The group exits the limo and Qu Yi stares in awe as she exits, being the second one out. She has been confined to the grounds of the boarding school for her entire first week in this pocket dimension. She never knows that the grand scale of the school grounds will only be reflected by the rest of the town. The mall is simply huge. She figures it must be at least four stories tall. Wen Chou approaches a plastic map with a three-dimensional model, confirming it was, in fact, five stories tall.

  “Hey, Newbie, look at this!” She waves Qu Yi over.

  Qu Yi approaches and looks in awe at the map, then looks to the key of the map. “There are so many stores.” She pulls her wallet from her pocket and looks in it. “Not sure if I have enough birthday money saved up. I do want to grab a few pairs of pants and shirts though.” She averts her eyes. “You know, non-noble ones.”

  “I getcha.” Wen Chou smirks to Qu Yi. “You probably don’t want a bunch of my hand me downs.” She laughs. “You really are like my little sister, aren’t you!” She ruffles her hair.

  “H-Hey!” Qu Yi stands up straight, blushing. “I-I’m not like a little sister! And…” she feels her bun, “I don’t want you to mess up my hair…” She jumps up thinking how much like a little sibling that may have sounded. “W-Well I mean, not that I like it or anything, but cause, I like how it feels? Wait, no, that’s not right either-”

  Wen Chou snickers and sticks her tongue out playfully at Qu Yi.

  Yan Liang heads over quickly. “Wen Chou! Don’t call Qu Yi your little sister!”

  Qu Yi smiles as she turns to her savior. “Ah, Yan Liang, thank you so much-”

  “She should be called ‘our’ little sister! She’s both of ours!” She smiles to Qu Yi.

  Qu Yi folds her arms blushing. “Bah! You two are just teasing now!”

  The two roommates chuckle between themselves as both Yuan Shao and Shen Pei approach the map. “I am so glad you three have such perfect camaraderie!” Yuan Shao’s right hand goes to her left cheek. “Ohohoho!

  “Oohoohoohoohoo!” A voice behind the group laughs out, causing them to turn around. Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao’s younger sister is laughing behind them, the back of her left hand on her right cheek. Yuan Shu always tries to emulate her older sister and do it better, as she views herself as the worthy heiress and daughter to their family name. She wears a fluffy ball gown, as if dressing as a princess every day was her calling. “My, oh my, what a coincidence, my dearest sister? I suppose even you tend to have the same plans as I do!” She turns to Qu Yi. “Listen new student! Everything Yuan Shao buys I get better; so, you should think about joining my classroom instead!”

  Wen Chou sighs and whispers to Yan Liang, “You know, if I knew Yuan Shu was coming, I would have outright refused to come instead of being pressured into it. “

  Yuan Shao hears this and whispers, “Fear not, Wen Chou, I shall get rid of her.” She approaches Yuan Shu as she gives a smug smirk. “Why young Shu! You still have taken to your old habits, I see! Instead of making plans of your own, you must follow around your eldest sister.” She shakes her head as she plays out an overexaggerated shrug. “By now I would have hoped you’d have made your own friends. What happened to your classmates? Can they only tolerate you so much?”

  Yuan Shu’s eye twitches for a moment, but she holds her composure. “Why, my dearest sister! You should know only the most worthy and noble are allowed to spend time with me! I cannot spend my free time with the peasantry. I cannot bring myself to your level!”

  Yuan Shao golf-claps for her. “Oh yes, I understand. It would explain why you feel the need to follow me around.” She does a regal pose. “You want to spend your time with the most worthy and noble! However, Shu, I believe you should spend your time with those around your level of nobility, instead of biting off more than you can chew.”

  Yuan Shu’s cheeks puff out for a few seconds, but she regains her control. “Why, dearest sister, I believe you simply fear that your friends would be more inclined to spend their time with me! Perhaps we should put it to a test?”

  Yuan Shao raises her chin at her younger sister. “Why bother? It was father that had to pay your way in when you failed all previous tests. I wouldn’t want to bring our poor father any more stress!” She places the back of her right hand to her left cheek, “Ohohoho!”

