Note: This chapter is my nod to what I call Trishiro. If you think Koushiro isn't acting 100% like the Koushiro I've been writing, that is why! It's just for this chapter only.

Tri: Integrity Lens

Ketsui: Let's Shop!

Koushiro trailed a step behind Eimi, Mimi, and Takeru, trying to buoy his mood. True, he wanted to learn about style and find his, whatever that entailed. But choosing clothing from his screen was so much more comfortable, especially with Mimi and Takeru shooting excited glances at him, as if in anticipation of a show.

Takeru, being voted the most knowledgeable of menswear, chose the first store. Koushiro wondered if it would contain nothing but hats, and was relieved to find a fairly normal-looking selection of clothing inside. A young, male employee approached, dressed too punk for Koushiro's tastes. Still, the man looked good, and Koushiro's eyes darted to Eimi, gauging her reaction to his outfit.

But she simply greeted the employee and shifted focus to the wares. "Hmm... Shopping for someone else really is different. Does anything catch your eye, Koushiro?"

"Uh." Truthfully, Koushiro was too keyed up to look at the clothes. The employee stepped closer, and Koushiro stepped back, walking into a rack. He jumped as the hangers clattered by his ear.

"Are you looking for anything in particular?" the man asked.

"Um." Koushiro's eyes flicked to Eimi, who smiled encouragingly. "Er- N-no."

Taking mercy on him, Eimi said, "We're browsing, for now. Can I let you know if we need help?"

"You got it!" he replied. Koushiro watched him go, heading towards the cash register in the back of the store. The next breath came a little more easily.

Takeru clapped a hand to his shoulder. "You okay?"

A rush of shame replaced Koushiro's anxiety. "Yes," he sighed, pretending to look at the clothing. "I apologize for... I don't know why I freeze up like that."

"It's totally okay!" Mimi said. "I have a few friends like that. I don't get it, but it's pretty common."

"That's true," Eimi said. "Lots of people feel anxious when talking to strangers. But we're here to help, so let's take a look."

Eimi approached the nearest shelf and unfolded a pair of pants, holding them out. They were forest green and featured an abundance of pockets. "The pockets seem useful, and I like the color, but... I dunno, do you think they're bulky?"

"Totally," Takeru said. "Aniki might be able to pull them off, but they would wear Koushiro-san."

Eimi scowled. "Hey. We're here to be supportive."

Koushiro knew that Takeru wouldn't hurt his feelings on purpose, so he tried to ignore the sting of self-consciousness. Yamato was tall and well-built, with broad shoulders and slim hips. Koushiro was hardly taller than Eimi, and while his body shape had changed from a child's to a teen's, he was still scrawny.

Eimi folded the pants and put them back. "Take a look, Koushiro." Koushiro tried, he really did. But he found himself following Eimi, trailing a few steps behind, looking at whatever she selected. He felt more comfortable around her, and frankly, he was overwhelmed.

After a while, Mimi flounced towards him, her arms full of clothes. "Koushiro-kun! Do you like any of this?"

Takeru approached, laughing. "He can't see any of it! Let me help." He lifted a button down in warm, sunset orange from the pile. It felt familiar, but wasn't the point to try new things?

"Look!" Mimi cried. She poked the shirt's breast pocket. A row of tiny embroidered pineapples lined the top of the hem.

A dopey smile split Eimi's face. "Wow... I love it? It's nostalgic, but the shade is easy on the eyes... And the little pineapple detail is so cute!"

"Hmm..." Eimi clearly liked the shirt, so Koushiro would buy it, but he wanted to push his limits further. "I'll try it on. But... Is there something that's less plain?"

A wicked grin split Takeru's face. "So glad you asked. This way."

Mimi followed, still showing her selections. Koushiro chose a few to try on, guided more by Eimi's reaction than his own tastes, since nothing had caught his eye yet. He was approving a pastel purple button down when Takeru stopped beside a rack bursting with color, like a rainbow condensed into fabric. Koushiro blinked, his body's attempt to spare the oversaturated cones in his eyes.

"Um," Eimi began. "Takeru, we're not going on vacation."

Koushiro tentatively lifted a hanger and the attached shirt. It was a button down made of lightweight, soft material. "It seems comfortable," he said with approval.

"Er- well, yes," Eimi agreed. "It's sort of like... a lounge item. People wear them on vacation."

"Oh, yeah!" Mimi chirped. "They're popular in Hawaii, I always see them there. That's why there are so many colors and floral designs."

Koushiro placed the shirt back on the rack, quite missing Eimi's relieved expression, and the way it crumbled when he selected a different shirt. He held up a red button down covered with palm leaves and pineapples.

"It's definitely not plain," Takeru said, his tone oddly delighted.

