Chapter 90: Demon King

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

“Is this… me? (For real)”

“Kyaaaaaaaa—!! It suits you so well, Yoshijitsu-san!”

“…Ah, thank you. By the way, my name is Hajime Toumachi (not that it matters now).”

“Ah. I'm Yuka!”

“Nice to meet you (truly, not that it matters now).”

In front of the mirror. 

There stood a 180 cm tall man in a black jacket, wearing sunglasses. 

Though it's black, it's a ‘moku black,' which means there are white lines mixed in, giving it a rugged look.

In addition, I had silver ear cuffs (the kind that don't require ear piercings) and silver rings. 

Everything was bought from this store. 

I was amazed by the impressive selection.

“Seriously, who the hell am I?”

At first glance, there's a totally striking person here. 

No… it's undoubtedly me, though.

The time rewinds to a few dozen minutes ago—

“I work here! I just finished my shift!”

“So that's how it is…”

In an unexpected encounter, I was swept into the store. 

Clothes and accessories were crammed everywhere in my view.

“But… why are you in such a hurry?”

“Well, it's a long story—”

So I briefly explained. 

How my friend was taken by two members of the club's OGs. 

How things couldn't go on like this. 

How I needed to change my image to reclaim my friend.

I tried to make it as simple as possible.

“…So, in other words, you're going to pick a fight?”

“…Yeah, something like that (confused).”

“…And that blood…”

“…I fell earlier (super embarrassing).”

I hoped she understood.

And somehow, I felt a bit lighter. 

The string of bad luck I had been experiencing seemed to lighten a little.

“If that's the case, I'll help you!”

“…Really?”

“Yep! Uh, well, it might take a little pondering… is that okay?”

“If it ends up looking scary, I'm fine with anything (like a doll).”

“Oh, um, what's your budget?”

“This is about how much I can pull together—”

“! Yoshijitsu-san, you're amazing… leave it to me!”

I showed her the 20,000 yen I had. 

…Well, it's confirmed that I'll start working part-time next week.

“Ah, alright… Sorry, but do you have this? We can work with that.”

“! You've got some really great stuff! Understood!”

“Hahaha. I'll leave it to you… (I wish I could just disappear).”

Wearing those secret boots, I showed her. 

I had no shame left (going all out).

“First, we need some band-aids! Manager, first-aid kit—!”

“Thank you… thank you… (embarrassed).”

---

“Is this… me? (second time)”

And that's how the tough-guy look was completed. 

She seemed to have struggled a bit with it, and it took about 30 minutes. 

If I had consulted with the thread members on my own, it would have taken more than double the time.

“…Incredible.”

Sunglasses, a jacket, and silver accessories. 

Since everything was second-hand, it was quite affordable.

I never expected to find everything I needed in one place.

“…Uh, can I take a picture?”

“Eh. I don't mind.”

“…Thank you very much!”

*Flash.*

Her phone, with rabbit ears, glowed brightly.

…Come to think of it, she had been choosing outfits while glued to her smartphone. 

She was really focused on it. 

I can only be grateful for that—

“Somehow, it reminds me of when Ichigo Nee-san came to help us.”

“Haha… does it?”

“Seriously—you’re so cool!”

I was genuinely happy to hear that. 

Being told so meant a lot to me.

With the secret boots and this outfit, it felt like the witch’s magic from Cinderella. 

Yeah… there was also a rather menacing witch. 

If anything, she might be the demon king, riding in a black limousine instead of a pumpkin carriage.

“Thank you. Can you take a photo with my phone too?”

“Eh? Uh, sure.”

That's why—I stopped myself from saying any humble words that were about to slip out. 

I handed her my phone and asked her to take a picture. 

This was for reporting back to the thread. I'd edit out my face later.

“Um, as for my thanks—”

“You don't need to!”

“…Really? Oh, here's my contact info, so let me know if you need anything.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah. I'll help out with anything I can—so is this a good enough thank you?”

“Of course! I'm so happy!”

“Thanks. Alright then…”

I switched my shoes back and put the other pair in my bag. 

I left the outfit as it was—then I started running back to the station.

My bag was packed to the brim. The clothes and shoes from before were a lot. 

But strangely, my feet felt light. 

The sky had cleared up, almost as if it was welcoming me.

“! G-Goodbye! Hajime-san!”

“Yeah!”

I gave her my biggest smile. 

Now all I had to do was buy the perfume recommended by the thread members—and head to the karaoke place where Hatsune-san was!

---

Yuka: Rio Nee-san, thank you so much!

Rio☆: No no☆ I never imagined he would wear such a fashion…

Yuka: Yes. If you hadn't helped me, it would have been bad.

Rio☆: Haha, with your taste, it would have turned into a full-on yakuza movie!”

Yuka: I'm embarrassed to admit…

---

[Rio Hiiragi PoV]

“Rio! We're about to start filming!”

“Ah, okay☆”

In that brightly lit room filled with cameras, 

she put her smartphone to sleep.

“Rio, have you had any fun lately?”

“Fuhaha— Yeah, I've had some!”

She struck a pose and reminisced about that guy's photo.

(He's really interesting. Toumachi, that is.)

His flustered expression. 

The outfit meant to scare people.

(On Tuesday, I'll ask him a lot of things☆)

“Hey, Rio! You're smirking!”

“Ah, sorry about that☆”

Just imagining his troubled face made a wicked grin spread across my face. 

It was an absurdly amusing request that had come in during my modeling work. 

I couldn't help but chuckle at the level of completion of that classmate’s outfit—my own fashion sense was on display.

(I don't know what it is, but good luck, Toumachi☆)

As the night went on, Rio's time passed by. 

And in the “Karaoke Room,” she was having a similarly enjoyable time—