Episode 27: Miyuki-san’s Dream
“Riri-chan. Got a little time after this today?”
Miyuki-san caught me while I was changing in the locker room with Sora-san after our shift.
“Yes. Um, is this about the costumes?”
“That’s right. I already got Cosmo-chan’s measurements before we opened, but I was wondering if you could give me some time after this too.”
“That’s totally fine with me, if it works for you, Miyuki-san!”
Möbius-san’s place is right above the shop, so staying late isn’t a problem.
“Thank you. I’ll come find you again in a bit, then.”
“Okay!”
For Sweet Stella’s one-day-only idol event, everyone’s going to wear idol-style costumes.
During the discussion about what to do for outfits, Miyuki-san had insisted, “please let me make them.”
Cute and able to make clothes too — Miyuki-san’s amazing. Her customer service is incredible too.
“…Compared to that, all I’ve got is just being cute…”
“I think that level of self-confidence is a strength in its own right, though.”
“Sora-san! Thank you!”
“…Honestly, that’s a good thing about you.”
“Guh, ufu, ehehe, you’re making me blush…”
Sora-san’s been complimenting me a lot lately. Probably because we’ve gotten closer, but it still makes me plainly happy.
My people skills are definitely improving!
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“Riri-chan. Since I need to take measurements, could you strip down to your underwear?”
Miyuki-san came back to the changing room right after Sora-san left. Apparently, Möbius-san had let her finish early because she had to take my measurements.
“Yes.”
I took off my clothes and put them in my locker. Even knowing it was just for measurements, being the only one undressing felt a little embarrassing.
Well, my figure’s pretty average anyway… though, honestly, if I had a body as good as Möbius-san’s or Miyuki-san’s, I probably would’ve caved to my validation-hunger and been showing it off on social media constantly, so maybe this is for the best.
Using a measuring tape, Miyuki-san worked her way across various parts of my body.
Apparently making actual clothes requires measuring a surprising number of spots.
“Okay, I think that’s about it for now… though I might come back and ask for a couple more later.”
“Anytime! I’ll, um, strip anytime you need!”
“Thanks. Though that phrasing might be a little risky.”
Miyuki-san laughed softly.
Now that I think about it, this might actually be the first time it’s just been the two of us alone together.
Since it’s a rare chance, maybe I should try carrying the conversation myself… my people skills have been improving lately, after all…!
“U-um, Miyuki-san.”
“What’s up?”
“Do you like making clothes, Miyuki-san?”
“Hmm… yeah, I do.”
Smiling as she said it, Miyuki-san’s expression looked just slightly different from usual, somehow.
“So, Riri-chan. Actually, I’m attending a fashion college.”
“A fashion college…?”
“Yeah. I’ve always loved cute clothes, ever since I was little… my dream is to become a fashion designer. Saying ‘dream’ out loud is a little embarrassing, though…”
Miyuki-san laughed it off with an awkward little “ahaha,” eyes averted. Her cheeks had gone slightly red, and her fingertips were trembling just a little.
Maybe she’d worked up the courage to tell me.
I still don’t know Miyuki-san all that well yet. So I don’t really know what it means for her, specifically, to talk about her dream to someone else.
But the fact that I felt happy when she told me — that much was real.
“I—I think that’s a wonderful dream, really!”
“Riri-chan?”
“I—I never really had goals or dreams like that, even as a kid, and honestly I’ve spent my whole life kind of wanting to become a shut-in if I could get away with it… so, having a dream like that, I think that’s genuinely, genuinely wonderful!”
I grabbed both of Miyuki-san’s hands tightly. Her cheeks flushed a deep red.
“Miyuki-san!”
“Wh-what…?”
“Th-thank you for telling me. And, um… I really am rooting for you. If there’s ever anything I can do, please tell me, anything at all. Though there’s probably not much I actually can do…”
Oh no. Did I get carried away again!?
But no, Miyuki-san’s kind, so she wouldn’t think of it as “an introvert getting full of herself” or anything like that!
“…Riri-chan. Thank you. If something comes up, I’ll ask you for help then.”
“Okay!”
Good. I managed to properly tell Miyuki-san how I felt.
“…Riri-chan, you really are a natural charmer, huh…”
“Eh?”
“Nothing! Just that Riri-chan is so cute!”
Laughing, Miyuki-san hugged me tightly. Even after a full shift, she still smelled nice.