We follow Sakuya into a room that’s small compared to the one with all the kimono lined up.
For some reason, Sakuya is preparing both kimono for children and adults, with a graceful smile on her face.
“This…”
“I figured I might as well select a few kimono that would suit everyone.”
I don’t know a lot about kimono, but they have various beautiful patterns, and I feel like they’d be really expensive if they were sold in Japan.
It makes me feel like a pleb, and wonder if I can really try them on.
“Yay!”
“Pretty. We can try these on?”
“Yes, of course.”
But kids don’t feel at all like me. They run inside and start talking about what they want to try while laughing.
They look so charming next to each other like that, with Sakuya helping them.
She explains everything attentively too. And the way she acts means the two girls that are always full of energy listen quietly.
Meanwhile, the adults, Reina and I, are still standing near the entrance.
“Is it really all right?”
“Well, sure? Sakuya is having fun too.”
“She is…”
We also enter the room, and check out a few kimono.
Just what kind of fabric did she use? They all feel as smooth as powdery snow.
I’m sure they’re expensive… I think as I reluctantly check them, but the kids are done picking.
“Yes, Once you have decided, we can come to this room.”
There is a room deeper back with a big mirror and a few demon gods.
And the kids happily run in with the kimono they’ve chosen.
I don’t really know what to do, but a blue one catches my eye. And so, I pick it up, because it just sort of feels right.
It feels heavier than I thought, but that’s probably down to its quality.
“Do you like that one?”
“Yes, Sakuya. For no particular reason though.”
“Intuition plays a big role in this type of thing. You’re a man, so come this way.”
I’m taken to a different door. Yes, of course men and women get changed in different places.
““Welcome!””
Two male demon gods that for some reason are wearing only cloths around their waists and are holding a pose that shows off their muscles await me when I open the door.
“…”
I close the door, and turn back.
“Sakuya, I think I have the wrong room…”
“Hey hey, young man! Why did you close the door!?”
“It’s time to get changed!”
“Uwah!?”
The moment I turn my back, the door opens behind me, and a hand catches me.
And before I can say anything, I’m taken into the room.
I end up falling on my backside, and as I look up, I see the two demon gods looking at me with suspicious stares.
“Call me Ao”
“Call me Aka.”
“I-I’m Arata…”
One has a blue body, while the other is red, but they look the same otherwise.
They look thinner than Gyes, but their muscles are still tight, and it’s like they have no waste at all.
The story of the red oni and the blue oni I read a long time ago crosses my mind.
“Fufufu…”
“Let us begin.”
““Now.””
Both start grinning, and after they extend their arms towards me, I reflexively bat them away.
“Ah…”
“Why?”
“We are just helping you to your feet.”
“No, hum, sorry.”
There was really no reason. I guess I just felt danger on an instinctual level.
I get up by myself, and both kind of look like they’re sulking.
“Mister Arata, you can’t get dressed on your own, can you?”
“That’s why we are trying to help, of course.”
They reach out towards me, and I flick their hands away.
“…”
“…”
“…Why?”
“I’m sorry.”
It’s just an instinctual fear.
I can’t say that though, so I apologize.
It really is just reflex, because I know they don’t have ulterior motives.
“Hum, so I should get undressed first?”
“Yes. We will help.”
“It’s all right.”
I have to be stubborn here and say no, and start undressing on my own.
After taking off my pants, I’m left in my underwear, and their eyes turn serious.
“Hohou…”
“W-what?”
They walk forward, and I take a step back.
I think I know what they’re thinking.
“Yes, this body wouldn’t be outdone by ours.”
“Muscles without any waste, wonderful…”
“Can I hold it a little?”
“You cannot.”
“Hmph, I see…”
I don’t feel hostility from them. I don’t, but I think I feel something worse from their eyes.
“Well, we are talking about a friend of the young man and young lady. We shouldn’t meddle too much. Right, Ao?”
“But Aka, can’t we just appreciate?”
“I see.”
“Don’t ‘see’.”
His face is like he just said something good.
“Just joking just joking.”
“Yes, you are their friend after all.”
They’re trying to smile brightly, but their eyes are focused on my body.
At least I understand that they’re not bad people.
There’s that saying, when in Rome…
And I don’t know how to put this on either, so I have to rely on them.
“Hum, thank you then.”
“Yes, leave it to us. First put on the tabi.”
“Then the hadajuban.”
“And then the nagajuban.”
Aka and Ao take them one by one, and tell me their names as they pass everything to me.
I’ve never seen an hadajuban before, but I guess it’s like an undergarment.
And then I take the nagajuban and put it on.
“Hum, you don’t wear that loosely.”
“Eh?”
“He who controls the nagajuban controls the kimono.”
“Yes, this is a saying among us demon gods. Put your arm through here please.”
Both get closer, and carefully fix the nagajuban up and down.
That’s fine and all, but the pressure from their eyes is immense.
“Yes, like this.”
“Yes. You wear this well because you have a nice body.”
But their actual movements are very brisk and to the point, so what I was wearing so loosely before is tight around my body in no time.
“T-thank you.”
I’m kind of tired already.
But apparently it’s just starting.
“Now comes the main part!”
“Yes, we will be putting this on now!”
Both say as they approach me with the blue kimono I picked in hand.
I almost brush them away reflexively, but I hold it back this time.
“Clean the bottom…”
“Fix the sleeve too…”
“Clip the waist… Yes, you really do have a nice body.”
“Stretch all the wrinkles and wrap the sash tightly… This line is wonderful.”
They’re fixing everything, but can they be quiet?
What they say about my body here and there is scary.
“And the finishing touch!”
“This haori!”
They give me the haori like they’re passing along a legendary weapon, and I take it.
Then I stand in front of the mirror, and see myself wearing a kimono like I’m in a period piece.
“Ooh…”
“Yes yes, very nice!”
“We had something good to work with! Not many can wear it so well!”
These two really are skilled at compliments.
I know it’s flattery, but they’re so detailed with their compliments that it fools me into thinking I’m great.
“Hahaha! You can get any girl like this!”
“Yes yes! But Mister Arata, if you put your hands on the young lady, we won’t stay quiet either!”
They sound like they’re joking, but their faces are very serious.
I guess they really respect Sakuya.
“The young lady said she wanted you to return to the room where you were waiting before, once you were done getting dressed.”
“After all, women have more things to prepare, and take more time compared to men!”
That’s true.
And there’s three of them too.
“All right. Thank you, you two.”
“No, it was exquisite for us too!”
“Yes! We got our fill of a nice body!”
I guess we’re a bit more friendly, because I’m not as scared as I was at first.
As I was at first…
I take it easy in that room where I was before, and hear the cheerful voices of the kids from the other side of the sliding door.
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AIYAIYAIYAI!