faint smile on her face.
Originally Kato Megumi just came to accompany Hayasaka Ai in choosing clothes, but choosing and choosing, at Hayasaka Ai's instigation, Kato Megumi also started trying on these theatrical costumes.
The Victorian-style maid outfit wasn't frivolous like the one on Tohru. It looked quite ascetic in style. Combined with Kato Megumi's appearance, it gave a feeling of a gentle and refined girl.
"That overlaps with my positioning."
On the other side, Hayasaka Ai also walked out from another changing room. She wore a suit, standing there like a cross-dressing beauty, complaining to Kato Megumi.
Although knowing Kato Megumi was just trying on the maid outfit, she didn't want her maid setting to overlap with too many people—having Tohru at Shin's house already gave her a sense of crisis.
"Is that so? Then I'll change into another outfit."
Kato Megumi smiled at Hayasaka Ai, not refuting her words, just turning to enter the fitting room again, apparently preparing to change into another outfit.
"Can't underestimate Kato-san's thoughts... Although she acts very amiable, it always feels like she sees through everything."
Hayasaka Ai watched Kato Megumi enter the fitting room and couldn't help sighing, walking before Shin and telling him.
"Really, I originally wanted to spend time alone with Master Shin today. Looks like I don't have that chance."
Originally Hayasaka Ai wanted to find opportunities at the mall to get Kato Megumi to leave for a bit, then have a chance to be alone with Shin.
But she'd found several opportunities without managing to get Kato Megumi to leave—every reason was cleverly resolved by Kato Megumi through various methods, making Hayasaka Ai's plans fall through.
So now Hayasaka Ai had also confirmed that although Kato Megumi looked plain and ordinary, she wasn't so easy to handle. She could only abandon her plan and let Kato Megumi follow her and Shin.
"Megumi usually goes to the band after school. Today you were just unlucky to happen upon Megumi's band resting."
Shin looked at Hayasaka Ai showing a dissatisfied expression and couldn't help smiling.
Although Hayasaka Ai wore a suit in masculine dress, her face had no makeup, so she still looked like a girl.
"I see, then I really was unlucky. I shouldn't have chosen today to come."
Hearing Shin's explanation, Hayasaka Ai understood and couldn't help sighing, then looked back at the fitting room where Kato Megumi was, confirming Kato Megumi hadn't come out yet.
Immediately after, Hayasaka Ai suddenly lowered her head, using her lips to block Shin's mouth, then began showing Shin the tongue skills she'd practiced with him during this period.
After a while, Hayasaka Ai raised her head. Between their lips stretched a silver thread glowing with light, just like the watery light shining in Hayasaka Ai's eyes.
"Consider this compensation for not being able to be alone with me today."
Hayasaka Ai's face was full of blush. Obviously doing this kind of thing in public made her embarrassed—although in this clothing store now, aside from several female staff in the distance, there were no other outsiders.
"Really won't come sit at home?"
At an intersection near the mall, Kato Megumi held several bags containing clothing, with a trace of regret on her face, asking Hayasaka Ai.
Just now she'd asked Hayasaka Ai if she wanted to come to the house for dinner together, but Hayasaka Ai refused.
Her reason was simple—although secretly sneaking out without telling Shinomiya Kaguya, to prevent Shinomiya Kaguya from becoming suspicious, she still needed to hurry back.
Of course, Shin knew well that Hayasaka Ai just felt today she probably had no chance to spend time alone with him, so planned to go back this time and find another opportunity next time.
Just like that, Hayasaka Ai left, and Kato Megumi and Shin also prepared to go home.
"Although different from the original plan, meeting Hayasaka-san, it's still nice like this."
On the way home, Kato Megumi's face showed a calm smile, seemingly completely unconcerned that Hayasaka Ai had disrupted her original plan.
As she spoke, she looked at the bags in her hands—containing several outfits of completely different styles, probably would come in handy tonight.
Just like that, Shin and Kato Megumi returned home.
However, after opening the door, what Shin and Kato Megumi saw wasn't a maid coming forward to greet them, but another familiar figure.
"Shin, you're back?"
Standing at the door waiting for Shin to return was actually Vignette—although her tone remained polite, both Shin and Kato Megumi clearly saw her current mood wasn't good.
Seeing Vignette instantly, Shin roughly guessed what happened.
Obviously, his morning advice to Gabriel, Gabriel hadn't listened to, or rather, although she listened, execution had problems.
When Gabriel caught up on sleep at school, she must have been caught red-handed by Vignette, who then learned the truth from Gabriel.
So... Vignette came to find Shin to call him to account.
"Oh my, looks like Akawa will have to deal with Vignette-san next."
Kato Megumi whispered to Shin with a smile, then without waiting for Shin's response, slipped away carrying her bags.
"Then, Akawa and Vignette-san take your time chatting. I'll go put things away first~"
Just like that, with Kato Megumi's escape, only Shin and Vignette remained at the entrance staring at each other.
"Ahem... Anyway, let's go to a room to talk. Talking at the entrance is a bit inappropriate."
Shin coughed awkwardly twice—the reason he was embarrassed wasn't because he'd helped Gabriel remove Vignette's "Balance," but because he didn't know how much Gabriel had said.
You see, before Shin helped Gabriel remove Vignette's Stand ability, he'd done quite a few things with Gabriel—had Gabriel also told Vignette about these things?
To be continued…