Mages, Malls, and Modern Mysteries: Akiko's Unusual Day

"I swear, Hiro, if I freeze to death, I'll come back to haunt you!" Akiko barked, her teeth clicking together as the blistering cold wind whipped around them.

"Great, because I don't have enough problems," Hiro quipped back, wrapping the thermal blanket tighter around her. "Yumi's almost here. She can sort this out."

Akiko cocked her head to the side. "Who's Yumi?"

"My childhood friend," Hiro explained, trying to ignore Akiko's scowl at his words. "She's a tech genius, but she's...uh, a bit quirky."

Before Akiko could question him further, a petite figure with long, dark purple hair bounded up to them. "Damn, Hiro, you didn't mention you were babysitting," Yumi teased, scanning Akiko with raised eyebrows.

"Babysitting?" Akiko looked baffled and slightly offended. "What do you mean by that?"

Yumi looked at Hiro, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, she looks around 14, doesn't she?"

Akiko's eyes flared with indignation. "I am 19!"

"Yeah, sure," Yumi replied nonchalantly. "I'm Yumi. It’s a pleasure to meet you, little wizard."

"Wizard!" Akiko recoiled, as though she'd been slapped. Her voice was a low growl, simmering with rage. "Wizard is a derogatory term! I am a mage!"

"Whoa, calm down!" Hiro rushed in, planting himself firmly between the two girls. Yumi seemed taken aback, but she also looked far too amused for someone who was currently the target of Akiko's ire.

"Apologies, Ms. Mage," Yumi said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She produced a sleek device from her pocket and started typing rapidly, not looking up as she added, "But magic, really? I've heard less crazy theories in conspiracy chat rooms."

"That's not even..." Akiko sputtered, her face reddening with frustration, but Hiro quickly intervened.

"Let's focus on getting Akiko some clothes and a place to stay," he said firmly. "We can argue about the existence of 'magic' later."

Yumi nodded, her fingers still dancing over her device. "Done and done. You're now Akiko Yamazaki, Hiro's distant cousin visiting from out of town. That should buy us some time."

As Hiro and Yumi turned to discuss the next steps, Yumi muttered under her breath, "This isn't over, little mage girl."

The shopping mall buzzed with a diverse mix of patrons, a swirling sea of chattering voices and bright, tempting displays. Yumi, a streak of determination in her eyes, led her two companions into a high-end department store, its impressive frontage drawing in clientele with the promise of quality.

"Alright, Akiko, time to update your wardrobe," she stated matter-of-factly, glancing back at the silver-haired girl who sported an unusual blend of modern and traditional clothing. Akiko, eyebrows furrowed in mild irritation, responded with a sly grin, "But I like what I'm wearing!"

They ended up in an enormous section dedicated to a dizzying array of women's undergarments. Yumi swiftly navigated through the racks, selectively pulling out modest, comfortable-looking sets. Akiko's face crinkled in displeasure at the sight of the simple designs, "These look like they were designed for grandmothers."

In response, Yumi, with an eye roll, led them towards a more colorful selection. She offered Akiko an array of undergarments boasting a palette of sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and other vibrant tones. "Surely, these are more to your taste?"

After a moment of hesitation, Akiko accepted the challenge. Hiro, meanwhile, sat outside the changing room, fidgeting and trying to ignore the blush creeping onto his cheeks. He busied himself by inspecting the intricate design of a chandelier hanging overhead, attempting to ignore the situation.

Moments later, Akiko emerged in a daringly neon-green set, the sheer fabric hugging her lithe body and emphasizing her petite form. Her bust was accentuated by the balconette bra, while the low-rise panties outlined her narrow hips. The shocking color set off her pale skin and made her blue eyes stand out.

Caught off guard, Hiro blushed, stammering, "A-Akiko, I didn’t expect... you… uh…"

Yumi filled the silence with her deadpan remark, "To choose a color that can be seen from space?" Hiro stifled a nervous laugh as Akiko shot Yumi a challenging glare, "At least it's not boring like your picks."

