Love Affair(2/2)
But these thoughts were brought to an end as Haru could feel the tissue separating his sight from Chloe move, a sign the latter had changed...
Looking at her, Haru was surprised. Unlike before, Chloe was wearing something much more elegant, which still left all the important areas covered properly. It covered almost all her shoulders and gracefully flowed into a minimal neckline. Although this atmosphere of elegance covered the dress, Haru could not help but think from the way Chloe was turning on herself to show off how beautiful she was, that the latter was comfortable in it...
"...You seem to appreciate this kind of dress-nya!"
Chloe didn't expect Haru to be interested in something so elegant compared to classic clothes. However, she didn't mind it at all. This kind of clothing was not at all suitable for her, but it would have turned out to be useful information for Syr, after all...
"Not really, let's say I was impressed by the grace with which you can move, perfectly respecting the way this dress should be 'shown'. Honestly, I have no particular preference for clothing..."
It was the truth. The dress had no major quality other than being a mixture of elegance and style, but it was just the grace Chloe had shown for the dress that piqued his interest.
At his words, her face blossomed into a smile, perhaps for the compliment itself, or perhaps because she more or less understood how the latter's thought process worked.
For him, the dress would not be enough to attract interest. It's the person wearing it to make the dress, a way of thinking that was not different from how she saw it herself, which further confirmed her theory about the similarities existing between them. However, instead of trying to add something or tease him, Chloe's smile grew gentler.
"...You are flattering me now-nya! Since I'm afraid you will say the same with everything I wear, now it's up to you to try some!"
Haru was confused. Since he had been dragged there by her, he expected that maybe she wanted something she was particularly interested in. Instead, she told him to be the 'protagonist'
"... I have enough clothes, even if I tried some, they won't be bought anyway. Since you're the one who dragged me there, you should take responsibility for it..."
Chloe couldn't hold back a chuckle.
"Don't play hard to get! You just said you have no particular preferences on clothes, this makes it useless for me to try new clothes because all you do is look at my body language-nya!"
It wasn't true. Although Haru didn't find a huge interest in the dress itself, it was still something that contributed to Chloe's look. If she didn't wear this dress, one couldn't achieve the effect of elegance and style. However, the way she had defined his 'look' was enough to make Haru avoid replying as he knew she might twist things around in an even more 'ambiguous' way even though she was not trying to do it at all.
'I don't understand if it's her way of communicating to me she lowered her defences as neither of us feels that kind of interest in each other or if Chloe is simply without any defence. I strongly doubt this last option can ever be true though.'
He had no idea how Chloe could be. This 'date' had no value other than trying to give him advice that he believed would not reach his heart and this same conversation left much misunderstanding to any other person who might be nearby to listen.
In the end, he didn't even know what Chloe wanted to obtain with this because he told her that his thoughts wouldn't change and that as even she already mentioned, he already knows he's wrong. Yet, he chose to let his thoughts remain perpetual in time, precisely because it was the right thing to do for him.
'...The classic couple that comes here to try instead of buying?'
This theory made its way into the cashier's mind, which, noticing the way they communicated, had misunderstood what was happening...
Even though they weren't acting romantically, it was clear to her that there was more to it than the eye could see, but since neither of them was requesting her presence, she chose to leave them alone, trying clothes was allowed, and they were not violating any 'rule'
"My gut tells me you never thought about buying fancy clothes, am I right-nya?"
Her words made Haru respond as if his answer was only natural.
"I don't have any use for that kind of clothes..."
He couldn't imagine the usefulness of buying fancy clothes. Just because he was still a level one adventurer, he remembered that no one was aware of his existence. He wouldn't be invited to parties or formal environments of that kind that made these clothes suitable...
"..You are not particularly interested in clothes, so you have to try on something special. Otherwise, nothing will ever catch your interest-nya...!"
---
After choosing clothes for Haru to wear, the latter did as she said without making too much of a fuss.
'I don't remember ever wearing something like this, now that I notice it.'
He remembered wearing the yukata, but such formal clothes were kind of foreign to him since he had yet to become an 'adult' in his previous world.
