Chapter 16

Rin and Mari are on the tram going towards downtown Nova Raton. Both excited as they are slated to meet Shishijima someplace he said that “was going to be worth the trip”, in his own words. 

Since Rin called Shishijima back to confirm that she would be willing to perform at the gig he’s been really receptive to her ideas. 

One of them being that they should meet up tomorrow after school to find something for her and Shanchira to wear for the performances. 

“He even didn’t mind that Mari would be tagging along to help. I guess with the thought of losing me as a client; he has become a bit more lax.” thought Rin. 

The wind blows gently through Rin’s hair and as she begins to message Shishijima. To let them know that they are en-route to the location that they said they would meet up. 

“Hey Rin! Do you know where we are even going to be shopping ?” posed Mari; with here legs crossed. 

“Well; when I asked Shishijima about this shop, he told me it was somewhere special. I guess it’s a place that many people don’t know about.” said Rin. 

“Well; let’s just hope it’s not a trick and he’s luring us into some lewd photoshoot.” sighed Mari in response. 

“Mari what the hell! Your mind always takes you to the more far-flung conclusions ever.” exclaimed Rin. 

“Well, it’s not that far-fetched. I mean when you asked him outright where this place was he was so secretive about it.” said Mari. 

Then Rin starts remembering the conversation she had when she asked.

“Sooo where is this special shop that sell’s nice EV-Idol performance gear?” asked Rin. 

“Uhmm. Well it’s sort of a secret. You just have to trust me. Ok?” said Shishijima inconspicuously.

“Well I just—“, said Rin before Shishijima interrupted. 

“TRRRUUUUUSTTTT MEEEEEE— Alright see ya tomorrow. Goodnight!” roared Shishijima before hanging up. 

“Well he was acting strange like he was avoiding answering my question.” thought Rin to herself. 

Then her mind begins to race with her imagining her and Mari arriving to their destination. After arriving being forced to wear revealing swimsuits and having to spray each other with a hose. 

“Nawww, that’s not going to happen. Could it?”  Rin muttered to herself while also shaking her head in response. 

“Who are you talking to?” said Mari in bewilderment. 

“Uhmm; it’s nothing just thinking out loud.” said Rin snapping out her day dream. 

“Oh! Well just wanted to let you know that we our almost at our stop.” said Mari looking up from her phone. 

“Oh yeah! Thanks for letting me know!” said Rin cheerfully as way to hide her uncertainty. 

“Well, I’m sure it can’t be as bad as I’m thinking it will be. Let’s just assess the situation and if it goes left I know I can hit them upside their heads with my water bottle.” Rin thought to herself. 

The pair ride the bus for about 4 more minutes before her phone buzzes with the confirmation from her tram app the they have arrived at the destination and remember to grab all of her belongings. 

Both Mari and Rin scurry to the front of the bus with their stuff and proceed to step off the tram’s front entrance. There out the corner of Rin’s eye she spots a man with a burgundy sweater vest and black slacks with a humongous duffle bag. 

Well, I guess he just came from golfing? I mean there are some nice courses around here but i definitely haven’t seen anyone drive or commute 20 minutes out the way to downtown. I mean it’s so much shopping from her to—.

Naw it can’t be. He must be somewhere around her.” Rin thought to herself. 

She gets off at her stop and begins to look around to see if she can’t spot either Shishijima or Shanshira. 

She walk right past the man whom she noticed earlier thinking it had to be a rich man probably meeting his buddies for a beer. 

“HEY, IM RIGHT HERE!” yelled a voice in the distance. 

Both Rin and Mari turned around in confusion. Only to find, Shishijima walking towards them with what appears to be high school uniform on. 

“AHHHHHHH-What is going on here?” yelped Mari in shock. 

Rin looked in utter disbelief as Shishijima actually was sitting in front of her in a high school uniform. 

“So how’s it going ladies? You guys ready to do some shopping!” Shishijima says as he takes a drag of his vape.

“What are you doing?” asked Rin. 

“Umm. Getting ready to go shopping! What’s the problem?” retorted Shishijima. 

“I mean. Why are you dressed like a schoolboy?” asked Rin with a wave of embarrassment washing over her.

“Oh! This. Well you like?” asked Shishijima as he swankily posed like he was taking a photo for an online catalog. 

“UHHHHHMMM NO! Can you please change into something else? You look rather creepy. I can’t have people thinking I’m a creep.” Rin protested.

“Why would they think that?” said Shishijima as he posed in front of a store front window.

After checking his reflection out he look within the window and the people sitting at a table right in front of him inside the building look of bewilderment. 

Mari says to Rin “Ok. Now I see where he got the nickname “Creepy Dolseller” from.”

“Shishijima!” shouts Shanchira coming out of the building. 

“Sorry, just had to make sure I was charged up before we head out shopping.” said Shanchira laughingly. 

She makes her way to the group and notices Mari. 

“Oh! Is this your friend Rin?” inquired Shanshira with a smile.

“Yes. This is my friend Mari; she’ll be joining us today for our shopping trip.” responded Rin. 

“Oh great! More the merrier!” said Shanshira reaching out her hand to Mari for a handshake. 

Mari retorts by saying, “Well after seeing him; I wasn’t too sure. However, you seem nice enough; I guess I’m still in.” 

“Great! Let’s get going!” Shanshira says as she takes Shishijima by the hand and pulls him in her direction. 

“Wow! She’s really nice!” said Mari. 

“Yeah, that’s Shanshira she’s Shishijima’s EV-Idol. “ said Rin. 

“Well; I guess we should get going before we get left” said Mari. 

The girls run to catch up with others before they got left. 

The group walk for a few moments up the street until they happen upon a Computer supply store by the name Di-Ode. 

When they happen upon the store both Shanshira and Shishijima’s reaction is hyped. 

However, for Rin and Mari they are everything but.  The girls stop in front of the store and stare at each other. 

“This guy is as crazy as I thought he was.” said Mari. 

Rin nods in agreement but seeing how excited the two were she seems less skeptical than Mari. 

They walk in the store and they were both astounded how big it was. There were three levels with two escalators on either side of the store. 

“Wow! I never knew this was even here” said Rin in amazement. 

“Come on girls! You don’t want to get lost in here. It’s like getting lost in a sea of  electrical appliances.” said Shanshira to Mari and Rin. 

The girls run to the escalator and jump on the ascending side. They both look up the escalator where lights become a bit brighter. 

Once they get to the third level there is a sign with a motion script arm that points to each section. It first points to  phone accessories and it then points to personal computer accessories. However, it then points to the back and says “EV-Idol Accessories.” 

The girls are floored by just how much merchandise they have in this store. They pass five aisles until the happen upon a big electronic sign that “EV-Idol Accessories”. The girl’s eyes lit up with the see a huge section with clothes, shoes, microphones, and accessories.