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Shoka isn’t exactly sure how she ended up in this situation, but she isn’t exactly complaining.
Surrounded by people (real, living people! technically!) who like her presence, who consider her a friend, walking around Shibuya…
She never thought she’d get to experience anything like this before.
Tucked between Rindo and Nagi, she listens to the idle chatter around her of the group. They were all waiting for one more person— a friend of Beat and Neku’s, apparently— before setting off around Shibuya.
“She should be here soon…” Neku said absentmindedly, while Beat bounced on the heels of his feet, antsy.
“She’s not usually the late one, yo. Must be busier on her end.” His voice is fond despite his impatience.
“When is she not working? Either way, I promised her we’d stop by a couple of stores before hitting the curry place. She said she had some ‘fashion research’.” Neku chuckled.
“Shopping’s good. I need a new pair of shoes anyway.” Rindo hummed.
Shoka perked up. Everyone was willingly going shopping? She could pretty easily drag Rindo shopping most days, and Fret was always down for a bit of fashion hunting (even if their styles were like night and day), but everyone else? It was an inside joke that Neku wouldn’t know fashion even if it slapped him in the face, and Nagi and Beat never showed much interest in it.
“And there she is.” Neku’s face brightened as he looked into the crowd of people. “Shiki!” He waved, and Shoka clocked in on who Neku was waving to.
A fairly normal looking girl with short brown hair, wearing comfortable and baggy looking clothes. She had a little Gatto Nero purse hung off her shoulder. Any normal person wouldn’t look twice at this person, but Shoka happened to be not normal.
This was the creator of her favorite brand. Gatto Nero. And Shoka couldn’t help but feel pure excitement in her bones.
“Neku! Beat! Hey.” She weaved through the crowd, approaching the group happily. “And everyone else. Hello!”
Neku pulls her into a friendly hug, and then Beat brings her into an even friendlier one. They then turn to the rest of the group.
“This is Shiki, guys.” Neku says with a smile, and Shiki gives a bright smile. Surveying the group that she didn’t know, she began pointing fingers at people.
“You must be Rindo. That’s Fret. And you’re Nagi. Which means…” Shiki glanced over at Shoka, eyes sparkling. “You must be Shoka!”
“You know us?” Shoka asks, and realizes it comes across a little rude. She was just a little starstruck.
“Of course! Neku’s told me all about you guys.” Shiki explains, before getting pulled into a conversation with Fret. Shoka was absolutely vibrating as the group set off towards their destination.
As the group walked and fell into mini conversations, Shoka felt a little too wired to talk with anyone. Too excited— starstruck even. She keeps glancing over to Shiki, shyly.
Neku must’ve noticed, because he appeared very suddenly beside Shoka with a knowing smile.
“She’s been excited to meet you, y’know.” Neku said quietly, and Shoka flushed.
“To meet me? Why?”
“She’s always excited to meet a fan. Even more so one who enjoys her little pig mascot.” He says, and Shoka rolls her eyes.
“It’s a cat.” Shoka insisted, still blushing at the fact that Shiki was excited to meet her. Neku just smiled, before they all walked into a store to browse.
They kept hopping, store to store, idle chatter between them all as they went. At one point, Shoka broke off from the group, a skirt catching her eye.
It was a cute skirt. Simple, but cute. Black material with a cute pattern embroidered on the side in white.
“What’d you find, Shoka?” Shiki asked, appearing from nowhere. Shoka blushed instantly, jumping up in surprise.
“I, er, a skirt.” Shoka gestures to the skirt she was looking at. “What do you think?”
“Ooh, cute!” Shiki stepped towards it, grabbing the skirt and studying it.
Shoka watches a little too tensely as Shiki runs her fingers over the material of the skirt, humming a soft tune as she checks over the stitching and the fit. Shoka thought it was cute— but she was just fashionable! Shiki was here, in the flesh, a fashion genius. If this skirt got the seal of approval, Shoka’s ego would inflate like a balloon and she might just float away.
When Shiki smiled at the skirt and gave a little bit of a hum, Shoka let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. The skirt had the creator of Gato Nero’s approval. That was worth gold to any modern fashion icon (or just someone who likes fashion as a hobby).
“Very cute. I think this would suit you.” Shiki hummed, and casually took the skirt off the rack and held it towards Shoka, as if picturing it on her. “Yes, definitely would suit you.” She smiles.
“I should get it, then?” Shoka says, but has a questioning tilt to her words on accident. Maybe she was subconsciously hoping for some confirmation from someone she looked up to so much.
“Yes, definitely!”
“Okay, I will.” Shoka took the skirt and hung it over her arm, walking to the till with Shiki by her side. Awkwardly, she paid for the skirt and let the teller bag the skirt.
The two of them left the store together, realizing they lost the others. Oops.
Shiki took this chance to clear her throat, and Shoka turned her full attention to the older girl.
“Neku told me you were a bit of a fan of the brand, so I thought… well, maybe she’d like something custom. As a thanks for supporting me.” Shiki says, tucking a piece of brown hair back behind her ear with a smile. Shoka felt her face heat up as she took the bag Shiki held out.
“It’ll look good with the skirt you picked out. I just hope you’ll like it.” Shiki’s smile grew when Shoka took the bag, clapping her hands together content. Shoka tugged her hood down, trying to hide her flushed face.
“Thanks. Um, I didn’t expect this at all, but thank you.” Shoka nearlu mumbled, absolutely flustered at the fact that 1. Neku talked to Shiki about Shoka and 2. Shiki felt the need to make something for Shoka, just like that?
“It’s no problem! It was a very fun project for me, coming up with a custom piece for one person. I’ve started making clothes that I think a general group would like lately— it was nice to have a certain model and style in mind. I’m confident it’ll suit you.” Shiki said, giving her cardigan sleeves a gentle tug, letting them roll down her forearms.
“I’m confident it will too. A-anything you design is always beautiful, Shiki.” Shoka stuttered, still starstruck. Shiki smiled widely, and took Shoka’s hand gently.
“It makes me happy to hear you say that. Maybe I can design more for you in the future— I love your style! You’re definitely easier to make clothes for than some of my other friends.” Shiki grins. Other friends? That definitely implied that Shiki considered Shoka a friend. Her brain briefly short circuited again, before she smiled.
“I’d like that.”
“Really? Sweet!” Shiki cheered, and began launching a full assault of questions towards Shoka happily as the two of them began walking to meet up with the rest of the group. Happily, Shoka answered each and every question, realizing she might have just hit the lottery in her new living life.