Just because you can do something doesn’t mean it’s okay.
“Hmm... Let’s give it a try,” said Shijunana. She then bowed to Orii. “Orii-san, please do what you can.”
Really? That was easy! I was getting all nervous for nothing...
“Understood.” Orii pulled an applicator out of a bottle and started applying concealer on Shijunana’s scar before adding foundation, a light sweep of blush, contouring powder...
After Orii finished, Shijunana looked at the spot where the scar had been. “Not seeing it feels surprisingly lonesome...”
Wait, maybe I should’ve kept my mouth shut after all...?
Ruka was worried about Shijunana’s reaction, but then Orii brought out a fresh batch of makeup tools.
“This is for the area around your eyes,” she said.
In Orii’s skilled hands, eyeliner pencils and angled brushes danced around Shijunana’s eyes. She added some glitter to accentuate her undereye area and worked on her lashes with a curler and mascara. To finish the look, Orii applied a pink lip. After that, she spent some time tweaking the contours and highlights...
Orii set her tools down on the table and smiled. “That concludes your makeup lesson. Do you have any questions or concerns?”
Shijunana didn’t answer. She just kept staring at her face.
“Well? How’d your first makeup sesh go? How do you feel?” Ruka asked nervously.
When I first saw her, I was shocked by how pretty she was. But something about her felt...cold. I get she’s just awkward, now that I know her better, but I don’t see that coldness in her face anymore. In other words, she’s not just pretty—she’s a stunner.
Shijunana looked up. “I feel like I did when I first wore a skirt. Like I cannot relax.”
“You don’t like it?”
“That’s not it... I just feel awkward... No, perhaps I’m just being bashful.” Shijunana replied with an embarrassed smile.
I’m so glad I brought her here! Ruka smiled back. All the tension in her shoulders loosened up, and all the nervousness she’d been feeling since their talk on the train went away.
“’Kay, take a good look at yourself for a sec!” Then Ruka stepped away from the table and gestured for Orii to follow.
I don’t want Shijunana-san to hear this part.
As Orii approached, Ruka whispered, “Orii-san, how much for all the stuff you used today?”
She wanted to know the total because she was paying for everything like they’d discussed earlier. But since she didn’t want Shijunana to hear, she’d stepped away to ask.
“This is the total.” There were four zeros in a row on the tablet Orii was showing Ruka.
Oof, that’s rough... Ruka had expected it to be expensive from the number of products, but the damage was even more intense than she’d thought. That much was enough to put her wallet on the verge of death.
“I’ll take it all. The brushes and other tools too.”
If buying this stuff helps me pay Shijunana-san back, that’s not expensive at all.
“Purchasing every single product isn’t necess—”
“Like I said, I’ll take all of it.”
“Is that truly acceptable...?”
“Course—”
Shijunana appeared behind Ruka. “I believe I said I would stop you if you go too far.”
Damn vampire hunter skills. I didn’t hear her at all! She did say she’d stop me—that was her condition for letting me pay today. But it’s not like I’m doing anything wrong by paying.
“Eighty percent. I’ll pay that, then you take twenty. How’s that sound?”
“That is not the issue...”
“Seventy?”
“As I said...”
“Half? How about half?”
“Why are you acting like I’m accepting your contribution...?” Shijunana gave a long, long sigh. “I will pay half and buy something for you. Those are my conditions.”
“Aw yeah, pledget!” Ruka pumped her fist. “Looks like we’ve settled things, Orii-san!”
Better get this done before she changes her mind!
“Allow me to apply a modest discount,” Orii said with a smile. Her voice was soft enough for only the two girls to hear. “I can mark some of these as defective merchandise...”
“Ooh, thanks!” said Ruka.
“Please wait a moment.” With a bow, Orii disappeared into the back of the shop.
As they waited, Ruka looked around before catching a glimpse of Shijunana. Just seeing her with her new makeup on made Ruka grin.
“Y’know, seeing my bud look so pretty just makes me happy!”
“Bud...”
“Oh, that one’s short for buddy. Like, friends.”
“I know that much.” Shijunana pouted.
That adorable look made Ruka smile even more.
“Moriki, are we friends?”
It took a moment for Ruka to take in what Shijunana had just said. I mean, the two of us are shopping together, so what else would you call us? But that’s not really what she’s asking, right?
“Oh! Are you talking about calling each other by our first names and stuff?”
“No, well, I mean...”
Shijunana seemed embarrassed, but Ruka could see she was hoping for something too.
Ruka cleared her throat, made sure she looked as cute as she could, and flashed a teasing grin.
“So greedy, Ginka.”
“Yeah, yeah, Ruka.”
After that, Ruka and Ginka wandered around the department store. They looked at clothes and some other stuff, got themselves something to eat, and checked out other makeup brands. They didn’t buy much, but Ruka still had a lot of fun seeing Ginka get all flustered wherever they went.
After they left the department store and crossed the street, Ginka asked, “Are you really okay with that?”
Ruka was holding a little box with the Juliart logo on it and a citrusy perfume inside. That was what Ginka had bought her after their promise in Corolle.
“Yup, super satisfied!” she replied.
“But...”
Ginka was clearly feeling uneasy because of the price of the perfume. Juliart and Corolle were both sold at the same department store, but Juliart was way cheaper since it was more of a budget brand. Still, Ruka didn’t think high quality meant high price. In fact, she liked those two brands about the same.
“Hey, I’m happy just getting a present from my pal.”
Ruka thought she’d just said something pretty great, but Ginka still didn’t look satisfied.
Guess I’ll need to shift gears... Ruka glanced all around as they walked down the main street and spotted a food truck selling crepes.
“Ooh, let’s have those!”
“Crepes...? But we just had sweets at the department store...”
“No worries, my stomach’s bottomless!”
“Bottomless...?”