[quote=@Viciousmarrow]
Leaving after Mirai, the Frenchman practically threw himself into his mother’s Camry, igniting the engine while he held his phone in the other hand.

[i][color=6ecff6]‘I’ll be there in 5! Sorry for being so late! I had to meet with a babysitter.’[/color][/i] he texts Shizuka, hurrying himself over to the college. [@Stern Algorithm]
[/quote]

[color=a187be]"Don't worry, I'm still getting ready.  Drive safe,"[/color] Shizuka texted back.  She had her kimono on and looked at herself in the mirror. It was nice and modest, and there was nothing out of the ordinary.  Then she took a deep breath, and gathered her shoulder-length hair together with hairpins in order to put on her ridiculous video game character helmet.  Looking back in the mirror, Shizuka could have died from embarrassment: she looked like a bald robot cyclops wearing a kimono.  She wondered if seeing her in this getup would make Alban have second thoughts about taking her to the ball.  Yet something in Shizuka made the whole situation seem hilarious, there was something liberating about wearing a mask: a guiltless, shameless anonymity.  Taking one last look at the helmet instructions, she noticed that the piece covering the mouth was in two parts that could be slid to the sides; a useful function so she could eat and drink without taking the helmet off.  Sliding the mouthpiece closed again, Shizuka regained her composure, made sure she didn't leave behind anything important, and headed out to the street where Alban would pick her up.

When a car arrived with a dressed-up man up driving, she texted just to make sure it was Alban.  When he replied in the affirmative, she waved at him and approached.  She thought that his outfit, while somewhat extravagant, was more festive than gaudy; certainly a lot more tasteful than what she had on.  [color=a187be]"I-I'm sorry...I didn't have a mask and this...I won it at a raffle at the Arcade...I hope you don't mind, but if it's humiliating I can..."[/color] Shizuka wasn't sure how to continue.  If he wanted, she would leave, besides, he was sure to find someone else at the ball.