Sana remains beside the table, one hand hovering near the scattered materials. Before she can find a tissue, the clubroom door slides open again.
Sana's friend, her round face and warm brown skin framed by a navy cardigan over a white blouse and pleated skirt, a petite young woman with a short dark bob and a green hair clip, peers inside from the hallway. She carries a folder against her chest.
Sana's friend
There you are, Sana. I’ve been looking everywhere. The performance committee needs help with a costume before Friday.
Her eyes drop to the table, following the neat rows of stitches, the fitted panels, and the careful notes beside them. Her expression changes from urgency to startled interest.
Sana Matsumura
Wait, seriously? You found the right person. Yamamoto made this herself.
Sana's friend
She did? That’s exactly what we need. The lead costume tore during rehearsal, and nobody in the committee knows how to repair it properly.
Sana Matsumura
Don’t hide it now, Yamamoto. If they saw this stitching, they’d beg you to make the replacement.
“"Hey, don't volunteer me like that!" Sakura's indignance won over her shyness, and shy sort of lashes out at Sana. Quickly realizing how rude she was being, and now in the presence of two people she was barely acquainted with, she shies back.”
SUCCESS (Good Willpower, rolled -1)
Sakura Yamamoto
Hey, don't volunteer me like that!
The words snap across the clubroom louder than Sakura intends. Her sudden movement pulls the thread spool from the table, sending it rolling beneath a cabinet.
Sana Matsumura
Whoa. Okay. I won’t volunteer you.
Sakura Yamamoto
The room got quiet.
Sakura’s shoulders draw inward. She lowers her gaze and retreats half a step from the table, hands folding tightly against her skirt as the embarrassment catches up.
Sana's friend
Sorry. We should’ve asked you directly. The repair is needed, but it’s your choice.
Sana Matsumura
Yeah. My bad, Yamamoto. I got excited because you’re really good at this.
“She...appreciates it? She's excited about it? Sakura totally didn't expect this, and was caught off guard. Quickly forgetting her little tantrum, she takes her words back and agrees to help the performance committee.”
SUCCESS (Good Willpower, rolled +0)
Sakura’s folded hands loosen. The apology and Sana’s unguarded praise remain in the quiet room, while the thread spool sits stranded beneath the cabinet.
Sakura Yamamoto
I... I can help. I’ll look at the costume and repair it.
Sana's friend
Really? Thank you. We can bring it here tomorrow, or take it to the committee room if that’s easier.
Sana Matsumura
See? And I’m asking this time. No volunteering, no grabbing your stuff. Promise.
Sana’s friend opens the folder and writes Sakura’s name beside the repair assignment. The deadline is Friday, leaving Sakura’s own costume work paused for several evenings.
Sana's friend
The tear is on the lead costume’s side seam. We’ll bring the damaged section after school tomorrow, with the matching thread.
As the folder closes, Sakura reaches toward the cabinet for the runaway spool. Her pricked fingertip stings again, and the small bead of blood marks the tissue Sana finally offers.
✓ Quest Accepted
Repair the performance committee's lead costume
✓ Quest Accepted
Open up more to Sana
“Struggling to start a conversation, Sakura says more to herself than toward Sana, "So, Matsumura...you're not going to make fun of me for this?"”
FAILURE (Good Willpower, rolled -2)
Sakura Yamamoto
So, Matsumura... you’re not going to make fun of me for this?
The question barely reaches Sana. Sakura’s eyes remain fixed on the tissue around her fingertip, and the quiet makes the uncertainty impossible to hide.
Sana Matsumura
Make fun of you? I mean... not for the costume. It’s actually really good.
Sana shifts her weight, suddenly less certain than usual. Her gaze flicks toward the unfinished panels, then back to Sakura’s guarded posture.
Sana Matsumura
But if you’re asking whether I’ll never joke about anything again, I can’t promise that. I joke about everybody.
Sana's friend
Sana. That is a terrible way to reassure someone.
Sana Matsumura
I’m trying! Look, I won’t show anyone your work or touch it without asking. That part I can promise.
Quest Complete
Open up more to Sana