i'm sure rinne-senpai doesn't lose all the time. there's gotta be some wins there sometimes. yeah, i'm fine with forgetting about all that, since it'll just put you in a bad mood.
[ .. yeah, this definitely isn't going to be a "lovely meal" by the end of the conversation. But he suddenly feels guilty for his past actions, even if he didn't know Hiyori was there yet. There's no roundabout way Jun can avoid mentioning this now. ]
don't get mad at me, but she sorta saw something. i swear i didn't walk around naked or expose myself, ohii-san. you know i'd never do that! and monika-san didn't walk in on me changing cuz we kinda swapped clothes together.... in the same bathroom stall... if she said she saw everything, i didn't know she was looking, alright?? that's got nothing to do with me.
[ In fact, he wasn't even aware she was looking while he was undressing! She seemed interested in his muscles, but there's likely no way for anyone to believe that. ]
[Right, of course, Jun isn't some shameless pervert. Hiyori may have had a brief imagine spot about him standing proudly naked in a locker room, flexing his muscles for all to see, but he doesn't have that kind of personality! He's the type who still gets shy when fans tell him he's cool! So, just what exactly is going on here? He needs to hear the truth pronto.
But he may not be prepared for the truth.]
Swapped clothes?
[In the same bathroom stall????? He's not sure which is more mind-boggling!
No, on second thought, it's definitely the clothes thing!!]
[ He's unsure how this conversation started, how Monika even knew that he and Hiyori knew one another, and felt embarrassed to clarify the situation. And then he wonders why his partner even brought up the topic and how it became a point of discussion in the first place. The truth is, he was too shy to initiate physical contact; it was Monika who made the advances, and he went along with them. ]
it was a dress. one of those lolita dresses.
[ At the very least, he can try to avoid mentioning the underwear swap that likely allowed Monika to see those parts of him. ]
[Right, well, never mind how they got on the topic of Jun being nude in the first place. And never mind how Monika met Hiyori, or how she learned about his connection to Jun. Totally not important, definitely not worth asking about!
Jun's newfound willingness to wear frilly dresses, however, is very worthy of discussion. Or it would be, if Hiyori could successfully wrap his head around the idea.
Jun-kun in a frilly dress? Jun Sazanami? His partner?
You never showed much interest in fashion before, plus you're always going on about muscle training and other manly things, so I had no clue you were interested. But if you do want to expand your horizons and try new looks, I'd never dream of stopping you!
Though, I'm not sure walking into a bathroom stall with a girl is such a great idea. Or anyone for that matter. But especially a girl.
So next time, how about we simply go shopping? Then you can try on all the cute clothes you want!
But if you do end up wanting to buy something, we can always search for something similar back home! You could come to one of our Pretty 5 meetings. I'm sure Arashi-chan and the others would love to dress you up 😊💕
[God help poor Jun-kun. The misguided messages just keep coming one after another.]
[ Jun's ready to explain the situation if necessary—that he was simply helping Monika and there was nothing inappropriate about it. Even that might be a bit of a stretch, since it seemed admittedly strange for a girl to be so intrigued by his physique and embrace him the way she did. He can't quite put his finger on why, but her fascination had him feeling strangely content. While he remained untempted, he understood how someone could be tempted in that situation.
Wait....!
Jun blinks in confusion, re-reading Hiyori's unexpected message inviting him to a Pretty 5 meeting, not just as the bag carrier, but so they can dress him up? Though initially puzzled by this sudden invitation, Jun feels no apprehension about attending, as the other members have always treated him kindly, especially Mika, with whom he finds easy to talk with. (Apparently enough, for Mika to appear on his relationship chart!) ]
what the hell're you talking about, ohii-san?? sure, it wasn't bad wearing a dress but i'm not gonna go to a pretty 5 meeting just so you guys can dress me up. or, in narukami-san's case, girls...!!!
i've never shown interest in fashion cuz i don't understand any of it. i just listen to whatever you go on about whenever we go shopping. i'd rather you just pick out my clothes, cuz i don't know what i'm doing half the time.
and i know, it sounds really bad. i'm not gonna do anything like that again. it's just complicated, that's all.
[ He's not going to ask how they know one another, considering at this point, he's completely forgotten all about that. But he knows how it can look if he were to do that again. ]
[Huh? What gives? Hiyori reads the incoming messages and frowns. Why would Jun dress up with some girl in a bathroom stall, but not with his own partner or Pretty 5?
But, now that he thinks about it, Jun isn't a shameless muscle-flexing pervert or someone who's into frilly clothes. The whole idea was rather surprising. So perhaps this explanation doesn't fit the situation, either. In which case he's back to square one, with no clue about what's going on!
Still, one thing is clear from Jun's response to the matter. I know it sounds really bad, I'm not gonna do it again—yep, that settles it. There's absolutely no way he and that girl had "that" sort of encounter. Jun feels guilty enough about this clothes-swapping business, so there's no way he could ever hide a fling or a love affair (as though that was ever in doubt). So...]
What's there to be mad about?
[He'll take the high road. Jun already learned his lesson, no need to punish him! The small knot in his stomach is just jealousy leftover shock and confusion, not anger!]
If anything I feel a bit sorry for you, since it sounds like you might've been peeped on. Not to accuse that girl of anything too awful - I'm sure her intentions were pure, since she has that lover she's crazy about.
Anyway, if this were at home, of course it'd be a different story. I'm sure Ibara would blow a fuse if he saw you leaving a public restroom with a girl at your side! Even if you *were* wearing a cute dress.
But at this place, there's enough flashy stuff going on that you might've escaped people's notice. Two people leaving a bathroom together is nothing if there's some jaw-dropping display of indecency happening right down the hall, I suppose. And if you came out wearing different clothes, it's obvious what you were in there for, so we *should* be alright. We'll just have to be careful going forward.
[It's not like his own record here is clean. Being registered with someone as newlyweds and being seen leaving a wedding suite with them would lead to scandal for any idol, yet he wasn't able to avoid either of those things. He and Leo-kun also got trapped together in an elevator and asked to flirt with each other! And elevators often have security cameras. They were just luckily able to keep things G-rated.
Still, there no need to make things easier on this place by hopping into stalls with whoever asks... But the reason he isn't lecturing on that more is because he's still kind of hung up on the clothes. What on earth did Jun-kun look like wearing that sort of thing?]
I am a bit curious, though. Was it a "truth or dare" sort of thing? She said she needed to swap clothes with someone, and you said "Sure, that sounds wonderful"? Running errands for me hasn't turned you into an absolute pushover, has it?
[ The only explanation is that he doesn't dress up more often because nobody has ever asked him to. Beyond that, he doesn't have much reason for his lack of interest in fashion. The only times he wears anything more than casual clothes are for work obligations like stage costumes or photoshoots. Strangely, though, he realises that he doesn't hate dressing up on those occasions. It's not that he vehemently dislikes shopping; it just wasn't one of his favourite pastimes.
Ah, well, Jun can neither confirm nor deny, since Monika did leave a lasting impression. She did ask to kiss him, which is why he also feels a little guilty, not that he has to admit that to Hiyori just yet. So that's why he knows how bad it may sound, considering there was temptation and he'd been in the thick of it. ]
there's nothing to be mad about.
