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ArabicHonkai Star Rail: My Chat Group is Full of Broken Timelines — Chapter 14
Chapter 14: A Change of Clothes
“Here, Firefly. This is your identity credential for the Xianzhou. Keep it safe.” Kazuki handed over the small, sleek card, his tone gentle but firm. “The information on it won’t survive a deep background check, and it’s not registered on the Xianzhou’s central network, but it’s more than enough to get by for daily activities.”
Firefly accepted it with both hands, her fingertips tracing the smooth edge as if she were holding a priceless treasure. This was likely the first real “gift” she had ever received—no, the first had been the name he gave her, “Firefly.”
She carefully tucked the card into an inner pocket of her combat suit, pressing it flat against her chest. She imagined she could feel a faint warmth seeping through the fabric, a warmth that had nothing to do with her own body heat.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice so soft it was almost lost in the ambient hum of the building, as if she were afraid of disturbing the fragile moment.
“Young Master, I shall not disturb you two any longer. I wish you a pleasant time.” The deacon from the Department of Terrestrial Balance offered a polite bow, a knowing and kind glint in his eyes before he departed.
Stepping out of the department, Firefly found herself facing the vibrant, bustling crowds of the Exalting Sanctum. For a moment, she felt adrift. Neon lights fractured into a thousand brilliant spots in her wide eyes, and a cacophony of voices, laughter, and commerce washed over her. It was all so new, so alien.
“Where… where are we going next?” She subconsciously leaned a little closer to Kazuki, her voice even quieter than before.
“Is the crowd in the Exalting Sanctum too much?” Kazuki turned his head, his gaze softening as he noticed her subtle shift toward him. She wasn’t afraid, not in the way a soldier would be, but she was clearly seeking an anchor in this overwhelming sea of people. “If you’re not used to it, I can take you somewhere else. A place with fewer people, but just as much life.”
“The crowds are fine.” Firefly shook her head. She had faced The Swarm, a tide of monstrosities that blotted out entire skies; a throng of people was hardly intimidating. It was his mention of “life” that sparked her curiosity. Would it carry a scent entirely different from the gunpowder and ozone of the battlefield?
“Then let’s get you a change of clothes first.” Kazuki’s eyes fell on her current attire, and he couldn’t suppress a faint smile.
She was still in the silver-white, form-fitting combat suit, but now it was draped in his own oversized coat. The sleeves were so long they completely covered her hands, and the hem fell to her knees. The effect was endearingly mismatched, making her look like a child who had playfully stolen an adult’s clothes.
“Do I look strange?” Firefly stood on her tiptoes, trying to look down at herself before glancing back up at him. Her eyes held a touch of wounded pride, like a small, rain-drenched animal seeking shelter.
“No, not strange at all.” Kazuki waved his hands quickly, worried she might misunderstand. “It’s just… a more suitable outfit would make it easier to walk around. There’s a clothing shop just up ahead. The Luofu’s craftsmanship is incredibly fast; even custom orders don’t take long.”
As he spoke, he naturally reached out and took her hand, leading her toward the shop.
The moment their fingers touched, Firefly’s entire body went rigid. A second later, she relaxed, allowing him to guide her through the crowd. She kept her head lowered, her gaze fixed on their joined hands. Kazuki’s palm was warm and dry, radiating a strength that felt deeply reassuring. A faint blush crept up her neck and onto her cheeks. She said nothing, but silently quickened her steps to match his rhythm.
“Well now, isn’t this Young Master Kazuki?”
The moment they stepped into the clothing store, a crisp, cheerful female voice rang out. A Foxian woman, the proprietress, was sitting behind the counter, her fingers deftly flicking the beads of an abacus. Seeing them enter, she raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her amused gaze circling their linked hands. “And which young lady have you brought to buy clothes for today?”
Kazuki nearly choked on his own breath. He hastily let go of Firefly’s hand and cleared his throat twice. “Boss, don’t talk nonsense. I’m no pampered young master; I earn my own living. Besides, this is the first time I’ve ever brought someone here to buy clothes.”
He deliberately emphasized the word “Boss.” The Foxian shopkeeper was one of his regular listeners at the tea house and absolutely loved to tease him about his storyteller title, the “Cliffhanger King.” They were well-acquainted.
“Alright, alright, I know you’re a model of a self-made man.” The Foxian boss stood up with a grin and walked around the counter, her eyes lingering on Firefly with a shrewd, appraising look. “But since it’s your first time bringing a girl here, how could I possibly resist teasing you?”
In truth, Kazuki wasn’t one for flaunting his connections. He rarely mentioned his identity outside of necessary circles. There were countless people with the surname Jing on the Xianzhou; he couldn’t just tell everyone he met that he was General Jing Yuan’s grand-nephew. Besides, even if he did, most people wouldn’t take him seriously. After all, there was a woman named Jing Fang living right here in the Exalting Sanctum who claimed to call Jing Yuan ‘Little Brother’ on a daily basis.
“Could you help her make a set of clothes? Something like this.” Not wanting to dwell on the topic, Kazuki picked up a stylus and a data slate from the counter and began to sketch with swift, certain strokes.
