Aren’t You Too Sweet Salt-God Sato-San? - Chapter 3.2

My smartphone doesn’t have a lock.

This is related to the bitter experience when I first got this phone. At that time I forgot the passcode and couldn’t unlock it, so I had to cry to my mother.

As for the reason, it is related to my bitter experience when I first got that phone. At that time, I forgot the password of my smartphone and couldn’t unlock it, so I had to ask my mother tearfully to unlock it.

Normally, “it’s really convenient to open the smartphone right away~”, I used to think carefree like that but this time it backfired.

I reflexively tried to take it back, but as expected of an active member of the basketball team, she easily dodged me with agile movements and I, as a devastatingly clumsy person in sports, couldn’t keep up and almost fell face front.

As I almost fell on my face and was trying to calm my thumping heart, Rinka-chan fiddled with my smartphone in a familiar manner and found the photo.

The photo I and Oshio-kun took together at the Cafe tutuji on the night of that day,

“Oh? It’s this photo I guess…..Ha-Ha, what’s with such a stiff face Koharu….”

“A一一一一h!!?”

“You are loud, but I see~, certainly this is the kind of guy you will like, however this type of gentle boy isn’t to my liking.”

Then “here”, saying she returned my phone.

I took it while almost dying of shame and hid my blushing face with my smartphone.

“Ugh…..I want to hide if there is a hole..”

“You’re exaggerating too much, isn’t he a handsome man, why need to hide?”

“……….”

Even though I have been bullied, I hide the fact I was actually happy inside hearing the praise for Oshio-kun.

Then, Rinka turned around and said

“You were a little happy when I called him handsome just now, weren’t you?”

“Huh? How!?”

“You have smirk on your face”

I hate Rinko-chan after all.

As I was furious inside my mind, Rinka-chan continued in an unusually serious face saying “but you know”,

“His face is uselessly good Koharu, I’m a little worried”

“Why…..?”

“Things like maybe he’s tricking you or Interested in your body.”

“O-Oshio-kun isn’t a person like that!”

“To say he isn’t like this or that, in the first place Koharu you didn’t even have any boyfriend until not you didn’t know. Particularly good looking guys like him, they are more sly than women”
.
” It’s isn’t……like that…”

Although It becomes somewhat ambiguous in the end, I of course didn’t doubt Oshio-kun. It’s just my complex because I’m in my second year of high school and I’ve never been in a relationship.

Rinka-chan perhaps knowing this exhaled a sigh once again and opened her mouth,

“Well, I don’t know how it’s in reality but you should be aware of your inexperience in love, because when you have a crush on someone, you don’t think about it, and when the time comes, it’s too late to realize it.”

“…….”

I couldn’t help but close my mouth.

I was overwhelmed, but more than that I was thankful for her words.

Earlier, I said about Rinko-chan “Maybe, isn’t she more mature then I am?” but I’m sure now.

It’s not perhaps but Rinko-chan is actually more mature than me.

“Rinka-san…….”

“Your way of calling is gross so stop it and more than that, we are here, to my recommendation.”

Saying so, Rinka-chan came to a halt.

When I looked at it, there was one very conspicuous red-painted shop among the quaint houses.

The signboard read “Europe Used Clothing MOON”.

Just the sound of “Europe Used Clothing” makes me shrivel.

“Ri-Ri-Rinka-chan. I was expecting a more light-hearted store, but this is…….?”

Even to me who isn’t particularly obsessed with fashion, a vintage store is a high hurdle for me.

Be-Because, second-hand clothing stores are like that, right?

The ones where the scary clerks with coarse hair, beards, piercings, necklaces, and tattoos talk loudly to you……!

“Koharu, it’s not that way, it’s the other store in the back.”

“What..?”

As told by Rinka-chan to look there, sure enough, next to the red-painted store, there was a beautiful whitish store.

There was a flower bed in front of the store with lovely seasonal flowers in bloom, and the signboard said “Hidamari” in pop letters.

