Chapter 372: Saint Megumi's Direct Approach
A little later, on the streets of Kyoto City.
Kato Megumi was wearing a white dress paired with a short pale pink jacket and a classic white beret.
Because of the hot weather, she was not wearing her usual white pantyhose. Instead, she had changed into pure white short socks.
Her pale pink high heeled leather shoes matched her fair, delicate skin, which seemed to glow faintly under the sunlight. Her cute face carried no sharpness or aggression, only a gentle intimacy that made people naturally feel close to her.
Most importantly, the occasional smile curling at the corners of her lips, the tenderness and slight shyness in her eyes, and the small, casual gesture of lifting her hand to tuck her black hair behind her ear all gave off an irresistible, soft, and adorable charm.
However...
Kato Megumi watched the gazes of passersby around them.
Seeing that their eyes were all fixed on Asagiri beside her, she could not help covering her mouth and chuckling.
"No matter how cute I dress up, when I walk down the street with you, everyone's attention still gets drawn to you."
"After all, I'm very handsome."
"Tch, isn't that too narcissistic?"
Kato Megumi gently took Asagiri's hand and said this with a smile. Then she looked at the pedestrians on the street and spoke softly.
"Kyoto City is still normal. There's no news of any buildings collapsing, and for now, no one has been found dead. That world we were in during the Dungeon, what exactly was it..."
"Perhaps it was an idealistic world constructed from mental consciousness."
Asagiri looked up at the sun radiating intense light in the sky and spoke noncommittally.
"Although I don't know the exact principle, the theme of the Dungeon we just cleared should have been the Players' hunt for Hearts. Within the twelve hours of hunting time, we had to clear as many Hearts as possible, while the Hearts tried to merge with as many Uncontrollables as possible, then avoid the Players' hunt."
He paused slightly.
"At the moment the Dungeon ended... they most likely returned to the original world along with the Uncontrollables."
Kato Megumi's expression changed when she heard this, and she murmured,
"Then if an Uncontrollable who originally lived in Kyoto City merged with a Heart, wouldn't they be in this city right now?"
"Don't worry."
Asagiri gently squeezed Kato Megumi's hand, feeling that soft, delicate touch, and smiled.
"Rather than saying don't worry, it's more that worrying is useless. According to the Dungeon's rules, since the fusion is complete, the Uncontrollables won't be exposed easily. Always worrying about many things will only slow you down."
He looked at her with a teasing smile.
"By the way, why do you have a tendency to evolve into Asuna?"
"I do not."
Kato Megumi puffed out her cheeks slightly, reached out to gently pinch Asagiri's arm, and then smiled.
"Are we going back now? Or... should we walk around outside a bit more?"
Seeing Kato Megumi's cute appearance, with her head slightly tilted and expectation in her eyes, Asagiri replied without hesitation.
"Let's walk a bit more. It's a rare break, so naturally, we should have a date."
"That's great."
Kato Megumi lifted her hand and tucked her black hair behind her ear. That simple little gesture unintentionally radiated her unique charm, one of the things that made her so enchanting.
"It just so happens there's a place I want to go. Let's go~"
...
Half an hour later, inside a shop in Kyoto that looked quite antique.
"So this is the place you said you wanted to come to..."
Asagiri looked at the colorful kimonos of various styles displayed in the cases, then looked at Kato Megumi, who was earnestly making her selection, and smiled.
"Starting preparations for the Fireworks Festival this early? That's so like you."
"Actually... I feel a bit guilty."
Kato Megumi stood in front of a transparent display case containing kimonos. Her left foot was raised, her toes gently tapping the ground, and her hands were held behind her back.
Although Asagiri could not see the expression on her face, just from her tone, he could tell that her emotions were somewhat complicated.
"Picking out kimonos is something that should be done with Kotoko and Asuna and the others, but I had a selfish thought in my heart..."
At this point, Kato Megumi turned around and leaned a little closer to Asagiri.
She tilted her face up slightly, looked directly into his eyes, and revealed a complicated look.
"I've never worn a kimono before. If I'm wearing one to go to the Fireworks Festival with you... then the first time you see me in a kimono, I want all your attention to be on me."
Her voice softened.
"I don't want anyone to take your gaze away from me. Not even Asuna and Kotoko. It's very selfish, isn't it..."
"Not at all."
Asagiri reached out and pinched Kato Megumi's cheek, teasing her with a light chuckle.
"It's human nature. I think it's perfectly normal. When each person puts on a kimono, they can be alone with me... Hmm, that's actually a pretty good solution."
He thought for a moment.
"If I put it that way, let me see... then I'll have to wait five days. Oh no, six days."
"Six days?"
