Crashing The Party

Fiona was very fast despite being a young dragon. The group got to Nakamura from atop her back in a few hours. They landed in an empty plaza near the edge of the capital.

“I *pant pant* was not ready for that ride,” Rachael gasped, sounding like she just witnessed death.

“What do you mean! That was so much fun!” Iori proclaimed.

Evona, who had just as much fun, shared her excitement with Iori as they spun while holding each other’s hands.

“Alright, now for those clothes,” stated Kaito. He was focused on the mission.

“W-wait, Kaito,” Rachael said, finally catching her breath. “You aren’t planning on entering the stores like that, are you?”

“What’s wrong with this?” Kaito gestured to his whole body.

Rachael began explaining. “Many people of high peerage will be clothes shopping for this banquet. Do you really think they will give us priority if you’re dressed up as a random adventurer?”

“Then how will we get in?” Kaito complained.

“I could probably get in alone with some of my clothes,” Rachael mentioned, “but if we wanted to all get in together, one of the guys would need some fancy clothes. Then we could pose as a lower-end family buying for their servants.”

Kaito and Khrom looked at each other, then back at Rachael.

“We got nothing,” Kaito responded for the two.

“You really sold them off?” Rachael asked Kaito.

Kaito looked at Rachael, confused, then immediately remembered his school uniform, which he came to this world in. Edwin had mentioned how they looked high-quality.

“I didn’t…” Kaito reluctantly said, not fond of wearing his school uniform again.

“Great! Then get them on so we can all get in!” Rachael ordered.

Kaito reluctantly changed into his school uniform, while Rachael also changed into something more fancy: a skin-tight long purple dress with a golden design, her hair styled in a romantic tuck.

As Rachael had said, they were treated like a lower-end family buying clothes for their servants. Nobody questioned them as they stood in line for the store.

When the group entered the store, Evona ran off excited about all the clothing options.

“Wait, Evona, don’t run off!” Rachael called out. “You’ll get us kicked out.” Before Rachael ran off to chase Evona, she gave instructions to everybody. “Girls, follow me. You two meet us by the changing room when you’ve picked something out.”

Kaito and Khrom watched as the girls disappeared. They then looked at each other and shrugged as they continued to pick something simple out.

Their decisions were quick.

Khrom got a full tuxedo. It was blue and had a glimmering pattern of diamonds. He also got a light yellow tie and a handkerchief to accompany it.

Kaito kept it more casual. He kept his school uniform, but got a black bowtie to match the pants. He added a little flair by slicking back his hair.

The two walked out of the changing room nonchalantly, as if they were models on a runway. They had a friendly competition as they posed to one-up each other.

“Oh, there you guys are,” Rachael snapped them out of their competition. “I want your opinions on these outfits.

Fiona came out of the changing room first. To everyone’s surprise, she came out in a complete punk outfit: a biker hat, ripped jeans, and a small black T-shirt accompanied by metal accessories.

Before anyone could say anything, Iori and Evona darted out of their changing rooms in unique clothing.

Evona was in a two-piece swimsuit. The top was dark blue and strapless, while the bottom had a flowing mesh. To top it all off, she had a wide-brimmed sun hat with a blue ribbon.

Iori was in a maid's outfit—a dress with a short skirt and a corset-like design that showed a lot of cleavage. With the finishing touches of the frilly headdress and stockings, she fit the part.

“Y-you guys!? This isn’t what I picked out for you!” Rachael said in shock.

“Evona picked it out!” Evona proclaimed proudly. “What do you think?”

“Looking good, ladies!” Khrom complemented them.

“Thanks, Khrom!” Evona said, running up to Khrom to hug him.

Though Evona was unaccustomed to longer, flowing clothing, she tripped on the swimsuit mesh and fell on her face. She looked up at Kaito, whose hand covered his face to hide the bleeding and goofy smile.

“Papa approves in both aspects,” he whispered to Evona, giving her a thumbs-up.

Evona returned the thumbs up with a goofy smile of her own. Iori witnessed Kaito’s stares and rushed back into the changing room in embarrassment.

“You two get back in as well!” Rachael demanded.

It was time for their real outfits.

Fiona exited the changing room first, once again. She wore a white dress. The top had a light floral pattern, while the skirt was frilly and lacey. She wore a large, brimmed beret to cover her horns.

Evona stepped out in a more casual outfit. She wore a light blue blouse tucked into a white skirt with a dotted pattern that went just above her knees. She wore a flower hairpin in her hair, and on her feet, she wore long beige sandals that wrapped around her legs.

Iori’s outfit was a sparkly strapless mermaid dress. The dress was bright yellow with a vine-like pattern, and the bottom part had frills. A light blue veil draped around her body as she floated about.

“Jeez, you all look great in anything,” Khrom complimented.

“Good?” Rachael asked, giving a thumbs-up.

“Good,” Kaito answered, returning the thumbs-up.

With their outfits picked out, the group went to the banquet hall. It wasn’t hard to find due to the large group of fancy-looking people. Everyone in town also talked about the event, so they just followed the rumors.

Kaito’s party waited in line until they reached the mansion where the banquet was being held.

“Introduce yourselves,” the gate attendant asked Kaito and Rachael, who led the group.

As the rumors had mentioned, you didn’t need an invitation for the banquet; instead, you just needed to be of a high enough peerage.

Rachael looked at Kaito as sternly as she could without alarming the attendant. Her face said it all.

Follow the plan.

Kaito slightly bowed, bringing his arm across his body. “I am Baron Kaito, and this is my wife, Baroness Rachael. We are here with relatives to hear the news about the Duke’s daughter.”

The attendant was skeptical of them as he hadn’t heard of a Baron Kaito, but upon seeing the school emblem on Kaito’s shirt, he believed them to be the real deal. He let the group in.

They entered the banquet, but everyone stood near the entrance as they had no idea how to fit in.

“Just mingle and act polite,” Rachael prompted the group.

“I don’t see Rina,” announced Iori, looking around.

“That’s your queue, Kaito,” said Khrom.

The group smiled at Kaito, giving him the go-ahead to leave. All nerves left Kaito as he looked upon his friends. He then phased out in search of Rina.