"Nyaaa!"

"How does this happen?!"

"Get off me you darn cat!"

"My, my, perhaps the butterfly effect should be renamed the lecherous cat effect."

"Don't put my Lucky Lecher Lure on the spot like that!"

Lisa looked into the office room. Tamaki had fallen completely out of her clothes and had landed on Shinra in a compromising position. Licht stood over them, his hand on his chin and considering the scientific implications, and Captain Obi looked like he was going to go insane. Meanwhile, Sister Iris and Maki rushed to gather Tamaki's clothes and cover her up. Hinawa sat in his chair, going through his paperwork as if nothing happened and Arthur had apparently died from boredom in his seat. It was chaotic, nonsensical, and disruptive. In other words, it was another day at Special Fire Cathedral 8.

"Here you go, Tamaki!"

"Thanks, Iris," Tamaki sullenly pulled her bra back on while the men turned away.

"That was even more chaotic than usual," Maki said.

"You're telling me..."

"Are you three done yet?" Hinawa's voice cut through their conversation. "Hurry and get Tamaki dressed so I can focus on my work."

"Y-yes sir!" The girls fearfully said, and frantically fixed the wardrobe malfunction.

Lisa shook her head, amazed and confused at their antics. How they got anything done was beyond her.

"Glad I'm just the engineer," Vulcan's voice spoke over her shoulder.

Lisa turned around to see that he was standing behind her, looking at the scene.

"I don't have to sit around and torture myself with reports and the like."

"Heh. I can't see you sitting at a desk working on anything other than machinery," Lisa chuckled. "Your grease monkey side would never allow anything else."

"I thought my grease monkey side was all of me," Vulcan said. He sniffed his armpits, checking for any noxious fumes. "Well, I don't smell like it at least."

Lisa laughed. She'd been doing more of that lately. It was such a gratifying feeling. She felt like a mountain of stress and anxiety was lifted off her shoulders each time she did it.

"I feel bad for them, though," Vulcan went on. "Being stuck in here all day, only really going out for missions, it's gotta suck. Good thing their day off is coming up soon."

"Is it?" Lisa asked.

"Yup. They all get free time occasionally. After all the work they've been putting in, I'd say they've earned it." Vulcan looked at her. "You should hang out with them. You don't really have anyone other than me to talk to regularly, but I see you've been making good friends with all of them."

"I guess."

"It'll be fun," he assured her. "The last time they had a day off they got in massive trouble." He laughed at this like it was supposed to be funny. "Their faces were priceless."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll tell you later," he looked at his watch. "I gotta get back to my own work."

He turned and left her there, making her feel suddenly alone.

...

"Ughhh, so nice to be out of that office," Maki stretched as she walked through the hallway to her room. "Hm?"

She stopped to see that Lisa was waiting right by the door, her arms crossed and her head turned down.

Lisa looked up and dropped her arms. "Hi Maki."

"Lisa! What are you doing here?"

"I heard you have a day off coming up. Is there anything you plan on doing?"

"Oh, I don't know, I haven't thought of it that much. I was thinking I could go out with the girls again."

"Okay. Maybe I could help you come up with something."

Maki perked up. "Oh totally! I was thinking about asking you to join us too."

"R-really?" Lisa didn't know why she was caught off guard by that.

"Of course! You're a girl, aren't you?" Maki teased her. "I was thinking of showing you around the city."

She paused, thinking.

"I know! Let's go shopping!" She said suddenly. Rainbows and sunshine seemed to be spilling out from her head.

Lisa looked at her. "Huh?"

"We girls always go shopping when we can. You should totally join us! It'll be fun."

That wasn't a bad idea, Lisa thought. They all had been stuck in the cathedral for a little while now and felt she needed some time away. Plus, the more time she spent around these goofballs, the more she was starting to feel like she was one of them. And she needed to be one of something.

"Why the heck not?" She smiled. "Let's go shopping."

...

Dressed in a crop top and jeans a few days later, Lisa was ready to hit the town. She was standing in the hallway with Maki, Tamaki, and Iris, all dressed casually and ready to leave.

