In truth, Chu Lian hadn't expected Cai Ya and the others to take the initiative to join. In her original plan, she was going to find classmates she didn't know well to act as background characters—not people she was acquainted with.
She did this simply to avoid drawing too much attention to those she knew, which could interfere with their studies. As for those unfamiliar volunteers, she had fewer concerns.
The advantage of using the latter was that she didn't have to consider her companions' feelings, though everything felt a bit constrained. The former allowed her to act more freely and do whatever she wanted, though it might draw inappropriate attention to her fellow cosplayers.
Yet those who volunteered ended up being people she knew. But they just so happened to be people who wouldn't be affected by that kind of attention.
Among them was a rising pop star, a daughter of a prestigious family, a Japanese girl with aspirations in the entertainment industry, and lastly, Li Xiu'er and Chu Chu—who were fated to attract attention no matter what.
One was her closest friend and confidante, and the other was her own little sister. Their lives were bound to be in the spotlight anyway. Both had such outstanding external traits that it was impossible for them to be ignored. Any attention now would be no different from what they'd face later, and at least this gave them more time to adapt.
Although she hadn't expected this particular group to get involved, Chu Lian had long prepared herself mentally. She had readied cosplay outfits for various characters, leaving none out.
These costumes didn't have the special qualities of Misaka Mikoto's outfit, so they weren't as expensive. Each outfit cost around 1,500 Integrity Points on average, which wasn't a heavy burden for her current total.
So when she brought them into the changing room, Chu Lian told them to wait a moment while she went ahead and opened several lockers. One by one, exquisitely designed cosplay outfits were revealed inside. Each was perfectly tailored, as if custom-made.
"Chu Lian, you had everything prepared already?" Li Xiu'er covered her pink lips with her hand in a soft gasp. The usually adorably scatterbrained Chu Lian had actually prepared all this in advance. She had thought this cosplay of A Certain Scientific Railgun was just a spontaneous idea, and that aside from Chu Lian's own outfit, not much else had been readied.
But now it was clear—she had overlooked Chu Lian's effort. The high-tech camera, the perfectly fitted Tokiwadai uniform, the refined styling, the uncanny resemblance in temperament, and now these outfits that seemed specifically designed with foresight—they all spoke volumes of this girl's meticulous side.
Of course, if not for the system exchange supporting her behind the scenes, Chu Lian wouldn't have been able to prepare everything so quickly. But that was a detail she had no intention of sharing. Appearing more perfect and mysterious would make the rest of the plan go more smoothly.
The girls walked to the lockers assigned to their respective characters. Looking at the outfits seemingly tailored to their measurements, each felt a touch shy. Chu Lian—was it possible she had planned for them to cosplay these roles from the beginning?
Among the four girls, the one with the most complicated thoughts was undoubtedly Cai Ya. First she was provoked by Chu Chu, then Chu Lian made decisions without asking her, and now she was faced with this Kiyama Harumi outfit that seemed custom-fit for her. She didn't even know how to act tsundere and refuse at this point.
"Lian-chan is really attentive. This outfit fits perfectly, and the fabric feels so comfortable..." Ruriko Nana had the simplest mindset. Since Chu Chu had agreed to let Chu Lian help her, her task now was to repay Chu Lian's kindness. So she was the first to take out the Saten Ruiko uniform, compared it against her figure, and remarked in amazement.
Chu Lian looked at their expressions and smiled without saying a word. She knew it wasn't because she had prepared everything so thoroughly or somehow obtained each girl's body measurements in advance—it was simply that the system-produced outfits could adjust in size based on the host's intent.
Since they had already agreed to participate, all she needed to do was scan their data into the system and let it make the necessary adjustments.
It wasn't cheap—each scan cost 10,000 Integrity Points—but having their data was well worth it.
Name: Li Xiu'er
Gender: Female
Age: 13
Birthdate: 2002.2.04
Zodiac: Aquarius
Blood Type: AB
Strength: 7
Agility: 6
Constitution: 7
Spiritual Power: A (Sealed)
Body Data: 75(B)/52/69; Height: 141 cm; Weight: 40 kg
(If you don't develop soon, her potential will be ten times yours... I mean her bust... ahahaha...)
Attribute: Illusion (An attribute only possessed by a few special races or those with the Spiritual Illusion Body)
Luck: A~S (Seems her luck is really good)
Power Level: Loli (Combat strength roughly equals 0.4 battle-trash units)
Innate Talent: Spiritual Illusion Body (Unawakened)
Personality: Shy, resilient, Chu Lian-obsessed
Skills: Drawing Specialization A, Doujinshi Affinity A, Cooking B, All-Purpose Housework B, Allure B
—
Name: Cai Ya
Gender: Female
Age: 13
Birthdate: 2002.1.21
Zodiac: Aquarius
Blood Type: A
Strength: 8
Agility: 6
Constitution: 8
Spiritual Power: None
Body Data: 76(B)/53/70; Height: 145 cm; Weight: 42 kg
(Another with ten times the potential of you... how pitiful, flat-chested loli host.)
