I am on a sugar rush so here it goes…

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Ann had taken Water world as an excuse to shop. She dragged Sakuno from shop to shop to find her what Ann called "outfit- knock-the-shirt-of-Sanada". When Sakuno tried on the thirteenth bathing suit of the day she was beginning to suspect that Ann was not serious about buying anything and using the "date" as an excuse to use her as a life sized Barbie.

"I don't think the color really goes with your skin tone. The green nearly makes you look luminous your so pale. How come you don't have a tan?" The reason Sakuno didn't have a tan was because she didn't tan. She burned. In grade 5 her class had taken a trip to the beach and she hadn't forgotten to use sun block. Her skin had been peeling for 2 weeks and the new skin wasn't even a shade darker.

"I try to avoid the sun."

"I guess you also have to think about skin cancer. Maybe we could get you a nice spray on. Not one of those expensive ones. Just a nice can one you can do yourself." "Won't I look orange Ann-chan?" "True…well scratch that idea. Come on you have two more left to try on!" Sakuno headed back to the changing room. The swim suits Ann had picked for her at the beginning of this shopping marathon had been very conservative, plain and pink. How Sakuno liked her clothing but as the day went on it seemed Ann was slipping in some of the things she liked.

Sakuno held up the strapless one piece with a purple tie die pattern. She sighed. Well she was only going to try it on. It was not like she was going to get it or anything

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In another shop a few doors down something very scientific was going on.

"According to this magazine females prefer boys in long jeans more than boys in shorts but only when they are above eight years of age. When younger it is viewed as cute." "Hn" Kaidoh wished his senpai would stop looking at that magazine. Candy was the number one teen girl magazine which meant flowers, pink and a random pop star on the cover. Things that looked down right creepy in the hands of Inui.

"I assume you have a pair of jeans Kaidoh?" "Yes seanpai." "A leather jacket?" "No. Do I need one?" " They have a quiz here that states what are the main styles boys wear and how to judge their personality from that. I am apparently a geek while you are a punk." "Let me see that."

Inui passed it to Kaidoh who nearly vomited at the two page spread. It said boy corner on the top left in blue above the title which was 'What type is he and is he for you?'. There were six types in total and each looked radically different from the next. There was the romantic type with flowers and what looked like the type of book you get assigned to do an essay on. The dude type in jeans, t-shirt and baseball cap holding what looked like car keys. The most disturbing was The hunk. A tall well built guy around his age in a tight t-shirt smiling at the camera in a pose that showed of his biceps.

He scanned the page for punk. It was a lanky scowling guy with ripped jeans, a black t-shirt, leather jacket and a bandana. "Who poses for these things?" Really. What kind of guy willingly gets photographed in skinny jeans? "I suspect it is those trying to make, oh what is the term Ryoma used, a quick buck.""It's unrealistic senpai! Do these people really think there are only six personalities in the whole world?" "I suspect they overplay the characters to make it more obvious."

Kaidoh sighed. He tried to remember the reason for this joint shopping trip. Inui had said it was for research into the female mind and a way of visually bettering themselves. Kaidoh reckoned it was too mess with his love life. For the past few months Inui had been dropping hints about girls. The entire club had been doing it! Oishi had gone as far as to try and set up a blind date. Kaidoh refused point blank. It was a tradition in the club for all year twos to have a date at least once.

Fuji had gone out with a girl he had picked at random, Oishi with a girl his cousin knew and Inui with the girl who had won the science fair. Inui said that thirty minutes into the date she had needed to use the toilet. And never returned. Fuji's had lasted fifteen. Taka and Eiji were the only two who had had dates before year two. Taka with a girl from his math class while Eiji could not say no when someone from his fan club asked him out. It was very rare that a girl would ask him because she would first have to go through Oishi and Fuji for permission.

Momo had gotten out of the pestering by week two by declaring at the top of his lungs that he had a date with Tachibana An. And know Kaidoh was getting match made to the tennis clubs granddaughter. "You already have most of the articles of clothing which would cut costs. However it says that the type to go for punks are the alternatives. I thought alternative was a type of music. Ah, they also have a quiz for girls…." Inui started doing the quiz in how he thought Sakuno would do it. Kaidoh sighed and looked at his wallet. He didn't spend much money so he did have a fair bit saved up.

His mother had given him some claiming he had grown out of most of his clothes and that he needed new ones. This was actually true but he knew it was a cover up. When he had walked into the kitchen that morning he had seen Inui, his mother and brother clustered around the table talking in hushed whispers. It was a conspiracy.

"Sakuno is The Nice Girl. She will go for those like The Romantic for his sensitivity and those who are "damaged" and need "nurturing"." Kaidoh took this all in. He definitely wasn't the romantic and no way did he need "nurturing". Surely Inui would see logic and quit this torture. "She's perfect for you!" "What?" "Sakuno needs something to nurture, yes? Well you appear anti-social and lonely and that would make you appear damaged. You have a soft spot for animals so that makes you sensitive. How could I have not seen it before? We must find you a leather jacket know!"

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" It's perfect!" Ann squealed. Sakuno looked in the mirror and tried not to make a face. Oh why oh why had she agreed to this? She should've just set the story straight at the beginning before this had started.

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Next stop is Water World! I think.