"Congratulations! You've won breast augmentation."

Kyoko's eye twitched. This was why Ryou had taken Kyoko aside? To tell her she'd inadvertently won an extra prize of plastic surgery? The host's excitement stalled at her appalled expression.

"Don't worry, this is strictly a private prize and won't get out to the public," he hurried to explain. "Especially for people like you who are in the limelight we understand how important it is to keep these things under wraps. That's why we don't advertise these sorts of prizes at the beginning. Adds an extra incentive to win, don't cha think?"

"Great," said Kyoko. "But breast augmentation?" She looked down at her chest. "If I go any smaller I'll look like a man."

"What? No, it's the other way around," he said.

That was even more horrifying. "You're going to put breasts on my back!?"

"Enhancement! It's breast enhancement." To emphasize his point, Ryou cupped his hands in front of his own chest and made a circle… only to flounder when he realized how crass that was, flapping his hands to remove any residual evidence of his actions.

"Anyway, you can cash in the prize after the show is done," he said with a deliberate cough.

This was definitely not something she was interested in. Kyoko prided herself in being a pure Japanese girl—hair dye not included. It was one thing to change hair color, but it was another thing altogether to irreversibly change the shape of her feminine figure. That was a long jump past her personal morality line that would never be crossed.

"Can you just give it to someone else?" said Kyoko. "Like second place…?"

Wait. No. That wouldn't work. What would Tsuruga do with breast enhancement? For just one moment Kyoko tried to imagine Tsuraga with double D breasts. His manly jawline and toned body giving way to feminine curves.…No way was Kyoko giving Tsuruga that.

What about third place? She thought back to her mental calculations, remembering a certain redhead that had managed to get four points during the game. Eri was currently strutting around two men, laughing and flinging her red hair over her shoulder as she worked the room with ankle-breaking pumps. With each step, her assets could be seen jiggling from here.

Okay, so not third place either.

"Can I send it to a friend?" said Kyoko. Maybe Kanae-san would want it.

Ryou looked at the tablet in his hand, scratching the side of his face.

"Are you sure you don't want it for yourself?" he said. "It's for the best surgeon in Japan. People wait months, sometimes over a year to get on his schedule."

"I'm sure," said Kyoko. "I'll give you her address so you can deliver it."

Ryou grimaced. "It's your prize so if you want to give it away... Just give it to me by tonight and we should be fine."

Happy to have avoided that bullet, Kyoko trotted away and wandered awkwardly through the room. People had broken off into even groups speaking with the other attendants in the room. Upon spotting Sakura with a man, Kyoko realized what it was. Everyone had paired up with their lunch dates. Kyoko's own date, Suzuki Hansuke, stood off to the side alone.

After some ruminating the night before, she'd decided on marrying him. She knew he was available due to Hime's helpful note that they were no longer pursuing each other, which would make him more desperate. Kyoko would seem more appealing because of that. Now she just had to romance him, get him to propose – or propose to him if necessary — and get the hell out of here.

The question was how. How should she win him over? She'd seen women flirt with Ren enough to see all sorts of ways. There was the overt, the shy, the hinter, and the 'take me to bed right now' approach. Variations of these popped up, but they were the main four. She just needed to pick one and roll with it. Literally. Don the role like a character. Grin and bear it because there was no way was she staying here another night. Suzuki was proposing to her tonight.

Suzuki made eye contact with her, a wide smile ushering her over. Kyoko screwed on her most demure smile as she tilted her head hoping she looked like a gentle lady rather than a giraffe with a kink in its neck.

"Are you finished?" he said. "Good timing. We're about to hear the details of our group date."

"Group date?" said Kyoko. The threat of a certain possibility shot the giraffe in her heart like a merciless poacher. Oh heck, if she was with Ren she was going to kill a certain assistant director. A quick look around the room calmed her fears as she saw him already mingling awkwardly in another group of four. Good. Despite the extra rules, she'd managed to avoid him.

