Kuroki coated a canvas with navy blue paint from top to bottom. [] She looks over her shoulder to see Shiroizu's ghost sitting at one of her desks with her head lying on folded arms. "Is everything all right, Shiroizu?" she asked while turning back to the canvas. "You are rather quiet today." "I'm fine." her tone wasn't very reassuring. "Are you sure? You know that you may tell me anything that bothers you." "It's fine, Kuroki, it's not like either of us can help what's bothering me…" this piqued The Artist's attention. "Perhaps we can." there was a pause before a sigh. "I…" Shiroizu pursed her lips for a moment. "I wish I could hug you, but obviously I can't do that…" perhaps she was right. [] Kuroki didn't respond to what Shiroizu said, but the idea still sat in her head while she painted. When she reached for another color, an idea came to mind. "What're you thinking about?" Shiroizu spoke up. "Nothing." "Nooooo, I know that feeling you get when you think of something and don't wanna share it. Come on, what is it?" "I would rather it be a surprise." "Aaahhh," she sighed, but you could hear the smile on her face, "fine."
That night, Shiroizu's ghost mindlessly wandered through the kitchen in the Dawn Group's hideout when she felt faint pricking on her fingertips. At that, she headed back to Kuroki's room and partially phased through the door, seeing her sister fiddle with something at her desk. "Kuroki?" Kuroki flinched and tucked that something out of sight. "Sorry, I did not hear you come in." "What's that?" "Just... the surprise." "Hmm." "Why do you ask?" "Don't know if you were aware, but uuuhhmm you've been poking your fingers." she held her hand up. Kuroki looked at her own hand. "Oh. Yes, I have noticed. I will patch it immediately." she put everything in a drawer and went to the bathroom. Shiroizu looked back at the drawer before walking away.
A few weeks later, Kuroki woke up early. "So what's the surprise?" Shiroizu started. "You will want to… take over to enjoy it." Kuroki made sure to stay still as Shiroizu took her place. "Now what?" "Look to your left." Shiroizu looked left but stayed still. "Turn your head left." "Oh." she turned her head left. A doll with brown button eyes, a white kimono and a blue bow around its torso looked back at her. She gingerly grabbed it by the back and brought it closer. "I would have made it larger, but there was only so much material and it has been too long since I-" Shiroizu embraced the doll, gently pressing its head against her collarbone. A sense of warmth washed over Kuroki. Shiroizu smiled and gave a breathy chuckle. "I'm glad you kept this a surprise." "Well, as much as I could given the accidental injuries I gave myself." Shiroizu checked her hand and saw bandaging on her fingertips. "I should've known from this." she laughed. Kuroki gave a chuckle. "Hey, you mind if I sleep in a little?" "I suppose it is still early... I see no reason not to." "Thanks." Shiroizu laid back in bed with a smile on her face and the doll sandwiched between her stomach and her arm.