Adventurer's Guild Café: I Was Wrongfully Exiled by the Saint, So I Will Enjoy My Second Life with My Fluffy Friends - V 2.2 Chapter 4.7

“Kuna-san, you were just standing outside staring off into space, so I thought something had happened~nya.”

“S-sorry…”

It had been a little while since I’d parted ways with Gier. When the planned time came, I headed out shopping with Ellen and Kurona. Apparently, the two of them were surprised to find me just standing absentmindedly in front of the guild.

“I was just… lost in thought,” I said, trying to brush it off somehow.

“Still, it’s rare for you to be the one to say you want to go buy clothes, Kuna-san!”

“Um… is that a problem?”

“Eh!? Not at all! The idea of picking out cute clothes for you, Kuna-san—my heart is racing already!”

Ellen grinned with barely-contained excitement.

“Ellen-san, you’re scaring her~nya.”

“Whaaat, why? Who wouldn’t want to make Kuna-san look even cuter?”

I couldn’t help but feel a little relieved at how lively Ellen was. I did have a few summer clothes, but I thought maybe I should add a few more. Unlike the cooler seasons, summer makes you sweat a lot, so you really need to wash your clothes every day…

And also… well… I wanted clothes that were a little cuter than what I usually wore.

Like today, when I ended up running into Gier while wearing such a plain outfit. Ah, not that it’s because of Gier or anything, but… it is the festival season, so maybe it wouldn’t hurt to dress up a little more than usual…

“It’s summer, after all! Everyone wants to dress up a little!”

As I fidgeted awkwardly, Ellen-san said that in her usual bright, carefree way.

With these two dependable companions, I headed toward the clothing shop I always frequented. The fluffballs, by the way, had already gone back to the café.

…Well, to be precise, they’d latched onto a raspberry pie and absolutely refused to leave, so I left them there.

“Hmm, this one’s cute too!”

“This one looks easier to move around in~nya. Don’t you think?”

The moment we stepped into the shop, the two of them immediately started holding different outfits up to me.

I’d been worried it might be a bother for them, but they actually seemed to be having fun.

The two of them picked out clothes one after another, exchanging opinions—“No, not that one,” “This one’s better”—back and forth.

“Kuna-san, what kind of style do you want~nya?”

“Um…”

Oh no. I was the one who asked them to come shopping, and I hadn’t even thought about what I wanted.

Flustered, I hurried to think of what kind of clothes I’d like.

“Um, Gier would…”

I quickly clamped a hand over my mouth. Wait… what was I just about to say?

“Gier? What about Gier-san?”

Ellen asked with a puzzled expression.

“N-no, um…”

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

“G-Gier said that everyone dresses up for the summer festival, so, um, I thought I’d like some festival clothes…”

I was panicking, but I somehow managed to come up with a half-decent excuse.

“Ahh, I see! In that case, it has to be something extra cute, even more than usual!”

Thankfully, Ellen didn’t seem to notice a thing.

As my heart pounded in my chest, Kurona fixed me with an unblinking stare.

“Is that how it is, nyaaa~?”

Ugh. Why is she grinning at me like that…?

I fidgeted nervously, but Kurona didn’t say anything else.

I couldn’t help but let out a quiet sigh of relief as I placed a hand over my chest.