"Are you heading out today, Kagura?"
When Ardan opened her eyes, she saw Kagura standing in front of her wardrobe, adjusting her clothes, and asked curiously.
Lately, Kagura had been standing in front of the mirror far more often than usual. Ever since the day she got sick, Ardan had seen her doing it almost every day for the past half month. It seemed that even someone as mature as Kagura would still show her true colors when it came to the sorts of things normal children cared about.
Huh? Wait… why does it feel like…
But when Ardan took a closer look today, she realized in surprise that Inari Kagura really had grown taller—and not by just one or two centimeters, either. Ardan knew she herself was 162 centimeters tall. Before, Kagura had only come up to around her chest. But today, when Ardan moved up behind her, she suddenly realized that Kagura could now almost look her straight in the eye.
Usually, when Kagura came back and climbed into bed, Ardan was busy looking at her phone and would only greet her in passing. The result was that she had never noticed the changes in Kagura at all. It was only today, when she came back to her senses and looked a little more carefully, that she realized just how much Kagura had changed.
"Yes~ Does Ardan-ojousama have time today?"
"Eh? Of course I do... What is it?"
"Didn't you say before that if I had any clothing-related problems, I could ask you, Ardan-ojousama? Well... I've gone through honkaku, and my clothes are getting a little tight... so I wanted to ask if you could take me to pick out a few things that fit..."
Figuring that changes this big were probably impossible to hide from Ardan anymore, Kagura simply told her the truth. It also worked out perfectly, since she had been planning to go buy clothes today anyway. At first she had intended to shop on her own, but Eclipse had said she did not trust Kagura's taste in clothes, so Kagura had told Ardan instead, hoping someone skilled in that area would come with her.
"Honkaku... huh!? "
After a few seconds of visible lag, Ardan finally let out a startled cry.
Only then did she truly confirm that what she had noticed today was real and not some visual illusion. Kagura really had grown a great deal, from a bit over 140 centimeters to something closer to 155 now, and her figure had filled out a little too. Ardan estimated Kagura's height was now probably around 158. She already looked like a proper young girl. Even Kagura's hair color had changed slightly—her long black hair now carried a faint trace of pale blue at the tips, like the color of her eyes.
K-Kagura's gone through honkaku!!!
After the shock came a rush of joy so strong that even Ardan herself could not explain it. In all this time, she did not think she had ever felt quite this excited or thrilled.
"What's wrong? It's just a normal biological process everyone goes through~ Does it look that strange? Is it because my clothes are a little tight?"
Kagura was actually pretty glad her clothes had been on the loose side to begin with. Right now they only looked a bit snug. If the top half had been any shorter, it probably would have turned into a crop top. After all, it was not just her height—there was now a little more rise at her chest too, which put some slight pressure on the fabric.
"N-no! No! I just think... grown-up Kagura looks really beautiful! Really!"
"Hehe~ Thanks for the compliment~"
Kagura turned her head and smiled at Ardan. It was no longer the innocent, childish smile of a little girl, but one full of youthful femininity. The sight made Ardan tremble faintly. She felt as though her heart had taken a critical hit, leaving her frozen for a moment.
Ardan rarely used words like beautiful for people so directly, but faced with the smile Inari Kagura had just given her over her shoulder, she could think of nothing else.
"What's wrong? Ardan-ojousama keeps staring at me. Is there something strange on my face?"
"N-no, nothing! Didn't... didn't Kagura say you wanted to go buy clothes? Let's head out right now!"
"Mhm~ Okay~"
"Why does Kagura always want to look for the cheap clothes?"
Thinking it over, Ardan realized this was actually the first time she had ever taken Kagura shopping for clothes, if she did not count the time they bought swimsuits. She had heard before that Kagura was casual to a fault when picking clothes, and terrible at it too—but it was only after bringing her to the mall that she understood just how bad the problem really was.
"Well... clothes don't need that much effort. As long as other people don't think I look sloppy, that's enough."
That had always been Kagura's basic principle when it came to dressing herself. She was a thoroughgoing pragmatist. She did not care for expensive elegance or flashy beauty; simple neatness and decency were enough for her.
Ardan opened her mouth, about to scold Kagura a little, but then thought better of it. Kagura had not been born into a distinguished family. For a while, she had even been completely alone and penniless. Ardan understood why she had developed a habit like this, and after hesitating, she swallowed the words that had reached her lips.
