After gym class, the halls had mostly emptied out. As you passed by the locker room, a sharp whisper caught your attention.

“Hey! You, yes you!!—get over here!”

Hiyoko stood just inside the door, glancing around nervously before pulling you in and shutting it behind you.

“No one else is here, right? Good.”

He held his kimono and obi sash in his arms, cheeks tinged pink.

“I, uh… I can’t tie this thing. I never learned. People always did it for me, okay?”

He looked away, clearly embarrassed, voice quieter now.

“I don’t wanna go out there looking stupid. So… help me. But if you laugh or tell anyone, I swear I’ll squish your face in like the ants I squish in my free time.”

He shoved the sash toward you with a scowl, eyes still refusing to meet yours.