I haven't updated in awhile, stupid lack of inspiration. I don't own TMM.

"Oh, he left?" Lettuce asked, perfectly hiding her disappointment, saying it in a high voice, as if she were idly curious.

"Yeah, do you know him?" Zakuro asked, curious as to what Lettuce's relation to that moderately strange guy.

"Hai, he's a friend from school, we should probably get back to work," Lettuce told her with a smile. Zakuro nodded, forgetting the other part of the message. Lettuce had so much more strength around Ito, she smiled even broader when she thought of him. She looked at the clock, it was already 5 o' clock, an hour 'til she got out of the place. She could hardly wait for her shift to be over, something about Ito made her heart pound.

The day proceeded to be busy, but that was expected for a Friday afternoon. She couldn't believe how long an hour seemed. It was ridiculous, but she knew that she would have a great time after work, and it kept her going. Lettuce thought back to about a month ago, the day Ichigo and Ryou hooked up.

~Flashback~

The sky was overcast, and Lettuce couldn't believe it hadn't started raining. She walked into the café and Mint and Ichigo were already there, bickering as usual, but Mint seemed angrier than she normally was.

"You just broke up with Masaya a month ago, and think of one of your best friends!" Mint shouted.

"Mint, I've thought this over a lot. Masaya hurt me, yes, but I need to move on, and he can help me! Plus, if she was going to make a move she'd have done by now! And if he was interested than he would have said something, we've connected before. I need the hurt to stop, I don't know why Masaya broke up with me, but he did! The bastard said 'I loved you, but it's time we both moved on, Ichigo, I know you'll never understand this. But we aren't meant to be.' He's right I'll never understand, but I'm not gonna waste my life. Ryou Shirogane has always been there for me, and I'll be damned if he won't be there for me now!" Ichigo vented angrily, she had begun panting.

Mint tapped Ichigo on the shoulder, and gestured at Lettuce, who had heard the whole thing. Lettuce had just faked a smile, "I hope it goes well for you, Ichigo," she said and went into the dressing room, she let the tears flow, and she couldn't believe that Ichigo finally decided on Ryou. It pissed her off, Ichigo had always had the choice to have any man she wanted, and the first time she was without someone she takes the one Lettuce cared about the most!

That day was one of the longest that Lettuce had even endured, she had to pretend from that day on that she was okay. But that day hadn't ended there, it ended yesterday, and a new day had come, a much happier day.

"My shift's over," Lettuce told her friends and went back into the dressing room, quickly changing into her outfit, and she realized she still had Ito's coat. She smiled, and put the slightly larger black coat on. She was worried that Ito would catch a cold, but she also knew that he was too kind to say something.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, that guy said he wanted you to call him after you were done," Zakuro said, then looked at Lettuce. Her jaw nearly dropped, and Lettuce laughed.

"Zakuro-san, are you okay?" Lettuce asked, still laughing.

"Hai, wow, you really did a great job," Zakuro said and a slight smile spread across her face, "Have fun with your friend."

"Thanks," Lettuce smiled, and walked out into the now heavily-falling snow. She got her cell phone out and dialed Ito's number.

"I'm glad you called, Midorikawa-san," Ito said, she could see him smile broadly.

"Zakuro said you wanted me to," Lettuce smiled, she didn't want to sound like that was the only reason she was calling, but she didn't want to sound too excited either, that might creep him out.

"So, do you have plans for this evening?" he asked casually, with a small hair flip. He wanted to hang out with her, but he didn't want her to feel awkward, he had an idea she was still getting over the blond guy she had talked too. She had changed to help with that, but Rome wasn't built in a day. She was so much happier, she paid attention in classes, and she learned who was in each of her classes. Before she had rarely smiled, she didn't know anyone's name, and she seemed distant from everyone else. He knew she didn't know him, that's why he had introduced himself when they collided in the hallway. Now it was as if a curtain had been lifted.

"Iie, did you have something in mind?" Lettuce asked.

"Uh, not exactly, but if you wanted to do anything I'm game," Ito said, he knew there were a few new movies out, and even if she wanted to do something else there were endless possibilities in Tokyo, one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

"Um, I don't really know what we should do either, how bout I head home for an hour? Then we can meet Uptown, I haven't eaten yet, should I?"

"Sounds good, but no, we can get something to eat then start doing whatever it is we want. How bout we meet at you place though?"

"Okay, I'll see you soon," she said.

