[Warning 15+]
Part Three"―Seriously, Your Vibe Hasn't Changed a Bit Since the Old Days!"Chapter 99Red
Okashizukasa Shiro is a legendary traditional sweets shop boasting a history of over 180 years, dating all the way back to the Tenpō Era.
Their uniforms have this distinct, super cute retro vibe—like something straight out of the Taishō Era—featuring arrow-patterned kosode tops, hakama skirts, and frilly aprons.
They've even got a modern twist where the hakama looks more like a regular skirt, which is a total hot topic among the girls.
Naturally, Haruki had been roped into conversations about it a bunch of times before.
Haruki'd heard all the usual complaints too: Sure, it's cute, but it's picky about who wears it; If your posture or build is off, you’ll totally ruin the look; And since it's traditional Japanese style, picking the right shoes is a massive pain. Basically, the cuteness comes with a lot of baggage.
Thinking about all that, even though Haruki'd jumped at the chance to take the part-time job, she was starting to get cold feet.
"Ugh..."
In the back of the first floor at Okashizukasa Shiro, in a six-tatami-mat Japanese-style room that doubled as the girls' locker and break room, Haruki was let out a low groan, her brows furrowed as she stared at the uniform in her hands.
This traditional outfit was way more legit than the rumors suggested. Like, way too legit. Haruki, who'd never even worn a yukata, let alone a full kimono, had absolutely zero clue what to do with it.
"Eh, you doing okay, Nikaidō-san?"
"A-Ahaha... ...I might actually be in trouble here, honestly..."
"Want me to help you get dressed?"
"Y-Yeah, please!"
The one who threw Haruki a lifeline was her classmate, Isami Ema, who'd already suited up in her part-time uniform. With Ema's slim build and bright short bob, she gave off a super active and charming vibe—and man, did that uniform look good on her.
By the way, Ema was the one who showed Haruki the ropes. Since Ema's been working this part-time job for a while, she seemed totally pro at navigating the place and getting changed.
Nudged along by Ema, Haruki was just unbuttoning the third button of her blouse when she suddenly froze, like something had just clicked.
"...?"
Ema tilted her head, totally lost.
Haruki was blushing hard and looking up at Ema shyly, but Ema couldn't for the life of Haruki's figure out why.
I mean, sure, stripping down while a classmate stares you down might be a bit awkward, but they see each other changing for PE class all the time. Why get all embarrassed about it now?
Despite the hesitation, Haruki let her top slide smoothly off her shoulders.
The exact moment Haruki's blouse hit the floor was the same moment Ema gulped, hard.
It was red.
A passionate, fiery red. The colors and design leaned adult, but the black lace and frilly ribbons dancing here and there managed to pull off a perfect blend of sexy and cute.
Of course, it was a matching set, and the gap between this and her usual modest vibe was insane. Obviously, she'd never seen Haruki rocking anything like that before.
"U-Um..."
"Wha—!? O-Oh, right, the clothes! Okay, first, slip your arms through, make the ohashori fold, and use the waist cords to fix the shape! The obi belt is just a half-width one, so it’s basically the same as a yukata!"
"I-I've never actually worn a yukata before..."
"The belt's gonna be hidden by the hakama anyway, so you can be pretty messy with it and it'll be fine. You'll pick it up in no time!"
"Ugh, this is hard... ...until I can do it right, could I keep asking for your help...?"
"Kh! O-Oh, you got it! Just leave it to Big Sis Ema! The side of the hakama with the peg goes in the back, then you tuck it into the belt—"
"L-Like this? It's cute, but man, getting into this is a total workout..."
Ema had Haruki suited up in the blink of an eye while she was still fumbling around. Ema's face was set in a look of pure Zen, like she was trying to reach enlightenment.
Ema had to, because Haruki's expressions and vibes from a second ago were so freaking precious that Ema was internally screaming, 'Wait, could I actually be into girls...? No, no, no, I literally have a boyfriend!?' Ema was totally losing it.
"Let's tie your hair up while we're at it. Can't have hair flying around a restaurant, right?"
