Hi for my third chapter of this! Pardon me if my second chapter does not please you.

Anyway, I do hope you like this chapter!

I don't own anything.


I heaved out a sigh as I plopped my pen on the table. I leaned into my chair, stretching my arms. Craning my head to see what time it was, I stifled a yawn. It was a quarter to one. In the morning. I was rushing stuff and making sure I did everything.

My gaze landed on the calendar. I flipped it over. One of the days had a bright red circle on it. I groaned. There was a midsummer party in a few weeks' time. I recalled the female classmates around me giggling in excitement as they wondered what kind of clothes to wear.

It wasn't that I'm not excited. I'm a girl, of course I would be. It's just that… My concept of a party is screaming, singing, laughing, dancing. I don't dance. Really. I don't. During high school, I was invited to attend prom with this guy, and I kept stepping on his foot. I spun too hard, and almost fell. After that incident, he didn't talk to me anymore.

And no one asked me to dance after that. Like my popularity wasn't bad enough.

Alright, enough of the bad memories. I need some sleep. Lenalee, Fou, Road and I are hanging out in the mall tomorrow, anyway.


NEXT DAY AFTER SCHOOL

I made my way towards a café. Lenalee asked me to meet up there. I saw a familiar figure on a seat and walked towards that person.

Kanda.

…Wait, what?

Isn't it supposed to be a girls' day out or something?

I stopped at his side. "What brings you here?"

He gave me a sideways stare. "Nothing."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "Nothing, huh."

"Yes, so mind your own business and leave me alone."

Hostile as always.

"Can't. Lenalee asked me to meet her here, so I can't leave."

He looked up so he could fully face me. "Lenalee?"

I blinked. "Yeah."

Kanda furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm supposed to meet up with her and the other idiots too."

I blinked once more. "…Really?"

"Hey Yuu!" A voice called out. Lavi jumped into my view.

"Oh, you're here too, Dakota!"

Kanda 'che'd and looked away.

"Hi Lavi," I greeted. The said male grinned.

The rest came right after that, but we seemed to be missing one person.

"ALLEN~"

Right on cue.

Thin arms wrapped around Allen's neck from behind. And it shocked us all. Road was hanging on Allen, giggling away. Poor Allen could do nothing but stand there and gasp.

"R-Road!" Lavi exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

Road giggled. "Can't you see? I'm greeting my lovely Allen~"

Lenalee cleared her throat. "Let's just get going, okay? We don't have all the time."

Road nodded and let go of Allen, who looked quite relieved.

We walked around the mall, with little destination in mind. We were just chatting away, it was enough.

Though Road was talking to Allen and Allen only.

"Allen, how's your day? Allen, have you eaten? Allen, you're so cute!"

Allen replied all her questions, but seemed quite flustered.

After some walking, we settled down in a fast food restaurant nearby. Allen, as usual, ordered tons and tons of food. I ordered a medium-sized burger and soda. As I took a bite, I glanced at my friends.

Lavi was teasing Kanda again, who was getting annoyed by the second.

Allen and Road were chatting.

Fou was busy taking a bite on her food.

Lenalee was staring at her drink, lost in thought. I wonder what she was thinking.

I finished my burger in a few minutes and crumpled the piece of wrapping paper. Soon, everyone finished their meal too.

Lenalee sighed. "I guess we didn't really do much today, huh?"

Fou shrugged. "Usually it's just you and me, so we managed to finish our shopping faster."

"Can we just get out of here?" Kanda grunted. "I'm sick of being stuck in the mall."

Lavi nudge his friend. "What? Got a date?"

Kanda shot him a death glare. "Shut up, stupid rabbit. I'm just saying I could have finished all my work by this time if you all hadn't pulled me for this stupid thing."

I rolled my eyes. "Says the one who arrived first."

Allen snickered. So did Lavi.

"Aw, Yuu, you're so cute! Didn't know you were so considerate to come early~"

"SHUT UP!"

"Guys!" Lenalee interrupted. "Keep your volume down. People are staring!"