The atmosphere was slightly similar to that of “cafe tutuji”. I patted my chest with relief.

“I’m glad.”

“MOON is basically all men’s clothing, and most of the time their products are either hit or miss so I’ve rarely been there. On the other hand, “hidamari” is a general store, but they have pretty good clothes. ”

“Rinka-chan, do you always buy your clothes at such fashionable places……?”

“I am a middle schooler so of course not lest my wallet wouldn’t be able to withstand it. I usually just go to Pannys or H&N. But一一一Koharu is serious this time, aren’t you?”

“……yes!”

When I nodded vigorously, Rinka-chan smiled and opened the door of Hidamari.

Then the gentle scent of wild flowers softly tickles my nose, and I exhale. Even though it was already evening, the air was filled with a scent unique to morning.

Myriads of indirect lightning filled inside the store as calm bossa nova sounds flowed.

The antique clocks, overseas dolls, and the humble and wonderful accessories lined up with a sense of unity gave me the feeling of nostalgia.

It was as if unique peculiarities of the morning “exuberance of the beginning of the day” had been locked in the space.

As I was fascinated by this sight, a voice was raised.

“一一一Welcome, Rinka-chan”

As I followed the source of the voice, I saw a woman sitting in a comfort chair at the back of the store, looking through a magazine.

She was a very beautiful and maturish Onee-san.

She has softly curled medium-length black hair, a mysterious smile with a hint of melancholy, a tight white top, pale yellow wide-legged pants, and a modest necklace that sparkles on her chest, giving her the “mature” look.

“……….who might that person be?”

When she asked, Rinka-chan pointed to me, who was still frozen stiff and introduced me.

“This is my cousin, Koharu. I know it’s sudden but I need you to help me find something for her to wear, Mayo-san. She has a date that she can’t miss.”

“…….ah, yes! that’s right, I’m Satou koharu.”

I was so nervous that I gave an incoherent greeting.

However the Onee-san who is called Mayo didn’t seem to mind, instead clapped her hands and saying in a gentle voice,

“Oh my, it’s tough isn’t it?一一一I’m Nezu Mayo of “Hidamari”.and I’ll do my best to coordinate. Yappy”

Yappy……?

I didn’t understand the word very well, but I assumed it was some kind of code word for fashionable people, so I also hesitantly replied, “Yappy…….”

♠️

Misoko Ren and Misoko Shizuki.

Those siblings’s “Oshio Souta remodeling plan” was extremely difficult.

“…….it’s fine.”

As soon as I finished changing in the small fitting room and says this, the curtain was thrown open at the same time.

Opposite of the curtain, I saw Ren sitting on a chair with his legs crossed and Shizuku-san proudly puffing her ample chest.

Shizuku-san snorted and spoke up.

“I paired the German fisherman shirt with white work pants. The bucket hat and navy stripes are perfect for summer, and I feel marine and sporty! What do you think?”

………What the hell is that incantation?

I don’t know what her words mean but just as I was about to give me straightforward impression,

“This getup really looks awful. They are too baggy and doesn’t match with Souta’s slender silhouette”

……And Ren immediately criticized.

Are you going to answer instead of me? But certainly, I am of the same opinion that “This getup is more suitable for a well built body person”.

Shizuku-san stared at me again and “yes” and made a duck mouth expression, then she clapped her hands “certainly”.

“Hm一一一m”, Shizuku-san stared at me again for a while, pouting and then clapped her hands saying “certainly”, making a duck lip like expression.

Thereupon, Ren stood up from his chair this time and handed me a set of clothes that seemed to be prepared beforehand.

“It’s player change now, Nee-chan should sit here and watch”

“Fu-Fu, so now it’s my little brother’s turn to show what he has in hand for us.”

She sat down on a chair and crossed her legs.

Whoever gets in charge, isn’t I the one who is going to wear them…..?

However Curtains were pulled before I could have asked the question. So I reluctantly changed into the clothes Ren prepared,

“…..It’s all right.”

