Hey, those ears...

　As I was talking to the gothic shopkeeper, I realized something.

''--maybe it's real cat ears?''
　The gothic loli shopkeeper has cat ears on her head - at first I thought it was a cat-eared headband - but those cat ears, after all, move so adorably in time with the conversation.

You know, we haven't been introduced yet. This is the beastman cat ear department, so take care of it. Is this your first time seeing a beastman tribe?
'Oh, yeah. That's a first.
　Or rather, I just learned for the first time that such a race exists.......

''Well, the beastmen live in the forest, so they don't interact with the human race too much...''

　And with the conversation, the pikopi and cat ears moved adorably again.
　Your eyes can't help but follow its cute movements.

You're curious about Coco's ears, aren't you? Can I touch them for a little while?　I rarely let her touch me, but she's hot, so I'm just going to give her a little extra...
　There was no particular reason to refuse the suggestion of the devilishly smiling cat-eared goth clerk.

'Are you sure?　I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you.
　I was just about to reach out with curiosity when Naiya flattened my hand.
''Um, it hurts so plainly........''

'Coco, I've heard that the beastmen touching the ears of the opposite s*x is meant to be a form of courtship or proposal?
'What?　I don't know much about this place - I don't know how hard it is!

If I remember correctly, Attai, you got this from Coco, right?
Was it?　Huh.

　The cat-eared, gothic-loving clerk who says, and spins around with a curiosity smile and strikes a cute pose.

'Totally, you always try to play it off like that.
What?　Maybe it's Mr. Yakimichi even if it's not?　Well, Niall is a girl too, right?

"If Atay really yakimichi, this shop will blow up without a trace and become 'Blue Sky Coco' instead of 'Atelier Koko', but is that okay?
"I'm sorry about this, I'm sorry about that. Please accept our apologies, Your Highness.
Okay.

　The two of them are like close sisters, happily flirting with each other.
　I've felt it before, but the private side that Naiya shows in her conversations with Coco is very refreshing to me, as I've always been shown her cool, public side.

It's so cute, isn't it?
　I was reminded once again that I was attracted to Nia's charm.

I'm sure you'll find that you're really close to each other. Have you known each other for quite some time?
　Although their relationship felt like they were friends on stilts.

'Well actually, not really. Niall saved my life a long time ago, and then there wasn't much going on after that.

Not long ago, Atai was posted to the eastern frontier on a mission, and I happened to run into him in town on his first day there. We had a great time talking about old times and we hit it off and here we are now.

　Naiya was helping someone else as a matter of course.
　And I think it's wonderful that she's not particularly proud of it.

That was, let's put it that way, a meeting with fate........ Ha!　I know where I am!　So Coco was destined to marry Nia!

"Sure, sure, whatever you want to call it. I'm not a very good girl, but you can rest assured that she has a very good eye for purchasing. Atelier Koko is one of Atai's recommended accessory shops.

'You recommend it? I mean, Nia liked this kind of cute.
"Well, you know what? There's a girl in the group who knows a lot about it. It's not that I'm not familiar with them, but I'm not particularly familiar with them. More importantly...

　As it is, it looks like Naiya was going to let this story slide, but the store clerk Koko, who doesn't even try to hide her smirk, dares to prevent her from doing so.

The actuality of this is that it's not the same as the original.　You were the one who introduced me to all the members of the group, weren't you, Nia?　Thanks to our reputation as the purveyor of the Commander of the Holy Virgin Knights (Jeanne d'Arc), Atelier Koko is now on a flying leap!　I wonder if it won't be long before they set up shop on Travis Street!　Thanks, this is all thanks to you, Nia!

Uh... naiya?
..........
　Niall was teary-eyed & red in the face.

'What the hell, you don't have to hide it, do you?　It's nice to be a girly girl who likes pretty things.

I mean. With Attai's personality, you'd think that wouldn't suit him very well, wouldn't you?　So I can't help it. But yeah. Sayah said it was girly, and yes, I'm very happy for Atai now.
　Niall smiles softly, smiling softly at her.

'So when you say it to my face like that, it's embarrassing...'
That's why I'm embarrassed for you...

　It was me and Naiya looking at each other wordlessly in the chilly air.