Chapter 13:

-oOo-

"Oh, damn. Great…JUUUUUUST great."

Leo had her disgusted face all along, her back lunged back as if she was lazy and in denial while wearing her nun costume. Christie made her the dress; since they lived at the same apartment, Christie could easily take her measure (and persuade her) for her dress.

"Of all the women in the world…why me?" she asked, tossing her hands in the air. Christie was still stitching some final touches for the dress.

Leo's dress has a black veil like a nun's, and a knee-high black dress with a white part on her chest part, long sleeved with a slight extra length folded on her wrist. Christie was sewing the hem of her dress, and she kept moving and swaying, much to Christie's annoyance.

"Leo, meu Deus; please stop moving!"

"How could I? This dress is so uncomfortable to wear!"

"Just cut it out and let me finish with the dress. Remember, I'm still not done on your veil."

Xiao went to the scene to check their costumes.

"Wow, Leo you looked like the main cast at the Sound of Music!"

"Tch…"

As they wear busy doing the costumes, a ruckus outside the room distracted them. Girls went fandoming and squealing. Christie stopped what she was doing as she glanced her head to the doorway of their classroom.

"Like what's the fuzz about?"

"Tch, just get the dress be done already, Chris."

"Hey, I told you to call me Christie. Don't make my name changed to a man's like yours, Eleonor."

Suddenly, a large young man came to the classroom, making all the students startle and have their mouths jaw drop in the process…

…as Shin came in with his priest costume.

"Damn…" said Hwoarang, as he stopped hammering. "…I just saw Frau Zehel…"

"Frau…who?"

"Jin, he's a character on an anime…" replied Alisa. "His role on the anime was a priest…"

Of all the people who were flabbergasted, Leo's face was priceless. Her blue-green eyes showed innocence and extreme astonishment to Shin. It was like Shin was in cosplay, playing the role of Frau Zehel. Not only that; she was jaw dropped. She looked like an innocent young girl…or a nun perhaps.

Then, some students began to fandomizing Shin…

"SHIN! You looked handsome with that costume!"

"Please take a picture with us!"

"Shin! Look here!"

But Shin's attention was only at Leo. He smiled to her, seeing her in a state where everything was blank to her, except Shin who was right in front of her. Shin looked more respected at the priest costume. He grinned at Leo, making her twitch and move her red face slightly away from his direction.

"What's wrong? It's like you have seen a god." Shin mocked Leo. She sent an angry look; too cute to be an angry look.

"D-Dummcopf…" she murmured, and moved her eyes to Shin. "W-Who made those anyway?"

"Oh this? Well, I managed to BUY it instead at a cosplay shop." He replied. "They gave me a discount because they thought I would look good in this costume, and they were right!"

Still frowning, Leo looked up to examine Shin. He does look like Frau Zehel of 07 Ghost. The only difference is that he has a dirty brown hair, but the suit was PERFECT for him. Shin is a little taller than Leo, only reaching his ear. He looked down to her, while she lifted her head to look at him back. Suddenly, it felt awkward that the whole class stopped their work and glared to them.

"Oi, oi, if you two need to kiss, do it outside…" said Asuka while having her dress is stitched too. Leo and Shin flinched and glared to her with red face, with a difference of Leo frowning to her.

"Will you guys just shut up…?"

"GUYS! We have a visitor!" a student announced to the students. "It's the Sweden boy!"

"Lars?!" Alisa quickly jerked her head to the direction of the door, looking at Lars who was hiding behind the doorway, waving at her awkwardly with that smile.

It was more like he was hiding from everyone, Jin thought.

"Hey, Alisa…"

"L-Lars? What are you doing here?"

"Nah, just checking you out?" Lars shrugged.

"R-Really?" she said as he eyes widen and red cheeks appear. "W-Well, that's nice of you Lars. Hey, is that Paul and Marshall?" she said pointing at his back.

"Huh? I'm not with them today…they might be—oh." He realized the two have been spying on him. Even if he already saw them, Paul and Marshall were still hiding behind the edge of the wall.

Alisa chuckled at his expression. "They're so funny…"

While watching Alisa and Lars have a conversation outside the room, Lili's eyes were locked on the two. She sighed, having a thought that Alisa was lucky to have a man like Lars by her side. She continued to stitch Asuka's dress, when Hwoarang suddenly popped beside her with a weird smile. Instead of smiling back, Lili made a suspicious look at him.

