I sit at Moca's kitchen table with her taking a short break from our project and get a text from Ako talking about how weird it is the high schoolers in the cheer game she plays has recess. She texted she's jealous with a crying face.

Moca teases, "Hmm, her game has recess in high school! Looks like she's not the only one who makes up stuff she wants about school. Does this mean Moca gets recess soon?"

I snort a little while laughing, "No Moca I think it'd be pushing it quite a bit. As much as I want it myself too."

Moca says, "Are you making silly noises Ran? Maybe you can do that when you sing?"

I just remembered to unfollow Jojo Siwa because she babysat North West meaning she's friends with Kim Kardashian and Kanye. North West is such a stupid name. Like America makes fun of anime because of a few weird and gross niche genres like anything with tentacles or weird and gross age differences in a romance. But at least we don't worship overrated jokes like Kim and Kanye. Kim Kardashian said she has nothing bad to say about Trump so she's not exactly the smartest person in the world and Kanye wanted to be his bestie.

Jojo's frog emojis in her video descriptions were always sus but the pieces are falling into place. Oh I so can't wait to tell Kokoro, she wants to tour with Jojo like so badly. They have so much in common too since they're both hyper and act like kids. As annoying as Kokoro can be she loves making people happy so I can't do that to my friend.

Wow, did I just call Kokoro my friend?

We go back to doing our project as I look at my tablet then tell Moca, "I wrote down if you cut down a rainforest in one country you're making it worse for the rest of the world too because you have fewer trees to absorb carbon and turn into oxygen. Nature doesn't care how much you love your country or stupid leader or traditions people themselves invent anyway."

Moca looks up oh good I wonder if she helped, "I was reading something bad happening in the US."

She probably got distracted by an article on the side.

I sip my hot cup of tea. "I seriously hate people who want the Handmaid's Tale to be real. Certain parts of America are on their way and it's sickening."

Moca says in a serious tone. "These guys making laws about women's bodies don't know anatomy."

Me and Moca walk down the street on the way to Tsugu's coffee shop. Tomoe sounds really excited I wonder what it could be?

People walk by and I kinda feel bad walking side by side with Moca taking up more sidewalk space.

That tourist is going to crash into us isn't she?

Me and Moca look up at her, waiting for her to move. I'm so sick of always moving for other people.

She was going to pick me up but I push her arms away. I hate it whenever people try lifting me.

Oh there's the fake kindergarten teacher smile. "I need to get somewhere young lady."

I made the fake face back to her and say in a creepy voice, "Okay."

She makes an offended face at me. Doesn't feel so good at the other end now does it? Okay can be such an ugly word it's used to dismiss yet they want you to think they heard you.

She looks over my shoulder smiling then Moca looks back and the tourist's face drops. "I thought you people were supposed to be so polite."

You people? You people? Oh that is it.

I cross my arms looking up to her, "You'd like that, wouldn't you? We'll move if you say excuse me."

Moca! Why'd you walk around her! Ugh, Moca, I love you but please we need to show we won't be pushed aside on our own sidewalk.

Her eyes narrow and her tone shifts in that condescendingly angry way, "Listen sweetie, my husband's a high end fashion designer. I'm pretty sure you've heard of him." She scans me up and down, and her tone grows colder. "You don't look like someone who's heard of him."

"Go!"

"Hey Ran!" I hear Himari's voice oh I think Moca signaled to her.

Himari looks up to the lady saying, "I know you!"

The rude lady shakes her head and eyes get bigger, "Ok."

And just walks away.

It feels great having such wonderful friends. "Thanks Himari! I can buy you something to eat at Tsugu's."

"Oh I'm okay Ran."

I say, "Are you sure? She did send nasty vibes at you."

Me Moca and Himari go to Tsugu's and yes we're gonna meet Tomoe here! I just hope she didn't bring her aunt, I don't think she's gotten over her toxic auntieness. Saying it's your fault if bad stuff happens because of what you wear is never ok. Tomoe's worrying me this week because of all her ghosting and not even wanting to hang.

Tsugu greets us, "Hi everyone! Me and Himari were just texting and," so I was left out? She goes on, "we came up with a wonderful surprise for when our model friends show up."

"Why am I just now finding out?"

She squints smiling in that Tsugurific way as Moca would say, "Because I wanted to surprise you. We'll offer them free ice blendeds."

"Lowkey concern trolling because they're models?"

Tsugu giggles a little and touches my shoulder, "Oh Ran you're so funny. No if we're nice to them maybe they'll be nice to you since I'm your friend."

She looks behind my shoulder then back to me, "Here they come."

Me Moca and Himari sit down, no Tomoe yet, and watch Tsugu walk right up to them. "Hey guys! So you're models?"

Ayano leans back in her booth with her feet on her seat. "You fans of ours? We have so many Insta followers it's hard to keep up."

"Yeah and our coffee shop wants to give you anything you want, free."

