Chapter 23 A Request from Nagi
#OtokotomodachiA Request from Nagi
“So, um, this is just an idea, but if you happen to see any clothes that might suit me… I mean, my sister, could you let me know?”
“Huh? Clothes that might suit Nami-san?”
The request caught me so off guard that I tilted my head in confusion as I sought clarification.
“Y-Yeah, that’s right. You see, my sister doesn’t really wear girly clothes.”
“Oh? Really? So, does Nami-san usually prefer simpler outfits?”
“Yeah. She mostly sticks to jeans and other simple styles. Skirts or dresses are pretty rare for her.”
“Huh, that’s kind of surprising. I mean, her maid outfit was super stylish and looked amazing on her. I thought she might wear cute clothes like that all the time.”
“Eh… I-It looked amazing on her… I see… I see…”
“Hm? What’s up, Nagi?”
“Eh…? Ah, no, it’s nothing!”
Nagi muttered something softly, his cheeks turning red. I couldn’t catch what he said, so I asked him directly.
Frantically, he shook his head side to side, insisting it was nothing.
“Oh… okay. If you say so.”
“Y-Yeah. So, from a guy’s perspective, if you could suggest clothes that might look good on my sister, I’d really appreciate it. Could you do that?”
“Ah, sure. That’s no problem. Let me think…”
With Nagi’s request in mind, I started brainstorming outfits that might suit Nami-san.
(Nami-san is tall, slim, and has a sophisticated, androgynous beauty.)
Her long, silky black hair accentuates her elegance—like a modern-day Yamato Nadeshiko. Thinking of her ideal outfit, I imagined…
“Honestly, now that I think about it, I feel like Nami-san could pull off any style effortlessly.”
“Eh? D-Do you really think so?”
“Yeah, definitely. For example, she’d look great in a simple, cute skirt or a soft, flowy dress. But she’d also totally rock a gal-style mini skirt or crop top. Even a rider’s jacket or a bomber jacket—like the ones you often wear—would suit her perfectly.”
“I-I see. So, in your opinion, she’d look good in anything. But me… I mean, my sister doesn’t really wear skirts or shorts that show a lot of leg.”
As I shared ideas about what might suit Nami-san, Nagi added a detail—apparently, she avoids clothes that expose her legs.
“Oh? So Nami-san doesn’t like skirts or shorts?”
“No, it’s not that she dislikes them. Actually, she loves girly and cute clothes. Back in school, she wore a skirt every day as part of her uniform.”
“Huh, so she does like feminine clothes. Then why doesn’t she wear them now?”
Curious, I tilted my head and asked Nagi.
“Well, it’s not a huge reason, but… my sister’s really tall, right? Back in school, she was in sports clubs and trained every day.”
“Oh, I see. So both you and your sister were into sports?”
“Y-Yeah, that’s right. And, well… even now, she keeps up with her workouts, so she’s built some muscle. Her calves, for example, are pretty toned. She thinks it doesn’t look feminine, so she avoids skirts and short pants out of embarrassment.”
“I see. Well, in that case, I think Nami-san should wear whatever makes her happy.”
“…Eh?”
When I said that casually, Nagi looked at me, his expression a mix of surprise and thoughtfulness.
“I mean, if Nami-san genuinely disliked girly clothes, I’d respect that. But if she likes them, don’t you think she should wear what she loves?”
“Y-Yeah, I guess so…”
“Exactly. If it’s just a matter of feeling self-conscious, she’d probably get used to it quickly after wearing them a few times. No need to overthink it.”
“T-Taiki…”
I gave Nagi a warm smile, hoping to convey my encouragement.
From what Nagi shared, it seemed like Nami-san just needed a little nudge to take that first step. I wanted to support her in that.
“Haha, honestly, I think Nami-san would look amazing in any outfit. So tell her she can confidently wear whatever she loves.”
“…Yeah, I will. I’m sure my sister will be happy to hear your advice. Thank you so much, Taiki.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Oh, I have an idea. Why don’t we invite Nami-san to join us for the drive next time?”
“Fufu… Wait, what!?”
“I mean, we’re planning to visit a clothing outlet, right? It’d be fun to look at clothes she likes or that might suit her. Plus, I’ve already met her, so it wouldn’t be awkward. If she’s free, why not invite her?”
Thinking it sounded like a fun plan, I suggested it to Nagi. But for some reason, he seemed flustered.
“I-I mean… sure, I’ll ask her… but she’s really busy with work, so it might be difficult…”
“Ah, that’s true. She is a working adult. Well, no harm in asking, right? Let me know what she says.”
“Y-Yeah… okay…”
With that, I left Nagi to ponder the idea. But he seemed nervous for the rest of the conversation… I wonder what’s going on?