Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 323, Section 9: "I'm confident I can help you put on your kimono."

Good morning, everyone.

Mio appeared in the hotel restaurant with a smile, her handsome profile radiant.

She was dressed in a figure-hugging dress that accentuated her curves, wearing high heels, and large sunglasses in her honey-gold hair, looking every bit the vacationing celebrity.

Behind the female celebrity was the heiress, who looked somewhat tired.

She spoke in a voice slightly hoarseer than usual:
"Good morning."

"Good morning, you've finally arrived. Breakfast time at the restaurant is almost over and you still haven't come."

Qian'ai sat at the dining table and greeted the two people, her metal fork piercing the tomatoes in the vegetable salad.

She stared at Mio and Rinne with a puzzled look, then put the cherry tomato into her mouth.

"It's rare to see Rinne lying in bed like that. Speaking of which, Mio-neechan, are you in a more high spirits than usual today?"

"Well, I guess that's how it is."

With a smile playing on her lips, Mio sat down in the chair, her emotions inexplicably heightened.

What does "you could say that" mean?

Qian Ai puffed out her cheeks as if she were being difficult, and suddenly felt a light weight on her shoulder.

Turning her head, she saw Mami giving her a meaningful look.

"Xiao Qian'ai, haven't you heard the saying, 'Curiosity killed the cat'?"

She was sitting at the table, enjoying her meal. Her oversized cardigan swayed slightly as she bent down to pick up a sausage.

It has a fleshy texture that pulsates like a small animal, and is extremely soft and elastic.

"What's wrong?"

Chiai was completely bewildered and made a sarcastic remark, while Rinne, upon hearing the phrase "curiosity killed the cat," lowered her head even further, gaining a deeper understanding of the saying.

"Cough cough."

Masumi then interjected, clearing her throat and drawing all the girls' attention.

"Now that everyone is here, I'll begin with today's schedule."

Masumi explained the upcoming itinerary during the meal.

"The first place to go is a kimono rental shop."

"Hey, shall we all wear kimonos and go cherry blossom viewing together?"

Qian Ai asked with great interest.

"Apart from me."

"Great!"

Qian'ai immediately let out a cheer of "Ooh ooh!"

"Before, I was the only one wearing a kimono during the New Year's shrine visit, but now I can finally wear one with everyone and take a group photo!"

Seeing Masumi's overjoyed expression, a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

◇

Wow~ That's amazing! So many beautiful colors!

As soon as Qian'ai stepped into the store, her eyes lit up, like a puppy that had broken free of its leash, instantly putting her at a distance from the others.

Looking at these colorful clothes, any girl would be excited, not to mention my childhood friend's long-standing passion for fashion.

The not-so-spacious room contained rows of faceless mannequins, with colorful kimonos hanging above them.

This was Masumi's first time visiting a clothing rental shop, and she found it very novel and visually striking.

Haiyue, standing to the side, also stared blankly at the faceless dummy in front of her, her mouth slightly agape.

"Waaah...so much..."

When people encounter unfamiliar territory, this is probably the only feeling they can express.

As he and Haiyue stood side by side, mouths agape in stunned silence, Ms. Mami, her face beaming with pride, puffed out her chest.

"Hmph, it's inevitable to be overwhelmed by the sheer variety when entering a store like this for the first time, right? Let's have Mami, the kimono expert, act as a guide NPC and help everyone choose the right kimono!"

"Huh? Mami?"

After Masumi reflexively questioned him, Mami glared at him fiercely.

"Is there something you're unhappy about? You spent ages in the fitting room by yourself, and you still look so sloppy in your yukata, Masumi-kun?"

Masumi sighed quietly.

"That was a long time ago."

Moreover, he wasn't the only one in the fitting room, otherwise he wouldn't have lingered for so long.

Mami nodded, blinking repeatedly as if brushing away dust that covered up past memories.

"Yes, that was about seven volumes ago."

"It's easier to understand if we say it was more than six months ago."

Masumi sighed helplessly, while Asami casually waved her hand.
"It doesn't matter what happens to Masumi-kun~ Now is the girls' time."

"See you later then, Masumi-kun, look forward to seeing us dressed up as Yamato Nadeshiko!"

"Oh."

Masumi nodded readily and was about to head to the corner when someone suddenly tugged at the hem of her clothes.

