Chapter 19 Yukata
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We are quickly using up our summer vacation.
The morning training became lively with Ares ( fighter), who was dragged along by Liz (the archer), joining in, while my master was training me on the side.
At first, the two of them were complaining while relaxing in the morning hot spring, unable to keep up with my master’s training, but after about ten days, they were improving rapidly.
Well, the main reason they kept going was probably the fun of filling up the ‘stamp card’ that Kazumi made. How childish.
I was using ‘Physical Boost’ and had gotten strong enough to take 2 out of 3 matches against Ares. Still a long way to go against my master.
”Seriously, what a scary kid.”
Ares muttered that in the hot spring after morning training.
”No, Rena’s dagger skills and Kazumi’s magic are way more impressive than mine.”
I replied while washing Ares’s back.
”That’s true. I was surprised to hear that Marti was called a ‘Genius Thief’ at the training center in the royal capital, but Ren-Ren can hold her own against her, which is amazing.”
Ares, who was enjoying having his back washed, answered with a serious face.
”Also, Kazumi has almost mastered basic fire magic, right? What are you guys even made of?”
Ares said in a slightly irritated tone while in the hot spring. Even if he asked, I can’t just say, ‘We’re 2 reincarnators and a goddess.’
”Well… Right now, she’s trying to decide whether to move on to another type of magic or master the basics of fire magic. With Kazumi’s current magical power, it seems impossible for her to advance to a higher level yet…”
I pour hot water over Ares and sink into the hot spring myself.
”Anyway, even if I’m tired from morning training, I’m glad that this hot spring helps me stay focused for work at the guild later.”
Ares joins me in the hot spring.
”Exactly, Hiroya. Hot springs are amazing. And I can’t thank the Guardian Knight enough. Even for adventurers like us, he trains us seriously. Thanks to him, I feel like I’ve become a better ‘Fighter’.”
I know it sounds strange coming from a kid like me, but both Ares and the others are really nice guys, even if they are a bit pervy and careless.
I think that’s why our master trains them seriously.
But I won’t tell them that. They would definitely get cocky.
* * *
”By the way, is it true that young couples get a house if they move to this village?”
Ares asked while drinking coffee milk after the bath.
”Yeah. According to my dad, it should be decided soon. They’re planning to set up a section for newcomers in the south of the village along with the training grounds and barracks.”
Right. My dad fully supported Kazumi’s ‘idea.’
Besides attracting young families, it seems he wants adventurers who have improved their skills in this village to stay. He hopes they will go on adventures from this village, which he sees as a base… no, a hometown. It was an idea that connected to my dad’s wishes.
’For a while, the budget will be out of pocket.’
Dad said that with a laugh. It seems most of the reward money from defeating the Demon King and his savings from his adventurer days will be poured into it.
’What’s the point of not using it for things like this! Just go for it! After that, just grab the budget related to the military from that Minister of War guy!’
That’s what my mom said.
”I see. So the lord was serious. I really like this Razia Village. …Someday, I want to settle down here and go on all sorts of adventures from this village.”
Ares said with a happy smile.
”Then, maybe it’s time to… ask… someone… out──”
He seemed to mumble something else, but his voice got drowned out by the lively sounds coming from the women’s bath.
”Ares, first you need to find someone. A girl who will stick with you, even if you’re a pervy idiot.”
Liz came in laughing. It looked like the women had just come out of the hot spring.
”There are girls like that! Not like you, who only knows how to talk back, but sweet and honest girls!”
He was shouting, but he wasn’t really angry. Ares replied to Liz with a smile.
They really are a fun group of adventurers. Since more old men were starting to come in for their morning bath, we decided to leave the hot spring.
* * *
”Alright, time to get to work! See you later!”
After saying that, we parted ways with Ares and the others as they headed to the guild, and we took Martina to the clinic.
”I’m going to work hard too! See you later!”
Martina disappeared into the clinic.
”So, what should we do today?”
Rena took my and Kazumi’s hands.
”Um… there’s something I want to make before the ‘Dragon God Festival’…”
Kazumi said, lightly shaking Rena’s arm as she spoke hesitantly.
”What is it? Is it something we can make too?”
”…It might be a bit difficult… but I plan to ask my mom for help.”
”Now I’m curious. What do you want to make?”
I’m getting a bit impatient.
”…Yukata…”
”Ah! Yukata sounds great! I want to wear one too!”
As expected from a goddess who is deeply immersed in that other world. She knows a lot.
”Still, Yukata, huh… I wonder if we can make one here.”
