Chapter 4 (1/2)

【Heroine C?】 is a friend?

Translator: Skythewood

Editor: Deus ex-Machina, Ruzenor

［What’s your name?］

The one asking my avatar with a chirpy voice was a fas.h.i.+onable girl in casual clothes. Her clothing matched just like a model out of a fas.h.i.+on magazine. Her limbs were slender, and showed an appropriate amount of cleavage that had an impish charm about her. Even in the game, it couldn’t be helped for my eyes to drift over there since I was a boy. Her shoulder length hair was dyed a rarely seen pink. Her makeup wasn’t too thick, which brings out her androgynous beauty.

【T-T-Tosa, Tosa, Itsuki. 】

【Tosa tosa? Tosa Itsuki right?】

My avatar nodded.

【Okay, and I’m Fujikawa Kaname. Just call me Kaname. 】

【…………】

In response to the girl about my age—— and a boku girl on top of that—— my avatar stopped and couldn’t react when he was asked to address her by her name.

<tl: girls=”” that=”” address=”” themselves=”” as=”” boku(僕)=””  instead=”” of=”” watas.h.i.+(私).=””>

【Ka, kakaka】

I know, I know. If I was just reading it from the phone, I could call her Kaname. But in real life, I would act just like my avatar!

Ignoring the repet.i.tive and robotic 【ka】 sounds from my avatar, Kaname said:

【By the way, going by my principles, I can’t pretend I didn’t see that. You are planning to buy the clothes you placed inside your shopping basket right…?】

When I realized it, Kaname’s name had changed from 【???】 to 【Heroine C? Fujikawa Kaname】... I already knew Rika-sama and Nakajima, and their names appeared in their dialogue box the moment we encounter.

So people I didn’t know in real life would be shown in such a way.

And the next thing of note was, a third heroine appeared in the game! A girl that had nothing to do with the data I entered at the very beginning!

I lift my head from the phone for a moment and stretched myself… I was too engrossed in the game. I tilted my neck in a stretch, phew—

I looked at the clock above the blackboard, the time displayed was already past 1700hrs.

Wednesday, the third day after school. It was rare for me to stay behind in cla.s.s 2-2. I had the room to myself. When it was possible to play the game, I immediately started  【There are no heroines in my youth】. This was something I set for myself from the lesson I learned this afternoon.

If I went home at the usual time, I think that the timer would drop to zero while I was still walking or on the train. And so, I stayed behind in the cla.s.sroom.

Well, I wasn’t in any club and didn’t promise anyone to go home or visit some place together. Gon-chan and Kazuya both prioritize their girlfriends. The only thing left was the cleaning duties as a campus beautification committee member that took just a bit of time. Speaking of which, I think I was told that there had been more littering during the student council election period…

I returned my gaze to Kaname’s lines on the phone screen.

The choice branch after school on Wednesday was something like this.

【Hurry home and chat with other players together with Grandpa in the latest FPS【h.e.l.l·Scream 4】.】

【Shop for clothes at 【Train】.】

【Puppurapu?】

It has to be the second option! I didn’t see that Puppura thing!

And so, I selected ［Shopping for clothes］.

It was plain and simple for a course of action, but not that normal for me.

【Train】—— shopping for clothes there… Just the name of the shop had an obviously different atmosphere from the usual shopping center where I usually buy my clothes, a place I never visited. Because I just needed my uniform for clothes. Or my tracksuit. I had never went on a date before too! I didn’t have the chance to wear fas.h.i.+onable clothes! By the way, the very act of shopping for clothes… I had only done so with my Grandpa in April, when I bought a tracksuit for about a 1000 yen.

Asking me to shop for clothes in a fas.h.i.+onable shop… That was something I usually wouldn’t do…

Following my selection, my avatar headed for 【Train】. That seemed to be a franchise popular among youths as the latest in fas.h.i.+on trends. I saw a few students wearing the same uniform as me. My avatar entered the shop.

—— Going into that place as if it was nothing, my avatar was… a scary person…!

I was only intimidated for a moment. I was relieved when I saw my avatar selecting his merchandize quickly.

The screen showed the clothes that my avatar was planning to buy, and every one of them was a choice that puts me at ease. The clothes seemed to be the kind I would choose myself. I would be able to choose from the ones that was selected. My avatar, you and I were the same person after all.

My avatar then put the clothes into the basket. A matching pair of pants and jacket.

After the narration 【a girl is looking at Tosa Itsuki】 popped up, Kaname then talked to my avatar with the line: 【I have something to tell you】.

Alright, I already stretched, so time to pull myself together—— And end the break time! Continue with the game. I tapped the screen. After that Kaname’s dialogue was displayed: 【Those clothes——】.

【are dull】

【……! 】

I could feel the wavering my silent avatar was feeling. Kaname’s lines were dubbed. Because she was dubbed, I started to waver just like my avatar.