Shinra walked by, hands in his pockets. "Oh? You guys are going out?"

"Shinra!" Iris called out. "Yes, we're going shopping. Would you like to come with us again?"

Tamaki glared at her.

"Uh, no thanks," Shinra nervously said. "I think this should be a ladies' night out. Or day out, or whatever."

"Yeah, good thinking." It was Vulcan again, snickering.

Lisa smiled shyly at seeing him.

"You look like you're ready to have some fun," he said, smiling back, admiring her outfit. "Go on, get out of here. Relax a little."

"Sure thing, Vulc."

"Come on Shinra," Vulcan said, guiding his friend away. "Let's go before they buy another inappropriate outfit and blame it on you."

"That's not funny!" Shinra snapped.

Lisa raised an eyebrow. "I have questions about that."

"Hey! Would you look at the time!" Tamaki said quickly. "Let's go!"

...

The four of them walked through a mall together. Each time they went, there was something new to discover. There were endless clothing shops as wells as restaurants and a large food court in the center of a large room which the restaurants surrounded. They were seated there, having bought only one bag so far. Maki had bought them all strawberry milkshakes, and Lisa slurped on her drink. She hadn't shown it too much, but she was enjoying herself. The open space and many places they visited was a great change of pace from the norm, and it was so refreshing to see everyone relax.

"Where should we go next?" Tamaki asked.

"I'm not sure," Maki said, thinking. "Lisa! Are there any clothes you want to try on?"

"I never thought about it...I never had a lot of clothes in general. I usually wear stuff like this," she gestured to her outfit.

"How about something more feminine?" Tamaki suggested.

"That's a good idea. I think you would look beautiful in a dress, Lisa!" Iris said enthusiastically. "Your body is slender and it looks like it could complement one very well."

"Iris...don't bring up slender bodies in front of me..." Maki sadly said.

"I don't know..." Lisa thought about it. "Dresses and skirts were never my thing."

"It wouldn't hurt to try!" Tamaki persisted. "We all have different outfits we like to wear, and for me, I feel like a new person every time I try on something new."

A new person? Lisa hadn't thought about it like that. It didn't sound like a bad idea. If she wanted to break free of any mental restraints Giovanni had planted in her head, a new outfit could do the trick. Partially, at least. And what else could she do? She'd spent her entire duration at Company 8 simply relaxing and trying to find her place there as an engineer, staying away from all the action and chaos. For once, she could be a normal girl.

"They're not really an engineer's style," Lisa said slowly. "But it could be nice to try."

"Yes," Iris happily nodded. "Perhaps Vulcan will like to see you in one."

"W-what are you talking about?" Lisa did a double take. Tamaki perked up and Maki gasped at the idea. They all stared at her, thinking Vulcan would really appreciate it. Lisa started going red in the face.

"Vulcan always seems happier around you, and he speaks at length how much he likes that you're part of his new family," Iris explained. "I believe you could make his day even better if you dressed up nice for him."

"Ahhh!" Maki was squeeing. "Just imagine what he'd say! Or do! Would he pick you up in his arms and spin you around? I could see you giggling and blushing so much! Would he flirt endlessly? Would he wear a button up shirt and khakis to match? Wait, what kind of dress would this be?"

Lisa's blush darkened, not expecting Vulcan, and subsequently her feelings, to come up in conversation.

"Uh, Maki? I think you're taking this too far," Tamaki said. "And Iris, you didn't have to bring him up like that."

"Oh," Iris realized Lisa's embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I just thought it would make you happier. I didn't mean to fluster you."

"Uh, no. It's fine. I get what you're saying," Lisa drank her milkshake to cool her rising temperature. "I just...yeah."

They awkwardly sat there, waiting for someone to say something.

"But are you against it?" Maki asked.

Lisa looked down into her lap, a small blush on her cheeks. She shook her head no.

"Really?" Iris excitedly said, standing up from her seat.

"Yeah," Lisa faintly smiled. "I think I'd look good in one."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Maki got up. "Let's get one! No, two!"