  Strike three, she’s out of there. Yuan Shu’s face distorts and puffs out, her eyes twitching as her face turns bright red. “YOU STUPID BIG-HAIRED LIAR!” Yuan Shu screams at the top of her lungs, stomping her feet. She stomps her way into the mall, desperate to get away from her older sister.

  “Jeez,” Qu Yi mutters.

  “Yeah…” Yan Liang sighs. “The president sure knows how to get to her younger sister.”

  Yuan Shao brushes her hair with the back of her hand as she returns to the group. “Sorry for the delay, ladies.” She smirks. “You know how Shu can be.” She focuses on the three-dimensional model of the map. “So, our first stop will be the store, Prim and Proper!” She points to a large store on the second floor of the model. “I’ll make sure to pile Qu Yi with new outfits and get each of you a few as well!” She turns to Wen Chou. “Especially you, Wen Chou! I swear I’ve only ever seen you wear trousers on weekends!”

  Wen Chou sighs. “Yeah, I have to wear skirts every day at school. I like having a break.”

  Shen Pei scrolls on her tablet. “Madame president, how many outfits do you plan for Ms. Qu?”

  “Well, I did reserve three fifths of my monthly allowance, so at least thirty!”

  Qu Yi shudders. “W-Wait, I need to try on thirty outfits?”

  Yuan Shao turns to Qu Yi and does her signature laugh. “Ohohoho! Do not worry, Qu Yi, I’m not some kind of cheapskate. You’ll get to try on at least one hundred, while you pick your favorite twenty and I pick the most noble ten!”

  Qu Yi’s eyes widen. “O-Oh, Y-Yeah. That’s… good?” On the inside Qu Yi is mentally covering her face as her thoughts work overtime. “Ahhh! Wearing that one outfit was already hard enough! I have to try on that many!?”

  The group heads into the mall, which causes Qu Yi to look around in awe. “It’s really so much bigger on the inside…” she mutters to herself.

  Wen Chou chuckles. “You always have the best reactions, Newbie.”

  “We’ll have time to look around later.” Yuan Shao nods as she brushes a ringlet with the back of her hand. “Prim and Proper must be our first stop.”

  Both Wen Chou and Qu Yi let out a synchronized sigh. Yan Liang, on the other hand, has her hands clasped together as her eyes sparkle.

  “I can’t wait!” She streams out as she gets closer to Yuan Shao. “It feels so long since I’ve went out with friends on a shopping trip!”

  Yuan Shao smiles. “Oh, Yan Liang, do you really not remember when we went when you first joined the class?”

  Yan Liang smiles blankly as she tries to recall it. “Uhh…” but her faulty memory seems to not work right again. “I-I actually really don’t…” She scratches the back of her head. “I-I’m really sorry.”

  Yuan Shao raises her eyebrows. “Oh? Well, I suppose you have changed a lot since then! I remember you used to stutter more than Qu Yi.”

  “R-Really?” Yan Liang asks in surprise. “I don’t remember that.” She tries to focus her thoughts on it even harder. “At all actually.”

  “Perhaps it feels so long ago because you’ve grown so much since then! Ohohoho!” Yuan Shao smiles as she continues to lead the group of five onto an escalator. “I can understand it may be difficult to look back at your pre-noble self and it may even fill you with a bit of disgust, but it is all part of growing. In the presence of the noble and elegant Yuan family that growth of the formal way of life is normal!”

  “Uh, right.”

  “Speaking of, Qu Yi.” She looks to Qu Yi who is two escalator steps behind with Wen Chou. “You should come walk next to me. It is for your future grace and noble self we are doing this! Why, I bet in the future you may be participating in noble balls as you dance with a suitor!”

  Qu Yi’s stares blankly. “Suitor? Um, is that someone who will, fit me for a suit? Why would I dance with them?”

  Yuan Shao stares at Qu Yi surprised, but then laughs. “Ohohoho! I forget, you are sometimes quite a comedian!” As the group gets to the top of the escalator Yuan Shao grabs Qu Yi’s arms with her hands. “Qu Yi! I know there is the soul of an ever enchanting noble woman inside you! Today is the day we will begin the process of metamorphosis into your true self!”

