The weekend arrived with clear skies and a cool breeze. Their new mother clapped her hands together at breakfast.
"Alright, girls. Today we're going shopping. You'll each need some proper clothes for school and home."
Mika's ears perked up immediately. "Shopping?! Finally! I'm gonna get the coolest hoodie ever."
"You already have a hoodie," Nari muttered, chewing on her toast.
"This one has a hole in the pocket," Mika said, tugging at it dramatically. "My snacks keep falling out."
Sayo sighed. "That's because you ripped it open to hide cookies."
Yua's ears twitched quietly as she nibbled on her jammed bread. She didn't say anything, but her tail swayed at the thought of having something of her own.
---
The mall was bustling when they arrived. Lights, chatter, and music filled the air. The girls stuck close together, wide-eyed at the towering shelves of clothes and racks lined with colors and patterns.
"Remember," their father said, pointing like a general leading his troops. "Pick clothes you'll actually wear, not just things you think look funny." His eyes subtly lingered on Mika.
Mika grinned. "No promises!"
---
The first stop was the girls' clothing section.
Mika darted straight to a rack of oversized hoodies. She held up a neon orange one with cat paw prints on the sleeves. "This screams ME!"
Nari groaned. "That screams disaster." She instead reached for a sleek black jacket with silver zippers. She pulled it on and turned to the mirror, smirking. "Now this is style."
"You look like you're joining a biker gang," Sayo deadpanned.
"Better than looking like a traffic cone," Nari shot back.
Meanwhile, Sayo herself was calmly browsing simple, functional outfits—white shirts, dark skirts, and neat cardigans. She folded one carefully over her arm. "These will be fine."
"Ugh, you're so boring," Mika complained.
"Not everyone wants to look like they escaped from a circus," Sayo replied coolly.
Yua, who had been hovering quietly, finally reached out and picked up a cream-colored dress with soft ribbons. She hesitated, clutching it to her chest. "Do you… think this looks nice?"
Mika's face lit up. "Ohhh, you'd look adorable in that!"
Nari blinked, caught off guard, then muttered, "Yeah… it suits you. Better than those baggy sweaters you keep stealing from Mika."
Yua's cheeks turned pink, and her tail flicked nervously, but she smiled—small, shy, and genuine.
---
Of course, chaos soon followed.
Mika disappeared into a changing room and came back out wearing a hoodie five sizes too big. "Look! Now I'm a blanket!" she shouted, spreading her arms.
Nari immediately smacked her. "You're embarrassing us!"
But then Yua tugged on Nari's sleeve and whispered, "You… tried on that jacket, right? Show us properly."
Nari blinked. After a moment of hesitation, she pulled it on again and posed. To her shock, all three of her sisters clapped.
"…Stop laughing," Nari grumbled, hiding her face. But her tail was swishing in delight.
Sayo, ever the calm one, finished paying for everyone's chosen outfits after convincing Mika not to waste their budget on cat-ear hats ("You already have ears, Mika.").
---
By the time they left the mall, each girl carried a bag with clothes that reflected her perfectly:
Mika with her bright new hoodie and sneakers.
Nari with her cool, sharp jacket.
Sayo with neat, tidy uniforms.
Yua with her soft dress.
On the way home, Mika bounced in her seat. "We're gonna look amazing at school tomorrow!"
Nari smirked. "Yeah. No one's gonna forget us."
Sayo glanced at her sisters, her usual stoic face softening. "At least… we'll stand out together."
And Yua, holding her bag close, whispered, "…I'm glad we all matched in our own way."
Their parents exchanged warm smiles from the front seat. The sisters weren't just buying clothes—they were beginning to wear their new lives.