novelBridal Repayment
| ← Ch.396 | Ch.398 → |
Translator: Reflet
Editor: ryunakama
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After school at the academy, Hera slipped into a room with a plate titled "Crafts Club".
Among them were Kotone, Suzune, and Kazane. The three of them had been sewing something with intent expressions, only pausing to look at Hera.
"Hera-chan, what's up?"
Kotone, the elder sister asked.
"I was free so I came over to play with everyone. You were the only ones left at the school."
"Is that right?"
"They all left?"
"Well, Akiha-san was on break today."
Suzune and Kazane stopped what they were doing, participating in the conversation.
Hera used the term "everyone" to refer to Taiyou and his seven wives. Every so often it would include any woman with whom Taiyou shared a kiss, so people like Leticia or Adano could share that title, but it was generally just the former definition.
So the sisters answered with that in mind.
"But wow, I didn't know you were in a club."
"We've always been in here."
"There was quite the commotion in Spring."
"It only resurfaced recently."
"Is that so? And what are you making?"
"I'm making a box tissue cover."
"Ooo, how cute. And you, Suzune-chan?"
"Tablecloth. It's a Christmas version so I need to complete it by then."
"Red and white are indeed cute. Are those socks real?"
"Not at all, this is an appliqué."
"Ohhh, and you, Kazane-chan?"
"Slippers."
"Slippers?"
Kazane seemed to be making the most interesting item out of all of them.
Upon closer inspection, it did seem to be the case that she was making slippers.
But these slippers were no mere slippers. The top part was big, forming the shape of an animal to make very adorable slippers.
"What kind of animal is that?"
"A hippo."
"A hippo?"
"Yeah, I fretted a bit over whether that or a lion would be better, but I thought this one would be cuter."
"And this size...is it for Taiyou-chan?"
"Of course."
"Indeed, I see."
Hera nodded.
She imagined Taiyou wearing hippo-themed slippers in the house.
Yes, this might actually look good on him, she thought.
"Nothing for the others, then?"
"I was thinking of starting on theirs after Taiyou-san's, listening to their preferences."
"I want some too, indeed."
"You too?"
When Hera mentioned she wanted some, Kotone and Suzune looked at her as they resumed sewing.
"Oh? Do I not get any?"
Hera put her fingers on her lips in a dejected manner.
"No, you can have some, but..."
"Oh, is it because it's difficult to make small-sized ones?"
"Not exactly that either..."
Kazane said, and the three sisters looked at one another.
Kazane nodded, holding out the hippo slippers.
"Hera-chan, can you go ahead and try holding this?"
"Eh?"
Hera answered with a blank face.
"What are you saying, Kazane-chan? I can't hold anything."
"You can't?"
"I can't. I can only touch people with whom Taiyou-chan has kissed, and no other physical substance."
Hera put her hands on her hips in a bragging manner.
"Then you can't put on slippers, now can you?"
"...Ohhh!"
Hera clapped her hands together like this was the first time the thought occurred to her.
"Right, that's true. I cannot wear slippers."
"Right?"
"I was careless, indeed. Sorry. Please forget we had this conversation, indeed."
With that, the conversation came to an end again, and the three sisters got back to sewing.
Hera stared at them a bit.
After a bit, the three of them raised their heads and opened their mouths in unison.
"Hera-chan...do you want to wear slippers?"
"Yes indeed?"
"You would want..."
"To be paired with Taiyou, right?"
"Yes indeed, I would love to match with Taiyou-chan."
The three sisters looked at each other again.
"But it can't be helped, indeed. There is indeed nothing that can be done."
"Are you completely sure about that?"
"If it's someone who's kissed Taiyou-san, you can touch them, right?"
"Then what about items that Taiyou-san has kissed? I think something like that was in a manga before, if I recall."
"Ohhh!"
Hera clapped her hands.
"That indeed might be possible. I will go see Taiyou-chan real quick."
Hera said, slipping through the wall and rushing outside.
Hera flew over to where she sensed Taiyou was.
When she did so, Hera found herself in the commercial district area, watching Taiyou and Ruri heading home from school side by side.
"Taiyou-chan Taiyou-chan."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Taiyou-chan, do you have a handkerchief or something on you?"
"Uhh yeah, I do? Kotone supplies me with it every morning."
Taiyou took out the handkerchief.
"You are to kiss the handkerchief."
"Say what?"
"You are to do it quickly. This is an experiment to see if I can touch anything you've kissed."
"Ahh, that's what you mean."
Taiyou nodded, putting his lips on the kerchief and giving it a smooch."
"Here you go."
"Yes indeed...mmm, looks like I still can't touch it. How unfortunate."
"But why the sudden impulse?"
"The triplets were making slippers. But I cannot touch physical objects..."
"Ahh, so that's why you came to test out if you could touch anything I kissed."
"Yes indeed."
"Although you can touch anything while I'm holding it. No point if that's the case."
"Yes indeed. Welp, guess that's that."
"There probably...is a way."
Ruri said. Taiyou and Hera both looked at her.
"And what would that be?"
"Those...your wings."
Ruri said, pointing at Hera's wings.
"My wings?"
Hera looked blankly at her battered wings.
"...Ahhh!"
Taiyou realized something, raising his voice.
"W-What's the matter?"
"Blood Soul."
"Blood Soul?"
"Yes, that katana. You were able to touch it, remember?"
"...Ohhh! Yes indeed, I remember that."
"All you have to do is make something that doesn't rampage or attack the mind."
"Mhm...just make it like that."
"Hold up, I'm going to try asking Youran or Sakura."
Taiyou took out his phone to make a call.
Youran answered and listened to what he had to say.
[Yeah, you can do it. ]
"Really?"
[But it will cost you a pretty penny, Master. The material fee is about a million for one set of clothing, I think—-]
"Go ahead and make it."
Taiyou immediately answered.
"I'll do anything it takes to get the money over to you later."
[...Alright. Then I'll get in contact with the sisters. ]
Youran said, hanging up.
Taiyou put away his phone, looking at Hera.
"She says you can. You're in luck."
"But but Taiyou-chan, I think I heard a seriously high price."
"Don't worry about it. More importantly..."
Taiyou said as he stared straight at Hera.
"I'm more than happy to give you a present."
"Taiyou-chan...thank you, indeed."
Hera clung to Taiyou in an emotional manner.
"I will also...use my money."
"No, just leave this to—-"
"I am in debt to her for bringing us together...I wish to repay that favor."
"...Okay."
Taiyou and Ruri nodded at one another while Hera's face went blank.
Later, the financial muscles that were Youran, Sakura, and Kohaku would come and have their say.
And this was how Operation Dress-Up Doll Hera began.
| ← Ch. 396 | Ch. 398 → |