Akko complains about how heavy they are, and says she leaves them in her desk and locker. Two other girls come up to them, and talk about how Mariko studies at home, unlike Akko. Akko points out that the two girls, who she calls "Sugi-san" and "Tamamin," leave their books at school too. Sugi says that the books would ruin the shape of her bag, and Tamamin points out that her bag is full (to which Sugi replies that Tamamin's bag is full of manga, and why does she need them all anyway? Tamamin says she never knows when she'll suddenly want to read them). Akko suggests they leave the idiots and head home.
Mariko comments on how close the other three girls are. Akko says that they just got close because they happened to be sitting near each other this term. Tamamin says she's happy for Akko, since Akko--who's in the "make-up test takers" group because she isn't smart--has been wanting to make friends with Mariko for so long. Akko and Mariko blush, and Akko tugs on Tamamin's mouth.
Then Akko has an idea--purikura (a photo booth where you can put cute borders and stuff on the pictures)! Though it's cold outside, it's hot inside the booth, so Sugi suggests they take their coats off and Akko eagerly helps Mariko take hers off.
Sugi proceeds to take her shirt off, too, freaking out the other girls. Sugi points out that she's wearing a cute bra today, but the others aren't swayed. Akko, worried about what Mariko must think about all this, proclaims to her that she (Akko) would never get half-naked in a purikura booth. Sugi says she doesn't get half-naked in purikura booths everyday either--just once in a while. Tamamin asks who she sends the half-naked photos to.
Now that she and Akko are friends, Mariko's gotten used to taking these sorts of detours after school.
The other girls discuss purikura options, but Mariko has no idea what's going on--this purikura machine is completely different from the last one she used. Then Akko comes up and tells her that they're going to take 6 pictures, and to look at the camera over there.
Tamamin complains about the purikura options Sugi chose. Meanwhile, Akko hands Mariko her share of the pictures.
Mariko still finds it a little odd that she's among this group of people--after all, a mere two weeks ago, she'd never spoken to them.
Akko puts some of the purikura on her stuff, calling them a staple of friendship.
"Friendship, huh?" Mariko thinks to herself.
We now discover that Mariko has a brother, who complains that it's gross for her to grin while she's eating.
Mariko's mother comments that she's become more cheerful ever since she cut her hair--she looks like she's enjoying life more. It did startle her when Mariko cut her hair, though. Mariko's brother adds that he thought she must've gotten her heart broken (because of the Japanese cliche of getting a haircut after having one's heart broken). Mariko's mom says that it's cute and suits her well. Of course, hearing that from her mother doesn't really do much for her...
Hearing it from a friend is another matter entirely--it makes her happy. She wonders why that is.
Just then, she gets a message from Akko.
In Akko's message, she asked Mariko to bring something to school, and Mariko did it, though she seems hesitant about it.
Akko calls for Mariko to come over so they can all have lunch together. We then discover what Akko asked Mariko to bring in with her... purikura! The girls are doing a purikura exchange. Bewildered, Mariko just stands there as the others deposit a flurry of purikura in her hands. Then she reveals hers--it's from elementary school, but it was the only one she could find (meaning she lost the others she had). The girls squeal over how cute it is. The other girls all (well, two of them, at any rate) want one. Mariko comments that the others do purika a lot. Akko asks her how old she was when that purikura was taken, and Mariko gets all quiet.
In the train station, Akko asks her if something's wrong.
She thinks Mariko's been looking down since lunch. Mariko laughs it off, but Akko's not convinced. She tentatively asks Mariko if she'd rather read during lunch than sit with her. She's worried that she's being a nuisance to Mariko, and forcing her to sit with her. Shocked, Mariko tells her that's not true at all.
Mariko confesses that the purikura she showed them was the only one she had--she hadn't had one taken in ages. She never really did stuff like that when she was younger. She felt bad that she only had a childhood picture to give the other girls. Akko starts to tell her that it's no big deal, when Mariko cuts in, saying that she was jealous when she saw the other girls' purikura.
They all had so many, and they were wearing so many cute outfits. They were so cute and stylish. Mariko doesn't know much about fashion. Akko just said her clothes were casual, but the truth is that she's hopeless when it comes to that stuff.
Mariko thinks to herself that she's suddenly feeling embarrassed, and she wants to cry.
Akko asks Mariko what time she has dinner. Mariko answers that they have it around eight. Akko says that means Mariko has some time free until then, and proceeds to bring Mariko home with her. Akko's family's apartment is empty. Akko asks Mariko not to mind the mess, and brings her to her bedroom.
Mariko thinks that Akko has some cute stuff, and that it reminds her of a general store.
As Akko pulls clothes from her closet, Mariko asks what she's doing. Akko replies that they're changing, and that the clothes over there are for Mariko. Mariko is shocked.
Akko wants them to dress up in cute, stylish clothes and go take purikura a lot. Mariko starts to protest that she's too plain to wear clothes like this, but Akko just offers to help her change. That convinces Mariko to change on her own. lol
Akko thinks the outfit looks cute on Mariko, but Mariko is worried that it's too short. Not listening to Mariko's reservations, Akko selects more outfits for Mariko to try.
Akko asks Mariko what she thinks of the knit dress--it's Akko's favorite. Mariko says it's cute.
Mariko feels like she's somehow become Akko.
Mariko asks if Akko buys her clothes herself, and Akko says she does. She can't afford to get stuff that's very expensive, so she looks through magazines and looks for similar stuff at cheap stores. Mariko comments that if she wore stuff like this, she could be cute like Akko. Akko feigns modesty.
Mariko asks the name of the magazine. Akko thinks it's CanCan (a takeoff on CanCam). Mariko writes down the name of the magazine and a brand name (Liz Lisa).
Mariko comments that the clothes Akko wore the other day were pink too. Mariko doesn't have any pink clothing, so she'll have to buy some. And some dresses, and miniskirts, and boots like the ones Akko was wearing... Miniskirts aren't really Mariko's thing, but she's going to try...
She trails off as Akko pushes the straps of the dress off her shoulders.
Mariko is bewildered as Akko pulls the dress down to her waist.
Leaning over Mariko, Akko apologizes...