"Oh, please. You're really a pro at this, Isami-san."
"Ahaha, both Iori and I have been stuck together as childhood buddies forever, so I've been covering shifts here since middle school. And yeah, I got a nice little allowance from his parents for the help."
"Childhood buddies..."
"Alright, all done!"
"...Oh."
Ema gave Haruki a little nudge toward the full-length mirror now that she was all suited up.
Staring at her reflection in the Okashizukasa Shiro uniform, Haruki looked totally dazed, just taking it all in before letting out a soft, warm sigh and blushing.
The navy arrow pattern paired with the maroon hakama and red apron gave off such a cute, old-school vibe. Her long, glossy hair was tied up in a ponytail to keep it out of the way, and man, did it suit her. Even Ema, who'd helped her get dressed, was nodding along with a look of pure satisfaction.
But then, Haruki's brows started to knit together, and she blurted out something so insecure—and so totally beyond Ema's comprehension—that it stopped her cold.
"Do I... ...actually look like a girl?"
"...Huh? No, no, no, what the heck are you even saying? Are you trying to pick a fight with every other girl on the planet or what!?"
"Mya!?"
Ema just didn't get it.
Ema grabbed Haruki by the shoulders and started shaking her like crazy, her face twisted into a look that said, "Are you for real right now?".
Current Haruki was just dripping with a different kind of charm—that perfect mix of traditional Japanese elegance and the active vibe of a server. If she actually stepped out into the shop, sales would probably go through the roof, no doubt.
Getting glared down by Ema's "Don't play with me" eyes, a shrinking Haruki hesitated for a split second before timidly leaking her excuses like a total weakling.
"Well, I used to be a huge tomboy—like, a total brat—so... ...Hime-chan... ...my childhood buddy actually thought I was a boy for a long time..."
"Huh? Hime-chan? You mean that childhood buddy from before?"
"Not just Hime-chan. The other day, Auntie Hime-chan's Mom was totally shocked because she thought I was a boy too, so..."
"...Alright, I get it now."
Ema let out a long, slow sigh as the pieces started falling into place. It was something she'd actually experienced herself back in the day.
Because of that, seeing Haruki standing there with those wavering, anxious eyes made it impossible for Ema to just stay out of it; Ema really wanted to help Haruki out.
I mean, anyone watching Haruki lately could tell she's got a massive thing for Hayato. The way she desperately tries to keep her cool around everyone else is honestly just precious. He's probably a childhood buddy too, right?
(Now that I think about it...)
Hime-chan, that childhood buddy Haruki was always showing off to everyone with such a smug look on her face. She's probably an acquaintance of Hayato's, too. Slim, friendly-looking, and honestly a total cutie.
Yeah, Hime-chan's definitely gonna be a tough rival to beat.
Ema pumped herself up, finally making a decision on something she'd been wavering about because she was too embarrassed.
"Hey, Nikaidō-san, let's go pick out a swimsuit that's crazy cute and looks perfect on you!"
"Huh? A swimsuit?"
"Wait, didn't you get invited to the swimming pool sometime soon?"
"Oh, yeah. I did get invited, but..."
"Love is a battlefield, girl! Let's pick out a top-tier 'combat swimsuit' so you don't lose to the other girls, and then we'll totally snag your crush's heart! Right?"
"L-Love!? I-It's not really like that, I mean, I just want to be his number one buddy... ...au..."
"Don't worry about it, let's just go!"
"...Okay."
With her motivation recharged, Ema shoved the back of a confused and fumbling Haruki, pushing her through the break room door.
"Oh, and by the way, this part-time job? It's a total war zone."
"Mya!?"
On the other side of that door, voices were screaming out orders so loud they were basically drill-sergeant shouts, and Hayato, who was supposed to be in the kitchen, was hustling back and forth between the tables like crazy.
Yeah, this was definitely a war zone unlike anything Haruki had ever seen before.
"U-Um, are we gonna be okay?"
"We just gotta do what we gotta do, right? Let's go, let's go!"
