"Aphmau, where were you the other day?" Katelyn asks somewhat worried.

     "Um.. I just wasn't feeling too well. I had um a bad cough!" Aphmau lies. Katelyn doesn't believe her, but she decides to drop the subject anyways.

     "Aphmau Senpai is blushing!" Kawaii Chan notices and shouts.

     "What? No she's- I'm not!" Aphmau squeals, covering her rosy red cheeks.

    Kawaii Chan smirks and pokes Aphmau's nose, giggling afterwards.

     "Aphmau Senpai is still blushing! Were you with Aaron Kun?" Kawaii Chan asks excitedly, her tail swaying fast.

     "Ah! No!" Aphmau cries out in embarrassment, lightly pushing Kawaii Chan away. Aphmau can't help but smile through her embarrassment though.

     Kawaii Chan giggles and Katelyn shakes her head, smirking. Aphmau drops her shoulders and smiles at Kawaii Chan and Katelyn.

     "Honestly though, were you with Aaron?" Katelyn asks, her laughter dying down and her tone becoming more sincere.

    "Um...," Aphmau bites her lip and nods, rubbing her arm with her hand.

     "Why didn't Aphmau Senpai just tell us that in the first place?" Kawaii Chan asks with a light giggle, tilting her head a bit.

     Aphmau shrugs, laughs, and says, "Let's practice!" She obviously uses this as a cover up so she doesn't have to explain the full truth, but Katelyn and Kawaii Chan decide not to question it.

———

Zane finishes his practice and hasn't decided on a song yet. He wants to do something new or different; in other words, he wants to feel like he's worth something great. He changes into a sweater that says, "Not Fluent in Socializing" across the chest and a pair of sweatpants.

     He walks out of the bathroom and makes his way down the hallway with the sign up sheets. He shrugs and strolls over to the sign ups, reading them carefully.

Single Team

Duo Team

Group Team

     He squints, noticing that on the duo team, Aphmau and Aaron are next to each other. He hums in surprise, then looking to see Katelyn and Kawaii Chan weren't signed up either. 'Did they all just... split up?' Zane wonders. He walks away from the sheets and suddenly someone trips from the stairs following with another person falling on top of the first person.

     He squints his eyes and groans in disappointment once he notices the two idiots who just collapsed from the stairs.

     "Could you two get a room? You're making me nauseous," Zane teases in an unamused tone.

     Laurance laughs as he pushes Garroth off from the top of him.

     "Your presence makes me nauseous!" Laurance says back at Zane, snorting afterwards.

     "Aw baby brother, are you grumpy?" Garroth asks, running to Zane and wrapping Zane in a tight hug.

     "Garroth! Let go!" Zane yells through Garroth's shirt, trying to push his brother away.

     "Not until you smile!"

     "Garroth, you imbecile, you can't see my smile!"

      "Oh, I guess you're right!"

     Garroth releases Zane and Zane catches his breath, sending an angry glare to his brother.

     "We're going to a party with some friends, wanna come with?" Garroth asks, now leaning on a wall and smiling.

     "Me? Parties? No," Zane replies, crossing his arms and looking away.

     "Come on! It'll be fun!" Garroth begins nudging Zane's side with his elbow.

     "...Fine! Stop nudging me!" Zane snaps.

     Garroth chuckles. "I'll pick you up later baby bro!" Garroth walks away with Laurance; and Zane just stands there regretting his decision.

———

     "Hey guys! I gotta go!" Aphmau says, setting her phone in her pocket.

     "We still have an hour left Aphmau," Katelyn reminds Aphmau, crossing her arms.

     Aphmau sighs, she knows she can't keep a secret from her friends for long. She takes in a deep breath and...

"I have a date!"

Katelyn's eyes widen a bit and Kawaii Chan's face lights up.

"I have a date with Aaron," Aphmau finalizes. She didn't fully tell the truth to her friends, but she's relieved that she told them a part of the truth.

"My Shiiiiiiiiiip!" Kawaii Chan squeals, running and hopping around; she trips on her tail and lands on the floor.

"Ow.. My! Ow... SHIP!" Kawaii Chan says, partly in excitement and pain. Kawaii Chan stands up, dusting herself off with her hands and then hugging Aphmau tightly.

Aphmau hugs Kawaii Chan back and sighs.

"A date with Aaron, huh?" Katelyn responds, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.

Aphmau nods and nervously picks her nails. "Yeah... I just.. I thought if I told you, you guys would be upset that I'm leaving early."

"I mean, I'm a little upset you planned your date for right now," Katelyn complains.

"Hmph! Come on Katelyn Sama! Let Aphmau Senpai have her date!" Kawaii Chan whines.

     Katelyn rolls her eyes and smiles. "Whatever, go on your date!" Katelyn gives in.

     "Yay! Thank you Katelyn!" Aphmau says, hugging Katelyn.

     "Yeah yeah yeah! Don't get all emotional on me!"

———

     "Going on a date huh?" Zane asks, meeting Aphmau after her practice.

     Aphmau laughs to herself, remembering that's the same way Katelyn phrased it.

     "Yeah! I'm really nervous!" Aphmau says excitedly.