"Yeah. They paired us off in groups of four," said Suzuki, waving around the room. "They did this a lot at the beginning last time. Helps to mix people up, I think."

Put the game face back on Kyoko. Flirt! You know how to do this… right?

"I'll be deferring to you then," she said, stepping in closer as she lazily purred. "Keep me safe during these events, Nii-san."

Kyoko stopped in her tracks.

Oh, hell. She did not just call him that. Bad Setsu! Go back to your corner. How was she going to get out of this one? Suzuki's eyebrows had risen to his hairline.

"Sorry," Kyoko flubbed. "What I meant was... I meant the other car company! You know. Nissan. Suzuki."

Suzuki let out a loud laugh, calming Kyoko's oncoming panic attack. He had taken that excuse.

Mental note to self; Setsu is not allowed to come out during this retreat.

"I see I'm not the only one that forgets names," he said. "I Um, I actually have forgotten your surname as well…"

"Mogami," offered Kyoko, scrambling to figure out what to say next. Her heart was still panicking after Setsu's slip up. Why was this so hard? Language was so much easier when she wasn't worrying about what the other person may think of her.

"Mogami-san. Sorry about that," he said. "I considered just going along pretending I remembered, but the last time I tried that it did not end well."

"It can't be as bad as my most recent example."

"I don't know, at least you were somewhat on track." He said it good-naturedly, no grudge present in his smile. Kyoko felt herself smiling as well at the atmosphere he created. He was personable but not too invasive and no flags had been immediately set off. Yes. He would do perfectly for a husband.

He cleared his throat, nodding to the side of the room. "Should we go meet with our companions?"

"Sure!" said Kyoko, grateful he had changed the direction of their conversation. She'd run out of things to say.

But the second Kyoko took a step in the direction he'd nodded in, a chill settled over her.

Where's the hate? thought Kyoko, swiveling her head like a bloodhound locked on a scent. The answer came as the two of them approached their companion couple.

Golden-haired Hime stood beside her date showing a dazzling smile as she waved them over.

Kyoko winced at the wattage.

A limo greeted the four of them immediately following the game show. Their date was off location and thus required a short trip. They were to go ice skating; an event Kyoko would normally have been ecstatic about.

The four of them piled in the car, Kyoko making note of the cameras attached to the corners of the vehicle. Even in here they were not truly alone. The others didn't seem to notice. Hime-san was all smiles as the four of them interacted, yet Kyoko couldn't smooth the goosebumps running all up and down her arm. What was her problem?

"Is it just me or is it a little icy in here?" said Kyoko to Hime. The woman gave Kyoko a confused smile. As if she didn't know what she was doing!

"Are you cold Mogami-san?" said Hime. "We can ask the driver to turn the AC down."

Or tell me why you have so much hate in your heart.

"Here," said Suzuki, suddenly taking off his jacket. "You can wear this."

"No thank you, I'll be fine," said Kyoko hurriedly, rejecting his coat with a hand.

But Suzuki persisted. He scooted to the edge of his seat as he held it out. "If you're cold now, I'd hate to think how much worse it will be in the rink," he said. "Come on, just let me be a gentleman."

That made her pause. This was a good sign. Girls giggled all the time about wearing their boyfriend's clothes after spending the night. Why they didn't bother packing their own clothes Kyoko would never understand, but she knew there was a special meaning to donning the clothing of a man. Some sacred rite of passage that couples needed to pass to enter the next stage of their relationship. She should take advantage of this.

She took the jacket and slipped it on. The lingering warmth was both surprising and pleasant. Now if only the chill in the car would stop chilling. Her teeth chattered noisily.

"Mogami-san, you're shivering," said Suzuki. Not seated directly by her, he reached a hand across the space to rub a hand up and down her arm. "You're so tiny the wind blows straight through you."

She had no idea to respond to that other than to give a light laugh.

"I'll be fine," she insisted. "Have you guys ever been ice skating before?"

"A few times," said Hime placing a contemplative finger to her lips. Then she lightly touched her date's arm, the motion similar to what Suzuki had done to Kyoko. "What about you Kitamura-san? Have you ever been ice skating?"

