"So...why do we have to do this again?" Nina asked.

Melanie sighed. "You want to look nice for the dance, right?" Nina nodded. "That means wearing nice clothes. You can't go in you school uniform, and our gear's designed for combat."

"But...why?" Nina questioned.

"It's...a formality, I guess. Dances like this are seen as a romantic thing, so people want to look good for whoever they're trying to impress. The guys will be grooming, shaving, and trying to find clothes with colors that actually look good together to make them seem more handsome. On the same notion, girls like us try to look more beautiful. Whether it's hair styling, makeup, or wearing a dress that complements their figure." Melanie explained.


Crimson and Reed were having their measurements taken for their own suits. Reed's wings were, as usual, presenting somewhat of a challenge.

"So, you and Melanie are going together." Reed observed.

Crimson grinned. "Yeah. She almost didn't agree, but...she changed her mind at the last minute. Do you have a date?"

Reed shook his head. "No, but I plan on going anyway. I'm used to standing next to the punch bowl at things like this."

"That's...surprising." Crimson said. "I thought you already had a date."

Reed raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


"So, have you asked Reed yet?" Melanie wondered.

Nina's face went red. "What? I...why him, specifically? Is...is it that obvious?"

Melanie sighed. "You two are always together."

"He helps me study!" Nina protested.

"Any of us could help you study." Melanie stated. "And when you do get help from us, you're not leaning on our shoulders and swishing your tail around."

Nina sighed. "No, I haven't asked him...I was hoping he'd ask me, and...I just...I keep wondering what if he doesn't feel the same."

Melanie rolled her eyes. "If you want to find out, you have to make that leap. Now come on, I need a second opinion on this."


"Dude, Nina likes you." Crimson stated.

"She likes you and Melanie too." Reed said.

Crimson sighed. "She's not asking me and Melanie for dance lessons."

Reed gave a skeptical look. "Okay, so she's a little closer to me, but she told me there was someone she already wanted to go to the dance with."

"Did she say who?" Crimson asked.

Reed paused. "...no..."

"And, was she blushing when she said it?" Crimson continued.

"...yes..." Reed answered.

"Did she keep avoiding eye contact?" Crimson pressed.

Reed blinked. "...yeah, I'm an idiot."


"So, what do you think?" Melanie asked.

She was holding up the dress that had been made for her. Nina was eyeing it nervously.

"Um...it...doesn't cover a lot." Nina stated.

Melanie raised an eyebrow. "Really? I tried to go modest with this."

"So...they normally show more skin than that?" Nina asked.

"Well, it varies." Melanie said. "Typically the arms are pretty bare, and showing some of the chest is pretty common too. There are some with open backs, and slit skirts to show your legs."

Nina hugged her arms, stepping back a bit. "I'm not so sure about this."

Melanie gave her a concerned look. "Is something wrong?"


"So, you're going to ask her, right?" Crimson questioned.

Reed sighed. "I mean...I want to, but...how? It's going to be so awkward now."

"Reed, you like her, right?" Crimson asked.

"Of course I do!" Reed said. "But...I don't want to mess this up. She's been through enough bad experiences, I don't want to get anything wrong with the good ones."

"You won't." Crimson encouraged. "Just...be yourself. That's who she likes."

Reed frowned. "You know how cheesy that sounds, right?"

Crimson chuckled. "Doesn't make it any less true."


"I'm not comfortable showing my body like that." Nina said.

Melanie sat next to Nina. "It's not indecent, Nina. It's okay to let loose a little."

"It's not that." Nina stated. "I...he won't like what he sees."

"Nina, you're beautiful. Every part of you." Melanie insisted.

Nina shook her head. "No...I'm not." Her eyes were beginning to water.

"Why are you saying that?" Melanie asked. "I'm looking at you right now, and-"

"-and you're wrong!" Nina interrupted "Is this beautiful?!" She held up her bangs to show her scarred eye. "Are these?!" She rolled up a sleeve to show the scars along her arm. "Is this?!" She pulled the collar of her shirt down to show a scar across her throat. "Maybe I would have been, but he took that from me!" The tears began to flow down her face as she looked Melanie in the eye. "There's not a part of me where he didn't leave a mark! My body is just a collection of all his hate! I'm not beautiful, I'm broken!"

Melanie paused, not knowing what to say. Silently, she pulled Nina into a hug, letting her teammate cry into her shoulder.

"...I'm sorry." Melanie muttered. "...what if I helped you cover the worst?"

Nina looked up from her sniffling. "...okay..."


Later that day, the four met up at the dorms. Nina had managed to clear up her face, not showing any signs of her previous breakdown. Reed was managing to hide the embarrassment and shame from how oblivious he'd been. The two both approached each other.

"Um...could I ask you something?" Nina nodded to the door.

Reed nodded. "Yeah, I needed to talk to you too."

They stepped out, shut the door, and immediately blurted out the same sentence. "Will you go to the dance with me?"

There was a pause, as they each registered what the other had said. Reed gave a nervous chuckle and scratched the back of his head.

"I guess...that answers that." He stated.

Nina suddenly wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "...thank you...thank you so much."

He hugged back, a little confused. "Wow...this meant a lot to you, huh?"

"You mean a lot to me." She said. "I mean...you feeling the same way...means a lot."

"I get it." Reed stated with a smile. "The only reason I didn't ask sooner was because I was just as worried as you."

Nina looked up at him. "Funny how things work like that."

"Yeah...yeah it is." Reed agreed.