"Thank you."
When the two of them walked out of the restroom, they looked no different from when they had gone in. In reality, however, they had exchanged clothes and then changed back.
Fortunately, no one had been outside when they came out of the stall earlier. Otherwise, someone might have taken them for a pair of outrageously bold young women.
"If Shirai-san hadn't actually done anything to me, I might have thought you were some kind of perverted creep."
"Thank you for not mistaking me for a perverted creep." Shirai Mio gave a couple of dry laughs.
She had originally thought that almost no mission could trouble her anymore, but she had not expected the System to keep coming up with nightmarish tasks like this. It left her feeling thoroughly helpless.
Just now, she had actually been prepared to let the mission fail. Yet Kato Megumi had agreed to such an absurd request, which made it seem that she really did understand there was a reason Mio had to do these things.
Still, Megumi was probably quite a long way from reaching Yukinoshita Haruno's level.
After all, Yukinoshita Haruno lived right across from her and saw her every day, whereas most of Shirai Mio's communication with Kato Megumi happened over the phone.
Putting those wandering thoughts aside, Shirai Mio turned to Kato Megumi and asked, "Want to take a walk together?"
"Okay."
As the two of them strolled along, Shirai Mio seemed to remember something and asked, "Megumi, has anyone approached you recently asking you to be the heroine in a game?"
Kato Megumi tilted her head. "Why ask that all of a sudden?"
"I'm just a little curious."
"No. Normally, I don't think anyone would ask a girl as ordinary as me to be some game's heroine, would they? If we're talking about heroine material, I think you'd be much more suitable." Kato Megumi looked at Shirai Mio beside her.
No matter where she went, Shirai Mio was always the center of attention. Even in the park early in the morning, Kato Megumi could feel quite a few passersby looking their way. Those gazes were obviously not landing on her, but on Shirai Mio beside her.
"What do you mean ordinary? To me, someone as pretty as Megumi isn't ordinary at all. And having such a faint presence is a distinctive trait too!"
"Thank you for emphasizing my lack of presence so much," Kato Megumi quipped softly.
Shirai Mio opened her mouth to explain, but for a moment she did not know how. She could only smile helplessly at Kato Megumi and say, "You know I absolutely wasn't making fun of you."
"I know."
"If someone suddenly asks you to be the heroine in a game, make sure you turn them down. Also, whenever you're somewhere high up, be careful not to accidentally flash anyone."
"If you're the one who asks me to be the heroine, should I turn you down too?"
Hearing Kato Megumi's question, Shirai Mio blinked and said, "If it's me, then of course you don't have to refuse."
"Oh."
After the two of them walked several laps around the park, it was almost eight o'clock.
Kato Megumi checked the time and said, "It's about time. I should head home too."
"Then I'll see you at school tomorrow."
"Okay."
After saying goodbye to Kato Megumi, Shirai Mio headed straight home.
Although it was already after eight when she returned, not a single person was awake yet.
She smiled helplessly and started preparing breakfast.
Once breakfast was almost ready, she would wake Shiina Mashiro, just like usual. Everything was the same as always, only shifted a little later.
After waking Shiina Mashiro, Shirai Mio went to Rita's bedroom door. She had only knocked when Rita's voice quickly came from inside.
Before long, Rita emerged from her room with a head of messy hair and walked to the kitchen doorway. "You really do get up early even on your days off."
"Can't help it. I'm used to it. More importantly, I'm planning to take Mashiro out to buy clothes later. Want to come?"
Shiina Mashiro rarely went shopping, let alone shopped for clothes. Although she already owned plenty, she still needed some new ones from time to time.
Hearing Shirai Mio's question, Rita originally wanted to say no. After all, letting Shirai Mio and Shiina Mashiro spend time alone together was obviously the ideal situation.
But she quickly realized that if Shiina Mashiro was alone and a romantic rival suddenly appeared halfway through, Mashiro probably would not be able to mount any effective counterattack at all.
If Rita went along, she should at least be able to create a few opportunities for Shiina Mashiro, right?
With that thought, Rita nodded lightly. "Then I'll come too."
After breakfast, Shirai Mio helped Shiina Mashiro get dressed, and Rita finished preparing to go out as well.
To create opportunities for Shiina Mashiro, even though the three of them were going out together, Rita deliberately slowed down and silently followed behind the other two.
Watching Shiina Mashiro cling intimately to Shirai Mio's arm, a trace of envy appeared in Rita's eyes.
She wondered when she would find someone she liked. Even if that person was a girl, she would not mind in the slightest.
Before long, the three of them arrived at the shopping center.
Shirai Mio could hardly have been more familiar with the place.
She led Shiina Mashiro straight to a clothing store she often visited and began picking out clothes for her.
Shiina Mashiro was very obedient. Whatever Shirai Mio handed her, she would quietly take.
But that was as far as it went.
It was not that Shiina Mashiro did not know how to put on clothes. Rather, if Shirai Mio did not help her, she would somehow end up wearing them all crooked and askew.
Helpless, Shirai Mio could only enter the fitting room together with Shiina Mashiro under the surprised gaze of the sales clerk.
In the cramped fitting room, some physical contact was unavoidable whether they were taking clothes off or putting them on. Fortunately, both Shirai Mio and Shiina Mashiro had long since grown used to it.
So there was no awkwardness at all, almost as if they were an old married couple.
Because Shirai Mio was inside the fitting room too, Shiina Mashiro basically did not need to come out after trying something on. She only had to show Mio inside, and once Mio confirmed there was no problem, she could change into the next outfit.
The two of them stayed inside so long without coming out that even though no strange sounds came from the fitting room, it was still enough to make the sales clerk suspicious.
As for Rita, she stood all alone in a corner of the clothing store, staring blankly at the dazzling array of clothes without the slightest desire to try anything on.
All she could think was: why had she gone out of her way to come along and make herself the third wheel?
She was so jealous. So unbelievably jealous!
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