Kitamura shook his head. He was a thin man with a pale complexion that females certainly envied, though it seemed due to a hermitize lifestyle than expensive self-care. He adopted a bored expression as he answered.

"No," he said. "Haven't had much time to get out because of school. And it seems awfully dangers to stick sharp blades on the feet. What if you ran over someone? Ouch."

"What about you Suzuki-san?" said Kyoko, pointedly moving on from 'Mr positive' to Suzuki. Her date answered with an even wider grin.

"I've been a few times," he said with an air of exaggerated modesty. The effect was ruined by a head waggle. "What about you Mogami-san?"

Here, Kyoko couldn't help herself. The excitement she'd been silently harboring came to the front as her back straightened in response to a surge of energy.

"Never," she whispered with an air of reverence. "It seems so magical, doesn't it? To glide on ice like a magician or princess? And those professional ice skaters, Oh! I'm sure it will be like a fairyland made of ice. I can't wait!"

She bounced in her seat. Ice skating was number seventeen on her list of fairy tale experiences she must enjoy one day. Moko-san refused to go with her despite days of Kyoko insisting. What was the matter with her friend? It wasn't like ice skating required a calorie count like eating ice cream did. And now Kyoko wanted ice cream. Ice cream while skating sounded like double the ice fun. She wondered if she could find a sleigh as well. Reindeer? Ice fairies!

Suzuki chuckled, his open mockery melting her ice dream.

"That was really cute," he said with a warm smile.

Cute?

Kyoko blinked at him, wondering what about her rant was considered cute? Or maybe magic from speaking of the magical fairy land had seeped over into their world. Seemed the most plausible answer. Either way, if it got him to like her she was all for it.

"It was certainly something," said Hime, glancing out the window. "Looks like we're here."

Kyoko had to force herself to stay seated and wait for the car to stop. Even then, she launched herself from the car the moment it stopped, skidding to a stop before the skating rink, mouth open.

The place was huge. A pure white oval sat in the center of the domed arena, glittering with ice magic. Stadium seats rose on either side, the spaces mostly empty. A few families dotted the area, some skating, others sitting and talking. Kyoko inched forward, breathing in the frosty air as her cheeks twinged from the sudden chill.

This was amazing! Simply amazing. Her hands curled along the railing, watching a skater sweep past at astonishing speeds.

A tap on her shoulder knocked her from her dream. It was Suzuki again.

"You're really excited for this," he said.

"Aren't you?" she said, her eyes reflecting the sparkle of the ice.

"More now that I see your enthusiasm, it's infectious." He smiled. "Come, let's get our shoes."

In a daze, she followed him to the side where one of the crimson threads employees was talking to the rink's owner. Two tech men were out, fiddling with their cameras as the employee ushered her over. It was the puppy boy that had showed Kyoko her room the first day. Apparently, his name was Shougo. Kyoko made a mental note not to hate him for having a name close to Shou's

"Okay guys, this should be a really easy one," he said, hopping on both feet like he had snakes in his shoes. "Just be natural and forget the cameras are here. First, we'll film you in separate couples talking as you put on your shoes. Then we'll get on the ice. We'll go from there, occasionally pulling you away to have you talk to the camera or whatever else seems right. Remember, we're not here. Just be natural. I'm sure you'll all be great."

The man's instructions killed the immersion. The rink was no longer a fairyland. It was just a mirage meant to lure in the pure-hearted as they drained dreams and wishes from your soul.

"Can I go to the bathroom first?" said Kyoko. She needed to purge the fake snowflakes from her heart.

"Of course," said the puppy man. He asked the owner who pointed her in the right direction for the bathroom.

Kyoko had taken only a few steps before a sweet voice added; "I'll come with you."

Hime shuffled up beside Kyoko as they walked together. She sent Kyoko a smile but otherwise kept quiet. Once they reached the bathroom, however, the girl let out a long sigh.