...

The day had gone on, and before anyone knew it, it was almost over. The girls returned home as the sun started to set, feeling happy with their purchases. Currently, they were in the men's shower room, as the women's had broken down again.

"Best day ever!" Tamaki said, scrubbing her body clean.

"It was so relaxing today!" Iris happily let the showerhead blast warm water on her head. "Lisa, I think you'll turn everyone's heads with that dress!"

Lisa smiled. "You won't have a lot of chances to see me wear it, so enjoy it when I do. Maki, you really should've bought one yourself."

"I would've loved to," Maki sighed. She looked down at her body and her glistening wet muscles, hard abs, and large breasts. "But I can't pull it off as well as you all do."

"What are you talking about?" Lisa asked. "I didn't think I would either, but we were all happy with what I got. You shouldn't be too worried about it."

"Yeah, but who is there to win over with my womanly charms?" Maki asked. "It's best to just wait."

"Building up some self confidence can help," Lisa countered. "You can't keep staying jealous of us. You have what it takes."

"Do you really think so?" Maki asked hopefully.

"Yeah. I do."

Maki looked over to see Iris and Tamaki smile and nod. The reassurance of her friends warmed her heart. "Thanks guys."

She got back to scrubbing down her body. What made her happier than the reassurance was Lisa's own assertiveness. It had only been a little while ago, but that night when she comforted Lisa on the roof had repeated itself here, just with their roles reversed. She couldn't be any prouder of her friend.

As the four of them finished up and dried themselves, wrapping towels around their bodies, they stepped out of the shower and started for their clothes.

Lisa put on her underwear and looked through her bag.

"Huh? No no no no no," she started panicking.

"What is it?" Maki asked her. She'd put on her tank top.

"I forgot my regular clothes."

"You what?!"

"They're not here!"

"Wait, what did you bring?" Tamaki asked, a towel still wrapped around her body.

Lisa shamefully pulled up the dress she'd bought that day. It was dark yellow in color. It wasn't very long or short, stopping at the knees. It was a casual, but attractive summer dress.

"How did you bring that in here?" Tamaki asked bewildered.

"I don't know! I guess I was just thinking about it and I took it with me by mistake. Ugh, this isn't good."

Someone knocked on the door. They all stopped and turned to it.

"Are you guys still in there?" It was Shinra.

"Um, yes!" Iris called out. "Please give us a minute. We are figuring out a clothing problem."

"C-clothing problem?"

"Don't tell him that!" Tamaki hissed at her. "Hey, Kusakabe! Don't be getting any funny ideas!"

"Who'd get any funny ideas about you?!" Shinra yelled back.

"Who are you talking to?" Vulcan's voice said suddenly.

Lisa froze. Oh no. She couldn't let him see her like this, and especially not the dress.

"Why is the door closed?" Arthur's voice said demandingly. "I need to take a knightly shower." The door knob started jiggling.

"Idiot! The girls are still in there!" Shinra snapped at him.

"Wait, they are?!" Vulcan sounded kind of excited.

"What do we do?" Maki said under her breath. She started thinking of a way to get the boys to leave and sneak the dress away so none of them saw it, as well as bring back Lisa's clothes.

Tamaki, on the other hand, was fed up with the situation.

"Hey! Do you mind?! We're not done here yet!" She angrily threw a hair clip at the door.

Big mistake.

She had somehow thrown it with precise accuracy, and with enough force so that it pressed into the lock button on the door knob. With an audible click, the door unlocked, and with Arthur's insistent turning of the knob, he unexpectedly threw the door wide open. A gust of wind blew out from it, causing Tamaki's towel to drop. Shinra, Arthur, and Vulcan stared open mouthed at the sight of a naked Tamaki, Iris still in a towel, Maki in a tank top and underwear, and Lisa in only underwear and holding up her dress.

As Shinra's face broke into a monstrous grin and Tamaki and Iris started screaming, Lisa's face could only turn dark red as Vulcan stared right at her, his eyes going all over her body and the dress she was holding. She changed her mind. She wished she died in the Nether.