Koushiro examined the shirt and added it to the "try on" pile. "I think I like it."

Mimi giggled. "Good! You could sure use a vacation."

Koushiro lifted a fist to his chin. "Is that a requirement to wear these?"

"Nope," Takeru said, grinning. "I mean, they're selling them with all of the other clothes, right?"

Koushiro turned to Eimi to confirm and found a stiff smile. "I guess... that's true..."

Reassured, Koushiro selected another shirt. This one was black and decorated with pink flowers and orange goldfish. Eimi made a strange sound as he added it to the try pile. "Is something wrong?" Koushiro asked.

His girlfriend coughed, then cleared her throat. "Excuse me."

Koushiro nodded, then returned his attention to shopping.

XXX

Mimi and Eimi waited outside of the changing room while Takeru browsed and Koushiro tried on his impressive collection of items. His selections were eclectic, but they were united around a theme: everything Koushiro picked was gaudy.

Mimi had only just returned to Japan, but from pictures and the little she had seen in person so far, Eimi's tastes were as sophisticated as a high school freshman's could be. She seemed to prefer solid colors, and made statements with structure instead of pattern.

And she was quietly watching her boyfriend pick out Hawaiian shirts and button downs adorned with giant goldfish.

Mimi leaned into Eimi with a Cheshire cat grin. "How you doin', girl?"

Eimi modeled an impressive thousand yard stare. "Goldfish, Mimi."

"I saw 'em!" It was probably rude to giggle, but how could she help it?

Eimi held her hands up helplessly. "It's not just me, right? That shirt's an abomination."

Mimi's giggles graduated to full laughter, and she slapped a hand to her mouth to smother the sound. Truthfully, that kind of shirt was gaining momentum with male models and idols; in short, it could be charming on boys whose livelihood was pulling off avant garde looks.

Unfortunately, Koushiro was likely to look like a walking, on-fire fish tank.

"If you tell him you don't like something, I think he'd put it back," Mimi pointed out.

Eimi sighed and slumped against the wall. "I know. That's why I can't say anything. The whole point of this is for him to figure out his style and interact with the clerks. He shouldn't dress to please me."

"True," Mimi said. And she really did agree. As a friend, Mimi was proud of Koushiro for trying something new. And yet... Wasn't it a girlfriend's duty to prevent her guy from wrecking himself?

Footsteps from the hallway had both girls looking up. Koushiro stepped into the store area, holding his arms awkwardly out.

Mimi's manic smile was meant as a release, giving her just enough control to avoid falling into hysterics. She glanced at Eimi and watched a tiny piece of her soul visibly depart.

"Uh, um." Eimi cleared her throat a few times. "I think those might be work clothes? Like, for manual work."

Koushiro wore a utilitarian pair of overalls over a white shirt. Overalls were trending in women's clothing, but Mimi hadn't noticed it leaking into menswear. Frankly, Koushiro looked like he had taken a wrong turn and ended up in Tokyo instead of the farm.

"It's comfortable," Koushiro said, with a hesitant excitement that was too cute to deal with. "And it seems unique."

That's because no dudes wear that! Mimi's vision began to swim, obscured by a film of hysterical tears. Why is that even in stock?!

"D-do you like them?" Eimi asked.

Koushiro's brow knit, his brain churning over clothes instead of data for the first time. "Um... I think so. Maybe I'll look again..."

Koushiro turned around, and the girls were silent until they heard a door close beyond the wall. "Oh, my god," Mimi whispered.

"I have to tell him," Eimi whispered back. "I have to, right? Like, morally obligated?"

"What if he pairs them with the goldfish shirt?" Mimi asked. What little color Eimi had to spare drained, leaving her looking ill.

"I'll say something," Eimi declared, but her determination soon faded. "But… I don't know. He's overwhelmed, but happy… I think those overalls were his favorite thing so far."

Mimi winced. "Yeah, I think so, too…" Eimi sighed, and Mimi stepped closer to strategize. There had to be a way to make all of her friends happy!

XXX

Koushiro stared into the mirror, unsure what to make of his outfit. Although they were a bit plain, he liked how easy the overalls were to wear, since they covered most of his body. Eimi said that about dresses, right? She didn't have to worry about pairing tops and bottoms when a dress covered both.

But he was vaguely aware of the country connotations. Eimi and Mimi hadn't offered opinions, so he decided to go ask.

He retraced his steps down the hall, passing other dressing room doors. When he poked his head through the entrance to the dressing area, he saw Mimi and Eimi caught in a whispered debate.

There was a twitchy, uncomfortable quality to Eimi's expression. "I still can't figure out how to say it."