"Man, I keep forgetting how horrible those cameras are," she said, leaning against the sink. "You had a good idea Mogami-san. A bathroom break is always the best escape."

"Actually, I needed to use it."

"Oh."

Kyoko took care of her business, coming out of the stall to wash her hands. Hime waited for her, plucking at her hair as she made faces at the mirror. The air around her wasn't as icy anymore. Maybe her anger hadn't been toward Kyoko?

"Hime-san, can I ask you something?" said Kyoko.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Why were you so angry earlier? I felt like it was directed toward me."

"I wasn't angry," said Hime immediately.

"I'm sure you were." Kyoko's anger radar was never wrong. She trusted a lot more than her own eyes. That was why she knew mentioning it was inviting the anger back.

Hime's primping didn't stop, but it did slow. She ran her hands slowly through her curls as she pointedly avoided Kyoko's gaze.

"I wasn't angry," repeated Hime. "I promise."

"Okay, fine," said Kyoko. "I was just trying to clear things up."

"Well, now we're clear. Happy?"

"Not really. You sound like you're angry again."

Hime scoffed, snatching her purse as she headed for the door. She paused, hand on the doorknob as she peered at Kyoko. Something seemed to melt from her as her irritation lessened.

"Sorry," said Hime. "You're right. I'm frustrated. But it has nothing to do with you. I just need to figure stuff out."

"Feel free to figure it out then," said Kyoko. "Just don't freeze me out with your anger again. It helped in the car, but I don't think also taking Suzuki's shirt will help me win him over."

Hime's hand on the doorknob tightened. She sputtered a few times as sentences started without finishing. Eventually, she caught one, coughing out. "You're after Suzuki-kun then?" she said.

"Of course," said Kyoko, an idea hitting her. "Or maybe taking his shirt would help? And I'm sure the director would love the grand gesture and drama." Stupid Ryou. Anything that made him or Maria happy was not a good idea. Fun to consider for a moment, but ultimately a terrible idea.

"Don't take his shirt, what are you crazy?" said Hime. "Who does that?"

But Kyoko wasn't listening. She'd just gotten what could only be described as a moment of revelation from on high. It was as if the clouds had parted, showing her the path she must take to ascend into the highest order of matrimony. She now knew how to win over Suzuki-kun.

Energized by her discovery, Kyoko pulled Hime into a hug, the girl squawking in fright.

"I know how I'm going to do it," said Kyoko. "I know how to win Suzuki-san over."

And releasing the now frazzled woman, Kyoko left the bathroom, practically skipping in glee.

Everyone was ready and waiting when they returned. Kyoko was quickly ushered away, hooked up to a wireless mic and set down beside Suzuki. They'd been positioned on wooden benches part way up the stadium seating, the other couple on the other end of the row. She spotted Hime settling in beside Kitamura, shooting her worried glances.

Cameras and men circled Kyoko, setting up the perfect lighting before filming began. Kyoko shifted her position as directed, turning her legs toward Suzuki so their knees touched. Her date jolted at the contact, rubbing at his neck.

"Sorry, it's a little weird even after two weeks of this," he said. He waved at the cameras. "How are you doing with all this?"

"It's fine," said Kyoko. She was used to cameras after all. She eagerly took off the jacket he had given her, holding it out to him. "Here, I don't need it anymore," she said.

"Are you sure? You might get cold again."

Kyoko set a fist to her heart to indicate her stalwart nature. "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."

She beamed harder, happy to have finally come to this conclusion. This was what men liked. Strong women who could take care of themselves. If men were obnoxious and troublesome, then women could be even more so. That's what she had come to realize while in the bathroom. The reason why the borrowed clothing was such a great step in the relationship. It was because the men didn't feel annoyed by helping their partner. The women could feel secure knowing that they could start to rely on each other even in little things like clothing.

In short, it meant she'd taken the jacket too early. He'd offered it because he was a gentleman, but she shouldn't have taken it. She'd already messed up, but Kyoko was eager to make up for lost time.

Suzuki seemed speechless at her new attitude. Good. She was changing her impression to something better.

"Alright you two," said the cameraman hovering nearby. "We're all set. When you guys want to start, go ahead and go."

"With no prompt?" said Suzuki. "That's unusual. Don't you usually give us one?"

The man was about to answer, but Kyoko saw an opportunity to show her competence.

"We don't need prompts," said Kyoko. "We can come up with them ourselves. I mean, we are on a date." And having interesting topics to converse about during dates couldn't be that hard, could it?

The cameraman shrugged. "Sure, you can do that. But there are one or two things the assistant director asked us to bring up, so we'll at least touch on those at some point."

Kyoko's eye twitched as she strained to hold back the ugly expression threatening to come out. She was on camera after all, and she needed to be conscious of her actor image.

"Of course," said Kyoko through gritted teeth. "We wouldn't want to forget about those topics, now would we?" She quickly sorted through several in her head, choosing among those that she knew the audience would be interested in as well as things that would give her more information about her future spouse. "Suzuki-san, what are some things you want to accomplish in life?"

"Life accomplishments?" he said with a raised eyebrow. "Plunging right for the big ones I see. Are you talking about careers?"

"Anything," said Kyoko. "Short term or lifelong goals. Whatever it is you want to accomplish."

Suzuki puffed his cheeks, blowing out a long breath of air as he slowly shook his head. "That's a loaded question. There's a lot I'd like to accomplish. Well, getting married for one."

"Naturally," said Kyoko, hiding an involuntary twitch in her cheek.

"I'd also like to move somewhere new. The place I'm at is a little loud and I can't see myself having children there."

Suzuki kept talking, moving from one topic to the next as he spelled out certain things he'd like to do; Get a better job, learn to partner dance, complete the semester with top grades. When Kyoko mentioned writing, he clammed up, brushing it off and wondering where she had learned he liked to write.

"I heard it from Hime-san," said Kyoko. "She told us you want to publish a book."

"Did she?" said Suzuki, looking across the seating where Hime was with her date. She seemed to be struggling to tie her laces. Suzuki let lout a laugh. "I told her not to mention it… oh well. It's recorded so everyone will know anyway. I hope he plans on helping her with her shoes…"

Hime's date didn't look any better in Kyoko's opinion. Their laces were a knotted mess even from this distance.

"Maybe we should put our shoes on as well," said Kyoko. During the distraction, she'd spotted the ice rink. She couldn't resist the call of its enchanting surface. She'd been patient, but she wanted to skate right now!

"Already?" said Suzuki. "I haven't even asked you what you want to accomplish."

"Right now, it's ice skating," said Kyoko with impatience. She reached down, handing Suzuki his shoes as she sent him a wide smile. "We can keep talking on the ice."

Suzuki reluctantly agreed, taking his ice skates and slipping them on. He asked if she wanted help doing up her laces, but Kyoko refused. She would show him her independence. After throwing the laces around her ankle several times, they finally shortened enough not to get caught in her blades as she tied it into a bow. Then she stood up.

She wobbled worse than a drunk in heels riding a skateboard. Her knees knocked into each other and she fell back on the seat with a painful thump.

"Are you okay?" said Suzuki. He held out a hand. "Do you want some help?"

"I'm good," said Kyoko, struggling back up. She would master this! "Just wasn't ready but I think I've got the hang of—ack!"

Kyoko fell again, this time pitching for the head cracking steps before her. Suzuki blessedly caught her and prevented the tragedy.

"I think you do need some help," said Suzuki.

She grumbled, sliding back down on her butt as she wriggled out of Suzuki's grip. She tentatively reached her feet over the seating in front of her, slowly scooching on her butt to reach the next level, because trying to climb down these steps while upright was not happening. Suzuki hovered nearby, walking like a freaking pro on his blades with her each step down the stairs.

"I'll be fine once I get to the ice," she insisted

How wrong she was.