As if waiting for me to say that, *fwoosh* and certain were pulled with that shout.

“It’s a paisley collared shirt tucked into the gray slacks. The calm colors are antique and adult, perfect for Souta’s slim body, what do you think?”

…….What’s with that spell again?

Shizuku-san once again made a duck lip like expression, groaned and said “ye一一s”.

“You have almost got it good but after all, it gives the feeling of a high school student overreaching himself. And isn’t it too hot with such dark colors? It’s almost summer. If it were autumn, I’d give it 80 points.”

“Certainly”

Yes-Yes, Misono siblings nodded to each other.

…….What about my intention?

“You can make a difference in a casual way just by adding one military style! I love this one! French Navy border shirt!”

“But if you’re going to put military style in it, then it should be added at the bottom! British army cargo shorts”

“No, no, no! Shoes are the best in the military! They are easy to match and have excellent functionality! Italian Navy sailor shoes!”

No, no, no, no, many words that I have never heard are flying around with the momentum to silence even the noisy BGM that flows through the store.

No-No-No, and countless words I have never heard flung between their conversation that even the BGM inside the store was subdued by their flurry of activities.

For some reason, the one who is supposed to wear them, in other words me, was left behind in their arguments.

I guess he wasn’t even paying attention to me but when arguments gone round, Ren looked back at me suddenly and asked,

“Souta, what do you think is good?”

Hearing this, Shizuku-san also turned her attention here.

How? Even if you ask me that…..

I answered while scratching my cheeks due to embarrassment,

“I am not someone who’s very knowledgeable about clothes, however this is a scene where I definitely want to show off.”

The two of them shut their mouths together, as if the commotion earlier was a lie.

Silence swoops down on the store, even the bass heavy BGM looks as if it was coming from somewhere far away.

“It’s embarrassing to say however I’m average at sports, study, can talk just fine but I am not that good at fashion. Well it’s not like I was troubled until now or something. I also don’t want to be popular like Ren with girls but…..”

And I finally said it,

“一一一I just want to look good enough that the girl I like won’t get embarrassed walking together with me”

I feel like I’m saying very embarrassing things, but that’s just my honest feeling.

一一一An untouchable flower everyone envies, Satou koharu.

It doesn’t matter if it’s vanity or pretense.

It doesn’t matter even if it’s just a fleeting moment, just like time it takes for the shutter to release. I want to stand beside her.

I wanted to be a man who doesn’t feel uncomfortable even if I take a picture of a scene where we walk side by side.

一一一That’s my only sincere wish.

Misono siblings froze for a while with their mouths opening.

I wonder if it’s because they were taken aback or because it sounds gross. Just as I started to think about that,

“Nee-chan, do you have that shirt? The beige one.”

“There is, Do you have a white tank top and denim pants?”

“Yes, a light blue, tight British ones.”

“What about a bag? I don’t have a good one right now.”

“I’ve got one I don’t use.”

“Okay, shoes, Italian navy sailor shoes.”

Suddenly, as if the stopped time has resumed, Misono siblings restlessly run inside the store.

Apart from me who was perplexed by sudden change, Misono siblings began to briskly gather up the clothes from inside of the unorganized store with an excellent teamwork that it was hard to believe they were so fiercely debating over fashion sense.

And so, In no time at all, a complete set of coordinated clothes was assembled and handed to me.

“Well, This is…..?”

“Actually, as a vintage clothing store employee, I would have liked to see Souta-kun wake up to the beauty of vintage clothing…….but I’ll let you off the hook this time, thanks to your manly spirit.”

“Well, if you are going to say something so cool, then I would have to get serious. I will play with you next time.”

“After all you both were playing with me.”

“Now-Now, don’t argue here and please change!”

Then curtains were pulled vigorously.

I changed into the “outfits” they had prepared and opened the curtains一一albeit a little unsettling.

“Oh-” and they both raised their voices.

“We safely made it”