Chapter 108: 108 | A Shopping Trip is a Four-Sided War

Kumiko waved both arms above her head like she was trying to flag down a rescue helicopter.

Chloe’s grip on Jordan’s hand became a vice. The kind of grip that suggested she was resisting the urge to use his hand as a weapon.

Jordan felt every knuckle press into his palm. Not quite jealousy. More like a dog watching another dog approach its favorite person. Territorial. Aware.

As they got closer, Jordan registered what both girls had actually chosen to wear on a Thursday morning.

Kumiko had gone full Harajuku street style. The pastel purple crop hoodie stopped three inches above her navel and the fabric looked like it’d been made from recycled teddy bears. Fuzzy. Soft. Aggressively cute. Her midriff was on full display. Toned from whatever exercise regimen she pretended wasn’t exercise. The kind of abs you got from dancing in your room and calling it cardio.

The black pleated skirt hit mid-thigh and swished with every movement. Probably had shorts built in underneath. Probably cost more than shorts had any right to cost.

White thigh-high socks went up to about three inches below the skirt hem. That strip of bare skin between fabric and fabric was the kind of design choice that fashion magazines called "playful" and Jordan’s brain called "dangerous to look at directly."

Purple platform sneakers added another three inches to her height. Made her bounce when she walked. Everything about Kumiko’s movement suggested she was operating at a higher energy frequency than the rest of humanity.

Her twin tails were tied with purple ribbons today. Same hairstyle. Different color coordination. The ribbons bounced as she waved.

She looked like she’d robbed a Shibuya boutique and worn the evidence.

Alexis stood beside Kumiko with her arms crossed over her chest and her weight shifted onto her left hip. The posture of someone who was already bored with this interaction and it hadn’t even started yet.

She wore a cream sweater dress that probably had a brand name Jordan couldn’t pronounce. The knit was thick enough to maintain dignity but tight enough to advertise assets. The dress hugged her figure from shoulders to knees like it’d been tailored to her exact measurements.

Which it probably had been.

Tan leather boots came up to mid-calf. Low heel. Practical by Alexis standards. A brown leather crossbody bag hung at her side. Probably Italian. Definitely expensive. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a sleek low ponytail without a single strand out of place.

She looked like she’d just stepped out of a CEO’s daughter photoshoot. Old money in human form. The kind of wealth that didn’t need to announce itself because everyone already knew.

Both girls were objectively gorgeous in completely opposite directions.

Kumiko with her bright chaotic energy and anime protagonist aesthetic. Alexis with her cold controlled elegance and trust fund confidence.

Jordan felt Chloe’s hand squeeze his again. Harder this time. A reminder. A warning. A statement.

Right. His girlfriend was standing next to him. Wearing zero makeup and an outfit that cost a tenth of what either of these girls had on. And somehow still managing to look better because she wasn’t trying to look better.

He looked down at Chloe. Took in the details he’d already memorized. Black leggings that actually fit instead of squeezing. Oversized grey hoodie hanging open over a white crop top. White sneakers that’d seen actual use. Her blue streak tucked behind her ear where it kept falling forward because she hadn’t bothered with hairspray.

Jordan squeezed back.

Chloe’s expression shifted. Not quite a smile. Just a reduction in tension around her eyes.

Kumiko bounced forward and threw both arms around Chloe in a hug that lifted her half an inch off the ground.

"You look so cute today!"

"More like I look comfortable." Chloe returned the hug but kept her tone flat. "You look like you’re about to debut as the mascot for a Japanese candy company."

"That’s the goal." Kumiko spun in a circle, making her skirt flare. "Jordan, rate my outfit. One to ten."

Jordan’s brain stalled.

This was a trap.

Every possible answer was wrong.

"Uh. Solid eight?"

"Eight?" Kumiko pouted. "What’s wrong with it?"

"Nothing. It’s great. Very you."

"That’s not a ten though."

"A ten would be illegal for my girlfriend to wear in public."

Kumiko’s face went bright red. She smacked his arm.

"Jordan!"

Alexis sighed and uncrossed her arms. "Can we please focus? We’re here to shop, not validate Kumiko’s attention seeking."

"I’m not attention seeking!" Kumiko turned to face Alexis. "I just have confidence in my style."

"Your style is aggressively juvenile."

"Your style is aggressively boring."

"Boring?" Alexis’s voice went sharp. "This dress cost more than your entire outfit."

"That doesn’t make it good."

"Girls." Chloe stepped between them. "We’re here to help Jordan look presentable. Can we save the fashion debate for later?"

Both Kumiko and Alexis turned to look at Jordan.

He suddenly felt like a science experiment.

"Where should we start?" Kumiko tapped her chin. "Basics? Shoes? Accessories?"

"We should establish a budget first." Alexis pulled out her phone. "Fashion Island stores run expensive. If we’re shopping Nordstrom versus H&M that changes the entire strategy."

Jordan shrugged. "Budget isn’t really an issue."

All three girls looked at him.

"What do you mean it’s not an issue?" Alexis narrowed her eyes.

"I mean I have money. We can shop wherever."

"How much money?"

"Enough."

Alexis studied him like she was calculating net worth in her head. Her blue eyes scanned his face, his clothes, his posture. Looking for tells.

"Trust fund?" she finally asked.

"Something like that."

"Interesting." Alexis’s expression shifted slightly. Not impressed. More like filing information for later use. "In that case we should start at Nordstrom. They have the best selection for formal wear and their tailoring service is same-day if we pay the rush fee."

"Nordstrom is so corporate though." Kumiko grabbed Jordan’s arm. "We should go to Zara or All Saints. Somewhere with personality."

"Zara?" Alexis’s voice dripped disdain. "You want to dress him in fast fashion?"

"It’s called accessible style."

"It’s called disposable garbage."

Chloe looked up at Jordan with tired eyes. "This is going to be a long afternoon."

Jordan grinned. "Yeah. But at least we’ll look good at the end of it."

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

Probably the System telling him he’d completed another daily quest objective.

Three different beauties.

Two hours of conversation minimum.

He was definitely hitting that today.

Jordan pulled Chloe closer with his arm around her waist. She fit perfectly against his side.

Kumiko was still arguing with Alexis about color theory and seasonal palettes.

The fountain behind them burbled peacefully.

Afternoon sun filtered through the palm trees lining the walkway.

Jordan checked his phone quickly while the girls debated.

$2,847.21

By the end of today that number would be higher.

Jordan locked his phone and looked at his girlfriend. "Ready?"

Chloe rolled her eyes but she was smiling. "Let’s go before they start throwing hands."

"Ten bucks says Kumiko swings first."

"Deal. My money’s on Alexis."