[ And rather than provoke unnecessary jealousy, we're aiming to be considerate, as Jun remains oblivious to most things. Still naive in many ways, Jun had declined Monika's advances, so no harm was done. Better to leave some things unspoken, since saying more might only embarrass her. Yep, discretion is the key for now. ]
i think she was just interested in my muscles, cuz she kept wanting to touch them. i don't wanna accuse anyone of doing something like that and i don't wanna embarrass her any further, ohii-san. especially if she's already got someone...
and i know ibara would be pissed and i already feel bad about it. he'd call me an idiot and i can't do anything about it but agree. i didn't really think about it, alright? it was stupid of me, and you've got every right to chew me out.
[ No, because that's only making it worse, even if he denies nothing happened, it still would cause a scandal if anyone had seen him leaving a bathroom stall with a random girl. He's never done anything like that before, so he doesn't know why he did then. Jun's career means everything to him, and now he's realising how it might look to the fans and to the rest of Eden. And he could've easily said no, just stayed in his bathroom stall, handed over the clothes and be done.
But even he's aware of how terribly he messed up and how awful of a partner he is letting Hiyori down. ]
and no, it wasn't like she did it randomly. the easiest way to explain it was one of those weird slots down in the chapel. i dunno if you ever saw them? anyway, monika-san needed some cold to trade clothes with, so i said i'd help. well, even i thought it was weird at first cuz it ended up being, "trade clothes with someone cold in the bathroom." there's no way doing errands for you could make me a pushover for anyone else. that's already a full-time job, you know?
[ Hopefully he's clarified most questions, possibly going into too much detail since he can't hide anything from Hiyori, even through text messages. ]
[He stares at the message. Jun obviously can't see it but his smile slips.]
Did she?
[There's no way this girl wasn't making a pass at him. Jun was just too hopelessly clueless to notice, apparently. He'd gotten that vibe from the way she talked about him, too. Of course, she did say she had a lover she's crazy about; he didn't make that part up. But he also knows the details there, even if he's chosen notto share them with Jun. First, it's an Internet relationship with someone she's never even met before. Two, she has no proof that person is here, even though she's convinced herself they are. And three, she said she'd love to have two people fight over her! Which adds up to one thing.
There's absolutely no way she's staying faithful to that person. Especially in this environment. She'll be on the lookout for someone else before too long. And Jun-kun seems to be one potential suitor in her eyes. What should he do? Just stay out of it?
Nope. Time to nip it in the bud!]
She must admire well-built bodies, like the kind in those posters you have on your wall. Just like Anzu-chan.
[He's referring to this incident. Girls sure seem to love feeling up his partner!]
And perhaps her lover is also the well-built type! She didn't tell me anything about what they looked like, though. Just that they bonded over some game or another, and that it's an "unconditional love" sort of deal.
[That's how he's nipping this: by telling Jun about her lover. That way, if she ever puts the moves on him, he'll probably say something like "Aren't you already dating someone?" And she won't be able to deny it, because that would mean denying her true love, and then the whole house of cards will come toppling down! Yep, that takes care of that!
You know, since they can't afford to have any dating scandals. It's not like he's trying to nip this for any other reason. He's just looking out for his unit. And for Jun-kun, honestly, who might not be able to handle that girl. She definitely seemed like the sly type, that's for sure.]
Nope, must not have seen those. That was just that thing that popped up where people were getting fake-married, right? I'm not sure what the obsession is with fake weddings. I know for sure that I wouldn't want slot machines at *my* wedding. But if that's how it happened, I suppose it's just a relief you weren't made to wear a wedding dress. Now *that* would've been something!
yeah, she did so maybe she does. but those posters are there for motivation!! nothing weird like what anzu-san said.
[ He couldn't really forget about Anzu asking to touch his abs; even if Monika didn't ask, she just touched. So that's the difference between them, he supposes.
And the more Hiyori reveals about Monika having a partner, the more red flags go up, which begin to make him feel uneasy. He could just ask her, but he doesn't want to embarrass her, plus he's not the confrontational type anymore. But it still had him wondering if her interests were purely platonic or hinted at something more. Her unexpected attention to his muscles made him wary, despite appreciating the confidence boost on some level.
He feels more deflated that Monika didn't mention whether she was in a relationship, since it doesn't explain her overly flirtatious nature. While he didn't know Monika well, he had enjoyed her company despite her weirdness. Many of the idols at ES were odd too, so strangeness alone wasn't cause for concern. ]
i still didn't know she had someone, which makes me feel real bad. i'm sure if she told me, nothing would've happened. thanks for telling me, i feel kinda stupid about it.
[ Why is he acting as if something actually happened? It definitely didn't, since he's clueless when it comes to someone having an interest in him. Besides, can you like someone after spending a couple of hours with them? Well, maybe in a place like this, it's possible. But there's no desire to pursue a romantic relationship, as he recognised the complications and scandals it would bring. Not only that, he's utterly clueless, so it's better to not risk anything for the sake of feelings. Besides, Eden's important to him and he already has important people in his life, so surely there's no room in his heart for anyone else.
And Ohii-san still knows more than he does, so he takes those words at face value. He would never suspect that she has ulterior motives or that he needs to rebuff her advances. ]
you would've seen them if you went down there and were looking. they were sorta everywhere, and yeah, it was only cuz of all the fake marriages happening. i don't think anyone would want slot machines at their own wedding, ohii-san, but i get what you mean. that's exactly how it happened, so i promise that's it and nothing else. what's up with you saying that? i doubt i could've walked around if it had been a wedding dress, so i got pretty lucky.
Careful about calling girls weird, Jun-kun. *That* could be considered bullying!
[He teases, thankfully unaware about the underwear swap. If he knew about that, he might say that handing a girl used men's underwear to wear (especially when you sweat as much as Jun!!) goes far beyond "bullying" and treads into the territory of a "war crime."
But, you know, speaking of "bullying"...
He does feel a little twinge when Jun says "I feel bad". And then another one when Jun adds that he also feels "kinda stupid." Which is ridiculous, of course. Hiyori hasn't done anything wrong. He's no bully! And honestly, Jun probably should feel stupid about stripping down in a bathroom stall with some girl just because she asked. A little more awareness can't be a bad thing. It'd take someone utterly clueless to think that's a good idea.
... or someone so caught up in getting attention from a girl that he got completely carried away. That's also a possibility. But Hiyori doesn't really like that thought, so on with the bud-nipping.]
How could you have known if she didn't say anything? I'm not sure why she told me and not you, but perhaps she was simply too caught-up in that clothes-swapping business to mention it. Or caught up in your muscles. One of the two.
But in any case, you couldn't have known, so if any well-built muscle men starts chasing you around the resort and shouting "Hands off my woman! 😡👿😤" or some such, I'll be sure to vouch for you!
[Sorry, Monika-chan. Though actually, he's not sorry, because he hasn't lied at all here; this is all information she willingly shared with him. You can't brag about your true love one minute and try to feel up his partner in a bathroom stall the next! That's an "either/or" sort of thing! You can't have both, you have to choose between the two! But since Monika-chan can't seem to make a choice, the noble-born Hiyori Tomoe will simply choose for her. That's how things work around here.]
Well, perhaps Rinne-senpai would, but I can't see him settling down anytime soon. I haven't spent much time in the casino since I don't care for gambling, but I guess we ought to investigate the area more thoroughly at some point.
And aren't those dresses with the big frilly skirts hard to walk around in, too? How many layers were there? I'm just so curious to know what you looked like! You might not agree, but I'm sure you were utterly adorable 😊
i'm not calling a girl weird, just what she said was. that's a big difference, ohii-san and i'd never do something like that, alright? most our fans are girls, and i'm not gonna go hurt someone's feelings by calling them names.
