Fashion Show

"Alright, that concludes today's session," the professor said in perfect English as he shut his textbook. "Now, get the hell out of my classroom."

Everyone in the lecture hall began packing up their belongings. Some stayed to loiter and talk while some left as soon as they could. For me, I like to take my time and wait until the traffic dies down.

Like always, I learned pretty much nothing today. I try, I really do. It's just that it's so hard to understand any of this, especially science. I'm bad at words and numbers, and chemistry comes with both. My brain is too smooth for that.

"Tsuki?!" a voice shouted for me.

A chill crept up my spine. No way...

I looked behind me at the entrance to the massive lecture, and there stood Taiyori, carefully looking around for me. What is she doing here? Whenever she's looking for me, she always loiters patiently outside of the building. I've never seen her come into the lecture hall itself. Did something happen?

I raised my hand, and she immediately caught me sitting all the way to the left side of the hall. Her face instantly brightened up, and she began making her way towards me. It might just be because of her status, but the crowd made way for her to move without struggle.

"Hey, Tsuki!" she smiled.

"H-hello," I stuttered. "Is something wrong?"

"Hm? Why would something be wrong?"

"Well... You don't normally come looking for me here."

"Ah, that. I just... really wanted to see you for some reason."

I was left speechless, and so was everyone else who stayed to witness this drama scene.

Why are they all watching us? Don't they have better things to do? Perhaps a much more important question is, why did she say that when so many people are listening?

"I-is that so...?" I mumbled.

"Oh, and I'm also here to take you with me," she said.

"Take me? Where to?"

"To my apartment. The New Year's festival is tomorrow. You're gonna help me pick a kimono to wear."

Take two: If I was speechless before, I'd completely forgotten how to speak. The sharp gazes of the spectators pierced through me like knives. I swear, people... I have nothing to do with this. She's just saying all of this to embarrass me.

"Can you move any slower?" she grumbled.

"Hm? Wait... You were being serious...?" I gulped.

"What? Why would I joke around about that? Hurry up! I have a whole rack I need to get through today!"

Taiyori grabbed my supplies from the table and shoved them into my school bag. She then threw the bag on my lap and pulled me up by the arm.

"T-Taiyori!" I exclaimed.

"Come on!" she grinned.

She dragged me out, and just like before, those who were in the way moved aside for her with shock written all over their faces. If I were in their shoes, I would have the exact same reaction.

Eventually, we made it to her apartment, but the impression had been made. Almost everyone we passed stopped to look at us. I can only imagine what kind of rumor is going to go around after today.

"Wasn't that a bit too extreme?" I asked.

Taiyori lifted her hair and fluffed it out. "Extreme? What do you mean?"

"There were a lot of people watching us, and given how popular you are, it's not like they're gonna forget about what just happened."

"Huh. I guess I didn't really think about that."

"... You, of all people, didn't think about that?"

"Yeah. Now that you mention it, it is kinda weird. Normally, I would think about possible repercussions before I do something, but... This time, I didn't. Very weird, indeed. What do you suppose is different?"

With her hands holding up her hair, a devious smirk formed while her lips bit down on a hair tie.

My mouth opened as if to say something, but my mind was wiped clean, replaced by this still image of her simply smiling at me.

"H-how should I know...?" I mumbled.

"Hehe. Alright! Let's get started!" she cheered gleefully. "Tsuki! Stay right there!"

"W-wait. How exactly are we doing this?"

"I'm gonna change in my room, then I'll come show you, and you'll give me a rating from one to ten."

"Didn't I tell you a while back that I'm not the best judge of fashion?"

"Tch, just give me a goddamn rating. Alright?"

I let out a small chuckle. This is remarkably similar to the first time she asked me for my opinion on clothes.

"Fine," I said.

"Really?!" she exclaimed. "I mean—Okay, okay. Stay there, and don't move! I'll be right back."

She rushed into her room and slammed the door closed. Thereafter, I heard a bunch of muffled noises coming from within. Sounds like a construction zone in there.

I sat down on the couch and looked out of the balcony. As I was listening to the birds chirping outside, I had a sudden thought. What in the world am I doing here? Why does she want to show me her kimonos? Why couldn't she have asked Shiro?

"Okay, Tsuki!" she shouted from inside her room. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah," I said.

Taiyori stepped out, and the moment I saw her, I became blind to everything else except her. She slowly walked out with a hand pressing against the wall.

