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“Nene-chan, you got a 100 on your exams?!”
Nene blinked once, twice, and then looked into the distance. “Yes..?”
For a split second, Emu just stared at her—processing, replaying the words in her head like they hadn’t quite landed yet. A hundred. All that studying Nene had done, all those quiet nights hunched over notes, all the times she’d sighed and said she was probably going to mess something up—she’d done it. Perfectly.
“That’s amazing!” Emu yelled, the excitement bubbling over before she could stop it. She didn’t even think, just lunged forward and tackled Nene into a hug.
Emu squeezed her tight, grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. She’d seen how hard Nene worked, even when no one was watching. She knew how much Nene doubted herself, how easily she brushed off her own achievements like they were nothing special. So this—this was special. It was proof that all that effort mattered.
“You did so good, Nene-chan!” Emu said brightly, voice full of pride, as if the score were something she wanted to celebrate a hundred times over.
“E-Emu, you’re crushing me–” Nene replied.
Emu gasped and immediately pulled back, hands flying up. “Ah—sorry!” she said, though her smile didn’t fade in the slightest. She hovered for a moment, like she was holding herself back from tackling her again, before clasping her hands together instead. “But still! Nene-chan, you got a hundred!”
Nene sighed softly, rubbing her arm. “It’s not that big of a deal. I just… studied.”
Emu tilted her head, studying Nene’s face carefully. She’d heard that tone before—the one that tried to make something impressive sound ordinary. It made Emu puff her cheeks out a little.
“But studying isn’t easy,” Emu said, unusually firm for her. “You kept going even when it was hard. I saw you get tired, and frustrated, and still keep trying anyway.” Her expression softened, smile turning warm instead of bright. “That’s really amazing.”
“I don’t really need a reward,” Nene replied quietly. “I’m fine.”
“Nope!” Emu said immediately, shaking her head so hard her hair bounced. “Absolutely not! You worked really, really hard to get that score, so we have to celebrate!” She pointed decisively, as if this were an unbreakable rule. “Good things should be celebrated, or else they might feel lonely!”
Nene blinked. “Lonely…?”
“Yep!” Emu nodded enthusiastically. “If we don’t celebrate your hard work, then all that effort just goes poof! But if we celebrate it, it turns into a happy memory!” She leaned forward, grinning. “And I want you to have lots of those!”
Nene hesitated, clearly unsure what to say. Emu noticed and gently took her hands, squeezing them reassuringly.
“So I’m going to reward you,” Emu said cheerfully. “Maybe with snacks! Or a fun outing! Or something small but special—whatever you want!” She laughed, eyes shining. “It doesn’t have to be huge. It just has to say, ‘Nene-chan did her best, and that matters.’”
She gave Nene a bright, earnest smile. “Let me celebrate you, okay? Just this once… or maybe a little more than once!”
Nene sighed. “Alright. But seriously, this isn’t that big of a deal!”
Emu froze for half a second—then her face lit up like she’d just won something. “Really?! You mean it?” She leaned in close, eyes sparkling, as if Nene might change her mind if she blinked.
“Yes, Emu,” Nene said, a little resigned. “Really.”
“Yay!” Emu cheered, bouncing on her heels. She spun around once, already buzzing with ideas. A reward. A celebration. Something fun, something that would make Nene smile without even realizing it. “Okay, okay, then we need to do something that feels happy but not too big!”
Nene watched her, arms crossed. “You’re already planning, aren’t you.”
“Mhm!” Emu nodded proudly. “Because you deserve it! And because celebrating is more fun when you think about it a lot!” She paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Something relaxing… something fun… something where we can just spend time together…”
Her eyes widened. “Shopping!”
“Shopping?” Nene echoed.
“Yeah!” Emu said, clapping her hands together. “We can walk around, look at things, maybe get snacks, maybe buy something cute or useful or both! No pressure, just fun!” She smiled warmly at Nene. “It’s perfect, because even if you say it’s not a big deal, I still get to show how proud I am of you.”
Nene looked away, a faint flush creeping up her cheeks. “You’re really not going to let this go, are you.”
“Nope!” Emu replied cheerfully. “That’s how celebrations work!”
And just like that—between Emu’s excitement and Nene’s reluctant agreement—the idea of their shopping date was born.
The moment the final bell rang, Emu practically bounced out of her classroom, eyes scanning the entrance of the mall. She didn’t have to wait long. Nene appeared a few steps behind her, backpack slung over one shoulder, looking slightly hesitant but smiling nonetheless.
“Nene-chan!” Emu called, waving energetically. She practically ran over, dragging Nene into a light hug as soon as she reached her. “You made it! Are you ready for your reward?”
Nene blinked. “I… guess so.”
Emu grinned, linking her arm with Nene’s and practically skipping along. “Guess so?” she echoed, feigning offense. “You got a hundred, Nene-chan! This is serious business!”
Nene laughed softly, shaking her head. “I said it’s not that big of a deal…”
“Not a big deal?!” Emu gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “You worked so hard! This is a big deal! And today, we’re going to celebrate properly.”
She tugged Nene toward the first shop, a little boutique filled with colorful stationery and cute trinkets. “Look at all this!” Emu’s eyes sparkled as she gestured at the shelves. “We can pick something small for you—something that says, ‘Congratulations on being amazing!’”
