Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 274, Section 9: "You can wear anything for Masumi-nii to see~"

"Qian'ai, what's wrong with you...?"

Masumi was naturally surprised, because Chiai had just been wearing what looked like a fashionable winter outfit from a fashion magazine cover, but now it had suddenly become... well, an outfit that looked like it had stepped out of another magazine.

As a well-known light novel author, Coffee Boy, even if Masumi doesn't create traditional romantic comedies, she should at least have some sensitivity to plot development tropes.

Judging from Qian Ai's attributes and her reaction upon entering, it is undoubtedly—

"How's it going? Does it look good?"

Chiai shyly clutched the hem of her skirt with both hands, interrupting Masumi's belated conclusion.

"Oh, um..."

She was wearing a gothic-style black dress, the hem of which fell above her knees, revealing a glimpse of fair skin between the dress and her lace mid-calf stockings. Her knees appeared to be rosy, likely from applying blush.

Her light-colored hair was adorned with a hair accessory featuring blue roses, which complemented the neat bow at her chest.

Her makeup was also clearly changed to match her image, toning down her usual soft and cute demeanor and adding a touch of maturity and sexiness.

"What do you think?"

"...Yeah, it's fine."

Masumi rubbed her cheek and turned her face to the side.

How can I describe this feeling?

When a girl appears in front of you in a completely different way, you immediately feel a sense of surprise and delight.

His expression shifted as he saw that profile, and Qian Ai's emerald eyes shone brightly.

Haha! Masumi-nii is so shy! That's the reaction I wanted to see!

"Masumi-nii, are you perhaps shy?"

"Yes, because Qian'ai's outfit is so beautiful, it surprised me."

Masumi believes one of her strengths is that she is honest in most situations.

"Well!"

Qian Ai's slightly smug voice suddenly stopped.

"Qian Ai?"

"No, it's nothing!"

Although she said that, a blush had already spread from her ears to the base of her neck.

The understanding Masumi, wanting to help Oumei change her mood, took the initiative to ask:
"What is Qian Ai wearing...?"

"Ah, um."

Qian Ai composed herself, fiddling with the blue rose above her head as she explained:

"A new all-girl band was recently formed at school, and they asked me to help design their band outfits. The visual elements are mainly gothic and roses."

"I see."

Masumi nodded and said with a smile:
"Qian Ai is going further and further down the path of becoming a fashion designer."

"It's not that exaggerated."

Qian Ai was a little shy.

"It's all thanks to everyone at Fanxing."

"Stars?"

"Yes, because Fanxing has become increasingly popular on social media recently, the news that I designed uniforms for the coffee shop has also spread among some people."

"I guess this is a case of mutual benefit; the uniforms designed by Qian'ai are also very popular among customers."

Simple yet elegant, its fashionable style has caught the eye of many female customers.

“…Masumi-nii, I brought you to my home not to listen to your polite words and comforting words.”

"It's neither a polite remark nor a consolation, but... well."

Masumi nodded slightly, without pointing out that Aome's lips were upturned at that moment.

"Speaking of which, does that mean Qian'ai is going to perform on stage too?"

He looked at the girl's perfectly fitting dress and asked.

"This is a habit I developed after I went to university. Before finishing a set of clothes, I will make a set according to my own size and wear it to see the effect, hoping to better understand the meaning of the clothes."

"Subtlety? Similar to method actors?"

The "method acting" approach in the performing arts requires actors to start from themselves and live in the context of the character in order to enhance the performance.

Qian Ai nodded.

"That's about right, but she doesn't have the figure of a model who can hang clothes like a print model."

She curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile, but Masumi didn't pay attention to the last part.

"So that means..."

He suddenly thought of something.

"Did you also make your own measurements for the previous outfits?"

"Yeah, that's right."

Chiaki saw Masumi sitting on the sofa suddenly lean forward, and Chiaki instinctively shrank back, wondering why Masumi had suddenly perked up.

