SARAH'S POV:
The fiery red dress, a daring splash of color against the muted greens and browns of the jungle, felt like a second skin. Intricate golden designs swirled across the fabric, catching the light filtering through the leaves, making me feel less like a survivor and more like... well, an actress preparing for a pivotal scene. It was revealing, yes, but not overtly so – just enough to hint at the curves beneath, enough, I hoped, to finally snag Leon's attention.
I smoothed the fabric, a nervous flutter in my stomach. This wasn't just about clothes; it was about making a statement. About refusing to be invisible, to be just a convenient "onahole" or an "accessory." I wanted him to see me, really see me, in this strange new world where the rules were different, and maybe, just maybe, I could rewrite the script of us.
Akari-san, who had finished changing into her own more practical, muted outfit, raised an eyebrow as I emerged from behind the makeshift changing screen of vines and leaves. A slow smile spread across her face.
"Oh, Sarah," she said, her voice laced with knowing amusement. "You truly are something else. That color… it suits your intent."
My cheeks warmed slightly, but I held her gaze. "Think it'll work?"
"If it doesn't," she chuckled, "he's even more oblivious than I thought. Just don't blame me if his brain short-circuits."
We waited a moment, letting the anticipation build. Leon was nearby, still engrossed in the potential wonders of my phone, probably dissecting the Google Translate app with the intensity of a scientist discovering a new element.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped out fully into the small clearing. The afternoon sun painted golden stripes on the forest floor, illuminating the vibrant red of the dress. I walked with deliberate grace, acutely aware of the rustling leaves, the distant hum of the demihuman village, and the thumping of my own heart.
There he was, perched on a rock, brow furrowed in concentration, sunlight glinting off the phone screen. He was mumbling something to himself about data transfer speeds. He was so him. Brilliant, focused, utterly oblivious to the world outside his immediate intellectual task.
"Leon?" I called softly, keeping my voice light.
He didn't react immediately. I walked closer, the fabric of the dress swaying around my legs. I stopped a few feet away, striking what I hoped was a casual, yet impactful, pose.
Still nothing. His eyes were glued to the screen.
Frustration bubbled up, hot and sharp. All this effort, the bravery it took to put on this ridiculously revealing dress in the middle of a monster-infested jungle, and he was more interested in an app icon.
"Seriously, Leon?" I said, my voice losing some of its earlier lightness. "I change into a dress in front of you, and you don't even look up?"
That finally got his attention. He blinked, slowly lowering the phone. His eyes, usually so sharp and analytical, widened slightly as they registered the dress, then traveled up to my face.
For a fleeting second, something flickered in his gaze. Surprise? Maybe even a hint of… appreciation?
Then, the usual mask of indifference snapped back into place. He cleared his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Oh. Right. You changed," he stated, his voice flat. "That dress is... red."
My jaw tightened. That dress is... red. Was that it? After everything? The near-death experiences, the bizarre emotional rollercoaster, the explicit desire for his attention? Just, "That dress is... red."
Akari-san stepped up beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. Her eyes were sparkling with amusement, but there was a steely edge in her tone when she addressed Leon.
"Leon," she said, her voice a low purr, "your sister is making an effort. A considerable effort, I might add. She chose that dress specifically for your benefit. And after the conversation we had earlier..." she trailed off, a knowing look passing between them. "I believe a more... enthusiastic compliment is in order. Remember the rules? No negative remarks, and enthusiasm is required."
Leon sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked like a cornered animal. But, surprisingly, he didn't argue. Maybe the memory of being healed by her (with Kaz's help) or his own confusion about the previous night's events held him back.
He looked at me again, his gaze scanning the dress with a strange intensity. This time, his analytical mind seemed to be kicking in, processing the visual information.
"Alright, alright," he muttered. He took a deep breath. "Sarah. The dress... it's definitely not 'just red'." He paused, choosing his words. "The color... it's very striking. And the fit... it highlights your... figure... effectively." He stumbled slightly over "figure."
He continued, forcing himself. "It's... visually impactful. It certainly achieves the objective of... attracting attention." He sounded like he was giving a performance review.
It wasn't the flowery, romantic compliment a heroine might expect in a storybook, but coming from Leon, the master of indifference, it felt... monumental. He saw it. He saw me.
"Is that enough?" he asked, looking utterly relieved to stop talking.
I wanted to push for more, to see if I could break through that dam of detachment, but his awkwardness was almost endearing. And Akari-san was giving me a look that clearly said, Don't push your luck.
"It's a start," I conceded, a genuine smile finally gracing my lips. It wasn't the blush-inducing torrent from earlier when Akari-san forced him, but it was voluntary (well, Akari-forced-voluntary).
"Good," he said, immediately reaching for my phone again. "Can I... can I look at the language data now? I want to see if this is a complete language pack, or just common ones. It could be incredibly useful."
I hesitated for a second, then handed him the phone. My internal world might be a swirling vortex of emotions and confusing desires, but his mind was a steel trap, and access to information felt like our best survival strategy.
"Yeah," I said, watching him immediately become engrossed again. "Go for it."
Akari-san nudged me gently. "He really is something, isn't he?"
"Yeah," I agreed, watching Leon excitedly tap at the screen. "Something."
The dress might not have gotten the dramatic reaction I dreamed of, but it had gotten a reaction. And maybe, just maybe, that was a step.
"Alright," Akari-san said, clapping her hands together softly. "Now that we're all appropriately dressed – or mostly dressed, in Leon's case – we should think about the village. It's demihuman, so they'll be different from us, but according to the few things I know, they're generally neutral or friendly towards humans. And," she added, looking between us, "communication won't be an issue. You two already know we can understand every language here, right?"
We both nodded. It was one of the strangest side effects of arriving here – the immediate, intuitive understanding of sounds that should be utterly foreign.
"Good," Akari-san continued. "We need supplies, information, and possibly a safer place to stay than the middle of the jungle. We'll approach cautiously. Sarah, try to keep a low profile, despite the... attention-grabbing attire. Leon, try not to insult anyone or threaten suicide."
"Hey!" Leon muttered from his rock, without looking up from the phone. "I only did that when it was strategically necessary."
Akari-san just rolled her eyes. "Right. Strategically. Let's go."
Walking towards the village, the vibrant red dress felt a little less like a weapon and more like a burden. But as I walked beside Leon, who was already analyzing the phone's potential uses for survival, and Akari-san, who moved with quiet, competent grace, I felt a strange sense of... rightness. This was our unit now. The pragmatic loner, the emotional actress, and the protective older sister/archer. It was a bizarre combination, forged in trauma and deception, but it was ours. And maybe, just maybe, we could figure out how to survive this world, and each other.