Chapter Text
Mizuki looked around the mall trying to find something cute that catches her eye. Finally, after searching for a long time, she found something she thought would compliment her new outfit.
"Well...of course I always look so cute but it'll be nice to casually bump into someone I know who can give second opinion on it...", Mizuki sighed and then turned to her left.
Aha! To Mizuki's left was someone she remember meeting before. Short gray hair, (short in general), those piercing green eyes, and that cool sense of style. Even if cool wasn't what Mizuki was going for, there's no doubt that she knows what she is doing.
"Shiho! Help!!", Mizuki shouted out hoping that she could hear her.
Shiho's head perked up as she heard someone call her name. She then turned to face Mizuki and started running over to her.
"What happened??"
"I need your help with something!"
Shiho looked a bit confused as it seemed that Mizuki was acting pretty serious about whatever she needed help with.
"What is it?"
"Do you...do you think this bow would look cute on me??"
Shiho stood still with a blank expression on her face as Mizuki said that.
"What!?"
"Did I say something wrong?"
"I thought that someone robbed you! Why me anyways? I don't do cutesy bows and stuff like that."
"Well, I can't just go up to random strangers now can I?"
Shiho sighed leaning down a bit to look at the bows that were on display.
"Fine."
"Really!? Thanks!"
"That bow looks...cute on you."
"You think so?"
"Well, in order to look cute you have to already be cute. At least that's what I believe."
"Oh? So on top of looking cute...I am cute?"
Mizuki grabbed onto Shiho's arm.
"H-hey!", Shiho shouted, her cheeks tinted with a soft shade of red.
Mizuki started tugging on Shiho's sleeve while making a cutesy kind of face.
"Wanna go shopping with me? I enjoyed our time together the other day! Pleaseeee."
"What...kind of shopping?"
"Clothes shopping of course!"
"Oh. I was already here looking for some new clothes anyway so...sure."
An idea popped into Mizuki's head as Shiho said that she was looking for some new clothes.
"Hey Shiho...", Mizuki said with a mischievous tone.
"...Yes?"
"Can I please help you find new clothes?", Mizuki asked normally.
"Huh?"
"Pleaseee! You'd make a perfect model!"
"What???"
"Do I need to say it slower for you? You'd ma—"
"What the hell...fine. But on one condition...no cutesy stuff...or at least overly cutesy...", Shiho mumbled the last part.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Well then...let's go!!", Mizuki exclaimed while dragging Shiho by the arm to the next clothing store.
They walked for a bit until reaching Mizuki's destination.
"So...I've been meaning to ask...where exactly do you normally shop at?"
"A regular clothing store?"
"No no! Like in what section? Those don't seem exactly feminine."
"I don't know. I don't really pay attention to that stuff."
"Is it the little boy's section??"
Shiho blushes as she was starting to get slightly irritated but decided to let it go.
"I don't enjoy being ridiculed."
"Aww...but you are really cute! I just wanted to see a reaction from you is all!", Mizuki admitted.
"Cute!? No...I'm not cute. Isn't that your whole thing? Between us I'd say you're the cute one."
Mizuki blushes after Shiho said that. No one has ever been so outright about calling her cute before. The way she also said it as if it was a fact and that made her happy. A bit more than she'd like to admit.
"That's so kind of you...thank you."
"Um you're welcome?...I'm just saying what was on my mind. No big deal."
"Maybe to you it isn't but to me it definitely is! So that's why I'm thanking you...for not judging me for who I am."
Shiho looked a bit puzzled as Mizuki said the thing about judging her. After thinking about for a bit she then gave her an understanding look.
"I get that. I got tired of caring about what others think of me a long while back. No one really thought anything nice about me except for my friends and sister I guess. It would be hypocritical of me to judge you. What even is there to judge you on? Your great sense of style?"
"Oh stop! You're flattering me too much!", Mizuki giggled.
"So what do you have on mind in terms of clothing?"