"See you," he said and hung up the phone. He thought about what Lettuce had been wearing, if she was going home she was probably going to change into something even better looking. He opened his closet in search of something that would look good but he would still be warm in. He finally decided on his only pair of light jeans and a black collared buttoned shirt. He looked good in it, and it would look good with his black coat that kept him the perfect temperature, which was ideal in the snow that was falling heavily. He looked at his shaggy black hair, Lettuce had changed, and he was getting sick of his hair constantly being in his eyes, so he could too.

He put his wallet in his pocket and started out to a hairdresser. The first place he found he that said "Walk-Ins Welcome" he went in and looked around.

"Hello?" he heard someone ask.

"Hi, um, you aren't too busy are you?" he asked looking at the empty room.

"No, hun, I'm closing in an hour, but I can take care of you," he saw a middle-aged woman with long brown hair come out from the back room.

"Thank you," he said and she smiled.

"So, sit down, I'll wash your hair, and you can tell me what you want, I'm Sasaki Aya, what's your name darling?"

"I'm Ito Toshihiro, it's nice to meet you, Sasaki-san," he said and went towards the station she specified.

"So, what's a handsome young man like yourself doing here on a Friday night?" Aya asked as she wet his hair.

"Well, it's kind of weird," he said, but he felt comfortable here. "I've got a new friend, and she recently made a change in her life, and she inspired me some. I'm not doing anything as drastic as her, but she always looks really good, and I hang out with her a lot, and I feel like I should too. Besides, I've had this hairstyle for a long time."

"Hmm, so, are you interested in this girl? Oh, what am I saying, it's none of my business," she asked.

"I don't mind. And I don't know, we're going to hang out tonight actually, but I don't know if I like her more than a friend. We've only known each other for a little while, and I wanna get to know her a little more."

"That's smart, but does she not like you too much right now? If she doesn't like you the way you are now she won't like you later," Aya was concerned for the youth of this generation.

"No, she likes me for me, like I said before, it's dumb, but since we spend plenty of time together I don't think it'd hurt to look half as good as her," Ito realized it sounded like he was being kinda shallow. But, he was being serious, and he felt the need to do this.

"No, I guess not, so what did you have in mind?" Aya asked, she felt an unusual concern for this boy and his problems.

"Uh, I don't know, I definitely want it shorter though."

"All right, I won't make it too short, but how bout a surprise?" Sasaki smiled, it reminded her of two or three days ago when Lettuce Midorikawa had come in.

"Sure," he said, and she turned him around. She looked at his face and decided instantly to give his hair a choppy tousled look, it would be an average length for a guy, and have and it should be moderately spiked. Yes, that was what she decided. It took every amount of time he had so that he wouldn't be late to meet Lettuce.

"There you go," she said and turned him around. He looked in the mirror and he could hardly believe what he saw. It was unbelievable, there was no way that could be him.

"That can't be me," he whispered out loud.

"That is you," she said, "Now what time do you have to meet your friend?"

"Oh, crap, I'm gonna be late if I don't hurry," he said with a glance at his watch, "How much do I owe you?" She gave him a low price and hurried him along. He rushed to Lettuce's house that was only a few blocks away. He arrived at her door and it was exactly a half-hour from when he had hung up with Lettuce. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. A man with brown short hair and glasses answered the door with a small frown when he saw a boy. "Um, i-is this the Midorikawa residence?" he was suddenly nervous in this man's presence, if he was Lettuce's father he wanted to make a good impression.

"Hai, I don't suppose you're here for Uri?" her father being hopeful.

"Uh, no, sir," Ito supposed that was Lettuce's brother.

Mr. Midorikawa sighed, "Come in, lad," he opened the door and invited Ito in. "Lettuce, someone's here for you!" her father called up to her.

"Hai!" Lettuce called down and came down the stairs. Her father frowned at her outfit, Ito smiled. Lettuce was wearing a jean skirt with leggings on, and a long sleeved white blouse.

"Do you know this young man?" her father asked.

"Hai, Dad, this is Ito Toshihiro," she said, smiling as she introduced him.

"All right, lad, have her home before midnight," her father was frowning even more, his girl was growing up.

"Of course, sir, and sir, may I say something?"

"Hai, you may."

"We're just friends, we're just going to hang out," he told him, seeing her father had obviously gotten the wrong idea.

"Oh, well have a good night you two," her father was surprised.

"Good night, Dad," Lettuce said and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. The two departed and once they were out the door Lettuce commented on his haircut. "I like it, it looks good on you."

"Thanks, it was kind of a sporadic decision, but I'm glad I got it, and glad you like it."