Chapter 36 - An Image Change to Adjust with the Popular Guys (リア充によるイメチェン)

Today, the day before the date, I was preparing for tomorrow. There, I noticed an unexpected problem...

“I don’t have any clothes that are not a jersey…”

This was the jersey I wore when I went to my part-time job. That was the jersey I wore when I went for a short walk.

Yes. I realized that I didn’t have decent clothes. Wearing a jersey on a date with Rin would be too painful… I knew that much.

And I couldn’t afford to make her lose face by walking with a dowdy man wearing a jersey.

So I went to buy new clothes, but…

“I don’t get it…”

I picked up the clothes in front of me, spread them out, and fit them to my body. Then I stared at myself in front of the full-length mirror.

I still didn’t get it even after looking at it many times… Did this suit me? Or maybe not?

“Which one should I buy… Ugh.”

I held one shirt and checked the price tag. It said ‘3000 yen’, but I wasn’t sure whether it was expensive or not.

Moreover, the clerk kept trying to talk to me… I want them to let me choose on my own in peace.

But then I couldn’t choose it…

If I knew this would happen, I should have bought one or two fashionable clothes and checked the magazines.

By the way, Rin didn’t go with me today. She would definitely become a good adviser, but having to wear the clothes she chose for me tomorrow made me feel embarrassed.

So I had to choose this alone. This was my only chance!

“Haa...”

I tried to be enthusiastic, but I could only sigh.

“Huh? Towa, what are you doing?”

“You’re mistaking me for somebody else.”

I turned my back on the familiar voice and left quickly——

“Hey! Don’t run away!”

He grabbed my shoulder. My escape failed. Also, his grip was strong, for real…

So this was the power of the perfect popular man, huh…

“Eh? Wakamiya is not with you today?”

“Yeah. In the first place, it’s not like I’m always with Ri… Wakamiya-san. I have something to do right now.”

“Hmm.”

“Kenichi and Fuji-san are on a date, right? Don’t worry about me and go have fun.”

“It’s not like we’re on a date every time you see us together.”

“...Yeah. Um, we… we are often together on weekends…”

A couple fashionable enough that it wouldn’t be surprising if they got interviewed in the city.

Oh, they’re too gorgeous…

And I was the suspicious man in a jersey looking for clothes.

This should be what people call social polarization.

“...Tokiwagi-kun, what are you doing?”

“As you can see, I’m choosing clothes.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah…”

They fixedly stared at me from my head to my toe. Then they dropped their shoulders in disappointment.

“Kotone, I got something to do now.”

“...Kenichi. Me too.”

“What’s with both of you…”

Kenichi and Fuji made a noble face. They looked like they had decided on something. After glancing at each other, they nodded.

Just what were they planning?

“...I’ll prepare at home. When you’re done, let’s meet up later.”

“Okay!”

Fuji left Kenichi and ran away. She sure was fast.

“Now then, I’ll help you choose clothes~ What do you think is important in fashion?”

“Shirts… Pants? Something like that?”

“You don’t get it~ First of all, it’s your feet. Your feet!”

“Do you mean shoes? Sneakers should be fine, right? Since it’s summer, then it’s sandals.”

“Eh…”

“Why are you looking at me like I’m something terrifying…”

“By the way, what are your sandals?”

“Flip-flops?”

Kenichi opened his mouth wide and stopped moving as if he had turned into a stone.

“Are you okay?” I waved my hand in front of his face. “He’s dead… Well, it’s his retribution. The wish of all men with unrequited love has finally come true, huh?”

“I’m not dead!!”

“Oh. What a shame.”

“Anyway, I already understand the situation. Sorry, my bad… I completely forgot that your hopelessness is out of the ordinary.”

“You’re so mean… But I can’t deny it.”

In fact, I also knew that I was poorly dressed. I never thought that I would go out with someone, so I didn’t prepare anything…

“Towa, how much is your budget today?”

“Kind of decent. I’m working part-time, so I have some savings. ...Right, Kenichi.”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“Thank you for helping me before… And today too…”

“Haha, I don’t understand what you are talking about. Come on, let’s go quickly!”

After this, we continued selecting clothes until evening. Kenichi coordinated everything. He forced me to try on many times, seemingly unsatisfied. When I saw myself in the mirror, I was reminded of a dress-up doll.

◇◇◇

“Hey, Kenichi. Why am I here?”

“Why are you asking that? Everyone who comes here has the same purpose, don’t they?”

“...Tokiwagi-kun, be quiet. You’re distracting me.”

“Yes…”

I could hear the sound of scissors passing through my head. And every time it went by, my hair separated from my head and scattered on the floor.

“...I need to trim this.”

“It’s great that Kotone’s family opens a beauty salon! Thanks for lending us this place.”

Fuji’s hand that held the scissors stopped. This was because Kenichi was stroking her head.

Fuji squinted her eyes like it was ticklish, but her cheeks were flushed. Even if she pursed her lips, she looked happy.

“Hey, both of you. Can you please not flirt behind me? Do it when you’re alone.”

““That’s our line.””

“You’re even in sync. And I have no memory of flirting with anyone…”

“This unsociable guy should go to hell for once.” “...You should be stepped on by a horse and die.”

“You two are really close…”

They even denounced me at the same time. Maybe couples would synchronize this well?

Wait, when did these two starts dating anyway? Looking at how close they were, maybe they had been dating for a long time.

“...Tokiwagi-kun. Don’t you go to a barber to cut your hair? The cut is unbalanced… Too sloppy… Especially on the tip of your hair.”

“I cut it appropriately as I look in the mirror. I’m an amateur, so I’m not very good at it. Please overlook my mistakes.”

“...What did you use to cut it?”

“Of course it’s scissors, right? You can buy it anywhere.”

““Haa…””

“Why are both of you sighing!?”

“Kotone, have you understood Towa’s helplessness?”

“...Yeah, this is serious.”

“What’s with those lukewarm eyes…”

They were staring at me with a look full of disappointment.

But it couldn’t be helped, okay? I didn’t like it when the hairdresser and barber started a conversation with me…

“...Ah, Kenichi. Bring that here.”

“Oh, this, right! I knew you would say that, so I already put it there~”

“...You’re right. Fufu, as expected from Kenichi.”

“That’s because I can read Kotone’s mind!”

“...Me too.”

The couple was staring at each other with blushing cheeks. It might have been a romantic atmosphere without me.

“.............Go explode somewhere,” I mumbled with a sigh and closed my eyes.

Let’s keep waiting quietly until this ends… I also couldn’t bear to see them flirting like that. I felt embarrassed watching them.

“Hey, Towa. You can close your eyes, but listen to me.”

“What is it now?”

“Have fun tomorrow.”

Feeling embarrassed that he knew about our plans, I acted coldly to Kenichi and muttered, “Noisy…”

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