Maki slipped on the green mask and entered the operation room.

"Nishikino, get the anesthesia."

Maki handed Marsida the syringe.

So Hyun walked into the room.

"You're late, Hyun. Get the mask on so that we can begin the surgery."

Maki gritted her teeth. Why did Marsida make my first surgery a spine surgery? This is far too advanced for a new surgeon...

Maki sighed and grabbed her purse.

"Good work today everyone. Hyun, make sure to come on time tomorrow," Marsida said.

So Hyun nodded and smiled at Maki before leaving the small lounge that surgeons share. Maki followed and closed the door behind her.

"Nice job on your first surgery. You work really well." So Hyun smiled.

"Thanks."

"Did you study abroad?"

"Yes."

The two women walked down the hall and into the elevator.

"Nishikino, how old are you again?"

Maki pressed G on the elevator. "I'm 25."

"You're pretty young. Most of our surgeons are around 30. I'm 27, though."

So Hyun leaned back into the wall of the elevator.

The doors opened to the ground floor and Maki stepped off the elevator. "Bye."

"Bye."

Maki walked to the entrance of the hospital and waited until her driver drove over. Stepping into the car, Maki heard her phone ring. "Take me home," she said to her driver before answering her phone.

"Hello?"

"Maki! We need you to come over to Eli's apartment quick! I already texted you the address!" Maki winced at Honoka's loud voice.

"Why?"

"It's June 9th!"

"So?"

"It's Nozomi's birthday, silly! We're throwing her a party tonight!"

Maki sighed. "I'll be there in an hour."

Maki ended the call. "Mr. Takeshi, please go to this address instead.""

Maki! Perfect timing, we need to...Maki, please change immediately." Eli frowned at Maki's clothes.

"Why?"

"You're wearing formal attire while everyone else is in party attire!"

"They are?" Maki peered behind Eli's shoulder, only to see nobody in sight. "Where is everyone?"

Eli pushed Maki back lightly. "They're changing! You should, as well. Here, follow me."

Eli briskly walked into a large room decorated with party decor. "That's the bathroom. Change into this."

Maki was shoved into the bathroom with a dress thrown at her. "What the-Eli! That hurt!"

"Just change!"

Maki studied the dress closely. It was a long strapless red dress with an open back. Sighing, Maki changed.

"Maki! Are you done? Everyone else is ready!" Eli's voice was slightly impatient.

Maki opened the door. "This dress is actually pretty nice. Where did you get it?"

"I brought it from my store!" Kotori stepped into view wearing a knee length green dress. "Do you like it?"

"I thought your store only sold cute pastel clothing...?"

"I'm planning to release some classy clothing soon!"

Suddenly, Honoka burst into the room, with Rin, Hanayo and Umi following.

"Guys! Nico is on the way! By the way, Kotori, these dresses are AMAZING!"

"Thanks!"

Hanayo walked to a table full of food. "I also brought some of my restaurant dishes. I hope you guys like it!"

Umi sat down on the couch. "I texted Nozomi telling her to come to this place at 6. It's currently 5, so we should have plenty of time to add some finishing touches to the decorations. We should also finish dressing and do our hair and such."

Eli spoke up, "Kotori and I should do everyone's hair since we are the best at it. Rin, I'll start with you. Come with me upstairs."

Kotori smiled slightly. "Um, I guess I'll do your hair, Honoka?"

Honoka nodded. "Sure!"

Maki took a seat next to Umi on the couch. "Is it really necessary to dress up? I mean, it's only us, right?"

Umi pressed her lips together. "Well, Nico likes to vlog our parties and upload them on the internet, so everyone wants to look their best."

Maki gritted her teeth. "I see. I guess it's not just us, then."

Maki watched Kotori brush Honoka's hair gently, before spraying it with something and curling her hair slowly. Once Honoka's hair was wavy, Kotori clipped Honoka's bangs to one side with a white barrette. "Done! Umi, you're next!"

Umi smiled to Maki and walked to Kotori. "Please don't make me look ridiculous."

Kotori winced. "I'll try my best."

Maki watched Kotori slowly brush Umi's long dark hair. Brushing each lock of hair, slowly, slowly...

Before Maki knew it, she was asleep.

"Maki! Hello? Maki!"

Maki woke up to Rin's enthusiastic yelling.

"Huh? Rin?"

Rin grinned. "Eli told me to get you. It's your turn! Go upstairs, Maki!"

Maki nodded. "Okay..."

Drowsily, Maki climbed the stairs to the second floor.

"Maki! Hurry up!"

Maki stepped onto the second floor. "I'm here."

"Good. Now sit."

Maki sat down on a stool and Eli started to brush her hair.

"Maki your hair got a lot longer. Haven't you gotten any trims?"

