The walk back to the station after the Sunday fitting was much lighter than their previous meetings.
The evening air felt cool against their faces, and the streetlights were just beginning to flicker on, casting long and steady shadows across the pavement.
Marin was humming a tune from a recent anime opening, her steps light as she swung her bag at her side.
Wakana walked a half-step behind her, his hands tucked into his pockets. He could still feel the faint sensation of her pinky hooked around his from just a few minutes ago.
It was not a world-shaking event, but it felt like a comfortable reality that he was starting to get used to.
"I still can't believe how good that uniform looks, Wakana," Marin said, spinning around to face him while walking backward. "I have seen a lot of school uniform cosplays at conventions, but the way you handled the twill is just different."
Wakana smiled, looking down at his shoes to hide a bit of the heat rising in his face. "It is all about the interfacing, Marin. If you do not support the collar and the cuffs, the whole silhouette falls apart. Especially for a character like Riko, where the sailor collar is such a big part of her design."
"Whatever you say, Mr. Expert," she teased, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "But we still have one big problem. The wig. I tried to style it myself last night, and let us just say Riko ended up looking more like she survived a windstorm than a trip to the beach."
Wakana laughed. "Well, I can sew, but I am definitely not a hair stylist. I can paint a Hina doll's hair with a brush, but synthetic fibers for a human are a completely different beast."
"That is why I called in the big guns," Marin said, stopping in front of the station turnstiles. "I made an appointment at the salon for Wednesday. You are coming with me, right? I told Riho-san that the designer needs to be there to approve the final look."
Wakana blinked. "Me? I do not want to get in the way of a professional."
"Nonsense! You are part of the team," Marin insisted, grabbing his sleeve and giving it a firm tug. "Besides, I want you to see the shop. It is super cool."
"Well... Alright then."
...
The next few days at school were relatively normal.
The group of friends that Wakana had recently integrated with stayed true to their word about giving them space. Kensei Morita and Shiki Kashiwagi were surprisingly well-behaved, mostly just throwing knowing glances at Wakana during lunch.
Takeru Koga's lecture on boundaries seemed to have actually stuck, which Wakana was grateful for. He did not think he could handle Kensei asking for a play-by-play of the Sunday fitting.
Wednesday arrived quickly.
After the final bell rang, Marin practically dragged Wakana out of the classroom. They took the train a few stops over to a district known for its high-end boutiques and trendy shops.
The place Marin led him to was called A I R S Salon. Even from the outside, it looked incredibly professional. The windows were floor-to-ceiling glass, and the interior was a minimalist dream of white marble and black accents.
As they pushed the door open, a bell chimed softly. The air inside smelled of expensive shampoo and something floral.
"Marin! You are right on time!" a clear and welcoming voice called out.
Walking toward them was a woman who radiated authority and style.
She had long, rich brown hair that was neatly braided and swept over to her left shoulder. She wore a stylish but practical work outfit that showed she was the one in charge of the floor.
This was Riho Aizawa, the head stylist and owner.
"Riho-san!" Marin chirped, giving a small wave. "I brought him! This is Wakana Gojo, the one I told you about."
Riho stopped in front of them, her eyes scanning Wakana from head to toe with sharp precision. It was not a mean look, but it was incredibly intense, as if she were mentally mapping him out.
"So, this is the famous Gojo-kun," Riho said, a small and knowing smirk playing on her lips. "I was expecting a dedicated craftsman, but I did not realize he would be such an ikemen. Marin, you have good taste in both designers and company."
Marin's face turned pink in an instant. "It is not like that! I mean, he is an ikemen, but he is also a genius at designing clothes and making them!"
Wakana bowed deeply, his nerves flaring up a little. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Riho-san. I am sorry to intrude on your workspace."
"Oh, do not be so stiff," Riho laughed, waving him off. "Any friend of Marin's is welcome here. I saw the photos she sent me of the Mirajane dress. Your attention to detail is impressive for someone so young."
"Come on back," Riho directed, leading them toward the styling stations. "The crew is already here. We were just talking about your project."
As they moved into the main area of the salon, Wakana noticed two men standing near a table where Marin's navy blue Riko Amanai wig was laid out.
One was a man with short black hair and a sharp undercut. He had a calm but somewhat mischievous expression. This was Manabu Hasegawa.
Next to him was a younger man who looked a bit more energetic and was currently adjusting a set of styling tools. This was Hikaru Kikuchi.
"Manabu, Hikaru, this is Gojo-kun," Riho announced.
Manabu looked Wakana up and down, then let out a low whistle. "Damn, Marin. You were not kidding. He really is a stud. When are you going to let me style him? I could make him even more of a stud if you give me thirty minutes."
Marin groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Manabu-san, please! We are here for the wig! Focus!"
"I am focusing," Manabu said, though his eyes were twinkling with mischief. He turned to Wakana. "I am the nail stylist here, but I help with the complex wig builds too. I heard you are handling the Jujutsu Kaisen costumes. That is a bold choice. The simplicity of those designs means the tailoring has to be perfect, or it just looks like cheap school wear."
"I agree," Wakana said, finding his voice as they moved into technical territory. "That is why I chose a heavier polyester twill. It gives the uniform the weight it needs to look like a real garment."
Hikaru stepped forward, nodding to Wakana. "Nice to meet you. I am Hikaru. I handle the base styling and heat setting. Marin told us you even put a wire in the headband?"
"I did," Wakana said, stepping closer to the wig. "I was worried that the weight of the bow might cause the headband to slip, or that it would crush the volume of the bangs. I wanted it to be poseable so Marin could adjust it for different camera angles."
"That is smart," Hikaru said, looking impressed. "Most people just glue it and hope for the best. Riho-san, I think we can use a bit of backcombing at the roots to create a cushion for that wire to sit on. It will keep the height without looking messy."
Riho picked up a pair of thinning shears, the blades glinting under the salon lights. "Now, for the length. Marin, sit down."
Marin hopped into the chair, and Riho draped a black cape over her. Since they were styling the wig on a mannequin head first, Marin was just there to provide the face shape reference. Riho placed the mannequin head on a stand directly next to Marin's own head.
"Gojo-kun, come over here," Riho commanded. "I want you to tell me exactly where you want the bangs to hit. As the designer, you know the proportions of the collar better than anyone."
Wakana stepped close to the chair. He looked at Marin's face, then at the wig. He had to be precise. He reached out, his fingers hovering just an inch from the synthetic navy blue hair.
"The character's bangs are usually cut straight across, but they have a slight softness at the edges to frame her jaw," Wakana explained, his voice becoming steady and focused. "If we cut them too high, it will make her face look too round. If we go too low, they will get caught in her eyelashes when she smiles."
"He is right," Manabu muttered from the side, leaning against a counter. "He understands the framing. You really do have the eyes of an artist, Gojo-kun."
Riho began to snip, the sound of the scissors a rhythmic click in the quiet shop. As she worked, Manabu kept up a steady stream of conversation, mostly aimed at flustering the two teenagers.
"So, Gojo-kun," Manabu said, crossing his arms. "How long have you been making clothes for Marin? She is a very particular client, is she not?"
"It has only been a few months," Wakana replied honestly. "But she is not difficult. She knows exactly what she loves, which makes my job much easier. Her passion for the characters is inspiring."
"Inspiring, huh?" Hikaru asked with a small smile. "Most boys your age would just say she is cute in the outfits. You are talking about her heart. That is a very dangerous way to look at a girl, Gojo-kun. You might find yourself unable to look away."