"You're in a rock band, right?"
Shiho nodded.
"Let's make you a bit more...rocky!"
"Whatever you think will work, I guess."
"Don't worry! I'll make sure I'll find something that'll make you leave with a smile on your face!"
"You sound like an employee of this shop now. They should seriously consider hiring you. Are you sure you don't secretly work here?"
"I'm very sure I don't work here! All I want is to see you finally smile."
"It's not that I don't smile. I just need a reason to do so."
"Maybe I'll be that reason then!"
"That was a real good joke...", Shiho chuckled now having a pretty big grin on her face.
"I wasn't joking."
"Huh?"
"That wasn't meant to be a joke..."
Shiho's eyes widened.
"...What?"
"Ah! Sorry I made it weird didn't I?", Mizuki panicked a bit as it seemed like Shiho didn't feel comfortable with what she said.
"Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong.", Shiho said regaining her composure.
"Ah...sorry if I made you uncomfortable..."
"Trust me. You didn't. I was just a bit surprised is all."
"I'm glad to hear that!! I managed to pick some things out that might fit you perfectly! Here ya go!", Mizuki exclaimed as she handed over an outfit for Shiho.
"Huh? How'd you know what size to get me?"
"Lucky guess!", Mizuki answered while sticking her tongue out and winking playfully.
"Uh huh...sure. I'll go into a fitting room and try them on now."
Shiho walked into a fitting room and started to put on the new outfit Mizuki got for her. Mizuki patiently waited for Shiho by trying to look for more outfits that could suit her.
After a few minutes of waiting Mizuki decided to call out for Shiho.
"Shiho! Are you done...", Mizuki's voice trailed off slightly.
Shiho had come out of the fitting room with a complete different outfit than she previously had on. It was a white button up shirt with an olive green vest. She was wearing a black tie that was as loose as her collar was. Lastly, she had some black shorts on.
"Well?", Shiho asked wondering why on earth Mizuki had a stupid look on their face. "Um...are you alright?"
"H-huh!? Oh! Um...yes...yes I am!! Haha!", Mizuki shouted while visibly turning red.
"What do you think?"
Mizuki resisted the urge to start snapping pictures of her then and there.
"Could I snap some quick pics???"
"H-hey!? What the hell??"
"Oh come on! You're pretty...handsome!"
Shiho blushes just as much as Mizuki was except a hand covered her face instead of a phone.
"I don't know what you're talking about...I'm not..."
"But you are!"
"Whatever...anything else you would like to see on me?"
Mizuki gave Shiho a very wide cheeky grin.
"Oh! Nothing much but I think...this could look great!"
"I'll be right back.", Shiho says as she walks back into the fitting room.
What was Mizuki going to make Shiho wear this time?
After a while of waiting Mizuki was starting to wonder what Shiho thought about her. Was she a burden? Was she invading Shiho's personal space and boundaries? Hopefully not.
Can I consider Shiho a friend? Does Shiho even think of me as a friend? Am I just her sister's cute crazed friend in her eyes!?
Shiho then came out of the fitting room. This time with a brown Harrington jacket and some ripped leggings. Some platform boots added to the mix as well.
"Hmm...this is really good! But something is missing...maybe a cool biker helmet and a motorcycle itself!", Mizuki stated while examining Shiho's second outfit.
"...I like this though."
"The outfit? I still think it's missing something though."
"It's cool but I meant spending time with you.", Shiho admitted.
"Oh..."
Mizuki was ecstatic now hearing Shiho say that she enjoys spending time with her. She couldn't be more happy hearing those words.
"Yeah I wouldn't mind doing this again. Or even going somewhere else."
"What's this? Already planning ahead for the next time we're together?", Mizuki teased hoping to get some sort of reaction out of Shiho.
"What if I am? What would you do then?"
Mizuki stayed silent for a bit not expecting Shiho to actually imply that she was.
"That's odd. Why are so quiet? You usually never shut your trap."
