It was 7:00 AM.
Too early to panic. Too early to sweat. Too early to pace around like a cartoon character waiting for their crush. But of course, Yuki was doing all three.
In his tiny living room, he stood awkwardly, fidgeting with the hem of his oversized white hoodie—the one with the floppy cat ears that drooped cutely on either side of his face. It was warm and soft, but most importantly, it hid his trembling hands. His face was lightly flushed, his lips nervously chewing on the inside of his cheek.
"Stupid... Why am I acting like this?" he muttered to himself.
Today wasn't a date.
Nope.
It was just two boys hanging out.
One of the boys just happened to be ridiculously hot and flirty and taller and stronger and constantly made Yuki's heart do Olympic-level gymnastics. But still—not a date.
Shin had said he would pick him up at eleven. It was only seven now, but for some cruel reason, time was speedrunning today.
Tick-tick-tick!
His eyes flicked to the clock. 7:01.
"Ugh, make it stop," Yuki groaned and flopped face-down on the couch.
Just then—KNOCK KNOCK!
Yuki shot up like a startled kitten. He scrambled to his feet, almost tripping over the hem of his hoodie in the process, and rushed to the door.
Opening it, he found Aiko standing on the other side, dressed to kill in a cute denim jacket over a crop top and a pair of stylish shorts. Her ever-mischievous smile widened when she saw Yuki.
"Good morning, Trap-chan!" she chirped, holding up two large shopping bags.
"D-Don't call me that!" Yuki spluttered instantly, cheeks puffed and red.
Aiko laughed and walked in like she owned the place. "What? You looked like one of those shy magical girls waiting for their prince. All you're missing is a wand and sparkles."
"I-I am a BOY!" he stomped, ears flopping from the force of his flustered rage.
"Sure you are," Aiko smirked, dropping the bags on his couch.
"Wh-what are those?" Yuki eyed the bags suspiciously, arms crossed.
"Gifts. For you."
"W-Why?! I didn't ask for anything! You didn't have to go shopping for me!"
"Well, you clearly weren't going to pick an outfit yourself, and we can't let our little tsundere prince go looking like a lost kitten, can we?"
"I'm not a tsundere!!"
Aiko ignored him and started pulling clothes out of the bag.
"Everything here is unisex," she explained, laying out outfits on the couch. "But also very... aesthetically pleasing. On someone with your face and frame, they might as well be labeled 'ultra-cute girl next door.'"
Yuki made a noise that sounded somewhere between a kettle about to boil and a pufferfish.
"W-Wait, WAIT, no no no—this one has frills!" he pointed accusingly at a white blouse-like top with subtle lace on the sleeves.
"Unisex," Aiko repeated smugly.
"This one has a skirt!!"
"Skort. It has shorts underneath. Totally boy-friendly."
"That is a LIE!!"
Aiko giggled. "Come on, let's try some on! I need to see what look you're going for—fairy boy, soft prince, or seductive high schooler who doesn't know he's hot."
Yuki looked like he was going to spontaneously combust.
Twenty minutes later, he stood in front of the mirror, wearing a cream cardigan over a collared shirt with tiny cherry prints and fitted pants that clung to his legs a little too nicely. His face was pink from more than just embarrassment.
"O-Oi! Are these pants supposed to be this tight?!"
"Your butt looks amazing," Aiko replied without missing a beat.
"S-SHUT UP!! Don't look at my butt! Why are you looking at my butt?!"
"Because I have eyes?"
Yuki groaned and pulled the cardigan tighter around himself. "I look like a girl..."
"You look adorable."
"That's worse!!"
Aiko placed a hand on her chin. "Hmm... maybe we should try the hoodie dress with the thigh-high socks next?"
Yuki died inside.
"I AM A BOY! I HAVE A PENIS!!"
Aiko clapped. "Yay! You finally admitted you have one!"
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
They cycled through outfit after outfit, each one testing the limits of Yuki's pride and willpower. There were moments of true existential crisis. One outfit made him look like a k-pop idol with a rebellious streak. Another made him look like he belonged in a pastel romance anime.
At one point, Aiko held up a crop top.
"No," Yuki said.
"But you didn't even let me—"
"NO."
Eventually, they settled on an outfit that was cute but not too cute. It was a navy blue oversized sweater with white stripes, paired with black shorts that peeked out just enough to be modest but left a dangerous amount of thigh visible. Yuki wore black leggings under it to protect his last shred of masculinity.
"You look like a shy university senpai who's always falling asleep in the library but secretly dreams of romance," Aiko gushed.
"W-Why is there a whole narrative?!"
Aiko held up her phone. "Because I'm sending Shin a picture."
"GIVE ME THAT!!" Yuki lunged for the phone, but Aiko danced out of reach.
"Just kidding. Maybe."
Yuki collapsed onto the couch in dramatic defeat. "Why is this happening to me..."
Aiko sat beside him, smirking but gentler now. "Because you have a crush on Shin and you want to look nice for him."
"I don't have a cruuuuuush," Yuki moaned, covering his face.
"Sure. And I'm secretly an alien spy from Planet Fashion."
Yuki peeked between his fingers. "Wait, really?"
"...You absolute dork."
The clock ticked. 10:25.
"Gah!" Yuki jumped. "I'm not ready! I still have to fix my hair! And maybe change! And maybe fake sick and hide under the couch!!"
