Chapter 5: Communication is Key

Syo built up all the courage to ask Nerdz out. She'd take her out today to do something romantic. It would be like a fairy tale puppet show that Nerdz would always watch as a filly. Syo knew what Nerdz was into. She sure did. Playing the moments in her head on loop over and over again. She had even made a special request. Syo would approach Nerdz, ask her out on a date and then they'd... date..?

Suddenly anxiety started to crack the courage walls Syo had made in her head. What if she messed up?! What if Nerdz said no?! WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF SHE SAYS YES THEN THE DATE FAILS?! Syo's head was filled with the negatives of asking her crush out. She needed more time? No, no! No more waiting. What if the feeling goes away, you need to live in the moment!

Her breath ran quick. Her heart pounded. Hours of thinking and planning it out perfectly in her head wasn't going to work, these things never work. Syo's eyes caught gaze of Nerdz who was trotting over to her.

Nerdz finished early today and she was running out of times. It was now or never. "Hiya!" Nerdz greeted Syo with a cheerful glow upon her face.

Syo think, think, think, think, think, think....

"WANNA GO OUT?" she blurted out without any thought. Syo gasped after she finished speaking realizing what she said. But instead of rejection she was given a positive response.

"Sure, where too?" Nerdz replied with a hopeful look.

Once again, Syo was placed in a situation filled where she had to do something. "F-follow me!" she muttered, grabbing Nerdz' hoof blushing lightly. Nerdz' face also lit with a light pink tint.

Syo let her 'date' down the street, passing by multiple color filled buildings and to a little cafe. It was small but quiet popular for it's brand. "Is this a princess cafe?" Nerdz asked Syo who was red completely.

"Y-yeah... This is a popular and one of my co-workers designed their outfits so I can come here whenever, have you been to one?" Syo explained. Nerdz shook her head. "You're in for a treat. They have lovely things here come on." The white pegasus held out her hoof out for the yellow one and she gladly took it.

Leading Nerdz inside she saw multiple ponies of different kinds all dressed up in fancy dresses serving mares and stallions, talking fancy and preforming on stage for them. The manage saw Syo and let her and her 'date' to a seat reserved. A small corner seat, a table for two. A cute little pink candle that lightened the mood and let off a sweetened scent.

"This is really pretty..." Nerdz looked around in awe. Her eyes showing a special sparkle that made Syo's heart flutter. "Are you sure you can afford this stuff? I hear it's pricey when it comes to the bill. I don't wanna over spend." a concerned look appeared.

Syo panicked. "No, don't worry about it! I know these ponies, plus I can pay for the bill. This is like a thank you for giving me the muffin today and trapping me with a teacher." she winked at Nerdz.

Nerdz on the other hand simply laughed. "Aww, you're so adorable!" Syo looked away and blushed deeply. "Anyways, I'm sorry I stuck you Guntaka. He's a real handful and since I noticed you were sleepy I told him to give you food. Plus I said you were magical and he didn't believe me. I get to show you off now!" A playful grin appeared on the yellow pegasai's face.

Before the playful banter could continue the two mares were greeted by their prince...princess? Before them was SJ in a princess dress. "How may I help you today my queens?" he said in a non-enthusiastic voice. His blue pegasus wings stood at the side of his frilly dress, he still wore his sunglasses a top his head but his hair was curled into a simple but fancy design.

"SJ?" Syo said in surprise.

SJ looked directly at Syo and Nerdz and recognized them. "W-what the?! What are you both doing here?!" Both mares blushed deeply unsure how to reply.

"Why are you in a dress?" Syo pointed out to draw him away from his question.

The stallion looked at the too mares and sighed. "They ran out of Stallion Uniforms and they only had dresses. Do me a favor, if you keep this a secret from the others I'll keep the whole you both being in here a secret." SJ sighed, face-hoofing.

The two mares agreed to keep their co-worker's dress secret and he promised not to tell the others they were in a princess cafe in the first place.