'By the standards of this world, I should be of legal age, although I don't think it would make a difference...'
He still did not feel 'mature' enough to show these clothes as they should be shown, something that in a sense made him feel unfit to be wearing this...
'I wonder why..'
But avoiding thinking about it for too long, Haru came out of the changing room as he fixed his jacket. Although he had no idea how to show off properly, he had a vague idea of how to wear it.
"... It looks marvellous on you-nya!"
These are the words that welcomed him once he got out of the changing room.
"...That's how you should wear it, right?"
This question led Chloe to nod with an honest smile. Knowing her habit of being too straightforward with words, Haru couldn't quite believe it. He expected to have at least been wrong to wear it, and instead, it turned out to be fine anyway.
"Are you surprised? If you wore it wrongly, this experienced lady would have thought about correcting you and explaining where you went wrong-nya, but leaving that out, I think you're too suitable for this kind of clothes."
Chloe's words made him think. Indeed, the latter certainly had more experience than him, if he did something wrong, she would be there to correct him so that the next time such mistakes could be avoided...
---
After this conversation, Haru revealed to Chloe that he had no experience with this type of clothing whatsoever, from which, Chloe explained how the formal 'code' worked, but after that, in addition to forcing Haru to buy the dress, she didn't do anything else.
"...Are you sure you want to go back?"
Haru was confused about it. She expected this was only the beginning and that maybe they would have a more concrete discussion, but after leaving the store, Chloe had asked to go back, to the point he had wondered if he had done something to offend her. Although there was nothing special between the two, he preferred to be sure not to be in bad terms with Chloe. Otherwise, the Hostess of Fertility would no longer be his 'place' to be in..
"I already said what I had to say. You can consider this experience something you will need in the future-nya. Perhaps, you were expecting more?"
Looking at him with a somewhat teasing smile, Chloe waited for an answer that did not hesitate to arrive.
"I just want you not to be offended maybe for something I said or done, otherwise spending time in the Hostess of Fertility will assume a kind of heaviness that I do not like at all. If we have to see each other off, I prefer to not be on bad terms with you."
Looking at the sun still high in the sky, Chloe could only sigh. She chose to help Haru as she could, but more than giving him a few tips he will have to ponder on in the future, or trying to get him to deal with sensitive topics, she had no access to his life, which is why in the past she would have preferred this kind of help.
Having already said what needed to be said, Haru probably didn't want to spend any more time with her after all she had 'forced' him to do, but it seemed like that wasn't the case.
"...If there is an opportunity in the future, then we will go out together-nya. I enjoyed this little time we spent together as the synergy between us is high, but that's enough. I'm not part of your life, and I probably won't in the future. It's not my role to meddle in your business or what happened to your heart at all. I'm not mad at you or anything. What I ask you is to consider people's feelings, not only Syr's. Perhaps, someone will obtain the key to your heart without even you knowing-nya."
The initial idea was to confront Haru's past and look for a way to help him, during their 'date'. However, she realized what she was doing was beyond the limit. That's because Haru wasn't part of her life, and she wasn't doing it anymore for her friend, but because she was genuinely curious to know someone more like her, who shared the same ideals. If they discussed it further, she would have to consider having to stop for Syr's sake, something she wanted to avoid, which is why she let Haru go for his way. She remained concerned, but it wasn't something Haru had to worry about.
---
(In these days, I am too busy to write. Both from school and problems that came up, so you will have to consider the novel almost on hiatus, though I am writing something down whenever I have time for that.)
(Regarding the story, be prepared for what comes next. I swear after training arc which is small, the main plot will flow rapidly. For example, Haru will level up in 10-15 chapters at most, Bell Cranel will be here to entertain us and big things will happen right from the start. Think about the kind of teaser I gave you with the Apollo Familia & Cassandra, it will happen in less than you may think. Regarding Chloe instead, she understood she couldn't really cross the line just because he is so similar to her, and from that development will be quite fast if I have to say it...! Join my discord btw: y8VBZAp)