As they stood inside the lift Reika presses the 3rd floor—
"Hmm. Let's look around first." Her eyes glint slightly with playfulness as she glances at Shira. "Let's see what they have."
Shira sighs, but there's no real resistance. "…Fine."
The boutique section opens up like a quieter world closed away from the city's noise. Golden lighting pools gently over polished floors, reflecting off glass displays and neatly arranged racks. Like a curated square of carefully chosen pieces.
Reika steps turn lighter as she walked besides the row of dresses. Her fingers trail along fabrics, testing their texture without hesitation.
"…This place has better collection than I expected," she murmurs.
Shira follows one step behind her, her gaze scanning rather than admiring. "Too much impractical dresses so far…"
"Shira… you should try some of these…"
"Not necessary."
Renji lingers behind, already feeling like he's wandered into territory he doesn't belong in, yet smiling at the two in front of him.
Surprisingly… now they look just like normal women browsing stuff…
Reika lifts a dress slightly, holding it against the light. "This would suit you."
"No."
"You didn't even—ugh… look closer."
"I'm looking at it now. Too flashy..."
Then Renji hums, "Shira-san in a dress huh…"
Reika caught his voice, then glances over her shoulder. "Shira is really pretty in a dress you know."
The statement lands too casually.
"…Eh?" He blinks—once.
Yeah… I agree… I mean—
A sacred memory barged in without care in his mind.
Shira stepping out of the hotel bathroom wearing nothing but a small towel draped carelessly over her chest, damp hair clinging to her neck with absolute indifference to his existence.
…I've seen something more amazing than… 'her in a dress'...
"…I-I guess so…" Renji just shakes away his thought and nodded at Reika.
"Reika-sama… Enough."
Amused by the reaction, the smiling woman pulls another piece from the rack—a silver dress, sleek and bold, the slit running high enough above the thigh.
"Oh, come on… High slit looks amazing on you, just like last time, your legs carrying it perfectly."
"I'm never wearing a dress again."
Renji perks his head, genuinely surprised. "Again…? Wait, you have worn one before, Shira-san??"
A crackling silence and Shira breathe slowly. "…Your reaction is expected… but the way you ask somehow makes me want to slug your face…"
"Haha! of course she has. Shira's a woman too, Renji."
…Shira-san in a dress…
"…To be honest, I'm curious now." Renji rubs the back of his neck.
Reika's already moving on her own, pulling different dresses off the rack with growing enthusiasm. One, two, then three more over her arm.
Before Shira can step away, Reika hooks her arm and starts dragging her along with clear intent.
"Come on, come on! this one will definitely suit you." A deep velvet dress now, she presses it against Shira's front, adjusting it with ease. "Yep, this is your size."
"You're not letting this go, are you… Reika-sama…"
"Should I make it a command? Well then. Shira Kurosawa, I hereby order you to take these dresses with you and try it on the fitting room."
"…Fine, fine… I'll try it. Just trying. I'm not wearing it to some dinner like last time."
"Hehe. Fair enough." Reika's eyes soften slightly. "I'll pick something too."
Soon, they disappear into the fitting rooms together.
And just like that—Renji is left alone like a forgotten luggage.
"…So… what now?"
He glances around. The space feels even more contained without them—rows of dresses forming a neat perimeter, the fitting rooms tucked into the far corner.
He drifts toward the window instead and leaned on the railing. Outside, the city glows vibrant, people moving in steady below, noticing the number of couples linked their hands, Renji focused his eyes in front of the window, catching his own reflection.
"Valentines, yeah right… nothing to do with me… and…"
… Eh, so far, my most eventful valentine day… and despite everything… those two really do look like a siblings playing around…
"The stern older sister and her adventurous little sister…"
Time passes—just enough to settle into a lull. Until the curtain shifts and Reika steps out first, stealing Renji's eyes before he realizes it.
