Koharu began trying on the dresses one by one.
The first was the blue Alice-style dress.
The soft blue skirt, white apron, and puffed sleeves gave her a lively and innocent appearance. The matching ribbon in her shoulder-length purple hair made her look especially cute.
Koharu looked at herself in the mirror for a moment before nodding shyly.
"Koharu likes this one."
Xiao Feng smiled, "Then we'll take it."
Next came the Floral Cottagecore Dress.
Its cream-colored fabric was covered with tiny flowers, making her look like a small countryside fairy.
Koharu turned once in front of the mirror.
"This one too."
"Take it."
After that was the navy-blue Sailor Dress.
The neat collar and pleated skirt gave her a more energetic appearance.
Koharu glanced toward Xiao Feng.
"Onii-chan?"
"It suits you. Take it."
"Then Koharu wants this one too."
The Cherry Blossom Kimono Dress came next.
The pale fabric was embroidered with pink petals, while a small flower ornament rested in her purple hair.
Koharu immediately smiled after seeing herself.
"Onii—."
"Take it!"
Koharu became bolder and bolder as time passed and she began to try more and more dress. She also stopped worrying about the money.
Once she tried all the clothes that the clerk showed her, Xiao Feng took her to buy matching shoes, stockings, accesories, etc. This was a premium store. It has everything.
"Clerk, lady, pack everything that Koharu tried. I am going to buy them all."
At the end, Xiao Feng said boldly while rubbing Koharu's head who had already changed back into her pink cute seet pastal lolita dress.
"Of course, sir!" The clerk lady nodded.
A while later,
"Sir, all the dresses, shoes, stockings, petticoats, and matching accessories have been packed."
The clerk finished calculating the bill before looking up with a professional smile.
"The total comes to one million yen."
"Hm!"
Xiao Feng nodded calmly and swiped a card he had brought from the system.
The currency exchange for this world was very low in the system mall. So he didn't think for a second on spending 1,000,000 yen.
The payment terminal gave a soft beep.
"Payment completed. Thank you very much, sir."
The clerk returned the card with both hands and bowed respectfully.
"Hm, do you have courier service?"
Xiao Feng glanced toward Koharu.
At that moment, Rem and Ram had taken her toward a nearby display filled with hats, ribbons, and cute hair accessories.
"Yes sir, we have courier service. Since you have bought so many clothes, you need not pay charge. Please tell us your address. We will have it delivered to your address."
Hearing the clerks words, Xiao Feng nodded and gave the address of the hotel where he was staying.
On the other side,
"Young Miss, Rem believes this ribbon would match the blue dress."
Ram picked up a small flower-shaped hairpin.
"Ram believes this one suits Young Miss better."
Koharu looked between the two accessories with a troubled expression.
"B-But both of them are cute..."
"Then Young Miss may choose both," Rem said gently.
"Ram agrees."
Completely occupied by the two maids, Koharu didn't notice the conversation taking place at the counter.
A few minutes later, Rem and Ram returned with Koharu.
A small white flower hairpin now decorated the side of her shoulder-length purple hair.
"Onii-chan, look!"
Koharu pointed toward it with a shy smile.
"Rem Onee-san and Ram Onee-san helped Koharu choose it."
Xiao Feng examined it seriously before nodding.
"It suits you very well."
Koharu's smile immediately brightened. She touched the small white flower hairpin carefully, as though afraid it might disappear if she moved too much.
"Really?"
"Really."
Xiao Feng nodded before extending his hand toward her.
"Now that we're finished here, let's go buy the rest of the daily necessities."
Koharu happily placed her hand in his. However, after taking only a few steps outside the store, she suddenly slowed down and the smile on her face gradually weakened.
Xiao Feng immediately noticed the change.
"What's wrong?"
Koharu looked back toward the store. After hesitating for a moment, Koharu lowered her head.
"Onii-chan..."
"Hm?"
"Will Koharu always be allowed to stay with you?"
Her voice was very quiet.
The happiness of the past few hours had felt like a dream, avery beautiful dream.
She was afraid. She was afraid that when she woke up tomorrow, everything will disappear.
She was afraid that Xiao Feng will eventually became tired of taking care of her?
She was afraid that he would return to wherever he had come from and leave her behind?
Koharu's small hand tightened around his fingers.
"Did Koharu do something wrong?" Xiao Feng asked.
She immediately shook her head, "No!"
"Then why are you suddenly asking that?"
Koharu bit her lower lip, "Because Onii-chan has already given Koharu so many things."
"Food, Clothes, home..."
"Koharu is afraid that one day Onii-chan will think Koharu is troublesome."
Xiao Feng stopped walking and turned toward the frightened little girl then gently placed both hands on her shoulders.
"Koharu, look at me."
She slowly raised her head. Her large eyes were already becoming watery.
Xiao Feng's expression softened, "Koharu, remember you are my little sister, you don't need to worry about food, clothes, money, or where you'll sleep."
He gently wiped away the moisture gathering at the corner of her eye.
"From now on, your brother will take care of you."
Koharu stared at him without blinking.
"F-For how long?"
"For as long as you need me."
"Even when Koharu grows older?"
"Even then."
"Even if Koharu causes trouble?"
"Then I'll help you solve it."
The fear in Koharu's eyes gradually weakened.
"Is what Onii-chan said really true?"
"Of course! But if you still don't believe me, we can make a promise."
"Then Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise."
"Onii-chan must never abandon Koharu."
"I won't."
"Onii-chan must always treat Koharu as family."
"I promise."
"And Koharu will always stay with Onii-chan."
Xiao Feng chuckled.
"You may decide where you want to stay after you grow up."
Koharu shook her head firmly.
"No. Koharu has already decided."
She released his finger before placing both hands against her chest.
"Koharu loves Onii-chan the most."
Xiao Feng smiled and rubbed her head.
"I love Koharu too."
The moment he said that, Koharu's eyes shone brightly.
"Then are Onii-chan and Koharu lovers?"
"...Huh?"
Xiao Feng froze.
Rem and Ram stopped walking behind them.
Koharu didn't notice the changes and continued with her words,
"Onii-chan loves Koharu. Koharu loves Onii-chan. And Onii-chan promised to take care of Koharu forever."
She raised one finger after another as though presenting an undeniable argument.
"Doesn't that mean we're lovers?"
Xiao Feng stared at her blankly.
What kind of logic was this? And where did she learn it from.
After several seconds, he finally recovered.
"No."
Koharu's expression immediately became worried.
"Why?"
"Because there are different kinds of love." Xiao Feng crouched until their eyes were level.
"The way family members love each other is different from romantic love. And we have just met today. So it's too hasty to say you love me in romantic way."
"Besides, you're too young now. So we can't be lovers. But if you have same thoughts after growing up, I can consider it."
When he said the last words, Xiao Feng was joking. He didn't think Koharu really liked him.
In his opinion, she was grateful to him for saving her, protecting her, and giving her a home. Having never received genuine affection before, she had probably mistaken gratitude and familial dependence for romantic feelings.
By the time she grew older and learned to distinguish those emotions, she would naturally forget this conversation.
At least, that was what Xiao Feng believed.
However, Koharu didn't treat his words as a joke.
"Really? If Koharu still feels the same after growing up, Onii-chan will consider it?"
She stared at him with such seriousness that Xiao Feng suddenly felt he had dug a hole for himself.
"...Yes."
...