俺達が選んだのは、シルバーアクセサリーのショップだった。
お嬢様は何にでも合うようなシンプルな物が好みということで、安っぽくなりにくいシルバーということに決定。
レディース向けのシルバー専門アクセサリーショップに電話したところ、今から来店して直ぐに作れるという返答を得ることができた。
現在は店に向かって移動中だ。
「そうですねえ......リング、ネックレス、ペンダント、ブレスレット、アンクレット、イヤリング......師匠だったらどうしますか?」
「俺か? そうだなあ......これは私見だけど」
「はい」
「指輪、イヤリングだと贈り物としてちょっと重い感じがするな。その二つは特に、何かしらの特別な意味を込めて贈る場合が多いし。ただ、深く考えすぎると全部NGになるから、相手が今一番欲しがってる物を贈ればいいんじゃないかと思う」
「お嬢様が一番欲しがっていそうなアクセサリー......ですか」
司が可愛らしく頬に手を当てて考え込む。
何か、いちいち仕草が女子っぽいんだよな......カマっぽいのとはまた違って、しつこいようだが見た目は完全に女子。
今後、こいつが成長して男らしくなる日はくるのだろうか? 俺にはちょっと想像できない。
「実はお嬢様、最近になってパーティ用のドレスを一着ご新調なさったのですが......」
「ほうほう。それで?」
「お手持ちのネックレスやペンダントではしっくりこないとお嘆きに」
「いいんじゃないか? その二つのどちらかで。ちなみにドレスはどんな奴なんだ?」
「燃えるような赤いドレスです。華やかなお嬢様のご容姿には、これまた良くお似合いになられまして」
「ほ、ほう......」
赤いドレスと聞いて一瞬ドキッとしたのも仕方ないと思う。
とても既視感のある話だ......だがあれはゲーム内、現実の話とは関係ない。
赤いドレスを最近になって「現実でも」購入したのは単なる偶然だろう。
「となると、シンプルでも赤いドレスに負けないようにそれなりの存在感は必要だな。引き立たせるためのワンポイントとはいえ、埋没してしまっては意味がないし」
「わあ......師匠と一緒に居ると、何でも上手くいくような気がしてきます。とても心強いです」
「......そりゃ気のせいだ。俺の言葉は話半分にしておいてくれ。それよりも、具体的に合わせる服装があるんだから店に着いたら店員さんにきちんと相談するといい。あっちはプロなんだから」
そんなにキラキラした瞳で見上げないで欲しい。
こちとらそれっぽいことを言って、段取りをつけただけだぞ......?
手作りの指導をしてくれた女性店員さんはとても丁寧で、相談から作業、完成までスムーズに事が運んだ。
ただ突っ立って見ているのもなんなので、俺も司より安いプランを頼んで作業には参加した。
「岸上様、とてもご器用でいらっしゃいますねぇ」
「さすが師匠です!」
「いや、その、ははは......気にしないでください......」
やっぱり人前で師匠はないって......もう諦めてるけど。
司が作ったのは炎をイメージしたトップのついたペンダント。
炎っていうと男が身に着けるようなイメージなんだが「お嬢様にはぴったりです!」とのことなので、ここは司を信じることにしよう。
荒々しい感じではなく、女性が着けても変でない丸みを帯びたデザインである。
シルバーに使われている素材は混ぜ物を極力使わない、金属アレルギーに考慮した優しい設計だそうな。
細かな仕上げや磨きは店員さんがやってくれて、完成まで掛かった時間は約150分ほど。
プレゼント用ということで、綺麗に包装してもらったものを持って店を出た。
「師匠、今日はありがとうございました! お嬢様に喜んで頂けるかは分かりませんが......おかげさまで、自分なりに納得のいくプレゼントにすることができました」
「そりゃよかったな」
「はい! それで師匠、出来合いの品で申し訳ないのですが......」
そう言って司はポケットの中からチェーンの付いた何かを取り出した。
何時の間にやら店の品を一つ購入していたようだ。
お嬢様のプレゼントを慎重な動作で小脇に抱え、両手で俺に渡してくる。
