I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship, so I Became a Space Mercenary

After finishing the conversation about Mimi’s unique traits, she and I decided to head out into the city for a date. We hadn’t had many chances to spend time alone together lately. Sure, we’ve had moments where we’d snuggle up together at night or enjoy some intimacy, but that’s not quite enough. Every once in a while, I want us to go out and have fun together like this.

「This is… fascinating.」

「The architectural style looks a little like what elves use, doesn’t it?」

「Yeah, you might be right. It’s a bit similar.」

To me, though, more than resembling elven architecture—it feels much closer to traditional Japanese styles. Not the modern designs I’m familiar with, but something older. If I had to put a time period to it, I’d say it’s reminiscent of the Edo period, somewhere around the mid-to-late era. There are even touches that give off a Meiji or Taisho-era modern vibe though.

That being said, it wasn’t a perfect match. Everywhere you looked, there were futuristic, cyberpunk-like elements mixed in. And it wasn’t just that—it was heavily infused with psionic technology rather than pure science, giving it an otherworldly, exotic charm.

Elven cultural and architectural styles, on the other hand, leaned in a slightly different direction. For example, their formal women’s attire reminded me of cheongsams. Meanwhile, the everyday folks we’d see in the Holy Vuelzarus Empire often wore clothing that was either traditional Japanese, or a blend of Japanese and Western styles.

「Hey, Mimi, what do you think about wearing something like that?」

「Huh? Do you think it’d suit me?」

It’s often said that traditional Japanese clothing doesn’t suit women with larger breast, but honestly, I don’t care. I want to see Mimi dressed in a kimono. The pattern of the kimono getting distorted? Wrinkles forming in the fabric? None of that matters. The sheer charm of Mimi wearing a beautiful kimono will more than make up for any of those so-called drawbacks.

「Well… I might consider it if you wear one too, Hiro-sama.」

「Deal. Let’s start by finding a clothing shop. Is there a kimono store close by?」

「I don’t know. Should we ask someone passing by?」

「Yeah, let’s look for someone refined—like an elegant lady—or someone with a good sense of style and ask them.」

It might seem a bit rude, or even bold, to stop random people in the street and ask, ‘Hey, nice outfit! Where can I buy something like that?’ But we’re outsiders here. In places like this, when you’re unfamiliar with the area, finding reputable stores or famous local shops often requires some local insight. Normally, I’d rely on Mimi to do research on these things online, but since today’s outing was so spontaneous and we’re specifically shopping for clothes, asking someone wearing the style we’re after is the quickest way.

Surprisingly, if you’re polite about it, people are usually happy to help. Not many would feel offended by having their fashion choices complimented by a foreigner, after all. The fact that Mimi and I are a male-female pair probably helps as well—we’re less likely to be viewed with suspicion, and we didn’t ask them to personally escort us or anything. A simple location tip isn’t much of a hassle for most.

Besides, the people of the Holy Vuelzarus Empire all possessed some kind of psionic abilities, so maybe they felt they could handle any trouble that might arise. Or perhaps the mere presence of foreigners like us in this country was so rare that, while we drew curiosity, it didn’t translate to outright suspicion. Either way, we weren’t met with any hostility.

So, after chatting with a few locals, Mimi and I finally found our way to a recommended kimono shop. This store was relatively new and boasted cutting-edge clothing production machinery, capable of producing custom-fitted kimonos on the spot. It’s perfect for travelers like us who don’t have weeks or months to wait for traditional tailoring from scratch. This kind of place was much more suited to our needs and schedule.

「Oh, there’s so much to choose from.」n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

「This place feels kind of like the clothing shops in the Empire.」

The shop was filled with numerous holo displays showcasing virtual models walking, posing, and showing off various outfits. It was as if a perpetual fashion show was happening inside the store. The setup was not only eye-catching but also practical, allowing customers to see the outfits from every angle.

「I’d like you to pick something for me, Hiro-sama.」

「Me? Are you sure?」

「I’d love to wear the clothes you chose for me, Hiro-sama.」

Mimi replied, flashing a shy, endearing smile that skyrocketed my motivation. No way I can resist an invitation like that. Alright then, I’ll pick something I think suits her perfectly. Of course, I don’t want her to wear anything too restrictive. A full, traditional long-sleeved kimono might be a bit much.

How about a yukata then? No… a yukata might be too much. It would make her look too alluring. That might be fine for wearing around the ship, but for going out in public, it feels a little risky. Perhaps a komon or a small-sleeved kimono like the ones Konoha and Moegi wear would be better. They’re more practical for moving around while still looking elegant.

That said, I’ll still get a yukata for her. For indoor use only. Just for lounging around the ship. Yes, purely as a casual outfit. I don’t plan to use it for any late-night activities. I swear.

I picked out the design for the small-sleeved kimono, and we discussed the colors and patterns together. A female shop assistant helped us refine the choices and scanned Mimi’s model data to generate a virtual preview of how the kimono would look on her. Incidentally, the look on the assistant’s face when she saw the data on Mimi’s proportions was a sight to see. Those are impressive after all.

While we were at it, I decided to order a kimono for myself as well. This time, I let Mimi handle all the coordination. She seemed to enjoy choosing the colors and style for me. When my body data was scanned, the shop assistant blushed slightly, which I found amusing. I mean, I do keep in shape. I’m not overly muscular, but I’ve got a solid build. Beneath the clothes, there’s more than you might expect.

After all, lately I keep finding myself in situations where I have to fight with my own body. If I don’t keep myself fit, it’s hard to handle those unexpected moments. Even in space battles aboard Krishna, resisting intense G-forces requires a well-trained body. Well, now the necessity to prepare to resist the G-forces has completely disappeared. Since Krishna evolved and the Maneuvering Light Wings appeared, G-forces have become a non-issue, we have stopped feeling them completely, to the level which I might end forgetting about them soon.

Once we finished coordinating, placing the orders, and making the payment, we changed into our freshly made kimonos right there in the store. With our new outfits, we resumed our date, blending perfectly into the unique charm of the city.

By the way, the fact that Mimi and I had gone on a date alone was no secret to the rest of our crew—in fact, we had made it quite clear to everyone beforehand. So, as soon as we returned to the Great Shrine-affiliated research facility where Krishna was docked, the entire crew cornered me and made me promise to spend an entire day going on dates with each of them as well.

Well, I guess I had it coming.