As a sort of revenge, I made sure to fly the both of us erratically towards the center of the city, relishing in the silent and stiff terror Celine must have been experiencing as we darted past skyscrapers and other flying objects. Once I felt satisfied with my little power trip, I slowed down and landed gently in a shopping district, releasing my grip on Celine. No one seemed shocked at our arrival nor the black virtual wings that folded back into me. Huh. Seems like the world had grown used to Players.

"Th-thank... you, Immortal," Celine managed, still breathing hard from the adrenaline rush. She easily composed herself to my annoyance as we walked through the bustling shopping district, taking in the sights and sounds around us. The Lambda Sector was pretty much the same city I knew, save for an obvious jump in technology. Floating screens, holographic advertisements, and hovercarts filled the air, making the city seem even more vibrant and alive. It felt like a game hub with all the cool futuristic technology floating about.

Despite the morning sun barely peeking over the horizon, the streets were already teeming with people. They flowed in and out of stores, some carrying bags of clothes and others just browsing. Celine led the way, her stride confident and purposeful as she wove through the crowd. I followed behind, feeling a bit grumpy from having to be up so early.

"I get that it's a special event or whatever, but there aren't going to be a lot of people there, right?" I asked Celine, remembering my promise to Tessa about asking for her invitation. I hope she forgot about it. "Why are you so obsessed with this?"

"It's a chance for me to prove myself," Celine replied, not looking back. "A chance to show that I'm not just Chronia's sister."

I sighed. "I didn't mean it like that," I said. "I just don't see what the big deal is. You're already in Enigma, right? It's not like you're getting kicked out or anything."

"We're not in Enigma yet," Celine corrected. "And it's important to have a good first impression."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Okay, fine. So what do you want to get?"

"For you, a new wardrobe." Celine led me to a department store with a large, inviting window display. The mannequins inside were dressed in a variety of outfits, from tailored suits to casual wear. "You'll need something both professional and stylish. Judging from the limited selection in your closet, some other clothes as well."

I scowled, but followed her inside. The store was brightly lit and impeccably organized, with racks upon racks of clothing on display. Celine immediately made a beeline for the men's section, while I wandered over to the shoes. I wasn't much of a fashion guy, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to pick up a few basics.

After browsing for a while, I found a pair of black dress shoes that looked halfway decent, and a few casual pairs of sneakers and boots. I brought them over to the register, where Celine was already waiting with a pile of clothes. She'd picked out a few suits, some dress shirts, and a few pairs of slacks.

[Kinda seems like a date, no?]

I ignored Sephera's message and raised an eyebrow at Celine. "You realize I'm not going to need all this for just a one time ceremony, right?" I asked her. "And besides, what am I supposed to do with a whole new wardrobe? Just keep it in my closet?"

"Wear it?" Celine tilted her head in slight confusion. "Don't tell me you recycle the same few items of clothing every now and then."

"Well, yeah, but I don't have anywhere to wear it," I protested. "And besides, I'm not exactly interested in fashion or anything. It's just not my thing."

[No wonder you're not popular. Gonna go ahead and add bum to no-life masochist.]

I bit back a retort as Celine pulled out a nice button up to show me. "Look, I appreciate you helping me develop my look and all, but I really don't see myself wearing this all the time."

Celine didn't respond right away, pressing the shirt against my body to judge its size on me. Up close, she was kind of cute.

"Fair enough, but I'd rather you have options to choose from than recycle through the same outfits. Besides, with how restlessly you've been diving into the tower floors, I expect your clothes to wear down quicker than you realize. If you're going to transition to dungeon resonances, it'll be twice as fast."

I frowned. "I hadn't really thought about it like that," I admitted. "I guess it makes sense. Okay, so let's say I get this suit, and maybe a few other things. How much is all this going to cost?"

Celine narrowed her eyes. "Are you in need of gold?"

"Er, n-no. Tessa got my account set up, and I think I should be fine for the moment," I stammered back. "I just don't want to waste my money on things I don't think I'll be using much."

Celine raised an eyebrow at me, clearly unconvinced. "Very well, then. Don't worry about the cost. I'll pay."

I blinked in surprise. "You will?"

"Yes. I'd like you to have a fresh start, and looking good never hurt anyone." She glanced at the clothes in her arms, then back at me.

"Why are you going so far for me?"

Celine hesitated for a moment. "Because... I want to practice my styling on you."

[...]

I could tell even Sephera was doubtful. "What's the real reason?" I crossed my arms.

The Saint suddenly seemed interested in the clothes in her arms. I impatiently waited for her answer, tapping my foot. She finally took a deep breath.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Because... my sister will be there, too." Celine mumbled. Ah, now it made sense.

"So you meant you wanted to prove yourself to your sister, huh?" I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. I couldn't exactly say that I didn't understand- not after what happened yesterday. "But what's that got to do with me?"

Celine finally met my gaze, her eyes unflinching. "Enigma members gathered today will assess our values and consider the potential we'll bring to the organization. But due to your recent success, you've already outshined any potential I had before. Even though it's a joint-induction, your reputation has already boosted you to certain acceptance by Enigma."

Oh. Shit. I hadn't realized. I felt kind of guilty. "I didn't know that, Celine. I mean, if you want to use me to impress your sister, that's fine by me."

She shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I don't care about that, Immortal. I just care that you consider me a friend. That in of itself is more than enough to rub it in my sister's– I mean, more than enough to distinguish me from my sister."

I didn't know how to respond. Piecing together what she said, it seemed like people assumed Celine was following in her sister's footsteps. And while I did feel touched that she thought of me as a friend even though we barely met a few days ago, it hinted that the people she knew were more associated with Chronia rather than her.

I sighed, grabbing a couple items off the top of the stack in her arms. "Say less. I'll go try these on."

----------------------------------------

While I didn't enjoy trying on clothing, it seemed to cheer up Celine, so I didn't object. She nodded her approval, shook her distaste, or shrugged at her indifference every time I stepped out to show her the clothes I tried on. After about an hour, she seemed satisfied with what she had chosen for me.

"Is that what you're wearing to the induction?" I casually asked Celine as she handed her card over to the cashier. Pride aside, I wasn’t going to give up the chance to get something for free. I did feel a bit guilty, but hey, she wanted to do it. Who am I to stop her?

"Yes. I think so. I'm not sure about the shoes, though." Celine hesitated, looking down at her feet. "Do you think they're too... much?"

"You look like a businessman," I replied honestly. "If that's what you wanted, then it looks fine."

"Oh," Celine looked crestfallen. What the heck? Did she really not notice? "I was going for a professional and dignified look."

"It's... definitely professional," I said, studying her outfit. "But have you considered a dress?"

Celine tilted her head. "Why? Do you think that'd be better?"

[?? Does she not usually wear dresses?]

"Do you... not wear dresses?" I repeated Sephera's question. In the back of my mind, I recalled Celine wearing athletic clothing or neat attire, but never casual or dressy.

"No. They'd hinder my movement in the tower."

"And outside?"

"I rarely go outside."

Huh? This woman really dragged me out to update my closet while she herself had a limited taste in clothing? I guess it's not like I had anything better to do...

"We still have quite a bit of time before the induction," I said, glancing at my phone. "It's your turn to shop for new clothes."

"Understood." It irritated me how easily Celine agreed to it.

We walked to another department store, this time to the women's section. I had no idea what I was looking for, but I figured it would be easier if I just picked something that caught my eye. Celine, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought.

"Do you want to try something on?" I asked, grabbing a black and white dress that seemed to have her attention.

"No, thank you. I believe I've found something." Celine held up a navy blue suit. "Do you think it's too formal?"

Is this woman serious?

"Dude, you're already wearing a suit," I pointed out, grabbing a couple of dresses from the rack. "I assume you only wear athletic wear and suits, so diversify your style with these."

Celine arched an eyebrow. "And you think these will suit my... style?"

"One way to find out," I gestured over to the dressing rooms.

Celine arched her eyebrow. "Very well." She went into the dressing room and shut the door behind her. I set down my bags of new clothing and took out my phone to pass the time playing games, waiting for her to emerge.

[Can't say I'm very interested in this date.]

"It's not a date," I quickly hissed back at Sephera's message. "We're just running errands. So that we're presentable at the induction."

[Yeah, but you're also getting clothes for daily use. Not to mention you're spending quality time with her.]

"What's that got to do with anything?" I asked, annoyance coloring my tone. "Celine said it herself, we're just friends."

[She's cute, though.]

Okay, I had to agree with Sephera there. Still, I think my type was more like Gigi. As I was trying to think of a comeback, the door in front of me opened.

Celine stepped out of the dressing room, her expression thoughtful. "It's... not bad."

[!!!]

My grip on my phone slackened as I stared at Celine. The dark red dress she wore clung to her curves in all the right places, and the slit up her thigh showed off her toned legs. Her pale skin contrasted beautifully against the color. Her hair, normally tied back in a ponytail, was down and flowing around her shoulders, making her look even more feminine. She looked incredible.

"Wow."

Celine nodded, as if my less than eloquent reaction was exactly what she expected. "Do you think so?" she asked, her voice almost uncertain.

"Er, yeah." I still couldn't form a complete sentence.

"Then I'll take this one. You're right, Immortal. I should diversify my wardrobe." Celine didn't seem phased by my stupor. "I'd like to try on a few more clothes."

She disappeared back into the dressing room. I stupidly stared at the door for a while.

[Real smooth.]

"Shut it," I snapped back at Sephera, my face burning. "It's cause you distracted me."

[What did I even do? You're the one who acted like he's never interacted with a girl before.]

Oh, that’s how this lazy Admin was going to play? That’s fine by me.

"Honestly, you're right. The only girls I've interacted with were Sarah, Gigi, and maybe Phoebe." I put heavy emphasis on ‘girls’.

[....What about me?]

"What about you?"

As Sephera spammed my vision with her messages, Celine popped out of the dressing room again, a dark violet blouse tucked into a pair of white high-waisted shorts. She looked absolutely adorable.

"What do you think?" she asked, turning this way and that in front of the full-length mirror.

[System alert: Admin Sephera has added an Emergency quest.]

[Quest: Keep Your Composure!]

[Description: Please don't embarrass yourself.]

[Reward: Your dignity.]

This little-! "It, um, it's perfect." I cleared my throat. "It really suits you."

"Thank you, Immortal." Celine smiled faintly before disappearing back into the dressing room.

[System alert: You have completed the quest 'Keep Your Composure!']

I resumed bickering with Sephera until Celine was finally done with her shopping.