[ But it's fortunate Hiyori remains blisfully unaware of the underwear swap (or kiss), as revealing both incidents would only further humiliate Monika, especially since she has a partner. (Apparently!) Jun feels stupid and remorseful, experiencing temptation for what reason? He doesn't want to get involved in any "cheating" scandals. So what should he do now? Maybe clarify things with Monika, just to be sure.
None of this is Hiyori's fault, he's only acting on the limited information he was given. (Or so Jun is led to believe.) Despite Hiyori offering explanations, he remains disheartened Monika never told him the truth. ]
maybe you're right about the muscle thing.
but why do you think her partner is a "well-built muscle dude"? or maybe the muscle option makes the most sense... and thanks for wanting to vouch for me.
[ Though he appreciates the compliment, he feels confused by Monika's attention, unsure of her motivations or his own feelings. It was just a girl touching him, so why can't he stop thinking about it? He knows he shouldn't get caught up in the attention, but it's hard not to when it's the first real interest anyone has shown in him. However, said interest may have been for Game 52 rather than genuine. ]
rinne-senpai's the only one who would. you think there's something down there now? hmm, i haven't gone down there since. though if you wanna go down there to look, we could?
are you just saying that cuz you wanna see me in a dress or what, ohii-san? 😐 i seriously don't know what you mean by layers??? i'll just say two.
[ While not opposed to wearing a dress again, he's not going to say it outright! ]
I know, I know! I was just teasing you a bit, that's all!
[Jun isn't a bully. He's a good boy. Almost too good, really. Fortunately, that means it should be super easy to dissuade him from doing anything with this Monika girl! Now that he knows she's taken, he'll probably avoid h—
Wait. What's that? He's going to go see her again to "clarify things"? That's not what Hiyori intended! But he doesn't know that's what Jun's planning, so it goes uncommented on. And well, it's not like he can prevent them from running into each other. All he can do is set things up so that the whole house of cards comes crashing down the next time she does try to make a move. That's what happens when a house is built on lies!]
Well, like I said, I have no clue what they look like. She just kept referring to them as "my lover" and "the love of my life" and other mushy things, so it could be a woman for all I know. But she seems to like muscle, so it seems as good a guess as any!
[As a certain other idol put it (or will eventually put it during a future event), he's "totally cool with this sort of thing." Male lover, female lover, whatever people have is fine with him! Just so long as they don't jump his partner in a bathroom stall, it's all good! ... Though, he is neglecting to mention that she also referred to her partner by another mysterious name. She called them "The Player!" But that doesn't give him a clue as to their gender, or whether or not they have muscles.]
No, there's nothing I'm expecting to find in particular. I'm sure if there was something like an exit there, Rinne-senpai would've found it already. But it doesn't hurt to look, I suppose. If there's one thing I've learned from detective shows, it's that you never know where you might find clues.
And some of those dresses have petticoats, which create multiple layers. I've never worn one myself, though, but I'm sure I could pull it off. We could even match! Though that might be pushing the "Eve" theme a bit too far for some fans. But if it was just a one-time thing and we returned to our regular style afterwards, hopefully everyone could enjoy it 😊
[ Sorry, Hiyori, despite Jun being a "good boy," he still needs to get to the bottom of this! And even though he trusts Ohii-san's account, there's a high chance of him still seeking out the truth from Monika-san herself. And this time, he'll be wary of whatever scheme she's hatching. He plans to stand firm against her machinations, and since he already spends most of his time with Hiyori, resisting her manipulations shouldn't be too difficult. ]
oh, okay. that's gotta feel pretty bad for whoever they are. women can have muscle and there's plenty who like working out, so i guess it could really be either.
[ NEGI being the ally we deserve, even that's fine with him too. Fine with whoever makes Monika happy, even if he's obliviously unaware. He only hopes whoever Monika's partner is, they make her happy, that's all! By the sounds of it, they do, so that's good.. great even.
But now! We're back to the Rinne slander, which feels oddly comforting. ]
he definitely wouldn't still be here if there was an exit. but he'd probably get lost out there on the floor, anyway. yeah, sometimes there's clues all over the place. i'm sure there's gotta be something there, even if it's a loose chip.
they do??? well, i'll remember that for next time. but you think? you're good at picking out colours, so you'd probably look good in one. huh, our fans aren't gonna see us, are they? but wouldn't that be something they're into? wait, are you trying to say you wanna do that when we get home?
[Male or female, do people who meet over the Internet and bond over video games tend to have any muscle? Aren't they more likely to be soft-bellied shut-ins? Though, then again, Jun-kun likes games, and he has plenty of muscle. That's something he and that girl have in common, then: their love of games. ... Which is another great reason not to mention that whole part of the story! He just won't tell Jun about the video game slash Internet dating thing! There's no need! It's much easier to return to the time-honored tradition of dunking on Rinne-senpai.]
True, he might get lost if he gets too drunk! Honestly, though, if any casino is easy to get lost in, it'd be that one. It looks like it goes on for several floors. But we'll cover more ground with two people than one, at least.
Sure, why not! Though we could try on clothes here, too. Hopefully our captors are too busy gathering worse blackmail to pay attention to who's trying on what clothes, so fans shouldn't end up seeing it. And if we tried them on at home, I guess they'd only see if a fan or a reporter happened to snap a photo? We could always take pictures and post them ourselves, of course, though we'd need CosPro's permission first. I'm sure something like that would generate an astonishing number of Likes 😊
Though our fans' wants are somewhat complicated, I think. Some of them see us as princes, or sort of like ideal boyfriends, so we don't want to lean *too* heavily on feminine charm. But to others, Eve's softness and sweetness is what they like most about us. And seeing someone you admire try on a new look is always exciting, so I want to think they'd like it! Our fans ought to appreciate how cute we are. They can be counted on to appreciate all sides of us, rather: our cool side, our cute side, our handsome side, all of it.
[ Hey, Jun is one of those people!! And he'd clearly tell Hiyori that some people do, using himself as a reference, if he were to ask. But he's relieved that the discussion ends there when it comes to Monika-san. Even though she had (has?) a partner, she didn't behave like she did, leaving him confused. It's frustrating how much he's dwelling on this, so he's open to more teasing about Rinne-senpai. ]
well, we'd have to make sure he doesn't get that drunk. but i don't really wanna look after drunk people, let alone a drunk rinne-senpai.. yeah, i'd say some people have nothing better to do than sit in a casino all day and bet everything they have. i'm up for searching the floors cuz there's gotta be something there, or a real reason why stuff keeps getting weird down there.
alright, if that's something you want, just remember i'm new to all this, ohii-san. you think something like that is blackmail-worthy? i thought they'd be more into it cuz it's... [ A kink! ] i'm sure fans would understand if they saw us. they're usually pretty understanding of us in eve. and i don't really wanna do that for likes, but if it makes you feel better, i'm sure we could get ibara to agree.
i really wanna say our fans would be supportive, but it's, like you said, complicated. well, i don't think we'd let them down on purpose. i'm sure there's other costumes they'd enjoy seeing us in. if we've gotta do that in the end. and well, you're always way better at putting it into words. but i was thinking, ohii-san, it's also not gonna be a permanent look if they end up seeing it.
