New Guy, Familiar Face

Chapter 4: Dress Hunting

Retsuko is on her way to Yoga Class, pleased that Ryo is glad to drive her and Haida to their date, when she thought in panic "What am I supposed to wear, though?! *groans* This'll be a headcase, without a doubt!" She then just arrived to her Yoga class and made a bow to her teacher, who replied "Protein?" Although that's all he says these days, Retsuko at least understood that he's asking "Is there something troubling you, student?" Retsuko then replied "Just a personal problem, sensei. Nothing too complicated."

Her Yoga teacher then nodded in understanding, before she went into the girl's change rooms and instinctively said to Washimi and Gori "Hey guys…" The two higher ranked staff workers then replied "Hey Retsuko…" Retsuko had a notion Washimi was going to prod her why she's a little glum, when the Yoga Teacher's Translator/Co-Worker announced "Alright Ladies, time for Yoga!" Retsuko, Washimi, Gori and the other Yoga Students dressed in their Yoga clothing and laid their mats on the floor before they proceeded to do some warm-ups.

After they did some warm-ups, they proceeded to do some posing to relax their muscles; as they were doing the Pidgeon Pose, Washimi glared at Retsuko in subtle concern and thought "What's the matter with Retsuko? Is she having second thoughts about her date… or afraid she'll screw it up? I'll ask her during break time…"

After half an hour of various poses, it was break time and Retsuko drank a few gulps from her water bottle, when Washimi asked her after tapping her shouder "Retsuko… are you having doubts on your first date with Haida already?" Retsuko replied startled after swallowing "WHAT?! No, not at all! It's just… well…" Retsuko then tilted her head glumly with her ears perked downwards, before she took a deep breath and admitted "I just don't know what to wear for the date… Haida's taking me out to a restaurant, but I'm not certain on what clothing would be most appropriate."

Washimi stroked her lower beak in thought, before she replied after snapping her feathers "How about we shop for some clothes? You said yourself, Haida planned to take you out at about 8:30 sharp." Retsuko is surprised to hear Washimi's suggestion, before she inquired "Are you sure Washimi? I mean, I might encounter one of my co-workers while we shop for clothing…"

Washimi made a courteous smile before replying "It doesn't matter how long a secret stays Retsuko, the reaction from other will still be the same. Besides, me and Gori being friends with you is nowhere startling as you singing death metal." Retsuko knew Washimi made a very valid point, so she nodded in agreement to Washimi's suggestion as Gori shouted while she fist-pumped ecstatically "All right. Hunting for clothes!"

Later, after finishing Yoga for today, Retsuko, Washimi and Gori went to the mall in Shibuya and scouted at various dress stores, when a familiar, yet annoying voice said "Welcome to Alps! Take your time looking around." Retsuko then heard a too familiar voice say "Thank you kindly, Ma'am. This is such a flattering selection, mind you." Retsuko then went closer to see Ryo smiling at the Lamb Clerk, who was blushing furiously and replied while bleeting in flattery "That's so kind of you… Uh, if you can't find the size you're looking for, I can check out baaaack…"

The Clerk then bleeted and giggled as she went back to the counter, when Ryo widened his eyes and turned to his right; all he saw where citizens further down the corridor having conversations in the food court. Although he could've sworn that someone was staring at him, he shrugged it off and began to look at the dresses at the back wall. Further along the corridor, Retsuko let out a sigh of relief as she slumped on a bench and said "That was close…"

Washimi tapped her fingers on her arm and asked "Retsuko, why did you avoid that guy? He's the new hire in Accounting, you know." Retsuko looked down sombrely and rubbed her arm before she admitted "He's not just that… he's also a former classmate of mine back in Inoden High School." Both Washimi and Gori exclaimed "He's WHAT?!" Retsuko then heaved a sigh, before she explained "He was called 'Lone Wolf' because he was quiet and very little students and staff members chatted with him… despite that, he has made Distinctions in Mathematics and Algebra. Some students even picked on him, but he doesn't appear to bother."

Washimi and Gori gave it a thought, before the latter turned her head and saw Ryo purchasing a set of white socks and made a comment to the Alps Clerk that made her laugh so hard, she bleeted with her eyes closed. Gori then said "I don't see why anyone should bully him… he's rather polite and smart, hence the distinctions in Mathematics and Algebra."

Retsuko made a shrug, before she noticed Ryo exiting Alps with his purchases in a woven bag; he then paused and turned his head right to see Washimi and Gori standing there idly. He then made a genuine smile and waved at them, which they did the same thing, before Ryo went the opposite way and thought to himself "It was just Washimi and Gori… Though I wonder why they're standing there in idle anyway? Ah, I guess it doesn't matter anyway."

