Emi Aoyama's bedroom had exploded. At least, that's what it looked like—clothes draped over every available surface, shoes scattered across the floor, and accessories hanging from doorknobs, desk lamps, and even her ceiling fan. Standing in the middle of this fabric hurricane, Emi held up two different tops and fought the urge to scream.

Her laptop sat open on her desk, displaying a two-panel video call. Natalia's icon remained grayed out with a "Busy" status, which wasn't surprising. She'd been weirdly unavailable lately. Thankfully, the other members of what they'd dramatically named "The Bad B*tch Brigade" were present and accounted for.

"I don't get it!" Emi wailed, waving the hangers frantically. "He's smart, he's strong, he's hot... what's the dress code for a guy who's a walking cheat code?!"

In the top panel, Miyako continued filing her nails, her bright pink twin-tails bouncing as she tilted her head. The low-cut top she wore exposed her cleavage. "Simple. Less is more. Show him the goods. Give him a preview of the main event."

"It's a study date, Emi, not a mating ritual," Yumiko drawled from the bottom panel. Her black lipstick made a perfect contrast against her pale skin, and the silver chains hanging from her ears jingled when she moved. "Wear something with letters on it."

Emi sighed dramatically, tossing both options onto the rapidly growing pile on her bed. "You guys aren't helping! This isn't just any guy. This is Satori!"

"Yeah, yeah, the mysterious stepbrother who went from zero to hero overnight," Miyako rolled her eyes. "You've mentioned him once or twice... or fifty times."

"Because he's amazing!" Emi's hands flew up to her cheeks. "And I have no idea what I'm doing!"

Yumiko's eyebrow arched so high it nearly disappeared into her hairline. "You're studying. With books. You know, those rectangular objects with words inside them?"

"Okay, that's it," Emi planted her hands on her hips. "I'm doing a fashion show. You two are going to help me pick something before I lose my mind."

Miyako perked up immediately, tossing her nail file aside. "Now you're talking! Hit us with your best shot, girl!"

Emi adjusted her laptop for a better view, then disappeared into her closet. A few minutes later, she emerged wearing a tight black bodycon dress that clung to her curves like it had been painted on. The fabric strained across her chest and hugged the dramatic flare of her hips, leaving very little to the imagination.

Miyako's jaw dropped, her eyes widening comically. Her nail file clattered to the floor. "Holy... okay, wow. Wear that. He'll be drooling so much he'll need a bib. Forget studying, that's an outfit for making bad decisions."

"You look like you're applying for a job as a rich man's third wife," Yumiko said flatly. "He'll think you're trying too hard. Veto."

Emi turned to head back to the closet, giving her friends an unintentional view of the dress's back—or rather, the lack thereof. The low cut revealed the intricate straps of a matching black lace bra.

Miyako let out a wolf-whistle so loud Emi nearly jumped out of her skin. "Okay, Emi-chan! The foundation is SOLID! Even if he doesn't see it, you'll know. That's a power move right there."

"Stop it!" Emi squeaked, her face burning as she scurried back to the closet.

Her next appearance showcased a frilly, pastel pink sundress with enough layers to hide the Eiffel Tower. It billowed around her like a cloud of cotton candy, completely concealing her figure.

Miyako made a face. "Aww, you look like a cupcake. A delicious cupcake I want to eat, but still... too sweet. You're bringing a water pistol to a Gate run."

"You look like you're going to a five-year-old's birthday party," Yumiko added.

Emi groaned, flopping onto the small section of her bed not covered in clothes. "This is hopeless. Maybe I should just cancel."

"Look, Emi," Miyako leaned toward her camera, her expression suddenly serious. "Are we sure this guy is worth all this effort? Is he even on your level of hotness? We need proof of life here."

Emi bit her lip, her hands fidgeting with the frilly hem of the sundress. "Well... he, um... he sent me this yesterday..." Her fingers trembled slightly as she forwarded Satori's gym selfie to the group chat.

A moment of silence fell as both girls checked their phones.