Emiko squints smiling, "Thank you so much! I'll have a matcha ice blended with whipped cream…"

Ayano looks at Emiko like she's crazy, "Are you kidding Ayano do you even know how much sugar's in that? Can't you see they're trying to make us fat and ugly so Tomoe looks better than us. You aren't falling for it, are you?"

Tsugu brings it to her and Emiko takes a sip and Ayano's voice raises. "Emiko! Are you crazy stop doing that." Then she takes it from Emiko.

Emiko sighs then asks, "Aww why?"

"Because if you have one bad food you'll end up thinking oh another will be fine. Then you're having it more often." Now Ayano stands up talking faster, "Then you'll eat another bad food and before you know it you're…fat!" Her voice went up when she said fat.

She sighs and sits back down, putting her hand over Emiko's, sounding like she's going to cry. "I'm your friend, I'm only looking out for you."

Emiko takes back her ice blended, "But I can just burn it off later. Besides isn't matcha healthy?"

"Oh Emiko, you're so smart yet so naive. It has so much sugar but if you have it then you'll think it's safe. Let's just stick with healthier options like hot matcha tea okay?"

Emiko sighs, "So this means matcha ice cream is definitely out doesn't it?" Ayano looks frustrated, "All of it's out, like hello! Don't you see they're trying to steal Tomoe away from us? She's our friend now."

Her head quickly turns and she glares at me so I look away.

Our group sits where they can't even see us anymore.

Tomoe walks through the door and wow does she look conformist. It's only for a shoot we are not our clothes we are not our clothes.

I tell her, "I know I texted you but still you missed out on a lot when you were going on your shoots. Yukina chased a cat and accidentally knocked over Sayo and Sayo kept apologizing for being in her way." I laugh to myself just thinking about that.

"And Tsugu called up a customer behind someone on their phone and they were mad but when he had to order he couldn't even make up his mind wasting everyone else's time."

She tells me, "Sorry Ran. You know how we texted how our projects are going? Well I kinda lied. I mean we're doing okay but,"

I just blurt out, "Oh my gosh and despite me and Moca's best efforts Hina's still carrying our group!"

Moca blinks slowly a couple of times, "Moca didn't do much either."

"Moca I'm trying to make you look good."

She tells me, "But cuteness enhancing crumbs are already doing that."

Tomoe laughs, "Ran it's okay we've all known each other since we were kids. I'm glad we're all together again but this is so big I just had to tell you in person."

She looks around then leans forward, "I have a shoot with, Golce!"

So this is the end huh? Please tell me this is a prank.

"See?"

She shows me her phone proving she really has the job. Okay it could still be a prank.

"We're still besties aren't we Tomoe? You've been waiting before telling me anything lately. We always share Tomoe, we've been through so much and…" she interrupts.

"You weren't very supportive of me. I'm not just Afterglow's drummer or even just your bestie! Have you ever considered this change might be good for me. You always have to be different but what if I don't want to be an outcast anymore?"

We can't lose our friend we just can't. "Is that how you feel? And I don't like seeing you surrender to the system. We always had what the popular girls didn't. They don't question society, they go with the flow and we love making fun of them for it. They trick themselves into thinking they're totally fine with it being a man's world."

She sincerely and warmly tells me, "Ran, hon, I'm still your bestie."

Sure she says that but does she actually feel that way?

A wide shouldered middle aged European looking man with his brown and gray hair slicked back and wearing dark blue jeans and a champagne gold polo and white tennis shoes walks by and tells Tomoe, "There's my new rising star!"

Ran replies, "You should see her after rising out of bed."

"Ran!"

"He he, That's pretty funny. Oh you wouldn't believe that my wife of all people ran into people who didn't get out of her way. See you at the shoot."

Tomoe glares at me she does not look happy at all. "What the hell was with you Ran? Do you even know who he was?"

I tell her, "A weird guy who wears way too much cologne?"

"The world famous designer Golce."

Ayano walks up to us with a big smile on her face, her guava and strawberry perfume blends with the coffee aromas.

She tells Tomoe,"Hey you! You're so gonna love being a model. Parties, fun, everyone following you on Insta building a base. And everyone wants to be your friend."

"Not like those unpopular friends you used to have."

I hit the back of the booth crossing my arms feeling my face scrunch. "You know the ones who like you unconditionally."

Tomoe looks at me obviously annoyed, "You mean the ones who embarrass me?"

"Oh come on you know I was joking."

Tomoe stands up looking at me, "I did something different and it's working out for me."

My stomach just dropped and have a sour taste in my mouth. "You want the support a system that's just going to spit you out then fine."

"Fine!"

Chisato walks up to Tomoe and says sounding impressed, "I love your jacket Tomoe! Was it for your shoot? Eve said you're doing really good."

Tomoe touches her jacket sleeve, "Oh, this old thing?"

I make fun of her under my breath to Moca Himari and Tsugu, "Oh, this old thing?"

Himari sighs and has a sad look in her eyes. "She's still our friend I can feel it. I won't give up on her either Ran."

Moca has a silly grin. Moca please this isn't the time I can tell you're gonna say something silly. "He he he, you embarrassed her in front of a famous designer. Moca's proud.