Ah. Looks like Shiho was now teasing her. Well played, Hinomori. Well played.
"Because I lost my number and I was hoping to get yours!?"
Shiho stared at Mizuki with a blank expression for a bit. She couldn't help but chuckle at how bad that was.
"Was that supposed to be a pickup line? If so it was horrendous."
"Seriously? It didn't work?"
"I'll give that a 'B' for effort."
"Haha thanks...Wait. Did you actually say 'B' for effort?", Mizuki asked.
"Yep."
"It's 'A' for effort."
"I know but it was so bad I gave it a 'B'.
"Noooo...Shihoooo don't be so mean!"
Shiho chuckled at Mizuki's playful whining.
"I'll take the first outfit. Thank you, Akiyama."
"No need to be so formal! Just call me Mizuki!"
"Right. Thanks, Mizuki..."
Mizuki smiled and thought to herself. As if a lightbulb was flicked on, Mizuki then suggested something to Shiho.
"Hey Shiho..."
"Yeah?"
"There's this cafe that opened up recently and the food looks really delicious! I've been meaning to go to it but I didn't want to go alone. All my friends were unfortunately busy so I never got to go. Would you like to go with me?"
Shiho's eyes widened before her face shifted to a warm smile.
"Sure. I don't see why not."
"Great, it's a date then!", after she said that she giggled nervously. "Actually I was just joking it's not a da—"
"Looking forward to it. Let's go on our date then.", Shiho stated as she started walking forward leaving Mizuki looking like a complete flustered idiot.
Did she...did she just agree to a date!?!? With me!?
"Hurry up before I change my mind, slowpoke."
Mizuki giggled and ran up to catch up to Shiho. Despite being on the shorter side, Shiho was pretty fast.
"Took you long enough.", Shiho said with a grin plastered on her face.
"Ahaha...you're pretty fast for someone with short legs!"
"Well...maybe you're just slow."
"Hey! That's not really nice!"
"I don't know...you were the one who said that I had short legs.", Shiho playfully shrugged.
Mizuki sighs and looks a bit defeated. She decided to put on a show for Shiho.
"Oh sweet Shiho! I didn't mean to offend you! Not in the slightest! Your shortness is very cute!"
Shiho blushes a bit but brushes it off.
"Nah...it's more annoying than anything..."
"Why's that?"
"Well, for starters...my sister is way taller than me. I know she's older but it's only by one year! It's a bit silly but I kinda wish for something every chance I get..."
"...Oh? What is it?"
"That the tall genetic will finally get to me one day..."
Mizuki tried to hold in her laughter but in trying to do so just made her burst out into a fit of laughter.
"What's so funny, huh?"
"N-nothing! Honest!!"
"Do you think I'm stupid?"
"Now I never said that..."
"But I know you found that it's stupid to wish that."
"Not stupid! A bit silly is all!", Mizuki giggled.
"Alright, whatever laugh all you want.", Shiho surrendered lightly nudging Mizuki's arm.
They both continue to walk over to the new diner. Shiho could've sworn that Mizuki had suddenly gotten closer to her but oddly enough, she didn't mind at all. Mizuki turns her gaze towards Shiho now fixated with her.
I couldn't stop thinking about Shiho since the first time we met around New Years...I've been wishing for the day in which we reunite and our bond grows stronger and now...I think it has? Should I ask?
"—zuki! Hey."
"Gah!? Oh hey!"
"We're here...You alright?"
"Oh yeah just dandy!"
"Dandy? Do you know what time period this is?", Shiho chuckled.
Mizuki turns a bit red as Shiho teased her.
"Stoooop! It was a moment of weakness!"
"A moment of weakness suddenly makes you time travel to the stone ages?"
"I may be old but I'm not that old!"
"Aren't we born the same year?"
"You think so? I thought I was talking to a toddler."
"...On second thought. Date canceled."
"Wait!! No no no n—"
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