「今日のお礼です。ぜひ受け取ってください」
「っと、いいのか? ありがたくもらうけど......これもペンダントか。丸リングがシンプルでいいな、サンキュー。んじゃ、お返し」
そう言って俺も司の後ろに回り、ペンダントをサッと取り付けた。
ちょっと強引にいかないと、遠慮して受け取り拒否されそうだったからな......もたつかずに上手く装着させることに成功。
俺が渡したもののトップには、先程加工した鳥をモチーフにした飾りがぶら下がっている。
お礼のお返しってのも変だが、何だかんだで今日は俺も楽しかったのでペンダントを交換だ。
互いに指輪やブレスレットを選ばなかったのは、手に何かつけていると家事や仕事の邪魔になるのが分かっているからだろうな。
「返品は一切受け付けておりません。まあ、いいじゃねえの。初めて一緒に遊んだ記念ということで、礼とかなんとか堅苦しく考えるな。また何かあったら気軽に呼んでくれ」
「師匠は、もしかしてボクのことを友人として扱ってくれているのですか......?」
「ん? 当たり前だろ?」
何を言っているんだこいつは?
屋敷で扱き使われ過ぎて奴隷根性でも染みついているのか......?
休日に誕生日プレゼント選びに付き合わされる人間が、友人じゃなかったら何だというのか。
しかし、呆気に取られた表情の司の目には涙が溜まっていき......。
「あ ゙り ゙がどうござい ゙ま ゙ずじじょう ゙ー!!」
「だああ、抱きつくな! 何だよ急に!」
「だっで......だっでぇぇぇ!」
何なんだこいつは!? もしかして友達いないの!?
「失礼しました......取り乱しました......」
「それはいいからわけを話せ、わけを」
会った直後に続き、とても通行人の視線が痛かった。
司の話によると、要は同性の友人ができないことが悩みだということである。
休日に友人と出掛ける場合は、女子とスイーツ店巡りをしたりウィンドウショッピングをしたり......。
「それってまさか、特段モテているってわけじゃなくて......」
「はい。異性として見られていないだけかと......」
ずーん、という効果音が合いそうな暗い顔になる司。
そうやって女子と買い物に行ってるから着てる服が女子っぽいのか......なんだそりゃ。
対して男子からは一緒に居るとなんか緊張する、新世界の扉が見えそう等々の理由で避けられているらしい。
傍から見ている分には喜劇だが、本人のとっては深刻な悩みだそうで。
「......そうだなあ、司よ。その悩みに関して、俺から言えることは――」
「はい......」
「無いな! 残念ながら!」
「ええっ!?」
目を丸くする司だが、だってしょうがないじゃないか。
服装くらいはアドバイスできるが、それで急に中身が変わるわけではないし。
「俺にできそうなのは、こうやって偶に遊び相手になるくらいなもんだ。それに、別に容姿が可愛らしい男が居ても良いんじゃないかな。お前自身はどうなんだ? 無理してでも変わりたいと思ってる?」
「ボクは......ボクは、お母さんそっくりな自分の姿を嫌いになんてなれません......」
「じゃあ、あまり悩むな。自然体でいいよ。焦らなくてもその内、分かってくれるやつも増えるさ」
「師匠......」
司が再び目に涙を浮かべながら俺を見上げてくる。泣き虫なやつだな。
しかしなんというか、こういう空気は苦手なんだよな......。
俺が頭をポリポリと掻いていると、すぐ傍の道路に黒塗りの高級車が横付けされた。
不審に思っていると、中からガタイのいいスーツ姿の男が五人ほど出てきて俺達を取り囲む。
The shop we chose was a silver accessory one.
Even though she was an ojou-sama it seems like she liked simple things that suited her, so we decided on silver because it was cheap and also lovely.
