The Undorkifying of Inui
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or the associated characters.
…
He should have ignored it when Eiji giggled at him and called his clothing dorky. He should have declined to participate when Eiji goaded Kaidoh into a bet, claiming it was impossible to dress him up in a way that would make him look good.
He definitely should have run away screaming when Kaidoh dragged him to the mall, the younger boy's eyes gleaming with a demonic inner glow as he showed shopping skills that were truly frightening to behold in a teenage boy.
But Inui had done none of those sensible things, and now found himself in his bathroom, staring at his reflection. Black leather pants clung to him, leaving little to the imagination and showing the length of his legs as they disappeared into a pair of black boots. A sleeveless shirt of emerald green silk was tucked into the pants, the plunging, v-shaped neckline showing a fair amount of his pale chest.
No force on earth, he decided, could make him leave the bathroom in his current attire. His resolve was immediately tested by a mental image of Kaidoh looking sad and disappointed over losing the bet.
No, he told himself firmly, getting ready to change back into his normal clothing. I will be strong.
There was a knock at the door. "Inui-senpai?"
"Nya, I bet he still looks dorky."
"Fsshuu… Inui-senpai is not dorky," Kaidoh insisted. "He'll look great."
Guilt assailed him. If he didn't wear the clothes, he'd be letting his loyal kouhai down. What was the worst that could happen? Eiji could laugh at him. Eiji had already laughed at him for his usual dressing habits, so that wouldn't be too difficult to endure.
What was the best that could happen? Kaidoh would be pleased and might even smile at him. The thought of once more seeing that sweet little smile instantly melted all of Inui's resistance, and he mentally cursed Kaidoh's unbelievably expressive features. How could someone terrify strong men with a single scowling glare one instant and look so utterly, huggably adorable the next? It just wasn't right or logical.
Inui took a deep breath and nodded slightly to himself. He'd see to it that Kaidoh won the bet.
…
"Inui is dorky. Inui is dorky. Inui is dork-" Eiji's taunting chant ended abruptly as Inui sauntered from the bathroom with a sexy smirk, the leather jacket that went with his new outfit slung casually over his shoulder.
"What was that you were saying, Eiji?" Inui asked, his voice low and slightly husky.
The redhead stared in stunned silence, unable to believe what he was seeing. Only the thought of Oishi - and the knowledge that Kaidoh would likely inflict severe bodily harm upon him - kept Eiji from drooling over Inui.
"Guh…wha?" He looked at Kaidoh in disbelief. "How?"
The second-year just flashed him a smug look. "Never underestimate the fashion sense of Kaidoh Kaoru."