  Qu Yi stares at the president blanky. She thinks to herself, “I’ve already done one metamorphosis. That’s more than enough for the rest of my life. W-Well I still want to change back when this is all over of course!” Meanwhile all she actually says is, “I see.”

  “Now follow along everyone! We’re almost there!”

  The group follows their poofy-haired leader. Yuan Shao rambles about nobility to Qu Yi who tries to understand it the best she can. Shen Pei follows on the right side of Yuan Shao, a pleased expression on her face. Wen Chou leans her neck into her hands with her elbows out, her eyes wandering at other stores. Yan Liang’s eyes focus only on the floor. Something isn’t leaving her mind.

  “How was I when I came…?” She thinks to herself. “How long ago was it? I was in middle school… right? Yeah, I think? I came in when I was in middle school. As a… what grade was I in?” She looks down worried, “Why can’t I remember all these basic things? Everyone keeps talking about stuff I can’t remember. I never liked getting in trouble, but… who was I then? Can I even remember a reflection of myself from back then?” She pulls out her phone, going into the camera roll. She starts scrolling and notices a bunch of pictures that she has no memory of. “Lot of selfies with Wen Chou, that’s normal.” She smiles to herself. “We really are close, despite… her cluelessness about stuff.” In her mind she begins jotting down a mental checklist. “Okay, what DO I remember? That’s a better start!”

  She thinks as the group continues on their way, but her thoughts are interrupted as they take a turn into a formal looking store, Prim and Proper. As the group of girls walk in, the three roommates look around. Qu Yi notices the place as similar to some of the stores she used to walk by when she cut through the mall on her way to the archery range after school. Very formal outfits hang on fancy peach-colored hangers.

  The fashion isn’t exclusive to just feminine outfits. There are plenty of outfits meant for men. At least, Qu Yi thinks they are meant for men, considering they were different types of formal slacks, something she never owned, they were too expensive for her mom. She thinks back to her best outfit. “You know, I’m pretty sure my most formal outfit was the one I came in with.” She sighs, now thinking how it is now another feminine outfit in her wardrobe.

  “Here we are, ladies!” Yuan Shao smiles as she turns. “This place has the most exquisite fashion! My family is a regular at this brand! Don’t worry! I’ll have the three of you looking noble in no time! Shen Pei!” She claps her hands as Shen Pei gets closer and nods.

  “Yes, Madame President?”

  “Be sure to look out for any teal looking dresses for Wen Chou! She can really use one to match her hair!”

  Wen Chou sighs. “Really? Dresses?” She uses her height to try to peek over some shelves. “Isn’t there a sports section or something?”

  Yuan Shao continues. “For Qu Yi, I’m not sure what color is right for her yet. We know she looks good in yellow due to my beautiful fashionable uniforms! Ohohoho! So keep your eyes out for anything that will match her delicate frame and let this flower bloom!”

  Qu Yi blushes brightly and looks down, giving herself a pep talk in her mind/ “Okay, it’s just outfits! Just clothes! Be a man, Quinton! You’re strong enough to get over clothes! Fabric can’t hurt you! Unless a bunch of it falls on you at once… No! That shouldn’t happen here! Unless… wait, is the store above here a clothing store? If it is, there might be a small chance of it happening, like if it breaks through a loose piece between the ceiling and the floor…”

  Yuan Shao smiles and continues. “Yan Liang! Your cyan eyes are simply lovely, and I think we could find cute outfits to work with it. I know you have excellent taste in fashion yourself, so, I may pick out a few I think will look good for you, but I trust you to look around!”

  Yan Liang nods, her mind not fully in the moment. “Oh, right. Thanks Yuan Shao.” She heads off through an aisle. Wen Chou takes notice of her lackluster reply.

  “That’s odd. Liang would normally be super thankful at being trusted to pick out her own stuff,” she whispers to Qu Yi.

