Clothes, Two-face and Wolf

The next part of the best first date in history was apparently clothes shopping.

Joash wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting when Foebe started pulling him toward a shop named Krajčír, but it certainly wasn’t this.

The storefront opened into a bland, cramped room containing little more than a front desk. Behind it stood a scar-faced mountain of muscle who looked violently unsuited for tailoring. He had the build of a bouncer and the expression of someone who’d solved disputes with his fists more often than words.

Foebe, however, showed no hesitation at all.

“Rinji!”

The man’s eyes widened - and Joash could have sworn they sparkled. His voice matched his appearance: deep, gruff… and somehow utterly sincere.

“Oh! Foebe! If it isn’t my favorite customer!”

He turned his attention to Joash, appraising him once before breaking into a grin.

“And you must be the new husband! Welcome to my humble establishment~”

He curtsied.

Actually curtsied.

Joash froze, unsure how to process what he was witnessing. Foebe noticed immediately and chuckled.

“Joash, this is Rinji. He’s an old friend with a history I won’t bother explaining. He might look terrifying, but he’s got a heart of gold beneath all that muscle.”

Joash swallowed his nerves and bowed his head slightly.

“N-nice to meet you.”

Rinji nodded approvingly before turning back to Foebe.

“I’ve made a few things in preparation for your honeymoon!”

Foebe smiled warmly.

“Thank you so much.”

Rinji shook his head.

“No, no. You’ve been supporting my career since the day we met, this is nothing. Think of it as a parting gift.”

Foebe nodded, though Joash caught the flicker of sadness in her ears. Rinji noticed too - and immediately panicked.

“O-oh! Not like that! We’ll meet again, of course! Absolutely!”

She composed herself and smiled.

“Well, either way, I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve made.”

Rinji’s grin returned in full force.

“Oh, I’m sure your husband is too~”

He winked at Joash, who had absolutely no idea how to respond, before motioning them toward the back.

“Come on. This way.”

The rear of the shop opened into a medium-sized workroom. A wide desk dominated the center, cluttered with tailoring tools, while long rolls of colored fabric hung from the ceiling. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with all kinds of materials - some recognizably animal-based, though Joash couldn’t begin to guess from what.

Rinji pointed to a door tucked between two shelves.

“Changing room. Everything you ordered is inside.”

Foebe smiled and stepped in. Just before the door closed, Joash caught a glimpse of a small bathroom, a mirror, and a stool piled with clothes.

Then he was alone with Rinji.

The silence stretched.

And then Rinji’s expression hardened.

“So, Joash,” he said calmly, his voice completely different, “if I hear even a rumor that you’ve hurt my Foebe, or been cruel to her, you can consider yourself dead.”

Joash turned slowly, his face draining of color.

“W-what?”

The warmth vanished entirely.

“You heard me. If you hurt her-”

The door opened.

Both men fell silent as Foebe stepped out.

Her ears drooped nervously, tail swaying slowly, eyes refusing to meet Joash’s. She wore a cream-colored off-shoulder top and a short black skirt, revealing a generous hint of cleavage that was more than enough to completely derail Joash’s thoughts.

His brain stopped functioning.

Rinji’s mood flipped instantly.

“Oh! Simply gorgeous! Look at that, your husband’s lost his voice~”

Joash’s mouth opened, closed, and failed him. Foebe blushed, her tail wagging faster as her ears perked.

“D-do you like it…?”

He managed a nod.

“Y-yes…”

Rinji laughed lightly.

“Good, good! Next one, honey~”

Foebe couldn’t hide her smile as she spun and vanished back into the changing room.

Joash barely had time to breathe before Rinji leaned close again, all warmth gone.

“You understand this, right? If she ever comes to me in tears, I’ll impale you with my knitting needles until your muscles give out.”

Joash’s legs trembled - but his voice didn’t.

“If I hurt her,” he said quietly, “I’ll hurt myself first.”

Rinji paused. Then smiled.

“So you do love her.”

Joash frowned.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Rinji shrugged.

“Some summoned spouses change once they realize how much wealth and power they can get. Start chasing harems.”

Joash clenched his fists.

“I’ve dreamed of a relationship like this for years. I don’t want anyone else.”

Rinji raised an eyebrow.

“And you’ll-”

The door opened again.

Foebe stepped out wearing a white, flower-patterned summer dress that rested lightly against her frame. The hem would have lifted dangerously high if she’d twirled - but she didn’t. She stood still, posture shy, ears lowered just as before.

