Published: September 9, 2025
※This is a reprint of the short story previously uploaded in the activity report.
Today's post is scheduled for 6 PM.
※Typo corrected on 2014/12/14.
※Text revised on 2015/02/23.
“Master, for Lulu’s coming-of-age celebration, which do you think is better, white or black? Oh, there’s also red,”
Arisa asked, showing me a piece of silk fabric.
“Which do you mean? I think white would suit Lulu best.”
“That’s right. Pure white is definitely the best choice.”
It would go well with Lulu’s black hair—
Wait, pure white? Saying “pure white” instead of just white gives off a slightly ominous feeling.
“Wait,”
“What is it?”
I stopped Arisa.
“There are two things I want to ask.”
“My secrets come at a high price, you know?”
I ignored Arisa striking a strange villainous pose and focused on what I needed to know.
“The coming-of-age celebration—is Lulu’s birthday coming up?”
“Oh? Didn’t I tell you? There aren’t many countries here that celebrate birthdays. Usually, they only celebrate at the New Year when the child turns seven or fifteen.”
Hmm… I checked the date on the menu.
Today is October 28th, so there are about two months left. That should be enough time to make a furisode.
Just then, Arisa’s words followed, mocking my relief.
“There are only ten months in a year, so it’s the day after tomorrow.”
—What!
I recalled Arisa telling me before that their year has only ten months.
“…Just two days left, huh.”
“You didn’t prepare anything at all, did you?”
I do have a celebratory outfit for when Lulu won the cooking contest, but wearing a cheongsam to a coming-of-age ceremony seems inappropriate.
And if I gave her the bunny suit Arisa and I jokingly made, she’d probably cry...
—Think, Satou!
I skimmed through the storage items, trying to think of what I could make.
—Show me what you can do with that unnecessarily high INT stat!
If it’s something women would like, maybe sweets, adornments like jewelry or cosmetics, or maybe a trip.
I have no secret sweets left.
As for equipment, I’ve already given her several dresses and maid outfits every time I tried making something new, so it feels unoriginal now.
Maybe a tiara using plenty of Philosopher’s Stone... No, gifts aren’t about the price.
I have some cosmetics in my repertoire, but they might actually spoil Lulu’s beauty.
Then, perfume or—wait, lipstick might be good.
When my childhood friend begged for a birthday present, I gave her lipstick, and she was surprisingly happy.
I was broke, so I gave her a cheap lipstick from the hundred-yen shop, but seeing her happily dance about with that cheap lipstick was so touching that I ended up buying her a proper one after I got paid from my part-time job. Good memories.
“I’ll give her lipstick as a present.”
“Oh, she might really like that. And if I see Master with lipstick on his lips later, I’ll just pretend I didn’t notice.”
Arisa said that with a seductive smile.
…She means if Lulu kisses me, right? I have no interest in cross-dressing.
—Wait, Arisa asked about the color earlier, but can we even make a ceremonial outfit in two days?
I asked her to confirm.
“Of course! It has to be lucky underwear! Master, do you like side strings? Or are you a lace fan?”
I punished Arisa for that creepy smile, took half of the white silk fabric she showed me earlier, and made Lulu’s dress.
For the lining, I used threads unraveled from whale baleen, the same material used in Dress Armor, giving it much better defense than normal metal armor.
I didn’t check if Arisa really made the lucky underwear since that would be sexual harassment.
…Later, seeing Lulu wearing the white dress along with the lipstick I gave her was breathtaking.
Her overwhelming charm was dizzying.
If Ms. Aze hadn’t been there, I might have proposed on the spot.
“I’ll get you back in three years. Then, I’ll definitely, definitely make you wear a face like this!”
Arisa stood with her arms crossed, nostrils flaring, declaring fiercely.