  “U-Um really?” Qu Yi looks up. “Sorry, just trying to figure out how much fabric could physically break through a ceiling.”

  Wen Chou raises a confused eyebrow at Qu Yi. “Yi, what?”

  Yan Liang walks down an aisle, her mind not being in the right place to focus on outfits as she’s still trying to do her best to remember. “So, let’s see, there was that baseball game with the boys vs girls when I was five… So, I know about that! And, there was, that movie I went to where… well where I talked to that boy at the concession stand. I don’t remember when that was. There’s… I have cousins, they go to a public school. I remember every student I’ve met in Falofhan, but I can’t remember… doing anything with them!” She scratches her head. “Why is it that everything before this week seems so fuzzy? Monday, I remember everything, waking up, getting ready, studying for the next packet, then Qu Yi came in! But I don’t remember what I did last weekend. Shouldn’t that be easy to remember?” She stops in her tracks. “Wait… ever since Qu Yi came, everything is super clear!” She covers her mouth. “Wait, but what does that mean? Why is my memory being weird like this, and does it actually involve Yi?” She looks around, “T-This is our first time going out with Yi! I-I guess I’ll try to pick out some things… I want to make sure everything from now on is worth remembering!”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Yuan Shu pouts, stomping her way through the mall. “Stupid Shao, stupid Shao and her stupid friends. Stupid friends and not wanting to be my friends!” She folds her arms and huffs. “I don’t need them to have fun! I can have fun all by myself!” She pulls out a phone from a little purse strapped around her shoulder that matches her princess styled dress. She looks through her contacts. “Just the few students from my class…” She frowns as she pouts further. “Ji Ling always wants to do dumb boy stuff. Liang Gang only wants to watch that dumb pony show. Zhang Xun only wants to do stuff in the library.” She frowns. “I-I need to make other people give me their phone numbers!” She stamps her foot. As she looks at her phone, she senses someone passing by her. “Huh?”

  Yuan Shu turns and sees a girl with long white hair walking slowly down the mall. She wears a long, dark crimson blouse with a black collar and ribbon. Underneath is a black skirt with a small red ribbon tied around the edges. She slowly walks, turns and goes into a store.

  The girl intrigues Yuan Shu. “I think that girl goes to my school,” she mutters. She looks up at the store she enters, “Petsho.” The sign has a picture of a dog and cat on each side. “Huh?” Yuan Shu follows the girl, her gaudy ball gown bouncing with her as she approaches the store, entering inside as if drawn to the girl.

  The inside of the store is full of different animals in their own areas. Hamsters are on spinning wheels in cages. Puppies are hopping at hardened see through plastic. Lizards are standing in synthetic habitats. Birds are in cages chirping sounds. The whole place causes Yuan Shu to cringe. She follows the girl with white hair anyway.

  “Hello, the dogs are waiting for you, Lu Bu.” The girl with white hair hears the employee say as he passes by. Lu Bu nods to the employee as she continues her slow pace. She opens a small gate with dogs bouncing up and down on the other side awaiting her presence. Once she passes the gate and closes it behind her, she sits down, causing all the different types of dogs to sniff and lick her eagerly. This causes her to smile as she is petting all of them, each one pushing each other out of the way for her affection.

  Yuan Shu watches Lu Bu as she keeps petting each of the dogs, smiling to each one, her eyes take note of Yuan Shu who is staring at her. This causes Yuan Shu to jump up and shyly hide behind one of the crates at being caught snooping.

  “They… don’t bite,” Lu Bu speaks softly as she smiles to Yuan Shu, “Don’t you… want to… come over?” She cocks her head slightly.

  Yuan Shu is hesitant but finds herself drawn to the slow-talking white-haired girl. She opens the gate as dogs wag their tail, excitedly sniffing her. she sits down, causing her dress to puff around her.

  “Animals are… really great… aren’t they?” Lu Bu looks to Yuan Shu as she sits near her. Yuan Shu begins trying to pet some of the dogs, who are just excited to see a new person. Lu Bu continues with her slow speech pattern, “I wish… I could… own one. Thankfully… the owner… is nice… and lets me… spend time… with them… on weekends.”

