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“Hmm. Elysia looks great no matter what she wears.”

This has become a doll play that no longer feels novel.

Of course, the problem is that the doll is me, but based on my past experiences, I’ve learned that it’s best to quietly wear the clothes handed to me and get it over with as quickly as possible.

“That’s true. Casual or formal, everything looks good on you.”

It’s fortunate that only Selian and Yuli are continuously bringing new clothes, or else if Anne and Linne were also involved, I wouldn’t even have a moment to catch my breath between changing outfits.

Linne stands in front of the dressing room, evaluating my look like a judge, while Anne simply stares with her mouth hanging open.

“Okay, try this one on next. A dress definitely suits Elysia the best.”

The outfit Selian brought this time is a flowy dress.

Considering the chilly weather, it’s a beige-colored dress that isn’t too thin and falls just above the knee.

There’s a dark brown belt at the waist that can be tied to accentuate the waistline.

A mere six months ago, being told to wear something like this would have scared me, but as a creature of adaptation, it’s too late for any outbursts now.

“Of course, the dress suits you well, but Elysia is better in pants.”

After stepping out of the dressing room and spinning around as requested by my friends, Yuli, who had fetched another new outfit from somewhere, loaded me up with a handful of clothes again and sent me back into the dressing room.

Looking through the clothes I was handed, I saw a loose-fitting blue knit and black cotton pants.

I didn’t notice it at first just holding them, but once I tried them on, the loosely-fitted knit had a side slit that exposed my waist just a bit.

Moreover, unlike the top, the pants were made of tightly-fitted spandex material.

I thought I was lucky to have a normal knit and pants, but wearing them revealed their own awkward aspects.

Regardless, I’ve worn the outfit, so now it’s time for evaluations.

Coming out, Selian was nowhere to be seen, presumably off looking for more new clothes, while the other three were waiting in front of the dressing room.

“Of course, Elysia has beautiful legs, so I knew this would look good. And this knit…”

Instead of just stopping at a simple evaluation, Yuli stepped closer, turned me sideways, and suddenly lifted me up.

My sides were naturally revealed.

The side slit I mentioned earlier couldn’t hide my waist as my arms were raised.

“Is this the point? What do you think of my taste?”

Instead of asking the subject in question, Yuli now brought a chair and sat in front of Anne and Linne, seeking their opinions.

No, more importantly, what’s that shape behind Anne and Linne? Isn’t that the Ghost Friends we saw earlier?

Why are they showing up in broad daylight at the shopping mall?

Moreover, just like before when they acted mysteriously, the three of them whispered amongst themselves and lifted signs.

The three signs bore the drawing of a circle.

The Ghost Friends nodded in satisfaction with their decision and disappeared with a poof.

What on earth are they doing?

Separately from the Ghost Friends, Anne was still nodding with her mouth agape, and Linne stood up, seemingly to scrutinize me closely.

“But Yuli… with the recent cold winds, isn’t this knit a little too much?”

“… Are you saying you don’t like the clothes I picked for you?”

“No, no! It’s not that! I’m just worried you might catch a cold.”

“Oh come on. Elysia, with your level of training, what cold would you catch?”

Does Yuli know that her comment was just an excuse or does she truly think it’s a joke? I’m curious but kept my mouth shut.

“Ah! Selian, take a look as well. What do you think? It looks great, right?”

Before long, Selian returned with another outfit in hand.

Selian spun around me like she was appraising my clothes.

“It looks good, but… doesn’t the line of your legs and hips seem a bit too obvious? It feels a bit much for an official occasion.”

“That’s true… but the dress you picked earlier was practically showing off the legs completely. Isn’t this level okay?”

Well, the earlier dress wasn’t exactly modest either.

“But look at this line. Honestly, the previous dress only showed below the knee, but these pants cling tightly from the hips down…”

“Huh!?”

Suddenly, Selian knelt and slid her hands down from my butt to my thighs while expressing her opinion to Yuli.

No matter how similar our bodies are as women, the feeling of touching my butt and thighs can’t be the same.

Especially since my mind is still in a male state.

My already sensitive senses reacted even more in this unexpected situation.

“… I can see why you might think that?”

However, my scream seemed to go unheard as Yuli approached the other thigh and began evaluating the pants I was wearing.

“Hey, Selian? Yuli?”

“Well, at least the material seems good. I don’t think it’ll rub your skin.”

“It’s stretchy spandex, so it should provide good mobility!”

