Chapter 30: Official Outfits!

"It's good to see you again, Eryn!"

"How did you get here so fast already?"

Azusa was standing in front of his house, laying her back on her car. After Eryn asked Azusa if she could help with shopping for the monstergirls, it didn't take too long for her to reach his place. Apparently, she was at a convenience store nearby, and he happened to contact her at the right time.

"I don't live that far away, you know?" she crossed her arms. "You should come by my place sometimes!"

"Er, yeah… I'll think about it." He rubbed the back of his head. "I still need to get the monstergirls ready. Could you wait for a moment?"

"Of course!" She nodded. "Take your time. I'm in no rush."

"Thanks." Eryn turned around and went back into his house. I didn't expect her to arrive so early! When she said she'd come by as soon as she could, she didn't think it was this soon.

"Yay, we're going shopping with Eryn!" Melty hopped up and down, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"It's going to be fun!" Iris smiled sweetly.

"For school!" Lofie's ears fluffed as she bobbed her head.

After Eryn asked the monstergirls whether they wanted to go on a school-shopping adventure, they all agreed to it with such enthusiasm. Going to school has always interested the monstergirls, so why wouldn't they want to go on a little shopping trip? But more importantly, it brought joy that they could spend time outside with their beloved parent.

"I know you're all excited," he chuckled and kneeled, "but we have to get you all ready to go outside, okay?"

"Okay!" the monstergirls replied in unison.

"Great!" Eryn clapped his hands. "Let's get you all a new change of outfits."

He stood up and walked to the wardrobe in the other bedroom (where his sister used to stay in), with all the monstergirls following behind him.

Together with the clothes I bought and the gifts from Azusa, I think they all have a good selection of outfits to choose from! Eryn opened up the wardrobe, staring at the clothing items that were of the monstergirls' sizes.

"So!" He folded his arms. "Have you all thought about what you'd like to wear?" He asked, having some ideas of their answers already. The monstergirls exchanged looks with each other before looking at Eryn.

Iris was the first to step forward. She stared at all the clothes. "Is it… okay for me to choose, Eryn?"

"Of course, Iris." He patted her head. "All these clothes are for you. You can choose whatever you'd like to wear."

"… Okay." She nodded, drawing her fists to her chest. It was a bit overwhelming, having many clothes to choose from. There wasn't a moment like this before she got adopted, where she could choose to her heart's content. And with this scenario in front of her, what should she choose?

Eryn stared at the catgirl. Her tail was curled upwards, unmoving. She looks… rather tense. Her eyes darted from cloth to cloth as if they couldn't focus on anything. Maybe I should ease it a bit?

"What do you think of this, Iris?" Eryn took a blue shirt and a purple skirt with a white rim. "I think this fits you well."

"Oh!" Her blue eyes stared at the clothing items in his hand. If Eryn thought it would look good on her, then it must be good! "Then… I think I want to wear this one, Eryn!"

"All right." He nodded and gave the clothes to her. "How about you, Lofie? What would you like to wear?"

"I want to wear this, Eryn." Lofie already grabbed a pink jacket and green dress. Her tail wagged back and forth.

"Sure, go for it." He patted her brown hair then turned to the little hinezumi. "How about you, Melty?"

"Ah…" Putting her hands on her hips, Melty scanned the clothes in the wardrobe. She tilted her head to the left as her tail curled to the right. "Can I ask something, Eryn?"

"What is it?"

"Do I have to wear a skirt?" she asked, glancing at the skirts in Iris and Lofie's hands.

"… No?" He shook his head, amused. "No, you don't have to wear a skirt if you don't want to, Melty."

"Oh, okay!" Melty grinned, swiping an orange sweater and blue jeans. "I wanna wear this!"

"Great." He smiled, ruffling her red hair between her mouse ears. "It's settled then!"

With all their outfits picked, Eryn helped them to change. It didn't take too long until they were wearing their new clothes.

"Waaa!" Iris bowed her head, looking at her new outfit.

"What do you think, Iris?" He guided her to the mirror. "Do you like your new outfit?"

"I love it, Eryn!" Iris twirled around, her skirt fluttering in the air. "Thank you for choosing this for me!"

"I'm glad you like it." He smiled softly. Phew, I didn't really put much thought into choosing her clothes. As long as she's happy, that's all that matters.

"But… there is something I'd like to say about my skirt, Eryn." Iris tapped her fingers together.

"Oh, what's that, Iris?"

"My… tail." Iris turned her back to him. Her tail curled outwards from her skirt, elevating the fabric a bit. "I can't keep my tail under the skirt."

"… Oh!" His eyes widened in surprise. Right, they have tails! Of course they have tails! They were monstergirls, after all. Eryn crouched down. Huh, yeah… I don't think it looks comfortable.

"It doesn't bother me!" Iris quickly added, frantically waving her palms. "I'm really happy with the outfit."