After making a call to an accessory shop geared towards ladies, I got a reply telling me that we would be able to make it as soon as we went to the store.
We are currently en route towards the store.
[Let's see...rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, anklets, earrings...if it was Master, which one would you choose?] (Tsukasa)
[Me? Let's see...this will be my own opinion.] (Wataru)
[Yes.] (Tsukasa)
[I think choosing a ring or earrings as a present would be going a bit too far. Particularly these two, there are many times that particular feelings are put into them when giving them.
[The accessory ojou-sama wants to get the most...you say?] (Tsukasa)
Tsukasa cutely put his hand on his cheek and pondered.
For some reason, all his gestures are very feminine...it's different from those guys that act as women, to a frightening degree his appearance completely looks like that of a girl.
Eventually, will there be a day when this guy grows and becomes more manly? I can't really imagine it.
[Actually, recently ojou-sama got a new dress made for party use.] (Tsukasa)
[Oh? Then?] (Wataru)
[She was lamenting the fact that she didn't have a necklace or pendant that went well with it.] (Tsukasa)
[Isn't that fine? For you to choose either one of those. By the way, what kind of dress was it?] (Wataru)
[A bright red dress that felt as if it was burning. Since ojou-sama has a flashy appearance, I believe it really suits her.] (Tsukasa)
[O-Oh...] (Wataru)
I think it's natural for me to be slightly shocked when I heard about a red dress.
It felt like deja vu...but that was something that happened inside the game, it has no relation to real life.
For her to [Actually]  buy a red dress in real life is probably just a coincidence.
[In that case, even if it's simple, there's a need for something that doesn't get overpowered by the red dress. Even if it's only to make the dress look better, there's no meaning if no one takes notice of it.] (Wataru)
[Wah...when I'm with Master, it feels like everything will go well. It's very reassuring.] (Tsukasa)
[...That's just your imagination. Take my words with a grain of salt. More importantly, since we know what sort of costume it's going to pair up with, let's consult the person at the shop when we get there. Since the people over there are pros.] (Wataru)
I wish he didn't look at me with those glittery eyes.
I'm just what feels right and making plans from there you know...
The female employee leading us was very polite, after consulting her, everything went smoothly.
Since I was just standing there doing nothing, I chose a cheaper offer compared to Tsukasa and joined him.
[Kishikami-sama, you are very skilled.] 
[As expected of Master!] (Tsukasa)
[No, you see, hahaha....don't mind him...] (Wataru)
As expected, I don't really want to be called Master in front of other people...though I have already given up on that.
What Tsukasa made was a pendant with the image of a flame.
If we are talking about flames you'd think of something a guy would wear but...[This suits ojou-sama perfectly!]  or so he said, let's trust Tsukasa here.
It didn't really look wild, it had a round design that you wouldn't really find odd if a girl was wearing it.
The silver we are using doesn't really have any other materials mixed in it, it was done so in case the person had some kind of metal allergy.
The final touches will be made by the shop employee, it took around 150 minutes for it to be completed.
Since it's going to be a present, we wrapped it in a lovely package and left the store.
[Master, thank you very much for today! I don't know if ojou-sama will like it but...thanks to you, I was able to get a present that I'd be far more satisfied with than if I did it alone.] (Tsukasa)
[Glad to hear that.] (Wataru)
[Yes! That being said, Master, this is something that's already made but...] (Tsukasa)
Saying that, Tsukasa took something attached to a chain from within his pocket.
It seems like he bought it at some point when we were going through the shops.
While carefully placing his ojou-sama's present under his armpits, he handed it over to me with both hands.
[This is as thanks for today. Please accept it.] (Tsukasa)
[Is this really ok? I'll gladly accept it but...this is also a pendant huh?
Saying that, I went behind Tsukasa and placed a pendant on him.
If I wasn't being a bit forceful, I get the feeling that he would be reserved and deny the present after all..I skillfully succeeded in making him wear it.
