"Stop crying," Yuki whispered to her reflection in the bathroom mirror, a girl with haunted, red-rimmed eyes. She'd held it together up until arriving at the Ivory Circle Mall and its hair stylist shop before rushing to the restroom. After heaving into the toilet and splashing water in her face, her hands still shook and the color hadn't returned to her cheeks.

At least the limousine hadn't felt like it moved with how smooth it drove. At least the vehicle could likely take a hit; it had to be armored with how wealthy Sophia's family was. 

At least, those were the lies Yuki comforted herself with to keep her cool. Buses she could handle as long as she didn't sit down, but cars...cars were expensive coffins. 

"Get it together, Yuki Hime." In the privacy of the single-person bathroom, with the floor and counter tiled a glassy blood red, Yuki dared to ditch Kobayashi and use the name she'd carried for fifteen years. For the sake of reputation, she pretended to be someone she wasn't, but she was still Hime at heart. Era and Sophia could not see her weak like this.

Staying any longer in the bathroom would look suspicious, so with a final look in the mirror, Yuki sprayed peppermint breath freshener in her mouth and unlocked the door. Once she reached the lobby, an employee ushered her to take a seat in a client's chair and leaned her back over a bowl to wash her hair in. 

To the side, Era and Sophia lounged in high-backed, upholstered chairs with a crystal charcuterie board on a table between them. 

"Yuki, are you alright?" Sophia called over the noise of hairdryers and running water. "You look a little pale."

An idea popped into Yuki's head. "You wouldn't happen to have a Tylenol, would you?"

Popping open her clutch, Sophia took out a little bottle and waved an employee over to hand it to Yuki. 

Not wanting to ask for a cup of water, Yuki shook out a pill and dry swallowed it. "Thanks, Sophia." Era's sharp glance needled her until the stylist had Yuki move chairs to the one in front of the mirror, clasping a black cape at the nape of her neck. 

The hairdresser didn't waste any time getting to work, combing out her hair and sectioning it. Even though she knew her ends looked ragged, Yuki winced at the amount cut off as it fell to the floor. 

"Do you prefer layered bangs, or blunt?" the stylist asked.

Unsure whether they'd already been told she wanted the hime style, Yuki deferred the decision. "Era, what do you think?"

"Blunt. For a bolder statement," the queen ordered. She crossed her legs at the ankles, removing her sunglasses to reveal her trademark golden eyeliner but with striking wine red color contacts. "And don't forget the highlights, Mauve."

The stylist nodded in front of Yuki, running the comb through the hair that would form the bangs. Now that her head wasn't being soaked, Yuki could appreciate the burble of the fountain in the center of the shop and the koi-shaped lights suspended from the ceiling. Water-like ripples decorated the smooth stone floor. 

"You'll be a trendsetter!" Sophia squealed. "I give it one week before someone at school copies you."

Yuki could think of a few girls who'd mimicked Sophia's mellow orange bun, softened by wispy, baby hair bangs. Somehow the girls who tried to follow in Era and Sophia's footsteps never came close to the original and Yuki knew why from experience.

You could wear a celebrity's outfit, but it wouldn't look as good without alterations because it had been custom-tailored and fitted for them. You had to account for body type, skin tone, and face shape when it came to aesthetic decisions. Even with her doubts, Yuki recognized Era's genius in selecting a hairstyle that highlighted her better features. 

Somehow...it was as if Era saw her true self underneath all the lies and was dead-set on breaking a polished piece out of the marble.

Yuki didn't know whether that flattered or scared her.

When the time came for highlights, Era and Sophia left to shop around with the promise to wait until Yuki finished to go to the dress boutique. After ten minutes by the clock underneath the heat of the dryer, Yuki's eyelids gradually drooped. 

"...plan isn't going to work if she has another."

"We'll handle it. You just do your part."

When a hand touched hers, Yuki jolted awake out of her semi-sleep. For a second, she was back in the hospital, the taste of metal in her dry mouth. But then her eyes focused on Era and the smell of bread filled her nostrils instead of antiseptic.

 Era waved a pretzel underneath Yuki's nose. "Figured you might be hungry. You ready to turn around and look?"

After a few blinks, Yuki took the pretzel and mustard packet. "Thank you." Someone had spun the chair so she was facing away from the mirror, but an unfamiliar brush of hair against her forehead let her know the transformation had been effected. "I'm ready."

