Within the Bounds of Trust and Faith.

"That's surprising. I figured you weren't interested in this kind of tournament, Onee-san."

"Huh, really?"

After it was decided I'd enter the magic tournament, Dea-kun said that to me.

"You entered the tournament in the Beast Kingdom too, didn't you?"

"That was for the money, right? This tournament doesn't earn you any money or anything."

Well, that's true, I suppose. Honor and fame are more of a nuisance, if anything… Becoming a celebrity carelessly would make it harder to collect socks, too…

"! Could it be — there's a Divine Artifact connected to the magic tournament?"

"Huh? Ah… that possibility isn't entirely out of the question."

"I see. So you're entering the tournament to investigate that!"

That's not it. The only reason is that I want to bathe with Iz-sensei and get all lovey-dovey… is something I can't say!! I can't say it!!

"I'll support you with everything I've got, so if there's anything I can do, just say the word!"

"… Hm? Did you just say anything— no, you didn't say that."

"If it's something I can do, I'll do anything, you know?"

"Wha!? U-um, sure."

I-I went and made him say it… W-well, fine, within the bounds of trust and faith. Yeah.

By the way, Dea-kun today was dressed as a girl. Love it.

… If I told him to flip up his skirt, that'd be out of bounds, huh.

Hmm. Something good, something good. Oh, I know.

"Then on the day, would you cheer me on wearing a cheerleader costume?"

"A cheer-leader, you say?"

"It's a time-honored outfit for cheering people on. I'll teach the Five Elders all the details and have them make it — oh, maybe I'll have the Five Elders wear it too? It'll definitely suit them!"

Five loli cheerleaders, with Dea-kun added in… nice! This is going to make great progress, no doubt about it!

"… It's not a weird outfit, is it?"

"Yup, yup. It's a time-honored outfit, so don't worry. Back in my hometown, it's totally proper and not weird at all. Granted, it's not exactly everyday wear, but."

I fully intend to have them hold pom-poms and shake them around, frilly and jangly, while they cheer.

"Now that it's settled, I'd better have everyone make them right away! Things are getting fun!"

"It's good to see your motivation surging, Onee-san."

I'm seriously looking forward to the magic tournament now.

…

Oh, what if — what if I called it a cheerleader costume but actually had them make and wear a bunny girl costume? Would they even notice?

A bunny girl holding pom-poms, cheering… yeah, that works. It works so well I can't decide which to have them wear… mmm! I want to see both!

 

*

 

I agonized over it, but in the end, considering TPO, I decided to go with cheerleaders.

I'll have them wear the bunny girl costumes somewhere like a casino or high society or that sort of place. Or at night.

"So anyway, make some cheerleader outfits for me. Enough for everyone."

"Huh, the skirt's so short!"

"Your legs, your whole legs are out in the open!?"

"Even if we have been rejuvenated, wearing this in public is embarrassing!?"

"It's practically underwear!?"

"The pom-poms are cute, though… is just this not enough?"

If you want to show less skin, I can add over-knee socks or sleeves and such, you know.

Sunscreen would probably be a good idea too.

"You dwarves all look young to elves anyway, so it's fine, it's fine."

"An outfit to wear when cheering at a tournament… ehh… Kari-chan, your hometown's something else, huh."

"Maybe it's actually fine as long as you wear it with confidence?"

"Ugh, well, if the whole team's matching, I guess it just becomes 'that's how it is'…"

"Doesn't this make us all look like exhibitionists, though?"

"And if our Five-Elder identities got exposed while we were like this… heehee, that'd be a disaster."

… Huh? Weren't all dwarves exhibitionists? is what I thought, but I refrained from actually saying it.

They just had a culture that was sexually liberated — they weren't exhibitionists.

"Oh, that's right, Kari-chan. Should we have Aishia wear one too?"

"Have her wear it. The more cheerleaders, the better!"

I can't field her in the tournament cheering section, but I could make a Cheerleader Day or something and have Mashiro-san and Misha wear them too.

… As for Mashiro-san, her everyday clothes might actually show more skin, though?

"Should we make one for Iz-sensei too?"

"And Fletta-chan needs one, right?"

"I kinda want one!"

I really want them to cheer me on.

"Well, if it's come to this, everyone's getting dragged in! I'll make a whole bunch!"

"Oh. If more is better, what about a costume for Arthur?"

"Don't need that one."

It's a cheerleader, after all. No need for a boy — or rather, a male.

Huh? Dea-kun's Dea-kun, that's why. He's not a male. Oh, but Dea-kun in a gakuran as the cheer squad captain has its own appeal, too…