The one I gave him was the one I was making inside the shop and had the motif of a bird.
Giving a gift when someone was thanking you was kinda weird, but since I did have a lot of fun today I wanted to exchange presents.
The reason we both didn't choose a ring was probably because we both understood that those would get in the way when we are doing household chores or work.
[I don't take refunds. Well, isn't it fine? Take it as a commemoration for our first meeting, don't be all stiff and think about stuff like gratitude.] (Wataru)
[Master, could it be that you are treating me as a friend...?] (Tsukasa)
[Hmm? Doesn't that go without saying?] (Wataru)
What is this guy even saying?
Has he been working in that residence for so long that he thinks of himself as a servant...?
We are people that have gone together to search for a birthday present on our day off, if we are not friends, what would you call this?
However, Tsukasa looked as if he was taken aback and tears started to pile up in his eyes...
[T-hyan-kyu Mu-aster!!] (Tsukasa)
[Daaa, don't hug me! What's gotten into you suddenly!?] (Wataru)
[But....buuuuut!!] (Tsukasa)
What's with him? Don't tell me, he doesn't have any friends!?
[I apologize...I lost my composure...] (Tsukasa)
[It's fine, tell me about the situation, the situation.] (Wataru)
Just like that time when we met up, the gazes from the passersby were painful.
What Tsukasa said was basically...he was troubled because he couldn't make friends of the same gender as himself.
Whenever he went out on his days off, it was with girls and he did stuff like go to sweet shops or window shopping...
[Could it be that...that's not really because you are popular...] (Wataru)
[Yes, I believe they don't even look at me as a member of the opposite sex...] (Tsukasa)
*Zun*With that sort of sound effect, Tsukasa's face turned gloomy.
So because he goes shopping with girls the clothes he buys end up being feminine...what's with that?
When he's with guys, it tends to be tense, it seems like they avoid him in order to not open the door towards a new world and things like that.
For people looking at it from outside it might feel like a comedy show, but for the person himself it's a serious worry.
[...Let's see, Tsukasa. What I can say in regards to your worries is...] (Wataru)
[Yes...] (Tsukasa)
[Nothing! Unfortunately!] (Wataru)
[Eeeeeeeeh!!] (Tsukasa)
Tsukasa's eyes were making circles but I couldn't really help it.
I could give him some advice on the clothes he should wear but it's not like he would be able to quickly change what's inside.
[The only thing I can do is like today, to go out and play with you. Besides, isn't it fine if your appearance is that of a lovely boy?
[I...I, I can't bring myself to hate myself when I look exactly like my mom...] (Tsukasa)
[In that case, don't think too much about it. It's fine if you just act natural. Even if you don't act in a hurry, eventually, there will be more people that understand you.] (Wataru)
[Master...] (Tsukasa)
Tsukasa yet again looked as if he was going to cry and raised his eyes towards me, he's such a crybaby.
But how should I say this, I'm not really good with this kind of mood...
While I was scratching my head, in the road close to us, a black luxury car appeared suddenly.
Just when I was wondering what was going on, five well built guys in nice suits surrounded us.
VRMMO no Shien Shokunin ～Top Player no Shikakenin～
ＶＲＭＭＯの支援職人　～トッププレイヤーの仕掛人～
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/vrmmo-no-shien-shokunin-%ef%bd%9etop-player-no-shikakenin%ef%bd%9e/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Slice of Life
Adventurers Beautiful Female Lead Blacksmith Brother Complex Calm Protagonist Childhood Friends Clan Building Cooking Crafting Curious Protagonist Dense Protagonist Elemental Magic Fantasy Creatures Game Ranking System Gamers Hard-Working Protagonist Healers Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Love Rivals Male Protagonist Misunderstandings MMORPG Ninjas Possessive Characters Priests Siblings Siblings Not Related by Blood Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Younger Love Interests Younger Sisters
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4014ds/
二階堂風都