[ Phew! It's a relief that Hiyori has been so understanding. Jun never really considered wearing dresses before, now he's starting to realise he might actually enjoy cross-dressing. He's still a bit hesitant to fully embrace it, but maybe it's not such a bad thing, after all.]
Yep, so true! I don't have any interest in babysitting drunks! I'd much rather dogsit! Rinne-senpai's stumbled back drunk to our room at home before, and I was NOT amused!
Though it's thankfully not a regular occurrence. One time it seemed he was actually pretending to be drunk. I'm still not sure what that was about.
[Have some surprise Rinne lore.
But as for the thing about them "being more into it," what does that mean? Who told his pure and innocent Jun-kun about kinks? Not that he knows much about the subject, either. He's heard of people using whips and chains and stuff, but he'll pass! And he's heard of toys before (and seen them in the store windows here), but he'll pass on those, too. He'll just pass on the whole theme of this place, really.
But he won't pass on the chance to see Jun-kun in a cute dress! A chance he still can't believe has actually opened up.]
No, I wouldn't say it's blackmail-worthy. And you're right that it wouldn't be a permanent image change. Unless you like it so much that you *do* want to dress like that all the time. But it'd be hard to hit the gym in that sort of outfit, so I assume not.
Anyway, when we first ran into each other in that clothing store, I'd been about to try on some cute clothes to lift my spirits up. I knew I couldn't afford them since they'd blocked access to my bank account and this place has its own currency, but there's still no rule against trying things on. And if there was, I'd just ignore it, since that'd be absolutely absurd!
But in any case, we can definitely pencil a fashion show into our schedule at some point. We'll search the casino for a few hours, then try on clothes as our reward! That sounds like a wonderful plan.
[Very wonderful. After this conversation, he feels refreshed. He'd been worried at the beginning that something untoward might have happened between Jun and that girl in the bathroom stall, since Monika spoke about their encounter so suggestively. But now, he realizes the truth. Jun-kun's takeaway hadn't been that girls are cute and tempting, oh no. Jun-kun came to a completely different realization in that stall: "girls' clothes are fun to wear!"
Yep, that's what happened, and it's totally unexpected. Even Hiyori, who knows him well, could never have predicted that twist! But this is much better than what he thought happened, so he's in a great mood now! Thanks to Monika-chan, he'll get to see his partner in cute clothes. And in video game terms, that's what you call a "Win"!
Or, in visual novel terms, that's what you call a "Good End," but he knows even less about those.]
man, i can't say i'm surprised. it sounds exactly like something rinne-senpai'd do, but it must've been awful when that happened. i'm also sure mary wasn't impressed with being woken up.
but why was he pretending to be drunk? just to annoy you and shinkai-senpai? must've thought it was funny.
[ Thankfully, Jun doesn't have to deal with drunk people anymore and Sakura-kun's really the most ideal roommate. He's lucky; he wouldn't want to deal with a drunk Rinne-senpai!
And boy, has he heard some stuff! People just can't stop blabbering about their weird kinks in public, and he's forced to overhear it all! (Sadly, even in the locker rooms—the ones they had a conversation about.) The good news is that he doesn't jump into those conversations and swiftly walks past those stores, but sadly, he's still picking up some knowledge. ]
it's definitely not gonna be a full-time thing. it's like you said, it'll be hard doing weight training dressed like that. maybe a sometime thing??
that's why? it's a shame all the clothes you picked out ended on the floor for some reason. [ That's not his fault!! ] i still wouldn't mind going with you there, even if you wanted to try the clothes on. i figure you didn't get around to it yet, but we weren't banned so we can always go back whenever you'd like. i'm sure we'll figure out the chip thing soon, so you can go and buy the clothes you want.
sounds good to me, ohii-san. we're going to have pretty packed schedules, but i'd rather keep like this. i'm just really glad you're not teasing me. thanks for being understanding.
[ His chest feels full, so maybe this is the first kink he's ever acknowledged having! Or realised that he actually has. We're growing up. And having a set routine, similar to the one back home, would be helpful. Even if it doesn't involve work, exploring the resort for clues and indulging in some shopping might be fun.
However, there were a couple of unexpected revelations from the "incident" with Monika-san. As it turns out, he doesn't mind cross-dressing, and he also finds girls incredibly cute. Sorry, Ohii-san, but he also thinks boys can be cute too! As time goes on, he'll discover (in a couple of days) just how tempting they can be. Regardless of what Monika-san revealed, it's really unfair that she went ahead and did that. Was she angry? Upset? Just why would she need to? Oh, well, he's not going to dwell on it, even if it sounds as if they did something scandalous. Which they didn't! Yep, it's better this way. He wants to ensure that his partner remains happy, allowing them to enjoy time together without thinking about what happened. ]
I'm not completely sure. He had his younger brother drop him off at our room, however. I would've thought he'd want to appear cool in front of him as the elder sibling, but perhaps he chose the opposite approach for some reason.
[It's not like Hiyori can't relate at all. He's fine with acting like a frivolous idiot in comparison to his own brother. But he's the younger one and his older brother's the heir, so that's a bit different in his view. Shouldn't Rinne be trying to act more like his aniue?
Still, he doesn't intend to butt in there, since they're not that close. He'll only speak up about Rinne's drunkenness when it bothers or inconveniences him! Or when there's a funny joke to be made at his expense.]
A sometime thing, huh?
[He's still surprised. Especially when Jun thanks him for being understanding at the end. My, he's really serious, isn't he? But he's pleased as punch about how things turned out. Sorry to Monika-chan, but Jun did discover something about himself in that bathroom stall, and it was not "I really want a girlfriend." Instead, he made the surprising discovery that "girls' clothes are fun to wear!" Which is a discovery Hiyori can work with.]
That sounds workable to me. I've never been banned from a clothing store, but I'd like to see someone try! We can definitely go back to that place, or to a similar one, since there are other shops around too. I'll look forward to it 😊
And perhaps the sight of you lifting weights won't bother me as much if you do it in a frilly dress. Then I might find it amusing, rather! I may even welcome you to do it in my room! So, perhaps we shouldn't rule out that idea just yet.
maybe rinne-senpai doesn't wanna appear cool in front of anyone? including his brother. i can't really relate cuz, as you know, i don't have a sibling, so maybe you can? you've got an older brother.
[ It might feel nice to have a sibling, though, but it also might be embarrassing to be drunk in front of them. And then, have them drop you off. The loudness, drunkenness, and smell like a pachinko parlour would be annoying, but Jun smells like sweat sometimes, so he's just glad Sakura-kun smells like, well, Sakura's.
Rather than judge, he finds it amusing that Hiyori was assigned to room with someone as boisterous and inconvenient as Rinne-senpai. ]
was that a weird thing to say?
[ The situation is win-win for everyone. Monika-san's no longer being talked about, Jun doesn't have to tell Hiyori more about what happened, and he's been understanding about the dress-wearing revelation. Since idols cannot date, Jun already knows he doesn't want a girlfriend or boyfriend. He appreciates that Ohii isn't teasing him anymore but rather wants to go shopping and dress up together. ]
don't think you'd handle being banned from a clothing store. i doubt any of them back home would ban you anyway. [ Not with how much he usually spends in said stores. ] but whatever store we go to doesn't bother me. whatever you pick out sounds good.
i wouldn't want you to find my weight training amusing if i were wearing a dress, ohii-san??? you're not gonna like it anyway, are you?? how's it any different if i'm working out in normal clothes??
