The following day Gyree and Ahri were having a small picnic in the park, among the hedgerows next to the bench where they became friends.

"Ahri?"

"Yes?"

"What were you like before I arrived at the Institute?"

Ahri sighed, thinking back at how weird those times would seem nowadays. "I was pretty much a carnal slave to be honest. The only way I knew people was having sex, that was really pretty much my only connection with people. Almost every male I'd ever met was only interested in my body or thought I was a slut and stayed away from me. Deciding it was too late to change, I switched to only flirting and sleeping with the male summoners, not talking with any other group."

"What made you change?"

"First it was you. Your reaction got me thinking about my ways and whether I should try to change and get some real friends. People who liked me for who I was, not what I was. Then, I met Justa. I felt feelings seeing him that I've never felt before. He's really cute and shy. But, I knew that, just like you, he wouldn't go for the slutty, breathy Ahri. So this reinforced my changes. I've stopped flirting and sucking up to the champions." She paused. "I think these last four days have been the longest I've gone without sex in about 10 years."

Gyree raised his eyebrows "You changed quite fast then."

"Well… yeah. I guess I have. I don't know. When I saw Justa I immediately liked him, but not only the way I like you." She looked straight at Gyree, "I think that, for the first time ever, I'm really in love."

Gyree looked thoughtfully into the distance. "You should ask him out. I'm almost positive he wouldn't say no, and not only for your looks."

"Yeah, but he's still really new. I don't want it to look like I'm just picking him because he's easy and new or something."

"I thought you didn't care about what they thought."

Ahri started packing up the picnic. "I'll ask some other champions what they think. Maybe that'll help me decide what to do."

Ahri took off her silk dress and put it in her little locker. She'd decided she needed a hot bath and some other smart friends to think this over. She walked out into the female champion bathhouse. It was sparsely populated for an off-duty time. She sat down in the hot tub between Syndra and Sona, with Tristana across from her, standing as to not have her head go below water. The others were simply relaxing with their eyes closed and didn't see her come in.

"Sona" Ahri asked, "I have a question for you."

The Maven of the Strings opened her eyes and looked over, her voice maintaining the harmony it always had, a harmony that was submitted telepathically to her head, Ahri had no idea how, "Hello Ahri. I've noticed you've been changing. What is your question?"

"Well, it's about that. Do you know Gyree and Justa?"

"Yes, I know both of them, Justa better than Gyree. He was standing there, looking nervous before his fourth entrance match and I talked to him. He was very cute and extremely shy. His return after the Gold match was great. What about him?"

"I'll be blunt here. Should I ask him to a date?"

Syndra and Tristana opened their eyes and looked at Ahri, deciding the conversation was more interesting that relaxing.

"He seemed very nice and gentle when I saw him, but I don't know him well enough yet. I would if I were you though." Syndra said.

"If you want to ask him, just get over it. You've never been shy, so just walk up to him and get it over with." Tristana piped up, her head barely out of the water.

Sona waited until the other two were finished, "I completely agree Ahri. You and him would probably be in perfect harmony. Always be there for him though, because all the male summoners who follow you around will be jealous and eternally hate him."

"I honestly don't see how you deal with those guys." Tristana said, "They make me sick just looking at them. They always try to peek under your dress when you're going up the stairs. It's just disgusting how they're so shallow and stupid."

"Yea, that's what I like about Justa, he's kind and nice, but you can tell there is a deeper level. I've only talked to him a handful of times and seen him a few more, but I can already see that there is a deep character beneath that shy cover. I'll ask him for dinner at that fancy sit-down yordle cuisine just a few miles from here. I doubt that many of the crowd following me will have the nerve to follow to a place where they never go."

"They have nerve, alright." said Syndra "More might follow than you expect, so try to stay discreet about asking him."

"I'll ask him tonight, after dinner."

"I knew you would." Sona chimed in

Ahri left for an early supper, she knew Justa liked eating early so he could review the day's matches, analyze them, and study their tips.

"Thanks so much for the advice, see you guys later."

When she got out of earshot, Syndra groaned. "I wanted to get to know him, but Ahri will be jealous if I talk to him now. I guess I'll have to wait a while. I hope their relationship lasts though, Justa will be in for a rough time if they break up."

"Amen to that." Tristana said

Sona only watched Ahri disappear into the changing rooms and sighed. She was surprised, but glad that her friend had changed so quickly. However, she knew that the crowd following her wouldn't feel the same.