Seaside Fashionista Episode 4 Part 3

The story picks up with Arachne laughing and talking about singing the next song and dancing. It then turns out she was sleep talking and wakes up an office, probably the same one from earlier. She of course asks what she was doing. At the very least Arachne remembers talking with Suzuka while fixing up her clothes while borrowing some clothes shop for work space then going for karaoke after finishing that piece, but it’s a blur after that.

You greet Arachne and tell her it’s already the afternoon, then comment on how much she slept. Arachne asks you to tell her what happened, but Marchosias answers her and tells her that after having fun on her impromptu girls night she collapsed and fell asleep in some trash pickup corner. He found her on his morning patrol and brought her there.

Arachne starts regretting how much trouble she’s been causing, and she turns to you to apologize. You say it was fun and that you already got permission for you guys to sleep over, so it’ll be okay.

Arachne then asks Marchosias who he is, so he introduces himself and says he patrols the local area. He then passes Arachne a note Suzuka wanted to give to her. Marchosias says it’s almost snack time for the boy and asks you two if you like muffins. Arachne says she loves them and accepts the offer to join in. Marchosias asks you guys to wait as he puts on some tea.

Some time later Arachne says the muffin was good, and she describes it as having blueberries and being pleasing to look at. She then calls Marchosias a dandy and the image of a gentle knight.

Narration then starts talking about how after a somewhat long teatime, evening is setting in while a refreshing breeze is blowing through. Arachne stretches and still looks a bit sleepy as she looks around. She talks about how much fun she had last night and how it turned into an all night Kabukicho party. Arachne wonders when was the last time she went out for karaoke and says it might have been a waste when she declined going with her school friends.

You either say you shouldn’t have joined in, say you didn’t think it would go on all night, or say it was so fun. Arachne says it’s not often someone would spend all night having fun with someone they only just met. But then again Arachne hasn’t slept much at all the past few days. Normally she soldiers on all day sewing at her machines and when she looks up oh it’s morning again.

But anyways, Arachne starts talking about that new shop Suzuka has mentioned when Gyoubu turns up and welcomes you two. Arachne asks if him bring there means that this is the store Suzuka has mentioned in her note.

Gyoubu says it is and comments on their joyride last night, then asks how fun Kabukicho was. Arachne says it was, and that she feels like her views have expanded. Gyoubu says Suzuka is inside already and had asked for you guys to be let in as her friends. Arachne says she’s been asked to design the store’s uniform, which Gyoubu says is the case, though the clothes themselves have already been ordered.

Gyoubu says it’ll be a minor change and asks Arachne to put her wits to it. Arachne says she will and asks to feel the mood of the club herself before doing so. Suzuka wouldn’t want the uniform to look inconsistent after all. Gyoubu agrees and says someone inside will lead the way. After you and Arachne goes in Gyoubu makes a comment about how she and Suzuka should show off their bewitching skills.

Ibaraki greets you guys before he notices it’s you and Arachne. She calls his greeting after recognizing you guys as rude. Arachne also tells him he needs to straighten up since he’ll be reflecting what’s inside the business and fixes up his collar while she’s scolding him. Ibaraki doesn’t argue and agrees that he is the door boy and guard. The place only just opened so he tells you guys to keep quiet and not cause a disturbance.

Shino comes over and says it’s fine for Ibaraki to be passionate at work, but he also says he’s directing it at the wrong people. You happily take note of him and say you’re glad he’s doing alright, or you ask how he is. He says he’s glad to see you’re in good health, then says he’s unworthy to be seen and talked to by you. You then ask if he’s a guard or be disappointed he isn’t a host.

Shino is uncomfortable about the question and says that when there isn’t trouble going on, he works for daily pay in the shops nearby. Arachne is surprised at how standard or professional Shino is dressed up and asks if it’s Wa no Kuni style. She also notes it’s been customized a lot though. Arachne says it is out of place with the host club aesthetic and that she can’t judge it until it matches up.