Nerdz happily took a sip from her iced-cider while Syo just had some grape soda. The two enjoyed some puddings and they watched SJ in a dress approach other guests and the 'princess' ponies preform. The feeling was like a date; but it wasn't. This wasn't a real date, at least not yet.

Once finished, Syo paid the bill and dragged Nerdz off to the next location. The sun was near to setting as they were in the cafe for almost five hours they rushed to the final location. A fancy boutique stood grand and tall before Nerdz and Syo. Her eyes scanned the entire thing in pure amazement. "Ready?" Syo asked. Nerdz with an excited look upon her face nodded and they walked inside. Once inside they were greeted by Minty Pad.

"Hi, Syo!" she bounced, she took a look at Nerdz. "Ah you're Miss Nerdz. I'm glad you both got here before closing. I was worried I might of had to keep open long! Come on in. Miss Nerdz I'll show you to the change room." Minty wrapped her wing around Nerdz leading her into the change room.

Nerdz was pushed into the change room and Syo stood in the store standing near the stage display where the change rooms lead. In only minutes the lights turned on. A hue of pink, blue, and purple appeared.

From the backside of the stage out came Nerdz. A pin of her cutie mark on her ear and hair, a silky and shiny dress made from various purple shades that sparkled in the light. The front chest was shades of magenta and her cutie mark was delicately sewn on the front. Her hair curled a little less than normal. She was completely stunning.

She blushed lightly. "D-Did you make this design....?" she said aloud looking directly at Syo.

Syo simply smiled. "I just sketched it, Minty made it. I work here, I put the order in this morning with another surprise actually." Minty Pad handed Syo a pink and black striped bag, Syo pulled out a cloth, unfolding it to reveal it was an apron. "It's the aprons I made for you and Mr. Souda, so surprise!" Syo eyes were heartfelt.

Nerdz walked down from the stage, and hugged Syo tightly. "Thank you. This is was so sweet." Resting her head on Syo's wing. Syo wrapped her other wing around Nerdz.

"It's not a big deal. I just wanted tonight to be special for you." Syo whispered.

Held in Syo's embrace Nerdz slid out. "Why is that?" she asked with a bit of confusion in her voice.

Syo was ready, this was the moment. Just tell her, tell her how you feel. The feeling was there the entire 'date' and her heart was pounding. Face red, her wings fluttered a bit in nervousness.

"I love you."

Syo said with a bit of a squeak.

Nerdz blushed, but it vanished in seconds. "Aw. I love you too!" she hugged Syo. "You're such a good friend." Friend. Friend. Friend. Syo planed this day for Nerdz and she ended it with 'friend' Syo felt a bit heartbroken but brushed the feeling away.

She laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, ah aha... Well let's go I'll take you home." Syo offered and Nerdz happily accepted. She trotted to the change room to get out of the dress.

Syo sat down on the cold floor in defeat. Minty walked over to Syo and patted her back with her wing. "You feeling alright? I know that you wanted her to react differently but I think she didn't under-" Syo cut Minty off.

Light tears flowed down her face. "I- I'm not entirely sure what I thought. Perhaps I was being to optimistic. Today was fun, yeah I won't lie. But I guess without knowing it was a 'date' she would see it as any other day. You can't call that a date can you?" She turned and faced Minty. "Thanks again for making the dress and apron in such a short amount of time. I understand you couldn't have done much but I appreciate it." She thanked. Pushing Minty's wing off her back and walking outside to wait for Nerdz.

Once Nerdz finished changing Syo took her home then flew home herself. Not saying anything romantic, just their simple goodbye's and off to her apartment. Walking up the stairs and into her room. She noticed the puppet of Nerdz sat on the floor in front of the door as if it was waiting for her to come home. Unhappy, Syo kicked the puppet to the side and taking a seat on the couch before sprawling across and falling asleep. Tears in her eyes due to a failed 'Date'

"This wasn't mean't to happen was it..." she muttered to herself quietly.