First Outfit | Chapter 2

[kumakuma]

〈Location: Outfits Room〉


Mika: Skeleton, skulls, jewels, dolls, ghosts……

Nha~. I’ve got some sorta idea but I can’t put ‘em together……!

If I go an’ use all of ‘em, I reckon ‘m gonna end up lookin’ like some kinda ‘walkin’ museum’.

But this is my ‘personal outfit’. It’s gonna be somethin’ I treasure, so I wanna fill it up with a buncha stuff.

Oshi-san’d know what to do at a time like this. U~m……

I got it. ‘M gonna go take a look at ‘Valkyrie’s old costumes in the outfits room! If ‘m rememberin’ right, they should be somewhere ‘round here……

Here they are! I found ‘em! ‘Valkyrie’s costumes are delicate, so I gotta handle ‘em carefully.

The embroidery here’s real detailed……

Hm, is this where the different materials are joined together?

It was probably pretty difficult sewin’ them together since the fabrics have different stiffnesses, but it’s amazin’ since the stitches are still completely uniform.

Everythin’s done perfectly, even in the bits that ya can’t see if yer not lookin’ at it closely…… the longer ya look at it, the better it gets. Oshi-san’s costumes are the best.

‘M real glad I got to wear somethin’ of this calibre.

Everythin’ here’s filled with memories. They’re my treasures ♪

Ha~h…… I was gonna use ‘em as a reference, but Oshi-san’s skill and sense is too overwhelmin’. I don’t understand nothin’.

It just shows I still got a ways to go. Oshi-san’s level’s way outta my reach……


Shu: “That goes without saying.”


Mika: Oshi-san!?

(What, I just heard Oshi-san’s voice comin’ from the picture…… Did it get possessed!?)


Shu: “Kagehira is Kagehira. Just how do you intend to make it the same as one of mine? Do you mean to become an imitator?”

“Non! You were going to be an artist, were you not, Kagehira? There is no such thing as two of the same in the pursuit of art!”

“Do not even think of trying to create a work that is not ‘Kagehira’!”


Mika: Somethin’ that’s me…… I reckon I should do that too. All this time I’ve been chasin’ after Oshi-san, but it was nothin’ more than chasin’ Oshi-san’s shadow.

I have to find my own way of doin’ things so I can stand as Oshi-san’s equal……

But ‘m only just barely standin’ on my own. I dunno if I’ll be able to hold out ‘til the end. ‘S makin’ me nervous.

…...but ‘m not gonna give up. ‘Cause I made a promise to Oshi-san. ‘M gonna give it a go.

I might hesitate a bunch and prick my hands with the needle a whole lotta times, but no matter what, ‘m gonna try makin’ somethin’ that’s me. And then ‘m gonna show it off to Oshi-san!

Me, who was just Oshi-san’s doll, bein’ able to make a costume like this- I want Oshi-san to congratulate me!

‘M a dullard and I’m pretty slow, but watch over me, Oshi-san……


Shu: “It makes me happy to hear those words. Do your best, Kagehira.”


Mika: Oshi-san……

…...Oshi-san’d never say somethin’ like that! Who are ya and what’d ya do with Oshi-san!


Shu: “Non! I am Oshi-san!”


Mika: Oshi-san’d never call himself ‘Oshi-san’!

And Oshi-san’s always super strict on me and everyone else. Oshi-san’d never say such kind words so easily!


Shu: “What are you saying, useless Kagehira! You ground beetle! You absolute waste of space! You fool!”


Mika: Nha~, that ain’t it either!


Tsumugi: What a relief that the ‘Outfits Room’ isn’t locked. It would’ve been pretty disappointing if I came all the way here and it was closed.

The sewing kits are limited today, so I can’t carry one around with me.

I’ll just borrow it for a little while…...oya?


Mika: That ain’t even half like Oshi-san! Oshi-san curses at me way more!


Tsumugi: Excuse me, what's going on?


Mika: Wah, eek!? Tsu-Tsumugi-senpai!


Tsumugi: I heard you talking to someone, so I thought there was someone else here with you…… But it seems it’s just you in the Outfits Room, Mika-kun?

Were you maybe talking to yourself?


Mika: Um. I gotta make a ‘personal outfit’ of sorts.

I thought that if I was gonna make an amazin’ costume like Oshi-san, I oughta listen to Oshi-san’s voice.

But it ain’t nothin’ of the sort. ‘S just a fake. I ain’t acceptin’ it!


Tsumugi: Shu-kun’s voice……?


Mika: That’s right. I thought Oshi-san’d cheer me on, but it ain’t Oshi-san in the end.

Nha~, I can’t keep goin’ like this~


Tsumugi: Aah, if you hug the costumes like that, they’re going to get wrinkled, you know.


Mika: Oh no! Oshi-san’s gonna get mad……! I was bein’ careless, I gotta put ‘em all back in the costume cases.


Tsumugi: Hm? Something fell. This is……


Mika: Ah. Oshi-san’s picture!


Tsumugi: Here you go. It’s all taped up- it’s really important to you, isn’t it?


Mika: Mhm. This here’s real important. If I carry this picture with me, it feels like Oshi-san’s always close by…… ♪


Tsumugi: I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of costume you’ll make, Mika-kun. I hope you’ll make something wonderful.


Mika: Yep!

…...Huh? Speakin’ of, what’re ya doin’ here, Tsumuchan-senpai?


Tsumugi: My outfit got a little frayed, so I was going to fix it. You wouldn’t mind if I stayed here for a bit, would you?


Mika: Of course, take yer time~ ♪ is what I’d say, but it ain’t my room anyway.

Havin’ someone like Tsumuchan-senpai who’s good at sewin’ around sure is reassurin’.


Tsumugi: Please do tell me if you run into any problems. I’ll be happy to help out where I can.


Mika: (‘Producer’ said the same thing earlier. They’re all so worried about me.)

(......’M not alone. There’s a whole lotta people around who are holdin’ their hands out to help me.)

(Even though Oshi-san’s not here right now…… If I run into any trouble, ‘m definitely gonna get a lot of help.)

(Everyone’s here fer me. If I think about things that way, it’s a whole lot more relievin’ ♪)

‘S alright, ‘m gonna try makin’ it by m’self! ‘M gonna sew a ‘personal outfit’ that’ll surprise everyone.

Look closely upon my art. Somethin’ like that~ ♪




<< Previous Chapter