Shoko Komi's Ultimate Challenge
by Ulquiorra9000
Communication 18: a big makeover
"Like, oh my gosh, my new top looks so cute on me. Look!"
There was Ren Yamai at lunch, showing her friends a few selfies where the queen bee wore her best new outfits (apparently). Shoko Komi knew just how much money Ren liked to spend on designer clothes and accessories, based on that time the girls and Hitohito competed to buy Shoko a new outfit at the mall. Shoko, meanwhile, was perfectly happy with the lovely sundress that Hitohito had picked out for her, the one that had earned 10/10 from the whole squad. But...
What if her friends were falling behind? Shoko isn't the only one who should get fashion advice from friends! So, Shoko found her good pal Hitohito and motioned at the empty seat next to him. Hitohito nodded, and Shoko sat.
Shoko passed a note: Tadano, thanks again for that wonderful dress you got me at the mall. Remember that? I want to repay you.
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing, Komi," Hitohito assured his friend with a quick smile. "It was my pleasure."
Shoko scribbled down her response and held it up: I recently got some money from my dad and grandmother. Let me buy you a little something.
"Like, a new outfit?" Hitohito asked.
Shoko nodded.
"Oh! Um..." Hitohito went pink and made a nervous laugh as he scratched his head. "I'm not really a male model, y'know. People say I can make any outfit look boring or out of fashion, just because it's on me."
Shoko made an indignant "hmph!" and pumped her fists. How dare people say that about Hitohito Tadano?! Do they have no shame?
Hitohito shrugged and ate another bite. "It's all right, Komi. I'm not too worried about my looks. I don't mind if people say those things about me."
Shoko hesitated; was she overstepping her bounds? Her challenges often took her in unexpected directions, after all, and it was sometimes scary. But this was Hitohito Tadano, her first-ever friend. He would understand.
With her newest challenge etched into her mind, Shoko passed another note: I must insist, Tadano. It would make me very happy to find a new outfit for you. I repay all my debts! Let's do this!
Hitohito stared at the note for a moment, then beamed at his silent friend. "You convinced me, Komi. Let's do this! And thanks."
Komi pumped her fists again and made a happy "hmph" this time. Now to gather the squad!
*o*o*o*o*
That day after school, Shoko mustered all her courage and invited Ren, Najimi, and Himiko to join her and Hitohito, the same squad as when Shoko got that lovely dress at the mall. And they had mixed opinions about this.
"Woohoo! A man-makeover for Tadano!" Najimi cheered when the friends headed off to the nearby mall. Najimi threw up a fist. "It's about time, Tadano! You could blend into a blank concrete wall, you know that?"
"Gee, thanks," Hitohito grumbled.
Najimi slapped him on the back. "Just kidding. Kind of. Let's find some clothes that make you pop!"
"Ugh. On one hand, Tadano is dull and not cut out to be a model," Ren Yamai said loftily. "And he's the main competition for Komi's affection. I don't want him to capture her attention any more than he already does!"
Shoko gave her a look.
Ren cleared her throat. "But if it's Komi's idea, I trust her judgment! Perhaps we can find Tadano something flashy but not too flashy, you know, something just good enough so I won't feel embarrassed being in the same room."
"You've got the cash for it, right?" Najimi asked, this time slapping Ren on the back. "C'mon, treat Tadano a little! Dazzle us!"
Ren yelped when Najimi slapped her. "Hands off, Osana! And as for the cash, Tadano had better pay at least half. I was willing to cover Komi's expenses last time, but Tadano's different."
"I can pitch in a few hundred yen," Himiko added timidly. "I don't mind helping Tadano."
"Oooooooh, Komi! Another rival!" Najimi teased, and Shoko gasped, blushing even if Najimi was just joking. By the way, how much was she going to pay? Shoko didn't know how much boys' clothing cost, and for that matter, neither did Shosuke, who hardly bothered with shopping at all.
"We're here! Hello, mall!" Najimi cried out when they stepped inside, cupping their hands around their mouth.
"Not so loud! Sheesh!" Ren Yamai snapped. "Anyway, let's find a clothing store Tadano can actually afford and get started."
Not the best way to phrase that. But Shoko did have a place in mind: an outlet for GU, the perfect place for trendy teens like Hitohito and Shoko. Shoko said as much on her paper, and the friends soon paid GU a visit.
"Welcome! Can I help you all?" a lovely woman in a store uniform asked brightly.
"Yeah! Hook this guy up with some serious duds!" Najimi hooted, pointing at Hitohito with both hands.