  Yuan Shu frowns and raises an eyebrow to the girl. “Well, why don’t you just ask your parents to buy you one?” Yuan Shu looks genuinely confused at the girl.

  Lu Bu turns and frowns. “I sometimes… brought strays… home… but, my foster father… is… allergic.” She continues to pet the dogs as the dogs notice her discomfort and try to jump on her more.

  “Well, don’t you go to Falofhan? Why not just ask your president to buy a class pet?”

  Lu Bu smiles. “Oh! You… go there too? I run my own… class.”

  Yuan Shu smiles as she stands up, “Well aren’t you lucky? Because you’re talking to the great, the wonderful, the well-loved, the humble and the amazing Yuan Shu! Heiress of the Yuan family! I’m also a president!” She places her hand to her cheek. “Oohoohoohoo!”

  Lu Bu looks up at Yuan Shu introducing herself, then smiles. “Oh… that’s nice!”

  Yuan Shu stares in the same pose, staring at Lu Bu in silence, expecting more. “Is that really all you have? Don’t you recognize great worth when you see it? I have the best, most fancy class in the whole school! Maybe even the whole world!”

  Lu Bu looks up at Yuan Shu. “I’m so happy… for you!” She cocks her head as she closes her eyes “I just… do my… best!” Lu Bu perks up, as if realizing something. Well, she perks up very slowly, “Oh, I forgot!” She looks around. “I was… supposed to buy supplies… with Gao Shun and Chen Gong. I wonder… where they wandered… off to…”

  Yuan Shu looks at Lu Bu confused, before she sits back down, unsure why Lu Bu doesn’t show more interest in her name. “Well, if you’re a president, why not just spend your class funds on one of these puppies if you want one.”

  Lu Bu shakes her head slowly. “I can’t… do that. It’s not very… responsible. We need… more supplies. Our class… is kind of… full.”

  “President Lu Bu!” A voice comes from the entrance of the shop. A short, young girl with long, black hair tied into two low buns and glasses walks in. “This is where you wandered off to! We must get the supplies!”

  The young girl is followed by a taller girl with boyish short brown hair and brown eyes wearing a pair of athletic shorts and a dark grey hoodie. “Leave it to President Bu to move slowly and still manage to disappear.”

  Yuan Shu jumps back hearing the name, as she thinks to herself. “The mighty Lu Bu?! She is said to be the most powerful and strong student in the entire school! If I can secure a friendly relationship with her, it would make that dummy Shao have to respect me!”

  “Oh… Chen Gong… Gao Shun.” She says looking first at the small girl and then the short haired girl. “Sorry for… getting lost. I forgot… what we were doing. And then… saw a dog.”

  Yuan Shu smiles as she turns to the small girl, only slightly taller than her. “Well, Ms. Lu Bu needs a class pet, so you’re going to have to deal with her buying that instead of your supplies!”

  Chen Gong turns to Yuan Shu. “Pwah? Who is this?” She looks her up and down. “Oh, you are that lesser Yuan.” She shakes her head. “Don’t influence our president with your malice intent! Just because you have your parents wallet funding your budget, doesn’t mean the rest of us do.”

  Being called the “Lesser Yuan” is the insult that stings Yuan Shu the most. “How dare you! You short irrelevant insignificant-”

  Lu Bu places her hand on Yuan Shu’s shoulder. “It’s okay. I know you’re… trying to help… but Chen Gong… is right. We don’t… have the funds… to set aside… for food… and nurture… we also… have to keep our class… happy.” She stands up slowly, as she smiles to Yuan Shu. “Thank you Ms. Yuan Shu… for your… consideration.” She bows to Yuan Shu. “I will… see you around, school.” She says goodbye to the dogs as they come up to her one by one. She then opens the gate and closes it as the dogs whine and look out the window watching Lu Bu leave with her two friends.

  Yuan Shu sits as a few of the dogs continue wanting attention from her. “Hmph. Lu Bu is strange! She is said to be the strongest girl in the school, but she doesn’t do anything with it! Why not just make your class respect you with your power? Why make them happy?”

