I approached Enoshima-san to ask her why we never had lunch the other day. Hopefully, she didn't think it was me who broke the promise. Not that I wanted to blame her…I strove to play it out as a misunderstanding.

By now, I had her schedule memorized, knowing she could not spend time with me the next day. I decided I could run into her in the hallway and question her about yesterday.

Once class was over, I gathered my books to throw them in my bag. Leaving the classroom before everyone else, I weaved through emerging throngs of students to find Enoshima-san. I almost tripped over someone's outstretched foot, but I stayed resolute and fumbled forward over my feet until I sprinted back into my usual pace. Passing a hall monitor, I slowed into a brisk walk until I was positive I was out of his sight.

I found her leaning against the hallway window, fiddling with her phone. We weren't allowed to have phones during school hours but she didn't seem to care. She held it out while her fingers danced across the buttons.

I stopped running, choosing to stroll up to her to allow my panting to subside. She removed her attention from her phone once I was adjacent to her.

"Enoshima-san…" I said.

She gave me a surprised look. Then, shutting her phone and hiding it into the depths of her school uniform, she finally replied. "Tsumiki-san, I didn't see you yesterday. Did something happen?"

I stifled a cry of alarm. She did eat lunch on the lawn without me! I couldn't respond to her right away, guilt and uncertainty suppressing my urge to explain.

Finally, I found my voice. "I-I'm so sorry, Enoshima-san," I squeaked as I shook my head. "I forgot about yesterday…I wanted to see you today to make sure you weren't angry at me…" I prepared for the worse, tightening my stomach bowels.

"What do you mean? I'm the one who forgot! I ran to the lawn and didn't see you there. And then I looked at the time and it was already too late!" she gushed. Enoshima-san was facing me now, her eyes darting at every detail of my person.

"Ah…! Please don't feel guilty about that, Enoshima-san," I pleaded.

"I feel really bad about it. You probably think that I broke our promise…"

I was flabbergasted. Here I was fretting that she would be upset that I didn't spend time with her. And now she was in my place, agonizing over if I was angry.

"No, nothing of the sort!" I cried. "I'm sure Enoshima-san had a good reason for being late! It was all my fault…"

She crossed her arms. "Even if I did, it still doesn't excuse me for breaking our promise. Which is why…I've decided to make it up to you today! After school, I want to go out with you!"

"G-go…OUT…!"

"Not that type," Enoshima-san joked, waving her hand at me. "I want us to spend time with each other outside of just eating lunch. It gets pretty boring after a while. I thought you could come to the studio where I have a photo-shoot and then we can go look around some nearby shops."

My head spun; I clutched the sides of my face to prevent myself from falling over. Just the idea of seeing Enoshima-san model made me delirious. I always saw pictures of her in magazines, many of which I began to collect for pictures of her, but never in-person had she worn something other than her altered school uniform. Outside of the magazines, she looked almost the same, save for a toned-down make-up palette. Her eyes and skin were much more dramatic in photo-shoots. The difference wasn't noticeable since her bombastic personality compensated for the lack of make-up.

Again and again, I pressed her to reconsider an alternate way to repay me. The thought of going to the modeling agency sent shivers down my spine and made me want to be sick. An ugly person like me wasn't even allowed within a few meters of that place, let alone walking in on a shoot. I attempted to point this out to her, but she wouldn't hear of it.

A few hours later, I froze in front of the towering, high-rise building. A professional mood enveloped the sky-scraper, warning me that I was not welcome. In one hand, I held a scrap of paper with what I was supposed to tell the receptionist at the desk. Gulping, I stepped inside, the glass doors sliding automatically away from me, gushing cold air onto my forehead. I followed the directions on the scrap paper, apologizing profusely to the receptionist when I said the wrong floor number, and then stumbling over the cracks in the granite tile on the way to the elevator. The elevator assistant sent me up to the correct floor, but the trip was entirely nerve-wracking. The whole time, I stared at myself in the reflective elevator walls. Compared to the elevator assistant, I was unsightly and ragged, unwanted in a place of such high esteem. Once the elevator doors opened, I thanked the assistant, ambling into a small group of people scurrying everywhere.