"I... I'm just looking for a cool outfit to wear on weekends," Hitohito admitted. "Something I can wear while walking around downtown."
"Well! In that case, please try our fine selections over there, young sir," the employee said, gesturing at one corner of the shop. "I'll be glad to assist you however I can!"
"You heard her, Tadano. Move those feet!" Najimi gently pushed Hitohito along from behind, and an amused Shoko walked with her friends to the shop's corner. The dressing rooms were right here, conveniently enough. Perfect.
Let's make this a contest, Shoko suggested on her paper, holding it up for everyone to see. Like how we scored my outfits 1-10 a few months back. We can take turns picking outfits for Tadano after we set a budget.
Ren clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! My goddess always knows what's best. Okay, everyone, design an outfit and see if it looks good on Tadano! Remember, this is for Komi's sake!"
"Not Tadano's?" Himiko wondered.
Anyway, the five friends all pooled their spare cash, with Ren pitching in 3,000 yen when Shoko gave her a hopeful look. Shoko personally added 2,000 to the pool while Himiko had just over 700, and Hitohito had 4,500. Then Najimi generously offered 6,000 yen for the Hitohito Tadano makeover budget. Let's start!
Himiko Agari showed some impressive resolve and got her outfit done first. She skipped back to the dressing rooms and handed Hitohito a basket of folded-up clothes and goodies, and the friends watched curiously as Hitohito retreated behind the curtain to try it all on. Shoko actually felt her heart racing; it felt so weird to be on the other side of this situation! Normally, her friends made a big deal about her appearance, but now she can help someone else look good. How fun!
Then Hitohito swept aside the curtain and stepped out, one hand in his pants pocket and the other slowly lowering his stylish sunglasses. "How's this?" he asked confidently.
"That's... not bad, actually," Ren said after a few seconds of careful analysis. "Not tacky at all."
"You look like you own a boat, Tadano!" Najimi cried. "Like, a big one!"
"So, what inspired this getup?" Hitohito asked Himiko. His attire consisted of bright blue, fancy jeans, slick dark brown shoes, a brown leather belt, those shades, and best of all, a comfortable, silky-looking white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and the top button undone. He even had a cool watch.
"I, um..." Himiko clapped her hands over her face. "I dressed you up like my dream boyfriend!"
Everyone stared at her, most of all Shoko. What the...?
"Bwahahahaha! I was right! You've got some serious competition, Komi!" Najimi declared, slapping Shoko's back. "Hot dog!"
"I-I just meant hypothetically! It was only for a reference!" Himiko cried. "Please don't be mad!"
Shoko exhaled and put a hand to her heart. What were these weird feelings...?
"So, uh... let's score it," Hitohito added before things could get any weirder. He held up his scoring marker. "I give this a 7."
"Perfect 10!" Himiko exclaimed, all bashfulness forgotten.
Ren held up a 5, while Najimi offered a 7, just like Hitohito. All eyes fell on Shoko.
What score should she give? A small part of Shoko didn't want to give this outfit a high score if Himiko based it on her ideal boyfriend! But Himiko was a friend. Shoko trusted her.
8.
"All right, that adds up to 37," Ren Yamai noted, counting on her fingers. "Who's next?"
Najimi was next, and they had a rather... off-beat outfit in mind! Hitohito stepped out of the dressing room once again, looking pretty self-conscious. "My dad told me this was popular in the early 1990s or something," he said, going pink in the face. "Like, in the U.S. I dunno..."
"Don't be silly, my good man! That's a 10!" Najimi declared, holding up their marker. "Come on, guys, acknowledge my fashion genius!"
Hitohito wore black boots, baggy faded jeans with rips (including the knees), a rock band graphic T-shirt, and a long-sleeved green shirt under that, meaning the sleeves stuck out from under the outer shirt's own sleeves. And don't forget the tilted baseball cap and fingerless gloves!
Shoko took a picture and made a mental note to ask her dad about this later. The name of this fashion trend was on the tip of her tongue...!
It was time for the scores. A clearly confused Himiko gave it a 4, Ren Yamai offered a stone-cold 2 ("it's tacky, but this is Tadano we're talking about"), and Hitohito himself scored it a 3. Shoko decided to kill this idea with a 1.
"Aw, just 20 points? Seriously?" Najimi whined. "No one likes the grunge look anymore? Just give him a boombox and he's all set!"
Shoko snapped her fingers. So that's what it was called! Maybe her dad had some imported Nirvana CDs on hand. Shoko had always been curious...