  Lu Bu walks with her two colleagues further down the expansive mall. Chen Gong looks up to Lu Bu with a serious expression painted on her face. “President Lu Bu! You mustn’t listen to that Yuan Shu! She is an absolute opportunist! In fact, she is the reason we had a class cancelled last week! Don’t trust anything she says!”

  Lu Bu looks at Chen Gong confused, “But, Gong… she likes dogs.” She smiles, “She is just… little and doesn’t… understand.”

  Gao Shun laughs as she walks with her hands in her hoodie pocket. “Gong, If Yuan Shu really wants something, she’d just throw a tantrum about it.” She looks down over to Chen Gong. “She’s not exactly smart.”

  Chen Gong frowns. “Sensei Gao Shun, there is no such thing as being too cautious.”

  Qu Yi sighs. She looks at the row of clothes Yuan Shao and Shen Pei have picked for her hanging up on the changing stall. “This is a bit overwhelming…” she mutters to herself. She looks at her reflection, getting more used to seeing it now. She has gotten used to the way it moves in the mirror. While she feels comfortable enough in her regular school uniform… She turns to look at the clothes again. Wearing something like that? It makes her stomach tie in knots. “Hey, Wen Chou?” she asks, over the changing stall wall.

  “Yeah, Newbie?” Wen Chou responds, in another changing stall. She’s looking at the outfits picked out for her with a bleak expression on her face.

  “Do you ever feel, scared… of wearing different clothes?”

  “Huh, well, I can see when something isn’t exactly my style, but I wouldn’t say I’m ‘scared’ of wearing them.”

  Qu Yi is looking through the outfits on the hangers. “Um, do you mind if I ask why?”

  “Why?” Wen Chou repeats the question and raises her eyebrows. “Well, I’ve never exactly been feminine, but it’s just clothes at the end of the day.” Wen Chou hears a sigh from the other side of the stall. “Is something wrong, Yi?”

  Qu Yi feels her stomach begin to tighten as her breath shortens, a familiar feeling she dislikes having. “W-Well, I guess, I’m just scared to go out in these…”

  Wen Chou face shows concern as she tries to peek under the wall in between the two roommates. She sees her shoes standing still, pointed towards where the clothes were hung up. “Right.” She mutters to herself. She unlocks her stall and exits. “Hey Yi, want to come out here?”

  Qu Yi blushes and turns her head away hearing Wen Chou on the other side of the door. “W-Well, I-I think I’m ju-just a little embarrassed, I don’t know if-”

  “I don’t mind coming in there if you’re having trouble. Let me just…”

  Qu Yi turns and sees Wen Chou’s hands poke in under the stall. “Let’s see, if I can just fit my head under here…” Qu Yi sees the stall shake slightly as a bump is heard. “Ouch! Okay, I guess it’s a little smaller than I thought.”

  Qu Yi feels a sense of comfort brush over her watching the scene. She can’t help but smile as the sense of warmth encourages her to unlock her stall door.

  “Oh, cool.” Wen Chou responds as she hears the door unlock. She smiles as she opens the stall door to see Qu Yi, her hands bundled up close to her as she is still wearing her original outfit. “So, Newbie, what’s up?”

  Qu Yi looks to Wen Chou her eyes still wet as she holds back tears, “U-Um, I just… I’m scared…”

  Wen Chou smiles. “Well, do you mind if I ask why you’re scared?”

  Qu Yi twiddles her fingers, “Um, well, I-I guess, I’ve never done this before… never shown, um, peers, myself, coming out in different outfits. It feels… embarrassing.”

  Wen Chou smiles as she sits down on a bench in the stall. “Hey, I understand you. Personally, I’ve never liked the whole aspect of ‘fashion’ and trying on different outfits.”

  Qu Yi follows Wen Chou’s lead and manages to get herself to sit next to her, her hands going straight in her lap as she looks down. “W-What if I come out there, wearing these clothes… and they laugh at me?”

