บท 13: Showtime
The ball was now here. Even after getting better at dancing. The anxious feeling of going through with it, along with being watched by the hundreds of first year students was more than enough to being concern.
Arata stood alone, hoping that his past week's work was enough. Other than learning to dance with Erina, he also put in a lot of time in the past few days teaching Yogi himself. That boy was surprised when he insisted, especially after saying just days ago that he'd never danced.
It was going to be all worth it, for his plan could finally go into action. While there was no guarantee of the votes going his way. He made sure that those two were going into this with the best skills of the attendees.
"Are you ready?" Erina popped up behind him, startling him a little.
"About as ready as I can get." He replied. Standing side-by-side, in a line with the others. The two had agreed to pair up in the beginning. He knew that was the best way to enact his plan. For the second part of this plan, he needed to get her with Yogi as best he could. He could tell the others were thinking of the same thing.
The lights dimmed, they entered the dance floor. It being the stage where they also had their entrance ceremonies, or theatrical plays. Looking out at the crowd, his heart rate jumped up from all the students watching them. It was showtime.
The music, a classical peace, played. The spotlight shone on the dancers. He turned to her. Under this light, her flowing blond hair, the deep blue eyes that shone in the light. Her lavender dress, she was beautiful. But even though he at least understood her, he knew what was inside, was something he'd never fall in love with.
They joined hands, and thus began this school dance. A tradition that spanned generations.
"Say, Arata?" She asked quietly.
"What?"
"Do you think I look good? I worked hard to make this dress." He was impressed, she made that on her own?
"I, um, I think it looks good." He responded, downplaying his real feelings. "I'm sure Yogi will love it."
"Gee, that's great." She beamed with happiness. He sighed, figuring that was what she was after.
Eyeing around the dancers. He determined what was going to be the best play. Seeing Akiba and Akaki, he knew his target. Making his move, he made a skillful trade with the pair. Erina for Akiba. He knew that getting the other girls from Yogi would be smart. Giving Erina a better chance, she just had to take advantage of it.
Being with Akiba now, he was a little nervous. She would be the second girl he had ever danced with in his life.
"So I get to dance with you next." She spoke to him. He wasn't really expecting much talking during this dance. Was this how the others were spending their time?
"Yeah, I guess so." He replied, trying to play it cool. Taking what he'd learned, he tried to predict her moves. Yet, it didn't feel like it was working. With all the toes she was stepping on, this was feeling worse than the first day he had with Erina.
He figured she must not be that great of a dancer. He didn't think that most of the other students here were versed like he was at this point. Still though, it felt like something was off. Even that soft smile she had, which looked wonderful. It just felt like there was something wrong with it.
"I heard from Yogi that you taught him dance." She said to him. It wasn't wrong, the amount of time he spent with him was a bit much. He had insisted to try to keep it secret, mostly because of how embarrassing it was to do it. Guess Yogi didn't get the memo.
"Yeah, you know, you could've asked if you wanted help too." He lied. He knew well that it would go against his plan if he did.
"Yeah, I guess I should've spoke up." Her voice, it sounded strained saying that. He just chalked it up to nervousness. He knew he was feeling that way. He knew they couldn't keep this conversation forever, so looking at the crowd. He saw Erina had already left Akaki.
Now it was his turn. The president made for a good girl to grab. Taking command of his dance, he twirled Akiba over, getting Mesei in return. Just simply getting to dance with a girl like her made his hear skip a beat. At the same time, it felt a little awkward for him, seeing as she stood slightly taller than him.
"So, it's you." She said simply. Not sounding upset, nor excited at this.
"Y-yeah, I guess you could say that." Unlike his previous partner, he was having a much better time with the moves with her.
"You're pretty good at this." She complimented. Sounded like she was used to giving out praise to those she believed deserved.
"Tha-thanks, I've practiced a lot. I see you're pretty good too." He returned the favor, but she didn't seem to react. "You've probably done this a lot."
