Preparation

“Come shopping with me!” Miyuki begged Jin. After she returned home from the beach house, she made a trip straight to Jin’s home in Tokyo. The second round of the Idol Awards was a photoshoot in a golden field of sunflowers and was held the following day. Miyuki wanted to find a new outfit that would match the scenery, but more importantly she wanted an excuse to make up for the week she missed being with Jin.

The results of the first elimination round were posted early in the morning, which everyone was eager to view. Miyuki and Komi celebrated when they saw they were in the top three groups. The other two duos listed above them were Luna Rihara and Risu in first, with Ai Ozawa and Naomi Shimada in second. Three teams were eliminated, leaving only ten contenders for the second round.

Jin was surprised to see Miyuki at his door on a Tuesday morning, but knowing Miyuki, he understood she was hoping to make up for her absence the previous week. “Shopping?” He scratched his head. “Why shopping?”

“I have a photoshoot tomorrow I have to be ready for,” she explained.

“Don’t you have a lot of outfits already?” He asked, earning himself a pout from his friend.

“Fashion is important. I can’t just recycle outfits. I have to find one that’s perfect for this photoshoot,” she softened her pout into a soft smile. “It would be wonderful if you helped me pick something out. Please?”

“Sure,” he decided. “It might not be the best if I’m picking it, though.”

“Don’t worry,” she chuckled. “Your job will be to decide how good I look in each outfit.”

“Each?”

“Let’s go!” She grinned and led him in the direction of her desired clothing store. Being in Tokyo, there were several places she could go, but there was one that boasted the highest quality outfits–Yatogawa’s Luxury Clothes.

The store was a massive four-story building near downtown Tokyo. An electronic billboard was plastered on the front of the building, displaying models in several different dresses, suits, button-up shirts, and other nicer clothes.

Miyuki took in the size of the building with wonder. She had heard from Komi and a few other idols about the place but had never gone herself until now. Most of her clothes were purchased from a shop local to Akita. She was elated to finally check out this store and wondered what outfit would best match the backdrop of a sea of sunflowers.

As they approached, the glass doors parted for their entrance. The inside of the store was even more spacious than it appeared from the outside. In the middle of the store, Miyuki could see a distant elevator that competed for use with the moving escalator only a few paces away.

Signs were strung from the ceiling all over the store, allowing customers to find the sections they were looking for.

The clothes being sold on the first floor were mostly for formal events, such as weddings or balls. While she was tempted to look at the different dresses they had in the left side of the store, Miyuki thought something a little more casual would be more of a fit for the photoshoot.

“What kind of outfit are you thinking of, exactly?” Jin asked, glancing around the busy store.

Miyuki thought a little more about the specifics of what she was envisioning. “A sundress would be nice. Let’s see... Where would that be?” In the corner of her eye was a map of the store that explained what the sections on each floor were. She hurried over to examine it and noticed a selection of summer clothes on the second floor.

Jin stepped in beside her while she stared at the map. “Do you see it?”

“Yes. It’s on the second floor… Think you can keep up?” She grinned. In the blink of an eye, she was off running toward the escalator, giggling along the way.

“Miyuki–wait!” Jin jogged after her in an attempt to catch up.

She halted on the third step of the escalator and turned to wave at Jin as the structure carried her toward the floor above.

Others stepped onto the escalator between them, and Jin squeezed past the exasperated people in order to reach Miyuki. By the time he was within arm’s length of her, they were at the top of the escalator.

Miyuki applauded with a smile in her eyes. “As expected of my soccer star!”

He shook his head. “I’d prefer not to push through people like that again.”

“Sorry,” Miyuki quickly apologized with a bowed head. She looked around the floor, searching for the sign to direct her to the summer clothes.

The large sign hung proudly in the middle of the floor, leading customers to view the contents underneath it. Rows of clothes painted the area in a rainbow of fabric. Miyuki’s eyes sparkled as she began to sift through the selection of women’s clothing.

Jin decided to help Miyuki by searching through the clothes on the opposite side of the aisle for a sundress. Most of the items he looked through were blouses. “Why don’t they organize these…?” He wondered.

“They do. You’re in the blouse section,” Miyuki said without turning her attention away from the rack in front of her. A gasp escaped her. “Oh, this is so cute!”

Feeling stupid for not checking the labels on top of the racks, he turned around to check out what Miyuki was admiring.

She held up an azure dress with ruffles along the short sleeves and skirt. “I might have to try this one on.”

“Okay, let’s see…” Jin scanned the store for changing rooms and spotted them on the opposite wall. “The changing rooms are over there.”

“I have to find a few more first,” she said. “Trying on one at a time would take too long.”

“Oh… Right…”

“This one’s adorable too!” Miyuki squealed after finding a pink sundress with white spots a couple minutes later. “Yellow matches the sunflowers that’ll be in the photos,” she said, taking another dress off the rack.

Eventually she was satisfied with the seven different options she had selected. “Now we can go to the changing room,” she smiled. “I’m looking forward to hearing which one you think I look best in!”