"No! I'm choosing today, and Kagura is not allowed to touch anything! You like black-and-white colors, right? I'll go pick some out for you!"
But understanding was one thing. Ardan still felt she absolutely could not leave Kagura to choose her own clothes. She decided to do it herself and put together a few outfits for her.
Seeing how firm Ardan was being, Kagura could only smile helplessly and stand to one side, watching Ardan sort through things. She noticed that Ardan was not just choosing clothes—she was also casually looking at accessories and other little adornments. That actually made Kagura curious, because she realized Umamusume clothing stores also sold quite a few earrings and hair accessories. Normally clothing stores would not carry those things. Maybe, among Umamusume, such items were considered just as important as clothes themselves?
Still, I guess that's to be expected from an aristocratic young lady...
"Excuse me, are you with that young lady over there?"
"Ah, yes. Why?"
"It's just that it feels like you can't get a word in edgewise at all, so I thought I'd ask. I hope I'm not offending you."
"Haha~ I don't mind. My fashion sense really is that bad. My classmate couldn't bear to watch anymore, so she started picking things out for me herself."
Dressed in a set of rather ill-fitting casual clothes, Kagura gave the curious salesclerk a wry smile. The clerk looked at Ardan in the distance, then back at Inari Kagura in front of her. Their styles were obviously nothing alike. Ardan's clothes naturally gave off an air of refinement and luxury, while Kagura's whole look screamed plain and simple. They looked almost like a rich young lady and a village girl—yet the relationship between them also seemed so close that it piqued the clerk's curiosity.
After a little while, Ardan finally came running back with an armful of clothes. Without waiting for Kagura to say anything, she grabbed her hand and pulled her straight into the fitting room.
Wow... she really looks like she's here shopping with her girlfriend...
Watching Kagura get dragged inside without a word of protest, the clerk could not help thinking so to herself.
"Uh... Ardan-ojousama, what was so urgent that you had to drag me in here like this..."
Pulled directly into the fitting room, Kagura tilted her head in confusion at Ardan's hurried manner. Ardan let out a sigh and said nothing, only lifting a finger to point at Kagura's chest.
Kagura froze for a moment, then understood what Ardan was trying to say. The changes from honkaku had not been limited to height. Her figure had changed as well. The change was not huge, but there definitely had been one.
"Kagura... do you know your measurements?"
"Uh... I don't think I've measured myself yet..."
Kagura had not taken her measurements even once during this period, so all she could do was answer honestly.
"Then what about the bras you've been wearing this whole time?"
"They're all the ones I bought before. The size still kind of worked, but now that I look at it, they are a little tight..."
"Tch. Kagura, you really don't take good enough care of your own body. How can you be so careless? Take your clothes off."
Hearing Kagura still acting so casual about it, Ardan frowned, reached out to grab her by the shoulders, and spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.
Several question marks seemed to pop up over Kagura's head. She felt like she sort of understood what Ardan meant, and also like she did not understand at all. But coming right up and telling her to take her clothes off was maybe a bit—
"Ah... I... I mean, I brought a measuring tape. I wanted to help measure you, Kagura! N-not for any weird reason!"
A few seconds later, seeing Kagura stand there looking bewildered, Ardan realized that in her impulsiveness, she might have just said something extremely odd. Her pale cheeks instantly flushed pink, and she hurriedly waved her hands as she explained herself.
Whether Kagura had misunderstood her just now or not, Ardan's voice had not been especially quiet. If someone outside had overheard, it really could have caused an awful misunderstanding.
"I see... okay."
After hearing Ardan's explanation, Kagura nodded in understanding. She wanted to know how her figure had changed after honkaku as well, so she agreed readily enough.
Kagura took off the ill-fitting casual clothes she was wearing until all she had left on was a camisole and shorts, then stepped a little closer to Ardan. Ardan, who had been holding the measuring tape and getting ready to measure her, instead instinctively retreated half a step. She wanted to say something, but seeing how completely unconcerned Kagura looked—standing there in total composure—Ardan knew at once that the two of them were operating on entirely different wavelengths.
Aaah! Kagura is so dense!! She's not embarrassed at all like a normal girl would be!! ...No, wait, Kagura only went through honkaku a month ago...
At that thought, Ardan suddenly felt herself relax. It really was unreasonable to expect a child who had only just grown up to understand all of these things right away...