  “Then I would punch them.” Wen Chou responds off the cuff. She then chuckles to herself. “But they won’t. I don’t know how much you’ve had to go through Yi, but here, things aren’t going to be like that around us. Everyone came out here today because we care about you.” She stops and thinks momentarily. “Well, Shen Pei is here because Yuan Shao is here, but Yuan Shao, Liang and I are here because we care about you. I don’t think you have anything you need to be scared of with us.”

  Qu Yi looks at the clothes. “W-Well, it will be so embarrassing still! A-And what if the outfit feels so weird! A-And I’m not used to all these textures and… and-”

  “Newbie, breathe.” Wen Chou wraps her arm around her shoulders and squeezes her close. “You’re doing fine. This is your first time you’ve done this right? Even if you don’t exactly like the outfit, the only ones going to see you are your friends.” She turns to the side. “Heaven knows, I don’t want to wear the dresses Yuan Shao picked for me, but, I’m here, and I’m doing it, and I’m doing it for you.”

  Qu Yi looks up to Wen Chou’s face. “Y-You’re doing it for me?”

  Wen Chou nods. “Yeah! I know I teased a bit when this plan was first made, but, I could have always just said ‘no’ if I really didn’t want to go. But look at us, we’re here together.” She looks at Qu Yi’s outfits. “Also, you’d look really cute in a lot of those.” She laughs.

  Qu Yi blushes, “U-Um… I-If I wear these, y-you have to come out with me! R-Right? You’re not gonna just push me out and-”

  Wen Chou squeezes Qu Yi again, which causes Qu Yi to feel warm on the inside. “Sure! Tell you what.” Wen Chou smiles, “You have all these clothes they picked out for you. I’ll come out in one of those fancy outfits they pick for me each time.”

  “B-But didn’t they only pick out a few for you-”

  “I’ll just tell them to pick more! That way you’re not feeling alone on this, right?” She smiles wide to Qu Yi. “Besides, Yan Liang should be in here any minute with some of her own clothes. It will be the trio of roommates! You won’t be alone at all!”

  Qu Yi feels some inner strength fill her once trembling legs and arms. “O-Okay. I g-guess I should change…”

  Wen Chou stands up. “I’ll grab out one of those ones they picked for me, and meet you out here.” She heads back to her stall.

  Qu Yi locks her stall as she looks at her reflection, her thoughts begin to surge with power. “I-I can do this! Wen Chou is going do this with me! So, I can do this! I-I just, I’ll grab one out randomly!” She pulls a random hanger and pulls out what appears to her as a fancy knee length dress that girls would wear for their Sunday best. It is a yellow dress with short sleeves and a Peter Pan collar.

  “O-Okay! I can still do this!” She balls her fists up determined, “I-It’s just like a… big shirt! With puffy sleeves, and… wait.” She stops for a moment. “My uniform has puffy sleeves. This isn’t much new at all! I-It’s just… if my uniform was a big shirt!” She hangs the dress up on the mirror, as she stares at her reflection, “R-Right! I can do this! J-Just like we practiced! I can be… independent!”

  Wen Chou sits out on the bench outside of the stall. She has a passive blush on her face as she is stuck staring at a mirror on the wall. She wears a teal dress the same color as her hair that raises just above her knee. It has a white flowery embroidery on the bodice with a tulle material for the skirt. She is folding her arms in annoyance.

  “Ugh, Yuan Shao has some bad taste in fashion. Where on earth could I even wear this? This feels too fancy for most places. What? Am I going to a wedding?” She hears Qu Yi’s stall unlock, and instantly stands up. “N-Now just prepare yourself! Don’t laugh at me!”

  Qu Yi gasps. “T-There’s no way I could ever do that! U-Um, y-you don’t laugh!”

  “I-I already said I wouldn’t!” Wen Chou speaks out, slight embarrassment in her voice.

  The stall door opens, revealing Qu Yi wearing the yellow dress. She’s averting her eyes and rubbing her left arm with her right hand. Qu Yi’s eyes widen as she sees Wen Chou. While she is used to seeing her in the uniform, she has never seen her in a dress before. She blushes looking at her.