"Uh…Hwoarang? Anything ok?" she asked. Hwoarang sat beside her and glanced at her…looking at her like he was looking right to her soul. They ignored Asuka right in front of them.

"Lili, I was just thinking; maybe we could…you know? Uh…go together at the festival?" he asked with a sweat drop, scratching the back of his auburn hair with a slight pink face on the floor. Lili stopped working on the dress, with her attention locked to Hwoarang already. Asuka put her hands on her hips; them still ignoring her.

"Th-That was…uhh…rather straight forward?"

"Wh-What?" Hwoarang immediately lifted his head. "D-Do I have to ask your father for your hand again to accompany me to the festival?" he asked innocently. Shocked and not expecting for him to say, Lili's cyan eyes showed.

"Hehehe, no Hwoarang. Of course, I will come with you at the festival…" she smiled sweetly to him, making Hwoarang slowly make that grin to her. The red-headed Korean's charm showed at his peculiar grin.

"Really?" he asked while grinning.

"Really."

"You serious?"

"Uh-huh!" she nodded.

Few more moments of exchanging from smiles to grins, it felt good forgetting about the people around them, especially Asuka. Hwoarang unexpectedly kissed her cheeks and whispered his thanks in Korean. He scrammed off outside and a "WHOO" was heard at the hallway. Lili, however, was flabbergasted, that she accidentally pointed the needle to Asuka's legs.

"OUCH!"

"Oh! Pardon! I didn't mean it!"

….

While the others have their works for the festival, Jin went to visit Xiaoyu at the Assembly hall of Mishima Polytechnic. Xiaoyu was in charge of opening up the ceremony, since Heihachi knew how bubbly this girl could be and could influence the starting atmosphere for the ceremony. Jin carefully opened the door and peaked his head to look around.

There was nobody.

"Hm, where could she be?"

He entered the assembly hall and closed the door. Exhaling, he put his hands on his pockets and started to walk unconsciously to the stage. His eyes maneuvered at the high ceiling, twisted his body back and stared at the wall behind in dim. The only part that had light was the stage. He made it at the edge of the stage, but he still couldn't find somebody around. Are they busy? Maybe. Since he couldn't see anyone, it must be.

Wait…what if Xiaoyu's in trouble?

"No no no no no no…" he kept shaking his head, releasing that pessimistic thought out of his head. He knew Xiao could be clumsy sometimes. Sometimes? Like every day!

But what if she is? Jin became more worried to her, looking around for any sign of living creature at the assembly hall. But he failed. Maybe she was locked up at the storage room, or maybe she fell on the stairs and went unconscious. Or even worse.

His heart was pounding really fast. He couldn't stay on his post and decided to jump up the high stage and went to the locker room behind the stage. He walked fast, finding Xiao with all his might, searching high and low. As he was walking, he saw a door slightly opened, with little light escaping the room. He could hear a voice from that door. No, not just a voice, but rather a melody.

He tiptoed, resting his back slightly at the wall, then slowly his eyes peaked at the slightly opened door, and saw a girl with loose hair, staring at a mirror. She was singing a song, and Jin felt amazed at the girl singing. Good thing her back was facing the door, not realizing that somebody was peaking at her. Jin couldn't tell who it was. His eyes observed more and more; her loose coal hair, small flawless face, pink puff lips and a slightly pointed nose. Her height? Same like Xiao's.

Jin realized that his amazement for the girl singing might go deeper and deeper. It could cause big trouble. His heart and mind only lays on Xiao, and nobody else. Still hearing the girl's voice, he turned back and slowly walked away. But he stopped when the song changed to Chinese. His eyebrows frowned as he slowly turned his head back to the door.

His heart pounded fast as he examined the mysterious girl. Could it be? No, he never heard Xiaoyu sing before. But it was Chinese! No, anybody could sing a Chinese song here in the school. Well, that was rather convincing, close enough to convince him. But she has the same height as her! Uh…yeah. He was quite right. His mind was going from left to right, and right to left. Confusion was his best kryptonite. He sighed to calm himself, and observed the girl.

Then he came up with a plan.

He took his cell phone and called Xiao's number. He knew her cell phone is not on silent mode. She said she has a special ringtone for him, and now is the time for him to hear it, if he proves his theory.

The girl's phone rang.

