❝𝕭𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝕴𝖓 𝕬𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓❜❜ || Goyuu || JJK || Actor AU ♥

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 2

"So," Nobara started, glancing over her shoulder at Yuuji as they strolled down the crowded street, the sun hanging lazily in the afternoon sky. "Where do you want to go first?"

Yuuji walked a little behind, hands shoved into his hoodie pockets as he weaved through the steady flow of people on the bustling sidewalk. Buildings towered over them, their windows lined with storefronts—each one flashing colorful displays or advertising the latest sales. The street was alive with energy: couples chatting over iced coffees, tourists snapping pictures, and a symphony of footsteps tapping against the pavement.

"I don't know, to be honest," Yuuji shrugged, sidestepping a group of teenagers laughing as they passed. "What about you?"

Nobara's eyes scanned the storefronts with sharp intent, her pace quickening as if she were hunting for something. Then, her gaze landed on a small boutique tucked between two larger stores, its window display full of stylish outfits on sleek, white mannequins.

A grin split her face as she pointed towards it. "There!" Without waiting for a response, she darted ahead, weaving through the crowd like a crazed mother looking for her lost child.

Yuuji sighed, muttering apologies as he squeezed between passersby, his eyes glued to the back of Nobara's head. She disappeared into the store, leaving Yuuji to navigate the entrance, narrowly avoiding knocking into a display of scarves by the door.

Inside, the store was cozy, illuminated by warm, diffused lighting. It wasn't big, but it had an air of trendy sophistication. Glossy mannequins stood posed in carefully chosen outfits, each one designed to catch the eye. Racks of shirts, jackets, and accessories lined the walls, while tables were neatly arranged with folded pants, skirts, and shorts. Soft music played overhead, blending with the quiet chatter of other shoppers.

Nobara was already rifling through a rack of shirts, her fingers deftly flipping through the hangers. Yuuji caught up, standing a few feet behind her as he glanced around at the neatly arranged clothing. He wasn't much of a shopper, but there was something relaxing about this place, the kind of store where you could lose track of time just browsing.

"Yuuji," Nobara called, holding up a black jacket with metal embellishments on the sleeves. "What do you think? Badass or too much?"
He scratched his head. "Uh, badass, I guess?"
She rolled her eyes, smirking. "You have no taste." Tossing the jacket back onto the rack, she wandered deeper into the store, humming to herself.

Yuuji took his time to wander away from Nobara, his pace slowing as he drifted toward the men's section of the store. The layout mirrored the women's side: racks of neatly hung shirts, folded pants arranged on wooden tables, and mannequins dressed in the latest trends for mens.

He stopped at the pants first, flipping through the various styles—skinny, straight leg, cropped—but nothing really grabbed his attention. His mind wandered. It felt good to take a break, to focus on something mundane for a change, even if the idea of shopping wasn't exactly his favorite pastime.

After giving up on the pants, he strolled over to the shirts. His fingers glided over the fabric, pushing hanger after hanger aside until a particular shirt caught his eye. It was simple: a plain white tee, but what stood out were the bold black characters printed on the front. They spelled out 赤い糸—Red Thread.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Yuuji's mouth as he picked it up. The phrase brought a wave of nostalgia, something that stirred in the back of his mind. He'd seen someone wear this before, though he couldn't quite remember who. Maybe it was just one of those things—a random memory surfacing from his past, tied to someone or something important.