     "Do you even know Aaron that well?"

     "Um..."

     Zane sighs and chuckles a bit before putting his hands in his pockets. Aphmau just scoffs and rolls her eyes.

"Look, just be careful alright? Don't be out too late either! I suggest taking it slow too, you never know whether he's a creep or not," Zane explains in a serious tone.

Aphmau snorts and Zane growls at her.

"What?"

"Oh nothing! You just sound like a dad!" Aphmau responds, giggling.

"I do not!"

"Yeah you do!"

Zane huffs in defeat and Aphmau hugs him. The two then make it downstairs and Zane takes Aphmau home to get ready.

———

     "Hey Aaron!" Aphmau greets, taking a seat across from Aaron in the coffee room table, covered in little crumbs and circles of where drinks were placed.

     "Oh! Aph! Glad you made it!" Aaron responds, smiling a bright smile.

     Aphmau blushes at his smile and smiles herself.

     "Uh, sorry about the place I chose for our date, I just-," Aaron starts, before he's interrupted.

     "Aaron! It's fine! At least I get something sweet, right? Hehe!"

     Aaron laughs somewhat nervously and begins wiping crumbs off of the table.

     "So... When did you start dancing?" Aphmau asks, trying to begin conversation.

     "Well...I was put in dance classes when I was very young. I just felt like dance was the best way of letting out my emotions. I had a umm pretty rough home life."

Aphmau's expression softens.

"Oh."

Aaron cringes at himself and face plants awkwardly. "Oh my Irene, I'm so sorry. This date already got personal!"

"Oh no! It's alright!" Aphmau responds defending him and sending him a smile.

Aaron smiles a bit and clears his throat.

"So, when did you start dancing?"

"I was little too! That's the best time to start, right?" Aphmau asks.

"I mean, I think if you're passionate enough, you can dance at almost any age. You just have to put in a lot of hard work!" Aaron responds.

"Mhm! I guess you're right!"

———

"You think Aphmau is hiding something from us?" Katelyn asks, picking up her dance bag.

"Kawaii Chan isn't sure.." Kawaii Chan responds, letting her hair down.

"I just feel like she's not being completely honest with us."

"Why would Aphmau Senpai lie?"

"I.. I don't know."

Kawaii Chan grabs her dance bag and both of the girls exit their room, shutting their slide door and walking through the halls. Katelyn looks over to another one of the rooms and makes eye contact with a pair of bright green eyes before quickly turning her head.

'No'

'No'

"Hey~ Katelyn!" The voice says.

"Hi Travis..." Katelyn sighs.

" I uh couldn't help but notice you checking me out. I know, I've gotten pretty buff!"

Katelyn laughs in disbelief and returns, "Really, I couldn't tell!"

"H..Hey! I have!" Travis reacts in offense.

"Yeah yeah! Whatever," Katelyn says, her laughter dying. She starts walking away and Travis sighs.

"Dante... why doesn't she like me?" Travis asks, dramatically falling to the floor.

" I don't know, maybe because you make up that you are buff!" Dante teases, laughing.

"Dante!" Travis cries.

"Maybe you aren't flirting well enough?"

"I've used every line in the book..."

"...Maybe not every line."

———

Katelyn and Kawaii Chan both make it down the stairs and Kawaii Chan turns and looks towards the sign ups.

"Katelyn Sama! Let's sign our team up!" Kawaii Chan mentions, pointing to the sheets.

"Oh! Good idea! Thanks Kawaii Chan!" The two walk to the sign ups and Katelyn picks up the pen.

"Katelyn Sama, wait!" Kawaii Chan squeals, grabbing Katelyn's hand.

"What?"

"Look!" Kawaii Chan points to the duo sheet and placed her finger right under the name

Aphmau.

"She's teaming with Aaron," Katelyn says quietly in disbelief.

"Oh no!" Kawaii Chan cries, covering her face with her hands.

———

Aphmau enters her apartment and sits down on the newly bought futon in the living room. She smiles as she receives a text from Aaron.

Thanks for the date! Let's do it again sometime!

She giggles to herself and then the front door opens.

"Katelyn! Kawaii Chan!" Aphmau yells in excitement.

"When were you gonna tell us about you and Aaron dancing as a duo?" Katelyn asks in annoyance.

"Oh..."

"Aphmau Senpai! Kawaii Chan thought we were a team!" Kawaii Chan exclaims in sadness.

"Guys.. I didn't wanna tell you because I didn't think you'd let me. I'm so sorry!" Aphmau responds, standing up and feeling a ball of guilt inside of herself.

"Ugh... just..." Katelyn exhales and tries to calm herself down, letting her shoulders drop.

"I'm a little disappointed... but I guess that's just part of change...anyways, we're going to a party, wanna come with?" Katelyn asks calmly.

"Y..yeah! I'm still sorry!" Aphmau responds with her arms crossed loosely.

"Kawaii Chan forgives you, she's just kinda sad Aphmau Senpai isn't dancing with her and Katelyn Sama anymore," Kawaii Chan returns smiling a bit.

"Let's go to the party?" Aphmau asks, trying to get out of that conversation.

The other two nod and the three start getting ready.