Running into Kaoru was one of the last things Tomoe had expected to happen when she was leaving the dance club one late afternoon. Ako had already left earlier with Lisa since there was a Roselia rehearsal that night. Afterglow had the day off- Himari and Tsugumi both had club activities today as well- so Tomoe was planning on walking home alone when she caught glimpse of her senior at the shoe lockers. Kaoru had just finished up with the drama club and was also preparing to leave for the day. After exchanging some pleasantries, it was Tomoe's stomach that interrupted their conversation with a pleading growl. Kaoru mentioned something about 'appetite being a universal wolf,' or something like that; however, she also admitted that she was quite peckish herself. The two agreed to grab some food together at a nearby fast food restaurant since they were both free for the rest of the day.

On their walk to the restaurant, they had caught up with some idle chatter, each reminiscing about what had transpired in their respective clubs that day. Ever since their collaboration on the White Day play that Kaoru put together for her little kittens, the two started to interact more often. Prior to that, they would simply exchange quick greetings whenever they happened to come across each other. More often than not was because of Himari somehow bringing them all together.

Speak of the devil, Himari had a shift at the fast food restaurant that day. Tomoe couldn't help but laugh at her face of exasperation when she and Kaoru arrived together. Kaoru put on her best face for the pink-haired bassist- as she did with all of her little kittens- and was rewarded with a free upgrade from a small to a large side of fries. Tomoe opted to take advantage of her employee discount for her own meal, saving Himari the embarrassment of her playful teases.

"There's something I wanted to ask," Kaoru began out of nowhere, sipping at her drink. They had gotten their food and were seated at one of the far booths of the restaurant.

Tomoe raised an eyebrow. She wasn't quite sure what her senpai had on her mind, but recognized that her tone had grown a bit more serious than their previously light-hearted conversation.

Regardless, she nodded, "Sure, ask away."

Kaoru glanced off to the side momentarily, slightly towards the direction where Himari was, before reverting her gaze back at Tomoe. The nervousness seemed uncharacteristic of her; Kaoru avoided direct eye contact and spoke slowly as she tried to find her words. "How is it that you and Himari-chan are so close? I know you're childhood friends and all, but," Kaoru paused. "How do you keep from drifting apart from each other?"

Tomoe coughed slightly, almost choking on her drink. She was certainly thrown off by Kaoru's question. "Well, um… I suppose it just happens when you've spent years practically growing up with a person."

The answer was more complicated than that; Tomoe wasn't sure how to put it into words. Sure, she and Himari were inseparable- much like the way Moca and Ran were- but sometimes she wondered if was simply because they've bonded so much as friends or if it was something more. Tomoe wasn't entirely certain about her own feelings, so it was impossible to try to explain something she didn't completely understand herself. Instead, she tried to divert the conversation. "Where did this come from anyways?"

Kaoru sighed, resting her chin against her propped up arm. "Lately, I've been having some issues regarding an old friend of mine. We used to be really close when we were younger, but ended drifting apart over the years." Kaoru swirled her drink around. She took a moment, debating if she should really put herself out there. "Would you believe me if I said I wasn't always like this?"

The two nearly stood nose-to-nose to each other in height; even Kaoru would sometimes forget that Tomoe was, in fact, her junior. Tomoe had a reputation for being reliable, something Kaoru experienced firsthand when she asked the drummer to be in her play. If Kaoru was really honest with herself, it was possible that Tomoe had things more figured out than she did. The redhead expelled an aura of natural composure and strong sense of self that Kaoru had spent years trying to fabricate into that princely persona she was now known for. She had worn the mask for so long that it was tough to show the much more fragile and honest interior; but something gave Kaoru the feeling that she could trust Tomoe.

So Kaoru confided in Tomoe. She spared no detail, explaining how she had been close friends with Chisato. How she used to be a timid little girl who Chisato would constantly have to protect from bullies or reassure her from her insecurities. How that when they went to different middle schools, Kaoru worked to become the kind of person that people could rely on in hopes that she could help Chisato in the same way she helped Kaoru.

However, over the years, Chisato had only grown colder towards her, even to the point of shutting her down or straight up ignoring her. Kaoru would double or even triple her efforts to make herself seem worthy of Chisato's attention, only to recently find out that a princely Kaoru wasn't the person Chisato wanted.

Even after that encounter with Chisato, Kaoru wasn't sure if she could just drop the princely act. She had gotten too used to the role, enjoyed it even. It was a persona that she stuck to for so long that Kaoru wasn't sure who she was anymore. Did she lie to herself for so long that she began to believe the façade she created?

Tomoe would nod every so often, signifying that she was listening to everything that Kaoru told her. While some of the things Kaoru confessed did shatter some of Tomoe's previous perceptions of the guitarist, she made the effort to take what was given to her without any judgement. When Kaoru finished, Tomoe took a moment to process the information. The silence made the air weigh down against Kaoru's shoulders for what seemed like an eternity, but finally Tomoe spoke.

"If you ask me," Tomoe explained with a certain kind of calmness that made her seem wiser than her years, "The person you are now is just as much a part of you as the person you were then. Nobody really stays the same; aspects of ourselves can change over time. I guess you just have to find a balance between the two. Maybe you don't have to be so flamboyant, but you don't have to revert back to timidness either."

Kaoru furrowed her brow at the notion. Tomoe tried her best not to chuckle, as Kaoru looked like she was going to make her brain explode if she thought too much.

"Don't think too hard on it, Seta-senpai. All Shirasagi-san wants is for you to be genuine."

Tomoe had a point. Kaoru had been looking at it all in a binary perspective. Things were not simply black and white, but rather more like a gradient. She didn't have to give up one side of her for the other to flourish. The princely Kaoru that she is now was now was just as much a part of her identity as the feeble Kao-chan from her childhood. Two qualities that came together to create her whole personality.

"I see. Thank you, Tomoe-chan, for your insight," Kaoru said, committing the advice given to her to memory. "You know, Himari-chan is certainly lucky to have a person like you in her life."

It was Tomoe's turn to become self-conscious. Laughing nervously, she glanced off just over Kaoru's shoulder, looking out a window as she rubbed the back of her head. "Heh, I suppose. I mean-"

"You're too modest," Kaoru cut in with a smile. "Give yourself some more credit."

Tomoe laughed, "Yea, guess we both have to be a little more honest with ourselves."

Kaoru snickered, but raised her plastic cup in solidarity. They could definitely toast to that.