23. The Summer Uniform of Tropical Night High School
Jinri and I approached cautiously to see the finished clothes displayed on mannequins, gazing at them as if they were our own doppelgängers.
The uniforms were a masterpiece.
Their simple yet refined design embodied the spirit of Tropical Night High School. The calm Tokyo-style colors exuded a cool impression, capable of withstanding Mars' oppressive heat.
"Thank you," I said.
Looking at the clerk, she stood frozen, her face radiating deep satisfaction, as if she had fulfilled her life's purpose with this work. Like a humanoid robot on the verge of a long recharge, her blissful expression made it clear that her reward was already paid in full by her own fulfillment.
Jinri, too, seemed captivated by the uniforms' perfection, standing motionless as if her CPU had momentarily stalled. We savored the moment quietly, then gently removed the uniforms from the mannequins and put them on.
The fabric felt astonishingly smooth, melding with our bodies like a second skin—no, more like an integral part of us. I fastened the buttons of the summer shirt one by one with care. Jinri, as if wishing to stretch the moment into eternity, buttoned hers slowly.
Finally free from our naked state, we were enveloped in a sense of completeness. We sent a light kiss of gratitude to the frozen clerk's cheek and left the room.
With the light steps of runway models, we passed through the ruins' hall, crossed the corridor, and exited the structure.
Outside the jungle, the humidity intensified, a stark contrast to the comfortable air inside the ruins.
The uniforms felt pleasant within the ruins, but in Tropical Night City's stifling heat, a shimmering irritation clung to us like heat haze.
Yet, the flawless quality of the uniforms seemed to calm our minds, making the heat feel bearable. Jinri appeared to feel the same, accepting the tropical night without a single grimace.
Without hesitation, we approached the crocodiles waiting by the riverbank.
Like reserved taxis, they patiently awaited us.
We climbed onto their backs without a moment's doubt.
Clad in these uniforms—treasures born in the jungle's ruins—we felt an odd certainty that the crocodiles would recognize their value and refrain from biting.
Indeed, we felt 100% safe.
Swaying on the crocodiles' backs, we smoothly reached the jungle's entrance.
As we dismounted, I lightly patted their heads in thanks—a gesture better described as "petting" than "tapping." With the crocodiles behind us, we left the jungle.
Back in the store, the powerful air conditioning welcomed us, enhancing the uniforms' fit.
Instead of the clerk who had crafted our uniforms and seemingly merged with the ruins, a new, equally beautiful clerk stood at the register. Upon seeing our uniforms, she stared with enchanted eyes, bowed politely, and saw us off.
We left the store and headed out of Black Spot Department Store. While dancing wasn't required in the jungle, the hall still demanded waltzing.
Reluctantly, we navigated the crowd with waltz steps, spinning as we moved, which delayed our reach to the exit. Nearly swept away by the joy of waltzing, we fought the urge to dance until closing time and finally reached the exit.
Throughout, we were like the stars of Black Spot Department Store's hall, bathed in spotlights. The uniforms, crafted from the white bear's fabric with the clerk's heartfelt dedication, shone so brilliantly they monopolized the hall's attention.
More than our dancing, the way the uniforms moved captivated the onlookers, as if the uniforms themselves were the show's true stars.
The moment we touched the exit door, a thunderous applause erupted from the hall.
But the cheers weren't for Jinri or me—they were for the summer uniforms of Tropical Night High School.
We had been reduced to mere mannequins or hangers, existing only to showcase the uniforms. Yet, strangely, no dissatisfaction or negativity arose. Instead, gratitude and awe for wearing these magnificent uniforms swelled within us.
Bathed in applause, we opened the door and left Black Spot Department Store.
In that moment, the story's protagonists shifted from Jinri and me to the summer uniforms of Tropical Night High School.