You and Mina step into the trendiest store in the mall, immediately greeted by neon lights, upbeat music, and rows of colorful racks. Mina’s eyes light up like she’s just entered a candy shop.   “Ooooh, that jacket is so you!” she squeals, grabbing a cropped neon-green bomber and tossing it at you playfully. “Try it on or I’m disowning you as my shopping partner.”

You laugh, catching the jacket. “Only if you try on that sparkly skirt,” you say, pointing toward a display. Mina gasps dramatically.   “Say less!”

As the two of you start gathering a small mountain of outfits, the conversation naturally shifts to the real fun: gossip.

“So,” Mina says, wiggling her brows as you both head to the fitting rooms. “Did you see the way Kaminari was staring at Jirou’s earrings yesterday? Homeboy was about to short-circuit himself.”

You smirk. “Please. He’s been down so bad since first year. Jirou just pretends she doesn’t notice.”

Mina giggles from inside her fitting room. “Iconic. But I know she totally notices. She even asked me if I thought he looked cute in that hoodie. That’s progress!”

You peek out wearing the bomber jacket, striking a mock model pose. “How do I look?”

“Like you’re about to walk the runway at Tokyo Fashion Week,” Mina says, emerging in a shimmery purple top and pleated skirt, spinning dramatically. “Okay—but how about me?”