The kimono she had looked like it was made by a professional. For the palette, the color was sky blue with white accents. Thin tree branches rose from the tail end and stretched upwards with cherry blossoms falling from them.

Taiyori looked at me for a split second before turning away, a bright red hue forming on her cheeks. I wanted to turn away as well, but my eyes refused to leave her.

"W-well...?" she muttered. "Don't just sit there and stare! Tell me how it looks!"

"Um... It's..."

Finally, I managed to force my head away. I lifted a hand to cover my mouth while my heartbeat sprung out of control. Still, it was difficult to find the right words to say.

"It... looks nice..." I mumbled incoherently.

"W-what? Speak clearly!" she sputtered.

"I said it looks nice!"

"Eh?! T-that's not what you're supposed to say!"

"What am I supposed to say?!"

"Give me a freaking rating, you... You idiot!"

"Wha..."

Give a rating? That implies that I have the necessary knowledge to distinguish between a one and a ten in a fashion sense, which I most definitely don't.

"Then... I suppose it's a ten?" I said.

"Why do you sound so unsure?" she grumbled.

"Because I am unsure."

"Tch, fine. Let's just move on to the next one."

For the next hour, Taiyori went in and out of her room. Each time, she showed me another kimono in her wardrobe, all with different color schemes and incredible designs.

"Tsuki, you can't just give everything a ten..." Taiyori sighed.

"I mean, they all look good," I said.

"Still, you have to be more decisive. At this rate, we'll never be able to pick just one."

"Well, maybe it'd be easier if you didn't look so good in all of them."

It took me a solid second to realize what I had just said. Slowly, my head twisted up to see Taiyori standing there, her mouth slightly ajar with wide eyes hanging above them.

"Um... Taiyori..." I gulped. "W-what I meant... was..."

Now that I'm thinking about it, what else could I have possibly meant? It's exactly as it sounds. I'm not a great judge of fashion, but since Taiyori herself looks good, she'll naturally make everything she wears look good. It was the same case when she asked me about the blouse when we went to the mall back then.

To my surprise, a wide smile grew on Taiyori's face, and an obvious blush formed beneath her curled eyes as she avoided looking at me.

"If that's really what you see, then I guess I have no choice," she said. "I'll have to pick one on my own since you think I look beautiful in everything, hm?"

"... I suppose so..." I muttered.

"What's wrong, Tsuki? Embarrassed? Not the first time something weird has left your mouth."

She began walking away, but not without stopping at the door to look back at me.

"Thank you," she smiled. "It really does mean a lot to me."

"It was just... a simple compliment," I said.

"Hehe... Maybe so, but... It felt genuine coming from you."

She rushed back into her room. This time, I heard an audible click. Did she just lock the door?

I threw my back onto the couch and let out a massive sigh. This is so bad for my heart. Every time I'm near her, I can literally feel it steadily accelerating. It gets even worse when she smiles at me, like I've been placed under a spell.

I've been attending this school for about nine months. That's nothing compared to all the years I've worked as an assassin. I don't remember all the faces I've killed, but for some reason... I remember all twenty-three times Taiyori stepped out with a new kimono, her smile, and the way she twirled around for me to see.

Dammit... Am I finally losing it?

Taiyori then burst out of her door and ran at me.

"Alright, Tsuki, time to go!" she shouted as she pulled my arm up.

"W-whoa! Hey! I can move on my own, you know!" I exclaimed.

"No time! I have to finish getting everything ready! Go, go!"

She pushed me outside of the front door and slammed it shut. What was that? She's the one who forced me to come here, and now she's throwing me out as if I had exhausted my usefulness. I suppose it can't be helped. This is Taiyori Ayaka we're talking about.

Right as I was about to walk away, the door suddenly opened once more.

"Erm... Tuski...?" Taiyori's voice squeaked.

I turned around to see her peeking over from the other side of the door with a shy smile.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Well... This isn't a request or anything. M-more like a suggestion. You... You can come here before the festival... so we can get ready together... I-if you'd like."

I could only look back at her as she retreated further behind the door.

"Haha. Sheesh," I chuckled. "Why are you stumbling on your words all of a sudden?"

"S-shut up!" she exclaimed. "I'm offering here... a-and... I want you to see the kimono I picked."

With a smile on my face and a heart filled with perplexing warmth, I replied. "In that case... I'll be here."