***
Five minutes passed.
Xiao Chun Miura sat in front of the Wardrobe Mirror, propping her chin with her hand, staring blankly at the clothes slowly sliding across the mirror, as if being displayed in a shop window.
To be honest, this “new function” was quite comprehensive—not just clothes, but even a few preset makeup options… There were also several fixed hairstyle choices.
The Floor Plan used for previewing looked pretty clear too, even though it only floated on the Preview Window. You could still see all the details distinctly.
“……”
Though they’re all things I’d never use.
Xiao Chun Miura squinted.
“……Ha.”
What is the System thinking——!
Was the whole Outfit Change feature meant for me?
After the initial panic, as she calmed down, the girl’s heart was already starting to complain helplessly.
……I’m not even a youthful high school girl, so why would the System think I’d need this function.
It said it used “a bit of insignificant computational power”…… If possible, I’d rather it save that power and send me back sooner.
Not create some function I’d never use, making me feel like I’m playing some cold, pointless game.
So many clothes—claiming it only cost “just a little”—Xiao Chun Miura actually felt pained.
Watching the dazzling array of clothes float by in front of her, Xiao Chun Miura almost felt as if “she’d spent her own money” on them.
Although, from beginning to end, it was just the System’s computational power—though now, Xiao Chun Miura considered the System’s power as her own resource.
……What a waste, making all these clothes when I wouldn’t wear them.
……Eh?
Xiao Chun Miura’s brows suddenly furrowed.
……Wait.
—Saying it’s a waste is because it wasn’t something I needed or requested.
But what if the System made this feature not for my convenience, but simply because it “wanted to do it”?
The girl’s eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
No, no, no, no.
Xiao Chun Miura shook her head vigorously to clear away those absurd thoughts.
How could that be?
That’d just be twisted humor.
The System isn’t even human—what reason would it have to do something like this?
“……”
Her aimless gaze turned toward the colorful clothes still rolling across the screen.
Among them, a particularly delicate Forest-Style Long Dress paired with Dark-Colored Tights floated into the center of the display.
It looked like the kind of casual outfit a young girl would wear on a weekend outing.
“……”
“……No, what am I thinking.”
“Calm down. Calm down.”
“——Ah, right, I should go get a glass of water. It’s so hot after a bath…”
Muttering to herself, Xiao Chun Miura used the towel on her shoulder to wipe the water droplets from her forehead and left the Bedroom.
When she returned, she deliberately turned her back to the mirror as if not to look at it, climbed onto her bed, and lay down.
“……Hoo.”
With her back to everything in the room, Xiao Chun Miura stared at the wall by the bed, though thoughts of the days ahead filled her mind.
……Even though the Sports Day was a serious event, Xiao Chun Miura’s attention was still more on the Midterm Exams.
She remembered seeing it more than once in games and other stories of similar genres—if you didn’t pass a big exam, the Teacher would give you remedial lessons.
For her, that was nothing but trouble.
—It was already known that Kanzaki Sou was good enough to help others study for Midterm Exams in the Study Group.
Logically, Kanzaki Sou would never fail the Midterm Exams.
Which meant, if she had to attend remedial lessons for failing, she’d lose several chances after school to interact with Kanzaki Sou.
……Although the System said to prevent Kanzaki Sou from entering her route, Xiao Chun Miura felt such a thing was impossible anyway.
Sure, the System said refusing a confession wasn’t enough to prevent entering a route, but—
This so-called “emotional bond” the System talked about forming a route… Xiao Chun Miura thought that was just as unlikely.
As long as she didn’t fall for Kanzaki Sou, as long as she made her rejection clear at the critical moment, it was hard to believe he’d still end up on her route.
For example, when Kanzaki Sou decided to take that key step, she could just say, “Ah… Kanzaki-kun, I never saw you as the opposite sex, okay?”
“No… Even if you say so, I wouldn’t consider you a romantic interest…”
“Um, could you not say things like that anymore? We’d better just stay friends…”
“If this goes on, we’ll have to break off entirely, Kanzaki-kun.”
……Xiao Chun Miura imagined countless different ways to reject Kanzaki Sou under all kinds of conditions—directly and without leaving any room for misunderstanding.
No one would stubbornly chase after someone under those circumstances, especially not someone as kind, gentle, perceptive, and wise as Kanzaki Sou, who wouldn’t embarrass anyone.
Thinking of the boy, Xiao Chun Miura smiled faintly.
……Then, she immediately wiped the smile away.
—Wait, why am I smiling?
Was there any reason to smile just now?
In the darkness, she blinked her round eyes and lay on her side, unmoving.
……Ah, well, it’s just because my plan is flawless… I feel a little proud, that’s all.
——Xiao Chun Miura convinced herself with impressive speed and carelessness.
“……So, I just need to get through the Midterm Exams, then prepare for the Sports Day, and keep an eye on Kondo Haruka during all that, right?”
“Is there any way to know what will happen at the Sports Day in advance…?”
“Do I really have to watch Kanzaki Sou every moment… No, that’s just a last resort…”
“——Huaa… Come to think of it, it’s been over ten years since I last participated in a Sports Day…”
“Huaa……”
“……”
As she thought, drowsiness crept in, and Xiao Chun Miura fell asleep mumbling to herself.
***
On Saturday morning, sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting a warm glow on the bed by the wall.
“—Haah… Ah! It’s already this late!”
Lying in bed, Xiao Chun Miura glanced at her phone beside her pillow and immediately sat up in a panic.
She remembered that last night, Kanzaki Sou had texted her, inviting her to go buy books at the Store Street together today.
The girl hurriedly got out of bed. Passing the Wardrobe Mirror, she stopped in her tracks.
……Originally, she planned to wash up and just go out in her School Uniform, but as if drawn by some strange force, Xiao Chun Miura approached the mirror and tapped the “Outfit Change” function.
After some indecision, she picked out a cute casual outfit: a Ruffled Puff-Sleeve Dress paired with a Cardigan.
Just before exiting, she even selected a few light, small Earrings… But in the end, she didn’t wear any.
“……Ugh……”
The girl hesitated, when suddenly a familiar voice called up from downstairs.
“—Haru-chan? I came to pick you up!”
……It was Kanzaki Sou’s voice.
***
“——Waaah!”
Xiao Chun Miura threw off the covers and shot upright.
The digital clock ticked quietly. Even the ticking of the hands was absent in the room.
Only Xiao Chun Miura’s own sounds broke the silence.
She panted, still in shock.
“……”
“……What?”
“A dream? I had a dream like that?”
Recalling the scenes from the dream, Xiao Chun Miura felt cold sweat bead on her forehead.
She glanced at the right side of the bed.
The Wardrobe Mirror stood quietly on the other side of the nightstand, perfectly normal.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.