A few minutes later, Aiko took a deep breath, squared her shoulders like she was bracing for impact, and stepped out.
Paz, who'd been dead silent at the counter for the last ten minutes, probably pretending to scroll on his phone but actually just staring at the same meme, let out a low, impressed whistle.
Aiko's face was already burning hotter than a summer sidewalk, but she forced her chin up. Hands on her hips, like she was posing for a magazine cover.
The stance pushed her chest forward just a little, on purpose, though she'd rather die than admit it.