Sure enough, some of the people in the fast food restaurant were casting us weird glances. We cleared our throats and quickly left. No point staying here if another outburst is bound to happen.

I glanced at the time flashed on the screen of my phone. It was late in the afternoon. "Erm guys, I think I should get going." I told them.

Fou nodded. "See ya soon."

Road beamed. "Bye!"

As I walked away, I remembered I need an outfit for the midsummer party.


I opened my wardrobe wide and began my search. T-shirts, shorts, clothes of an average female…

Aha!

I yanked out a knee-length skirt… or what I thought it would be. I tried it on.

It's too small. Either that or I've gained weight. But the main point is: It doesn't fit.

I threw it to the side and tried to look for more clothes. In the end, I picked out a crimson-coloured polo and jeans. It was the best amongst all the rest. But I doubt they would approve of this, it isn't fancy. Not one bit. I would be the odd one out. For sure. I have a feeling even Lou Fa would be wearing dresses and such. And a pretty one at that.

Also, I couldn't afford to buy new clothes. You know how much a smart casual/party kind of clothing cost nowadays. I could have asked Aunt Lulubell for the money, but I don't like to ask for extra allowance.

I rubbed the back of my head. If I continue like this, I would never find an outfit and I would be the odd one out by then. It would be so embarrassing.


NEXT DAY AT HOME

My gaze fell on the small skirt. An idea popped in my head.

I took out an old white shirt and a too-small pair of shorts made of jeans material. I put the three clothing out on the table, and thought of what to do next. All I need to do is to combine them together, right? I could cut open the shirt and make it into a knee-length skirt. It isn't see-through, so I guess it's alright. The shorts can be used to decorate the skirt (does dark blue and white make a good combination?) and the small skirt and be cut out to become the hem and waistband. I don't know. It just came to my mind to look like that. It might turn out to be a huge disaster.

But first, I need thread.

I searched up and down, in and out, but I could find my sewing kit. Or it's just that I don't have one and I have always been using Aunt Lulubell's. But I don't feel like going to her house to get it. I would be bothering her and it's too far away. I could just head to the nearest shop to buy those. It's cheap too.

I grabbed my phone and wallet and headed out. To the nearest sewing supplies shop!

I found one a few streets away and made a run to it. It was not very big, but there sure is a lot of stuff in it. I looked around to find some needles and thread.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar figure, who was looking at some ribbons.

I widened my eyes when I recognised who that was. Road.

She, too, noticed me and waved.

"Hi, Dakota!" She greeted. "What brings you here?"

I shrugged. "N-Nothing much. Just some sewing supplies for my clothes-"

"Oh!" Road cut off my sentence with an excited cry. "Can I help?"

I blinked. What? Road, helping me? Would she laugh when she found out what I was planning to do?

"I guess so-"

"Yay!" She cut me off once more. "How can I help?"

"Well, I was thinking of combining my old clothing to turn into a skirt, and I'm here to get some needles and thread."

After some discussing, Road helped me with the things and we were on our way to my house. When she saw my chosen trio, she frowned.

"It's too plain, Dakota," she explained. "It would have been better if there is something more colourful."

I stared at the three clothes. If solid colours are plain to her, then yes it was indeed plain.

She picked up the small skirt. "It would be better if this decorates the shirt, instead of the shorts. This simple dark purple wavy design goes very well with the simple white shirt, and the jeans material as the hem would go well, too."

I didn't really pay attention. I just go with the flow. I had a feeling Road has more fashion sense than me. The last time I tried to design a shirt in class was full of polka dots and stripes. All in the colour of rainbows. You should see the expression of the people in the class, including the teacher. I wasn't in charge of the design team since then.

Something was shoved to me.

A measuring tape.

"I need to know your size so I can make the skirt," explained Road.

"…Y-You? You mean you can help me with-"

"Of course I can!" Road giggled. "I design it for you, it's normal for me to make it for you!"

I felt so touched right now.

"But I want to help you too. I mean, I'm the one who would be wearing the skirt. I would like to do something too!"

Road nodded with a beam. She casted a glance at the clock. "I've gotta go. Can I come over to your house tomorrow after fencing classes?"