Shino takes note of Arachne and says she’s that clothes shop lady Ibaraki mentioned to him before. He says the way he dresses is the way he lives, then insists that nothing about it is unnatural. You disagree after some thought and ask if he’s hiding something.

Shino squirms at the question, though before he says anything more, Xenia Cruise starts playing...for all of five seconds before Tsukuyomi decides to stop it there because he’d rather not have a fight in the store. He turns back to you guys to welcome you all as customers before correcting it to business partners.

You either greet Tsukuyomi by name or by calling him the number one host. He apologizes for doing a more normal appearance if you were expecting his usual flashy one. This is a part of business, and since it’s already open he’d prefer to keep it separate from the special appearances.

Tsukuyomi then gets down on one knee and puts his hand on his chest as he faces Arachne to introduce himself as owner and number one host before giving his name. Arachne gets a bit starstruck and describes what she’s feeling as ambivalence. She can tell Tsukuyomi has willingly put on Shadows to wear and asks how he can still shine so much anyways. He says that if he shines to her she’s just seeing her own light reflecting off of him and smiles.

Arachne almost starts having another fit as she says she wants to have Tsukuyomi wear her clothes. She manages to pull back though and says she was close to giving him all her money, then composes herself to give an introduction. Tsukuyomi says he’s heard of her from Suzuka and describes her as looking resolute in her eyes and a designer who praises lonely shadows. He welcomes her in and hopes she’ll enjoy the place.

Arachne yells about how brilliant his host power is, too brilliant for a shadow like her to see. Tsukuyomi then starts looking at you, which you notice and ask about. He apologizes for being rude, then says you’re so charming he looked without thinking about it and asks for forgiveness.

Tsukuyomi then turns Shino to ask why he hasn’t changed clothes. He comments that he usually wears it but wonders if he’s embarrassed to be seen by someone in it. Shino tries to claim something is up with his suit, but you either say you figured he was a host, wonder if it’s because you’re here, or say you want to see him in it, though his normal outfit is nice.

In any case Shino says he’d never dream of troubling you. He says it might not be much to look at, but he asks you to wait as he goes to change with a look of determination on his face. Several minutes later he comes back, and Arachne is wowed by his appearance. Shino apologizes and says this is his way for making it up to you.

Shino says Tsukuyomi told him this was necessary for the new business opening up, though he feels unfit for servicing customers like this. It’s the same for the tea house, what with there being some rare tastes dependent upon being wheedled by unfortunates. You say he looks good in it or say you want him to pour you some juice while he’s in it.

Going B, Shino says he’d be happy to spend time with you if you’ll have him. Arachne says he seems to be misunderstanding something and says he looks great the way he is now. She compares how fitting it is to sheathing something. Shino asks her to not make fun of him and threatens serious injury if she does. Arachne yelps and wonders if her heart skipping then is what mortal danger feels like.

Tsukuyomi talks about how Shino’s good side can also show through a gap like this. He also agrees with what Arachne said that Kabukicho’s essence is its ostentation. But the world also has its charms standing out by hiding naive or bloodshot true selves and putting decorations on top. It’s one thing the shop sells.

Arachne concedes the point, but as a designer she intends to go see if there’s something beyond that. Tsukuyomi nods and is ready to lead you all in as he calls you princesses. You are either charmed or shocked at being addressed this way.

If you go with the latter, Tsukuyomi says he sees everyone as a princess visiting the kingdom of night, whether they be man, woman, young, or old and winks at you two. Arachne is almost taken in before she snaps back to the present and says it shouldn’t so dangerous before seeing what’s inside. She tells you to keep your head about you because this is a business that would swallow you guys up if you let it. You point out she’s already pretty taken in, but she asks you not to say it because she’s trying to resist.

Inside the club are beautiful decorations and such that makes it look as divorced from reality outside as possible. Arachne says she likes how gorgeous it is. You comment on how it looks like another world in here and how shiny it all is.

