"Asakura-kun’s designed uniform, well, if I have to say it..." Yui said, trying her best to make out Asakura’s handiwork while using a phrasing that wouldn’t hurt his self-esteem, "is quite unique and avant-garde. It’s not exactly suitable for everyday wear."

"Since it’s for witches, shouldn’t we just use a black sailor suit with a witch hat and call it a day?"

Yanami suggested, currently drooling over the tea snacks on the plate yet desperately restraining herself from eating them to avoid wasting one of her designated "eating rights."

"Though it’s a rare serious suggestion from Yanami, I’m afraid I have to reject it."

Asakura shook his head.

"Nani-yo! Do you have some kind of problem with my opinion?" Yanami puffed out her cheeks and raised her fists in indignation.

"Because you missed the biggest issue—I have to wear the uniform too." Asakura rested his chin on his hands, looking deep in thought like a certain commander.

"Ugh, if Asakura-kun has to wear it too..."

Yanami’s eyes went hollow.

Asakura clapped his hands, snapping the girl back to reality.

"You, you were definitely imagining me in a sailor suit, weren’t you?" Asakura stared sharply at her.

The latter trembled like a little rabbit being eyed by a predator. Her eyes drifted guiltily toward the upper diagonal, and she squeaked out in a weak voice, "Me- mii... I wasn’t..."

"In the name of your God!" Asakura handed down his judgment without mercy. "From today until the end of summer break, you are only allowed to eat three meals a day."

"Nooo! A life with only three meals a day... I can’t even imagine such a thing!" Yanami collapsed to the floor in tears, clinging to Asakura’s leg and pleading.

"Isn’t that just a perfectly healthy diet...?"

Kaju, who didn’t visit the Club House often and wasn’t very familiar with Yanami’s situation, muttered to herself.

Asakura suddenly noticed Asagumo looking at him with a strange gaze and asked curiously, "What’s wrong?"

"No wonder Takuma-kun didn’t propose something like ’bikini armor,’ even as a joke..." Asagumo said with a beaming smile.

With a guilty expression identical to Yanami’s, Asakura silently averted his gaze, avoiding eye contact with the girl.

It seemed she had gained a considerable understanding of his true nature.

Am I really that easy to read?

"Anyway, if we’re heading out in uniform, it’ll likely be for troublesome situations. Considering the need to prevent people from easily recognizing our identities, a full-coverage outfit might be better..." Kaju said clearly.

Although this child didn’t show her face in the Magic Club often, she was a rational person with common sense, and her words were quite logical.

"Considering defensive performance, full skin coverage would indeed be superior." Anon, who had dealt with supernatural entities up close, agreed wholeheartedly.

The others expressed their agreement one after another.

"Ah..." Asakura suddenly spoke up, "Regarding secrecy and defense, the Magic Club uniforms are actually enchanted. When ordinary people see someone wearing the uniform, their perception will be blurred, making it hard to identify the wearer. Furthermore, wearing the uniform is like being encased in a suit of iron armor; it can easily deflect the vast majority of attacks. These two effects have nothing to do with how much fabric is used."

He asserted, "So, from a more realistic standpoint like breathability and ease of movement, a design that exposes a bit of skin would actually be better."

"In that case, wouldn’t it be easier to just design masks or gloves? They’re easy to carry and won’t arouse suspicion..." Yukino, attending the meeting as an external member of the Magic Club, said flatly.

"While that’s true in theory, for a mysterious organization, a unified and cool uniform is a matter of romance!" Asakura immediately protested.

"Exactly!" Ruri stood by Asakura’s side and said loudly, "A mysterious organization without a uniform isn’t a true mysterious organization!"

Yukino wore a very blatant "how troublesome" expression.

Yui, who had originally wanted to agree with Yukino, took one look at the gothic lolita dress Ruri was wearing—which looked complicated and stifling no matter how you sliced it—and wisely gave up on trying to convince them.

With one proposal after another being rejected, the discussion seemed to hit a dead end for a moment.

Everyone sipped their tea (brewed by Asagumo) and ate their snacks, looking somewhat weary.

"It’s a bit too difficult to come up with a finished product today. Let’s give everyone some time to think and bring our designs to the next Magic Club gathering for discussion." Sensing the atmosphere dipping, Asagumo stepped in to smooth things over. "Takuma-kun isn’t in a rush for a couple of days, right?"

Beyond just smoothing things over, it was clear the girl wanted to create an opportunity for everyone to hang out together during the summer break.

Asakura originally wanted to say, "I am in a rush, I’m about to go on a trip..." but seeing her so enthusiastic, he suddenly felt that waiting a couple of days didn’t really matter.

So, he nodded.

A sweet, happy smile bloomed on Asagumo’s face. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Though it wasn’t the first time he’d seen it, every time he saw her smile, Asakura couldn’t help but think to himself how cute she was. Strictly in terms of appearance, Asagumo was relatively plain within the Magic Club; she certainly couldn’t compare to the school’s undisputed top ice beauty, Yukino, and she was about on par with the cheerful and popular Yui or Yanami.

But the moment she smiled, it was as if tiny specks of light were dancing in her eyes. Her gentle and quiet temperament was softened by the smile, becoming so sweet it made one’s heart tremble. The slightly downturned corners of her eyes complemented her smiling gaze, unexpectedly revealing a trace of affection that made Asakura’s heart skip a beat. Her pursed cherry lips and slightly upturned mouth looked even more charming; her rounded cheeks, accented by two small dimples, made her look even more endearing. It wasn’t a deliberate attempt to be cute, but a pure, natural loveliness.

This cuteness reached its peak when she slightly tilted her head up and gazed at you with those shimmering eyes, instantly surpassing Yui and Yanami, and elevating her impression to a level second only to Yukino.

In a sense, this was a manifestation of Asagumo’s skill in utilizing her own advantages.

As for Anon...

Let’s just wish the pink-haired lady happiness.