"You've sure been busy lately," Emiko commented as she watched her daughter rush around the kitchen. Yuka dried a couple more plates, stacked them and moved them over to the cupboard. She was once again hurriedly sorting things before she had to leave to meet Gou in town for a day of shopping.

"Yeah, I'm sorry mum. I'll be back later in the afternoon, though," she replied, hanging up the damp towel. She turned to say goodbye to her mum, giving her a quick hug.

"Want to watch a film tonight?" her mother asked with a smile.

Yuka smiled back, "That sounds nice. I have a bit of homework to do first, though."

"Okay, well have a think about what you'd like to watch, and have a nice day with your friend."

"Thanks mum, see you." Yuka quickly kissed her mum on the cheek and sped out the door, leaving Jun barking after her.

It was the weekend, and Gou had wanted to go clothes shopping with Yuka. It was the first overcast day in a long while and the air was cool. Yuka had put on a pair of black skinny jeans and a baggy grey jumper. She looked cute due to her slim boyish figure, and she wasn't cycling so she didn't need to worry about her jeans being too tight.

She met Gou in front of a popular cafe and complimented the girl on how pretty she looked in her simple sundress and leggings. "Thank you, Yuka-chan! You look super cute today, too," she replied.

"Sorry if you were waiting long," said Yuka sheepishly. "I always seem to be the last one anywhere..."

"Don't be silly!" giggled Gou. "Besides, I was only waiting for like... a minute! Come on!" She grabbed Yuka by the arm and pulled the light girl along with her. "Let's shop already."

Why would they put the heating on?

Yuka felt slightly feverish as she stood underneath the circulating warm air. The heat was making her feel kind of sleepy, and Yuka didn't feel up to browsing when she felt sleepy.

It's not even that cold out.

"What about this one?" called Gou from behind. Yuka turned to see the girl holding a pretty red dress up to her body.

"That's nice!" she said, trying to hide her growing discomfort. "Are you going to try it on?"

Gou looked at herself holding the dress in the nearby mirror and hummed, "I guess so, yeah."

Yuka nodded, "Cool, I'll just be around by here then."

Gou left Yuka to browse around the overpriced dresses. Though, Yuka was used to going straight to sales sections so anything might seem overpriced in comparison to her lucky finds and bargain reductions. The blonde would convince Gou to let her choose the next shop. She picked up the tag of a simple looking dress and raised her eyebrows. I probably shouldn't let her buy that dress...

Yuka's thoughts were interrupted when she heard a loud male voice shout, "GOU-CHAN!"

On the other side of the shop, Gou inwardly cringed. It's KOU! she wanted to scream but instead she whipped her head around and cursed lightly. The younger Mikoshiba stood a way from her, grinning idiotically and waving frantically.

Not wanting to be bombarded by the redhead's weird fondness of her, Gou ducked behind the closest clothes rack, dumping the dress she'd picked messily in the midst, and did a weird duck-run out of the shop. Once she'd given the boy the slip, she thought, she could text Yuka and simply meet up with her again. Though that was easier said than done since Gou heard the boy as he followed her. "NO, GOU! IT'S MOMO-KUN!"

Meanwhile, Yuka frowned at fellow customers as she searched for the scene. "What the..." she murmured, wondering what her friend was up to. Then she spotted a familiar head of burgundy hair, though it didn't belong to the girl in question.

"Uh, hey," she said as she snuck up behind him. Rin jumped and his eyebrows shot up.

"Yuka-chan?"

Rin looked good. He was wearing dark colours as usual, in a black v-neck top and skinny jeans. Yuka studied him longer than probably necessary but that meant that she caught his eyes as they slid down her accentuated slim legs. Yuka giggled stiffly, "Yeah. Funny seeing you here..." She'd meant it as a one of those standard, typical opening lines but as her eyes strayed to the cute dresses surrounding him she frowned. "What are you doing here?"

Rin looked startled for a moment as he coughed out, "Wh-what do you think?" He let out a strangled laugh, "Shopping!"

"Oh..."

"-But not for me!" He quickly finished, holding his hands up.

"Oh..." Yuka repeated, interest piquing. "Then, who are you buying for?"

She couldn't help the split second of disappointment that weighed her down as she registered that he was buying expensive dresses for someone. She managed to tug a smile to her lips attempting to appear teasing.

Though something flipped in Rin's stomach at seeing that forced smile. He could tell that something wasn't right with the girl, that she seemed sad in that instant. Rin's uncontrollable reaction was to smile and fist pump the air, but he only performed the former. Is she jealous? wondered Rin before he answered, "Oh, no. Well, my sister told me that I needed to hurry up and buy her a birthday present. Then she practically threatened me into buying it today. From here..." He trailed off, slowly registering the fact that he'd been played.

"That's odd," frowned Yuka, ignoring the waterfall of relieved butterflies, "Because I'm shopping here with her today. Why would she make you come here if she was coming herself?" Then it clicked.

Gou's voice rejoiced in Yuka's head: "I need to set you up with someone! O-oh! Or my brother? You'd be so good for him!"

Yuka could have groaned. But then she'd have to explain to Rin what was going on. How embarrassing would THAT be?! thought Yuka, slightly blushing from the realisation alone. So instead she hastily shrugged, thinking on the spot, "It makes sense actually, maybe it's so she can find what she wants and make you buy it. So that, you know, you don't... buy something... she doesn't like."

Rin eyed her. He wondered if she'd figured it out, too. "I think she's run off," he said finally.

"Oh..." Of course she would, thought Yuka, this was all part of the plan.

Rin studied the people nearby as he worked up the courage to ask her-

But Yuka stole the words away before he could even suggest, "Do you wanna hang out, then?" Yuka was the one looking away now. Technically, I haven't made it a date. So I shouldn't be this nervous. But this is, like, technically date two! Oh wait, oh hell! I missed what he said. Did he say something? Yuka felt stupid now. "Huh?"

Rin shrugged, holding back a shit-eating grin and another fist pump, as he repeated, "Sounds fun."

Look at them! Gou squealed to herself, watching as her brother and Yuka awkwardly interacted with each other. "They're so cute!" She celebrated under her breath. She pushed the plant leaf aside and leaned in closer as she watched her brother take Yuka's hand and lead her into a shop. Gou squealed again. Both of their faces were pink-hued and it would have been perfect if her brother hadn't been walking ten times too fast, practically dragging the poor blonde in his wake.

Gou hadn't exactly planned for PLAN ROMANCE to happen this way. She was just going to force her brother to spend time with herself and Yuka, before leaving them suddenly for something that she had to leave for suddenly. But this way worked.

Gou's breath hitched as she heard an annoying cry that went up and down in pitch.

"GOU-CCHHAAAN!" Momo whined from around the corner. Gou slinked further into her hiding spot. Why'd my dumb brother have to bring him along? Jeez. If I were him I'd start paying for my subscription to Muscles Monthly! This idiot's making it difficult to stalk them from afar. "GGGOOOOUU-CHAAAAAAN!" The orange haired boy cried again.

Author: I'm so so so so sorry that writer's block happened. I had lots of ideas but nothing seemed right, so this was just completely new. And I was super busy... and more excuses... and I'm sorry :) Love me, yes?