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For the past few months, Eri Mizuki was in a bit of a pickle. Her best friend, Shiki Misaki, was behaving a bit different. She was starting to lose focus at school, while also focusing on various commissions from classmates. Sure this was very minor at first, but overtime, her attention was shifted towards sewing clothes. But that wasn't the only thing that had changed.
Shiki's hair was getting longer...and messier.
While that isn't a big deal for most people, it was a serious issue for Eri. For you see, she was the one who encouraged her to have short hair ever since they first met, even cutting it herself.
There was also the issue of simply wanting to hang out. For the past few months, Eri attempted to meet up with Shiki to discuss their budding dream, except she was never available. Her mother left the same message of 'she's busy'. This continued well into summer break, when Shiki was supposedly unavailable no matter how many times Eri asked.
But things took a turn for the worst when the second semester began, in which Shiki was completely absent on the first day back.
That was when Eri decided enough was enough. She had to get Shiki back.
Upon arriving at the Misaki household, Eri headed straight to Shiki's room and knocked on the door. But she didn't hear a response, so she knocked again. There was still no response, so she opened the door...and was greeted by an uneasy sight.
Shiki looked beyond terrible. Her hair had nearly reached her back and looked tangled, all while she was hunched over her desk working on some kind of clothing. She didn't even turn around to see who opened her bedroom door. She just sat there, sewing fabric together. And given how she was in her sleepwear sweats, it looked like she hasn't left her room in weeks.
That, and the foul odor coming from her body.
"Shiki?!" Eri yelped.
The brunette slowly looked up from her work. "...Eri?" she muttered, her half-circle glasses highlighting the dark circles under her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to hang out with you all summer," Eri explained. "You missed the first day back to school."
Shiki looked alarmed. "Summer break passed without me?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. "I-I didn't know... I was so busy...working on my dream..."
"Your dream?" Eri repeated. "Running a fashion business is our dream. Remember?"
"...Right," Shiki realized.
"Now are you just going to stay inside moping?" Eri asked. "I get that you're hurting, but that's no way to cope. I'm here for you, even on your worst days." She grinned. "Now how about I help fix you up?"
"Sure...I guess," Shiki reluctantly agreed, finally setting down her sewing supplies.
After getting Shiki to finally bathe and get dressed, Eri brought her to CrystalDream, a local spa/salon, for a long overdue haircut. They were able to book an appointment with a popular stylist named Sota Honjo, who seemed a little too eager to help Shiki. Almost like she knew him, but how?
Well regardless of the unusual coincidence, Sota did more than trim Shiki's overgrown hair into an adorable chin-length bobcut. He freshened her up with some undereye cream and makeup, applying light pink lipstick with a hint of blush and eyeshadow. By the time he was finished, she finally looked healthy.
"There!" Sota triumphantly announced. "So whaddya think? Like what you see?"
Shiki's eyes widened as she saw her reflection, yet no words came out other that a small sigh. But Eri had to admit this was a good look for her. She was kind of envious of how she looked better with short haircuts. And yet...
...why did she look so unhappy?
"Shiki?" Eri checked. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Hmm?" Shiki muttered, snapping out of her funk. Her gaze shifted to look at Eri through the mirror. "Oh, yeah. Totally fine. I'm not used to wearing makeup."
"I figured you could use a bit of it," Sota explained. "Just in case you meet the right guy." He grinned as he winked, which made Shiki alert to...something.
"...Right," Shiki agreed. "Thanks."
The next stop was the Hikawa Shrine, which was also Eri's idea in hopes of providing luck for the future. They bowed at the gate, purified their hands and mouths, and ultimately arrived at the main hall. The two girls put in coins before bowing and clapping twice. They proceeded to make their respected wishes.
"I wish our dream of opening a fashion store will come true," Eri thought to herself. Yet after bowing one last time, she noticed Shiki was still making her wish.
The brunette was clasping her hands tightly as she groaned, a worried look appearing on her face. It was as if she was in deep thought over what she would wish for. But why? What could she be so focused on? Just as Eri was about to ask, Shiki finally relaxed and bowed.
"Okay, what's up with you?" Eri asked.
"Nothing," Shiki insisted.
"Then how come you've been acting weird all day?" Eri wondered. "C'mon, Shiki. You can't hide your funk from me."
"It's...complicated," Shiki finally admitted. "I-I lost someone very special to me and...I don't think he'll come back."
"Is that why you spent all of summer break making clothes?" Eri assumed, to which Shiki flinched in response. "Hey, I totally get. If you don't want to talk about it now, you can tell me later. Just don't hide yourself in your room again."
"...Right," Shiki agreed, finally smiling for real. "Can't start slipping back into my old self."
"That's the spirit!" Eri happily encouraged. "Now how about we stop by Sunshine Stationside for some grub? My treat."
"Sure," Shiki agreed. "I'd like that."
As the two headed over to Hachiko, Eri vowed to keep her word. While Shiki seems hesitant to talk about her issues, she'll wait until she is ready. For now, she wanted to stay by her side so they could achieve their dream. After all, she knew that with her designs and Shiki's skilled hand in sewing, she just knew their future was going to be bright.