As Haruki muttered under her breath, looking totally freaked out, Ema just flashed her a big-*ss grin, acting like everything was under control.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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Okashizukasa Shiro is a legendary traditional sweets shop boasting a history of over 180 years, dating all the way back to the Tenpō Era.
Their uniforms have this distinct, super cute retro vibe—like something straight out of the Taishō Era—featuring arrow-patterned kosode tops, hakama skirts, and frilly aprons.
They've even got a modern twist where the hakama looks more like a regular skirt, which is a total hot topic among the girls.
Naturally, Haruki had been roped into conversations about it a bunch of times before.
Haruki'd heard all the usual complaints too: Sure, it's cute, but it's picky about who wears it; If your posture or build is off, you’ll totally ruin the look; And since it's traditional Japanese style, picking the right shoes is a massive pain. Basically, the cuteness comes with a lot of baggage.
Thinking about all that, even though Haruki'd jumped at the chance to take the part-time job, she was starting to get cold feet.
"Ugh..."
In the back of the first floor at Okashizukasa Shiro, in a six-tatami-mat Japanese-style room that doubled as the girls' locker and break room, Haruki was let out a low groan, her brows furrowed as she stared at the uniform in her hands.
This traditional outfit was way more legit than the rumors suggested. Like, way too legit. Haruki, who'd never even worn a yukata, let alone a full kimono, had absolutely zero clue what to do with it.
"Eh, you doing okay, Nikaidō-san?"
"A-Ahaha... ...I might actually be in trouble here, honestly..."
"Want me to help you get dressed?"
"Y-Yeah, please!"
The one who threw Haruki a lifeline was her classmate, Isami Ema, who'd already suited up in her part-time uniform. With Ema's slim build and bright short bob, she gave off a super active and charming vibe—and man, did that uniform look good on her.
By the way, Ema was the one who showed Haruki the ropes. Since Ema's been working this part-time job for a while, she seemed totally pro at navigating the place and getting changed.
Nudged along by Ema, Haruki was just unbuttoning the third button of her blouse when she suddenly froze, like something had just clicked.
"...?"
Ema tilted her head, totally lost.
Haruki was blushing hard and looking up at Ema shyly, but Ema couldn't for the life of Haruki's figure out why.
I mean, sure, stripping down while a classmate stares you down might be a bit awkward, but they see each other changing for PE class all the time. Why get all embarrassed about it now?
Despite the hesitation, Haruki let her top slide smoothly off her shoulders.
The exact moment Haruki's blouse hit the floor was the same moment Ema gulped, hard.
It was red.
A passionate, fiery red. The colors and design leaned adult, but the black lace and frilly ribbons dancing here and there managed to pull off a perfect blend of sexy and cute.
Of course, it was a matching set, and the gap between this and her usual modest vibe was insane. Obviously, she'd never seen Haruki rocking anything like that before.
"U-Um..."
"Wha—!? O-Oh, right, the clothes! Okay, first, slip your arms through, make the ohashori fold, and use the waist cords to fix the shape! The obi belt is just a half-width one, so it’s basically the same as a yukata!"
"I-I've never actually worn a yukata before..."
"The belt's gonna be hidden by the hakama anyway, so you can be pretty messy with it and it'll be fine. You'll pick it up in no time!"
"Ugh, this is hard... ...until I can do it right, could I keep asking for your help...?"
"Kh! O-Oh, you got it! Just leave it to Big Sis Ema! The side of the hakama with the peg goes in the back, then you tuck it into the belt—"
"L-Like this? It's cute, but man, getting into this is a total workout..."
Ema had Haruki suited up in the blink of an eye while she was still fumbling around. Ema's face was set in a look of pure Zen, like she was trying to reach enlightenment.
Ema had to, because Haruki's expressions and vibes from a second ago were so freaking precious that Ema was internally screaming, 'Wait, could I actually be into girls...? No, no, no, I literally have a boyfriend!?' Ema was totally losing it.
"Let's tie your hair up while we're at it. Can't have hair flying around a restaurant, right?"
"Oh, please. You're really a pro at this, Isami-san."
