"Oh! You weren't?" her excitement is immediate and breathless. "M-me neither! I guess we've got that in common!"

Already they're finding parallels! Perfect! Perhaps they read some of the same books, too. She knows by now that it's less likely, alternate universes and such, but she likes to think the most notable works ripple across all realities. Imagine a world without Abe Kobe, Charlotte Bronte, Victor Hugo. Perish the thought.

Then he strikes her unawares. Once again she flounders, scuttles back, glances left and right. The wind isn't fully gone from her sails, but it's still humiliating to admit:

"T-two years..." Barely whispered. As if that would soften the blow. Worse that it's not even her high school uniform, but her middle school one. Humiliation of all humiliations. "But it's not my fault! All right?! There's just been a few d-difficult situations, and I'm...I was..."

Oh boy. Fukawa snaps to the nearest rack, rifling through the offerings of the best discounts Ruby has to offer.

"Well, we're getting new clothes now! So it doesn't matter! How about this?"

She pulls loose another long skirt, no pleats, high waist. Please have mercy on her, sweet prince.