Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (LN) - Volume 5 - Chapter SS3

Fantasy World Mini-Skirt Santas 

“Come to think of it, it’s almost Christmas.” 
Hajime and the others looked up from their food at Kaori. They had stopped in a small town for lunch. Yue and the others looked confused, but Hajime nodded and said, 
“Oh yeah, you’re right... At least, going by earth time it would be.” 
“Fufu, the Christmas party we had last year at school was pretty fun. You only stayed for a little bit, but at least we took pictures and exchanged presents still...” 
Kaori smiled as she reminisced about the past. Hajime, too, smiled faintly as he thought back to his days in Japan. Yue’s eyebrows twitched as she watched the two of them. Shea grumbled to herself while Tio smiled knowingly. Myu simply watched them with a blank expression on her face. 
“Yeah, I definitely remember you and Yaegashi blocking the door and begging me to take a picture with you guys. Thanks to that, the whole class hated me on Christmas. After that, even though it was supposed to be a random present exchange you only gave your presents to me. So, the class hated me even more. Then you jacked the present I’d brought for the party and invited me in front of everyone to an after party at your house. At which point I’m pretty sure the rest of the class was ready to murder me... Yeah, that Christmas was definitely nostalgic. Also, terrifying.” 
“Are you sure we’re remembering the same party!?” 
Kaori couldn’t believe her ears. But all the events Hajime mentioned had really happened. He honestly feared for his life that night. Yue tugged on Hajime’s sleeve and asked him what Christmas was. He explained that it was an end-of-year festival and left out the Christian roots. After all, what was important about Christmas was that a jolly man in a strange costume went around giving presents to all the good kids that night. That, and all the Christmas cake people ate. Kaori puffed out her cheeks and complained about Hajime’s half-assed explanation. 
“That’s not all, Hajime-kun. If you’re going to explain, explain properly. L-Like how it’s a holiday for lovers to deepen their bonds.” 
Kaori blushed at her own words. Yue and the others suddenly looked very interested. 
“Hajime, did you do anything with Kaori that night? You know, the kinds of things lovers might do?” 
“I already mentioned everything I did at that party. Back then, I just thought of Kaori as a troublemaker. There’s no way I would have ended up spending Christmas alone with her. If I had... I probably wouldn’t be standing here right now.” 
“Th-That’s mean, Hajime-kun!” 
It hurt to have Hajime denounce her as a troublemaker so casually. Worse, Hajime didn’t seem moved at all by her pleading gaze. 
“That’s my line, you airheaded troublemaker. It would have been even worse if you’d only invited me to that after party of yours, but as it was that was still a huge problem for me. Especially with the way you were dressed. I thought for sure you were out to kill me.” 
“O-Out to kill you? Why would I do that?” 
Wondering what Hajime meant, Kaori tearfully searched through her memories. The way I was dressed? What was I even wearing that day? Oh yeah... 
“U-Umm... if I recall correctly I was dressed in a santa costume...” 
Indeed, Kaori had been dressed in a santa outfit the day of the party. That in itself wouldn’t have been a problem. Santa costumes were pretty common during Christmas. Kaori tilted her head, wondering what had been wrong with her outfit. Hajime sighed. The worst part about all of this was that he knew now that Kaori hadn’t actually meant anything malicious by it. 
“Back when you asked me how you looked I just said it suited you. That was because I didn’t want the other students to kill me. However, I’ll be honest with you now. That costume of yours was really erotic.” 
“E-Erotic!? You really thought that!?” 
“Uh, yeah? Your skirt was so short I thought I’d be able to see your panties. There was a heart-shaped pattern cut out of the shirt so I could easily see your cleavage, and it was sleeveless. Plus, with how tightly it fit I could see all of your curves. Do you even know how many guys Yaegashi had to put down because they couldn’t control themselves any longer?” 
Kaori buried her face in her hands. She was red all the way to the tips of her ears. She’d worn that outfit because her friends (mostly Suzu) had told her that she’d be able to make any man fall for her if she put it on. It was only her delusions of making Hajime fall for her that had given her the courage to wear such an embarrassing costume. When she thought back on it now, she realized just how bold she’d been. But she didn’t have too long to sit there squirming, because Shea and the others chose that moment to butt in. 
“You really are crafty, Kaori-san. Really crafty. To think you tried to use revealing clothes to make Hajime-san fall for you. You’re a natural born erorist!” 
I don’t want to hear that from you. You wear even less than that normally! thought Kaori. 
“Hmm I understand now. You wore a revealing outfit on purpose so you could get off to everyone calling you a pervert. You are even more of a deviant than I am.” 
I am NOT! Also there is no way I would ever be more perverted than you! 
“You’re so red, Kaori-oneechan. You look cute~” 
You’re cuter than I am, Myu. In fact, you’re my only source of healing in this cruel world. 
Yue stood up silently, her eyes burning with fighting spirit. 
“......” 
She grabbed Kaori by the collar and dragged her out of the restaurant. 
“Y-Yue? Where are you taking me? Actually wait, let me go! I can walk myself!” 

