It had been a day since Aria received his acceptance into Reign Academy.
He woke up feeling relieved. The stressful entrance test was behind him, and all he wanted now was a quiet day. Stretching lazily, he thought, Finally, I can laze around and—
The door burst open, slamming against the wall.
"Time to go shopping!" Ski announced with boundless energy, her grin as bright as the sun.
Aria groaned, pulling the covers over his head. "Why do I need new clothes?" he grumbled.
Ski crossed her arms, looking proud. "Because your current ones are an embarrassment!"
Aria peeked out from under the blanket, annoyed. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with sweatpants and baggy hoodies. They're comfortable."
Before Ski could retort, another voice chimed in.
"You're very wrong," Alice declared, entering the room with a disapproving look.
"Why is everyone barging into my room?" Aria muttered, irritation rising.
Ski smirked. "I knew you'd resist, so I called Alice for backup."
"Wow, thanks a lot," Aria replied sarcastically, sitting up.
"Don't worry," Alice said, her calm demeanour unshaken. "We'll find clothes that are perfect for you. Oh, and I called another friend to help."
Aria froze. "Why do we need more people?" he thought nervously.
The doorbell rang, interrupting Aria's futile attempts to argue.
BING!
"Oh! She's here!" Alice said with a calm but excited tone.
Aria dragged himself to the door, dreading what was to come. When he opened it, standing there was none other than Alexis.
"Alexis?" he asked, puzzled.
"Yes, it's me! Alice told me everything about how you desperately need new clothes," Alexis said proudly, then added with her usual flair, "Don't worry, we'll find outfits that highlight your divine beauty!"
Aria froze. Not the 'divine beauty' thing again… he thought, panic creeping in.
Before he could say anything, Alexis leaned closer and whispered with a sly smile, "Oh, and yes, I know you're a boy. Alice told me."
Aria blinked, confused. "Wait, then why—"
Alexis cut him off, straightening up and placing a hand dramatically on her chest. "Doesn't change a thing! Beauty transcends gender, and you, my dear Aria, are a masterpiece!"
Aria groaned internally. Why does everyone around me act like this is normal?
A Reluctant Adventure
After much back-and-forth, the girls dragged Aria out of the house.
"But my bed is so comfortable," he protested weakly, grumbling as he was herded toward the car.
"You won't regret this!" Ski chirped, practically skipping.
"We'll make you look like someone worthy of Reign Academy," Alice added, her voice calm but firm.
"And it'd be a waste to let such beauty go unnoticed," Alexis declared dramatically.
Meanwhile, Roy stayed behind, smirking smugly. "Have fun!" he called out, clearly enjoying Aria's misery.
"Oh, I'll get you for this one day," Aria muttered darkly, shooting his brother a glare.
At the Shopping Centre
Ski led the charge, dragging Aria into one trendy store after another.
"This one looks great on you!" she said, holding up a bright outfit. "And this one is adorable!"
Alexis, with her impeccable sense of fashion, critiqued Ski's choices relentlessly. "That's too dark. This one's not elegant. And that doesn't even match his eyes!"
Meanwhile, Alice quietly selected outfits that were both stylish and functional. "This one is formal yet comfortable," she explained, holding up a sleek blazer.
As the trio debated, Aria slouched in a corner, responding to their enthusiasm with sarcastic comments. "Yeah, sure, it's fine. Can I go now?" he grumbled, thoroughly unamused.
Alexis, determined to make him stand out, picked bold, eye-catching outfits. "This will perfectly complement your divine beauty!" she said proudly.
"Stop it with the divine beauty thing," Aria thought, rubbing his temples in exasperation.
The differing opinions soon led to a playful argument between Alice and Alexis.
"That's way too bold for Aria," Alice said, frowning.
"Your choice is too boring!" Alexis shot back.
Amidst the chaos, Aria was forced to try on every outfit they handed him. Some were so ridiculous (thanks to Ski's quirky picks) that even Alice and Alexis burst into laughter.
"Gee, thanks for the confidence boost," Aria muttered sarcastically, glaring at his reflection.
Alice handed him a new outfit, her tone calm but expectant. "Try this one."
Reluctantly, Aria stepped out in the elegant ensemble, which fit him far too well.
Alice's eyes widened. "Even though I picked it, you've surpassed my expectations again."
"What am I, a dress-up doll?" Aria asked, half-annoyed, half-embarrassed.
"My turn!" Alexis declared, handing him a bold, flashy outfit. Unsurprisingly, it also fit him perfectly.
"My goodness, your elegance is unmatched!" Alexis exclaimed, practically glowing with pride.
Aria sighed, his patience wearing thin.
By the end of the day, they had bought an entire wardrobe for him.
"That was so much fun!" Ski said, her energy unflagging.
"Absolutely!" Alexis agreed. "Dressing Aria up was delightful!"
"I have to admit, it was worthwhile," Alice added, smiling softly.
"So, Aria?" Ski asked, her grin mischievous. "What did you think?"
Aria sighed but smiled faintly. "You know what? It wasn't half bad."
"See? I told you!" Ski said, her tone smug.
Uniform Fitting
Back home, Aria found a neatly wrapped box waiting for him. Opening it, he discovered his official Reign Academy uniform.
"That was fast," he said, surprised.
"Of course! It's one of the most prestigious academies," Alexis said proudly.
Ski immediately insisted he try it on. "Come on, it'll look amazing!"
Reluctantly, Aria put on the uniform. Stepping out of his room, he revealed the sleek white-and-gold ensemble, complete with the academy's crest. The tailored fit made him look regal and refined.
The room fell silent.
"You look… incredible," Alice said softly, her calm tone unusually warm.
"My goodness, your elegance is unmatched!" Alexis said dramatically, her hands clasped in admiration.
"Geez, it's just a uniform," Aria muttered, fidgeting under their gazes.
Roy passed by, glancing at him. "At least you don't look like a slob anymore," he quipped.
"Oh, yeah?" Aria replied, his annoyance flaring. Using his super strength, he punched Roy—not enough to destroy him, but enough to make him feel it.
"OUCH! What was that for?" Roy yelped, clutching his arm.
"For staying behind and letting me suffer," Aria said, smirking.
End of chapter 3