[ The whooole proposal seems highly suspicious to him, especially Ohii-san's stipulation that he can only work out in his room if dressed in a frilly dress. ]
Hopefully he makes an effort to look cool in front of his fans, anyway. I'm not sure they'd want to see him in such a sorry state.
When you're the younger sibling, I think it's less about looking cool. I don't know what it's like to be the older one, but I always thought you'd want to seem reliable. That's how I want Nagisa-kun to see me, anyway.
[Who he does try to act like a "responsible older brother" around, even though they aren't related. Family is about more than just blood connections in his view.]
No, it wasn't weird. I'm just pleasantly surprised by your enthusiasm. And I'm extra surprised you're letting me choose, but it's not at all a bad surprise. I can promise I won't abuse my authority to make you wear something silly. I'll look for something that suits you well and really brings out your cute side! 😊 And then we can consider make-up, accessories and other things! 🎀💄💋💅🏻🪞
And how will I know I don't like it if I don't ever see it? Costumes can help bring a performance or a photoshoot to the next level, so perhaps the same is also true of weight-lifting! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
i think his fans already think he's cool, ohii-san. people like that "bad boy" image or whatever he's trying to do.
huh, so it's different depending on who's younger or older? nagi-senpai has siblings too, right? maybe that's already how he sees you.
[ Well, Rinne's antics are not an act; that's his genuine nature, which is precisely why Ibara loses his cool in response to Rinne's behaviour. Man, is Jun glad he's not in Ibara's shoes. ]
you know clothing stores better, like i said, so i know it'll be fine. you wouldn't want me picking out a store, so that's what surprises me about your reaction. i know you'll never abuse the power i'm giving you, which is why i'm leaving it up to you. hmm, make-up? it's not gonna be like the stuff we wear for photoshoots, right?
[ But maybe wearing something silly would be fun? That's Jun's other thought, but first, it's better to stick with one idea! ]
ok, fine. you've unfortunately got a point. i dunno how it's gonna be any different. and it's not a photoshoot or performance? it's seriously me just working out??? if that's what you wanna see, maybe i'll do it just once.
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[ .. yeah, this definitely isn't going to be a "lovely meal" by the end of the conversation. But he suddenly feels guilty for his past actions, even if he didn't know Hiyori was there yet. There's no roundabout way Jun can avoid mentioning this now. ]
don't get mad at me, but she sorta saw something. i swear i didn't walk around naked or expose myself, ohii-san. you know i'd never do that! and monika-san didn't walk in on me changing cuz we kinda swapped clothes together.... in the same bathroom stall... if she said she saw everything, i didn't know she was looking, alright?? that's got nothing to do with me.
[ In fact, he wasn't even aware she was looking while he was undressing! She seemed interested in his muscles, but there's likely no way for anyone to believe that. ]
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But he may not be prepared for the truth.]
Swapped clothes?
[In the same bathroom stall????? He's not sure which is more mind-boggling!
No, on second thought, it's definitely the clothes thing!!]
You put on a skirt and a cute shirt?
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it was a dress. one of those lolita dresses.
[ At the very least, he can try to avoid mentioning the underwear swap that likely allowed Monika to see those parts of him. ]
1/?????
Jun's newfound willingness to wear frilly dresses, however, is very worthy of discussion. Or it would be, if Hiyori could successfully wrap his head around the idea.
Jun-kun in a frilly dress? Jun Sazanami? His partner?
That Jun-kun?]
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So that's how it is!
[After a long pause, wholehearted acceptance!
Though he's still a tad shocked.]
You never showed much interest in fashion before, plus you're always going on about muscle training and other manly things, so I had no clue you were interested. But if you do want to expand your horizons and try new looks, I'd never dream of stopping you!
Though, I'm not sure walking into a bathroom stall with a girl is such a great idea. Or anyone for that matter. But especially a girl.
So next time, how about we simply go shopping? Then you can try on all the cute clothes you want!
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4/4 ok done (sorry)
[God help poor Jun-kun. The misguided messages just keep coming one after another.]
1/2 i'm screaming ty for this
Wait....!
Jun blinks in confusion, re-reading Hiyori's unexpected message inviting him to a Pretty 5 meeting, not just as the bag carrier, but so they can dress him up? Though initially puzzled by this sudden invitation, Jun feels no apprehension about attending, as the other members have always treated him kindly, especially Mika, with whom he finds easy to talk with. (Apparently enough, for Mika to appear on his relationship chart!) ]
wait, hold on..
2/2
i've never shown interest in fashion cuz i don't understand any of it. i just listen to whatever you go on about whenever we go shopping. i'd rather you just pick out my clothes, cuz i don't know what i'm doing half the time.
and i know, it sounds really bad. i'm not gonna do anything like that again. it's just complicated, that's all.
[ He's not going to ask how they know one another, considering at this point, he's completely forgotten all about that. But he knows how it can look if he were to do that again. ]
are you not mad at me? i'm seriously confused.
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But, now that he thinks about it, Jun isn't a shameless muscle-flexing pervert or someone who's into frilly clothes. The whole idea was rather surprising. So perhaps this explanation doesn't fit the situation, either. In which case he's back to square one, with no clue about what's going on!
Still, one thing is clear from Jun's response to the matter. I know it sounds really bad, I'm not gonna do it again—yep, that settles it. There's absolutely no way he and that girl had "that" sort of encounter. Jun feels guilty enough about this clothes-swapping business, so there's no way he could ever hide a fling or a love affair (as though that was ever in doubt). So...]
What's there to be mad about?
[He'll take the high road. Jun already learned his lesson, no need to punish him! The small knot in his stomach is just
jealousyleftover shock and confusion, not anger!]If anything I feel a bit sorry for you, since it sounds like you might've been peeped on. Not to accuse that girl of anything too awful - I'm sure her intentions were pure, since she has that lover she's crazy about.
Anyway, if this were at home, of course it'd be a different story. I'm sure Ibara would blow a fuse if he saw you leaving a public restroom with a girl at your side! Even if you *were* wearing a cute dress.
But at this place, there's enough flashy stuff going on that you might've escaped people's notice. Two people leaving a bathroom together is nothing if there's some jaw-dropping display of indecency happening right down the hall, I suppose. And if you came out wearing different clothes, it's obvious what you were in there for, so we *should* be alright. We'll just have to be careful going forward.
[It's not like his own record here is clean. Being registered with someone as newlyweds and being seen leaving a wedding suite with them would lead to scandal for any idol, yet he wasn't able to avoid either of those things. He and Leo-kun also got trapped together in an elevator and asked to flirt with each other! And elevators often have security cameras. They were just luckily able to keep things G-rated.
Still, there no need to make things easier on this place by hopping into stalls with whoever asks... But the reason he isn't lecturing on that more is because he's still kind of hung up on the clothes. What on earth did Jun-kun look like wearing that sort of thing?]
I am a bit curious, though. Was it a "truth or dare" sort of thing? She said she needed to swap clothes with someone, and you said "Sure, that sounds wonderful"? Running errands for me hasn't turned you into an absolute pushover, has it?
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Ah, well, Jun can neither confirm nor deny, since Monika did leave a lasting impression. She did ask to kiss him, which is why he also feels a little guilty, not that he has to admit that to Hiyori just yet. So that's why he knows how bad it may sound, considering there was temptation and he'd been in the thick of it. ]
there's nothing to be mad about.