Mimi grabbed Eimi's shoulders and leaned in, like American football players in a huddle. She swapped to English, which both girls spoke fluently, and lowered her voice. "I'll grab him. You take the overalls off."

Eimi's dark brown eyes went wide. "M-Mimi- We're in public-"

"That's why we're speaking English!" Mimi flashed a dangerous grin, and her eyebrows bounced in a way that made Koushiro's stomach bounce in tandem. "Oh, I see! You would rather we strip him in private!"

Koushiro's heart thudded painfully against his ribs. While he wasn't fluent in English, he wasn't far from it, and he understood more than enough. He hustled to his changing room, plopped against the wall, and focused on breathing. When he closed his eyes, he saw Eimi pressed against his front, her eyelids lowered, her cheeks flushed. Mimi appeared behind him, hands clapping his shoulders. Each girl undid one of the straps of his overalls...

And the vision imploded into an embarrassed black hole of shame and confusion. Koushiro shook his head roughly, fighting to clear out any remnants. Surely, the girls hadn't meant it that way when they said they wanted to strip him... But what else could they mean?

After a while, he decided that he must have misunderstood something, or that Mimi was simply leaping on an easy opportunity to tease Eimi. He had no clue what the girls were talking about- and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know- but they certainly seemed interested in the overalls.

Koushiro undressed, placed the outfit in the 'buy' pile, and tried on the next one.

XXX

This wasn't shaping into the fun, supportive experience Eimi had envisioned. She was still red and flustered from Mimi's teasing, but at least she had dropped the topic of stripping. At this point, Eimi didn't want to bring the overalls up again, but… What choice did she have? She couldn't relax until they were back on the shelf. So when Koushiro appeared in his next outfit, a neon yellow jersey and pants that unzipped into shorts, she attempted a casual inquiry.

"What about the overalls?" Eimi squinted, desperate to protect her eyes from a yellow so bright it made them water.

Was it her imagination, or was Koushiro coloring? "I, um, decided to buy them."

Mimi made a weird noise, most likely a repressed laugh. Eimi's head was suddenly pounding. "Oh," she murmured, a quiet acknowledgment of defeat.

"What do you think of this?" Koushiro asked.

Mimi covered her eyes. "I don't know! I can't look at it!"

Koushiro's smile went rueful. "Yes, I was afraid of that. I thought it was eye-catching, but perhaps it's too bright."

Sensing an opening, Eimi added, "And I can't think of a situation where you'd have to unzip your pants into shorts."

"Really?" Koushiro asked. "I was thinking of sudden weather changes in the Digital World."

Mimi made another odd squeak. "There you go. Makes sense!"

Eimi shot Mimi an irritated look and found that her eyes were watering, too. Koushiro returned to the changing room, and Mimi dropped her head on Eimi's shoulder, muffling her laughter.

Eimi patted Mimi's back unenthusiastically as her friend shook with mirth. "Oh, my god!" Mimi gasped in English. "Your boyfriend is a disaster!"

"Mimi, those overalls," Eimi hissed. "What do I do?!"

Mimi lifted her face enough to reveal a delighted, honey-brown eye. "Really? I thought the highlighter shirt was worse. At least he's putting that back."

Eimi grunted, unimpressed. Slowly, Mimi straightened, looking thoughtful. "You know... overalls actually are having a moment right now, at least for women. I have a really cute pair."

Eimi finally gave in and massaged her temples. "Everything looks great on you, but I'm not sure how that helps Koushiro."

Mimi clung to Eimi's shoulder while she laughed. "If we want to support him, I guess we can't tell him what to buy or not buy. So let's focus on what we can do… and go shopping for you!"

Eimi flinched. Although Mimi's outfits were too much for Eimi's tastes, she had amazing style, and she knew how to choose items that suited someone else. Her help with clothing was a generous and valuable offer, but their last shopping trip together was one of the most exhausting experiences in Eimi's life… And she was a Chosen Child.

"Er- I appreciate your help before, when I came home to Odaiba from the states and hardly had any clothes. But I have plenty now."

"Sure," Mimi chirped. "But you need a pair of overalls to match Koushiro-kun and me."

"What." The objection slid out in a monotone, before Eimi could even react. Mimi clapped her hands and giggled.

"Don't worry! They make really chic ones! And when Koushiro-kun is walking with two super cute girls, no one will notice how silly he looks. We can hit the town together!"

Eimi hesitated for an interval that likely bordered on rudeness. "Um... Are there really overalls that would look good on me?"

"You bet!" Mimi flashed a peace sign. "And tell you what... I'll scope out some menswear stores for Koushiro-kun. Ones that don't carry Hawaiian shirts."

