Saturday came and us three decided to go and pay the mall a visit.

Ryugazaki was wearing thick layers of clothing, a black mask, and dark sunglasses.

"The show Free! is very popular." He explained. "It's better to be safe than sorry."

Shintaro didn't wear any disguise. He doesn't really care at the moment.

I still haven't talked to Shintaro after yesterday and he did the same. That was the usual routine a week ago so it's not like it matters.

... Who am I kidding!? It matters! I mean, his smile is really refreshing! He doesn't look like a person that hates the world!

I badly miss it even though only a day has roughly passed.

"Are we just going to stand in the middle of the mall like an idiot you are?" Shintaro asked, arms crossed.

...

At least his fever has gotten down.

"I did some research." Ryugazaki said, adjusting his eyeglasses with a sly smile. "Getting you nice clothing will be as easy as picking swimming trunks."

I don't think both works the same way.

"Let's get started!" He said, grabbing me by the wrist and walking away.

"Wait." A hand held me by my other wrist. "I m-mean.. D-don't do skinship too much." It was Shintaro.

"That doesn't make much sense but alright." Ryugazaki said.

I agree with Ryugazaki. That doesn't make sense.

"Is that a cosplayer?" A girl asked in a loud whisper. "I think he is!"

"Oh right! He's cosplaying as Midorima Shintaro from Kuroko's Basketball!"

"Maybe we should ask for a picture!"

"He looks exactly just like what I imagined if ever Shintaro is a real person!"

"Let's go!"

"I'm going to share this in my BookFace account!"

Uh oh.

"This is what I was fearing." Ryugazaki whispered to himself.

Shintaro froze in one place, not being able to know what to do as group of girls started to surround him.

I was internally panicking myself. Those girls look really like hungry hyenas right now who saw a meaty steak after five years of starvation.

"... You're a hero, Midorima." Ryugazaki gave the green haired guy a pat in back.

"W-what?" Shintaro asked, confused.

I don't like where this is going. Wait, I do. More like 50-50.

"We are both indebted to you."

With those last words, Ryugazaki carried me in his arms and made a mad dash away from the crowd and Shintaro.

"You basta-" his voice melted against the squeals of the crowd.

~~~~~~

Ryugazaki settled me down on the ground. He was sweating but despite that, his breathing was only a bit ragged.

Well, he was a runner back in his world so that explains it. I've seen posts about his show in my Thumbtks account. Watching the show itself will take some effort (since I'm lazy) so I decided against it. I ship him with the blonde haired guy.

On a darker, hopeful note, I hope that Shintaro will be able to escape those aggressive girls that might steal his underwear while he was wearing it.

I took out my handkerchief from my bag, thinking about such thoughts.

"Well, now that it's peaceful-" he stopped once he felt the cloth hitting his face lightly.

I wiped off the sweat that was slowly sliding down from his forehead, making sure that the small fabric won't feel too rough against his skin.

"Wh-wh-what are you doing?" He panicked but had kept still, not moving an inch.

"You're sweating way too much." I answered. "You might catch a cold again."

His ears turned red. "Can I be the one to do it then?"

"Oh yeah. I haven't thought of that." I handed him the handkerchief which he took.

He wiped his face delicately and looked around the surrounding. "I'll just put it in the laundry later." And kept the handkerchief in his pocket.

"What clothes do you have in mind?" He asked after a long while.

"If you're asking me then I'll go with jogging pants and t-shirt-"

"No, that's wrong." He interfered.

Why did he ask for my opinion if he'll just brush it off? I lightly frowned, crossing my arms.

"That's a no-no. Guys prefer girls who knows how to dress up." He started to walk ahead and so, I followed him behind.

Is that really the case on all guys?

"How about you, Ryugazaki?" I asked. "Do you prefer girls that dress up?"

He abruptly stopped, making me hit his back.

"Yeesh, man." I complained, rubbing my nose that took all the impact.

"Wh-what?"

"I mean, you keep talking about men generally." I responded as we started to walk forward again.

"Ah, I see." I can imagine him adjusting his eyeglasses. "I researched about things like this and cite them accordingly." He answered. "I don't want to speak without any fact or facts that would support my claims."

Man, what's up with his brain?

"Maybe you should try speaking for yourself once in a while." I finally said.

We stopped at the ladies' section and randomly searched through the racks of clothing.

"Express yourself freely. If you let your brain work in one perfect still track, you won't be able to enjoy what life has to give." I continued and faced him. "Why not try being more free? " came my question as I looked at him and flashed a sheepish grin.

His eyes widened. He opened his mouth a couple of times but he ended up saying nothing. Did I just say something stupid or something?

"I..." His face went red as the frame of his glasses. He started to reach out his hand to my face.

...Is he going to touch me?

My own face got flushed itself. My heart started to beat a bit faster than usual.

But I didn't move.

I can't move.

His hand stopped.

Why did he stop?

Wait, did I just get disappointed?

"Wear this!" He suddenly exclaimed, throwing a random dress on my face.

Ouch! The hanger hit my face!

He made me face the opposite side and gave me one gentle push forward.

"I'll be waiting outside! Take your time! You can definitely take an hour! I-I know it's hard to dress up that fast! Go on! Look perfect! Live your life..!" He rambled on and on until I entered the fitting room.

...What did just happen?

~~~~~~

"Ryugazaki?" I called out, from behind the curtains.

"Yes?"

"I'm done dressing up."

I've been checking out all the dresses that can be found in the store and so far, Ryugazaki rejected them all.

My patience is wearing thin and one more rejection will lead to a broken jaw.

"Let me see."

I obeyed and went out the cramped room. I twirled fast as he would like me to do for the past dresses and held my arms wide.

"Perfect." He did a thumbs up.

I literally squealed, jumping up and down.

"At last! I'm coming home!" I cheered, holding my arms up and waving them from side to side.

"Next are shoes."

What the fuck!

~~~~~~

After four hours of Ryugazaki's lecture about the perfection of wearing clothes, he finally ended our journey to the mall.

I'm so tired that I can sleep on the bed displays that we pass by.

Shintaro was already safe an hour ago and was spamming Ryugazaki with multiple text messages since then.

'Where are you?'

'Why are you taking so long?'

'Are you alright?'

'Is she alright?'

'Did she got hurt?'

Ryugazaki said that he replied with the location where we'll meet.

"Today was a fruitful one." Ryugazaki said out of the blue.

I nodded.

At least I have presentable clothes, I guess. I can go to the date with chin held up high.

"And about what you said awhile ago..." Which one? "...I think you're right."

"You were the second one to tell me that." He chuckled, looking at me whilst his eyes seemed to glimmer. "It felt refreshing."

...I don't have a clue what he was talking about so I'll just nod.

A familiar silhouette of a green haired male came to my view.

Ryugazaki started to speak again.

"It would be perfect if you will start calling me Rei. I bet that it will sound magnificent with your voice." He walked faster, not sparing another glance towards my direction.

I can feel my heart beating fast again. Why does this keep happening these days!? It's getting defective!

This heart should only beat fast when thinking of Akiyama-sempai!
Girl, get your shit right!

Shintaro soon saw us and started to run towards me, face inflicted with worry. He called out my name, voice filled with concern.

My heart tripled it's rate of beating.

...

These two guys are starting to give me a heart disease.

-------------