"For example... the cheongsam I made for Rinne before?"

"...!"

Qian Ai's face instantly flushed red, like a lit paper lantern.

"Uh, well... I did do it."

She awkwardly twisted her fingers together, trying to hide her inner embarrassment.

"Could I take a look?"

Masumi probed the distance and asked casually.

"Oh, but..."

Qian Ai's eyes darted around.

"If Qian'ai is unwilling, then just pretend I didn't say anything."

Although these words sound like a ploy to get her, Masumi swears that he really just intends to respect Omega's wishes and thoughts.

However, Chiai clearly didn't think that way—

(Masumi-nii... could he be testing me?)

("Chiai is so boring. Your Mio-neechan never gives me any trouble in this regard.")
("Hehe, that's right, Chiai's love for Masumi is still not enough. Let's not waste our time on her, Masumi, let's enjoy some precious time together~")
("Well then, goodbye, Chiai.")
As the vivid hallucinations entered the scene of a crushing defeat, Qian Ai shook her head violently to dispel the fantasy.

(Absolutely not!)

Qian Ai's lips trembled slightly. Determined to go all out, she turned and grasped the doorknob leading from the living room to the hallway.

"I'll go change my clothes now, Masumi-nii, wait a minute!"

"Oh, oh."

Masumi was taken aback by Aome's sudden burst of energy.

◇

About fifteen minutes later, under Masumi's calm and unwavering gaze, with her eyes inexplicably narrowed... a fiery red glimpse shone through the slightly ajar door.

Immediately afterwards, a woman in a cheongsam with an adorable bun hairstyle covered her body with her hands and cautiously revealed her face.

"Now... I can finally understand Rinne's feelings..."

"Shouldn't you have figured that out when you try it on yourself?"

Masumi asked in a calm tone.

"Although I feel shy in front of the mirror, it's nothing compared to wearing it for Masumi-san!"

Although she spoke with great force, Qian Ai's revealing outfit—a cheongsam with a high slit—made her lack of boldness.

The red cheongsam, clinging tightly to her skin, clearly outlined the curves of her body; this sight was simply a feast for the eyes in Masumi's eyes.

"I feel like this outfit is too much of a stretch in every way... I'm sorry, Rinne, I really shouldn't have listened to Asami-nee's advice and made such an embarrassing outfit."

Qian Ai said dejectedly, offering her sincere apologies to the heiress who was far away at the coffee shop.

Her troubled expression gave one the illusion that if you gently pinched her cheek, you could even squeeze out red paint.

"That's not true."

Masumi comforted her.

"I think this outfit is also very attractive."

It's more accurate to say that men who dislike this outfit are simply impotent.

This outfit perfectly accentuates her curves, clearly showing her slender waist and making her exceptionally charming.

Because her hairstyle was tied into a bun, her fair and beautiful nape was on full display, which earned her a high score.

The soft curves of the cheongsam tightly wrapped around her, the snow-white legs that were faintly visible even in her groin, and the shy and timid expression of the childhood sweetheart girl—all of these things tormented Masumi's rationality.

"It's so nice that Chiai is so slim."

Masumi sighed sincerely.

While Rinne's voluptuous figure is captivating, Chiai's slender, petite, and graceful figure is also wonderful.

"Really? I thought Masumi-nii preferred figures like Asami-nee or Kaizuki."

Qian Ai pouted, unwilling to let go.

"That's not true. I've always thought Qian'ai was beautiful."

The childhood sweetheart sighed softly, her voice tinged with melancholy.

"...At least I don't think I'm particularly pretty." "Chiai leans more towards being cute."

"Um... thank you... Masumi-nii, you don't have to praise me like that..."

Chiai shrank her shoulders, her shy tone contrasting sharply with the sentimental atmosphere around her. This captivating contrast left Masumi utterly defenseless.

Because of this, Chiai now looks several times cuter.

