47 Customer Service is Scary
The sky was clear, and the temperature was moderate, hinting at the end of spring and the arrival of summer.
The wind might be a little cool, but it would probably get warmer around noon.
A perfect day to go out.
“…Sigh…”
And yet, my mood was as gloomy as the weather was bright.
Nothing particularly bad happened.
But the future that awaited me filled me with endless sighs.
“Ah, Suzuna! You’re early.”
A bright, cheerful voice, as radiant as the sun.
It was Riri-chan, waving at me with a smile.
She was wearing a natural-colored jacket and skirt, a white inner shirt, black sneakers, and a square shoulder bag slung across her body.
Her skirt was short, revealing her legs, but that was typical Riri-chan, and it was somehow reassuring.
Her makeup was also more defined than usual. She looked very fashionable and cute, even more radiant than usual.
A beautiful girl who would catch anyone’s eye.
“Ah, no, I just got here.”
I waved back and replied.
“…Suzuna?”
Riri-chan suddenly stopped.
“Yes?”
“…Um, you do know what we’re doing today, right?”
“Going shopping with you, Riri-chan.”
Riri-chan’s gaze kept moving up and down.
Just like I was looking at her casual clothes, she’s probably looking at mine.
“…You’re not… planning on going to the convenience store, are you?”
Her tone was vague, but she seemed to be struggling to say something.
“No, but I thought we’d be walking a lot in town, so I chose functional clothes.”
I’m not fashionable like Riri-chan, so I prioritized practicality.
Nothing too flashy, nothing too drab. No criticism, no praise.
A perfect balance, or so I thought.
“…Wh-Why are you wearing a sweatsuit?”
“You said I couldn’t wear a tracksuit.”
“…D-Didn’t you consider anything else?”
“Well, if I’m choosing based on functionality after tracksuits, I thought this was the next best thing.”
“Um, I don’t… usually hear the word ‘functionality’ used for clothes…”
“Really? But even though you might not think of them that way, if you trace the history of sweatshirts, they started as sportswear, and—”
“U-Um, wait a minute. People also don’t usually say ‘trace the history,’ you know?”
Oh dear…
Riri-chan seems to have a lot to say about my outfit.
Could it be that I made a mistake, despite choosing such a safe option?
“Is this outfit… bad…?”
“N-No, it’s not bad! It’s not bad, but… it’s not really something you wear when you go shopping in town…”
Ah… I failed.
I really am hopeless.
“I thought it was a safe coordinate, all black, with matching colors…”
“Ah, well… it’s safe in a sense. But it’s a bit… heavy for spring/summer clothes…”
S-Season…?
Do I have to consider the season when choosing colors…?
I can’t keep up.
“I see… Since it’s you, Riri-chan, I’ll ask, is there anything else wrong?”
“…Why are you wearing boots?”
Oh, that’s wrong too?
Wait, wait, hold on.
I thought this was okay.
I didn’t know what shoes to wear, so I searched online, and I settled on these black boots.
“The internet said, ‘Complete a casual outfit with leather shoes.’”
“…No, you’re not wrong. You’re not wrong, but… it’s… not quite right.”
Riri-chan finally looked up at the sky.
She’s given up, I guess.
I’m not wrong, but I’m apparently wrong.
What’s with fashion?
“Sorry, I guess I’m not worthy of walking next to you, Riri-chan.”
I’m only embarrassing her further.
Even the most brilliant diamond looks bad in a shabby box.
I’m tarnishing Riri-chan’s brilliance.
“N-No, it’s not that you’re not worthy…”
“I’ve never seen you choose your words so carefully, Riri-chan. It must be really bad.”
Riri-chan, who usually speaks her mind, was being incredibly considerate.
That’s also mentally damaging.
I’ll just leave…
“Let’s go buy some clothes together.”
“…Eh?”
“I’ll choose some clothes for you.”
Riri-chan smiled.
S-So that means…
“We’re going to a clothing store?”
“Yes, but…?”
“…But you have to do your own shopping, Riri-chan.”
“No, I wanted to look at clothes too, so it works out perfectly.”
I-I see…
Well, then I have no choice but to go.
I promised to accompany her.
“Come on, let’s go.”
“O-Okay!”
Riri-chan took my hand.
