69 - Vignette- Post-Game

xxxxx

Personal Idol

If there was one important thing I've learnt in life, it was never under any circumstances lose a bet to Shiki Misaki.

She always criticised my taste of clothing. Personally, I didn't get what was wrong with my clothes. I thought I looked fine. She was the expert though, so hey. The bet was as simple as you could get; a game of heads or tails. If she won, I would wear whatever she wanted me to for a week.

I didn't count on wearing this though.

I had on a white shirt, covered by a flashy black leather jacket. Black jeans accompanied my black combat boots. A chain hung from said jeans, glinting garishly in the sunlight. Shiki proclaimed that my spiky hair suit the look just fine but she made me dye the tips of them black.

When I said it made me look emo, she just stuck her tongue out at me, saying I already was 'emo'.

This outfit was bad, but I didn't know if it was worse than yesterday's. Now, yesterday she made me wear an odd kind of blue (yes, blue) suit, with rolled up sleeves and a white hat. For that I had to gel down my hair.

"Is this really better than what I usually where?" I asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

The giggle I got in return was pretty suspicious too.

"Can you turn around again for me?"

Yes, I had 'twirled' for her once already.

"No."

"Please," she pleaded, hands clasped together. Oh no, she was giving me those eyes.

I was not going to give into that.

That was not part of the bet.

Nope.

"Please?"

Damn it.

"Fine, okay. Just one more time."

Grudgingly, I slowly turned around in a circle. It was quite unnerving, having her gaze on my back like that. If Shiki wasn't my girlfriend, there was no way I'd do this for anyone – not even for a bet.

I heard a drawn out, exaggerated clap. And then a giggle.

A giggle that didn't sound like Shiki.

Oh dear God no.

"Why Shiki, you've really outdone yourself this time, dear!"

I whipped around and much to my displeasure, it was the one person on Earth that I least wanted to see catching me do this.

"Smile." Click.

"Joshua!" I fumed, as he tucked away his phone.

Not even acknowledging me, Joshua turned to Shiki. "Hope you don't mind that I let myself in. I heard from Eri that you were doing some of your own experimental designs with inspiration from J-pop stars. When she told me you got Neku to model them for you, I just had to come to check it out. Your works do make him look rather dashing."

"Thank you, Josh!" Shiki said, seemingly unbothered by the announced entry. "I was worried they wouldn't turn out good, but I actually quite like them."

"They're wonderful. Eri's looking forward to seeing them, she told me."

"Since when were you close to Eri?" I asked.

Joshua looked at me with that aggravating smirk of his. "I get around. As the Composer it's vital for me to keep up with Shibuya's budding creative industry. It's what Music thrives on, after all."

"U-huh." I rolled my eyes. Most likely, Joshua just wanted more ammunition to annoy me with.

"Don't look so glum. I sincerely do enjoy what you're wearing right now."

"Well, don't get used to it, creep," I said. "Shiki might not have gotten mad at you getting into the house but I'm letting you out. And then I'm getting changed."

Shiki stood up from her seat on the couch. "But Neku!"

"You never said how long I had to wear the outfit for each day," I pointed out. It was true, she never really exactly specified.

She walked over to me and tapped on my jacket. "C'mon, you know I don't get to see my own works on someone else that often. Can't you wear it for the rest of the day?"

"I would really prefer not to."

"Please?"

She was not getting me with those eyes a second time! I looked away quickly.

"Please, Neku?"

She suddenly hugged me.

Tch, that was not fair play at all!

I cracked an eye open, looking down at Shiki who had trapped me in her arms. Bad idea.

Those eyes.

Dammit, why were they so hard to resist?

Leaning my head against hers I let out a sigh of defeat. "Alright, Shiki. I'll wear these clothes for the rest of the day."

Chirping up instantly, she planted a kiss on my cheek and bolted towards the stairs. "In that case, I'm going to get a bandanna for the finishing touch. Be right back!"

I watched her as she ascended the stairs and sighed again.

The sound of someone clearing their throat rang out.

Oh right. Joshua was here.

"I wasn't joking just now. I'm kicking you out of the house," I went up to him, dragging him by the arm towards the front door. To my surprise, he didn't try to break free from my grip.

I opened the door and he even strolled outside.

After about three steps out, he stopped and turned his head back and smiled smugly. "You, my dear, are totally whipped."

"Wha-? I'm not. This is- this is just 'cause it's a bet."

"Neku!" Shiki's voice drifted out from inside.

From where I was standing I could see the red bandanna she had for me and the bright smile she was giving. She gave me a small wave from where she was and I automatically returned it. I didn't even think about it.

"Heehee."

Joshua imitated my wave right back at me with a wink. Then he disappeared from sight, diving back into the UG, but not before saying again – what I was realising with was probably true -

"Whipped."

A/N: Tadaa! I always wanted to write a fic with that 'you're so whipped' trope xD I like the idea of Neku not having the heart to refuse Shiki's creative impulses once she's his girlfriend. I don't often write in first person or when they're actually dating for this collection, so this chapter was fun to do.

Thanks to ' I'll Break Your Heart' for the original prompt of 'shiki making a costume for Neku that looks like it came from a J-Pop boy band'. The costumes vary so much but they're really cool looking, actually. And thank you to Heart-chan, again, B.A.G-GOMEZ, ElementLegend, Xerzo LotCN, Crow's Gamble, foggraven, and Fireminer for the reviews!

Dina (15/3/2015)