The changing room door gently opened.
Holding up her skirt, Carina stepped barefoot onto the cold marble floor. She hesitated for a second before gathering the courage to take that step outside. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, stretching a slender shadow behind her.
Nami leaned against the doorframe with her arms folded, a teasing smile on her lips. "All right, stop dawdling. Go on."
Carina took a deep breath and lifted her head.
The red-and-white Shinto attire set off her creamy skin-the white top was embroidered with intricate cloud patterns, the red hakama skirt fell to her ankles, and golden tassels at her cuffs swayed gently as she moved.
A broad red sash encircled her waist, outlining the girl's budding figure just right.
Beneath the skirt, sheer white stockings encased her long, straight calves. A pair of high-heeled sandals revealed her cute toes, their nails painted pink.
But the greatest changes were atop her head and behind her.
Her formerly blue hair had turned entirely silver-white after she ate the Ice Fox Fruit. A pair of furry fox ears stood amid her hair, twitching gently from time to time, as though catching every faint sound in the air.
Behind her, a fluffy, snow-white tail emerged from the waistband of her skirt, hanging lazily with its tip slightly curled.
Nami looked her up and down and nodded in satisfaction. "Mm-not bad, not bad. Our little fox finally has a bit of womanly charm."
"Really?" Carina looked down at herself nervously, unsure where to put her hands. She tried a twirl, sending her skirt fluttering and the golden tassels tracing an arc through the air.
Then she stopped and looked toward the balcony.
There, the Silver-Haired Man still lay in his wicker chair, seemingly unaware of everything happening over here.
Carina