"Huh? Is something the matter, Haiyue?"

The jellyfish-like girl raised her head charmingly and gazed at Masumi.

"I don't know...which one to choose...Masumi...help me pick one out..."

"Huh? Wouldn't it be better to let Chiai or another girl help Haiyue choose something like this?"

Masumi himself would actually give pink lipstick and heart-shaped accessories as gifts to girls, unlike the kind of guy who is criticized for having no taste.

"I want... Masumi to choose..."

Haiyue is stubborn and opinionated.

"Because...I want...Masumi to see..."

"That's it."

Since Haiyue had said so, Masumi had no choice but to take it seriously.

In this situation, Masumi, whose wardrobe only contains clothes in five colors—black, white, gray, olive, and brown—basically doesn't base her decisions on her own preferences, but instead searches through her memory for Chiai's fashion quotes.

Haiyue has a cool-toned fair complexion, so according to Qianai, she should choose clothes in cool colors...right?

Anyway, they seem to be about the same in that respect, so you won't pick clothes that don't match.

"How about this one?"

Masumi picked up a light blue yukata next to her, which looked very similar to the one that Umizuki wore last year.

"Masumi... likes this...?"

Haiyue tilted her head.

"Hmm, it seems more suitable for Haiyue."

The jellyfish girl nodded obediently.

"Then...this one..."

"Hmm, the changing room is over there—wait!? Haiyue."

It's unbelievable that such power could erupt from that girl's slender... well, slender yet voluptuous body.

One can't help but wonder if Haiyue's usual energy-saving lifestyle is just a way to store up energy for a critical moment?

While pondering these unanswerable questions, Masumi's body was already being led to the changing room.

"Masumi... wait for me here..."

"Oh, oh..."

Masumi nodded.

"I thought Haiyue was going to pull me in with her."

"Ok?"

Haiyue tilted her head slightly, then murmured from her beautifully shaped lips.

“…Masumi…so H.” “Eh.”

Masumi was dumbfounded.

"No, no, because Haiyue did the same thing last year, didn't she?"

"Ah."

The jellyfish girl nodded quietly.

"So this time... Masumi... is outside... otherwise... she won't be able to hold back..."

Who couldn't help but explain themselves?
Masumi pressed her forehead and sighed, watching Kaigetsu carry the kimono into the fitting room, take off her shoes, and draw the curtain.

...And Masumi was still not allowed to slip away from the scene.

Two rows of kimono racks were filled with girls choosing styles.

"Masumi...aren't you wearing it this time?"

Haiyue's voice came through the fabric, which rustled softly against itself.

The sound was like a cat with soft, long claws, wriggling its body and sliding its feet...

Just like that, it swaggered away from Haiyue and slowly swirled to Masumi's ear, vibrating her eardrums and disturbing her brain. It found the most suitable spot among the crevices of her memory and then gracefully landed.

Thanks to the images stored in her memory, Masumi doesn't need to use much imagination to depict the scene in the changing room.

By now, Haiyue should have already taken off her coat.

She crossed her arms, pulled the hem of her cardigan out from under her skirt, and then grabbed it and pulled it up.

The high-padded cardigan probably bounced around a couple of times like a rabbit, then revealed the decisive underwear underneath.

White lace covered her upper body, her breasts were lifted by an underwire, creating a snow-white cleavage, and the strap design made her waist look narrow.

The ballet-like design ends above the hip bone, with a playful lace trim around the sheer lower edge.

And then...

"Masumi...?"

After receiving no response for a long time, Haiyue called his name again.

"Oh, since kimonos are more complicated than yukatas, I'll skip it this time."

Masumi said.

"Indeed...it's very complicated..."

A slightly troubled voice came from the changing room, belonging to the jellyfish girl.

"Is this how... I should wear it...? I don't know... is it right..."

"Eh? Then I'll go call Qian'ai and the others for you—"

As Masumi was speaking, the curtain in front of him was suddenly pulled open from the inside, swallowing him up like an open seashell.

"Uh huh?"

The space inside was a bit cramped. Through the full-length mirror, Masumi met her own bewildered gaze.

Beside him was a beautiful girl wearing a cute blue yukata with iris patterns, her sash tied loosely, like a butterfly perched on an iris flower.

Even through the thick fabric, her alluring, full curves were still visible.

