The second day was similar to the first, although they made it a little bit further. Nanako felt relieved to be finished with floor seven. "That's only three more, Miusagi. Two really, because we'll find Sana-chan on the last one."

"Yeah… I'm glad. Thanks, senpai," Miusagi replied.

Teddie slipped an arm around his shoulders. "Do you want to come have dinner with me and Nana-chan, Miu-kun?" Miusagi could tell from how hard Nanako was trying to look so ambivalent about it that she was not at all fine with him crashing their plans.

"Oh, thanks Teddie, but I have somewhere to be tonight. Another time?"

"Absbearlutely!" Teddie shouted with a smile.

Miusagi headed back to the little yellow house. He knocked, and it was Naoto who answered this time, with a smile. "Good evening, Miu-kun. Kanji is waiting in the living room, come on in."

"Right. Thanks," he said, smiling back at her softly.

"Hurry up, Miusagi, the food's going to get cold!" Kanji shouted from the living room. "We decided to get some takeout tonight, so we can get right into our little project."

Miusagi took a seat by the table. The night before, the three of them had come up with a crazy idea for new plushies. Naoto had some skill with electronics, so the plan was to sew voice boxes into them. That way, when a little kid pressed its nose it would say a variety of phrases like "you're my best friend!" and "let's have fun together!" If the toys were a big hit, they might start taking custom orders for them, programming the animals to say whatever the customer wanted. The funny part about the whole thing is that Miusagi had been the one to suggest it, while being sarcastic. The more they had all talked it through, the more plausible it sounded. Tonight Kanji would work on a pattern for the stuffed animals, figuring in room for the voice box. Naoto had promised to show Miusagi the electronics. They were going to figure out how to make it work together.

"I suppose this might seem boring when you could be out having fun, Miu-kun," Naoto said quietly as they worked.

"Nah. I mean, my only other offer was dinner with Nanako and Teddie."

"That doesn't seem like a bad offer," she said, one eyebrow raised.

"It is if you don't want to watch the Nanako and Teddie show," he said with a laugh.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kanji asked, not looking up from his sketches.

"I guess they're… dating, or something," Miusagi answered.

"Huh. I mean, I figured they would eventually. But still. Kinda weird."

"Indeed. Very weird," Naoto said. All three of them looked up and started laughing at the same time.


"Well? What do you think?" Nanako asked, holding up a very proper looking red dress at Croco Fur.

"Hmm. Too much Yukiko, not enough Nanako," Teddie answered seriously. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "Try this one!" He handed her a hot pink one-shouldered mini dress with a million ruffles.

Nanako shook her head. "Too much Rise, not enough Nanako."

Teddie laughed happily. Nanako held up a lavender blazer and raised her eyebrow. "Too much Naoto, not enough Nanako?" he asked.

"Exactly," she said with a giggle.

"Oooh, wait wait, one more!" Teddie said excitedly, holding up a green sports bra and matching skirt.

"Wayyyy too much Chie, no Nanako at all," she said, trying to keep a straight face.

"What do you need a new dress for anyway, Nana-chan? I mean, dresses are nice, but you don't wear them too often anymore."

"Just a hunch," said Nanako. "Hey, what do you think of this one?" she asked, holding a pale pink sheath dress up to herself.

"That one's alllll Nanako," Teddie replied with a wink and a sparkle.

"Good. I'm going to get it. Then we should hurry if we want time to enjoy a meal before the movie starts," she said.

Despite how far they had made it in the TV world that afternoon, they had also managed to cut out early enough for shopping, dinner and a movie on a weeknight. Nanako was glad for the break. Everything about fighting shadows was miserable and draining. And since she was the "leader", it was her responsibility to look like none of it bothered her. Having a fun night with Teddie was the perfect way to destress. They had sandwiches and hot chocolate at the cafe, watched a funny movie, and ended the night with a lengthy goodnight kiss on Nanako's front porch.

"I'm sorry that we haven't talked about, well, this," Nanako admitted quietly. "Things have been pretty crazy, and I -"

"Shh, don't be upset, Nana-chan, Teddie understands." He wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I do really like being with you, though," he added.

Nanako giggled. "Same. I just feel bad. You've been waiting a long time for me… haven't you?" She suddenly felt way less sure of herself.

Teddie just shrugged. "I'm beary good at waiting." He gave her one last kiss. "Goodnight, Nana-chan!" he called out cheerfully as he headed home.

"Night!" she shouted. Nanako sighed softly. I am so in over my head.