The next afternoon, Himiko knocked on Kokichi and Gonta's door. Kokichi opened the door to see Himiko's forlorn expression. He patted her shoulder.

    "You okay?" he asked her. Himiko nodded. 

   "Um...I'm going to the mall with the others," she said. "Do you wanna go, too?" 

   "I can't, Monkey Buns, I'm sorry," Kokichi replied apologetically. "Um..." he paused to look around. Then, he lowered his voice. "...I got a call from D.I.C.E. headquarters. Three called me because Six and Four were fighting again, and Six shoved Four's arm in a place where...arms shouldn't be shoved." He winced with pain. 

   "Well, that's not good, I guess," Himiko mumbled. 

   "You gonna be okay?" Kokichi asked. Himiko sighed and nodded.

   "I guess," she replied. "Maybe I just need to get out and...get away."

   "Yeah," Kokichi murmured softly, patting her shoulder. "Well, you go on ahead and have fun, HimiCocoa Bean."

   "Okay," Himiko replied. Kokichi kissed her hand and then her cheek before she left. On the way to the mall, Himiko remained silent. 

   "You okay, Himiko?" Kaede asked. 

   "Nyeh...I'm fine," Himiko muttered. 

   "I heard you and your sister were fighting last night," Tenko said. "Do you wanna talk about it, Himiko?"

   "No," Himiko sighed.

   "I heard the whoooole thing!" Miu said. "Your sister's datin' a sixteen-year-old!"

   "Is this true, Himiko?" Kirumi asked with concern.

    "Yes," Himiko answered briefly. 

   "That could be dangerous!" Tsumugi cried.

   "I know," Himiko said.

   "And you're not going to do anything about it?" Maki asked.

   "Why should she?" Miu chimed in. "Maybe what her sister needs is a good ol' di-" Before Miu could finish, Himiko shot her a death glare. "Eeeeeeee....I was just jo-o-oking! You don't have to l-l-look at me like tha-a-at!" 

   "I told her not to see him anymore," Himiko growled. "Now, can we stop talking about it?"

    "We're sorry, Himiko," Kaede said, and the others apologized, as well. Finally, they arrived at the mall. 

    "I'm going to the bookstore," Maki said. 

   "Ooo! Me, too!" Tsumugi said. "There's a new manga that's out that I've been dying to read!" Tsumugi and Maki headed off to Farms and Mobile. 

   "I'll go to the arts and crafts store!" Angie chirped, then dashed away. 

   "Hee-hee...I'm goin' to Veronica's Secret," Miu said. "I invented a game with Kazzy Cakes called 'Guess the Bra Color,' and if he gets it right, I strip down and walk in my underwear just for him!" Kaede, Tenko, and Kirumi stared at her in disgust.

   "Don't you have any shame, Miu?!" Tenko cried. "Why would you do such a thing for a filthy male pervert?!"

   "Cuz I'm a filthy female pervert, of course! Hahaaa!" Miu cackled before eagerly bounding off to Veronica's Secret. 

   "I need to go to various places, like the sports department, the pet store, and the auto parts department," Kirumi said. "I may need some assistance. Tenko, would you like to accompany me?"

   "Of course!" Tenko replied. "Anything to help out a fellow girl!" She and Kirumi walked off towards the sports store, Nick's. 

   "I guess that leaves just you and me, Himiko, huh?" Kaede said.

    "Nyeh...you can go wherever you want. I'll just sit at the food court," Himiko said. 

    "I'll go with you!" Kaede replied cheerfully.

   "Do whatever you want," Himiko muttered. She sighed as she and Kaede walked over to the food court. Himiko pulled out a chair and slouched in it. Kaede sat next to her.

   "Um...do you want me to order something for you, Himiko?" she asked.

   "Nooo..." Himiko muttered, plopping her chin on the table. "It'd be much easier to starve until I wither away and let death sweep me up into its peaceful embrace."

   "Himiko, don't talk like that," Kaede said, placing a comforting hand on Himiko's shoulder. "I'm sure whatever conflict you and your sister are having will be resolved!"

   "Maybe that's how things are in Kaede Land," Himiko muttered. "But, this is the real world, where happy endings don't exist."

    "That's not true," Kaede said. "You have the power to create your own happy ending! Besides, even if-"

   "Shut up!!" Himiko cried suddenly, shooting her head up from the table.

   "No, Himiko, you need to hear this," Kaede said firmly. "Even if things seem like it'll never get better, there's always hope that things will turn arou-...OOP!!"

   "Nyeh...get down!" Himiko whisper screamed. She pulled Kaede down underneath the table with her.

   "What are we doing under here, Himiko?" Kaede asked.

   "Sshh!! Look!" Himiko pointed to one of the restaurants. Standing at the counter was Kenzo, and behind the counter working, was a girl with blonde hair and amber eyes. Kenzo looked like he was flirting up a storm with her. 

   "Who's he?" Kaede asked.

   "That's Kenzo, the guy Tomiko's dating," Himiko whispered. Kaede's eyes widened. 

   "But...he's flirting with that other girl," she breathed in shock. 

   "Nyeeeh...Kokichi was right!" Himiko said. "He is cheating on her after all!"

    "When did Kokichi say that?"

     "Yesterday, when we were having that double date with my sister and that creep!" Himiko explained. "Kokichi guessed it based on a few things Kenzo had said."

   "Wow...he's good," Kaede admitted. They watched in silence as Kenzo continued to flirt with the girl. "Maybe...they're just really good friends?" Kaede said. What happened next blew Kaede's theory out the window, and shattered Himiko's heart. Kenzo leaned forward and kissed the girl on her lips. "...Or not," Kaede groaned.

   "Nyeh...poor Tomiko," Himiko whispered softly.