From memory, he drew the original character design of Firefly from the artbook he had seen in his past life. He didn’t just draw the front; he added detailed sketches of the side and back patterns as well. He had faith that with the Luofu’s advanced garment-making technology, they could perfectly recreate her iconic outfit even without professional design blueprints.
The Foxian boss leaned in for a closer look, clicking her tongue in admiration. “My, my. Quite a few small accessories. This looks very exquisite.”
“Can you make it?” Kazuki asked, feeling confident in the Luofu’s tailors but needing the confirmation still.
“Don’t you worry. Give me a few minutes.” The boss patted her chest confidently. She placed the data slate into a scanning dock and made a few fine-tuned adjustments on a larger screen. “I just need to take her measurements.”
With nimble, practiced movements, she used a sonic measuring tape on Firefly. The girl stood somewhat stiffly, letting the boss work around her, but her gaze kept drifting toward Kazuki, as if seeking his silent reassurance.
A low hum filled the shop as the automated tailor began its work. Threads of synth-silk interlaced at impossible speeds, weaving themselves around a holographic mold as the fabric gradually took shape.
In just a few moments, a complete, ready-to-wear outfit was produced, hanging on a newly materialized rack. It looked as if it had stepped directly out of his drawing.
“Want to try it on?” Kazuki took the clothes and handed them to Firefly. Their fingertips brushed against each other by accident. Both of them paused for a fraction of a second before quickly looking away.
“Mhm.” Firefly took the clothes and turned, disappearing into the fitting room. The door slid shut with a soft hiss, cutting off the view from outside.
Inside, the world went quiet. Firefly looked down at the outfit in her hands. Her fingers traced the delicate embroidery, an indescribable feeling blooming in her chest. She shed her combat suit and Kazuki’s heavy coat, then slipped into the new clothes. The size was perfect. The fabric was light and breathable, and it allowed for an easy range of motion.
Standing before the full-length mirror, she stared at the person looking back at her—a stranger, yet achingly familiar. A dazed thought surfaced. ‘So… I can wear clothes like this, too. Not just cold, hard armor.’
Outside, the Foxian boss sidled up to Kazuki and nudged him with her elbow, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “So, who is this girl to you? You even drew the design for a custom order yourself. You seem quite invested.”
“She’s just… a friend.” Kazuki felt a little awkward under her scrutiny, his eyes drifting toward the fitting room door. “She just arrived on the Luofu. There’s a lot she doesn’t understand yet.”
“A friend?” The Foxian boss clearly didn’t buy it, one eyebrow arched in a knowing smile. “From where I’m standing, you two don’t look like ‘just’ friends.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, she…” Kazuki wanted to explain, but he didn’t know where to begin. Firefly’s world had been nothing but battle. She was only just beginning to interact with the outside world. She probably didn’t even know what flirting was, so how could there be any talk of mutual affection?
“If you say so…” The boss thought to herself, ‘It certainly doesn’t look like unrequited love to me…’
Before she could finish her thought, the fitting room door slid open.
Firefly stepped out.
Her long, silver hair was loosely held back by a simple headband, allowing a few stray strands to frame her face, perfectly concealing the faint, glowing green cracks near her temples. A green, leaf-shaped ornament was pinned in her hair, looking as fresh as if it were plucked that morning, still holding a drop of dew. It made her pearly-white hair seem to shine, as if moonlight had been spun into silk.
She wore a short robe in a soft gradient of white to cyan-blue. The delicate gold ornaments and diamond-shaped crystals at her collar shimmered under the shop’s lights, not ostentatious, but perfectly accentuating her clean, refined features. A yellow and white bow was tied at her chest, rising and falling gently with each breath. The loose, white gauze sleeves rippled in natural folds; when she lifted a hand, it was as if clouds were flowing around her wrists.
Below, she wore a short skirt in a matching gradient. The green patterns adorning it shimmered with a faint luminescence, swaying and flickering as she moved, truly resembling the delicate wings of a cicada about to take flight. Cyan-blue leg guards, embroidered with white patterns, connected smoothly with the hem of the skirt, striking a balance between youthful charm and a warrior’s crispness.
Firefly simply stood there, her fingertips subconsciously twisting the hem of her new skirt. Her eyes were filled with a hint of apprehension, as if she were afraid she was dressed improperly.
She looked at Kazuki, her voice soft and laced with a nervousness she couldn’t quite hide. “Group Owner… how is it?”
The air in the shop seemed to fall silent for several long seconds. The Foxian boss watched from the side, nodding repeatedly, a satisfied, “just as I thought” smile playing on her lips.
Seeing him remain silent, Firefly thought the outfit didn’t suit her. Her grip on her skirt tightened. “Is it… not good?”
“It looks good,” Kazuki finally managed, his voice a little husky. He tore his gaze away, feeling his cheeks grow warm. “It’s very… suitable.”
Hearing his words, Firefly’s eyes instantly brightened. A shallow, beautiful smile unconsciously tugged at the corners of her mouth, as pure and gentle as the first thaw of winter snow.
She walked to Kazuki’s side and looked up at him, the bright lights of the shop reflected in her irises, making them sparkle like distant stars.