  Wen Chou’s eyes widen staring back at Qu Yi. “WAH! Yi, you’re cute!” She says out. “I’ve never seen you in a dress before!”

  Qu Yi blushes and averts her eyes, “Y-You’re the one that’s cute! I’ve never seen you in a dress before either!”

  Wen Chou blushes brightly. “E-Eh?! I’m cute?!” Wen Chou asks in confusion, before shaking her head. “Yi! You don’t get to call people cute when you look like that!”

  Qu Yi blushes. “W-Well I just did! Y-You call me cute all the time! U-Um, h-how do you like it?!” Qu Yi is blushing, trying to avoid thinking about herself right now. Her roommates tease her about being cute so much, she smiles, feeling herself having the power to embarrass her friends now!

  Wen Chou covers her eyes, blushing. “Normally that word means nothing to me when people say it! But I guess since you’re saying it I have to take it somewhat seriously now.” She folds her arms blushing, as she averts her eyes.

  Qu Yi notices Wen Chou’s embarrassment. “A-Ah, is this how it feels when you guys try to embarrass me?” She grins. “I-I can see why you and Liang do it so much!”

  Wen Chou smirks to Qu Yi and blushes. “Yeah, glad you understand that, Newbie.” She pats Qu Yi on the head, making sure to avoid her bun, since she got defensive about it earlier. “So, guess we have to show Yuan Shao now.” Wen Chou’s eyes widen. “Hang on! Yan Liang hasn’t seen you in a dress either!” Wen Chou picks Qu Yi up with ease. “Oh Yan Liaaaaaang!” Wen Chou calls out as she takes Qu Yi out of the changing rooms with her. Qu Yi, naturally, tries to struggle out of the grip.

  The two exit the door back to the main store front area. “Hey, Yan Liang! Qu Yi is in a dress!”

  Yan Liang who is picking out a few outfits in the front jumps up at hearing that. “HEY! Wen Chou, no fair! I wasn’t finished picking my stuff up yet!” She quickly stops what she’s doing and runs to the changing rooms.

  Yuan Shao laughs. “Ohohoho! See! I told you! Qu Yi looks absolutely darling with a Peter Pan collar Shen Pei!”

  Shen Pei nods as she adjusts her glasses. “Of course, Madame President, your opinions are never incorrect!”

  Qu Yi blushes as she’s set down. She feels an instinctive need to try to pull her skirt down. “U-Uh, d-does that mean I don’t look silly?”

  Yan Liang turns the corner and sees Qu Yi, “Oh my gosh!” Her eyes widen as she shakes in awe. The clothes she’s holding on her arm falls to the ground, “This is… the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.” Yan Liang quickly pulls out her phone and snaps a picture of the two.”

  “H-Hey!” Qu Yi blushes, “D-Don’t just take a picture!”

  Wen Chou jumps up, “Yeah! Hey! Don’t include me in the picture! Just her!” She points to Qu Yi.

  “Oh shush!” Yan Liang smiles. “You look adorable together!” She takes another picture.

  Qu Yi blushes. “H-Hey, that’s u-unfair, Liang! Y-You need to get in here and g-get dressed with us!”

  Yan Liang smiles blissfully as she looks at the photo on her phone. “Don’t worry! I will!” She runs in between her two roommates and takes a selfie, with them included.

  Qu Yi blushes. “C-Can you please des-destroy the evidence!”

  Wen Chou laughs. “You’ll have to send those to me.” She peeks at Yan Liang’s phone.

  “N-Not you too Chou! I-I thought we were in this together! Y-You’re in a dress also!”

  “Yeah, Newbie! But I’ve decided it’s worth it to have pics of me in a dress, if I can keep pics of you in a dress!”

  “N-No! That’s not f-fair Chou!” Qu Yi pouts as she folds her arms, causing Wen Chou to ruffle her hair again.

  The two continue to banter as Yan Liang looks at the new photos on her phone, “There’s no way I’ll ever forget these.” She blushes as she beams. “Here’s to a whole new day of memories.”