Riri-chan, in light and airy colors, and me, in heavy, dark colors.
I wonder if we, a contrasting pair, will blend in with the cityscape.
◇◇◇
“How about this?”
I followed Riri-chan into a building.
Clothing brands lined the floors.
It seemed to be a women’s fashion floor, as all the clothes on display were for women, and most of the customers were female.
She said, “I think this store might have something that suits you, Suzuna,”
And we entered the store, but…
“Suzuna, are you listening?”
“Ah, yeah…”
Riri-chan picked up one outfit after another, asking, “How about this?” in rapid succession.
She was holding a white dress.
“So, what do you think? Is this okay?”
“…Y-Yeah, I guess.”
Honestly, I don’t know.
I think the dress is cute, but I’m not sure if I can wear it. It feels wrong.
I don’t think such a frilly and innocent outfit suits me.
And more than anything…
“Would you like to try it on?”
There it is…!
Customer service…!
And she’s recommending I try it on…!
“Suzuna, do you want to try it on?”
“Ah, um…”
No, I’m embarrassed.
It’s a waste for someone like me to wear such lovely clothes. It’s not appropriate for me.
And after I try it on, the shop assistant will come and shower me with insincere compliments.
Before I know it, they’ll create an atmosphere where I have no choice but to buy it, and I’ll end up buying it without really understanding why.
Ah, this is painful.
“I-Is this dress… sold online…?”
I whispered to Riri-chan.
“Hmm? It’s a famous brand, so you should be able to find it if you search online.”
“Then let’s buy it online. So I don’t have to try it on, right?”
Riri-chan’s eyes widened, and she raised her voice.
“You don’t want to try it on even though it’s right here? What about the size?”
“I’ll just… go with the vibe.”
“No way, the size makes a big difference.”
“But this sweatsuit is big, and I don’t really mind…”
“Don’t compare it to that! Just try it on.”
“Ehhh…”
I was pushed towards the fitting room by Riri-chan.
Clothing stores are a huge hurdle for introverts…
48 Just Trust Me: Hinase Riri’s Side
Fufu…
Things took an unexpected turn, and I managed to secure a promise from Suzuna.
She generally doesn’t like going out.
And I know she’s even less inclined to do so on holidays.
She’ll probably come with me if I insist, but I’ve held back until now, worried that she might start to dislike me.
But this time, Suzuna gave me an excuse.
I can’t miss this golden opportunity.
This is a date.
I don’t know what Suzuna thinks, but this is a date.
Thinking that, I naturally put more effort into getting ready.
I often go out in casual clothes, but I can’t let Suzuna see me like that on our date.
I took out a new set of shirt and skirt that I bought but never had the chance to wear.
Today is the perfect day to wear this.
I also spent more time than usual on my hair and makeup.
“Alright, Suzuna, I’m coming!”
My heart fluttered with excitement for my first holiday spent with Suzuna, and I opened the door.
◇◇◇
Ten minutes before our appointed time, I left my apartment and saw that Suzuna was already waiting.
She’s earlier than I expected.
I’m a little disappointed that I wasn’t the one waiting first.
But I was happy to see her so soon.
“Suzuna, you’re early!”
I waved at Suzuna.
She noticed me right away and shyly waved back, but…
I froze.
“Ah, no, I just got here.”
Suzuna was saying something, but I couldn’t process it.
I was too distracted by her outfit.
“…W-Why are you wearing a sweatsuit?”
Suzuna was wearing a black sweatsuit from head to toe.
With her black hair, she was just… black.
Like she was absorbing all the sunlight.
I thought she’d dress up a little more…
When I asked her why, she said she chose it for “functionality.”
No, no, I’m not looking for “functionality” in girls’ clothes. Or rather, I don’t use that word.
Suzuna continues to express her unique worldview in strange ways.
And I just noticed she’s wearing black leather boots.
No, no, you don’t wear boots with a sweatsuit.
When I asked her about that too, she said,
“The internet said, ‘Complete a casual outfit with leather shoes.’”
Apparently, it was based on internet knowledge.
This is a cautionary tale about the dangers of not properly understanding what you read online.
But this is also the result of Suzuna trying her best.
I’m happy that she even thought about it, and the fact that it turned out strangely is endearing.
I don’t understand how this could happen.
I looked up at the sky.