Attribute: Ice (She only appears warm on the outside; her heart is ice. But if anyone can reach it, it's eternal.)
Luck: A (This level of luck ensures a life of health, prosperity, and smooth sailing.)
Power Level: Pseudo-Loli (Combat strength roughly equals 0.5 battle-trash units)
Innate Talent: Unknown (Unawakened)
Personality: Tsundere, Ojou-sama, Subtle Yuri
Skills: Singing Specialization A, Doujinshi Affinity A, Piano Specialization B, Violin Specialization A, Dance Specialization B, Allure A (Latent)
—
Name: Lux Lyle
Gender: Female
Age: 13
Birthdate: 2001.12.28
Zodiac: Capricorn
Blood Type: O
Strength: 17
Agility: 16
Constitution: 14
Magic Power: B
Body Data: 78(B)/52/73; Height: 152 cm; Weight: 42 kg
(As expected of a noble young lady—what a figure...)
Attribute: Wind (She yearns for freedom, for the skies, and to fly.)
Luck: A (This level of luck ensures a life of health, prosperity, and smooth sailing.)
Power Level: Japanese High School Girl (To have such abilities at this age is seriously impressive.)
Innate Talent: Frozen Time-Space (Awakening)
Personality: Elegant, Ojou-sama, Otome Unrivaled
Skills: Singing Specialization C, Doujinshi Affinity S, Piano Specialization B, Bass Specialization B, Management Specialization A, Allure B (Latent)
—
Name: Ruriko Nana
Gender: Female
Age: 13
Birthdate: 2002.5.27
Zodiac: Gemini
Blood Type: AB
Strength: 13
Agility: 20
Constitution: 15
Mana: B
Body Data: 77(B)/54/68; Height: 142 cm; Weight: 37 kg
(Finally someone close to you—too bad she's still a bit older.)
Attribute: Fire (She's a fiery, lovable girl. Hurry and add her to your Crystal Palace!)
Luck: A (This level of luck ensures a life of health, prosperity, and smooth sailing.)
Power Level: Japanese High School Girl (To have such abilities at this age is seriously impressive.)
Innate Talent: Glazed Skyflame (Awakening)
Personality: Adorable, Catgirl, Otome, Strongly Dependent
Skills: Singing Specialization C, Writing Specialization B, Doujinshi Affinity B, Acting Specialization B, Allure B
—
Name: Chu Chu
Gender: Female
Age: 12
Birthdate: 2003.2.10
Zodiac: Aquarius
Blood Type: O
Strength: 15
Agility: 17
Constitution: 16
Spiritual Power: B
Body Data: 80(D)/49/62; Height: 140 cm; Weight: 42 kg
(As your little sister, she has completely outclassed you in figure.)
Attribute: Thunder (Whether gentle or furious, she always has a sting—don't provoke her.)
Luck: A (This level of luck ensures a life of health, prosperity, and smooth sailing.)
Power Level: Japanese High School Girl (To have such abilities at this age is seriously impressive.)
Innate Talent: Void Blazing Thunder (Awakening)
Personality: Sis-con, Kuroko-like, Pervert, Hardcore Yuri, Chu Lian-Obsessed LVMAX
Skills: Master of Illustration S, Master of Chinese Painting S, Doujinshi Affinity A, Acting Specialization B, Anything-for-Onee-sama A
Compared to her own attribute panel, the profiles of Li Xiu'er and the others were relatively brief. But seriously, why did the system feel the need to mock her?! Damn it, she did lack curves and height, but that was just because she hadn't developed yet! If she did grow properly, she could totally outshine them all in a flash! Damn it...
Despite her ranting, she couldn't help feeling surprised. It turned out none of these girls were ordinary. Aside from Li Xiu'er, the others had stats nearly double hers, and their innate talents were extremely powerful.
As for those obscure but impressive-sounding skills and personality traits, her LV6 Selective Ignorance kicked in and filtered them out.
She was Chu Lian. No way was she some flat-chested little loli, hmph.
Still, their unexpectedly stunning figures made Chu Lian feel both envious and a bit self-pitying. That she was still flat-chested was just too embarrassing.
Logically, as a man in her past life, she shouldn't care about such things. But the Loli Heart from her first main quest and Ayase's meticulous grooming had reshaped her so thoroughly that aside from the most buried corners of her subconscious where her male instincts remained, every other part of her now behaved exactly like a real little girl.
These girls—they might become her most valuable assets in the future, the cornerstone for building a vast cultural empire.
As the girls went to change clothes, Chu Lian's thoughts drifted far away.
Suddenly, Chu Chu appeared silently behind her and leapt toward her. But Chu Lian grabbed her hand and tossed her in front of a changing locker.
Thud... With a dull impact, Chu Chu was a little dazed from the fall.
Chu Lian's voice followed immediately: "Go get changed. And bind that annoyingly large chest of yours. I want to see you in fifteen minutes, or you can go home."
"Yes, Master Sis!" Despite the tumble, Chu Chu sprang up with energy.
She now looked exactly like a super masochist, making Chu Lian instinctively recall the personality tags in her profile and hold her forehead helplessly...
Why is my little sister such a pervert...