The midi dress she wears catches the light in shifting tones—grey folding into muted glittery dark, then deepening again as she moves, like late-dusk caught in fabric.
…Whoa… I've seen her in dress, but still amazing…
She doesn't hint at Renji to look her way, and she doesn't even acknowledge him as she walks straight to the next fitting room.
"Shira—you're not done yet?"
"Give me a minute… this one's—"
Without waiting, Reika slips inside.
"R-Reika-sama—!"
"Oh, this one has lace inside… You tie it properly like this."
Even from across the room, Renji feels like he's intruding, especially after his first ever hearing Shira's flustered voice cracked like that.
The power of my senpai gap-moe is fearsome indeed…
He turns away immediately.
"W-why? all of these are just same kind!"
"It's because high-slit maxi-dress is made for you. And you are made for those."
"F-fine, but I-I'm not wearing that one, the cut is too high even for me—"
"Awww, Shira… I'm jealous of your legs…"
"D-don't rub me there, Rita!"
A lot of rustling fabrics, A bit more of hushed, intimate scuffle. In that quiet space, Renji could hear everything. And before his face could get any hotter, his mind catching one thing he never hear before.
…Rita…? As in… is she referring to Reika-sama…?
Then—the curtain opens once more. This time, Reika steps out and pulling Shira along with her, moving to the huge mirror at the center.
Reika confidently twirls once, letting the end of her dress spread before falling again.
"Hmm, yes~ this one has a pretty nice seam considering its not tailored…"
Reika posing briskly while checking the craftsmanship, and Shira stood beside her like a statue, refusing to look at her own reflection.
Her arms cross instinctively like she tried to brush it off, but the unmistakable faint-rare hue of red along the edge of her ears gives her away.
She's cladded in muted, ink-tinted tosca, the fabric hugging her form before falling into a clean, line. The slit rides up just around her upper thigh.
…W-whoa…
It shouldn't fit her image. And yet it does—perfectly.
…I mean… I've seen her damn three-quarters-naked already, but why is this one… more…*gulp*
They don't even wear this for him to appreciate, yet Renji can't help but admiring it.
Reika looks stunning as usual, no question. But Shira—The difference between what she usually is and what she looks like now, hits harder.
Reika glances with approval at their reflections. "See? You're pretty in it. Do you like it?"
"...…No… It's uncomfortable."
"Hey. At least look at yourself properly." Reika steps behind her, nudging her gently.
"You won't be satisfied otherwise, will you…" Shira exhales, long and tired.
Slowly, she lifts her gaze, and meets her own figure. After a second, her expression washed with something like a serenity.
"…Well… it's not bad. I like it."
"Hehe."
"I'm only saying that because you want to hear it, by the way." Shira adds, almost immediately to cover something beneath.
But Reika leans closer, looking at her eyes directly with a knowing hum.
"Hey, you can't fool me, I know that look."
"…What look?"
"The one where you actually meant what you say… Just like back then. Just like this one."
Shira's gaze lingers in the mirror a second longer than she intends absentmindedly.
Then, like a small, quiet victory already decided, Reika brings her hands together with a light clap, snapping the moment apart.
"Alright. That's enough for today."
Shira shoulders eased of all tension. "Finally."
Going back inside the fitting room, few minutes later, they step out. Back in their usual clothes, their usual composure. Whatever magic they had earlier disappears like it was never there to begin with.
"Let's have our dinner, shall we."
Renji walks behind them, looking at the dress they wore hanged beside the fitting room.
"…I thought you guys liked the dress."
"I did," Reika answers without slowing as she presses the lift's button.
"…Then why not buy it?"
"Hehe, that's just how it is… a woman's way of having fun." Her tone stays light, almost teasing.
"Really…?" Renji frowns slightly. Then move to look at Shira with questioning look—
"It's HER way of having fun."
– Which she returns with a sidelong glance
Is that so…
Then the lift slide opens with a cold chime.
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