【This might be none of my business, but I can’t stay silent anymore. Tosa-kun, are you making yourself dull on purpose? The clothes inside that basket wouldn’t match well, they will look ugly on you. You need to buy cooler clothes… Do you have time? Try on every piece of clothes in the basket. After doing that, come out and let me take a look. 】

And then, the scene changed and my avatar went to the changing room. My avatar tried out the clothes… The images of my avatar in those clothes were shown one after another on the screen. This was the first time I saw my avatar in the game, and he just had a generic hairstyle and body shape.

Hmm, it feels like I was slightly behind the curve compared to the trending fas.h.i.+on right now…? That was about it.

【Alright, I will take a shot with my camera. Good, take them off and try the clothes I picked.】

After opening the curtains of the changing room, Kaname inspected my dressing and took my photo, and I returned to the changing room once more. It will take some time in real life, but the clothes were changed immediately once I tap the screen.

Trying on the clothes for the second time.

【……! 】

［……! ］

I was in sync with my avatar. My hair and body remained the same, but I had obviously changed.

【Hmmm, just like I imagined. Alright, I will take some photo. Well, let’s compare the difference.】

I pulled out the before and after photo, and placed them on either side of my phone screen. If I had to give a score, the combination my avatar and I chose was 40 points. Kaname’s choices was 100 points, that was how wide the gulf was.

【The clothes Kaname chose is better...】

My avatar actually said the name of a girl he met for the first time without stuttering! And he didn’t have a Recycling bag over his head! And wasn’t weirded out by a carnivorous girl and gotten used to it…! I have to work hard.

【Isn’t that so? Hehe.】

My avatar bought the 100 points clothes… It wasn’t that expensive either. I could buy it all with the money I had in my wallet—— At this moment, the screen turned dark and the countdown appeared.

I got up from my seat.

［Alright, Pandora! ］

I said to my partner. The installed AI Pandora, would always answer as long as the phone was charged, even if there wasn’t internet.

【Here.】

［I want to go to this 【Train】 shop! ］

In order to meet with 【Heroine C?】 Kaname in real life! I never heard of this shop name before, but since it was in the game, it should be nearby!

【—— There isn’t any clothing line by that name near Honami High School】

… Ehh? Huh?

［Pandora-chan, are you serious?］

【I’m serious.】

Like Pandora said, I couldn’t find that place even when I search on the net.

The clothing shop 【Train】 didn’t exist!

So the place I would meet Kaname didn’t exist.

【This should be the effect of the error code. The name might be different, it should be fine if you visit a similar shop.】

［Erm, as for similar shops...］

I went to the busiest subway station in the vicinity. The surrounding area had plenty of shopping malls and high cla.s.s condos. There were many national chain franchises and niche fas.h.i.+on stores here too.

Since it had chain stores with the latest fas.h.i.+on designs, popular among youths of both genders and frequented by many Honami High School students, this should be the place.

After exiting from the ticket barrier and leaving the crowd, I looked at my phone.

Fast fas.h.i.+on, shops where you could buy fas.h.i.+onable clothes at a bargain.

<tl: https:=”” en.wikipedia.org=”” wiki=”” fast_fas.h.i.+on=””>

I would be visiting the shops I knew and searched for fast fas.h.i.+on shops around the station. There were 【s.h.i.+mamura】, 【Union】, 【K·U】, 【Dark On】, 【Muji】.

Well… If my luck was bad, I would need to visit every one of them.

［Then, let’s start with 【s.h.i.+mamura】…］

【Calculating from our current position, the most efficient route would be 【K·U】【Muji】【Union】then 【s.h.i.+mamura】. As 【s.h.i.+mamura】 is the furthest away, we will lose a lot of time if 【s.h.i.+mamura】 is the correct answer. Going with the reverse route and starting with 【s.h.i.+mamura】 is a viable way, but considering Itsuki’s character, you will probably opt for the the cautious and efficient method of starting with the nearest place. That’s why I suggest this route.】

［… I will start with 【K·U】 then.］

Time was short, so I began my search for the shop… in the end, even 【s.h.i.+mamura】 I visited last wasn’t that shop, and I returned to the station again. It was a complete miss. The clothes in the game couldn’t be found in any of the shops. It had been 5 minutes since my avatar was supposed to meet with Kaname.

［Hah…］

【Sorry.】

I sighed deeply while holding my phone, and Pandora said softly.

【If only I can find the correct location of 【Train】… I’m not worthy of being a support AI.】

［No no no! It’s not strange that you couldn’t do that! Don’t get so down!］

【But…】

［Think about it, you are the one who told me that the shop 【Train】 didn’t exist, right? I would have wasted more time without this information. You have been a big help! So Pandora, don’t be so depressed! ］

【… Alright. Itsuki is consoling me, our positions have switched huh. Okay, I won’t be depressed anymore. Next time, I will be the one to comfort Itsuki.】

［Ugh, I prefer to not have anything happen to me that would require me to be comforted…］

【In order to avoid that, let’s work hard.】

［Right. Did we missed out any fast fas.h.i.+on shops…?］

The sight of a couple wearing uniforms from my High School visiting a shop that had just opened entered my field of vision. I followed them with my gaze.

