Long since tired of looking at the same blank sheet of sketch paper, she decides to go out for inspiration. It's been some time since her last trip out to shop, and knowing her deadline is approaching, it's a bit difficult to relax. But when she sees the rows of colorful and stylish clothes hung all around, as if by magic, her mind is instead filled with thoughts of mixing and matching. That top has a nice, sort of flowy design, and this one has an interesting pattern. They would both go well with a necklace she has at home, and so on and so forth.

It's while she's examining the fabric of a pretty skirt that she notices the person next to her. More specifically, that person speaks to her, in a familiarly casual sort of way. "Mizuki-san… Didn't think I'd see you here." She turns, and is greeted with the sight of a person she'd almost forgotten about, but how could she?

"Ah, Ran. It's been a while, hasn't it?" It's odd seeing her again, after so many years, and especially after just seeing Kaede and Yurika again the day before. As if her past is coming back to bite her, or something. Though she recognized her almost instantly, her appearance has changed somewhat since last time, whenever that was. "I see you cut your hair."

Ran runs a well-manicured hand through her bob-like cut. "You too. It's weird though, you always had the longest hair out of any of us."

She giggles softly. "Why do you think I cut it? Hair that long is only practical if you're an idol, and even then." Ran laughs in turn, and there's a brief pause. The two had long had a sort of mutual understanding, ever since the earliest days of Tristar, and that has not changed in the many years spent with their minds on other things. "I heard you were pursuing modeling in other countries. What brings you back here?"

At this, she sighs. Is this a sore topic? "I kinda… You know, it didn't work out." At Mizuki's firm gaze, she shrinks back a bit. "I could say the same of you, though. Aren't you some huge designer now?"

"A designer with a block, maybe. I haven't been able to come up with anything good in some time."

They've both, in their mutual confusion, ended up at the same clothing store, peeling through the racks in search of some magic cure for their current predicaments. Neither of them are quite like themselves, and yet this doesn't make it any more difficult for them to talk and catch up. It really is comfortable, in a way she can't quite place. It's just one of those things.

"So, how are Kaede and Yurika doing?" She mentions both of them by name, but it's obvious who she's more concerned about. Have they not had contact since the end of their idol days?

"They're fine. I just saw them yesterday, actually." Should she say it? She has no idea of Ran's current status as far as relationships or if she even still cares, but back then they'd been extremely close, put lightly. "Yurika got married, sometime last year," she says, as casually as she possibly can.

It's only visible for a split second, but Ran's face sort of empties of all feeling, eyes wide, before falling back into place. "Ah. I guess I should've sent some kinda congratulations."

"I didn't know until she told me yesterday. We've all gone on our separate ways since then."

She looks as if she wants to say something, but the words die before they reach her lips. "Yeah." And so they compare their shopping finds and talk about clothes, as a model and a designer, until they finally bid farewell. She has things she has to do, people to see, and Mizuki is left with her thoughts.

And her somehow budding inspiration.

She's just getting ready for bed that night when her phone begins to ring, the default tone. She does a double take when she sees the contact information, but picks up nonetheless.

"Kaede?"

"Mizuki! I'm glad you're still up. I thought you might've gone to bed already."

"I was just about to. What is it?"

"I might have heard that you saw Ran today."

Word apparently travels fast. "I did. We ran into each other while out shopping. Why?"

"Well!" Her grin is tangible, even over the phone. "You know Ran is single, right?"

"What does that have to do with..."

"She's in the same boat as you, I'm pretty sure. Aoi and I have been talking and she hasn't even done the whole dating thing in a while. Hearing about Yurika probably hit hard, too. Hey, it hit me hard and we were just friends!"

She remains silent through all of this, until a break in the chatter finally arrives. "Goodnight, Kaede."

"Oh! Goodnight! I'll call you tomorrow, maybe."

She knows it's wrong of her, and it's not as if she has anything against Kaede, but the thought of hearing more about this particular topic isn't exactly appealing.

Maybe she can dodge it somehow. But for now, she'll rest, and forget about all of that, even though life seems determined to shove it in her face at the moment. She doesn't want to think about marriage. She doesn't want to think about Ichigo. And she especially doesn't want to think about the implications of that.

Because there are some things better left unsaid.