[ And rather than provoke unnecessary jealousy, we're aiming to be considerate, as Jun remains oblivious to most things. Still naive in many ways, Jun had declined Monika's advances, so no harm was done. Better to leave some things unspoken, since saying more might only embarrass her. Yep, discretion is the key for now. ]
i think she was just interested in my muscles, cuz she kept wanting to touch them. i don't wanna accuse anyone of doing something like that and i don't wanna embarrass her any further, ohii-san. especially if she's already got someone...
and i know ibara would be pissed and i already feel bad about it. he'd call me an idiot and i can't do anything about it but agree. i didn't really think about it, alright? it was stupid of me, and you've got every right to chew me out.
[ No, because that's only making it worse, even if he denies nothing happened, it still would cause a scandal if anyone had seen him leaving a bathroom stall with a random girl. He's never done anything like that before, so he doesn't know why he did then. Jun's career means everything to him, and now he's realising how it might look to the fans and to the rest of Eden. And he could've easily said no, just stayed in his bathroom stall, handed over the clothes and be done.
But even he's aware of how terribly he messed up and how awful of a partner he is letting Hiyori down. ]
and no, it wasn't like she did it randomly. the easiest way to explain it was one of those weird slots down in the chapel. i dunno if you ever saw them? anyway, monika-san needed some cold to trade clothes with, so i said i'd help. well, even i thought it was weird at first cuz it ended up being, "trade clothes with someone cold in the bathroom." there's no way doing errands for you could make me a pushover for anyone else. that's already a full-time job, you know?
[ Hopefully he's clarified most questions, possibly going into too much detail since he can't hide anything from Hiyori, even through text messages. ]
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Did she?
[There's no way this girl wasn't making a pass at him. Jun was just too hopelessly clueless to notice, apparently. He'd gotten that vibe from the way she talked about him, too. Of course, she did say she had a lover she's crazy about; he didn't make that part up. But he also knows the details there, even if he's chosen notto share them with Jun. First, it's an Internet relationship with someone she's never even met before. Two, she has no proof that person is here, even though she's convinced herself they are. And three, she said she'd love to have two people fight over her! Which adds up to one thing.
There's absolutely no way she's staying faithful to that person. Especially in this environment. She'll be on the lookout for someone else before too long. And Jun-kun seems to be one potential suitor in her eyes. What should he do? Just stay out of it?
Nope. Time to nip it in the bud!]
She must admire well-built bodies, like the kind in those posters you have on your wall. Just like Anzu-chan.
[He's referring to this incident. Girls sure seem to love feeling up his partner!]
And perhaps her lover is also the well-built type! She didn't tell me anything about what they looked like, though. Just that they bonded over some game or another, and that it's an "unconditional love" sort of deal.
[That's how he's nipping this: by telling Jun about her lover. That way, if she ever puts the moves on him, he'll probably say something like "Aren't you already dating someone?" And she won't be able to deny it, because that would mean denying her true love, and then the whole house of cards will come toppling down! Yep, that takes care of that!
You know, since they can't afford to have any dating scandals. It's not like he's trying to nip this for any other reason. He's just looking out for his unit. And for Jun-kun, honestly, who might not be able to handle that girl. She definitely seemed like the sly type, that's for sure.]
Nope, must not have seen those. That was just that thing that popped up where people were getting fake-married, right? I'm not sure what the obsession is with fake weddings. I know for sure that I wouldn't want slot machines at *my* wedding. But if that's how it happened, I suppose it's just a relief you weren't made to wear a wedding dress. Now *that* would've been something!
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[ He couldn't really forget about Anzu asking to touch his abs; even if Monika didn't ask, she just touched. So that's the difference between them, he supposes.
And the more Hiyori reveals about Monika having a partner, the more red flags go up, which begin to make him feel uneasy. He could just ask her, but he doesn't want to embarrass her, plus he's not the confrontational type anymore. But it still had him wondering if her interests were purely platonic or hinted at something more. Her unexpected attention to his muscles made him wary, despite appreciating the confidence boost on some level.
He feels more deflated that Monika didn't mention whether she was in a relationship, since it doesn't explain her overly flirtatious nature. While he didn't know Monika well, he had enjoyed her company despite her weirdness. Many of the idols at ES were odd too, so strangeness alone wasn't cause for concern. ]
i still didn't know she had someone, which makes me feel real bad. i'm sure if she told me, nothing would've happened. thanks for telling me, i feel kinda stupid about it.
[ Why is he acting as if something actually happened? It definitely didn't, since he's clueless when it comes to someone having an interest in him. Besides, can you like someone after spending a couple of hours with them? Well, maybe in a place like this, it's possible. But there's no desire to pursue a romantic relationship, as he recognised the complications and scandals it would bring. Not only that, he's utterly clueless, so it's better to not risk anything for the sake of feelings. Besides, Eden's important to him and he already has important people in his life, so surely there's no room in his heart for anyone else.
And Ohii-san still knows more than he does, so he takes those words at face value. He would never suspect that she has ulterior motives or that he needs to rebuff her advances. ]
you would've seen them if you went down there and were looking. they were sorta everywhere, and yeah, it was only cuz of all the fake marriages happening. i don't think anyone would want slot machines at their own wedding, ohii-san, but i get what you mean. that's exactly how it happened, so i promise that's it and nothing else. what's up with you saying that? i doubt i could've walked around if it had been a wedding dress, so i got pretty lucky.
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[He teases, thankfully unaware about the underwear swap. If he knew about that, he might say that handing a girl used men's underwear to wear (especially when you sweat as much as Jun!!) goes far beyond "bullying" and treads into the territory of a "war crime."
But, you know, speaking of "bullying"...
He does feel a little twinge when Jun says "I feel bad". And then another one when Jun adds that he also feels "kinda stupid." Which is ridiculous, of course. Hiyori hasn't done anything wrong. He's no bully! And honestly, Jun probably should feel stupid about stripping down in a bathroom stall with some girl just because she asked. A little more awareness can't be a bad thing. It'd take someone utterly clueless to think that's a good idea.
... or someone so caught up in getting attention from a girl that he got completely carried away. That's also a possibility. But Hiyori doesn't really like that thought, so on with the bud-nipping.]
How could you have known if she didn't say anything? I'm not sure why she told me and not you, but perhaps she was simply too caught-up in that clothes-swapping business to mention it. Or caught up in your muscles. One of the two.
But in any case, you couldn't have known, so if any well-built muscle men starts chasing you around the resort and shouting "Hands off my woman! 😡👿😤" or some such, I'll be sure to vouch for you!
[Sorry, Monika-chan. Though actually, he's not sorry, because he hasn't lied at all here; this is all information she willingly shared with him. You can't brag about your true love one minute and try to feel up his partner in a bathroom stall the next! That's an "either/or" sort of thing! You can't have both, you have to choose between the two! But since Monika-chan can't seem to make a choice, the noble-born Hiyori Tomoe will simply choose for her. That's how things work around here.]
Well, perhaps Rinne-senpai would, but I can't see him settling down anytime soon. I haven't spent much time in the casino since I don't care for gambling, but I guess we ought to investigate the area more thoroughly at some point.
And aren't those dresses with the big frilly skirts hard to walk around in, too? How many layers were there? I'm just so curious to know what you looked like! You might not agree, but I'm sure you were utterly adorable 😊
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[ But it's fortunate Hiyori remains blisfully unaware of the underwear swap (or kiss), as revealing both incidents would only further humiliate Monika, especially since she has a partner. (Apparently!) Jun feels stupid and remorseful, experiencing temptation for what reason? He doesn't want to get involved in any "cheating" scandals. So what should he do now? Maybe clarify things with Monika, just to be sure.