"No. I didn't have time."

Eli sprayed Maki's hair with...something and started to straighten Maki's slightly wavy hair. "Well, your hair is still as nice as ever. Although now that I think about it, I think you're the only person in our group of friends that grew out your hair. Aside from Nico, that is."

Maki frowned. "Wait, so did everyone else get regular trims?"

"Yes."

Eli finished straightening Maki's hair and started to tie up Maki's hair into a high ponytail. "How was America?"

"It was nice. The people were nice too, but I got sick of hamburgers the first week. After that, my mother got me out of the dorms to stay with one of our cousins living nearby."

"Hamburgers, huh? Is that all they have there?"

"No, they had all sorts of food in the cafeteria."

Eli stayed silent and tied Maki's hair. "We're finished, but don't go yet. I think you could use some makeup."

"No thanks." Maki stood up, but Eli grabbed her wrist.

"When was the last you put on any makeup other than lip balm?"

"Maybe a few years."

Eli nodded and pushed Maki back into the stool. "Come on, treat yourself for once. I won't do anything drastic, I promise."

"Fine."

Eli grabbed some powder but then put it back down. "Your skin is already flawless, I don't think you'll need powder, nor will you need blush, because I'm sure that Nico will embarrass you enough today."

Maki frowned. "What?"

"Uh, ignore that. I think you would look good with some eyeshadow. Close your eyes."

Maki did as she was told and Eli put some mystery colored eyeshadow on her.

"Open your eyes. Hm, this would go perfectly with some eyeliner..."

"Eli! You broke our promise!"

Maki glared at her reflection in the mirror. Maki was wearing pink lipstick with brown eyeshadow, and of course, winged eyeshadow. " I look like a clown. And Nico's gonna be vlogging this too, so the entire world will laugh at me. This is ridiculous, what if the people at my hospital see this?"

"Maki, you look gorgeous! Now, go downstairs."

"What about you?"

"I need to change." Eli walked into her bedroom and closed the door.

Maki sighed and walked downstairs.

"Maki! You look amazing!" Honoka squealed.

Nico, who was eating a bag of chips nodded her approval. "Not bad, but you still don't look as good as me."

Maki sat down next to Nico and checked the time on her phone. "We have 10 minutes. What do you guys want to do?"

Kotori walked over. "I just finished doing Hanayo's hair, but Nico still needs to be dressed. Come with me, Nico."

Nico followed Kotori.

"Maki, can you help me prepare the cake?" Hanayo asked shyly.

"Sure."

Maki walked into the kitchen with Hanayo, and they took the cake out of the fridge. "Wow, this cake looks good."

Hanayo smiled. "Rin and I baked this at our restaurant. We just need to light the candles." Hanayo grabbed the lighter on the kitchen counter and lit one of the candles.

Hanayo used the lit candle to light the other candles while Maki watched awkwardly. "Um, I'll carry the cake to the table."

Maki carried the cake to the table and Hanayo followed.

"GUYS! SHE'S HERE!" Honoka exclaimed.

Nico came out of the bathroom wearing a pink dress. "VLOG TIME!"

Kotori followed Nico out of the bathroom. "Where is Eli?"

Eli came downstairs at that moment (looking exactly like a model to be exact). "I'm here!"

The front door opened.

"SURPRISE!" everyone except Maki yelled.

Nozomi gasped. "Guys!"

"You're finally 27!" Eli gave Nozomi a big hug, followed by Nico, and then Honoka, and then everyone.

"Guys, my dear friend Nozomi is finally 27! This is such an emotional day for me!" Nico said to her camera.

"Happy birthday Nozomi..." Maki said hesitantly.

"Maki! I didn't think you would be here!" Nozomi hugged Maki. "Thank you for coming! Oh, and did you grow even more? Hehehehehe..."

Maki paled.

The party continued, and everyone had a great time. Honoka ended up bringing in alcohol into the party before the sun set, and half of the girls were passed out before it was even 8pm.

Maki, however, did not drink a drop of alcohol.

Which meant that she had to deal with a drunk Nico, Umi and Rin.

"Hey, Maakki! Let's go swimming in the internet! YAAAAHHH!" Nico started doing swimming motions on the floor,

"NONONO! Nico, let's go fishing in the sky! HEYHEYHEY!" Rin bounced off the sofa.

"Guuys! Become more resspoonsible! We have to be matuuur-" Umi passed out on Maki's lap.

Maki, who was watching the scene unfold with a deadpann expression, stood up. "Eli, I'm going home. Bye."

Eli, who was not drunk, nodded. "Understandable. Be careful on the way home."

"It's okay, I have a driver."

Maki left the party without looking back.

I'm sorry for the late update, but I tried to make this chapter extra long.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed!