Money could buy you many things. And when you were rich, you didn’t mind spending a fortune on everything you ever wanted. For the past few hours, Anders, self-proclaimed fashion expert and Instabook Influencer with over 10,000 followers, had made it his mission to completely re-dress Taro, the average exchange student with a fashion taste like Ned Flanders.

But the heavier the shopping bags got, the heavier Taro’s guilt weighed. After all, his parents hadn’t invested nearly as much in him over the past fifteen years as the shy Anders had in the last hour. Anders, who, faced with mountains of clothes, suddenly turned into an eccentric fashion dictator and ordered him to try on every combination of haute couture, no matter how daring. And all this despite the fact that they had only known each other for a week.

Anders looked exhausted. His long-lashed brown eyes looked restless from shop window to shop window in search of more treasures he had not yet discovered. Yes, he was exhausted. Exhausted, but happy. For a moment, a glimpse of satisfaction showed in his face.

Taro’s heart skipped a beat. Ever since they had received magical powers from the genie Blob last week, he had felt strange. Every time one of the four other boys looked at him, his heart felt strangely warm. As warm as it usually only happened when he watched a new concert DVD of his favorite idols for the first time. He shook away the thought. “I’m sorry!” Hastily, he bowed a few times.

Anders wrinkled his nose. “Why? Because I went shopping with you and paid for everything?”

Taro was sure Anders was offended because he had bad taste and Anders had to pick out everything for him, but Anders just pulled a self-embroidered lace handkerchief out of his jacket pocket and dabbed at his forehead. “Honestly, you did me a huge favor today. I just couldn’t stand to see you walking around in those brown high-water pants and that hideous cardigan. Didn’t they at least teach you a little bit of self-respect?”

“I’m sorry!” Taro blushed and bowed even lower. “Until now I thought it was enough if clothes covered you, functionality was achievable, and most importantly, if they were easy to care for!” He could feel the blush creeping up to his ears. “I never thought about clothes being so … beautiful until now. I’m sorry, S… Sensei!”

He raised his eyes slightly, trying to detect a reaction in Anders’ fine features, but he had not heard him. Instead, he stared almost spellbound at the screen of his smartphone, on which the notification for a new game update had just appeared. 

“Taro?” Anders sounded nervous and rushed.

“Y… Yes?” The sudden change in mood scared Taro. 

“Let’s go to a café! Now!”