The Saint Next to Me Who Sometimes Comes Without Wearing Underwear Tells Me What’s Under Her Skirt in Secret - 17-18

Chapter 17

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It was the weekend after we finished our final exams. I had arranged to meet Saotome at the rotary in front of the station. A little past our meeting time, a car pulled up to the rotary and from it,  out stepped a silver-haired girl.

“Sorry. I’m a little late.”

Saotome appeared wearing a white sheer top and a black mini skirt. Beneath the top, she wore a black camisole that emphasized the smooth white skin of her shoulders and upper arms. Her bare legs extended from the mini skirt, paired with beige heeled sandals.

Stylish and fitting for summer… But also quite revealing. She wouldn’t be able to wear something like that unless she was confident in her skin.

“…No, I just got here too.”

I answered while averting my gaze. It was a little too stimulating to look at her directly.

“Don’t you have something to say?”

“You look great. Even more beautiful than usual.”

“Hmm… How cliché.”

At my honest reaction, Saotome let out a small huff, but despite her words, the corners of her mouth relaxed just a little, and she shyly played with her hair. She seemed embarrassed.

“By the way, Himuro-kun.”

“What?”

“What do you think… I’m wearing today?”

As she asked, Saotome lightly pinched the hem of her mini skirt. Lately, Saotome had stopped reporting what she was wearing underneath. Instead, she had started quizzing me with a “What do you think it is today?” Whether she revealed the answer or not depended on her mood that day. Honestly, if she didn’t tell me, I would spend the whole day restless, so I wish she’d just stop.

“…Black, maybe?”

To begin with, I didn’t think she wasn’t wearing anything. Because today’s skirt was relatively short. When Saotome chose not to wear anything, she always wore a longer skirt. It was a subtle difference, but she would make it slightly longer to guard herself.

So today, she should be wearing something. As for the color, I couldn’t say for sure, but today she was wearing a black camisole. She didn’t always match the color of her camisole with her bra or panties, but she often did. More than anything, Saotome liked black. Since today was technically a date, it wouldn’t be strange if she had chosen black.

Also, well… It was my personal preference. I liked the colour black.

“Half right.”

“…Half?”

“This is black, for sure.”

Saotome said that and pointed to the camisole under her top. Naturally, my eyes were drawn to the camisole—and the faint glimpse of her white cleavage. I quickly looked away.

Since she was wearing a sheer top, it was easy to tell the camisole was black just by looking. Which meant she wasn’t pointing at the camisole, but rather the bra beneath it. So that part was black. Then, what about below? Was it possible that the colors didn’t match? Weren’t they usually a set? Though, I’d never really thought much about color coordination before.

“That part was black too… Until just a little while ago.”

Apparently, my guess had missed the mark.

“I wanted to try going out like this in regular clothes, at least once.”

Saotome said that while slightly shifting her legs with a bashful motion.

“When I go to school, I get dropped off and picked up right nearby and it’s safe when I’m inside the school.”

“I-I see…?”

Was school really that safe? Well, at the very least, there wouldn’t be any suspicious people or perverts, so maybe it was.

“Protect me… Okay?”

Saotome said, giving me a light wink.

“Leave it to me.”

I said that and held out my hand to her. Saotome’s eyes widened in surprise, and then she smiled bashfully.

“…Then I’m counting on you to escort me.”

“Yeah, of course.”

As I held her soft hand, I gave her a firm nod.

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Chapter 18

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“Where are we going first, then?”

I asked Saotome. The main purpose of today’s date was supposed to be shopping, but…

“Huh? I thought the guy was supposed to plan the date?”

…This woman. Then just say so from the beginning.

“I’m kidding. Don’t make that face.”

Saotome said with a laugh and pointed at the shopping mall near the station.

“I want to buy some clothes. Come with me.”

“Got it.”

We headed straight into the shopping mall. Inside, the air conditioning was running and it was nice and cool.

“So, what are you planning to buy?”

“For now, let’s start from the top.”

“…From the top?”

Clothes? 

So what I thought, but Saotome pointed toward the ceiling as she spoke.