Rinji squealed.

“Ooo! Immaculate, honey~”

Joash nodded, completely sincere.

“Beautiful.”

Her face lit up. She disappeared back inside without a word.

Rinji cleared his throat.

“And you’ll treat her like a princess?”

Joash nodded.

“And you’ll care for her always? Never leave her alone? Make sure she knows she’s loved?”

Joash nodded to every question.

Rinji sighed.

“Then I can’t ask for anything more.”

He smiled, genuine this time.

“I’m jealous of you, man.”

Joash frowned, surprised.

“You liked her, didn’t you?”

Rinji nodded sheepishly.

“Aye. I knew it was hopeless. She’s an anaruhi, after all. But she’s so pretty I couldn’t help myself.”

The door opened again.

Foebe stepped out, nervous, wearing a yellow off-shoulder dress with thin black straps disappearing into the fabric. Rinji clasped his hands dramatically.

“Oh, simply lovely, honey~”

She smiled at Joash.

“Joash?”

His brain rebooted with a stutter. It was ridiculous, he thought, that a dress showing nothing more than her shoulders and knees could reduce him to this state.

“You’re stunning.”

Her smile grew far too wide for her own good before she vanished back into the changing room.

Rinji sighed, his expression hardening again.

“But I owe her. She’s the one who got me into this business, even if I only started to impress her. And I’ve never been happier.”

Joash considered asking what Rinji had done before tailoring, but something told him that question would be met poorly.

Instead, he asked, “How long have you known each other?”

Rinji chuckled.

“Two years. Since after her parents died.”

Joash blinked.

“What?”

Rinji smiled, softer now.

“If she hasn’t told you, I won’t. That’s her story, not mine.” He paused, then added, “I was her mentor in self-defense training, though. So if you do anything stupid, she’ll let you know.”

Joash swallowed.

“She’s had combat training?”

Rinji nodded proudly.

“She might not look it, but she was my best student.”

He grinned.

“So you’d best get used to washing dishes and cooking meals if you want to survive.”

He laughed as Joash’s mouth fell open.

“Don’t worry. You seem like the cautious type. You’ll probably be the one setting boundaries.”

He was still chuckling when the door opened again.

Foebe stepped out, back in her original outfit - the one that made her look dangerously squeezable. Tucked under her arm was a cream-colored shoulder bag, clearly custom-made.

Rinji’s bubbly demeanor returned, then immediately drooped.

“You’re not trying on the other two?”

She scowled.

“Not here. Those are for my husband’s eyes only.”

Joash’s heart skipped a beat. Rinji sighed dramatically.

“Well, I suppose that can’t be helped. Thank you for your purchase, then.”

He grinned.

“I’ll be sure to exaggerate the total when I submit the claim to the palace.”

She laughed.

“You’ll be punished when they ask me to validate it.”

He chuckled.

“You’re right. Now go, before I lock the door to keep you here.”

She smiled and took Joash’s hand.

“Thank you, Rinji. We’ll visit again someday.”

Rinji beamed.

“Tell me where you settle, and I’ll open a shop there~”

Foebe laughed as she led Joash outside, leaving Rinji behind, waving a white handkerchief over his head.

“Toodleloo~”

Once they were out of earshot, Foebe chuckled.

“I think that’s a satisfying conclusion to the best first date in history, don’t you?”

Joash nodded, still reeling.

“Yeah. I really enjoyed it.”

She grinned slyly.

“You know, I heard everything you two said.”

Heat rushed to his face.

“Y-you did?”

She nodded, giggling.

“He didn’t lie. And I heard everything you said about loving me. I felt… really special. Thank you.”

She moved closer until their shoulders brushed.

“And I’ve known Rinji liked me since we met. But he’s not my type, especially the whole dual-personality thing.”

She sighed, leaning against his arm as they walked.

“And… I’ll tell you about my past another time. Okay?”

Joash smiled.

“Okay. Whenever you’re ready. I’m in no rush.”

She smiled back.

“Thank you. I…”

She hesitated, searching for the right words.

“I… I love you.”

His heart thumped hard. For a moment, everything crystallized - this city, this world, the warmth of her hand in his. A beautiful wolf-girl, his wife, walking beside him… and she’d just said she loved him.

“I… I-I love you too.”

She smiled softly.

“I know.”

She shifted so their hands no longer twisted awkwardly, instead tucking her arm snugly between his and his side, increasing their contact.

“Let’s start our honeymoon, shall we?”

Joash’s chest felt numb with excitement.