By the time she finally made it to the entrance, Suzuki had bullied her into holding his hand for support. Her grip turned desperate as each step threatened to snap her ankles. Then her feet hit the ice…. and so did her butt.

Kyoko blinked, wondering how she had gotten there. Cold moisture seeped into her jeans and she struggled to get up again. Only to realize that was basically impossible.

Suzuki burst out laughing. Shame and embarrassment flushed Kyoko's face and she sent him a glare. He immediately stopped and covered his mouth, but shameless chortles managed to escape.

"It's not funny," pouted Kyoko.

"Sorry, it's not," he agreed.

Kyoko struggled to get up again, feeling as graceful as a seal waddling on land. She clawed the wall for support and finally managed to stand but not before enduring a few more outbursts of Suzuki's laughter.

"I'm sorry," he said. "That was amazing, I wish I'd recorded that—Oh wait!"

"Yes, shut up," said Kyoko, though not with any true heat. She'd done embarrassing things on variety shows before. This wasn't new, and it had gotten Suzuki laughing. Huh. Maybe being incompetent was better. Or maybe it was being funny that was good. She was starting to get mixed up.

He held out a hand. Again. What was his deal with that? Was he so desperate for Kyoko to accept his help so he could dump her for being a burden? At this point her refusal to take his hand didn't come from any strategy to win his heart. She was determined to master ice skating and accepting that hand just wasn't an option.

She took her second step on the ice. The wall stopped her from falling this time, but only just.

"Take a lap around the ice," said Kyoko, eyes forward. "I've got to conquer this on my own."

"I can't just leave you."

"Don't worry about me." Kyoko took a hand off the wall, pumping it with a fist, then floundered to grab the wall as her feet slipped beneath her. She just managed to catch herself, her legs out farther than the rest of her body as she strained to reel them in. "By the time you get back, I'll have become an expert."

Suzuki stared at her for a full five seconds before a wide smile suddenly stretched across his face.

Kyoko didn't like that expression. It showed too many teeth.

To her horror, Suzuki skidded in front of her and grabbed both of her hands.

"What are you-! Stop!" screeched Kyoko. But she was helpless to stop him as he gently pulled her out farther into the ice. Her legs buckled, body board straight as he tugged her along the ice.

You're lucky I want to marry you or else your voodoo doll would be having a session tonight!

Suzuki was oblivious to her inward cursing.

"See, that's not so hard?" he said. "Bend your knees a little. Makes it a lot easier."

Kyoko did as he said and found to her surprise that it did help. A lot. Her center of gravity felt more secure and she tentatively put more weight on one leg to push off.

That was a mistake. Her ensuing stumbled took both her and Suzuki down. She landed on his chest, knocking the wind from both of them.

"I'm so sorry!" she cried, her arms now wet as well. This was not the way to win his heart. He was sure to curse her out for making him fall. For being incompetent and clumsy.

He was laughing. She could feel the rumble of his chuckles beneath her, unable to scramble off him without help.

"Don't worry about it," he said eventually, showing a broad smile. "It's hard for everyone the first time."

Kyoko blinked in surprise. Wasn't he annoyed with her? But didn't men want competence and strength?

Suzuki gentled helped her shift her weight off him before standing himself. Once he was upright, he held out a hand to her. A smile accompanied that outstretched hand, but this time, Kyoko considered the gesture.

This… wasn't working. Not with ice skating.

Throwing her plans to the wind, she took his hand, allowing her to pull her up. She had to cling to his forearms to do so, but Suzuki was beaming so it was probably okay.

"Shall we try again?" he said kindly. "Don't worry, I won't let go of your hand."

Kyoko reluctantly agreed, Suzuki tugging her along as her mind scrambled to come up with a new strategy to make him marry her.

Thanks for reading!

This chapter went completely in the other direction than I had planned. But I found it was necessary. Also, Imouto has joined us and is now betaing. We've already gone back and updated the previous chapters, but don't worry about rereading them. Nothing changed story wise. It's just prettier now.

-Blushweaver

My name is Blushweaver's Imouto, and I approve this message.