Arachne laughs and says if it weren’t there’d be problems. They can’t have the employees stand out too much after all. The store can’t let customers see how artificial it is, so they must thoroughly make them think of it as another world. The designer of the store knows this, and Arachne says it really is good work.

Tsukuyomi turns back to look at you two, and narration says he looks at you two with less flattery towards customers and more pure goodwill for a business partner. Or at least, it feels like that. He thanks Arachne for her comments calling her both beautiful and knowledgeable. She seems flattered and asks him to stop with the empty compliments. He tries to say they’re genuine when Suzuka comes over to tell him to stop.

Arachne is glad to see her, though she still says it’s sad in a certain way. Suzuka apologizes for being late since she overslept from having so much fun. Arachne doesn’t mind and says she looks good in her kimono. Looking at it makes it feel like her hurdles are getting higher though, but Suzuka smiles back.

Suzuka laughs and says her kimono is a bit like one of her war outfits. When she wears it, there will be some customers coming at least, so she has to work hard enough to meet expectations. Arachne says she can understand those customers’ feelings. She’s not specialized in eastern clothing, but her interest has been piqued looking at Suzuka.

Suzuka says that since the place just opened they’re short handed and she suddenly has to help. Kimonos may be unusual for a host club, but people seem to like it. Anyways she figures you guys may as well enjoy the mood while you’re here and offers to treat you guys.

Shino apologizes for interrupting but says Ibaraki has reported a storm/trolls/Those Customers have entered the building. Tsukuyomi is concerned and says it’s something he should handle but... You ask about the trolls thing or if there’s some sort of disturbance. Tsukuyomi explains that they’re people who act like new customers to take advantage of first time hospitality and rampage through several host clubs.

Shino says Tsukuyomi’s jurisdiction is over first timers only and giving cheap rates for the majority of cases. Suzuka says it’s common to hear that subsequent times charge way more, but that’s usually from people imposing that or people trying to take advantage. Tsukuyomi says anyone trying to make use of that is already out of control.

Tsukuyomi talks about hosts and how they try to make people order the most expensive drinks over and over. Suzuka sums it up as price differences. When those kinds of customers come over they tend to drive the store into the red. Shino says that since they pay the listed prices, the store can’t make a fuss about it. Suzuka says dine and dashers are easier to deal with and complains about it.

Up front Those Customers, specifically the pirate, are asking for someone else to serve them since everyone seems so boorish. The maid asks for someone to serve her because she’ll probably buy a bottle if she likes it. The governor asks for the next server to come already and that if they like them maybe they’ll ask for them again ‘next time.’ Their outrageous entitled behavior is audible all the way to the back, and it’s clear it would be hard to lay a hand on them.

You ask whether Tsukuyomi will do anything. Suzuka is shocked at the idea and says that even if he is a dope he’s their boss. I’m having a little trouble parsing Shino for once, but I think he says he agrees though he does think it’s rude. Tsukuyomi is the owner of the place, and if he isn’t thinking of something in the back the the front lines will get agitated.

Tsukuyomi seems flattered and says he’s normally asleep inside. The compliments won’t get anywhere though. Suzuka says they aren’t compliments and calls him stupid. But anyways she says if he does go out there the customers will only get cockier. Letting them think they can get what they want by complaining isn’t good. They’re running a business, so it’s not a good idea to give special treatment outside of payment.

Having said that, Shino says it’ll be hard to get that through to the customers. Suzuka talks about how they’ll be expecting most tricks to hook them in, so they won’t work. Tsukuyomi says they’ll have to shock the idea into them to get it to stick. You turn to Arachne and ask if she has any ideas.

Arachne thinks and says if you can’t betray their expectations, what if you mess with their predictions? Suzuka is surprised by this and asks her to explain. Arachne says that Tsukuyomi has some harsh words, then says she’ll add the town’s style to her fashion. Arachne asks Suzuka to help her and suggests showing those customers her high school girl power. Suzuka doesn’t really understand but agrees to go along with it as the episode part ends.