How can I best describe this feeling?
Masumi wondered to himself, did he want to continue teasing Chiai to elicit more adorable expressions from her, or did he want to see her blush more...?
Chiai, unaware of the complex emotions swirling within Masumi's heart, muttered softly.

"I actually want to be pretty rather than cute..."

"Yeah."

"Ah."

Chiai's blush gradually faded, and Masumi in front of her had also regained her composure. Her adaptability is just too high!

The childhood sweetheart clenched her fists slightly, her initial motivation of not wanting to lose to other girls completely changed.

Right now, Qian'ai only wants to be the winner!

(I must change more clothes and strike more poses to make Masumi blush and his heart race!)

"Brother Masumi, wait for me a moment, I have other clothes I want to show you!"

"Oh, Chiai has suddenly become more motivated."

Masumi watched as his childhood friend disappeared into the living room with a passion he couldn't understand.

This time, she didn't make him wait too long. Perhaps it was because, rather than makeup, Chiai wanted to emphasize the beautiful body enhanced by the clothing.

The girl unpacked all the clothes she had previously kept in the closet for various reasons that made her feel ashamed.

"How about this one?"

Qian Ai's image changed from a woman in a cheongsam to a maid.

She wore a meticulously tailored black dress with a white apron over it, and a light lace headband. The dress was very revealing due to its low-cut neckline.

Compared to the maid cafe uniforms that Masumi and Asami visited last spring, these uniforms are much more revealing and are not really suitable for wearing out.

"This is a cosplay outfit I made for a classmate. It's been sitting in the closet because it's too revealing. What's your opinion, Masumi-san?"

"—It's beautiful. Although the style is a bit daring, it brings out Chiai's charm even better. Even though she's a maid, she makes you want to protect her."

Hmm, and there are those who want to educate the maids... let's stop there for now.

Masumi praised her highly, and Chiai couldn't hide her secret joy in the face of such praise, revealing a sweet smile that Masumi found very endearing.

"Okay, then I'll go change into the next one!"

From provocative cheongsams, revealing maid outfits, yukatas with fronts plunging to the chest, evening gowns that almost expose the back, to cosplay outfits of anime characters, Chiai constantly fulfills her desire for recognition through Masumi.

Chiai loves making clothes and trying on various outfits.

She would be even happier if her hobby could be appreciated by someone she likes.

"Hey, Masumi-nii, are you happy now?"

"Yeah, seeing that Qianai is happy makes me happy too."

“…Is that so?”

(Even at times like this, Masumi-nii is very attentive to my feelings. After all, he's someone who has empathy and likes to consider things from other people's perspectives.)
but--

Qian Ai bit her lip, a feeling of resentment welling up inside her.

If possible, she also hopes to get the same reaction from Masumi as she did from Kaizuki and Mio.

Shy Masumi-nii.

Masumi tries to hide his embarrassment.

Masumi-san, who is obsessed with himself.

To get this response, the clothes we have now probably aren't enough.

A resolute glint flashed in Chiai's eyes as she took Masumi's hand and stood up.

"Masumi-nii, come here for a second."

"Huh? Okay."

Chiai's attitude is rarely this firm, but this is not the first time it has happened; it was the same on the platform before.

As she recalled it, Mio's dumbfounded expression at the time also came to mind.

On the way to Chiai's house, Mio kept bombarding the two of them with messages on LINE.

Masumio: "You two, you're not allowed to leave me behind!"

Masumio: "Where is Chiai's home? Send me the location quickly!"

Masumio: "I'm begging you, please don't leave me alone!"

Masumio: "If... if something really is going to happen, please keep it a secret. Don't let me know, and I can barely pretend nothing happened."

That last one was just too self-deceptive!
Masumi: "Nothing will happen, I promise!"

Masumi Miyazawa's assurances regarding relationships between men and women are undoubtedly among the most reliable things of the Reiwa era.

Masumio: "Yeah, I'm sure Masumi can keep the secret."

That's not what I'm guaranteeing.

However, Masumi did not dislike Mio's trust in him.