Kato Megumi tilted her head, a look of confusion appearing on her face.
"There are four of us here, plus the three from Shinomiya-san's side. Isn't that seven days?"
"Huh?"
Hearing Kato Megumi's correction, Asagiri was shocked instead.
"Let's forget about Hayasaka-san, okay? I'm really not familiar with her."
"That's strange."
Kato Megumi smiled meaningfully.
"Hayasaka-san is actually quite cute, and she's the type who's good at dressing up without making people feel she's too flashy."
"What are you doing? Are you playing matchmaker here?"
Asagiri waved his hand and replied righteously,
"It's not like I'll just approach any girl because she's pretty. How could I, the Eroge Shooter of Tokyo, be such a vulgar person!?"
"Then among the girls around you, are there any who aren't pretty?"
"Of course there are."
Asagiri did not hesitate for even a fraction of a second and replied without thinking.
"Prototype Mita looks pretty average."
"Uh..."
Kato Megumi recalled Prototype Mita, who looked like a puppet with only two pitch black, hollow eye sockets, and said speechlessly,
"Setting aside the question of appearance... to think you'd actually use Prototype Mita as an example. Not to mention being a girl, it can't even be considered human, right? Isn't that just sophistry?"
"Then Human Asura and Walrider."
"Huh? Are those two girls?"
"Of course not."
"You..."
Seeing Kato Megumi's cheeks puff up slightly in a sulk after being teased, Asagiri laughed and said,
"Alright, go pick out the kimono you like. As for Hayasaka, considering her personality, I don't think she'd wear one. Even if she did, it certainly wouldn't be for me."
"That's hard to say."
Kato Megumi pursed her lips and smiled as she said this, then began seriously selecting the kimono she wanted.
An hour later, on the street outside the shop.
"So expensive... This kimono actually costs over forty thousand yen..."
Hearing Kato Megumi's muttering, Asagiri spoke in a relaxed tone.
"That's normal. After all, this is the best traditional kimono shop in Kyoto, and you chose the one with the best material among the furisode styles. Since this kind of garment is only worn for a few important occasions, it's basically formal wear. Over forty thousand yen actually isn't expensive."
"Is it really not expensive...? My heart hurts so much..."
Kato Megumi muttered softly, then looked up at Asagiri and pursed her lips.
With a shy and bashful expression, she spoke in a gentle tone.
"I... I want to try it on, but I don't know how to wear it myself... Should we go back to the Hotel room, or... get another separate room?"
Seeing the alluring expression in Kato Megumi's eyes, full of anticipation, Asagiri wanted to tease her, so he deliberately pretended to look troubled.
"What should I do? This is truly a dilemma."
However, to Asagiri's surprise, when Kato Megumi saw his feigned troubled look, a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes.
She leaned closer to him, stood on tiptoe, and whispered,
"Actually... I bought two kimonos of the same style and color. One is for wearing to the Fireworks Festival, and the other..."
"Say no more."
Asagiri immediately understood Kato Megumi's implication. He nodded solemnly and said with a determined look,
"As expected, it really is better to get a separate room."
Hearing this response, Kato Megumi could not help revealing a smile and said charmingly,
"Then, this round of engagement counts as my victory."
Half an hour later, inside another room at the same Hotel.
"Come help me..."
"Alright."
After changing out of her clothes, Kato Megumi felt Asagiri's gentle movements as he helped her put on the kimono.
A blush appeared on her fair, delicate face, and she murmured softly,
"Your movements... seem very practiced. Have you helped others put one on before?"
"I studied it back when I was making eroge."
"Does this need to be researched too?"
"Of course."
Asagiri said this in a matter of fact tone while helping Kato Megumi put on the kimono.
"Helping one's girlfriend put on a kimono. During the process, your fingertips accidentally brush against her soft skin, and ripples stir in your heart. Her beautiful face, flushed with shyness, looks even more alluring in the dim sunlight streaming in from the window."
He continued calmly, as though giving a professional lecture.
"Once it's finally on, you can't help wanting to disturb that perfectly arranged look. The neat kimono, the shy girl wearing it, the contrast between elegance and disarray. That desire to disrupt holiness and purity is one of the important reasons why kimono scenes are so popular."
Kato Megumi's face turned even redder when she heard this.
But she did not fall silent out of shyness. Instead, she spoke in a slightly trembling, pitiful tone, uttering very bold words.
"Then... if you help me put it on properly, I'll reward you with the right to ruin this look."
"Rest assured, my skills are impeccable."
Asagiri leaned close to Kato Megumi's ear and whispered,
"I'm actually quite curious what kind of sensation it would be to mess up an expensive kimono worth over forty thousand yen."
.....
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