”We have a sewing machine, and it’s mostly straight stitching, so I think we can make it…”
”Then let’s go look for some fabric, Kazumi!”
Rena pulls us along.
”To the tailor’s, right? Let’s go, let’s go!”
Kazumi also grabs my hand. Well, it’s just nearby, so it’s fine to take a look. Fabric isn’t something we kids can buy easily anyway.
* * *
”Oh, aren’t you the little heroes of Razia Village? What brings you here?”
When we opened the door to the tailor’s shop, an old lady welcomed us.
She’s the one we’ve helped many times during our community service… or rather, she’s the one who helped us.
”We came to look at some fabric! We want to make yukata.”
Rena rushes to the counter.
”Yukata?”
”No, um… we want to make cute clothes…”
Kazumi hurriedly adds. It’s not like she would understand what a yukata is.
”What kind of clothes are you making?”
At the old lady’s question, Kazumi and Rena exchanged glances, wondering how to explain.
”Um, do you have some paper and something to write with?”
I guess I’ll have to step in and help.
…
…
…
”…It’s something like this. The girl is here, and the boy is here.”
I quickly drew a picture to explain. My experience from childhood art classes in my previous life really came in handy.
”Wow, Hiroya, you’re good!”
”Now that I think about it, when it comes to making presentation materials at work, no one can beat my junior Hiroya.”
”Work? Presentation?”
”Uh… anyway, Grandma, it’s a cool outfit like this.”
Kazumi, you’re too careless.
”Hmm… This looks a lot like a costume from Eastern. It’s simple, but it has a certain charm.”
The old lady, wearing glasses, stares closely at the drawing I made.
”Alright. Grandma will make this outfit for you. As a thank you, of course.”
Saying that, she starts picking out colorful fabrics from the shelves behind her.
”Thank you?”
”That’s right. That hot spring idea was yours, right? Thanks to you, my back, which has been hurting for a long time, feels so much better now.”
While saying this, she straightens her back and selects a few more fabrics from the high shelf.
”Also, that’s not all. You guys are the heroes of the goblin hunt, and there’s that new village initiative that’s going to be announced soon. If the rumors are true, my grandkids want to move here. That was your idea too, right?”
The old lady turns around and lays out several fabrics on the counter.
”So, choose your favorite color. Don’t worry, if you leave it to grandma, I can finish about 3 of those ‘yukata’ outfits by tomorrow.”
She winks playfully.
”Really?”
”Thank you, grandma! Rena thinks this light sky blue is nice!”
Kazumi and Rena quickly start picking out fabrics without much of a thank you.
”Thank you, grandma!”
I made sure to say a proper thank you instead.
Kazumi picks a light green, Rena chooses the light sky blue, and I go for gray. We each select red, yellow, and navy for the sashes. After taking our measurements, we leave the tailor’s shop.
”I’m so excited!”
”Me too!”
Kazumi and Rena’s smiles are amazing.
”With you two wearing yukata at the ‘Dragon God Festival,’ it might just become a trend!”
”Two beautiful models are wearing it, after all.”
”Hmm? I guess so.”
”What kind of annoying way to say that, Hiroya!”
Kazumi tightens her grip on my hand.
”I know! It’s going to be popular! It will be popular!”
It kind of hurts.
”Ah, wait…”
I suddenly think of something.
”What’s wrong?”
Rena leans in to look at my face.
”…Do you really want it to become popular?”
”What do you mean?”
”Well, I think we kids can’t really convey the charm of yukata.”
I answer Kazumi, who loosens her grip to listen.
”Besides being cool and comfortable, what do you think is the charm of yukata?”
It feels like I’m answering a question with another question, but I want to ask them both.
””??””
”Yukata gives off a certain ‘s*xiness’ whether a guy or a girl wears it. That’s why, if we want to make yukata popular, we can’t just do it by ourselves.”
”Hiroya… you’re really passionate about this.”
”Hiroya… that sounds a bit pervy.”
No, I’m not saying anything wrong.
It seems like both of them understand me for now.
So, I suggested to Kazumi and Rena that we should also let Martina and Liz, along with the pervy Fighters, try on yukata fashion.
”I see. It’s definitely important to show everyone how it looks on adults.”
Kazumi agreed. Well, those people are still pretty young to be called adults, though.
Tomorrow, I’ll go to the tailor again and consult with the old lady. So, that’s how we wrapped up the discussion.
Author:
Yukata is a must for summer festivals.
Women’s yukata has its charm, but a slightly chubby guy in a yukata is actually charming too. (According to my wife)
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.