Kays Translations

Chapter 79. Summer Festival 4: I never thought something like this would happen

Grandpa Jill’s house.

It was getting close to evening, so I dropped in to get ready before the bell rang.

I’d eaten a bit too much and was tired from walking around. But I’d managed to get a curry bun and bring it back as a souvenir for Grandpa Jil.

There was a huge line at Larry and Ann’s stall. Their curry buns were so popular that they had a limit of two per person.

Ann apologized to me, saying, “Sorry,” but just because you know someone doesn’t mean it’s okay to break the rules.

“I’m Kirara!”

“I’m Mimi!”

The two greeted him cheerfully.

“Mhm. Call me Grandpa Jill,” he said, eyes narrowing warmly. He looked at them with the same gentle gaze of a grandfather doting on his grandchildren.

Raising my hand, I asked, “Can I call you that too?”

“Of course.”

He replied. Grandpa Jil. Grandpa Jil. Yeah, that sounds nice.

I’d been thinking it was kind of sweet how Larry called him that.

I left Mimi, Kirara, and Grandpa Jil in the living room, and headed to an unused room upstairs.

I thought I’d quickly get changed.… but a problem occurred.

What I thought was a simple one-piece dress actually wasn’t. Looking closely, it wasn’t one single piece. There were some small parts.

Wait—how do I wear this?

The unexpected problem: I didn’t know how to put it on.

I think you’re supposed to tie this string around the waist and layer the apron-looking part on top, but…

I can’t blame Milia-san for not explaining. She probably assumed I’d know how to wear it—because to her, it’s just natural.

It’s like when sometimes I have friends stay over and forget to explain how to use the shower, and they end up confused. Even the bathroom and toilet switches—if you don’t use them daily, they’re hard to tell apart.

It’s hard to teach something that you do naturally all the time.

And it’s my own fault for assuming it’s just a one-piece dress, so it’d be easy to put on and not trying it on in advance.

Maybe I can ask Mimi and Kirara…

Wait, no. They just materialize theirs when they transform. They wouldn’t know how to put it on the usual way.

As I stood there unsure what to do, I tried putting it on more or less at random, but it didn’t feel right.

While I was struggling to tie the strings of my apron behind my back, there was a knock on the door.

“Yes?” 

I start.

　

“I’ve come to help with your dress fitting,” said a familiar voice

…What?

Hesitantly, I opened the door—and standing there was Matilda from the Adventurer’s Guild. She looked very beautiful in her festival attire. Also, judging by her outfit, I’d definitely put mine on wrong…

But if I was looking at Matilda—of course, she was looking at me, too.

Jill-san, who was behind her,

“Now that I think of it, I remember Grandma saying it was a bit of a hassle to put it on by herself…”

　He says.

Matilda continued, smiling brightly, “Jil-san asked me the other day if I could create an easy-to-understand diagrams guide for how to wear the women’s festival outfit. It became clear pretty quickly—it was for you, Saki-san. So I volunteered to help out in person.”

Her smile was mischievous and very charming. She looked so pleased with herself—adorable, really.

Ah. So she definitely knew I’d struggle with it.

“Please… help me…” I bowed my head in surrender.

And Grandpa Jill… bless you. Thank you for preparing for this just in case. You’re always helping me out.

Matilda quickly and expertly redressed me.

“By the way, tying the apron ribbon in the back means someone is a widow. That’s not what you meant, right?”

I was shocked to find out that was the case. There’s actually a rule like that.

I shook my head—definitely not a widow.

“Then we’ll tie it on the left.” She corrected it.

Apparently, tying it on the right means “you have a partner.” …Which I also don’t. Yikes.

Traditional clothing is so complicated. I probably would have made a lot of mistakes on my own like wearing a kimono in Japan with the left side in front.

Matilda even brought out her makeup and touched up my face.

She shaded my flat, featureless face to add dimension and made my eyes look larger. Honestly, with all that, I probably looked like a different person even without a mask.

Looking in the mirror, I had to admit—I had a face that really came alive with makeup.

She finished by applying a little lip color.

I wondered if they called the ring finger “the red index finger” in this world too. That’s what she used to apply the makeup, and as I watched her, the thought crossed my mind.

She dabbed away the excess rouge onto paper and we’re done.

Matilda stepped back, gave a satisfied nod, and said, “I think you’re all set.”

“Thank you, Matilda-san.”

To which she replied, “No, thank you—for everything.”

Maybe she was referring to those crackers I gave her before? Though really, I’m the one who’s always in her debt.

I threw on the Yogimogi-Sashimo dyed shawl and walked down the stairs.

“Oh, you’ve done well,” Grandpa Jil said, visibly surprised.

“You look so cute!” Mimi exclaimed.

“Your eyes are twice as big!” Kirara added in shock.

Well, even if I put on some makeup, I’ll be covering up with a mask, but still, it feels good to get complimented. I open my eyes, which I was told have doubled in size, as wide as I can and blink dramatically.

Everyone laughed at that—and it made me happy.

As we stood there, the bell rang—clang-clang!

The signal bell.

Time to put on our masks and head out.

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