The gloves were off. Yumi selected a deep burgundy set, the satin material and delicate lace giving it a luxurious, sensual feel. The full-cup bra emphasized her fuller chest, contrasting Akiko’s more petite form, while the high-waisted panties defined her waist and hips, making her look all the more enticing.

Emerging from the dressing room, Yumi’s new look caught Hiro by surprise. His face went pale, then flushed, "Y-Yumi, you... I never knew you…"

“Had a body that could make a grown man stumble over his words?” Yumi teased, casting a sidelong glance at Hiro. Akiko's eyes went wide at the sight of Yumi, her gaze lingering on her friend's larger chest, "When did you...?" A flicker of jealousy passed through her eyes.

Yumi merely shrugged in response, a hint of mischief lighting up her eyes. "Well, Akiko, some of us just naturally fill out," she said, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "Like a well-baked soufflé."

Akiko’s frown deepened, her eyes narrowing at Yumi’s joke. "Well, let's see how much Hiro likes a soufflé then," she huffed, disappearing back into the dressing room. The ensuing battle between the two girls escalated with each new set of undergarments, Hiro looking on with wide-eyed disbelief.

Yumi appeared next in a virtually transparent black teddy. It fit her like a second skin, defining every curve and contour, a tantalizing sight to behold. Akiko returned the challenge with a ruby-red, barely-there set that made her look almost naked.

Unbeknownst to Akiko, her exotic choice was designed with a unique futuristic feature - a button that when pressed, would render the fabric invisible. The button gleamed tantalizingly at Yumi, a smirk growing on her face as she reached out and casually pressed it, feigning a look of innocence.

In an instant, Akiko's attire became as invisible as air, leaving her seemingly naked to the bewildered eyes of Hiro. His blush, already resembling the reddest of sunsets, deepened further, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets as he choked on his own breath.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Akiko demanded, crossing her arms defensively. Yumi, clutching her stomach as she laughed, pointed at Akiko's reflection in a nearby mirror.

The sight left Akiko aghast. Realizing her state of undress, she squealed in embarrassment, trying futilely to cover herself with her hands. "This is not funny, Yumi!" she screeched, her voice echoing throughout the vast expanse of the store.

The sheer embarrassment and the sudden surge of emotions triggered Akiko's magic to malfunction. The magical energy burst out in waves, causing half the lights in the department to explode. Darkness descended upon them, broken occasionally by the flickering of the remaining lights, illuminating the chaotic scene below.

"Okay, I think we're good," Yumi said, moving to collect the colorful array of lingerie that Akiko had finally settled on.

The group moved towards the cash register. As they approached the counter, Yumi picked up her phone from her pocket. Holding it near a terminal, a beep echoed in the quiet space, followed by a green light.

"What...what did you just do?" Akiko asked, eyes wide and head tilted. Her gaze bounced between the terminal and Yumi's phone. "You didn't give them anything. How is that paying?"

Yumi suppressed a laugh, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Akiko, we don't exchange physical items for goods here. We use digital currency."

"Digi...what?" Akiko muttered, frowning.

"Digital currency. Money that only exists electronically," Hiro chimed in, seeing Akiko's confusion.

Akiko turned to him, her brows furrowing deeper. "But...where does it come from? If it's not real, then what's stopping people from making it up?"

Hiro blinked, trying to come up with a simple explanation. "Well, it's not that it's not real. It's...um...It's just...not physical. And there are lots of checks and controls to stop people from making it up. It's all very secure."

Akiko blinked at him, her mouth open a bit. Then, she shook her head, her hands gripping her new lingerie tighter. "This world is strange. And you, Hiro, you're just as strange for being okay with this."

She huffed, her lips pressing into a thin line. "And how can I be sure that my new undergarments are mine if I didn't exchange anything for them? This is ridiculous."