Chapter 112 – It Is Almost as Good as My Second Home, You Know!

Hand in hand with Fal, Letaria wandered happily through the dazzling interior of Seas Mall.

At one point, they stopped into a clothing shop.

"Oh, this one! Wouldn't this look amazing on you, Letaria!?"

Fal pulled a piece of clothing off the rack and held it up, delighted. Letaria tilted her head sharply and voiced her honest confusion.

"Um... Fal? This appears to be torn in a great many places... is this truly meant to be new clothing?"

"It's a whole style! It's called 'distressed'!"

Fal launched into an enthusiastic explanation, fist clenched with conviction.

But it was a design of clothing that simply had no place in Letaria's own sense of aesthetics. In her old world, she'd known nothing but formal, aristocratic gowns fit for nobility; since arriving in this world, she'd been surrounded by Sora's beautifully tailored outfits that carried echoes of that same design language, or else perfectly ordinary shirts and skirts, easy-to-move-in pants -- and against that backdrop, what Fal was now holding out to her was... something she genuinely struggled to put into words.

Loud, vivid colors in irregular patterns, and while the skirt was technically a flared cut, it was wrapped in layer after layer of decorative chains and heavy belts.

"Um... well, perhaps, should the occasion arise sometime... I shall try it then."

Letaria had, without quite meaning to, picked up the skill of reading someone's intentions and choosing her words carefully since coming to this world.

(...I shall ask Milea or Sora-sama later whether that is truly the fashion these days.)

"Aww, too bad. Okay, your turn -- pick out something you think would look good on me!"

"Understood! Fal, leave it to me! I shall transform you into a perfectly refined, dignified 'lady' before your very eyes!"

Letaria threw herself into the challenge with total confidence... but sadly, no matter which shop in Seas Mall she searched, not a single one carried anything resembling the classic, gorgeously ornate noble gowns she herself had once worn.

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...The two of them wandered here and there through the mall for a while longer.

Partway through, Fal suggested, "Let's take a little break," and the two settled into a table at a stylish café inside the mall.

"...Hmph, this is a remarkably comfortable chair."

Letaria rocked slightly in her seat, patting the fabric with her hand to test the feel of it.

The café's interior, designed with equal weight given to style and comfort, was a world apart in both appearance and texture from the sturdy, function-first furniture she was used to in the Administration Bureau's own quarters.

Sipping her juice through a straw, Fal watched Letaria's curious little display with a puzzled sort of fondness.

"Have you really not been to places like this much, Letaria?"

Judging from Letaria's reactions so far, Fal had already guessed that this wasn't just her first time at the mall -- she'd likely never really gone shopping with friends at all.

"That is correct. Whenever I am in Seldia, I am nearly always within the Bureau's own block."

"Huh... there's a lot of weirdly specific stuff about you. ...But you know, honestly, I've never once gone shopping with anyone like this either, up until now."

Fal said this, then took a small sip from her juice.

"Oh my, is that so?"

"Yeah. I've been traveling around to all kinds of places, working alongside the boss this whole time. Seldia's probably the longest I've ever stayed anywhere. The boss really likes it here too... it really is a great place, isn't it."

At Fal's words, a proud, warm smile rose to Letaria's face.

"Yes, indeed! This truly is a wonderful place. It is... almost as good as my 'second home,' you know!"

At Letaria's words, Fal caught the smile and grinned back just as happily.

"Fufu, I'm glad. I was kind of worried you might still be bothered by what happened before... but you seem totally fine."

At Fal's sudden remark, Letaria blinked, her eyes going round with surprise.

"What happened before -- do you mean...?"

"Twoin-san. I figured you might still be a little bothered by it, so... I've been wondering how you were doing."

--Fal's kindness, clumsy but genuinely warm.

Watching Fal speak with her gaze drifting a little, faintly embarrassed, Letaria felt her chest warm with affection, and she laughed, delighted.

"My! I am not bothered by it in the slightest! I understand perfectly well that this world has people who do that sort of work. ...However!"

Letaria clenched her fist with conviction.

"The next time we meet, I fully intend to flatten him without mercy!"

"Ahaha! That sounds just like you!"

The two of them laughed together, their voices carrying brightly through the café's soft, easy air.