"No." She replied. He wasn't sure what to make of that short response. "I've never danced with boys before." She was flustered by him. "S-so what. It's not like it's a bad thing."
"What? I never said it was a bad thing. I'm mean, I've never really danced with girls, or even boys, until this week." He thought about what he just said. He didn't think there was anything wrong about what he said. It certainly wasn't meant to be mean if that's what she felt.
"Don't compare me to someone like you." She said. That hurt a bit.
"I was just saying that it's no big deal if this is your first time." He said. Not really understanding why she was getting so defensive. He would've taken what she said more personal, if he believed she actually believed it. "But I guess a nobody like me isn't someone to be taking advice from."
"I'm…" She was about to say something. He wasn't sure what it was going to be, she was struggling with the words. Instead, her next actions took him by surprise.
Taking control of their dance, she moved him to her own steps. Without a choice, he followed. What that got him, was a twirling spin away from her. Not knowing where he was going, or left from right. He stopped quickly, now in the hands of another girl.
She wasn't some girl he recognized, but from her first words, she seemed to know him.
"Wow, I can't believe we get to see each other again." She said to him. He stared at her, not knowing what she meant. She was a bit shorter than him. Given his personal short statue, that made her a pretty small girl. Her auburn orange hair, staying rather undone to her shoulders.
Try as he might, there was just nothing about her that he could remember ever seeing. How did she know him though? He made it a point in recent years to avoid other students, so there shouldn't be a time for anyone to know him.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I know you. You probably have me confused with someone else." He told her, trying to correct what he thought was a misunderstanding.
"Hm? But aren't you Arata?" Unbelievable, this girl knew his first name. But perhaps that was because she saw his name on the listing.
"Yes, that's me all right." He admitted. "But I'm sorry, I don't know your name then." He felt bad that this was the case, but he couldn't just pretend to know her. She would just catch his lie pretty easily.
"Of course you don't. That's because I didn't get to give you my name." She said. Now this was just confusing him. Was this some type of joke? How did he ever meet someone and not get their name?
Not only that, but she was getting rather close. It was getting uncomfortable for him, being like this with what should be a stranger. Her face, so close. It was like someone leaning in for a kiss. His heart wanted to jump out of his chest.
He was saved by an unexpected heroine. Checking nearby, he saw Misao coming over, spinning and bring her partner over to him. Making his move, he let go of the girl. Skillfully moving around Misao's partner, grabbing her hands to get away.
"Thanks." he told her. Happy to be out of that situation. "Who was that?"
"Hm? You mean you don't know who she was?"
"No!" He also realized that he failed to get her name as well. So they might as well have never met in the first place if that was going to be the case. "Looked like she knew me though."
"Odd, I would've thought you would."
"And why would I?"
"Because I believe that was Matsu Kusano. Isn't she a girl in your class?" He stopped to try and think if he would've recognized her. Of course, other than Yogi, he never paid any attention to the rest of his classmates. He might as well be in a different school with how little he noticed anyone else.
"Well I guess I just haven't noticed." he pouted, pretending not to be embarrassed about it.
"It doesn't matter now anyway." Bringing his attention back to what he was actually doing. He wasn't expecting to be sharing a dance with Misao. Her raven hair, cut in a bob, her glasses, her outfit. He never really paid attention until now, but she was quite a beauty herself. "Is something the matter?" She asked, snapping him back to life.
"N-nothing, it's fine." He said, turning his head away from her.
"Really? Well I won't pursue it then. I do have to say though, you're quite a skilled dancer." She complimented him. "I never pictured you to be the type."
"Well, until this week I wasn't." He answered honestly.
"Modest huh? Well I guess you really aren't that bad after all." She said, and with her closing words, came the end of the May Dance. The lights came on, and with it applause from the crowd. It appears that this year was an enjoyable one for the students.
"So it's finally over huh?" He said, the dancers taking their bows and curtsies in respect to the cheers of the crowd. "I wonder who will win?" He hoped that the practice he gave to Yogi was enough to push the boy over. Also, was Erina able to secure it for herself?