None of this is Hiyori's fault, he's only acting on the limited information he was given. (Or so Jun is led to believe.) Despite Hiyori offering explanations, he remains disheartened Monika never told him the truth. ]
maybe you're right about the muscle thing.
but why do you think her partner is a "well-built muscle dude"? or maybe the muscle option makes the most sense... and thanks for wanting to vouch for me.
[ Though he appreciates the compliment, he feels confused by Monika's attention, unsure of her motivations or his own feelings. It was just a girl touching him, so why can't he stop thinking about it? He knows he shouldn't get caught up in the attention, but it's hard not to when it's the first real interest anyone has shown in him. However, said interest may have been for Game 52 rather than genuine. ]
rinne-senpai's the only one who would. you think there's something down there now? hmm, i haven't gone down there since. though if you wanna go down there to look, we could?
are you just saying that cuz you wanna see me in a dress or what, ohii-san? 😐 i seriously don't know what you mean by layers??? i'll just say two.
[ While not opposed to wearing a dress again, he's not going to say it outright! ]
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[Jun isn't a bully. He's a good boy. Almost too good, really. Fortunately, that means it should be super easy to dissuade him from doing anything with this Monika girl! Now that he knows she's taken, he'll probably avoid h—
Wait. What's that? He's going to go see her again to "clarify things"? That's not what Hiyori intended! But he doesn't know that's what Jun's planning, so it goes uncommented on. And well, it's not like he can prevent them from running into each other. All he can do is set things up so that the whole house of cards comes crashing down the next time she does try to make a move. That's what happens when a house is built on lies!]
Well, like I said, I have no clue what they look like. She just kept referring to them as "my lover" and "the love of my life" and other mushy things, so it could be a woman for all I know. But she seems to like muscle, so it seems as good a guess as any!
[As a certain other idol put it (or will eventually put it during a future event), he's "totally cool with this sort of thing." Male lover, female lover, whatever people have is fine with him! Just so long as they don't jump his partner in a bathroom stall, it's all good! ... Though, he is neglecting to mention that she also referred to her partner by another mysterious name. She called them "The Player!" But that doesn't give him a clue as to their gender, or whether or not they have muscles.]
No, there's nothing I'm expecting to find in particular. I'm sure if there was something like an exit there, Rinne-senpai would've found it already. But it doesn't hurt to look, I suppose. If there's one thing I've learned from detective shows, it's that you never know where you might find clues.
And some of those dresses have petticoats, which create multiple layers. I've never worn one myself, though, but I'm sure I could pull it off. We could even match! Though that might be pushing the "Eve" theme a bit too far for some fans. But if it was just a one-time thing and we returned to our regular style afterwards, hopefully everyone could enjoy it 😊
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[ Sorry, Hiyori, despite Jun being a "good boy," he still needs to get to the bottom of this! And even though he trusts Ohii-san's account, there's a high chance of him still seeking out the truth from Monika-san herself. And this time, he'll be wary of whatever scheme she's hatching. He plans to stand firm against her machinations, and since he already spends most of his time with Hiyori, resisting her manipulations shouldn't be too difficult. ]
oh, okay. that's gotta feel pretty bad for whoever they are. women can have muscle and there's plenty who like working out, so i guess it could really be either.
[ NEGI being the ally we deserve, even that's fine with him too. Fine with whoever makes Monika happy, even if he's obliviously unaware. He only hopes whoever Monika's partner is, they make her happy, that's all! By the sounds of it, they do, so that's good.. great even.
But now! We're back to the Rinne slander, which feels oddly comforting. ]
he definitely wouldn't still be here if there was an exit. but he'd probably get lost out there on the floor, anyway. yeah, sometimes there's clues all over the place. i'm sure there's gotta be something there, even if it's a loose chip.
they do??? well, i'll remember that for next time. but you think? you're good at picking out colours, so you'd probably look good in one. huh, our fans aren't gonna see us, are they? but wouldn't that be something they're into? wait, are you trying to say you wanna do that when we get home?
[ Or here??? Again, he's seriously confused! ]
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True, he might get lost if he gets too drunk! Honestly, though, if any casino is easy to get lost in, it'd be that one. It looks like it goes on for several floors. But we'll cover more ground with two people than one, at least.
Sure, why not! Though we could try on clothes here, too. Hopefully our captors are too busy gathering worse blackmail to pay attention to who's trying on what clothes, so fans shouldn't end up seeing it. And if we tried them on at home, I guess they'd only see if a fan or a reporter happened to snap a photo? We could always take pictures and post them ourselves, of course, though we'd need CosPro's permission first. I'm sure something like that would generate an astonishing number of Likes 😊
Though our fans' wants are somewhat complicated, I think. Some of them see us as princes, or sort of like ideal boyfriends, so we don't want to lean *too* heavily on feminine charm. But to others, Eve's softness and sweetness is what they like most about us. And seeing someone you admire try on a new look is always exciting, so I want to think they'd like it! Our fans ought to appreciate how cute we are. They can be counted on to appreciate all sides of us, rather: our cool side, our cute side, our handsome side, all of it.
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well, we'd have to make sure he doesn't get that drunk. but i don't really wanna look after drunk people, let alone a drunk rinne-senpai.. yeah, i'd say some people have nothing better to do than sit in a casino all day and bet everything they have. i'm up for searching the floors cuz there's gotta be something there, or a real reason why stuff keeps getting weird down there.
alright, if that's something you want, just remember i'm new to all this, ohii-san. you think something like that is blackmail-worthy? i thought they'd be more into it cuz it's... [ A kink! ] i'm sure fans would understand if they saw us. they're usually pretty understanding of us in eve. and i don't really wanna do that for likes, but if it makes you feel better, i'm sure we could get ibara to agree.
i really wanna say our fans would be supportive, but it's, like you said, complicated. well, i don't think we'd let them down on purpose. i'm sure there's other costumes they'd enjoy seeing us in. if we've gotta do that in the end. and well, you're always way better at putting it into words. but i was thinking, ohii-san, it's also not gonna be a permanent look if they end up seeing it.
[ Phew! It's a relief that Hiyori has been so understanding. Jun never really considered wearing dresses before, now he's starting to realise he might actually enjoy cross-dressing. He's still a bit hesitant to fully embrace it, but maybe it's not such a bad thing, after all.]
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Though it's thankfully not a regular occurrence. One time it seemed he was actually pretending to be drunk. I'm still not sure what that was about.
[Have some surprise Rinne lore.
But as for the thing about them "being more into it," what does that mean? Who told his pure and innocent Jun-kun about kinks? Not that he knows much about the subject, either. He's heard of people using whips and chains and stuff, but he'll pass! And he's heard of toys before (and seen them in the store windows here), but he'll pass on those, too. He'll just pass on the whole theme of this place, really.
But he won't pass on the chance to see Jun-kun in a cute dress! A chance he still can't believe has actually opened up.]
No, I wouldn't say it's blackmail-worthy. And you're right that it wouldn't be a permanent image change. Unless you like it so much that you *do* want to dress like that all the time. But it'd be hard to hit the gym in that sort of outfit, so I assume not.