Jin widens his eyes. His heart began to pound and he was nervous. It was nerve cracking; his breathing was fast that he needs to calm himself. OK, this was strike one. It might be somebody else who called her, or it might be him. Only one way to find out.

"Hello?" Xiao answered her phone, but he couldn't see if the girl was talking and saying the same words as Xiao on phone.

"Xiao? Where are you?" he asked still staring at the girl; who still had her back from the door.

"Oh…uh…I'm at uh…I'm at a shop?" Ok, she's not here at the assembly hall, she's at the shop. Strike two.

"Really? I was about to invite you to lunch today. I want to see you…" he said in a persuading voice.

"Oh…that's sweet of you Jin." She giggled at the phone. The girl he was staring at also giggled. Was that weird? Was that coincidence? No? Well, let's try more.

"Xiao, could you raise your hand for me?"

"Huh?"

"Just…uhh…your choppy all of the sudden. I couldn't hear you. The signal's rather weak." He lied.

"Oh…uhh ok…"

Unexpectedly, the girl was also raising her hand, with her cell phone high at top. She was swaying at different direction, and finally…she turned around.

Jin was holding his breath, his mouth gapped in amazement, as he completely saw the girl's full face; it was REALLY Xiaoyu, all this time, without her pigtails. He was staring at her all along, and he thought he was looking at somebody else. He was still astounded at strike three. But why would Xiao lie about her location from him? Is she hiding something from him? What was it? He wanted to go inside and ask her personally, but he thought she has reasons to do so.

"Xiao?" he asked on phone. "Where do you want to go today?"

"Hm…carnival? Kidding! Anywhere is fine by me; at least it would be just you and me, ok?"

Jin smiled seeing her expression behind the door; she was smiling, the smile that he really loved all the time. She tucked her hair shyly, seeing her really enamored talking to Jin on phone; without her knowing that he was just behind the door.

"Ok, I guess I'll wait for you outside then…"

"Huh? What do you mean outside?"

His cover will get exposed.

"I-I mean, outside the school, I mean. I'll wait for you there…"

"Uhh…I think it's better if you wait for me at our room. I won't be long, I just need to do something, and it's a SURPRISE!"

"A surprise? What kind of a surprise is that?"

"Hmmm…it's a surprise! Of course I won't tell you, silly. Just come to the opening ceremony of the school festival, ok?"

So this was what Xiaoyu had been doing all along, he thought. She'll be singing a song for him probably at the ceremony, and this was the song. He never heard Xiao sing before, and he wouldn't dare check on her room if she's singing while taking a bath. That would be ridiculous. But he was quiet surprised to see her on loose hair. She looked like a more matured person than before, and with her pigtails, she looked like a small kindergarten girl. He could ask her to stop wearing pigtails.

But he loved her by the way she was, with her pigtails and all. He can't change her and he doesn't want to. What he loved was the Xiaoyu he met before. True, change is good, but for him, Xiaoyu is better than all the way around.

"Ok, I'll come, I promise. What are you going to do at the opening then? Are you going to dance or perform circus around?" he said, holding his laugh to prevent from Xiaoyu hearing him behind the door.

"Oh stop that! You're so crazy!" he saw her pout. It was cute. "Just come and see for yourself, big man…"

"Oh alright. How could I refuse you? Well…probably I can't. I guess I'll wait for you at the room. See you later." He said. "I love you."

"Hihihi…I love you too, big man."

"Just hurry up ok, little girl?"

"Hey!"

"Just kidding! I'll hang up now…"

"Ok!"

They both hang up at the same time. He smiled more to see Xiaoyu's sweet grin after making a phone call from him. Is she like that everytime Jin calls him? Jin chuckled slightly at his thought and started to walk out from the scene, leaving Xiaoyu by herself, still singing. Her beautiful voice makes his mind at ease, and he closed his eyes in amusement. Suddenly, Miharu came and saw him. He stopped walking and put a finger on his lips.

"Shhh…don't tell Xiao I was here ok?" he said in whisper. Miharu, in wide eyes, only nodded. Jin continued to walk, to the door of the assembly hall. He was walking happily, knowing that Xiao was going to do something special for him. It was supposed to be a secret, he knows that. But he got even more excited knowing Xiaoyu would sing for him. That was very sweet of her. She always was.

"What am I supposed to do, as regards for her surprise to me?" he asked himself, while walking on his way to their room.