When the couple entered the shop, my eyes opened wide when I saw the clothes display window. I had an impression of the clothes over there. That jacket! It was the same design as the one Kaname placed inside my basket. So this was the place?

【It seemed to have just open today. Searching on the net yield no results, but there is a notice on the store’s homepage.】

I took a look at the store name. 【WEGA·Wiga】. The only thing it had in common with 【Train】 was the usage of English alphabets. So this was the place… It was definitely here. And so, I entered the shop.

If I could find the clothes my avatar chose… I picked up a basket and started browsing the clothes. Starting with a s.h.i.+rt… Found it!

This was definitely the 【Train】 inside the game. Amend it to 【WEGA·Wiga】, prediction system!

Really now… I composed myself and started picking out clothes just like I did in the game, the only thing that worries me was being late. To make myself more prominent, I wandered around the shop randomly.

［I have something to tell you.］

Fortunately, Fujikawa Kaname was here. Next, Kaname will ask 【What’s your name?】,

［What’s your name?］

I told her my name…

［……］

I should tell her my name, but I remember I didn’t do so smoothly. Oh no, I only remember that much. Because I was only thinking about finding this shop, I forgot my lines.

Turn on the phone on power saving mode! Pandora! Pandora could definitely do it! She would definitely know what I was thinking! Come on out, my cheat sheet!

The lines came out with a snap.

Yes, Pandora! Nice, Pandora!

［T-T-Tosa , Tosa , Itsuki. ］

［Tosa tosa? Tosa Itsuki, right?］

I nodded as I looked at the cheat sheet.

［Okay, and I’m Fujikawa Kaname. Just call me Kaname. ］

According to the sheet, I stopped here momentarily.

［Ka, kakaka］

Just like this.

［By the way, going by my principles, I can’t pretend I didn’t see that. You are planning to buy the clothes you placed inside your shopping basket right…? Those clothes—— are dull.］

I need to turn silent at this point and sigh.

After this, for the first time in reality, I looked at Kaname calmly.

Ehh…?

I noticed something different from the game. Be it Rika-sama or Nakajima, the difference between the portrait and reality wasn’t too big. Rika-sama’s s.e.xy body in reality was shown perfectly in the drawings, the same goes for the pure beauty Nakajima. Their voices were the same too.

As for Kaname—— her hair colour and voice was just like the game.

My eyes drifted to Kaname’s chest. Kaname’s casual clothing was the same… except for one small difference.

The Kaname in real life wore warm yellow clothes, and the design was the same as the game, but there was something right below her neck—— Girls would understand, right? She was wearing sweater and hotpants, as the sweater fitted her body snuggly, it emphasized Kaname’s breast despite it being very boyish. However, her cleavage was well hidden. It didn’t have the beauty of being a little revealing. Was this due to the error code?

But even if I took a hundred steps back and ignore the cleavage that wasn’t visible, her breast… that was quite voluptuous had disappeared. Was those fakes?

I recall the portrait in my mind —— Wrong!

There was no such thing. The portrait’s feel and wobble of the breast was definitely the real thing.

That was strange. I stared at the part which was different from the game—— Kaname’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

［……?］

I tilted my head

… Or rather, before we talk about the size and the amount of skin being revealed, wasn’t it crooked?

The left breast was sliding down. Noticing my gaze, Kaname looked down at her own body.

［Oh no.］

She muttered, and pulled at the collar of her sweater.

［T-This is a pathway! The middle of a pathway!］

［Ah, that’s true. Hurry up then, come with me too Tosa-kun.］

We headed to the part of the shop where the merchandize was less eye catching. However, when we reached there, Kaname pulled open her collar without hesitation. If she did that here——

I would see things I shouldn’t be able to see!

And then… Her chest was flat?

Kaname then reached into the open s.p.a.ce with her right hand in plain sight. She then corrected the position(?) of her breast(?) to the right spot. She probably thought it was hard to adjust it this way, so she took her left breast out.

—— Pads.

［Done.］

After moulding her pad into the correct shape, she put it back on.

［How is it?］

［… Erm, it’s straight now...］

［Oh? I was in a bit of a hurry today, that was careless of me to not do a final inspection with a full mirror. That won’t do.］

Kaname took out a folding mirror and checked herself.

［Okay, my appearance as a girl is the prettiest! Don’t fall for me now! ——Tosa-kun, what’s the matter?］

［Your, breast.］

Your breast.

［Breast? Ahh, what about them…? Oh right, since I’m expose, I have a question. How does it feels to the touch? I think this pad isn’t bad for a fake breast.］

My hand was grabbed over and brought to Kaname’s chest. I didn’t have any experience in touching the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of a girl before, but, this one would fall off if I touch it right… Why wasn’t there so much as a soft bulge behind the pads? Why wasn’t it that much different from my chest?

［Ah, it’s out of shape again.］

Kaname hurriedly adjusted the pad.

［Ermm…］

［Hmm?］

Kaname pulled open the collar of her sweater again.

［……Kaname, you are... ］

The right breast that had fallen onto her stomach was fished out by Kaname’s hand, and pushed to the right place.

［…… a boy, right?］