“We’re going to buy clothes. Then to fight, seduction with seduction. Santa costume against santa costume. I’ll prove that you’re not the only one that can be an erotic santa.” 
“I never claimed I was! Also, I’m not that much of a pervert! Stop lumping me together with you!” 
“Heh.” 
“Hey, what was that laugh for!? Tell me, Yue!” 
But Yue ignored her. Realizing what was about to happen, Shea and Tio followed the pair out. They took Myu with them, and left Hajime to pay the bill. 
That evening, five people in santa outfits stood in front of Hajime. With the exception of Myu, all of their outfits were erotic. Mini-skirts and sleeveless shirts abounded. 
“Hm. What do you think, Hajime?” 
Yue twirled around, her skirt rising dangerously high as she did so. Shea and Tio struck alluring poses, emphasizing their massive breasts. 
“Well, they do look good on you guys, but... if I saw you on the streets I’d think you were all perverts.” 
“!?” 
Yue, Shea, and Tio stiffened. They all turned to Kaori, who was trying her best to cover herself up with her hands. Kaori averted her gaze. 
“You planned this, didn’t you?” 
“I didn’t! In fact, I’m the one who told you guys not to do this! But you kept insisting! And now I’m stuck wearing this too... it’s so embarrassing!” 
“Doesn’t matter, this is your fault. Now pay for making Hajime sigh at us!” 
Yue called forth a fierce tempest. Kaori, who had no real defense to speak of, could only watch as her skirt was flipped all the way up. 
“Stooop! He’ll be able to see my pantieeees! Ugh, fine if this is how you want to play... Divine Shackles!” 
Kaori pushed her skirt back down and sent chains of light at Yue’s skirt. 
“Hmph. Not good enough. Tio Barrier!” 
“What are you doing? Aaah, they’re twisting around me!? I’ve never experienced bondage like this!” 
Yue pulled Tio in front of her and used the dragonwoman as a shield. Kaori’s chains mercilessly tied Tio up, emphasizing her breasts even more. She instantly started panting heavily. Yue countered with another burst of wind. This too, was aimed at Kaori’s skirt. 
“Like I’ll let you! Shea Barrier!” 
“Whaaa!? Hey, Kaori-san!?” 
Kaori’s chains wrapped around Shea and dragged her into the line of fire. Shea’s skirt flipped up past her stomach, revealing her plump thighs. 
“Kaori-san! This is far too embarrassing! Please let me go!” 
“Don’t worry, the outfit you’re usually wearing is just as embarrassing!” 
“Hey, what the fuck did you just say, you little bitch!? Are you insulting the traditional dress of the Haulia!?” 
Shea ripped off her chains and charged Kaori. But Kaori fended her off with a barrage of Binding Blades of Light. 
Freed from her shackles, Tio squared off against Yue. 
“If you’re going to strip people, then it’s only fair for you to be stripped in return!” 
Tio grabbed Kaori’s unpowered chains and looked for an opportunity to flip Yue’s skirt. In an inn inside a small town in Tortus, four santas tried their best to strip each other. 
“Daddy, this coat is all fluffy!” 
Meanwhile, Myu enjoyed prancing around in her santa outfit. 
“Myu, please grow up into a better woman than those four…” 
Hajime patted Myu’s head while he watched the four girls try to strip each other through increasingly violent means.