"Three, two, one!" Sophia said, swiveling the chair to face the mirror. 

Yuki turned her head to each side. Her dark hair had always hung straight and she'd never bothered with styling or curling it. Now the straightness looked intentional instead of neglectful, accentuating her sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and cat-like eyes. The color and style changes were subtle, except for the side bangs with their dramatic length difference from the rest of her hair. 

Era nodded in approval behind her with a slight smile quirking the corners of her lips.

"Well?" Sophia asked, hands clasped as she bounced in her heels.

"I love it," Yuki said, and she found that she meant it. She told the truth.

──────༺༻──────

Yuki fluffed the vivid blue ballgown and set her hands on her hips. "This one?" she asked Era.

The senior girl tapped the arm of her glasses to her lips. "It's giving Cinderella, but I think you could do better than that." 

Sighing, Yuki hiked up the voluminous skirt and headed back to the dressing room. She'd tried on at least a dozen dresses at Gossamer Gowns while Era had settled on her first choice and sat down on the mushroom seat provided to pass judgement on the suitors. Sophia yelped in the next changing room over. She'd been going for corset dresses and had workers fighting for their lives to tighten them until the hourglass shape satisfied her. 

"If you could give me an idea of what you're looking for, then perhaps I'll be able to provide something more to your taste," the employee suggested. She looked to be about Cate's age with auburn hair and pretty hazel eyes. 

"I do like the ballgown style," Yuki said. "The bright blue might be too much though. I'm sorry, I don't have a better idea."

The store worker eyed her up and down before nodding. "There's another I think we could try." While she left to fetch the dress, Yuki admired the silver and green trees engraved into the walls. The shop resembled a fantasy forest with flickering gold lights and soft Celtic music with the pitter-patter of rain playing in the background. 

When the employee returned, Yuki gasped at the cloud of a dress, a deep blue at the strapless bust that lightened in a gradient to an icy white at the hem. Streaks of gold shimmered across the entire garment. After sliding into the dress, Yuki walked through the royal blue drapes.

"That's the one," Era said. "Your whole posture and energy changes when the right dress comes along. Get your measurements taken and then we'll browse the selection for matching accessories and shoes." 

Yuki hesitated. She likely wouldn't be able to afford a custom dress. "How much is this?" she asked in a low voice to the worker.

"The Midnight Rain is about five thousand, Miss," the woman whispered back. "Tailoring is another two thousand."

"Put it on my tab, please," Era said, already perusing the cases of jewelry. Her words carried even though she didn't shout. "I swear, Soph is going to take an eternity even with the extra hour I accounted for."

If Yuki had learned one thing from her days of lavish living, it was that the sum of money would be a drop in Era's ocean and thanking her required delicacy. She couldn't afford to appear desperately grateful.

Hurrying to take the dress off in the changing room, she said, "I'll get it tailored." After her measurements were taken, she rushed back to Era's side. 

"Hime, which necklace do you think will match the dress better?" Era asked, holding up two simple chains. 

Yuki pictured the dress Era had chosen, a black v-neck gown with an open back. Unlike the puffy tulle she'd chosen, Era's resembled oiled swan feathers, sleek and elegant. "The gold one with pearls," Yuki advised. The color matched Era's warm skin tone while the pearls would provide contrast to the black.

"Pearl..." Era said, her voice barely audible. Then she turned to Yuki and laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Yes, I think you're right." She placed the pearl and gold necklace on the counter and handed the other back to be put away. "Pick out anything you want. We might as well complete our ensembles while Soph keeps us waiting."

Yuki tilted her head, watching Era. Something had shifted in the other girl's expression for a brief moment, softened into something less untouchable and cold. "Thank you, Era."

Era caught the glance and reached for Yuki's hand and though it chilled hers, Yuki didn't feel the need to pull away this time. "Happy birthday, Hime."

"How—"

"I know it's tomorrow, but today is close enough to give you princess treatment." Era brushed a hand against Yuki's bangs. "You really look like her."

And if her mind wasn't playing tricks on her—if she wasn't imagining it—Yuki thought she caught a quiver of Era's lips before they resumed that perfect smile. 

Chapter Word Count: 1645