Akko has a lot on her mind--why Akko could be apologizing, her state of undress, their positions... but more importantly, she notices that Akko has long eyelashes.
Mariko's heart is pounding. She thinks to herself that this is like a scene out of a manga. lol She also wonders if Akko is wearing a little makeup. She never noticed before, since she never got the chance to examine Akko's face close-up before.
"Mari-chan?" Akko asks. Mariko jumps back, apologizing. Akko points out that she's the one who's apologizing here, and says she's sorry again. Mariko asks what she's apologizing for. Akko bursts out laughing.
Akko says Mariko really is cute. Mariko thinks to herself that Akko is cute. Akko apologizes yet again, saying she's "done it again." Mariko is still confused. Akko says that Tamamin and Sugi warned her about it before. We then get a flashback scene.
Tamamin is surprised to hear that Akko was responsible for Mariko's haircut. Akko is quite pleased with herself, but Tamamin thinks Akko went a little too far. Akko says Mariko didn't mind the haircut, but Tamamin points out that Mariko is quiet and so might be the sort of person who has trouble saying no. Tamamin says that she can't speak for Mariko, but she, Tamamin, would need a lot of courage to hack that much hair off.
Back in the present, Akko says that she was in such high spirits that she unconsciously pushed her own preferences on Mariko that day they got their hair cut, and that she's done it again today. Mariko protests Akko's words. Mariko likes her current hairstyle, and she's glad she got her hair cut. She's enjoying trying these clothes on, since she's never worn stuff like this before.
Akko says that she's been having fun playing dress-up with Mariko, but that she doesn't necessarily want Mariko to dress exactly like her.
Akko says that while Mariko looks cute in these clothes, they don't feel like they're Mariko's style.
Mariko's underwear, cleavage, and bra are showing.
Akko doesn't mind showing some skin when she's wearing that dress, but...
Akko asks Mariko what sort of clothes she wants to wear and what sort of clothes she likes. The question seems to surprise Mariko, who doesn't respond. So Akko has an idea...
That weekend, the four friends go shopping in Shibuya after school. Sugi comments that Tamamin can waste her money if she wants, but she, Sugi, is just going to see what's out there. Akko explains to Mariko that a sale is coming up soon.
Sugi asks where they want to start, adding that they can hit the "weird bookstore" (where Tamamin buys her manga, no doubt) last. Tamamin replies that she's not going there today. Mariko, of course, has no clue what's going on with that. lol
Sugi comments that the shops are really tempting at this time of year, since there are so many cute winter outfits.
In an aside, Akko informs Mariko that Sugi's proud of her beautiful legs.
Tamamin says it's shocking that these things will be half off in the upcoming sale. She might wait and not buy stuff today. Akko says they have to check out tons of places today, because where you go first on the first day of sales is super-important.
The girls take a quick break--Akko's tired from all that walking.
Akko brings up the subject of where they should go next, but Sugi and Tamamin hesitate... It turns out they both bought stuff, contrary to what they said before. They've changed their tune--now they're saying that they didn't want to take the chance that they'd miss out on getting the clothes they wanted.
Mariko thinks to herself that the two girls seem to be having fun--trying on clothes, wavering and agonizing over whether to get them, getting all excited, etc. She's envious of them, and wonders if she'll find clothing she can feel that way about too.
Sugi and Tamamin both suddenly have to leave--one has to get to her part-time job, and the other has a tutor coming today. They both apologize and run off, leaving Akko and Mariko alone. Akko suggests that they go check out a bunch more stores.
Mariko comments that Akko, Sugi, and Tamamin all have slightly different tastes in clothing. Akko agrees, and says that's why they don't usually go clothes shopping together--they like to go to different stores, so it takes a lot of time when they go shopping together.
Akko continues on, saying that it's fun to go shopping with them once in a while, and she gets to look at clothes she normally wouldn't. She says that if they go to a lot of stores, maybe Mariko will find a type of clothing she likes. This leads Mariko to wonder if this shopping trip was for the others to help her find clothes she liked.
Akko tells Mari that whenever she buys new clothes, she stays up all night having her own personal fashion show, trying on the new stuff with all the old stuff. It's a nightmare to clean up afterwards, too, since there are clothes strewn over the whole room. But, Akko adds, being allowed to wear tons of cute clothes is one of the perks of being a girl, right? Akko suggests that they dress up and go take tons of purikura and cell phone pictures.
Mariko's mother comments on how late she is getting home. Mariko asks if she can talk to her about something.
Mariko asks her mother when she's next going to go clothes shopping for her. She then asks if she can come along and pick out her own clothes. Her mother says yes, then notices the bag Mariko's carrying and asks if it's clothing Mariko bought herself. Mariko confirms that it is, and her mother asks what sort of thing she got. Her mother then suggests that she give Mariko money to go out and buy her own clothes, since that would make things easier for her (Mariko's mother) too. Mariko agrees, and thanks her.
As Mariko runs up the stairs, her mom tells her that dinner's ready. Mariko's father wonders at his wife's pensive silence, and she informs him that she thinks Mariko might have fallen in love with a boy recently. This seems to come as a nasty shock to him. lol
In the narration, Mariko tells us that today, she bought clothing for herself for the first time in her life. It was 2980 yen, though (about $25 US). It's the one she most liked out of the stuff she saw today... probably.
We see a flashback of Akko telling Mariko that it's cute, it'll go with denim, and it's Mariko's style.
Back in the present, Mariko wonders what she should wear with it. She could wear a denim skirt with it, and maybe a turtleneck, and wear a coat over the top... And she'll have her mother buy her some shoes soon.
That night, Mariko had a fashion show in her dreams.
