…in which the two-thirds-of-a-trio gets ice-cream and Jasper and Hibiki crash their date.

Sora and Yukiho went to the ice-cream shop just down the street to get themselves some ice-cream. Although he wouldn't let his face show it, Sora was positively ecstatic about the idea of spending some more time alone with his girlfriend.

They took a table somewhat close to the entrance, so when the small group of "circus cosplayers" took a table not far away, Sora saw them clearly. He groaned in annoyance.

"And here I was thinking we'd actually have a normal date this time. Silly me."

"Thanks for offerin' to help out, Jasper," Hibiki squealed. "With Makoto gone, we needed a new Sir!"

"As long as you understand I'm only doing this because one, free ice-cream, two, Iori and Chihaya are here, and three, I want to prove to you people I'm better than that freak was at this," Jasper sighed. "OK. So what exactly should I do first?"

Hibiki shrugged. "First let's go over everythin'. Chihaya, this is your first time, right?"

Chihaya nodded. "I…don't understand this."

"You're not supposed to. OK! Haruka, this is your first time too! How about you go first?"

"Me?" Haruka echoed. She shrugged. "Well, alright. My code name is Harukakka-san…kudos to those of you who understand that…"

Chihaya, Iori, and Hibiki nodded. Jasper just grunted.

"My costume is a giant, fire-breathing winged apocalyptic python."

"…what?"

"Heh…I don't know. Anyways, my spy tool is…are you ready?"

The idols nodded in anticipation. Jasper shrugged.

"It's…two pieces of celery taped together to make some sort of peeping tool. Look!" Excitedly, Haruka displayed her "spy tool"—the stalks of celery had been placed so that the arches were pressed together, forming a straw-like object. Haruka peeked through the hole on one side. "I see you~, Chihaya-chan~" she trilled. "Isn't this thing the best?!"

"You're a genius," Hibiki praised. "A'ight, distraction noise?"

"Easy. I'm a man playing the Battle Hymn of the Republic on his organ in the key of A-flat."

The idols plus Jasper stared.

"Gosh, Haruka, you're even weirder than Miki," Hibiki muttered.

Haruka grinned proudly. "Yup," she agreed. "Chihaya-chan!"

Chihaya blinked. "Um…my name is…Sapphire Songbird. I am wearing a bluebird costume…can I take this off?"

"No. Keep goin'."

"…I am extremely uncomfortable. My spy tool is my eyes and can I please go?"

"NO. KEEP GOIN'."

"…I…my noise. Yes. My noise is the sound of me singing."

"Cool." Hibiki nodded. "Iori?"

"First off let me say that I like Jasper way more than that Makoto," Iori announced.

"Doesn't everyone?" Jasper said smugly.

"No," Hibiki countered. "I like Makoto more."

"I have no preference," Chihaya muttered.

"I never knew what it was like with Makoto-chan, but I like it with Jasper-kun!" Haruka announced.

"Whatever, whatever! Iori! Go!" Hibiki pushed.

Iori sighed. "Alright. I'm still Pink Orangutangular Dolphin, I'm still a duck princess, and I still yip like a dog, except this time I spy with a microscope."

"…how?" Hibiki asked.

Iori shrugged. "Hibiki?"

Hibiki nodded. "I'm…that weird thingy."

"Elaborate," Iori ordered.

Hibiki sighed. "OK. Starting from the top; Einstein wig, clown wig, tree hat, elephant ears, a unicorn horn, cat ears, those glasses with the eyebrows an' the nose an' the mustache, those glasses with the eyes on 'em, a masquerade mask, a bandanna—polka-dotted bandanna, to be specific-like—a beard, a spiked collar, a trench coat, a go-go girl dress, spider-web leggings, goat hoof gloves—"

"HOW DO YOU FIT ALL THIS STUFF ON?!" Iori cried.

Hibiki chuckled. "I dunno~. An' I also got go-go girl boots an' clown shoes. The end."

"Holy…I just don't even…great mother of all things spicy nattou…" Iori muttered. "OK…well. Name?"

"Green Sarcophagus. My tool is my monocle—I FORGOT! I also got a monocle."

"Holy father of cheese…"

"An', my noise is a whale."

"…Hibiki, I don't even…"

"M'kay. Jasper?"

"My name is Jasper Sir," Jasper began. "I'm dressed like an emo boy who just went surfing because I am an emo boy who just went surfing, my noise is this—" He then proceeded to make a sound that sounded like part grunting, part sneezing, part whining. He chuckled. "And, I spy with this high-tech straw."

Hibiki nodded and smiled. "Makoto would be proud."

"With Makoto gone I thought the circus cosplayer spy brigade would be disbanded," Sora sighed. "But NO, apparently they can still perform intense spy work! When will they understand I have no intentions of hurting you?!"

Yukiho shrugged. "I think it's sweet," she admitted. "They're always trying to keep me protected."

"There's nothing to protect you from!" Sora complained. He moaned. "OK, you know what? Let's just eat our ice-cream. How did the tour go?"

"Oh, it was wonderful. We attracted a pretty big audience. I-it was a little scary but it was fun, too."

Sora smiled. "I'm glad things went well. Welcome back," he said. He took a few bites of the ice-cream. "It's good. It's also cold—holy cow this stuff is cold!"

Yukiho squeaked. "S-Sora-kun, are you alright…?!"

Sora reached for a cup of tea. "Yeah, it's just really cold…" He drank the tea, then immediately spit it back into the cup. "IT'S TOO HOT~!"

Yukiho stifled a giggle while Sora reached for his water, but Jasper ran over and stole the water before he could get to it. Sora made a noise that was half whine, half groan. He looked pleadingly at Yukiho and gently lapped at the ice-cream to cool down his mouth.

Yukiho burst out laughing, then immediately squeaked and covered her mouth. "I-I'm sorry, Sora-kun…! I'll get you some water!" she promised, standing.

"Please hurry—IT'S SO COLD!"

Yukiho hustled to the counter and retrieved some water—and that was when she happened to notice the Futami twins chuckling in the kitchen.

"Ami-chan, Mami-chan! Could you get me some water for Sora-kun?" she begged.

The "circus cosplayers" chuckled to themselves about how unfortunate Sora was to have received items made specially by the Futami twins.

Ami and Mami giggled. "OK, Yukipyon!" Ami cheered.

"Mami and Ami made this water special!" Mami chimed innocently, handing Yukiho the water.

Yukiho took the water gratefully and took it to Sora, who drank the whole thing in six gulps—then immediately spewed it out.

"It's spicy!" he whined. "Who gave you this?!"

"Th-the twins," Yukiho whimpered.

Sora gave up and laid his face on his arm on the table. "I just…my mouth…my poor, poor little mouth…"

Jasper brought him his water back. "Here, bro," he offered. Sora sniffed and sat up, reaching for the water. Jasper drew it away. "PSYCHE! Kidding. Here." He gave Sora the water.

Sora gulped it down and let out a contented sigh. "Much better," he sighed. "Oh gosh…who makes this food?!"

"The twins."

Ami and Mami waved and blew kisses from the kitchen.

"…Ohime-chan, let's just go home."

"O-OK…"

Together, the two exited the building without paying, which didn't really bother the owners (who were Ami and Mami, apparently), and returned to their respective houses. The spies high-fived.

"We are just too good," Hibiki declared. "I swear."

"AMI AND MAMI WERE THE BEST!"

"Yeah…yeah ya were."