4 days later

Shirley POV

It was a typical evening at Ashford Academy, but she found herself lost in thought as she gazed out of the window, her mind occupied with thoughts of a certain mysterious boy - Lelouch Lamperouge. What Shirley herself thought was just a crush continued to torment her, she tried to get closer to Lelouch, but the enigmatic young man seemed to be constantly surrounded by an air of mystery, he was elusive about almost anything, Shirley initially was ok with this, after all a little bit of mystery was one of the things that attracted her, but to make matters more complicated, Lelouch started to spend a considerable amount of time with Kallen. Shirley couldn't help but feel a little bit of jealousy, they even started to go out after school. Like that was not enough Milly noticed this, and didn't lose the occasion to mock her about her situation, until now Shirley denied her claims but now... she doesn't know what to do.

Shirley knocked on the door to Milly's office, and upon receiving an invitation to enter, she found Milly engrossed in planning the details of a new festival, honestly, she wasn't sure if the blonde had criteria or organized them based on how bored she was.

Shirley greeted, with a hesitant voice "Hey, Milly".

Milly looked up from her papers, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, and asked in a joking tone "Shirley! What brings you here? Do you need romantic advice?".

Shirley hesitated for a moment before deciding to confess "Actually, Milly, it's about Lelouch. I... I really like him, but he's always with Kallen, and I don't know what to do".

Milly's eyes widened with interest, and a mischievous grin played on her lips "Ah, love troubles, my dear Shirley! You've come to the right person. Sit down, spill the details, I want to know everything".

As Shirley poured out her feelings and concerns, Milly listened attentively. After hearing everything, Milly leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers together.

"I have just the idea! You know, Friday during the festival I may have you two assigned together, you could also bake something special for him!".

Shirley's eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and nervousness "That's a great idea, Milly! But what should I bake?".

Milly grinned and handed Shirley a cookbook "Don't worry about that, have you seen Lelouch? It's not about the food, but about the gesture".

Shirley looked into the eyes of her friend "Are you sure that will work?".

Milly smiled "You worry too much".

Milly POV

That was totally unexpected, Milly noticed immediately when Lelouch caught Shirley's interest, the poor girl was too obvious, but she was too afraid to try something, Milly's efforts to make her overcome her fear were vain, but now... it seemed only a little bit of jealousy was needed to wake her up, now it was time to make this work, the original plan was for the festival has to be changed, and the two need to be alone, it will be easy to get rid of Rivalz and Nina... a plan was already forming in her mind.

Milly took out her cell phone and called Kallen "Hey Kallen, If I'm not mistaken, you loved the idea of driving a Knightmare".

2 days later

Milly was shocked, She may not have seen a great pilot like Marianne or Bismarck in their first attempt to use a Knightmare frame, but she was sure that what she had seen couldn't have been that different, kallen in just a few lessons looked already like a seasoned pilot.

Kallen got off the Knightmare "So, how was it?".

Milly struggled to find the right word, in complete disbelief she asked "Are you sure you never have any experience in one of those?".

Kallen seemed clueless "No, why?".

Milly surrendered and accepted the reality, that she was a prodigy, if the girl had a better health condition she would recommend her to her grandfather, and try to replicate their story with Marianne, but she doubted he would take the risk.

Kallen confused by the unusual silence from the blonde asked "Hey Milly are you ok?".

Milly "Yes, I was just thinking..." before she could end the phrase an old idea came to her mind" Have you ever done a pizza?".

The next day

Everything was ready, Milly took the microphone"People of Ashford, are you ready?" some firecracker exploded "It's time to start the Italy-themed festival!".

And now Milly's job was over, she gave Shirley a chance, and now is up to her to use it.

Lelouch POV

Lelouch was tired, all of this was programmed for the end of the next week, Organizing everything in a few days was exhausting, but now he can relax a bit.

Shirley reached him and asked "So... there aren't any problems right?".

Lelouch smiled "It seems like this, unless a certain council president has something to say about that".

Shirley looked away a little embarrassed "Hey Lelouch, since we are done here... what do you think if we look around together".

Lelouch agreed, after all the work to organize this it would be a waste at least not benefit from it "Why not, let's go".

Shirley looked at him smiling"Y-Yes".

They walked around looking at the stand, some offered food, others were more focused on cars or sports and some even showed some strange pieces of Italian art from vases to paint, Milly was cautious about making the students show anything related to Rome or to whatever happened after the French Revolution, after all her family have a name to maintain and some family may not take well seeing an enemy praised, but despite the censorship, the experience was pretty enjoyable; Now he and Shirley were sitting at a little replica of a restaurant in what normally would be the art class.

Shirley POV

Her heart was racing, until now everything had gone well, but now she was blocked not knowing how to proceed, the plan was to ask him out here, Shirley was scared, but it was too late to give up "Hey Lelouch… I was wondering if you...".

A guy entered the room shouting to his friend "They are cooking a giant pizza with a knightmare".

Lelouch "WHAT, Shirley who did the maintenance to the knightmare?".

Shirley was taken by surprise, rarely she has seen Lelouch scared "I don't know".

Lelouch got up and ran out of the room, Shirley quickly followed him.

Shirley "What happening?".

Lelouch, was trying to call Milly, obviously, she didn't pick up the phone "The right harm has a problem, it often gets blocked when lifting things...".

The two reached the courtyard, but it was already too late, flour and tomato were covering the Ashford students.

There was not a lot that they could do now, so Lelouch started looking for the person responsible for this mess.

They found an angry Milly who was trying to wipe out the tomato from her face.

Milly "You said that the Knightmare was operational".

Lelouch "And I also said that it needed revision, have you read the full report?".

At that moment Milly understood the error "I... was surprised by Kallen, and was not careful".

Lelouch now was curious "What do you mean?".

Milly "In only two days I think she already became better than you in driving that thing".

Lelouch seemed a bit surprised, but the general chaos around him was more important "I'll go try to deal with this mess, you two look if everyone is alright".

After Lelouch left, Milly asked Shirley "How did it go?".

Shirley was a bit pissed about not being able to ask Lelouch out, and about not being able to make him try the cake she has made for him; But even thinking about the day they spent together was enough to make her happy "Well we meted at...".

Kallen POV

On her way home, Kallen called Naoto "Hey brother, you will never guess what happened today".

Naoto replied "Someone starting to like living a normal life".

Kallen ignored the comment "I used a Knightmare".

Naoto stayed silent for a few seconds before shouting "YOU DID WHAT!".