Selian rubbed the pants to check the fabric while Yuli pinched my thigh a little to demonstrate the spandex.

“It definitely stretches nicely. This outfit isn’t bad at all. Just not for official occasions.”

“I didn’t pay much attention to the material, but you’re right; it does feel nice.”

Now, Selian lightly pinched my thigh, and Yuli began rubbing it.

“Th-that’s enough…”

Despite my strong desire to pull away, Selian and Yuli were simply appreciating my outfit.

If I raised my voice and showed some annoyance, it might make it awkward for the two trying to help me.

So, the only rebellion I could muster was to plead softly enough that passerby wouldn’t hear me.

However, no matter how soft my voice was, it was probably loud enough for the two nearby to hear, yet my pleas seemed to go unheard as they continued exchanging opinions.

Finally, after what felt like ages, when I was freed from them, my face was as red as a ripe tomato.

*

The continued fashion show and the evaluations were thoroughly exhausting for my soul.

In this embarrassing situation, I chose to literally lose my mind. Essentially, I was escaping.

I felt bad for the two working so hard for me, but it was an unavoidable choice to keep my sanity intact.

The noodles I had for lunch today were delicious. What was for dinner at the dormitory? Fried fish, right? Cats would probably love fish. Speaking of cats, the meow is the cutest.

Meow, meow, our cute meow. What are you doing and where are you?

I miss you, big brother… I mean sister.

While I was lost in thought, I suddenly regained my senses and noticed that Selian and Yuli had started dressing me while I was in a daze.

My body obediently followed their commands as Selian called for my arms, and without realizing it, I lifted my arms to change, and when Yuli mentioned my legs, I slipped them into the pants.

… Let’s return to my mental world. This reality is not a place I can endure.

Meow…

“Meow.”

?

“Meow?”

“Meow.”

I entered my mental world, but why does it seem like I can actually hear a cat’s voice?

With a glimmer of hope, I peeked back into reality.

While my body was still in the process of changing clothes under the touch of the two, a cat that had snuck under the dressing room curtain jumped up, stepping on Selian and Yuli, and landed on my shoulder.

“Meow!”

“Meow!”

I can’t believe I’d run into a cat in a place like this.

The cat seemed happy to see me, as it began rubbing its head against my cheek.

“Elysia? Can you hold the cat for a moment while I fix your strap?”

I quickly lifted the cat with one hand while tucking in the straps on my shoulders and switched arms to tuck in the other one.

Looking down, I saw that the outfit was actually a party dress.

Moreover, I had somehow ended up wearing shoes on my feet as well.

… Wasn’t I just buying clothes for the Celestial Festival?

No matter what I thought or said, Selian and Yuli took me outside the dressing room after changing me.

When I stepped outside, Anne and Linne, even the Ghost Friends, were still sitting there waiting.

“Aw, the cat avoided my hand.”

At that moment, Anne looked like she was about to grab the cat as it entered the dressing room, with her lips poking out.

Well, she should’ve been more considerate and not bothered the poor cat too much.

“Meow.”

In agreement with me, the cat replied.

Huh? Did I just say that? And how do I understand cat?

Oh right, thanks to Frecia, I ended up telepathically connecting with the cat.

So that’s how the cat found its way here. I completely forgot about the contract I made with the cat back then.

You came when I called, huh?

“By the way, hasn’t a lot of time passed by now?”

Gathering my wits again, I tilted my head and glanced at the clock in the store, realizing it was already past 4 o’clock.

I had come to this store just after eating a light lunch, meaning I had spent several hours like this.

It also meant that I had been zoning out for quite some time.

“But there are still plenty of outfits I haven’t seen…”

“I didn’t even get a chance to check the armor section.”

Despite trying on clothes for so long, the two still looked disappointed.

Then Anne made a new suggestion to them.

“How about you all bring back clothes you really want Elysia to wear? If you bring too many, it’ll take too much time again, so just pick what you want.”

– Me too! I want to choose!

“Meow.”

“Okay… then let’s meet back here in 15 minutes. Elysia, just stay put, okay? Don’t follow anyone, even if they offer you something tasty?”

Selian spoke calmly, as if teaching a child.

Honestly, Selian has way too many unnecessary worries.

“Hehe, I want to get something I saw earlier.”

“If you’re picking out clothes, tell me first, Linne. I’ll go get them so people won’t be surprised.”

– Hehehe!

The group of three, a ghost, and a cat scattered off in excitement.

… Why does it feel so unsettling seeing them scatter?