“From the top.”

…Oh, from the upper floors.

This shopping mall had six floors above ground and two basement levels.

Well, I guess that’s fine.

“Let’s try this next store.”

Saotome said as she walked into the fifth store. So far, she hadn’t bought a single item of clothing. It was better than being forced to carry a pile of clothes, but if she didn’t buy anything at all, it made me wonder what all this time had been for.

…Not that I’d say that out loud.

“What do you think about this?”

Saotome held up a floral dress and asked me.

“Doesn’t seem bad.”

“Same answer as before.”

I had no sense when it came to clothes. Besides, Saotome was a beauty—anything she wore would look good on her. Hence why my answers all ended up sounding the same.

“I want to hear your honest opinion, though.”

“I don’t have any fashion sense. I don’t know a thing about it.”

“That’s fine. I just want your input for reference.”

I see. If that’s how it is, then…

“I thought it looked kinda old lady-ish.”

“…I get what you mean. Can’t say you’re wrong.”

Apparently, Saotome felt the same. She didn’t try it on and put the dress back.

“…By the way, Himuro-kun, are there any clothes you like? In this store?”

“I don’t have a crossdressing hobby, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Are you serious?”

“Don’t glare at me. It was a joke. …Can I actually pick something?”

“Sure, I can use them for reference.”

But it’ll be based on my preferences though? 

If I picked something too weird, she might laugh at me. I wanted to go with something safe that would suit her…

“What about this one?”

“Hmm.”

The one I picked up was a white one-piece dress. There were no standout patterns. Just pure white fabric, decorated only with lace and a ribbon—it was a simple one-piece dress. Saotome, regardless of her personality, had a clean and elegant look, so I figured it would suit her perfectly.

“Guys really do like these kinds of things, huh.”

Saotome’s reaction was rather indifferent. Maybe it wasn’t her style.

“Only really beautiful women can pull that off. It’s not that guys love white dresses themselves. We admire the kind of woman who can wear one well.”

I was just speaking generally, from the perspective of the male population. It didn’t mean I was admiring Saotome. …Though, I did kind of want to see her in it.

“Hmm.”

“Well, just go with whatever you like. There are plenty of other stores too.”

I said and went to put the dress back, but Saotome grabbed my wrist.

“I’ll try it on. Hand it over.”

“Huh? Ah… okay.”

She took the white dress from my hand and went straight into the fitting room. I could faintly hear the sound of her changing. A little while later, the curtain to the fitting room opened.

“How is it?”

“Whoa…”

I couldn’t help but let out a sound of admiration. As expected of someone with model-like looks and figure. She pulled off the white dress perfectly. …But, something was missing.

“Can you wait a second?”

“Hm? Sure, I guess.”

I was pretty sure it was being sold over there.

There it is.

I grabbed the item I was looking for and hurried back to Saotome.

“Try this on.”

“A straw hat? Well, okay.”

Saotome looked a little exasperated, but still put on the straw hat. It felt like the missing puzzle piece had clicked into place.

Beautiful girl + white dress + straw hat. It completed the look.

“If the background were the sea or a sunflower field, it would really pop.”

“How do I put this… It’s so cliché.”

Saotome muttered as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had a slightly complicated expression. Maybe it really wasn’t her taste.

“I’ll have to think about the camisole color. If it’s see-through like this, it’s going to look tacky.”

Underneath the white one-piece, her black camisole showed through. It wasn’t made of sheer fabric, so it wasn’t as transparent as the clothes she had on earlier. Still, the white one-piece wasn’t designed to show the clothes underneath. For a clean, elegant look, it’d be better if it didn’t show through.

“Alright, I’m gonna change.”

Saotome said and closed the curtain. After a short while, she came back out in her regular clothes.

“Okay, here.”

Saotome casually dropped the white one-piece and the straw hat into the shopping basket I was holding.

“…You’re buying them?”

“Yeah. …I didn’t think it was bad.”

She turned her face away as she said it.

“It’s not like I’m buying it because it matches your taste. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

As she said that, her cheeks were slightly flushed.

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