Wait, if Kagura's fine with this, then doesn't that make me the one with the weird thoughts?
Moving behind Kagura with the measuring tape, preparing to loop it around her body, Ardan suddenly realized that.
With a sigh, she decided not to dwell on that problem for now. She stepped close behind Kagura and lifted her hands.
"Kagura, could you raise your arms for me?"
"Okay~"
Kagura obediently lifted both arms and let Ardan's hands pass beneath them.
Standing behind her, Ardan nervously held the measuring tape and carefully guided it around Kagura's chest. If Kagura had turned around at that moment, she would have seen that Ardan's face had already gone completely red, like a tomato.
Kagura's skin is so fair... and so soft...
Even among Umamusume, Ardan felt this was something worth envying. Even before honkaku, Kagura's figure had already been very good. Now that she had gone through honkaku, her proportions looked even more balanced and perfect. Aside from her chest still being a bit lacking... Ardan honestly could not find anything else to criticize.
"B77... ah, that's pretty much what I estimated. Kagura really has developed a lot!"
"..."
Kagura had not exactly held out much hope, but hearing the number come out of Ardan's mouth all the same, she could not help feeling a little disappointed.
So a full, tall figure likeArdan-ojousama's really is still too much to ask for, huh...
Kagura did not know Ardan's actual measurements, but just from what she could judge by eye—and from the soft, unmistakable feel pressing against her bare back—she could tell Ardan was at least three or four cup sizes above her.
"Then it looks like the underwear I picked out will work just fine. Kagura, change into this set of clothes. If you don't know how to wear them, you can call me in... uh... I-I'll go outside first!"
Halfway through speaking, Ardan realized it would definitely be inappropriate for her to stay inside and watch Kagura change, so after reminding her, she immediately slipped back out.
Once she stepped out of the fitting room, Ardan leaned against the wall beside it, her cheeks flushed bright red, one hand pressed to her chest. She could feel her heart pounding there—fast and hard.
"..."
The shop doors were still open, and the cold wind from outside drifted in and brushed over Ardan's face, cooling her overheated CPU just a little.
There was no question that she was nervous and embarrassed. Even back when she had lived with Muteki, she had never done anything like this for her. Whether it was helping someone outside her family choose clothes or taking their measurements, everything she had done today was a complete first for Ardan.
What is wrong with me today?
Ardan felt that by her usual standards, what she had done today already counted as losing her composure. But she was not displeased with herself, nor did she feel any regret. On the contrary, she felt strangely happy. She could not even say why. It just felt as though, as long as Kagura was by her side, her mood would stay good no matter what. Even if they did nothing at all—just leaning against each other and staring blankly up at the sky—that would still feel satisfying and full to her.
She waited outside for what felt like a very long time, tense and expectant. The music in the store, the chatter of the other customers—all of it blurred into indistinct noise in Ardan's ears. Then, at long last, amid the haze of sound, she heard the especially crisp noise of the fitting-room door opening.
"My~ Ardan-ojousama, this outfit you picked for me is completely the look of some aristocratic young lady..."
Accompanied by the light tap of footsteps, Kagura walked out of the fitting room and turned to look at herself in the mirror. To be honest, Inari Kagura found it hard to believe that the Umamusume reflected there was really her. For the first time, she deeply understood what people meant by clothes making the person.
Is... that really me?
Looking at herself in the mirror, like some princess from who-knows-where, Kagura felt extremely satisfied. She turned her head and smiled at Ardan behind her.
"Ardan-ojousama~"
The instant their eyes met, Ardan's eyes widened reflexively and her lips parted slightly. No words came out. She felt as though her entire consciousness had been filled to the brim by Kagura's smile, overloading her completely and crashing her on the spot.
"...!"
...
——Whoa... I'm kind of tempted... So I can actually look this pretty?
——Strange. When I wore clothes like this before, Father and the others always said they didn't suit me... so why does Kagura pull them off so naturally?
——Is this what people mean by bearing?
---
T/N: ardan is so gay, also! WOW! SHE GREW A LOT??? also just realized ardan is as tall as me teeheeeeeeeeeeeeee anyway uhhhh uhhhhhhhh ALSO ARDAN, KAGURA IS STILL 12!!!! JUST BECAUSE SHE WENT THROUGH HONKAKU DOESNT MEAN YOU CAN DIVE STRAIGHT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST GROOM HER!!! I MEAN JUST BE THERE FOR HER!
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