Shyly, I peered around for signs of Enoshima-san, finally finding her on the set. She wore an over-sized sweater draped over a short skirt. On her feet were platform shoes with a long heel. Her make-up shone brightly under the light, bringing out her blue eyes and flushed cheeks. I almost didn't recognize her; her hair was pulled into a ponytail instead of her usual pig-tails.

With amazement, I admired the photo-shoot off to the side, still grasping the paper in my hand. Once and a while, assistants tampered with the over-head lights and Enoshima-san would alter her pose for the camera. At each angle, I saw a different side to her beauty. Her nose peeked out from her features at a smooth incline. The color of her skin highlighted the blue tones of her eyes in such a perfect combination. Holding my arms together, I imagined running my hands through her curly hair…how soft it probably was…

The photo-shoot didn't last as long. Enoshima-san removed herself from the set, instantly noticing me in the corner of the room. Her shoes clicked against the tile as she approached me.

"Tsumiki-san!" she called, the clicking of her heels louder as she rushed towards me. "I was nervous that you weren't going to come or that you got lost."

"No, I managed to find it," I whispered. Behind her, the crowds of assistants and managers swarmed like bees, their schedules busy and time-demanding. Feeling out of place, I couldn't help but bite down on my lower lip out of nervousness.

"What did you think?" She tilted her head, an inquisitive hand pressed to her chin.

"I-it was wonderful," I replied softly, still scared of the atmosphere behind her.

Perceiving my discomfort, she weaved her arm through mine, carefully leading me to the elevator. "I don't have anything left for today. So, let's go!"

I was thankful for leaving that place, but Enoshima-san's appearance made me distraught for the entire evening. She loomed over me in her heels, almost ten centimeters taller than me. To outsiders, we probably seemed to be complete opposites…a beautiful model accompanying a plain high school girl…

She dragged me into various shops around the area, browsing the clothing racks as I stood next to her not knowing what to do. The clothes cost an exorbitant amount of money, which I obviously didn't have. Even if I did have that much, I would never be able to buy any because it was all too pretty for someone like me…

"Tsumiki-san, come over here!" she demanded. I responded to her call, pausing as she held up a dress on a hanger. She grinned from the side of it. "What do you think?"

"Anything that you wear looks great on you," I said.

"No, no. I mean, what do you think for it for yourself?"

My eyes darted back to the dress, not understanding what she meant at first. The dress was nothing like any of the clothes my own closet. A floral print with ruffles on the bottom. The top was haltered, and as Enoshima-san spun it around in front of me, I noticed the straps crossed in the back.

"Huuuh?" she asked, twirling the dress more. "If you don't know, you should try it on and see!"

Before I could explain to her that I had no money, she shoved the dress into my arms and escorted me to the dressing rooms. I removed my shoes, setting them outside and pulled the curtain behind me with Enoshima-san loitering outside. Carefully, I removed my uniform and pulled the dress over my head.

I peeked out from behind the curtain, too embarrassed to walk outside to show Enoshima-san. She was quick, swiping the curtain from my shaking hands. I frowned as she admired me.

"It doesn't feel right," I said as I tugged at the straps. "My shoulders are showing…"

"They're supposed to," Enoshima-san explained. She forced me to turn around so she could adjust to straps. I gazed into the parallel mirror. The person staring back was not me at all…a girl who wore expensive clothing and enjoyed showing off her skin…

Enoshima-san was pleased with the dress, exclaiming how it fit me perfectly. Before I could protest against her compliments, she bought it for me. At the register, she handed a shiny card to the attendant. My mouth hung slack, dumbfounded at how brisk and normal her movements were as she bought the dress, not even bothering to look at the receipt.