Masumi looked for a moment and then looked away, her gaze drifting downwards, where she immediately saw Kaigetsu's bare ankles.

Since it's not yet the season to wear short skirts or hot pants freely, the skin that's usually covered by fabric being exposed can easily create a visual impact.

Haiyue's feet, in particular, were beautiful, with fair skin and delicate bones.

The ten toes were white and tender, and the round and neat toenails were unpainted, yet they were sparkling.

"Masumi?"

"Ah, sorry."

Masumi snapped out of her daze and looked Kaigetsu up and down in her kimono.

The elegant kimono worn by this beautiful girl with doll-like features, paired with her pure almond-shaped eyes like a doe, made her look like an innocent princess of a daimyo.

"No problem, this is how you'll wear it."

Masumi nodded. Haizuki looked beautiful in the kimono. The light blue gradient fabric made her skin appear fair and flawless, and she looked as pure and beautiful as a lotus emerging from the water.

In short, no matter how you look at it, it's very harmonious and well-matched.

"I feel a little... uncomfortable..."

"Huh? Where?"

Haiyue gently moved her body.

"My range of motion is so limited... My thighs... I can't open them wide..."

"After all, it's a kimono, unlike a yukata which is just a simple layer."

Beauty often requires hard work behind the scenes...

"Your belt seems a little loose. Haiyue, don't move, let me tighten it for you."

"Ah."

She obediently raised her arm, and Masumi reached out and touched her waist. Kaigetsu's body stiffened slightly, but she did not react any further.

The jellyfish girl's expression remained calm, only her brow furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly. She tilted her head and said calmly:

"……itch."

It was just a word and a half of teasing and complaining, but to Masumi it felt like being tickled by a baby swallow's feather, making her heart itch too.

He suppressed his emotions. Although he was completely clueless about how to wear a kimono, he could still manage to tie the obi (sash).

"It's finished... Haiyue?"

She wrapped her arms around his waist, looked up at him with her small face, and offered him her cherry lips.

"Don't do that, Haiyue, this isn't the time to be coquettish."

Masumi sighed and gently pressed her chin down with one hand, her thumb pressing against the corner of her lips.

Haiyue's face immediately tightened, like a child forced to eat a green pepper, looking at the adult with the most innocent yet resentful eyes and asking softly, "How could you do this?"

"It will get messed up. Kimonos wrinkle easily. If they get all wrinkled, we won't be able to go cherry blossom viewing with everyone."

Masumi patiently explained to her in a tone as if coaxing a child, but Kaigetsu pouted in protest.

"Then...I'll stay still...Masumi...hold me..."

"Huh? Okay, just for a little while."

Masumi had no choice but to compromise.

Masumi felt the cool texture of the kimono against her skin, and the soft, warm body temperature of the jellyfish girl. Even though it was Haiyue who was being held, Masumi felt like she was the one being put on the defensive.

To avoid wrinkling his kimono, he could only cosplay as a wooden stake, embracing the girl.

When I looked down, there was a flaxen head right in front of me, pressed against my chest.

Although she was wearing a kimono, her hair was not styled and remained as it was when she arrived, flowing smoothly over her shoulders.

Masumi couldn't resist touching her hair, but her arms were too heavy to move while she was embracing, so she had to give up.

The subtle movement made Haiyue belatedly realize that she still had a place to move, so she furtively reached out her hand towards Masumi.

"Wait! Haiyue!?"

—Swish!
The curtain in the changing room was suddenly pulled open from the outside.

Rinne stood before him, her expression tense, emanating a faint chill.

“…Rinne, this kimono suits you very well.”

Masumi was intimidated by her imposing manner, and immediately forced a fawning smile onto her face.

The heiress wore a bright red kimono, as vibrant as autumn leaves, and her long hair was meticulously styled and secured with a jeweled hairpin, giving her an aura of dignified beauty.

"Really? Thanks."

Rinne gave a nonchalant reply, then her gaze fell on the spot where Kaigetsu's hand was on Masumi, her brows furrowing slightly as if trying to discern something from there.

Haiyue casually withdrew her hand, while Masumi asked tremblingly:

"Rinne?"

After a moment, she sighed with a look of surrender, and looked at Haiyue with the same gaze a mother would give to a disobedient daughter, and said:
"Now that you've changed into your kimono, don't stay in the fitting room any longer, come out quickly."

(End of this chapter)