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“Akiko-chan!~” Mizuki called from a few feet away, “Try this one!” She held up a black skirt, not too different from what Kohane wore a lot.
“Sure,” Akiko said, adding it to her armful of things to try on.
Akiko was currently out shopping with Mizuki and Ena. She had recently come out to them both as trans, and they had both immediately insisted on taking her shopping for feminine clothes. Usually, shopping with them would be a nightmare, but she was actually really enjoying it.
She was already wearing some one Ena’s clothes, a black, ruffled skirt, a white t-shirt, and an yellow-orange jacket over top of it. It was really the only thing Ena had in Akiko’s style, but she was really happy in it. She had even pulled back her hair into a half up-half down style, and… she actually really looked like a girl.
However, she was a bit scared of seeing someone she knew…
Honestly, she had no idea when she was going to find the courage to ever wear any of the stuff she was buying outside of her house with anyone other than Mizuki or Ena, but hopefully she’d get there.
“How about this?” Ena asked, holding up a pink crop top, “Not sure if its totally your style, but it's good to try some options, right?”
Akiko shrugged and added it to the pile.
“I think that's enough. I’m gonna go try this stuff on.”
Akiko tried on all the stuff, and unfortunately decided against most of it. Half of the things felt so… uncomfortable. They didn’t look good on her body, despite how much she wanted them to, or they were too tight or loose in places, and really they just made her dysphoria worse. Reminded her that she wasn’t a real girl.
But on the upside, a lot of the clothes did fit, and were really cute on her.
“Why don’t we take a break from clothes shopping and go get milkshakes?” Mizuki asked, after they bought the clothes and left that store.
“Sure, if you pay,” Ena said, only half joking.
Mizuki shrugged, and led them across the mall to a milkshake/smoothie shop.
They joined the line and waited.
After a moment, two people joined the line behind them, and Akiko paid them no mind.
Until one of them said, “Oh my god, Mizuki?”
Akiko’s eyes widened, and she kept her gaze completely forward. Maybe if she didn’t turn around, An wouldn’t recognize her.
Mizuki turned around slowly.
“A-An! And Kohane-chan! Hi! Funny seeing you here!”
Ena turned her face toward the two of them at this, eyes also widening, as she looked between them and Akiko’s panicked expression.
Thankfully, An and Kohane hadn’t seemed to notice her yet, focused on Mizuki.
Ena pushed forward a little, whispering, “It’ll look like you’re separate from us, and it’s just Mizuki and I,”
She nodded slightly, still panicking.
An and Kohane would definitely see her. They’d probably laugh. Akito Shinonome? A girl? An would find it hilarious. And even if they didn’t figure out she was trans, they would think she was a crossdresser, which An would definitely laugh at.
“Oh, and Ena-san!” An said, noticing Ena.
Akiko tensed.
“Hi, An. Nice to see you.”
“Why are you guys at the mall?” Mizuki asked, “Just shopping in general, or anything specific?”
“We’re trying to find some new performance outfits!” Kohane said excitedly.
“Cool!”
“What about you…” An started, then trailed off.
Akiko prayed it wasn’t because she’d noticed her.
She heard Ena and Mizuki move a little, presumably to block An’s view.
Maybe she should just book it out of this line right now.
“Something wrong, An?” Mizuki asked.
“You were with another person when we came up to you…” She said, slowly.
Fuck.
“Oh, that's true! From a distance, I thought I saw Shinonome-kun, because of the orange hair! But that girl’s in front of you guys now, so were you just chatting?” Kohane asked, giggling a little.
Shit. I’m so fucked.
Ena let out a nervous laugh, “No, Akito’s not here. I asked him, but he said ‘hard pass.’”
Akiko was getting close to the front of the line. She wasn’t sure she saw any way out of this situation.
“Right…” An said suspiciously.
They were silent for a moment. “What are you do-” Mizuki started to ask, before she was interrupted by Akiko’s phone ringing.
kamawanai de nai de–
Fragile blasted from her phone as she rushed to turn it off (And turn her ringer down. God, why was it so loud??)
She froze as she saw the contact name.
“Hah! I knew it!” An exclaimed.
Akiko quickly pressed the hangup button, and tried not to panic.
“Knew what?” Kohane asked, confused.
An started laughing, “Akito, turn around, I wanna see the front of this lovely outfit. Did you guys bribe him to do this?” She asked, practically doubled over laughing.
She knew it. She knew An would laugh.
Akiko didn’t turn around, just clenched her fists tightly, and fought back the lump in her throat.
“W-Wait. Shinonome-kun?”
“YES! YES WE TOTALLY FORCED HIM INTO THIS! Oh look at that we’re at the front of the line, what do y’all want I’ll pay for you guys too!” Mizuki shouted, and quickly changed the topic.
They all ordered quickly, then moved to sit down on a nearby bench while they drank their milkshakes.
Akiko lagged behind.
“Akito! Don’t be embarrassed, come on over!” An snickered.
Ena made eye contact with Akiko, and gave her a frustrated expression, which Akiko returned.
Although, she was more upset than annoyed.
“How much are they giving you to do this?” An asked, grinning.
Akiko just rolled her eyes. Her one fist was still clenched.
“I think you look good, Shinonome-kun! Or Shinonome-Chan, fufu,” Kohane said, smiling.
“Thank you,” She replied, quietly, hating how pathetic and upset her voice sounded.
“Answer my question!” An demanded.
Akiko’s frustration boiled over.
“Nothing! They’re not paying me anything, I’m not being forced into anything, An, and I was actually feeling pretty happy with my appearance today so thanks for fucking ruining that,” She snapped angrily.
“Wait, so,” An paused, “You’re crossdressing willingly?” She laughed again, “I mean, good for you, I guess. I just didn’t think you of all people would be into crossdressing. It’s a pretty good outfit, I guess, just looks a little ridiculous on you.”
Of course it does. Girl’s clothes look ridiculous on me because I’m not a real girl, I’m not-
“An-chan!” Kohane scolded, breaking Akiko’s train of thought, “It doesn’t look ridiculous. It looks really good, actually!” She said, genuinely.
Akiko gave her a grateful smile.
But An was still laughing. Ena was glaring daggers at her, and Mizuki just looked upset.
“Oh my god, does Toya know about this?” An laughed.
“N-no. You can’t tell him,” Akiko panicked. She wasn’t ready for him to know.
“Why not? Not like he’ll judge you,” She replied, a bit mischievously.
“An, please. You can’t. I–Please.”
“An, if you tell Toya I will actually murder you,” Mizuki said. Ena nodded in agreement.
An blinked, “Oooookay? Why is it such a big deal? Am I missing something?”
“I’m a girl,” Akiko snapped, on impulse. This was just so infuriating!
It took her a moment to realize what she said. Her eyes widened, and she bit her lip nervously.
An was silent for a moment.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I was an asshole, then. Sorry,” She apologized, genuinely, “I really didn’t expect that, I guess. And I won’t tell Toya.”
“That’s wonderful, Shinonome-chan! Oh, wait, is that okay?”
Akiko nodded, “I go by Akiko as well… But maybe don’t use either of those in front of anyone else?” She said nervously.
“Akiko? You couldn’t have come up with anything better?” An teased, then noticed Mizuki and Ena’s glares, “Sorry, it’s cute. Just really similar, is all.”
The five of them finished their milkshakes with a little random chat.
“We gotta go,” An said, “Akiko, I’m really sorry again, for being an asshole. You look really good. And I won’t tell anyone,” She made a motion of zipping her lips.
“Thank you for telling us, Shinonome-chan,” Kohane said, smiling.
Akiko returned the smile, and waved as they parted.