It was during lunch period when Serena decided to hatch her plan. The students ate at their desks, and Ms. Haruna would sit and monitor. Like any good plan, Luna may have said that Serena was not a good planner, but Serena knew how to handle matters of love.

"So, Molly, did I ever introduce you to Jed yet?" Serena asked. Molly thought for a minute.

"No." She answered. "I've never met any Jed." Out of the corner of her eye, Serena noticed Ms. H had her interest peaked.

"He's new in town. I saw him in the park the other day when he was jogging, and I realized I never introduced you. Silly me."

"So, new in town. Is he a foreigner?"

"Yep." Serena remarked. "You'd like him. He's cute, and single." She teased. While she spoke to Molly, Serena knew her words were for Ms. H to overhear. And overhear she did, Serena noticed Ms. H look at her more intently as soon as she said the word single. The bait was set.

"Sorry, Serena, I gotta help my mom do inventory today. You know that." Molly replied. Serena did knew this was true: Molly had to help her mother with store inventory the same time every month. But then again, it wasn't Molly who needed the details.

"Too bad. He lives and works at the Hikawa Shrine. You know, up on Cherry Hill. Gotta move fast, he's a real cute one."

"Why haven't you scooped him up?" Molly asked.

"It's time for class to resume." Ms. Haruna silenced all the chatter. But Serena knew that she had said all she needed to say.


While Molly had to head home quickly, Serena and Amy were going to meet Raye to do a little clothes shopping.

"Man, Jedite must have it easy, being able to disguise himself with any clothes he wants." Serena noted. "We have to buy things."

"Yes, meatball head, I'm sure the Negaverse is all some elaborate plot to become the world's best fashion designers." Raye criticized.

"You're so mean." Serena moped.

"That's enough, you two. Let's just get what we needed and go without a major blow-up." Amy shushed the both of them. As the trio walked towards their favorite boutiques, they passed by a stately church, with a large billboard.

"Homemade wedding dress contest." Amy read it nonchalantly. She chuckled a little. As much as Amy distanced herself from romance, not having the time for it, she couldn't help but find the idea of a woman making her own wedding dress romantic.

"Grand prize is a free wedding reception!" Serena always seemed taken by billboards, and was a ridiculous romantic. That billboard would have her attention.

"Wow, that is pretty interesting. One free wedding reception, redeemable when the lucky lady gets married. That's pretty cool. So you don't have to have a steady boyfriend to enter. Free admission too, any single woman welcome." Raye returned.

"Oh, don't tell me you two are seriously thinking..." Amy continued to walk and talk, but stopped when she realized both Raye and Serena had stopped to read the billboard again.

"Wouldn't that be wonderful. Making the dress by hand, winning a reception. Oh, but Tuxedo Mask or Andrew. Which boy do I pick?" Serena was enchanted.

"You two can't possibly be thinking of entering. Serena, exams are coming up, and besides, you're not very good at sewing." Amy remarked.

"Yeah, meatball head. You should save yourself the embarrassment." Raye added.

"Raye, do you know how to sew?" Amy reversed. Raye clammed up.

"I thought so. Don't be so foolish. Don't waste time and money on something you know won't pay off. There's bound to be hundreds of women who enter, many of whom might actually design their own clothes who see this as a way to launch her career." Amy did not take an accusatory tone, but she was stern.

"I wonder if Ms. Lambert will enter." Serena mused aloud. She and Raye discussed the contest for a moment, and Amy knew that they still were planning on entering. And she sighed, for she knew all the practicality in the world couldn't dissuade those two. This shopping trip was going to be a short one.


Patricia had some errands to run after school had ended, so she wasn't able to get the time to visit the Hikawa Shrine until late in the afternoon. She had never been to this place: Haruna was not exactly a devout woman. But the man was single, and new in town. There was no harm in testing the waters and seeing how things went.

She ascended the stairs to see a single person standing outside. To Haruna's dismay, it was a girl, the age of her students, with long dark hair, dressed as a shrine maiden, sweeping leaves.

"Good day." The girl stopped her sweeping to greet the guest. "Welcome to the Hikawa Shrine."

"Hello." This girl may not have been the handsome foreigner, but she might have known him. Was she his sister? They didn't look alike.

"What a fine afternoon, is it not?" Haruna engaged in a bit of friendly chatter. The girl might not respond well to where this Jed was.

"Oh, indeed, a wonderful, beautiful day. Have you come to pray?"

"Yes. This is a large temple. Do you live here alone?"

"Oh no. My grandfather is the head priest here." The girl explained. "And then there's our caretaker of the grounds, Jed." The girl answered. So Serena was telling the truth about this Jed. Now, was he here? How did Haruna find out without being obvious.

"Let me take you to the shrine." Raye escorted Patricia to a small shrine, but before she reached it, Haruna heard footsteps coming from up the steps. She then saw the jogger's blonde hair, and impressive face, as he walked up the steps to the temple. He seemed even more handsome in traditional clothes.

"Oh, Jed. There you are." The shrine girl called over.

"Hello, Raye. Did your shopping trip not go so well?" He asked.

"I'd rather not discuss it. I need to go feed the birds." The girl, Raye, bowed, and then departed inside the temple.

"Alright, Patricia. Don't blow it." She thought.

"Welcome to the Hikawa Shrine." Jed greeted her kindly.

"Hello there. Are you new in town?"

"I am." Jed bowed his head a little. "Have you come to pray?"

"Yes, but first let me say welcome. I hope you enjoy our fair city."

"Why thank you." The man knew how to speak, that was for sure. Patricia couldn't help but wonder if she had heard this man's voice before. He sounded so much like that radio DJ who read her love letter on the air, that wonderful J-Dite. But such a man would not work at a temple like this, she thought. Perhaps the radio simply distorted his voice.

"You're new to town, you said. Have you seen all the great hotspots, the great restaurants?" Haruna flirted. Here was her invitation.

"No, I can't say I have. I don't really know much about it."

"Well, say no more. As your official welcome woman, I should show you a wonderful restaurant and some places to really enjoy yourself. Let's pick a night, and have a good time."

Jed looked at her very strangely. Perhaps, Haruna thought, she went into things too thick. But it wasn't like she was asking for a date. She was going to show around the new guy. And if, between dinner and dancing, he found himself more interested in her, she'd be open to that.

"Well, my...I was told it would be a good idea to get out and around. Why don't you come back in two days, and we can work out a better time."

"Sounds good! My name's Patricia Haruna. I'll be back soon!" And with a spring in her step, she eagerly went down the stairs, feeling as though she could fly.


Raye watched from the window how that woman was talking with Jed. She was flirting: Raye wasn't close enough to hear what was said, but she was flirting. And judging from her reaction, Jedite probably didn't say the right thing. Once she had left, Raye wondered whether or not she should speak to him about it.

Eventually, though, Raye decided against it. Jedite knew how to handle himself around crowds of people. He had never given away the fact that he was not human. He did not fly in public, teleport, use his disguising powers where people could see him. He only practiced his telekinesis when no one was looking. He called it exercise, so that he coudld strengthen his ability: To be able to lift heavier things, hold things for longer periods of time, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and make his movements more precise.

Raye could understand. It was like art or calligraphy, and practice made perfect. She had seen Jedite's practice a few times: Carefully folding clothes, cleaning the table, making the bed. Jedite had only ever used it in battle before, so it was weird seeing that it had more mundane uses, but there was a lot that could be done with it.

Including making a wedding dress.