Fate Weaver's convergence

C22

Why me? What did I do, god? Who did I piss off? Is this funny to you? Is this just an extremely long-winded joke?

It had already been a week in this world, and I was subjected to some form of embarrassment at least once a day now. The only ones to outweigh what I was experiencing right now was anytime I had to confront my loss of...identity.

"Ow! That hurt!"

"Sorry, sweetie, just making some small adjustments~."

SMALL?!

Claire had managed to poke my tail with a needle a number of times at this point. I never paid it much mind other than when I was cleaning it, but my tail seemed to be...weighty...Claire was adjusting the spot where my tail passed through the dress and was using spare material to make some kind of ornate sleeve to go around the base. Unfortunately, this meant my tail was now a pin cushion.

"Are you almost done?"

I wined as I stared at the wall ahead of me.

"Almost, and there!"

Claire stood after tying off a single remaining thread.

"Look at that. It's a nice little touch if I say so myself."

"What's a nice little touch?"

"The color of the ribbon accentuates your tail quite well."

"What ribbon? Color?"

I swear to god, what did she do to my tail?!

I twisted around and managed to get a steady enough look at my tail's base.

"W-what is this?"

I never had a really good look at my tail around the base and when I looked felt a hot flash come over me. A short sleeve was now lining the base of my tail, roughly fifteen centimeters long. The material was a deep maroon lined with bows across its top to accent both my tail, the rest of my outfit, a maroon dress that was knee length with small bronze accents made of monster scales with the skirt of the dress composed of multiple layers to make it poof.

"Do I need to have this?"

I complained; my face must have been flushed deeply right now.

"Kiyomi, you're the birthday girl here. You can't have your eighth year without it."

Claire said in an almost scolding tone, holding a finger and shaking it.

"Why not? And what's the whole thing about it? I'm happy, I just don't know why!"

After voicing my complaint, Claire wore a confused expression on her face.

"Wait, they never told you, huh? Must be to keep it a surprise..."

Claire brought her hand to her chin and looked as if she was thinking something over.

Wait, there's even more than this or the dinner?

I was confused. Every day a question was answered yet followed with two new questions in its place. Like when I realized there weren't that many children around. Why? Hatsumi said there were some, but they all stayed in certain areas most of the time. I've seen a few but very seldom together outside. Next, I was presented with this supposed huge celebration? What was the significance of this? Why was the dress required? After a moment, Claire shook her head and spoke up.

"I don't want to ruin your surprise, so how about I keep it to why we're doing this alone. We have a little while until we go out to see everyone, so I can tell you while I dress your hair. How does that sound?"