The next day, Lila had another brilliant idea.

  “We’re going shopping,” she declared, standing in front of Elias’s desk after class.

  Elias, who had been organizing his books, didn’t even look up. “I have everything I need.”

  Lila scoffed. “I highly doubt that.”

  “I wear clothes. I eat food. I see no problem.”

  Lila groaned. “Elias, shopping isn’t just about necessities—it’s about finding things that make life more enjoyable!”

  Elias finally looked up. “Like claw machines?”

  Lila clapped her hands together. “Exactly! You’re learning!”

  “I was being sarcastic.”

  She ignored that.

  —

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  The mall was… chaotic.

  Lila weaved through the crowd like an expert, barely giving Elias time to process where they were going.

  “You need better clothes,” she said, dragging him toward a clothing store.

  Elias looked down at his attire—his usual button-up shirt and dark pants. “These are functional.”

  Lila rolled her eyes. “They’re boring.”

  “Boring is efficient.”

  “Boring is boring, Elias.” She pushed him toward a display of casual wear. “Pick something.”

  Elias stared at the clothing racks. “…I don’t know how.”

  Lila blinked. “You… don’t know how to choose clothes?”

  “I only replace what is necessary.”

  Lila gasped like he had just confessed to a crime. “This is a tragedy.”

  Elias sighed. “Then choose for me.”

  Lila’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, you shouldn’t have said that.”

  —

  Thirty minutes later, Elias found himself in a dressing room, holding a pile of clothes Lila had insisted he try on.

  He stared at them.

  Some were fine. Others were… concerning.

  “Lila.”

  “Hmm?”

  “Why is there a pink hoodie with bunny ears in this pile?”

  Lila giggled outside the dressing room. “Oh, that must have slipped in! By accident.”

  Elias didn’t believe her for a second.

  Still, he sighed and went through the outfits.

  —

  When he finally stepped out, wearing a simple sweater and jeans that Lila had picked, she clapped her hands together.

  “You look normal!”

  Elias raised a brow. “Was I abnormal before?”

  Lila smirked. “No comment.”

  Elias sighed.

  Then she reached up, fixing the collar of his sweater slightly.

  She was close.

  Too close.

  Elias stood still, watching as she fussed over something that seemed unnecessary.

  Then she leaned back, hands on her hips. “Perfect.”

  Elias wasn’t sure what was perfect about it, but Lila looked pleased.

  And, for some reason, he didn’t mind that.