The Strongest Loner Redo His Youth With Unmatched Prowess!! ~In the Second Round of School Life, He Made Beautiful Girl Friends!~ - Chapter 16: Cosplay

(A stylish space exclusively for women. If I go any further, I’ll die!!) 

After school. Yuito and the others had come to the department store. 

In front of Yuito was an apparel shop for female explorers. 

The sparkling atmosphere was dazzling. It felt like his skin was being scorched. 

(I feel like a vampire exposed to sunlight… I should go home…)

Yuito quickly changed direction. 

This is not a retreat; it’s a maneuver. 

“Come on, Yuito-kun, don’t run away.” 

But he was surrounded! 

Kirika grabbed his arm, preventing his escape. 

“I want to hear Yuito-kun’s opinion too, so please follow me properly.” 

“No, even if you hear my opinion…” 

“Yuito-san, you’re being stubborn.”

“…Yes.”

His other arm was also grabbed by Hakari. 

Trapped between Hakari and Kirika, he couldn’t escape. 

Like a captured alien, Yuito was taken to the apparel shop. 

After a while inside the store.

“Ta-da! How do I look? Does it suit me?” 

The fitting room curtain was opened with enthusiasm.

Inside was Kirika. 

She was dressed in a knight-like outfit with white and blue lines. 

“Yes. It looks good on you.” 

“Geez, Yuito-kun, that’s all you ever say!” 

Kirika had already changed into several outfits and was showing them to Yuito. 

However, Yuito’s response remained the same. 

(I’m scared that if I mention something weird, it might turn into sexual harassment…)

Yuito had never learned how to compliment a girl. 

The best he could do was give a safe response. 

“Um, how does it look?” 

The curtain of the changing room right next to Kirika’s was gently pulled back. 

Inside was Hakari. 

She was wearing a witch girl costume with a prominent triangular hat. 

“Hakari-chan, you look so cute!!” 

“Wha!? Th-thank you.”

Kirika approached Hakari, looking around excitedly. 

“Come on, Yuito-kun, praise her!” 

“Uh, yeah. It looks good on you.” 

“But your compliments are so one-dimensional!?” 

Yuito’s compliments were limited by his poor vocabulary. 

However, Hakari didn’t seem to mind much and shyly smiled. 

“T-thank you.” 

“Hakari-chan, that’s too easy…” 

“N-No, it’s not easy at all!!”

Hakari and Kirika were excitedly chatting. 

Kirika stood next to Hakari and took out her smartphone. 

It seemed she was taking a selfie. 

“Yeah, we look good together. Should we go with this one?” 

“Sounds good to me. I have no objections.” 

The two returned to the changing room, changed back into their uniforms.

Bought the clothes they had tried on.

(So, is the shopping over now?) 

No, the event was still ongoing. 

“Next, shall we go get clothes for Yuito-kun?” 

“Huh, I have to wear them too!?” 

“Of course. If we were the only ones wearing cosplay-like outfits, wouldn’t it be strange?” 

(So, they were aware it looked like cosplay…)

Costumes like cosplay are quite normal for explorers. 

Many A and B-rank explorers pay attention to character creation because they also work as corporate mascots, making their characters important. 

Influenced by this, explorers in general tend to wear rather flashy costumes. 

This tendency has recently accelerated with the trend of dungeon streaming.

(I’ve never worn an outfit like that…) 

This has nothing to do with S-rank. 

However, since their personalities are already out there, many people have unique outfits. 

Yuito was just wearing a hoodie when he ventured into the dungeon. 

“Alright, let’s go!” 

“I’ll find the perfect outfit for you!” 

Once again, Yuito was dragged along in an alien style.

Kirika was grinning. 

She didn’t seem to be thinking about anything good. 

Kirika and the others took him to a men’s shop in the same department store. 

However, Yuito had no choice in the matter. 

He couldn’t even choose stylish clothes in the first place. 

“The material is good, so you have to dress nicely.”

“How about this one?” 

“Looks good. Want to try this one too?”

All Yuito could do was stand still. 

He was being treated like a mannequin. 

(This store feels even more awkward. The other customers are glaring at me…) 

Even though he was with a beautiful girl, Yuito was steadily earning the hatred of the other customers. 

“Hey, Yuito-kun, I want you to try this on.”

Kirika is bringing a complete outfit. 

It seemed different from what he had seen with Hakari earlier.

“Come on, hurry up!” 

Yuito was pushed into the changing room with the clothes. 

He reluctantly started changing into the outfit. 

(Huh…? Do I really have to wear this?) 

It was a bit of a high hurdle for someone like him, who was more introverted. 

However, he couldn’t refuse. 

He decided to give in and change. 

“I’ve changed, but…” 

“Puh, hehehe, Yuito-kun… it suits you… hehe.”

Kirika was desperately trying to hold back her laughter.

“…Why am I in a military uniform? Why do I even have an eye patch and a wig?” 

Yuito was dressed in a military uniform with a cape. 

For some reason, he also had an eye patch, hiding his left eye. 

Additionally, a silver-haired wig had been provided, which he reluctantly wore. 

He looked completely ridiculous. 

It felt like a black wing was about to sprout from one side. 

(This outfit is tough for someone with a mental age in their twenties…)

If it were back in his pure high school days, he could have been a bit happier.

However, Yuito’s inner self is in his twenties. 

A new page has been added to his black history. 

Kirika smiles mischievously, as if her prank has succeeded. 

“It’s true that you look cool. Right, Hakari-chan?” 

“Yes, I think it’s very nice.” 

“――Huh?” 

Kirika compliments him half-jokingly. 

She must have chosen the eyepatch as a joke. 

On the other hand, Hakari’s reaction was serious. 

Is this what they like?

(Huh, could it be that this outfit is the deciding factor?) 

Yuito’s back chills. 

Appearing in this outfit for a stream would be an irreparable black history. 

“But, I don’t need the eye patch and wig.” 

“Ah, good. Your sensibility is normal there.” 

Phew. It seems he avoided the eye patch and wig punishment. 

Just the military uniform should be safe. 

It’s on par with Kirika and Hakari.

“Then, I’ll just buy the military uniform.” 

“Oh, I decided that on my own, but is the money okay?” 

“Yeah, I have a decent amount of savings.” 

Yuito has more money than the average student.

As part of his training, he has accompanied his master on dungeon explorations many times. 

(I would have actually preferred regular clothes… but having a friend choose my outfit feels a bit too much like a real-life romance, so this might be a good memory after all.)