Gori was still waving at Ryo, when Washimi nudged her in the ribs and said "Anyway Retsuko, there's no reason to worry about… Retsuko?" Washimi turned to the bench where Retsuko was sitting and saw she wasn't there; she then asked Gori "Gori, where did Retsuko go?" Gori then replied matter-of-factly "Just behind me." Washimi then saw Retsuko hiding behind Gori's right leg; she then made an annoyed sigh and said "Retsuko, if you didn't want anyone from work to see you, you could just ask…"

Retsuko crossed her arms with a glum expression, before she noticed a dress about her size at a store display window next to Alps: It was a blue-based strapless, with lace edgings, a lily flower on the right bust and flower art along the bottom hem. Retsuko then zipped over to the dress and pressed her face against the window with a broad smile, saying in limitless joy "This… is… the… dress… for… ME!" She giggled uncontrollably, when Washimi interrupted "Uh, Retsuko? About the dress?" Retsuko looked up at Washimi with an immensely pleased expression "What about it?" Gori then added for Washimi "Look at how much it costs…"

Retsuko then checked the price tag and she screamed in horror to see it was beyond her credit rating; she then tilted her head down in deep glumness with a black cloud over her head and said "I can't believe it… I… I just can't…" Seeing that Retsuko can't manage such shock, Washimi and Gori helped Retsuko back to her apartment; Retsuko was too glum to notice Ryo running to where the scream came from.

Ryo then looked at the dress and the price tag, before he looked at Retsuko and thought in concern "Poor Retsuko… From her state, she couldn't purchase this dress…" Ryo then looked more closely at the price tag and thought "Thank god for my other 'occupation', otherwise I couldn't even purchase a Beater." Ryo then entered the store and left it 2 minutes later, holding a small, thin package under his right arm; he then thought as he smiled "I'm such a lucky son of a gun… It was the last one and it's roughly Retsuko's size. Heh… Haida's gonna do a quadruple backflip when he sees Retsuko in this outfit."

An hour later, Retsuko is sitting miserably on the edge of her bed, saddened that she couldn't buy the dress she wanted for her date with Haida in half-an-hours' time. She then thought as her eyes welled with tears "I can't believe it… it was the most gorgeous dress I've ever saw and it was out of my credit rating…" A tear the hit the floor as Retsuko sniffed and continued to think "What would Haida think if I went out with just my casual clothing? I mean, he made a reservation for us at a restaurant for heaven's sake!"

Retsuko then closed her eyes and tears began to fall down towards the carpet; she was about to consider going with her casual clothing, when she heard knocking at her door. Seeing it was rather early until the date, she hopped off the bed and looked through the peephole and saw Ryo on the other side; relieved it was just Ryo, she unlocked the door and opened it to say "Hey Ryo! Listen, the date doesn't start until 25 minutes from now…" Ryo then made a broad smile and replied "Actually, since you mentioned your date, I bought you something for it. Here you go…"

Ryo then handed Retsuko the small package, which the latter is surprised that Ryo had thoughtfully bought her something, when she thought "Wait… It couldn't be… Could it?" Retsuko then peeked inside the package and expressed such shock that she bellowed "NO WAAAYYYYYYY!" It was the exact same dress she saw at the display window and it was exactly her size too; Retsuko then slowly looked up at Ryo and asked "How in the hell did you BUY this?! It wasn't cheap in the slightest!"

Ryo then smiled broadly with his teeth baring a little and his paws in his jacket pockets before replying "Well… heh, let's just say I have a secret of my own. Plus, I heard your scream and saw you being too devastated from the dress' price that Washimi and Gori helped you back here." Retsuko's eyes then whitened in horror as she realised that Ryo saw her with Washimi and Gori; Ryo then added "Don't worry, Retsuko. I won't breathe a word to your friendship with those two to anyone else. Anyway, you'd better get ready for your date… and you might want to clean and reapply your make-up too; you look like a bit of a mess, to be honest."

Retsuko then raised her brow and checked in the mirror, before she exclaimed "I look terrible! I'd better hurry up then! Wait a minute…" Ryo tilted his head to the right and was surprised that Retsuko hugged him tight with a wide smile, before she said "Thank you so much, Ryo. You didn't have to…" Ryo then gently patted Retsuko's back with a warm smile and replied "Anything for a friend, Retsuko. Well, I'd better get my ride then." Retsuko then broke off the hug and nodded pleasantly at Ryo, before she closed the door as Ryo went down the stairs to the ground level and turned left.