"It's okay, Iris." He stroked his chin, getting a few ideas. "I can probably make some adjustments for it later…"

"Eryn, Eryn." Lofie tugged on his arm. "How do I look?"

"Mhmm…?" He turned to the little Anubis. She twirled around in place, her pink jacket and green dress fluttering around. "Oh, that looks great on you, Lofie!"

"Hehehe." Lofie smiled, her tail wagging delightfully from side to side. "It's because Eryn bought it."

"Haha…" He patted her head between her fluffy ears. His eyes drifted to her bushy tail, flapping her skirt up and down. That doesn't look ideal to me… but she's not bringing it up, so I guess she's fine with it? Her dress was long enough that her tail didn't create issues. Still, I think making adjustments to it will be better.

"Look at me, Eryn!" Melty exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips.

His eyes switched to the last monstergirl, already in her new outfit. The yellow sweater and blue jeans comfortably fit her body.

"Oh, nice!" Eryn gave her a thumbs up. Compared to her sisters, she's giving me tomboy impressions! "I like the new look, Melty."

"Hihihi!" Melty grinned from ear to ear. Her tail wagged around furiously as if it could catch on fire. "If Eryn likes it, I like it!

"Haha, is that so?" He smiled. She looks quite excited about her new outfit. But one thing caught his attention. One that differed from Iris and Lofie's outfits. Sure, she wasn't wearing a skirt like them. But something feels off.

"Ah, Melty…?" Eryn scratched his cheek. "How are you wearing those jeans?"

"Oh, I just put it on!" she puffed her chest out. "I did it all by myself!"

"I see." He nodded, still unsure. "Does your tail feel… fine?"

"My tail?" Melty turned around. Her tail slotted through a conveniently-shaped hole just below the waist of the jeans. "I feel fine with it!"

He blinked a few times. Now it made sense. How is her tail fitting through the jeans? Did it already accommodate tails? But I'm sure these jeans were intended for humans, not monstergirls. Then, was the hole already there?

"At first, I couldn't wear these pants because my tail didn't fit." Melty snapped her fingers, igniting them in flames. "So I burned a hole through it!"

"Oh." Eryn nodded in understanding and crossed his arms. "Of course." That's why she could wear the jeans just fine! Because she burnt a hole for her tail to fit through! … Hold on a minute.

"Y-You burnt a hole through your jeans?!"

"Yeah!" She nodded with an innocent grin, puffing her chest out proudly. "Pretty smart of me, right?"

"Melty, that's…" His jaw comically dropped to the floor. Because her tail couldn't fit, she resorted to burning a hole through it? Although, it didn't look bad at all. But that was not a method I thought was possible.

"Do you not like it, Eryn?" Melty asked in a low voice.

"I, uh…" he scratched his head with mixed feelings. "I don't exactly dislike it per se, but…"

"I think Eryn is surprised that you used your fire…" Iris added.

"It's not normal, Melty." Lofie narrowed her eyes. "Why would you ruin clothes Eryn bought?"

Eryn blinked at the little Anubis. That's pretty ironic coming from someone that can fall asleep underwater.

"I didn't burn them!" Melty huffed, throwing her fists down. "I only made a small hole! I didn't ruin my jeans!" She ran to Eryn and grabbed the hem of his shirt. "I didn't ruin it, Eryn! I'm sorry!"

"It's… okay, Melty." He rubbed her head gently. "I'm just surprised, is all. I didn't know your fire could be used this way."

She bowed her head, her mouse ears waving downwards. "I may have done it without thinking…"

"Hmmm…" His eyes inspected her jeans. "Well, they're your clothes now, Melty. As long as you find it comfortable, then I can't say anything against that."

"Oh." She raised her head.

"But before you go doing something like that again," he poked her nose, "I'd like you to tell me about it first. I don't want you to use your fire so… boldly."

"Ah, okay, Eryn!" Melty giggled with such innocence. "I'll ask Eryn first next time!"

"Mhmm." He returned a smile. Honestly, that would be such a Melty thing to do. Using fire to solve her problems. I can only hope she doesn't take it to the extreme…

With all their outfits ready, it was time to move on to the next matter. "Iris, could you come over here?"

"Yes, Eryn?" she stood in front of him.

"I can't forget about taking care of your hair." He turned her towards the mirror and took a comb. "Mind if I tie it like last time?"

"Oh, okay!" Iris nodded.

"Me too, Eryn!" Melty softly head-butted his back. "I want my hair tied into twin tails!"

"Okay, okay, let me take care of her hair first, all right?" He began brushing her long hair with tender strokes. Over time, he learned how to take care of each of the monstergirls' hair. Having the longest hair, Iris had to be treated delicately as they were soft and silky. Both Lofie and Melty were on the shorter side. While Lofie didn't have any preferences with her hair, the little hinezumi especially adored having twin tails.

Soon enough, the monstergirls would be ready for the first shopping adventure!