Mao's POV

I got up from the bed and headed for the bathroom. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. Then, I did something I never thought I would. I stared at the mirror and looked at myself.

All I could say is that I looked plain. I wasn't pretty like Rin or Kao. I narrowed my eyes, figuring it was a horrible idea a second later due to my large and dark eye bags. My eyes were chestnut-colored, my cheeks were round and full, and my lips were painfully pale and chapped. My skin also wasn't good; lots of blackheads, and my nose just looked awkward. I then saw two huge-ass pimples on the top left of my forehead that were previously covered by my bangs. My black, layered hair was medium length and is always frizzy after I shower; I'd look like a rat. I wasn't exactly as skinny as Rin too; I'm 5'4 and I weigh 132 pounds, while Rin's 5'7 and is 116 lbs. Though I don't care as much about my image, still, a part of me couldn't stop pointing out my flaws. After all, I am a girl. I sighed and treaded downstairs, still groggy.

"Morning." Yuki greeted.

"Hn." Everyone in the house knew that I wasn't a morning person, I hate talking early in the morning (but I have to get up early because Tatsuya says so), and I get cranky sometimes. The others weren't here yet.

"How was your sleep?" Yuki asked as he sipped his drink, probably coffee. I glared at him and gave him the I-don't-want-to-talk-right-now kind of look.

"So, what did you do with Rin yesterday?" Yuki smirked, obviously pissing me off even more.

"I'm so tired," I groaned and rested my left cheek on the cool marble table. I stared up at Yuki.

"Good morning," I heard Tatsuya greet from the behind.

"Morning." Yuki greeted back.

I heard the phone ring and then my name was called a second later. I went upstairs and Kao, who recently woke up as well, handed the phone to me.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hey," my face instantly brightened, it was Rin. "Get out."

"What?"

"Get out of your house." She ordered

"Uhh…"

"I'm outside the gate." I could hear her slight annoyance.

"But how did you—"

"Saeki."

"Oh."

"Get out. Now." Her voice was hard.

"Uh…where are we going this early in the morning?"

I heard her chuckle lightly "Come on bitch, we're going shopping."

"I can't believe I'm actually here." I muttered.

"Well, it was either you stay in the house doing nothing," she said, watching the road carefully as she drove, "or you come with me. Plus, I'm pretty good at persuading someone." She turned to me and smirked.

"Rin, slow down!" I warned. She was going nearly 70 miles per hour.

"Why?" She taunted and swerved suddenly to the left.

"Rin, stop! Please!" I pleaded. She was seriously scaring me.

"Sorry." She apologized, slowed down, and I exhaled. The conversation soon became quiet, so I decided to lead it on.

"Oh hey, are you and Toru still going out?" It must have been two months ago when Rin told me she found someone new—Toru.

She scoffed, "Toru?" She spat his name with such repulsion.

"Why? What happened?" Rin has always been good with the opposite gender ever since middle school, but I never knew one would last this quick. She was always the pretty one and I've always been the awkward duck. Hell, during English class, when my crush asked me if I could pass the tape to him, I ended up literally stuttering like crazy and was tearing up because of his beautiful face. He was like some sort of God that radiated his effervescent beauty to all the peasants like me and my eyes were unworthy of even looking at him…so I ended up tearing up because he was so beautiful. That boy will have beautiful babies. I know it.

"Douche." Rin's reply snapped me off from my thoughts.

"Ahh…" I nodded slowly and she suddenly swerved to the right. I sometimes wonder how the hell she got her license. She parked in a nearby lot, unbuckled her seatbelt, got out of the car, and I followed.

"I am not trying that." I simply said.

"Oh come on, Mao. It's ka-wa-ii~" She did a peace sign and grinned.

"Dude no."

"Come on! I bet when Saeki sees you, he'd—"

"HELL NO!" I yelled and blushed madly.

"You know you want to," she raised her eyebrows up and down repeatedly.

I scoffed and looked at the clothing. It was a mini tight dress that would hug every curve of a girl's body. It was deep violet, tight, and small, with a few laces here and there. That's right—skanky. "Why don't you try it?" I joked. Clearly she doesn't understand sarcasm.

Her eyes lit up, "that's a great idea!" She grabbed the hanger and rushed to the fitting room. I sighed as I was getting tired walking around the mall. I sat down on a nearby chair and saw a bunch of sneakers right next to me.

I picked one up. It was a simple black-and-white Vans and tried it on. Luckily, it was size 7, so I didn't have to ask the lady for my size. I turned my foot and stared at it, I nodded in my head; it looked really nice. Plus, my old shoes were worn out and I have always wanted to buy a new one. I was currently wearing Vans and it was funny because they're the same type, one is just worn out and old, while the other one is new. I took off the shoe and put my old shoe on. I grabbed the new one, reminding myself to buy it later.

Just then, Rin violently ripped the curtains and greeted me with a grin.

"So, how do I look?" She did a full turn.

I smiled sweetly, "like a slut."

She gasped, "really?! I'll buy it!" My sarcastic smile dropped and my face turned serious.

"Rin, don't buy it." I locked eyes with her.

"Why not? It looks nice on me." She said and eyed the clothing.

"Rin." I simply said her name and she nodded slowly after a few seconds. I didn't want her to be dressed in that as perverted guys drool over her. It would be as if she wants everybody to see her body and it's degrading herself. The thing is, Rin is actually really smart and is beautiful already, and she doesn't need to show herself in a cheap manner.

"How about this?" I asked and picked a nearly dress that was on the rack.

The dress was baby blue, almost white. It was knee-length and very loose, with a ribbon at the back of the waist. It was the kind of dress you would wear casually or at beach in summer time.

"It looks like church clothes," she laughed. I blinked and she sighed. She analyzed it at first and a smiled appeared on her face. "I'm only buying it because you picked it for me." She said as we walked to the counter to pay. Rin and I have very different styles. I like darker colors, mainly graphic tees, Vans, and band tees while she liked chic, colorful, and girly ones. Funny, huh?

"Are we done, now?" I asked. I looked at my cell phone for the time and realized it had been two and a half hours now.

She grinned mischievously, "of course not, silly!" After paying, she grabbed my hand and dragged me into a new store. She then giggled at the sound of me groaning. I closed my eyes and sighed.

Out of nowhere, the memory then came to me suddenly like a cold slap in the face. It was going to finally happen. Tomorrow. Just one more day until my re-match with Agito.