Nene tilted her head, trying not to smile at Emu’s enthusiasm. “You really don’t have to…”
“But I do!” Emu interrupted cheerfully. “Because celebrating your hard work is my favorite thing right now. Now come on, Nene-chan, you get first pick!”
And with that, Emu practically pulled Nene into the store, chatting excitedly about options, colors, and snacks, while Nene couldn’t help but feel her spirits lift. Somehow, even a “not that big of a deal” score felt a little magical when Emu was involved.
~
By the time an hour and a half had passed, Nene’s feet ached just a little, and the excitement she’d tried to hold onto was beginning to thin.
They’d wandered through store after store—clothes, accessories, little novelty shops filled with things she didn’t really need. Emu had been cheerful the entire time, pointing things out with her usual enthusiasm, but Nene had noticed how each suggestion ended the same way. A pause. A polite look. A quiet refusal.
Maybe I’m being difficult, Nene thought. She hadn’t meant to be. She just… didn’t really want anything. And now, standing near the center of the mall with shopping bags that were still completely empty, she felt a little bad.
“We can stop if you want,” Nene said at last, rubbing the strap of her backpack. “I don’t really think there’s anything I—”
Emu slowed to a stop.
For a moment, Nene worried she’d finally disappointed her. But Emu wasn’t looking at her at all. Her attention had been caught by a small display just outside a clothing store, neatly arranged and softly lit.
Folded on the table was a cardigan—simple, comfortable-looking, and a gentle shade of purple.
Emu’s eyes widened. “Nene-chan,” she said, tugging lightly on Nene’s sleeve. Her voice was bright again, but steadier this time. “That one.”
Nene followed her gaze, blinking. “Huh…? It’s just a cardigan.”
“But the color!” Emu said immediately. “It’s the same purple as your eyes.” She leaned closer, studying Nene’s face with obvious care. “I think it would really bring them out. And it looks really soft too!”
Nene shifted her weight. “I don’t usually wear stuff like that.”
“I know,” Emu said gently. “That’s why I want you to try it.” She smiled. “Just once. You don’t have to buy it if you don’t like it. I just… think it might suit you.”
There was something about the way Emu said it—not loud, not pushy, just quietly sure—that made it harder to say no.
“…Alright,” Nene said after a pause. “But only to try it.”
Emu’s face lit up. “Yay! Thank you!”
She hurried inside with Nene, grabbing the cardigan and holding it out like it was something precious. Nene took it, fingers brushing over the fabric. It really was soft.
Inside the fitting room, Nene stared at herself in the mirror as she slipped it on. The cardigan fell comfortably over her shoulders, warm without being heavy. She tugged the sleeves down, smoothing the front, then frowned—unsure of what she was supposed to be seeing.
After a moment, she stepped out.
Emu looked up—and stopped completely.
Her reaction wasn’t loud. She didn’t cheer or shout. She just stared, eyes slowly lighting up, like she was taking in every detail.
“Nene-chan…” Emu breathed, then smiled wide. “See? I told you.”
Nene glanced at her reflection again. The purple was softer than she’d expected, and against it, her eyes really did seem brighter. Less tired. Almost… warm.
“…It’s not bad,” she admitted quietly.
“Not bad?” Emu laughed softly. “It’s really good! It makes you look so cozy—and your eyes stand out so much!” She stepped closer, hands clasped behind her back. “It looks like it was made for you.”
Nene felt her face heat up. She looked away, tugging at the sleeve again. “You’re exaggerating.”
“I’m not!” Emu said happily. “I just think you should have things that show how nice you look. Especially today.”
Nene hesitated, then looked back at the mirror once more. For the first time that day, she didn’t immediately think about putting it back.
“…I’ll think about it,” she said.
Emu beamed. And for the first time since they’d started shopping, it felt like they’d found something worth stopping for.
They didn’t leave the mall right away.
Once the cardigan was folded neatly and set aside, they wandered a little longer through the mall—this time without any pressure. Emu still pointed things out, but more casually now, and Nene found herself stopping more often, even if it was just to look. They laughed over things they definitely didn’t need and lingered in a small accessories shop where Emu excitedly picked out a few pins—bright, silly designs she immediately declared perfect for her bag.
“These ones look fun,” Nene said, pointing to a set shaped like stars.
“Right?!” Emu beamed. “They’ll make my bag happier!”
Eventually, with the cardigan and Emu’s small collection of pins paid for, the mall felt quieter—like the excitement had settled into something warm and satisfied. Their feet were tired now, and when Emu suggested a café nearby, Nene didn’t argue.
They found a small table by the window, the late afternoon light spilling in as they sank into their seats. Emu stirred her drink absentmindedly, humming softly, while Nene wrapped her hands around her cup, enjoying the warmth.
“That was fun,” Emu said after a moment, smiling to herself. “I’m really glad we did this.”
Nene nodded. “…Yeah. It was.” She glanced down at the bag resting by her feet, the purple cardigan tucked safely inside. “Thanks for not giving up on finding something.”
Emu tilted her head. “Of course! You worked hard. I wanted today to feel nice.” She smiled brightly again. “And I think it did.”
Nene looked out the window, watching people pass by. “It did,” she admitted. “Even if it took a while.”
They sat there a little longer, talking about the stores they’d liked, the ones they hadn’t, and what Emu planned to do with her new pins. By the time they headed for the train station, the day felt full—not overwhelming, just… complete.
And as the train carried them home, Nene rested back in her seat, tired but content. Beside her, Emu smiled softly, already happy just knowing the celebration had been worth it.