"I don't know." She replied. "I guess I wouldn't mind winning it with you though."
"Huh?!" he said, taken aback a little.
"I'm just teasing. Obviously I want Yogi and Misei to win." She smiled at him. "You get flustered pretty easily."
"Well of course if you say things like that." He countered. Everyone went backstage, impatiently waiting for the result. They group found each other and were standing together.
"Oh…" Erina spoke as if she was in a dream. "I got to dance with Yogi." He smiled, he was glad that she at least got that much. Perhaps this was also another step closer to getting out of the trap he found himself in.
"Ha, it's not that special. So did I." Misei commented. It sounded like she was bragging about it.
"Uh, that sounds good." He said. He noticed that Akiba was rather quiet. "Hey, Shinshiro, did you get the chance to dance with Yogi?"
"No…" She answered meekly. "I didn't, but it's okay." She smiled at him, trying to show that it wasn't a big deal. But he already knew that it was important for her. It made him feel a little bad, but he was planning on keeping the others away from Yogi, so it looked like it somewhat worked out.
"Lucky you." Yuriko came in. "I got stuck with him at the start." He knew she wouldn't admit it, but she was probably grateful she didn't have to work to try and dance with him.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that." Yogi apologized for something that really wasn't his fault. "If we get the chance, I'll make sure you get to dance with me." He offered. Arata was sure she'd appreciate it, even if it was a bit of a consolation prize this time.
"Can the dancers please come out one more time. The votes have been counted." An announcement was made, prompting them to end their conversation to head back for the last part of this event.
Having no control on the outcome made his body fill with anxiousness. Even for anyone here without any ulterior motives were probably just as nervous as him. Just for different reasons.
"So for the girls' winner, and the queen of the dance…" The announcer paused. The moment felt like an eternity. Please say it already, he thought. This isn't some show waiting for a commercial. "Erina Hayama!" The crowd clapped in applause. He couldn't believe, this might actually work out for him.
"Awesome!" Erina said, rushing up to the middle. Basking in the attention, and hopeful for who was going to win beside her.
"Nice." He said to himself. "Now we just need Yogi then."
"And now for the winner of the boys." The announcer spoke up once again. "And for a surprise this time, the winner was near unanimous." Really, that popular? Wow, the first years must've been really impressed with them, but was it who he was hoping it was going to be.
"Whoever did it must be a really good dancer." He leaned over to Yogi, subtly giving him a compliment.
"And the king of the dance is…" He paused in the same way. This time Arata wasn't feeling as worried, at least until he heard the answer. "Arata Kashimura!"
"What?!" He yelled out, almost over shadowed by the cheering of the crowd. He ran up to the man on the mic. "How? Why me?" He asked. There was no way he could've won. This felt like a dream, or a nightmare? Where would something like this even fit in?
"Oh, it shouldn't be a surprise." The announcer, a teacher, told him. "The control you had on the dance floor, the way you made others look so much better." He couldn't believe it. Him enacting his plan impressed the audience. Even the teacher was in tears as he was describing it.
"What is this?" Erina asked him, visibly upset.
"It's not my fault. I wasn't going out of my way to win this." He defended himself.
"Now please everyone. Let's give one last dance for our two winners." The lights dimmed once more.
"So we really can't get out of this one." He sighed. "How bothersome."
"Well, here goes." They joined hands, sharing one last dance. After all the practice they've put in. He had to say, seeing it from other people's point of view. He could see why they voted the two in.
"You know I was asked who I wanted to win this whole thing at the start of the week." He said. "I didn't answer then, but I guess I'm fine it's with you."
"Funny, I was asked the same thing. I said Yogi." She smiled at him. He rolled his eyes in response. "But I guess you make for a fine second choice." She muttered under her breath, not clear enough for him to hear.
"Huh?"
"Nothing, let's just enjoy this." And thus, they finished their dance, marking the end of a successful school event for the students. They bowed to the crowd, expressing their gratitude to the audience for their time, and their praise.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง