*THUD*

OOF!

Hey…watch it…

Huh!? Oh, hey Maki!

Owch…that kinda hurt…

It’s your own fault for running down the hallways like that…

It’s unlike you to be this hasty. Why are you here and what’s the rush?

Oh well…if you really wanna know, then I have a live piano recital tonight and I was rushing about getting ready for it…

Shuichi said he would come and see me perform, and once I said that…

Tsumugi dragged me over here to her room and invited all the girls in our class to help me get dressed…

I take it the dress you’re holding is the one they got for you?

Yeah, th-that’s it…

Then why is it in pieces?

I don’t know! I had it on me and then it was ripped to pieces, I don’t know how, when or who, but it happened!

I was dragged away to help me “get ready” and they ended up doing the exact opposite!

Now I have 10 minutes to find a new dress to wear before I have to head out for my recital…

Anyway…sorry for bumping into you Maki, but I’ve really gotta get going…

…

…

Come here…

Ah! What the -Hey! What’re you-!?

———————————————————————————————————–

*Kicks Kaede into her room.

Owch! What the hell is your prob-!?

Oomph!

If you’re going out on a date with Shuichi, then you can’t spend 10 minutes getting ready…

I-It’s not a date!

Whatever…just put that thing on so I can fix you up sometime before tomorrow maybe?

Hm? Oh, wow this is actually pretty nice…

Thanks Maki! This means a whole lot to me!

Who knew you’d have pretty decent taste in fashion?

I don’t…I’m just used to helping the kids at my orphanage get dressed…

You act so much like a child that it’s pretty easy for me.

That’s kinda mean, you know that?

Oh well, at least you’re nice enough to help me…but how do I repay the favour?

You really don’t need to do that…

Don’t be so shy, you deserve it for what you’ve done for me…

Honestly, I don’t know if it’s even right of me to borrow this from you…

…

Kaede listen…you’re…ugh…

Wh-What is it?



You look pretty to the point where it’s annoying.

You could go up on stage during your recital wearing a potato sack and you’d still look amazing.

You’re smart, strong-willed, look decent and are better than most people in this nightmare of a school.

So…don’t sell yourself short, ok?

Maki…

Thanks…You’re a real help for my confidence, you know?

You’re welcome or…whatever…

Oh! I just got an idea!

Gimme a call when you finally ask Kaito out so I can return the favour!

WHA-What did you say!?

I’m not-He’s not-! We’re not-

Huh? Really? I thought for sure you two were close…

Well then who DO you have a crush on? Is it Shuichi? Or is it Rantaro? Maybe…one of the girls?

I’ll crush YOU in a second! Do you wanna die!?

NO! NOT REALLY!