Miyako's reaction was immediate and explosive. She literally fell off her chair with a crash, only to pop back up, her face inches from the camera. "HOLY MOTHER OF APEX! EMI! YOU BURIED THE LEDE! That's not a boy, that's a goddamn building! A walking, talking demolition project... and my body is the condemned site! SEND ME HIS COORDINATES!"

Even Yumiko's wall of indifference cracked. Her eyes widened fractionally, and she slowly brought a hand up to her mouth, hiding what might have been a smile. She said nothing, but her silence spoke volumes. After a moment, she gave a single, sharp nod.

"See?" Emi's face was bright red, but she couldn't help the giddy smile spreading across her face. "And he's smart too! Last night we were talking about this reality show, and he knew all these insider details about how the Hunter guilds actually work, and—"

"Okay, okay, we get it. He's perfect," Miyako interrupted, fanning herself with her hand. "So let's make you perfect too. What else do you have in that fashion graveyard you call a closet?"

Energized by her friends' validation, Emi hurried back to search through the remaining options. She emerged wearing a soft, cream-colored off-the-shoulder sweater that hinted at her collarbones, paired with a pleated navy-blue skirt that ended mid-thigh.

"That's it," Miyako declared, pointing at the screen. "That's the one. It says 'I'm smart and sweet,' but the shoulders and legs say, '...and I'm a freak in the sheets.' It's perfect."

"It's acceptable," Yumiko agreed, which from her was practically a standing ovation. "You don't look desperate, but you don't look like a nun. Go with that one."

"You really think so?" Emi turned in front of the mirror, examining herself from different angles. The sweater was soft and feminine without being childish, and the skirt showed off her long legs while still looking appropriate for a café.

"Trust us," Miyako grinned. "He won't be able to focus on a single flash card."

After finalizing some accessories—simple silver studs for her ears, a delicate pendant necklace, and low-heeled ankle boots—Emi thanked her friends profusely.

"Just remember to text us updates," Miyako instructed. "I want to know if he's as impressive in person as he is in that photo."

"And don't do anything stupid," Yumiko added. "Study actual material, not his anatomy."

With final goodbyes, the video call ended, leaving Emi alone in the quiet chaos of her room. The giddy, high-energy atmosphere evaporated, replaced by a much more intimate and vulnerable silence.

She carefully laid out the chosen outfit on her bed, smoothing the fabric with her hands. Then she picked up her phone and looked at Satori's picture one more time—the confident smile, the powerful build, those eyes that seemed to see right through her.

Turning to her full-length mirror, Emi studied her reflection. Her sapphire-blue hair fell in soft waves around her face, framing her warm, reddish-brown eyes. The two strands that stuck up like antennae seemed particularly perky today, almost vibrating with excitement.

Was she really going to do this? A study date with Satori Nakano? The guy who'd gone from being Natalia's weird stepbrother to... whatever he was now? The transformation still baffled her. It wasn't just his physical appearance—though that alone was enough to make her heart race. It was the way he talked to her, really listened when she spoke about her healing Aspect, asked questions that made her feel like what she had to say mattered.

"This is just studying," she told her reflection firmly. "Don't make it weird."

Her phone pinged with a new message. Emi's heart jumped into her throat until she realized it wasn't from Satori but from her mother, asking if she could help with the lunch rush before her date.

"Not a date," Emi muttered, typing back a quick affirmative. "A study session. With books and flash cards and absolutely no kissing."

She glanced at her reflection one more time, taking in the girl looking back at her—bright-eyed, hopeful, a little terrified. Tomorrow she would wear the perfect outfit, style her hair just right, and try not to make a complete fool of herself in front of Satori Nakano.

But today, she had customers to serve and ramen to deliver. With a sigh, Emi changed into her work clothes and headed downstairs to help her family, leaving the chaos of her bedroom—and her thoughts—behind for now.

As she tied on her apron, Emi couldn't help wondering if Satori was thinking about their study date too. Was he trying on different outfits, asking friends for advice? Somehow, she doubted it. He seemed too confident, too self-assured to worry about such things.

Which only made her like him more.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.