…Someone, please stop this cute creature’s rampage.
◇◇◇
So, I came to buy clothes with Suzuna.
I pushed Suzuna, who for some reason hated trying on clothes, into the fitting room.
“Riri-chan, I’ll try it on, but promise you won’t laugh if it doesn’t suit me…”
A faint voice came from behind the curtain.
“I won’t! It’ll suit you, Suzuna, so don’t worry.”
“…I wonder. I feel like it’ll be a comedy show.”
I heard the rustling of clothes as she grumbled.
Sometimes, I think Suzuna’s self-deprecation is excessive.
She often puts herself down and over-praises me, creating an imbalance.
She seems to lack confidence in almost everything and is always trying to read the room.
Even now, just trying on clothes, she’s being negative, saying it won’t suit her.
Suzuna is slender, so she looks better than me, with my curvier figure.
I think it’s stranger to wear a baggy, all-black sweatsuit.
“Riri-chan… I don’t think this is good…”
Suzuna peeked her head out of the fitting room curtain without opening it.
She was frowning, looking anxious.
“I can’t tell if I don’t see it.”
“I saw it.”
“I mean I haven’t seen it.”
“…Seriously?”
Suzuna was being so hesitant.
She’s still resisting, even after coming this far.
It’s endearing, but I also want to see a different side of Suzuna.
“Just show me.”
—Swish
I forcefully opened the curtain.
“Whoa…”
There was Suzuna, flustered, in an ivory dress.
Her arms and legs were slender, her waist was trim, and the dress complemented her fair skin.
“No way, it’s super cute!”
“…You’re just pitying me because I look so ridiculous. I’m not falling for it.”
She laughed self-deprecatingly, using complicated words.
She’s such a stubborn child.
“Stop being so negative and just accept it for once.”
“I’m not being negative.”
“You’re deliberately avoiding it. Do you hate being called cute that much?”
“Because I’m not cute.”
Suzuna turned away, blushing.
What’s with this girl? She’s trying to act aloof, but she can’t hide her embarrassment.
“Hypothetically, let’s say someone thought you weren’t cute. Which is impossible.”
“That’s a fact.”
“Hypothetically!”
She’s so stubborn.
“But does that matter?”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“As long as you like it, it doesn’t matter what other people think.”
“Hmm…”
Suzuna, seemingly at a loss for words, kept fiddling with the hem of her dress.
“But… I don’t think I look cute…”
I see, Suzuna really is insecure.
I’m not always confident either, but there are times when I like myself.
It’s a waste to constantly put yourself down without ever experiencing those moments.
“I think you’re cute, so isn’t that enough?”
“Eh…?”
“It doesn’t matter what other people think. I think you’re cute. Just trust me, Suzuna.”
“But…”
“Don’t you trust me, Suzuna?”
It might be manipulative, but this is what it takes for Suzuna to acknowledge herself.
“…I trust you.”
Suzuna mumbled.
“Then it’s fine, isn’t it?”
“…Yeah.”
Suzuna finally nodded.
Suzuna is stubborn, but she listens to me.
That makes her even more endearing.
“How are we doing?”
“Hmph!”
—Swish!
Suzuna closed the curtain as soon as she heard the shop assistant’s voice.
“Um, excuse me…?”
The shop assistant looked bewildered, unsure of the situation.
…She probably doesn’t want to be seen.
“Ah, she wants to… try on something else…?”
I made up an excuse on the spot.
“I-I see. Please let me know if you need anything.”
The shop assistant bowed and left, still looking slightly puzzled.
I turned back to the closed curtain.
“Suzuna? It’s fine to let them see, you know?”
“…I told you.”
“Eh, what?”
I couldn’t understand her muffled words from behind the curtain.
Then Suzuna peeked her head out again.
“You said, ‘Just trust me,’ Riri-chan.”
“I did, but…?”
“Then there’s no need to show anyone else.”
So that means…
She’ll show me because she trusts me, and she won’t show anyone else because she doesn’t trust them?
“…I see.”
“And I would never show anyone else this embarrassing outfit besides you, Riri-chan, so please think before you talk to the shop assistant.”
“…Sorry.”
“Seriously, get a grip, Riri-chan.”
She turned away and went back behind the curtain.
Suzuna’s tsundere behavior made me swoon.
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