Eurika walked briskly down the hallway, her heels clicking rhythmically, while Kratos trailed behind her, looking like a massive block of muscle. "You hear that, Kratos?" Eurika said, pointing a manicured finger at the speaker. "We have to dress to impress." Kratos looked down at his standard-issue t-shirt and jeans. "Can't I just wear what I always wear?"
Eurika rolled her eyes. "Absolutely not, big guy. We are the school reporters, and we still have reporting to do. But it must be done in style." Kratos sighed. "I guess."
Kratos sighed. "I guess."
Meanwhile, Yusuke was weaving through the crowded hallways, his eyes scanning frantically. "Where is Burajiru?" he muttered to himself.
In the janitors closet.
Burajiru and Plum were making out aggressively. Plum was sucking his bottom lip. "Plum," Plum whispered. "Yes, Sun Bear," she purred.
Burajiru's eyes went comically round, the classic anime trope. "Plum... your nails are in my arm." He squealed.
Plum gasped, "Oh my gosh!" and pulled her nails out. Blood squirted out.
She cried. Burajiru turned into a ghost.
"Farewell, Kyra, my favorite cat." Plum hugged him. "No, Sun Bear, I'm sorry, I was being too agressive."
Burajiru appeared normal again. "Just kidding."
Plum pouted. Burajiru tried to kiss her. Plum moved her face. "Don't do that again, Burajiru."
Burajiru whined, "Come on, be a good girlfriend and give your boyfriend a kiss."
Plum relented. "Okay." She kissed his lips. "You taste like strawberries," Burajiru mumbled. Plum "You taste like candy." They exited the closet.
Yusuke was standing right there. "Hey, Burajiru. Why were you and Plum in the closet?" Burajiru feigned innocence. "We got lost." Plum chimed in, "Making out." Burajiru winked at Plum. "Making out. Just in case we want to hide during the school dance." Yusuke looked confused. "Hide from what?"
Suddenly, Roxer strode through the hallway, a massive figure radiating confidence. "Alright, make way for Roxer the Hammerian! I promise you, I'm gonna win every competition at the dance tonight. You better believe it." He glared at Burajiru. "Don't even think about joining any competition, Burajiru, because I'll crush you."
Burajiru smirked. "Yeah, that's what we might need to hide from."
Yusuke turned to them. "Are you two going to the dance?"
Plum nodded proudly. "Yep. He's going as my Chocolate Thunder."
Burajiru grinned. "And she's going as my Vanilla Milkshake."
Plum started comically twerking on Burajiru. Burajiru laughed, "Get it, get it, get it!" and playfully smacked her butt. Yusuke stared with a confused expression. "Wow, you two really have gotten closer."
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Plum and Burajiru leaned in. "Who are you going with?"
Yusuke hesitated. "Um, I'm not sure. But... have any of you seen Einstera?"
Burajiru and Plum looked at each other, unsure.
Back at Einstera's apartment, she stood in the kitchen, staring across from Xiu. "Xiu, we're going to be late." Xiu replied, her voice dripping with a sinister look. "I know."
Einstera sighed. "Look, what do you want? Please don't show him that video?"
Xiu hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm, let's see. The school dance is tonight, and I'm showing up as the Sexiest Amazon Alive. But I know Plum will show up, stealing the attention, especially from Roxer. So, I won't tell Yusuke about this video of you moaning for him in your sleep and your even touching yourself, shame on you Scytherian, shame on you." She teased.
Einstera "I can pay for your lunch for the next month."
Xiu "No, I want you to make sure Plum's wearing the ugliest dress ever."
Einstera pouted. "But that would be rude."
Xiu grinned. "Yeah, and so is touching yourself to Yusuke. Oooooh, Yusuke. I love your catfish."
Einstera groaned. "Okay, okay, you win."
Xiu stood up. "Good. By the way, work on your dirty talk. 'Catfish' really?"
Einstera had no words to say. Xiu grabbed her arm. "Come on, let's go. We're so late for school."
Later, Burajiru and Plum were in class. Einstera leaned over their desks. "Hey, so what are you guys wearing for the school dance?"
Burajiru tapped his chin. "I was thinking about wearing this really fire fur coat."
Burajiru noticed the store cat bullying a tiny mouse. Without hesitation, he transformed into a mouse himself and jumped into the fight. Together, Burajiru and the little mouse ganged up on the bully cat and chased it off.
Plum showed Einstera a picture on her phone. Einstera squinted. "Perhaps that is a bit too much cleavage. Maybe you should wear a big blanket that covers up everything."
Plum gasped. "Umm, that would be hideous, right babe?"
Burajiru nodded. "Yeah, that's an odd request."
Xiu looked back and glared at Einstera. "Actually, I'm coming to the store with you to pick out outfits. We need to make sure she looks right."
At the store, Einstera looked through racks of clothes, shaking her head at everything Plum tried on. "That's ugly. No. Too flashy. Ugly."
Plum looked at her with concern. "Is something wrong, Einstera?"
Einstera smiled tightly. "No, I'm fine. Just pick something."
The fitting room door slid open, and Plum stepped out, wearing a vibrant red dress. She twirled, looking for approval.
Einstera didn't even look up from her phone, scrolling through a feed. "That red? It makes your skin look gray. And it's way too tight. It's cutting into your midsection, making your curves look squashed. It's just... ugly."
Plum deflated slightly, pulling the fabric away from her body. "But... I like the color."
"It clashes with your complexion," Einstera said dismissively. "And the cut is amateur. It makes your thick body look like a blob. Put it back."
Plum sighed and went back in, emerging moments later, her hair white in a peach dress. She held the skirt out, trying to show off the silhouette.
Einstera walked over and touched the fabric, wrinkling her nose. "This is too baggy. You have a voluptuous, curvy figure, and this dress looks like a sack. It hides everything you have. And that yellow? It washes you out completely. You look like a sickly lemon."
Burajiru, who was leaning against the wall outside the curtain, scratched his head. "I think it looks nice, Einstera. Plum looks like a princess."
Einstera shot him a withering glare. "He's just saying that because he's her boyfriend. I'm being honest. She needs something that shows off her assets, not something that drags her down."
Plum went back in again, this time returning with a sleek, black bodycon dress that hugged her curves perfectly. She stood with her hands on her hips, looking confident.
Einstera inspected it critically. "Too tight. You're going to pop a seam. And the lack skirt, it's way to short?"
Burajiru "I actually like it that short."
Einstera "He's only saying that because he's lustful."
"I just wanted to look hot for the dance," Plum mumbled, defeated.
"Oh, you'll look hot," Einstera said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But it's showing too much.
Plum threw her hands up. "Okay! Fine! What do you want me to wear?"
A woman across in the other room observed. She said to herself "That woman looked fabulous in that outfit, poor thing her friends probably a hater."
She cat walked out of the dressing room.
Einstera pulled a crumpled receipt from her pocket. "We're done here. We're getting the chicken suit. It's simple, it's cute, and it fits your... unique aesthetic perfectly."
Burajiru's eyes lit up. "Ooooooh, I get it! Einstera is smart! She wants us to stand out from everyone else! That way, when it comes time for the fashion competition, there is no way they would overlook you."
Plum looked at the chicken suit hanging on the rack, then at Einstera. "Baby, will you be a chicken too?"
Burajiru grinned. "I'll be something even better."
Burajiru and Plum left the store, Burajiru dressed in a fluffy teddy bear costume and Plum in a white chicken suit. They held hands and walked down the street, people staring at them in confusion. Einstera stood in the store, looking at the door. "That was close."