"No problem."

I've really got to thank Road for everything.


NEXT DAY AFTER SCHOOL

Everyone scattered from the school. I quickened my steps, so I wouldn't be late for fencing. Also, I could then finish my projects quickly and think about midsummer party. Besides, the topic I was chosen for my presentation was 'Fabrics and Imagination'.

I made my way to the fencing academy.

I pushed open the wooden doors and entered the training grounds. They were already there.

This time, the 'warm-ups' were not so bad, perhaps I had gotten used to them. Hey, at least I managed to do 8 crunches this time. Lenalee was quite happy with my improvement.

"I think you can try holding the fencing sword." She finally said. I couldn't describe how excited I was.

Inside: OH MY GOSH, FENCING SWORD HERE I COME!

Outside: Sweet, let's get started.

But what surprised me was Kanda was my trainer. I blinked. "Where's Lenalee?"

He 'che'd. "She's only in charge of the warm-ups, which you failed so miserably, weakling."

There goes my spirits.

He threw a fencing sword at my direction. Yelping, I tried to grab it without getting myself injured.

"What was that for?" I exclaimed. "You could've missed and hit me!"

"Even better." Was the reply. It took me a lot to not throw myself at him.

"Whatever, idiot. Just start the training." I grumbled.

Much to my surprise, he was a good trainer, excluding the many insults he shot at me.

"Baka, what are you, a weakling? Oh right, you are." "Focus yourself idiot! If I had a real sword right now, I would have slashed you into pieces!" "Hit harder, are you trying to put me to sleep?"

Out of sheer anger, I put my weight onto the sword and aimed it at him with all my might.

Wrong move.

I completely forgot about everything else, so my guard wasn't up. Kanda defeated me almost immediately.

I held back a curse. A tiny smirk found its way to Kanda's lips.

"Keep your anger issues to yourself, weakling. You're bound to lose if you let it get in the way."

If he hadn't angered me, yes. Annoying trainer he is.

After all the training and anger management, we all went our separate ways. Road and I headed to my house to continue with our work. She prepared the things while I made a simple dinner for her.


"Let's get to work!" said Road cheerfully after we finished the meal. She began to cut the material with steady hands while I helped her with handing her the right stuff and things like that. Soon, the white shirt was no longer there. Instead, a skirt has taken its place. If I hadn't seen the 'before' product, I wouldn't have believed it used to be an old shirt.

Road beamed. "I'm done with changing the shape. Now I just need to make the waistband and hem and put on the purple design. Ah, would you look at the time. It's getting late." Road stood up and stretched her back. "Let's do it the next time, alright?"

"Of course," I said with a grateful smile, "Thanks for everything."

"Oh," Road smiled, "What are friends for?"


Days passed and Road came by occasionally to continue with the work. We had fun and chatted. I found out that Road wasn't all that weird. She was very nice, though cheeky, but her liveliness brightened up my day.

By the end of the week, we were done.

Road held up the end product. I gasped in delight. It really was beautiful, well, I had to thank Road for that. It was even better than I imagined. It'll definitely go well with my red polo shirt.

"Thank you, Road. I… I don't even know what to say…" I continued to stare at the skirt.

Road beamed. "It was nothing. I'm really happy you like it."

"Like it?" I exclaimed. "I love it!"

Road's smile got wider. "Really? Thank you!"

After she left, I carefully put the skirt into the wardrobe. Smiling to myself, I realised I had made a new friend. Quirky, but nice nevertheless.

I quickly put everything back and got ready for bed. As I hopped on the bed, I felt that something was amiss. More like out of place. I looked around the room. But it wasn't that hard to find it.

The photo frame, that had been empty for days ever since that incident, had its original photo back on once more.


Well, I'm quite glad Dakota and Road have become good friends. You'll never know when you'll meet such a great friend.

Because I edited the chapter, changing from prom to midsummer party, I apologise if I have confused you, if you have read this story before I edited.

I had some problem trying to think of a outfit for this OC, but I managed to do it, I shall relax for now. I hope you enjoyed it. R&R , thank you!

-AS