Anyway, when we first ran into each other in that clothing store, I'd been about to try on some cute clothes to lift my spirits up. I knew I couldn't afford them since they'd blocked access to my bank account and this place has its own currency, but there's still no rule against trying things on. And if there was, I'd just ignore it, since that'd be absolutely absurd!
But in any case, we can definitely pencil a fashion show into our schedule at some point. We'll search the casino for a few hours, then try on clothes as our reward! That sounds like a wonderful plan.
[Very wonderful. After this conversation, he feels refreshed. He'd been worried at the beginning that something untoward might have happened between Jun and that girl in the bathroom stall, since Monika spoke about their encounter so suggestively. But now, he realizes the truth. Jun-kun's takeaway hadn't been that girls are cute and tempting, oh no. Jun-kun came to a completely different realization in that stall: "girls' clothes are fun to wear!"
Yep, that's what happened, and it's totally unexpected. Even Hiyori, who knows him well, could never have predicted that twist! But this is much better than what he thought happened, so he's in a great mood now! Thanks to Monika-chan, he'll get to see his partner in cute clothes. And in video game terms, that's what you call a "Win"!
Or, in visual novel terms, that's what you call a "Good End," but he knows even less about those.]
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but why was he pretending to be drunk? just to annoy you and shinkai-senpai? must've thought it was funny.
[ Thankfully, Jun doesn't have to deal with drunk people anymore and Sakura-kun's really the most ideal roommate. He's lucky; he wouldn't want to deal with a drunk Rinne-senpai!
And boy, has he heard some stuff! People just can't stop blabbering about their weird kinks in public, and he's forced to overhear it all! (Sadly, even in the locker rooms—the ones they had a conversation about.) The good news is that he doesn't jump into those conversations and swiftly walks past those stores, but sadly, he's still picking up some knowledge. ]
it's definitely not gonna be a full-time thing. it's like you said, it'll be hard doing weight training dressed like that. maybe a sometime thing??
that's why? it's a shame all the clothes you picked out ended on the floor for some reason. [ That's not his fault!! ] i still wouldn't mind going with you there, even if you wanted to try the clothes on. i figure you didn't get around to it yet, but we weren't banned so we can always go back whenever you'd like. i'm sure we'll figure out the chip thing soon, so you can go and buy the clothes you want.
sounds good to me, ohii-san. we're going to have pretty packed schedules, but i'd rather keep like this. i'm just really glad you're not teasing me. thanks for being understanding.
[ His chest feels full, so maybe this is the first kink he's ever acknowledged having! Or realised that he actually has. We're growing up. And having a set routine, similar to the one back home, would be helpful. Even if it doesn't involve work, exploring the resort for clues and indulging in some shopping might be fun.
However, there were a couple of unexpected revelations from the "incident" with Monika-san. As it turns out, he doesn't mind cross-dressing, and he also finds girls incredibly cute. Sorry, Ohii-san, but he also thinks boys can be cute too! As time goes on, he'll discover (in a couple of days) just how tempting they can be. Regardless of what Monika-san revealed, it's really unfair that she went ahead and did that. Was she angry? Upset? Just why would she need to? Oh, well, he's not going to dwell on it, even if it sounds as if they did something scandalous. Which they didn't! Yep, it's better this way. He wants to ensure that his partner remains happy, allowing them to enjoy time together without thinking about what happened. ]
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[It's not like Hiyori can't relate at all. He's fine with acting like a frivolous idiot in comparison to his own brother. But he's the younger one and his older brother's the heir, so that's a bit different in his view. Shouldn't Rinne be trying to act more like his aniue?
Still, he doesn't intend to butt in there, since they're not that close. He'll only speak up about Rinne's drunkenness when it bothers or inconveniences him! Or when there's a funny joke to be made at his expense.]
A sometime thing, huh?
[He's still surprised. Especially when Jun thanks him for being understanding at the end. My, he's really serious, isn't he? But he's pleased as punch about how things turned out. Sorry to Monika-chan, but Jun did discover something about himself in that bathroom stall, and it was not "I really want a girlfriend." Instead, he made the surprising discovery that "girls' clothes are fun to wear!" Which is a discovery Hiyori can work with.]
That sounds workable to me. I've never been banned from a clothing store, but I'd like to see someone try! We can definitely go back to that place, or to a similar one, since there are other shops around too. I'll look forward to it 😊
And perhaps the sight of you lifting weights won't bother me as much if you do it in a frilly dress. Then I might find it amusing, rather! I may even welcome you to do it in my room! So, perhaps we shouldn't rule out that idea just yet.
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[ It might feel nice to have a sibling, though, but it also might be embarrassing to be drunk in front of them. And then, have them drop you off. The loudness, drunkenness, and smell like a pachinko parlour would be annoying, but Jun smells like sweat sometimes, so he's just glad Sakura-kun smells like, well, Sakura's.
Rather than judge, he finds it amusing that Hiyori was assigned to room with someone as boisterous and inconvenient as Rinne-senpai. ]
was that a weird thing to say?
[ The situation is win-win for everyone. Monika-san's no longer being talked about, Jun doesn't have to tell Hiyori more about what happened, and he's been understanding about the dress-wearing revelation. Since idols cannot date, Jun already knows he doesn't want a girlfriend or boyfriend. He appreciates that Ohii isn't teasing him anymore but rather wants to go shopping and dress up together. ]
don't think you'd handle being banned from a clothing store. i doubt any of them back home would ban you anyway. [ Not with how much he usually spends in said stores. ] but whatever store we go to doesn't bother me. whatever you pick out sounds good.
i wouldn't want you to find my weight training amusing if i were wearing a dress, ohii-san??? you're not gonna like it anyway, are you?? how's it any different if i'm working out in normal clothes??
[ The whooole proposal seems highly suspicious to him, especially Ohii-san's stipulation that he can only work out in his room if dressed in a frilly dress. ]
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When you're the younger sibling, I think it's less about looking cool. I don't know what it's like to be the older one, but I always thought you'd want to seem reliable. That's how I want Nagisa-kun to see me, anyway.
[Who he does try to act like a "responsible older brother" around, even though they aren't related. Family is about more than just blood connections in his view.]
No, it wasn't weird. I'm just pleasantly surprised by your enthusiasm. And I'm extra surprised you're letting me choose, but it's not at all a bad surprise. I can promise I won't abuse my authority to make you wear something silly. I'll look for something that suits you well and really brings out your cute side! 😊 And then we can consider make-up, accessories and other things! 🎀💄💋💅🏻🪞
And how will I know I don't like it if I don't ever see it? Costumes can help bring a performance or a photoshoot to the next level, so perhaps the same is also true of weight-lifting! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
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huh, so it's different depending on who's younger or older? nagi-senpai has siblings too, right? maybe that's already how he sees you.
[ Well, Rinne's antics are not an act; that's his genuine nature, which is precisely why Ibara loses his cool in response to Rinne's behaviour. Man, is Jun glad he's not in Ibara's shoes. ]
you know clothing stores better, like i said, so i know it'll be fine. you wouldn't want me picking out a store, so that's what surprises me about your reaction. i know you'll never abuse the power i'm giving you, which is why i'm leaving it up to you. hmm, make-up? it's not gonna be like the stuff we wear for photoshoots, right?
[ But maybe wearing something silly would be fun? That's Jun's other thought, but first, it's better to stick with one idea! ]
ok, fine. you've unfortunately got a point. i dunno how it's gonna be any different. and it's not a photoshoot or performance? it's seriously me just working out??? if that's what you wanna see, maybe i'll do it just once.
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