A tiny smile lightened Eimi's expression. This clothing situation had somehow exploded beyond ridiculous, but Mimi's enthusiasm was so familiar and comforting. "Thanks, Mimi-chan," she said. "I appreciate it."

Mimi caught her in a one-armed hug. "You got it, babe!"

XXX

Takeru's face-splitting grin hadn't eased all day. He couldn't recall the last time he had this much fun, but his cheeks ached, and so did his feet.

The sun was setting on a full day of shopping. Everyone was weighed down with bags, and though they had all purchased something for themselves, most of it was Koushiro's. Takeru wished he could come home with Koushiro to see his parents' reaction to the sudden quadrupling of his wardrobe.

The last store they visited was supposed to be their final stop, but Mimi had insisted on one more. Although everyone looked exhausted, they didn't have the energy to argue. He, Eimi, and Koushiro shuffled behind Mimi, not hearing a word of her happy chatter.

"This is the place!" Mimi stopped in front of a store and threw her arms up. Takeru blinked at the windows, which displayed mannequins in dresses.

"Mimi-san? This is a women's store."

"You got it!" Mimi chirped. "I found juuuust the right thing for Eimi-chan with Koushiro-kun's clothing program, and this place carries it! We won't be long. Why don't you wait out here?" She pointed to a bench stationed between this store and the next. The boys sat, limp with relief… Until the girls piled their bags on top of them.

"Oof," Takeru groaned. His head fell back and landed on top of the bench's back rest. When the girls walked out of earshot, he rolled towards Koushiro and said, "How you holding up?"

Koushiro often looked like his thoughts were far off. But right now, instead of giving the appearance of concentration, his eyes were bleary and unfocused, gazing into the void. He produced the politest grunt Takeru had ever heard. He laughed, then groaned at the effort it cost.

"Same," he sighed. He tried to initiate a conversation, but Koushiro's short, vague replies discouraged him. They fell into an exhausted, and deeply appreciated, silence.

He was in a light doze when a pair of shadows fell over him, blocking the orangey light of sunset. Blinking, he straightened, and nearly rubbed his eyes to be sure that he wasn't dreaming.

Eimi had changed into a pair of overalls over an off-shoulder blouse with puffy sleeves. Unlike Koushiro, she didn't look like she planned on exploring agricultural pursuits. The set was chic, and suited her. He grinned, soaking in Eimi's embarrassed expression.

"I don't see why I had to wear this out," she muttered to Mimi. Mimi patted her shoulder and smirked.

"Because you look hot! Right, Koushiro-kun?"

To his immense credit, Koushiro remained composed, save for a slight increase in color on his face. "You look wonderful."

Eimi's sweet smile was soothing and restoring, like a cool breeze. Mimi hugged Eimi's shoulders and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Yep! Next weekend, we're all gonna go out together in our overalls!"

Takeru coughed, desperate to hide a laugh. So that's their angle; they're camouflaging Koushiro-san! With Mimi and Eimi surrounding him, looking adorable, people would be less likely to notice how awkward the overalls were on Koushiro. And with Koushiro's focus on the girls, he was less likely to feel embarrassed about taking his new clothes on a test run.

With intense effort, Takeru shifted the strata of bags on his lap and hauled himself to his feet. "You're a great friend, Mimi-san."

"Naturally!" Mimi twirled a hip out and balanced her hand there. After a moment, her playfulness mellowed. Takeru blinked, unused to what looked liked wistfulness from Mimi. "And I missed everyone so much while I was in the states. I'm really glad we get to spend so much time together now."

Eimi fixed Mimi with an intense gaze. From long experience, Takeru knew this indicated that Eimi was looking with more than her eyes, employing her instincts and empathy, often to shocking effect. There was no way to know for sure what she was thinking, but Takeru's guess was that Eimi had assumed- incorrectly- that Mimi had too much fun at all times to miss her friends in Japan much while she was away.

Slowly, Eimi's expression softened. In a rare turn of events, she wound her arm through Mimi's and tugged her close. "We missed you, too, Mimi-chan. Thanks for today." Takeru grinned, charmed, and glad that his friends understood one another, despite their differences.

Eimi and Mimi remained arm-in-arm until their paths home diverged.

Author's Note:

It's my birthday, and I'm celebrating as I always do: by sharing words and art (if you're reading this on FFN, be sure to check it out on AO3 for art!).

And there you have it: my nod to Trishiro! I hope you found it fun and cute, even if this Kou strikes you as… different from the one I usually write (more oblivious, mostly).

This is the last update for Tri: Integrity Lens for a while. I am switching to another story, Four Years, for a few months. Tri: Integrity Lens will return when I finish the Ketsui content! I hope you'll look forward to it, and check out Four Years in the meantime! Thanks for reading, and please do remember to review.