"My turn!" Ren Yamai declared, clapping her hands. "I hope you like it, Komi."
"But it's for Tadano," Najimi pointed out.
"Yes, but if my goddess is happy seeing her friend in new clothes, then it's all worth it," Ren explained. She clasped her hands under her chin and made an innocent look. "Everything I do is for you, Komi. Even indirectly!"
Shoko nodded. Let's just see that outfit.
Turns out Ren was really good not just with girls' fashion, but boys', too! Everyone gawked at Hitohito's dazzling new look: a parted (and fancy) denim jacket that was an elegant shade of dark blue, a buttoned, striped black and white shirt, form-fitting dark blue jeans, and slick black leather boots with brown soles. He also had a cool watch, similar to the one in Himiko's chosen outfit, and even a new wallet for good measure.
"Heeeeeey, you could totally pick up chicks looking like that, Tadano! Whoooo!" Najimi cheered. They skipped over to Hitohito and draped an arm over his shoulder. "What d'ya say? I'll be your wingman, so to speak! Leave it to me!"
Shoko gave Najimi a pleading look, and luckily, Najimi got the message and backed off. And here Shoko thought it was awkward having Himiko dress up Hitohito as her ideal boyfriend.
These feelings...!
"So, how is it? I think I really salvaged Tadano today," Ren Yamai said smugly. "I have a cousin who works at a high-end clothes shop in London, and I got some ideas from his Instagram account. You may thank me anytime, Tadano." She also held up her score marker with a perfect 10.
Himiko held up an 8, and Najimi offered a generous 9. With a trembling hand, Shoko offered an 8, and Hitohito held up a 7 with his marker.
"Ah! That adds up to 42 out of 50. I'm in the lead!" Ren declared. "Just Komi's outfit left to go."
"Hang on. How much is all this gonna cost, anyway?" Hitohito wondered. "Just in case this outfit wins."
"Oh, not that much," Ren said with a falsely sweet voice. Then Himiko checked all the tags and did some quick math in her head.
"Um... it'll be just over 50,000 yen," she admitted.
Hitohito winced. "But we've only got 16,200 yen to work with."
"Oops! Perhaps high fashion isn't for everyone," Ren commented. "Oh well!"
Shoko, meanwhile, wasn't sure how to do this. She liked the idea of Hitohito looking good, but what if her choice in clothes revealed too much of what she was thinking? She was impressed that Himiko had the courage to dress up Hitohito like a boyfriend, but could Shoko do that, too? She was blushing like crazy just thinking about it! Her hands were positively trembling!
Eventually, though, she got the job done.
"How about this?" Hitohito asked, spreading his arms wide when he emerged from the changing room. "Not bad, huh? Thanks again, Komi."
He wore a stylish, parted black jacket, a light gray T-shirt, olive-colored pants, white sneakers, and once again, an obligatory watch. The ensemble was light, comfortable, and cool without being gaudy or weird. Perfect!
Everyone else thought so too, because the outfit scored a perfect 50. Shoko won!
But she wasn't alone.
"This ensemble is just 7,862 yen," Najimi noted, checking the tags. They made an evil grin. "Which means..."
"We can finally leave?" Ren asked hopefully.
"Good fashion doesn't have to require a bank loan?" Himiko wondered, shooting Ren an annoyed look.
Shoko merely shrugged.
"Which means there's just enough left in the budget for..." Najimi started with a sly grin.
Five minutes later, the friends stepped out of the mall, with Hitohito carrying the Shoko-designed outfit in a bag while actually wearing the grunge outfit, which meant he was getting all kinds of looks as he strutted down the sidewalk. Shoko could have sworn she heard that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" song playing in her head the whole time, too. Maybe she could learn to play it on her acoustic guitar?
"By the way, I'm totally down with the idea of getting a boombox to complete this look," Hitohito said cockily. "I look like a rock star."
"You look like you got your clothes from a Dumpster," Ren grumbled. "I really hope no one I know sees me walking with you!"
Najimi, meanwhile, couldn't stop laughing. "This is amazing, Tadano. Normally you're so average, but not today! 1992 is back in vogue! Woo-hoo!"
"It's... not so bad, now that I'm used to it," Himiko admitted timidly.
Shoko, meanwhile, was privately curious to see if Hitohito would actually get a boombox and play era-appropriate music next weekend while hanging out with friends. This was an exciting year for Shoko, and she and her friends might as well go all the way! She checked off today's challenge and resolved to wear that dress Hitohito had bought her even more often, too. Such memories...!
