"Hi, welcome to Bourgeois'! Can I help you find anything today?" the girl asked over the pop music playing throughout the crowded store.

"I don't know. I'm looking for a formal dress, but blue. And stylish. But not too stylish," the woman explained.

"Sure thing; right this way!" the girl led the customer through the store over to the dresses. Her two large, oval-shaped pink buns bounced slightly atop her head as she walked. Other female customers admired her pink hair as she passed by. Their boyfriends admired the girl's other assets when their girlfriends, or the girl, weren't looking.

"Here are our more subdued dresses, but if you change your mind we have flashier ones, too. Can I help you with anything else?"

"Uh, no, probably not," the woman started to pick through the racks of dresses.

A simple "thank you" wouldn't kill you, the girl thought as she made her way to the back of the store. Thank god my shift is over.

"Rough day, huh?" one of the girl's co-workers commented as she walked into the back room. "I'm so glad today's the last day of this sale!"

"Yeah, but we'll be lucky if it's a week before the next one starts," the girl took off her name tag and got her purse out of her locker. "And then before you know it, it'll be back-to-back sales and wall-to-wall crowds up until the New Year. And then only a few weeks before the massive crowds return ahead of Valentine's Day."

"I don't want to even think about it! I've already been in retail way too long,"

"Yeah, me too. See you tomorrow morning, Yuko."

"Later."

The girl made her way out of Bourgeois' and into the equally crowded streets of West City's trendiest, and most expensive, shopping district. Without looking around her eyes locked onto one boy standing outside the entrance and broke into a genuine smile.

"Hi, Seiji!" the girl embraced him before giving Seiji a quick kiss.

"Hey, Sumi. So, before we hang out there's something I want to talk to you about privately," Seiji said as they walked down the street holding hands.

"Okay. Your place or mine?"

"Private private," Seiji replied.

"Oh. Okay."

The two continued walking casually down the street before turning down into an alley. Sumi and Seiji quickly ducked behind a tall dumpster and reached out with all their senses to make sure absolutely nobody was watching them. In an instant both of them transformed into hawks and soared out of the alley and into the skies above West City. Together they flew to the top of one of the city's tallest, widest skyscrapers before changing back again.

"I really wish you'd think of a new hairstyle soon," Seiji commented as he eyed Sumi's pink hair and buns. "It's so…unoriginal."

"But it's really, really trendy. And a bunch of customers started doing the same thing after I started doing it."

"You've been wearing it that way to work for a while now, though."

"Yeah and people will find it weird if I change it too much. But if it really bothers you that much, what about long, dark green hair?" Sumi suggested, and her hair instantly became waist length and a very dark green.

"I don't really like that one. And that's not original either; I know I've seen that combination before!"

"I never said my hairstyles were original," Sumi crossed her arms. "And did you really ask me to come up here to bitch about my hair?"

"No. What I wanted to talk about was that my dad had a meeting with one of his business partners. Some stuff about my dad's company building new branch offices for her company. Anyways, one thing led to another and she invited Mom and Dad to have dinner with her and her husband tomorrow night."

"Oh, I see. You know, if you wanted to have sex in private my place is always available," Sumi leaned forward, looking more than a little flirty.

"T-that's not it! And not because I don't want to!" Seiji blushed furiously. "His business partner saw one that picture of us together in his office and asked if we were his kids. And he explained that I am, but you're my girlfriend. And she got the idea not only to invite me but said I had permission to invite you along too."

"So you want me to triple date with you, your parents, and some other parents I don't even know?"

"Please? I don't want to be there alone with a bunch of people I don't know."

"Ugh, fine. But you owe me a proper date soon."

"I really, really appreciate it, Sumi. And I'd also really appreciate it if your appearance was more subdued."

"You mean you don't want me to walk in with pink hair."

"Or green," Seiji said as he eyed her long, green hair.

"I get it. You don't have to tell me," Sumi said. "I take it we're going to a restaurant instead of your place."

"Neither. We're going to their place," Seiji explained as he shifted slightly.

"Oh," Sumi eyed his suddenly nervous behavior. Dread immediately filled her. "…Where is their house located?"

"It's, uh, its Capsule Corp. headquarters."

"WHAT?!" Sumi yelled and whipped around to look at the other side of West City. Even from a distance Capsule Corp.'s distinct dome was clearly visible from the skyscraper. "God dammit Seiji you know damn well I haven't gone anywhere near that side of town since the incident!" Sumi whipped back around feeling both terrified and pissed.

"Sumi-"

"No! I'm not going!"

"I understand why it makes you uncomfortable-"

"Then you should understand why I can't go! I don't wear disguises for no reason!"

"But nothing has happened since because you wear the disguises," Seiji pointed out.

"I don't care. You were there. You know he was trying to kill just me specifically," Sumi shivered and looked away.

"We were just little kids then, though. We have a plan now; the theory is foolproof. And this really means a lot to my parents."

"I'd really rather not have to ever use the plan. And I really doubt that this deal will fall through just because I don't go."

"Alright then, then I'll just have to bribe you into going."

"No, you can't."

"Oh, yes I can. I've known you for fourteen years, Sumi. I know just how to bribe you."

"Not with this."

"Oh yeah? How about five hundred thousand Zeni?"

"No."

"One million?"

"No."

"Two million and a bigger apartment?"

"I'm not that desperate for a bigger place."

"Five million Zeni, a bigger apartment, and your choice of dates for the next six months. And I'll pay for the dates, too."

"No!" Sumi crossed her arms. Shit, that's way more tempting than I want to admit. I could really expand my game collection with that much money and extra space.

"Ten million Zeni, a bigger apartment, your choice of dates for the next year, and I'll cover the bill for the dates."

"…Only on the condition that I never, ever, ever have to go back to that side of town again."

"Really, you mean it?" Seiji asked.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Thank you so much, Sumi!" Seiji grinned and hugged her tight. Sumi half-heartedly hugged back feeling rather unhappy about the whole thing.

"Cheer up," Seiji said when he sensed her feelings. "I know you're going to be doing a lot of fun stuff with all that Zeni."

"Yeah, starting the day after tomorrow. Our first date is going to be at the arcade," said Sumi.

"Can't say I'm surprised by that choice, but I do hope you want to do more than just spend every date at the arcade," Seiji sat on the edge of the roof and looked out at the ocean.

"What's wrong with the arcade?"

"Nothing, but I do like some variety, for one thing. And I'm happy to do little things with you. Like this view, this would be an amazing place to watch the sunset."

"Yeah, maybe," Sumi agreed as she looked around, though she avoided looking at Capsule Corp. as she did. "Wouldn't mind seeing the stars properly sometime, either," she said as she sat down next to Seiji.

"Me too. I guess we should plan a date outside West City sometime, huh? Maybe even a full vacation together!"

"Yeah. I'd like that a lot, just you and me."

Sumi and Seiji turned together, smiling, and kissed.