Chapter 110: 110 | Final Electricity and the Fit of a Boyfriend

The space was smaller than he’d expected, barely enough room to turn around. Three mirrors showed him from every unflattering angle. The lighting was brutal, highlighting every imperfection.

He stripped down to his boxers, catching his reflection in the mirror. The Tune Up trait had done its work well. His body looked like it belonged to someone who spent hours at the gym daily instead of someone who’d only started working out this week. Defined chest, visible abs, arms with actual biceps.

Not bad.

Jordan pulled on the charcoal slacks first. They fit snugly around his waist and thighs, but not uncomfortably so. The navy button-down slid over his shoulders, the material softer than he’d expected. He tucked it in, fastened the belt, and stepped into the black leather shoes.

The transformation was immediate.

The guy in the mirror looked like someone else entirely. Someone who knew what a 401(k) was. Someone who used words like "portfolio" and "equity" in normal conversation. Someone who had his shit together.

Jordan turned, examining himself from different angles.

"Are you done in there?" Alexis called. "It doesn’t take that long to put on pants."

"Coming." Jordan pushed the curtain open and stepped out.

The reaction was instantaneous.

Kumiko gasped. "Wow!"

Chloe’s eyes widened slightly, her lips parting.

Alexis smiled with genuine satisfaction. "Much better than I expected."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?" Jordan asked.

"Both." Alexis stood and circled him, adjusting the shirt collar. "The fit is good. We’ll need the sleeves hemmed slightly. Step up on the platform."

Jordan did as instructed, feeling oddly vulnerable under their collective gaze.

"Turn," Alexis commanded.

He turned in a slow circle.

"The pants fit well across the back," Alexis noted. "Good. Most off-the-rack trousers bunch unattractively."

"Are you saying I have a nice ass?" Jordan couldn’t resist asking.

Alexis’s expression didn’t change. "I’m saying the trousers fit properly. Don’t flatter yourself."

"He does have a nice ass though," Kumiko stage-whispered to Chloe, who nodded slightly.

"Focus, please." Alexis tugged at the shirt hem. "We’ll need this taken in at the waist. And the jacket..." She dug through the pile and retrieved a navy blazer. "Try this."

Jordan slipped it on. The material was heavier than he expected, lined with something silky that slid against his arms.

"Better," Alexis declared. "Now you look presentable for dinner with your parents."

"Mom will be thrilled," Jordan said. "She’s been trying to get me into ’real clothes’ for years."

"Smart woman." Alexis straightened the lapels. "The tie though... hmm."

She sorted through several options before selecting a muted silver one with subtle diagonal stripes.

"Here." She handed it to him.

Jordan stared at it like she’d handed him a live snake. "I don’t know how to tie this."

Alexis sighed dramatically. "Of course you don’t."

"I can show him!" Kumiko jumped up.

"You?" Alexis scoffed. "When have you ever tied a tie?"

"I cosplayed as a businesswoman for Anime Expo last year. I learned for the costume."

"That’s not the same as—"

"I’ll do it." Chloe stood and took the tie from Jordan’s hand. "My dad wore one every day."

The room went quiet. Jordan saw something pass across Chloe’s face—a shadow, quickly hidden.

She stepped onto the platform in front of him, draping the tie around his collar. Her fingers worked with practiced ease, looping and folding.

"Windsor knot," she explained quietly. "Classic, symmetrical. Goes with anything."

Standing this close, Jordan could smell her shampoo. Vanilla with something floral underneath. Her fingers brushed against his throat as she tightened the knot, sending a shiver down his spine.

"There." She stepped back, examining her work. "Perfect."

Jordan turned to check his reflection. The tie completed the transformation. He hardly recognized himself.

"Damn," he said. "I look... adult."

"That was the goal." Alexis nodded approvingly. "Your parents will be impressed."

"My turn!" Kumiko grabbed her selections from the pile. "Try these next!"

Jordan accepted the bundle of clothing and retreated back into the fitting room.

Kumiko’s choices were exactly what he’d expected: distressed jeans, a graphic tee, and a black long sleeve undershirt.

He changed quickly and emerged from the fitting room.

Kumiko clapped her hands together. "Yes! See? This is what college guys actually wear!"

"This is what college dropouts wear," Alexis corrected. "It looks cheap."

"It looks comfortable," Chloe said. "And the jeans fit him well."

Jordan examined himself in the mirror. The outfit wasn’t bad. The jeans hugged his thighs in a way that showed off his gym progress. The upper half was softer than it looked.

"What does this say?" He pointed to the Japanese text on the sleeve.

"It says ’Ultimate Power,’" Kumiko translated.

"Does it really?"

"Well, it’s supposed to. But the characters are slightly wrong, so it actually says something closer to ’Final Electricity.’"

Alexis snorted. "Cultural appropriation at its finest."

"It’s not appropriation if—" Kumiko began.

"My turn," Chloe interrupted, handing Jordan her selections. "Basic but quality."

Jordan accepted the clothes and returned to the fitting room.

Chloe’s picks were simple: dark jeans, a white t-shirt that felt thicker and more substantial than his usual ones, and a charcoal grey button-up meant to be worn open over the tee.

He put them on and looked in the mirror. The outfit was simple, classic. Nothing flashy. But the fit was perfect. The jeans hung just right, not too tight or too loose. The t-shirt emphasized his shoulders without looking like he was trying too hard. The open button-up added just enough interest without being loud.

He stepped out.

Chloe’s smile was small but genuine. "That’s my boyfriend."

"Basic but effective," Alexis admitted.

"It’s boring," Kumiko complained. "But at least it fits him."

Jordan checked himself out in the big mirror. "I like it." He turned to Chloe. "You know me well."

"Well enough." Her eyes met his, something warm passing between them.

"We still have twenty more outfits to try," Alexis reminded them, gesturing to the remaining pile.

Jordan groaned.

"Think of it as an investment," Alexis said. "In your appearance."

"In your future," Kumiko added.

"In not looking like you just rolled out of bed," Chloe finished.

Jordan looked at the three women waiting expectantly. At the pile of clothes still to be tried. At his reflection in the mirror—different, better, upgraded.

This was his life now. Standing in a Nordstrom fitting room while three beautiful women argued about how to dress him. His past self would have killed for this scenario.

His current self was just grateful his arms had stopped hurting.

"Alright," he said. "What’s next?"