I wore the dress out, despite my shoes not matching. The rest of the evening, we visited more shops, but Enoshima-san didn't buy anything else. It was only the dress for me…

With each passing moment, I was more and more indebted to her. My repayment soared beyond physical numbers, giving me the impression that it would take a life-time to be helpful to her. As she animatedly bobbed through the shops, my mind returned to the scenario from yesterday. Her confession to that other person and then the girl warning me against her. What was her goal? She did so much for me already…spending time…buying me an expensive gift that I would never be able to pay back until I was in the medicine career…being there for me and liking me without hesitation…

And I…? Never would I be able to give her these things back. She loved someone else, it was true. I laughed to myself, why was I so bent on liking her? It was selfish for me to hold onto these romantic emotions. I didn't want her to leave the one she loved. It would be against my philosophy…I just wanted to be of help to her. I promised myself, if she ever confided me about gaining his love, I would comply and help her despite my own feelings. My thoughts about her didn't matter anyway…her happiness mattered over mine. That is why I accepted the dress, because it made her happy that I wore it.

After our shopping excursion, we arrived back at the school dorms. Enoshima-san pestered me to see inside of mine. According to her, the inside of a person's room reflects their personality sometimes. Her comment reminded me of what Saiyonji-san said several weeks ago…

I let her inside, upset because my room wouldn't strike her fancy like she probably imagined it to be. My room is very plain, with only a few anatomical drawings taped to the wall. Enoshima-san stopped to analyze them, praising me on my handiwork.

A strange nervousness crept into my throat, bursting into the back of my mouth. I suddenly desired to tell her…those feelings…I don't know what overcame me then…it just felt like the right moment…

"Enoshima-san…" She abandoned her concentration from my walls to look towards me. The excitement stabbed into my heart causing it to beat uncontrollably. "I…I…really l-like…"

I squeezed my eyes together upon noticing her stare and the unavoidable flushing of my face. I had to finish that sentence, but I struggled with the word.

"…like….toilets…!" I gasped.

At first, she gave me confused look, and then shaking her head, let out a howling laugh. All the breath was gone out of me. It would be only a matter of seconds until I would be on the floor passed out due to humiliation.

"That is the funniest thing I've heard all day!" Enoshima-san said, wiping tears away from her eyes. She stood close to me now, still chuckling at my failed attempt to confess my feelings.

Abruptly, all amusement faded from her face. She solemnly lingered near me, an obvious desire to say something written all over her features.

"That reminds me…there was something I wanted to tell you. More like confide in you actually…"

Here it comes, I thought. Enoshima-san is going to tell me about the guy from yesterday…

I braced myself, tightening the muscles in my legs and in my stomach in case I swooned.

Enoshima-san was red now, her cheeks glowing in the light of my room.

"Tsumiki-san, I... like you a lot…!"

My eyes widened. I felt my heart stop for a split second as my mind attempted to interpret her words.

She shook her head, her ponytail wagging in the air. "I mean, I feel dumb for saying it, but I really like you a lot. More than a friend. It's fine if you don't feel the same way though."

Again, I fought with my thoughts to locate the words.

"E-Enoshima-san…the truth is…I have always admired you…" No, that wasn't exactly correct. "You were the only person to ever like me…and be so kind to me…" Yes, that was true. "I truly do love you…" I closed my eyes, blocking her out of my vision, too flustered and scared at her reaction.

Something soft against me brought me back to reality. Opening my eyes, I found myself locked into an embrace from Enoshima-san.

"I'm so glad…" I heard her choke, her voice crackling as if she was sobbing. "I can't fully express my feelings for you. Tsumiki-san…I truly love you!" This confession contrasted deeper than the one I heard yesterday; her voice wasn't high and fake, it sounded…felt honest…

Finally, I knew I could repay her back. My love for her would be all she needed as payment.

Enoshima-san broke our hug, resting her hands on my bare shoulders.

"I…want to consummate our love!" she exclaimed.