Before she knew it, Qian Ai had pulled her from the living room through the corridor to her room.

Chiai let go of Masumi's hand, walked to the window and drew the curtains, instantly plunging the room into darkness.

"Huh? What does Chiai want to do?"

Masumi was dumbfounded.

Why draw the curtains in broad daylight?
However, given the short days in winter and the delay caused by the fashion show, it will probably be dark in another half hour.

"Because of what happened afterward... I don't want anyone to see it..."

Qian Ai blushed with embarrassment, unable to speak.

"Oh……"

So what is it?

A rustling sound—that's the sound of fabric licking skin.

Qian'ai stood in front of the bed, her slender hands clutching the hem of her clothes.

Huh? Huh? Huh? Could it be... no! Things are progressing too fast!?

There are still 4 days and 6 hours until Valentine's Day... No way! He can't be as good with numbers as Mio.

They've never even kissed or anything, yet they're already going to get to this point. Is this some kind of adult comic plot?
Thinking about it calmly, it seems that I feel the same way about Haiyue, so should I give her another kiss?
That won't do! This might be seen as hinting or even making a direct suggestion. Thinking back to that inappropriate questionnaire, who knows what kind of exhibition full of desire the jellyfish girl has planned for him.

cough cough.

Thinking about another girl while being alone with one girl is really awful, so Masumi pulled her thoughts back to reality.

He stared at his shyly lowered-faced childhood friend, watching Chiai nervously take off her clothes, looking like a young lady welcoming her wedding night. Hmm! He felt a strange sexiness about her. Meanwhile, he secretly opened his chat with Mio on his phone and sent Chiai's home address.

Although Masumi has 99% confidence in her willpower.

But if Qian Ai were to look at him with those clear eyes and plead... it would be better to intervene with external means at this point.

"...Masumi-nii! Please look at me!"

Suddenly, Chiai shouted in a shy tone, startling Masumi.

"Huh? What's this—"

Fair and delicate skin, a slender and firm waist, an adorable elongated navel, and three green triangular pieces of fabric supporting her body.

So that's how it is; Chiai wore a swimsuit under her clothes beforehand.

Unlike the relatively conservative styles worn at the beach on the previous two occasions, this time the swimsuit was a very daring bikini.

"...What do you think of this last one, Masumi-nii?"

Qian'ai is now full of openings, and her defenseless appearance is like a delicacy served on a plate.

Not good.

Although I had played in the water with the swimsuit beauties in the coffee shop before, there was an indescribable ambiguity when we were alone together.

The curtains were tightly drawn in the girl's bedroom, and there was Qingmei in a bikini. This was bad. If she continued looking, things would get very bad in every way.

Masumi swallowed hard, trying to suppress her breathing which was about to become heavy, and nodded.

"It's beautiful. The color of the swimsuit matches the color of Qian'ai's eyes, which gives a very suitable feeling. Moreover, this bold style makes Qian'ai look more mature and highlights your slender figure."

Although the formula for compliments is almost the same as before, the tone is noticeably more cloying.

Chiai observed Masumi's reaction, then sighed with relief, a warm feeling spreading through her chest and heart.

"That's right, that's great."

She lowered her gaze.

“Although I’m happy that Masumi-nii is back in Kobe, there are now more girls who can catch his eye than before. I’m friends with all of them, and I can’t bring myself to speak ill of them, nor do I want to do that. I also don’t want to force Masumi-nii to only look at me…”

Despite wearing a provocative swimsuit, her expression subtly conveyed sadness.

"Therefore, I can only do this to meet Masumi-san's expectations."

Then she asked this kind of question.

"Masumi-nii, why don't you look at me more...?"

Although the wet, upward gaze of Qingmei deeply stirred Masumi's guilt and remorse, at this moment, all he could utter was one sentence—

"Before Mio gets here, Chiai should probably change out of her swimsuit. Otherwise, who knows what she might do in a fit of rage?"

"Eh?"

(End of this chapter)