A Shopping Pseudo-Date With Toko-senpai!

While waiting for the pants to be hemmed, Toko-senpai and I stepped into a nearby coffee shop. As she sipped her caffè latte, she offered some advice.

“In the beginning, it’s best to just wear the sets exactly as we bought them today. Then you can gradually buy pieces that complement them. Even with the same bottoms, changing the top can completely change your impression.”

“I see,” I replied noncommittally.

“Also, while you’re still getting your bearings with fashion, you should probably avoid busy patterns. Even if you think it looks good, others might think it clashes. And stay away from vintage or second-hand clothes for now. Judging the quality and fit of vintage items is actually quite difficult.”

“That makes sense.”

To be honest, that was about the only response I could muster.

“And here’s a crucial point: no matter how good the clothes are, it’s all wasted if your posture or way of walking is bad. Pay attention to how you carry yourself. First, no slouching. Science and engineering students spend so much time at computers that many end up with rounded shoulders. Keep your spine straight—imagine a thread pulling you up from the crown of your head. As for how to walk, I’ll explain that properly next time we have a chance.”

As I took these tips to heart, a question began to form.

How does Toko-senpai know so much about fashion? It’s not just following trends; she’s giving confident advice on clothes for average guys like me. She’s even critiquing posture and gait. Is there a reason for this?

“Toko-senpai, how did you become so knowledgeable about fashion?”

She looked momentarily taken aback.

“Eh? Well, you know, it’s because… I’m a girl.”

“But the clothes you’re picking are for men. And you aren’t just choosing trendy stuff; you’re picking things that make an ordinary guy look presentable. I can feel a sense of confidence in your choices. To top it off, you’re pointing out posture and walking style. It feels like there’s a real basis for it…”

Toko-senpai averted her eyes and looked down for a moment. Finally, she looked back up with a look of resignation.

“Actually… without telling anyone, I used to be a reader model for a fashion magazine. Because of that, I had many opportunities to hear about all kinds of fashion, for both men and women.”

“A reader model?”

I repeated the words, but I wasn’t actually that surprised. With her looks and figure, it made perfect sense that she could work as a model.

“Yeah. I was scouted in Shinjuku when I was in high school. I didn’t actually start the work until after I passed my university exams. I turned them down at first, but the scout was very persistent, and when I looked into it, the agency was legitimate. I was officially signed with them for a while. I thought, ‘If I can wear cute, feminine clothes, maybe it’ll be fun.’”

“So that’s why you mentioned walking style, not just coordination. How long did you do it for?”

“Only last year. I appeared in a few magazines under the name ‘SAKURAKO’.”

“So you aren’t doing it anymore?”

“No. My name became more well-known than I expected, and I hated the idea of not being able to lead a normal student life. Plus, around spring, the agency people started asking if I’d be interested in doing gravure modeling. I had no intention of going that far.”

Certainly, someone with her figure would be successful in gravure. She’s slender, yet her bust is ample—the ideal silhouette for many men.

“Please, don’t tell anyone. I’ve kept it a secret this whole time,” she said, her eyes pleading.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul.”

Then, another thought occurred to me.

“If you were a fashion model, you must have seen plenty of cute girls and worn those kinds of clothes. Why did you need to ask me about it?”

Toko-senpai shook her head.

“I was mostly assigned ‘chic’ or sophisticated fashion. I didn’t have much to do with the ‘ultra-girly’ styles. More importantly, what I want to know isn’t about ‘cute clothes’; I want to know about ‘cute girls’ in general—the kind that guys look at and feel like they want to protect.”

I see. Even being a beauty doesn’t mean everything goes perfectly.

After waiting about an hour, we returned to ZU, picked up my clothes, and headed home. On the train, I thanked her again.

“Thank you so much for today. Thanks to you, I have three ‘best’ outfits I can feel confident in.”

After all, they were hand-picked by Toko-senpai. They were a sure thing.

“You’re welcome. It was my first time choosing clothes for a guy, so I actually had a lot of fun,” she replied with a bright smile.

Seeing that smile, I felt a sense of healing wash over me.

“Next time you have a chance, would you help me pick out some winter clothes too?”

“Of course. X-Day is in winter, after all. We have to make sure you look perfect for the occasion.”

She then pointed a finger playfully at me.

“Before that, don’t forget my ‘reward’.”

“I haven’t. I’m currently putting my thoughts together.”

“I wonder when I’ll get to see it?”

“Hmm, I feel like my perspective alone isn’t enough, so I was thinking of asking some other guys for their input…”

“Hey! Don’t go spreading the word! I’d be mortified if people found out!”

“Ah, sorry. You’re right. But my opinion alone might be a bit biased…”

“It’s fine! Just your personal preferences are enough. Just tell me soon.”

“Got it. Maybe by next Monday, then.”

“Honestly… if I hadn’t warned you, you probably would have tried to start a poll online or something!”

I gave a wry smile. In fact, I had been halfway considering doing exactly that.