…

"DONE! It is finally done! Ugh…"

Lili lunged her back at the chair, truly exhausted especially her eyes. Even for a rich Monaco daddy princess like her, she knows few like stitching a dress. She just stitched the dress, she didn't make them. Jun made the dress for Asuka and had it taken care of to Lili. She examined her work.

The dress (now on a mannequin) has a slight color of violet; the bottom of the dress had two layers. The 1st layer was separated in the middle, making its cloth hang over the 2nd layer of the dress. The waistline was perfectly fitted to Asuka's waist line. The upper part of the dress, the chest part, had a lowered square-shaped collar, designed with ruffles, with a light colored cloth at the middle part of dress, going down to the bottom of the dress. The sleeves were puffed, then goes fitted starting from few inches to the wrist. The bottom was embroidered with stems and flowers.

"Wow, Lili you've done it." Congratulated Shin to her, as she wiped away the sweat on her forehead. She started since morning and finished almost an hour before their dismissal. The dress had a lot of work to do, since it was ruffled at the chest part.

"Yeah Lili, it looks beautiful."

"Asuka's appearance will change when she wore that."

"Hahahah! Yeah, Steve will once again be stuttered!"

"Hey, s-shut up already!"

Lili was watching her friends appreciated her little work, then glared to Asuka, who was jaw dropped and her back lunged lazily. She was looking at the dress to full disbelief.

"Don't tell me I'm going to wear that…" she said pointing to the dress. Lili frowned, having a feeling that Asuka was disgusted on the dress.

"Yes, and you will and you have no choice, or I'll have you taken down just to wear it…" she said while frowning to her. Asuka flinched and knew Lili was a little pissed off.

"Oh come on Asuka…" Shin said while wrapping his arms around her neck. "I mean, look! It's so beautiful! It suits you and you will look like a princess in that costume."

"But I don't want to be a princess!"

"A mafia lord's princess rather?" he said while laughing, still having Asuka in his arm.

Steve frowned annoyingly at the scene; he doesn't know why, but the scene annoys him. He just tends to let it all out and forget about it. What was that all about, he asked himself.

"Hey Stevie, your costume done too?"

"Uh…y-yeah! It's all right."

"Good, make Juliet stutter at you too, ok Romeo?" joked Shin to Steve. Steve went red and balled his fist.

"Stop mocking me! That's not funny!"

"I know…but it amuses me, muhahahaha!" Shin roared to laughter, seeing both Asuka and Steve with red faces and closely embarrassed. Suddenly, somebody pinched his ear.

"Shin, stop mocking both Steve and Asuka, save it…"

"Ah…that grip hurts Eleonor…" he said while massaging his ear. "Don't do that to me while we're on a date at the festival. You promised." Shin then smiled.

"WHAT!? You and Shin have a date!? AT THE FESTIVAL!?"

Leo was shocked and went red. She surprisingly covered Shin's mouth (rather slapped it) to shut him up, but the whole class heard what Shin had completely said.

"Hahaha! Oh alright, we'll leave YOUR business there, Leo and Shin. For now, we'll be dismissed. Tomorrow's going to be the final touch for the preparation!" announced Julia to the whole class. "I expect you guys will work hard, alright? I will hit you if you laze around tomorrow, understood!?"

"Haaaaaaiii….!"

…

Last day of preparation.

Almost everything is on set. The students tried to work harder than usual at the last day. The costumes, the equipments, and other utilities are ready and on set. Some slight accidents happened that day, like Hwoarang having his thumb hammered, and Lars slipped on the stairs while carrying and distributing the fliers. Everybody was clumsy that day, maybe because they have to pace quickly for the event tomorrow.

The thing they are all more excited at was the parade. The parade will take a route from the Mishima Polytechnic, passing the park, walk through the bridge, then take a shortcut back at the Mishima Polytechnic. Asuka was nervous, not because she'll get tired walking miles from school, but because she'll be IN the parade. Everybody will see her in a dress, and maybe those street gangs whom she used to face before will be there to watch her.

They might laugh at her there.

"Don't worry Asuka…" a pat on the head woke Asuka from her imagination. She lifted her head up, and saw Steve smiling at her convincingly. "I think we'll do a great on the parade. I guarantee that."

Asuka went to smile back at him and nodded.
"Yeah…I hope we will…"

-oOo-