"Ahaha, both Iori and I have been stuck together as childhood buddies forever, so I've been covering shifts here since middle school. And yeah, I got a nice little allowance from his parents for the help."
"Childhood buddies..."
"Alright, all done!"
"...Oh."
Ema gave Haruki a little nudge toward the full-length mirror now that she was all suited up.
Staring at her reflection in the Okashizukasa Shiro uniform, Haruki looked totally dazed, just taking it all in before letting out a soft, warm sigh and blushing.
The navy arrow pattern paired with the maroon hakama and red apron gave off such a cute, old-school vibe. Her long, glossy hair was tied up in a ponytail to keep it out of the way, and man, did it suit her. Even Ema, who'd helped her get dressed, was nodding along with a look of pure satisfaction.
But then, Haruki's brows started to knit together, and she blurted out something so insecure—and so totally beyond Ema's comprehension—that it stopped her cold.
"Do I... ...actually look like a girl?"
"...Huh? No, no, no, what the heck are you even saying? Are you trying to pick a fight with every other girl on the planet or what!?"
"Mya!?"
Ema just didn't get it.
Ema grabbed Haruki by the shoulders and started shaking her like crazy, her face twisted into a look that said, "Are you for real right now?".
Current Haruki was just dripping with a different kind of charm—that perfect mix of traditional Japanese elegance and the active vibe of a server. If she actually stepped out into the shop, sales would probably go through the roof, no doubt.
Getting glared down by Ema's "Don't play with me" eyes, a shrinking Haruki hesitated for a split second before timidly leaking her excuses like a total weakling.
"Well, I used to be a huge tomboy—like, a total brat—so... ...Hime-chan... ...my childhood buddy actually thought I was a boy for a long time..."
"Huh? Hime-chan? You mean that childhood buddy from before?"
"Not just Hime-chan. The other day, Auntie Hime-chan's Mom was totally shocked because she thought I was a boy too, so..."
"...Alright, I get it now."
Ema let out a long, slow sigh as the pieces started falling into place. It was something she'd actually experienced herself back in the day.
Because of that, seeing Haruki standing there with those wavering, anxious eyes made it impossible for Ema to just stay out of it; Ema really wanted to help Haruki out.
I mean, anyone watching Haruki lately could tell she's got a massive thing for Hayato. The way she desperately tries to keep her cool around everyone else is honestly just precious. He's probably a childhood buddy too, right?
(Now that I think about it...)
Hime-chan, that childhood buddy Haruki was always showing off to everyone with such a smug look on her face. She's probably an acquaintance of Hayato's, too. Slim, friendly-looking, and honestly a total cutie.
Yeah, Hime-chan's definitely gonna be a tough rival to beat.
Ema pumped herself up, finally making a decision on something she'd been wavering about because she was too embarrassed.
"Hey, Nikaidō-san, let's go pick out a swimsuit that's crazy cute and looks perfect on you!"
"Huh? A swimsuit?"
"Wait, didn't you get invited to the swimming pool sometime soon?"
"Oh, yeah. I did get invited, but..."
"Love is a battlefield, girl! Let's pick out a top-tier 'combat swimsuit' so you don't lose to the other girls, and then we'll totally snag your crush's heart! Right?"
"L-Love!? I-It's not really like that, I mean, I just want to be his number one buddy... ...au..."
"Don't worry about it, let's just go!"
"...Okay."
With her motivation recharged, Ema shoved the back of a confused and fumbling Haruki, pushing her through the break room door.
"Oh, and by the way, this part-time job? It's a total war zone."
"Mya!?"
On the other side of that door, voices were screaming out orders so loud they were basically drill-sergeant shouts, and Hayato, who was supposed to be in the kitchen, was hustling back and forth between the tables like crazy.
Yeah, this was definitely a war zone unlike anything Haruki had ever seen before.
"U-Um, are we gonna be okay?"
"We just gotta do what we gotta do, right? Let's go, let's go!"
As Haruki muttered under her breath, looking totally freaked out, Ema just flashed her a big-*ss grin, acting like everything was under control.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: