"Th-the zipper... I can't get it up..." Bai You's voice came through the gap in the door.
Varesa pushed the door open and went in.
The fitting room was tiny. With both of them squeezed inside, they were almost pressed against each other.
Bai You had her back to her. She was halfway into the dress, its zipper stuck at her waist no matter how she tried to pull it up.
Her back was very fair, the lines of her shoulder blades delicate and slightly taut with nerves.
Varesa's gaze lingered on her back for a second. Then she reached out, steadied her waist with one hand, and pulled the zipper with the other.
"Don't move," she said, her voice a little lower than usual.
Bai You didn't dare move, freezing on the spot. She could feel Varesa's warm breath on the back of her neck. The zipper rose bit by bit, tightening the fabric against her body.
"There." Varesa let go and smoothed the lace at her neckline, her fingertips brushing the skin at the back of her neck.
Bai You turned around, her face terribly red. She kept her head down, not daring to look at her. "Th-thank you..."
"Look up," Varesa said.
Bai You slowly raised her head.
The fitting room light shone down from overhead, casting a warm yellow glow on her face and a small shadow beneath her eyelashes.
The light blue dress suited her beautifully. A small stretch of collarbone showed above its white lace neckline, and the skirt swayed gently with her breathing.
Varesa looked at her for two seconds, then said delightedly, "Little Bai You, you look so pretty~~"
But Bai You's face turned even redder.
She stepped out of the fitting room and turned around in front of the mirror, her skirt lifting in a small arc.
She looked at herself in the mirror, feeling a little unfamiliar and a little indescribably happy.
"Let's get this one," Varesa said, leaning against the fitting room doorway with her arms crossed as she watched her. "Let's see if there's anything else, too."
Afterward, they picked out a few more things-a pink sweater, a white pleated skirt, a pair of fluffy little shoes, and so on.
Bai You remembered that the system had given her some Mora and wanted to pay for them herself, but Varesa held her hand down. "They're a gift from me."
"But..."
"No buts." Varesa handed her card to the clerk and glanced back at her, the corner of her mouth lifting. "You're already mine, so what's a few clothes?"
Bai You's head buzzed, and she froze as if rooted to the spot.
Oh no, how did I end up saying what I was thinking out loud? Varesa was already in a complete panic.
The clerk had heard her and was giggling to herself nearby, and Varesa wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
They left the clothing store and returned to the street. The sun was nearly setting.
Their shadows stretched long across the ground, occasionally overlapping.
"Did you have fun today?" Varesa asked, looking at Bai You.
Bai You nodded vigorously, her loose hair swaying. "I did!"
Her voice was a little louder than usual. After saying it, she lowered her head again in embarrassment and scuffed the stone pavement with her toe.
Varesa smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Then I'll bring you out to have fun more often."
Bai You looked up, her eyes sparkling as though filled with the setting sun.
As they walked toward the theater, Bai You remembered Odette.
"Odette... won't she get bored practicing dance by herself?" she asked quietly.
Varesa paused, then said unconcernedly, "Once she starts practicing, she wouldn't care if the sky fell. She won't get bored."
"Maybe she's slacking off right now. She'd be even less bored then."
"Oh," Bai You said, still looking a little worried.
Varesa gave her hand a squeeze. "Don't worry, there are treats for her in the bag too. She'll be happy."
Bai You nodded and continued walking, Varesa holding her hand.
The setting sun stretched their shadows very, very long. The two shadows leaned against each other, impossible to tell apart.
Before long, Varesa and Bai You returned to the theater.
Varesa first took Bai You back to her own room to put away Bai You's clothes and things, then took the snacks they had brought back and headed straight for Odette's lounge.
When they arrived outside Odette's lounge, Varesa called through the door:
"Odette, Bai You and I brought you your favorite macarons. Come out!"
After a while, there was no response from inside the lounge.
"Maybe she's not here?" Bai You said, looking at the unresponsive door.
"I don't know. Let's open the door and take a look first. If she isn't here, she's probably practicing in the dance studio. She's been practicing very diligently lately."
With that, Varesa gently pushed the door open and found that Odette really wasn't in the room.
Varesa then took Bai You by the hand and headed for the dance studio.
When they reached the dance studio, Bai You and Varesa stood at the doorway.
They saw Odette lying quietly on a seat to one side of the studio, seemingly half asleep.
"Odette, we're back," Bai You called out first.
"We bought you lots of snacks too!" Varesa called right after her.
Hearing their voices, Odette hurriedly stood up and resumed a serious demeanor.
Then she raised her head and saw the two people at the door.
Her movements froze for an instant.
Her voice quickly went from groggy to its usual even tone. "You're back."
Varesa pushed the door open, walked in, and set the bag in her hand on the floor. "Yeah, we brought you some treats."
Odette's gaze fell on the bag. She paused, then walked over, took out a box of macarons, looked at it, and put it back. "I don't eat sweets."
"Liar." Varesa leaned against the mirror with her arms crossed. "Who was it that secretly ate half the cake I hid in the fridge last time?"
The tips of Odette's ears turned red, but her voice remained even. "That was an accident."
"Oh-" Varesa drew the word out, smiling like a smug cat. "You accidentally ate half of it?"
"I was just curious, that's all. I suppose I'll try one of these too."
Odette talked tough, but she was quick to open the package.
Then Odette took a pink macaron from the box in Varesa's hand and put it in her mouth.
"Sweet is a nice flavor too."
I realized that putting thanks for gifts and things like that at the end of chapters affects the reading experience a little, and the same goes for some of my thoughts, so I'll move them all to the author's notes. If there are any problems, you can point them out in the chapter comments. This is the last little note like this, so you can read without interruptions from now on (•́⌄•́๑)૭✧