The realization that it was truly easy not to have to worry about men's eyes struck Ren deeply after moving into the new residential area.
Human gazes are surprisingly obvious. Lewd stares from the opposite sex, in particular, are completely transparent. Coupled with the succubus's sharp senses, Ren sometimes felt the illusion of being caressed just by being looked at.
While she felt guilty recalling that she used to be "the observer," being "the observed" also bred a selfish thought: "This is why men are..."
In that regard, a women-only space was easy.
Of course, a same-sex environment had its own challenges that were often harsher than those posed by the opposite sex.
Being stared at in a "what is that outfit" manner was actually quite difficult to bear, but girls were generally tolerant of fashionable or cute attire.
When they judged that the clothing suited the person and was not intended to attract the opposite sex, they often gave genuine compliments.
Since Ren had deliberately moved to a "women-only residential area" to minimize encounters with men, even if her attire was slightly revealing, people would approach her favorably and say, "That's cute."
Since her wings and tail made it inevitable for Ren to expose a larger portion of her skin, this attitude was greatly appreciated.
...However,
"This one is really questionable, though...?"
One day, Ren visited her familiar cosplay shop and frowned at an outfit the owner recommended.
"Huh, you don't like it? I think it's cute."
It was a garment that was too commonplace to be called "cosplay," yet too provocative to be called "casual wear" or "going-out clothes"—something that was truly difficult to react to.
Broadly speaking, it was an item called a knit or a sweater, characterized by a large opening at the back.
The fact that a garment meant for warmth was used this way was quite daring, making it stylish and liberating. Ren even thought it would be incredibly comfortable to wear.
"The Virgin-Killing Sweater, I highly recommend it!"
"No, the name itself is the main problem here!"
As per the history (?), it had gained fame within otaku culture at one point and carried a strong image of being an erotic costume.
Of course, since it was a sweater, there was no problem wearing it normally, but because the back was widely open, there was a possibility that her chest could be seen from the side if worn alone. In fact, wearing it with the intention of actively showing off was arguably its original purpose.
Ren, who liked comfort but was wary of being overly erotic, was concerned.
Then, the owner spoke up.
"In your case, there's nothing you can do about being looked at lustfully."
The frank and accurate observation pierced Ren's heart.
"You have a figure that even other women envy, you're cute, and you smell good even without perfume. People will think you're lewd unless you wear a full-body suit."
"Are you telling me to give up...?"
"Exactly. If anything, wouldn't being more confident make men look at you less lewdly?"
That was true.
Even with the open back, it should still be warm, and for staying inside or walking nearby, something this comfortable was a lifesaver.
"I'll give you a discount; why don't you buy it?"
The price offered was a bargain, even by the standards of this world, let alone this shop.
"Are you sure you can sell it that cheaply?"
"It's fine. It's only one type of material, and once the shape is decided, it's just knitting, so it doesn't take much effort."
Those in the garment class could significantly shorten the working process.
This sweater, which became a simple task once the person had some skill, was apparently made during the owner's spare time.
"If you don't want it, I'll sell it to a man with a young wife."
"That might be good, but in that case, please let me buy it."
"Thank you for your purchase."
Ren didn't want to see a husband enthusiastically buying the item, only to be rejected by his wife and left desolate with the sweater in his hand. The sweater itself wouldn't have a happy ending either.
So, Ren paid and purchased the sweater.
Borrowing the fitting room, she put it on immediately.
"Ah, this is better than I thought."
"See?"
Her back felt incredibly comfortable.
Since wearing just this on bare skin would be too erotic, she would need to wear something underneath, but otherwise, it was an excellent item for winter indoor wear.
It might have been a surprisingly good purchase. She thanked the owner, returned home, and showed it to her companions.
"Ooh. Yeah, it's cute. You bought a good one."
Furi, her partner-like figure, praised her honestly. However, she then narrowed her eyes.
"But it emphasizes your chest, making it very erotic."
"Is that just because you're looking at me lustfully, Furi?"
"Yeah. Well, if someone you like wears an erotic outfit, it's bound to make you excited."
"Gasp."
Ren was the one who ended up blushing when told so directly.
Hastily averting her gaze, she looked at Iris and the others and asked, "What do you think?"
"I think it's cute! But I'm envious of you, Ren-san. It probably wouldn't suit me..."
"You think so? I think this kind of thing is cuter when the chest isn't too big."
When Iris tried it on, her slender figure made the slightly oversized sweater emphasize cuteness and style over lewdness.
Since she usually wore practical clothing when going out, this distinctly loungewear style was refreshing. Any man unfamiliar with Iris's private side might be knocked out immediately if they saw her.
"Hehe, is it cute?"
"It's incredibly cute. If you walked around town in that, everyone would try to pick you up."
"Hmph. Master. May I try it on as well?"
After complimenting Iris, Mei wanted to try it on too.
The backless style would likely suit her, given her pale, smooth skin.
"I think the maid outfit suits you better, Mei."
"Then how about wearing it over the maid outfit?"
"Hmm... Mei-chan, I don't think that would work. I mean, it would probably get stiff."
Since the maid outfit itself wasn't a skin-tight design, the sweater fabric might stretch out. Everyone intervened when Mei started trying hard to force it on.
"Phew, that was close. ...So, what do you think, Shion?"
"If I were to wear it myself, I would definitely hesitate, but I think it suits Ren-sama well. And it looks very warm."
"Thank you. But I think it loses out to Shion's fur in terms of warmth."
Ren tried hugging Shion while wearing the sweater.
The fox girl rubbed her cheek against the sweater as if checking its texture and murmured, "It's warm."
She was so adorable that Ren wanted to stay like that forever. The other members' expressions softened, and they all started stroking Shion, instantly warming the area around Ren.
Even the great sweater couldn't compete with human warmth.
Nevertheless, the item proved very useful for getting through the winter.
It would be perfect if she could lie around in a kotatsu (heated table) while eating snacks. Unfortunately, a kotatsu wasn't available, so they relaxed in front of the fireplace instead. On colder days or days with little sun, Shion also liked the spot near the fire and would nap beside Ren.
Mei, having finished her chores, also snuggled up to Ren to accumulate heat. Furi sighed at the three of them, saying, "You all have your own rooms, you know."
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