Aiko rolled her eyes and stood up. "You're perfect. Just breathe. And hey—if he doesn't kiss you by the end of today, I'll do it myself."
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
---
Dress Me Up, Ai-Sama
Shin sat on the edge of his bed, a rare crease of nervousness etched into his usually calm expression. His fingers tapped rhythmically against his thigh, his phone lying facedown on the sheets beside him. The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting striped shadows across his bare chest. He hadn't moved from bed yet—partly because he was lost in thought, and mostly because he was waiting.
A soft rustle broke the silence.
Ai stirred beside him, her long lashes fluttering as she pushed her hair behind her ear. She sat up slowly, the blanket slipping from her shoulders as she leaned against his back and yawned.
"You're up early, Onii-chan," she murmured, voice laced with sleepy affection. "Is it because of him?"
Shin glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Maybe."
Ai giggled and wrapped her arms around his torso from behind, resting her cheek between his shoulder blades. "Nervous about what you'll wear?"
Shin gave a dry chuckle. "Kind of."
"Then~"—she sprang up suddenly—"leave it to me!"
"Ai—"
"Nope! No arguments!" she cut him off, dragging him off the bed by the arm. "You're mine to play with today!"
Shin raised a brow. "That sounds dangerous."
Ai flashed a devilish grin. "It is."
She pulled him toward the mirror, already flipping through his closet. Her eyes darted from one hanger to the next with a discerning glint. "Let's see… no tank tops today. You'll scare him."
"Would that be so bad?" Shin teased, arms crossed, amused at her intense fashion deliberation.
"Yes. We're going for charming boyfriend energy, not 'thirst trap'."
"I thought I was already both."
Ai threw a shirt at his face. "You're impossible."
He caught the shirt and smirked. "You like me that way."
Blushing faintly, Ai turned her attention back to the clothes. "Flirting won't distract me. We have work to do!"
They settled into a rhythm. Ai would pull out an outfit, Shin would try it on, and she'd either pout in disapproval or beam with delight. Somewhere around outfit number five, Shin stepped out of the bathroom wearing a cream-colored knit sweater and dark tapered jeans.
Ai paused, hand on her chin. "Hmm. It's giving 'cozy but hot.' Not bad."
"You sound like a fashion influencer," Shin said, tugging at the hem of the sweater. "I kinda like this one. It's warm."
Ai walked up to him and adjusted his collar with care, fingers brushing his neck. "It suits you. You look like someone worth falling for."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Shin leaned in, catching her off guard with a soft kiss on her cheek. "Thanks, stylist-san."
Ai's cheeks turned a warm pink. "That's your payment?"
"No. This is."
He tilted her chin and pressed his lips to hers gently. It was slow and teasing—just enough to leave her breathless when they parted.
"I can't focus if you kiss me like that," she muttered, eyes dazed.
"Then don't focus."
Ai gave him a playful shove, grinning wide. "Onii-chan, you're a menace!"
"I've been told." He sat back on the edge of the bed, patting the space beside him. "Come here."
She hesitated for only a second before sitting beside him. "What now? More kisses?"
He shrugged. "Only if my designer wants them."
Ai giggled and leaned on his shoulder. "You're flustered. Even if you hide it."
"…A little," Shin admitted. "It's the first time I've really asked anyone out. For real."
Ai looked up at him. "You didn't even ask me out like that."
Shin smiled down at her, brushing her bangs aside. "I didn't have to. You were already mine."
Ai blushed furiously and turned away. "D-don't say that all casually…"
Shin chuckled. "You brought it up."
She huffed, then peeked up at him again, mischief returning to her expression. "Still… you're dressing up for Yuki-San."
Shin nodded. "Yeah."
"You care that much?"
"…Yeah."
Ai's gaze softened. "Then you should wear this."
She got up, walked to the side table, and picked up a bracelet—a simple, black leather band with a small silver cat charm dangling from it.
"I bought it a while ago. For you. But I think today's the day to wear it."
Shin took it from her, his thumb brushing over the charm. "A cat?"
"Because you're chasing one, obviously," Ai said with a wink.
He chuckled and slipped it on. "You're way too clever sometimes."
"Only sometimes?"
"Always."
Ai sat back down beside him, this time tucking herself under his arm. "You're going to look amazing. And I know Yuki-kun's going to freak out the second he sees you."
Shin gave a soft smile. "Let's hope he doesn't run away."
"He won't," Ai said firmly. "He might blush so hard he explodes, but he'll stay."
Shin laughed at the image. "I'll count on that."
Ai tilted her head. "You're really into him, huh?"
"…Yeah," Shin replied after a pause. "Even when he gets all defensive and tsundere… I can't help but like him."
Ai sighed dramatically. "Fine. I guess I'll have to settle for being your number two."
"You'll always be number one in a different way."
"Promise?"
"Always."
She leaned in and kissed his jaw softly. "Then good luck today, Onii-chan. But if things don't go well…"
Shin raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
Ai smirked. "You know where to come crying."
Shin grinned. "Noted."
They sat there in silence for a few more minutes, Ai snuggled into his side, Shin's arm around her shoulder. The room was filled with warmth, quiet laughter, and the promise of a day that would change everything.
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END OF CHAPTER : 34 : DRESS-UP TROUBLE!
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