My new Neighbor's an Idol!?

Dance-off

This little trip to the arcade certainly had been enlightening to Ishi. As in more trouble than it was worth for his cousin.

"I wonder when people are going to get privy to you being here?" He commented to Rinse as they wandered around. "Because when that happens, I'd like to not be standing next to you."

"Usually that only happens after a half hour when I show up to a public place." She answered. It sounded normal to her, but to him that type of life sounded absolutely dreadful. Who would want to be recognized everywhere? Though the irony here is that Ishi was also rather well known in town. Just that most people took that to not talk with him unless necessary. "I wonder what we should be doing next?" she wondered out loud, then noticed something about her relationship with Ishi.

When did they get so comfortable with each other?

Here she was hanging out with a boy her age. Something that the girl had never done since turning into her teens years. Shouldn't this be something that breeds more anxiety inside of her? Was this because they weren't actually friends, or perhaps, did they just grow into this naturally?

"Ooh, ooh!" Koto raised his hands as if he was in class. "You should try out the dancing machine." He really wanted to see her dancing in person, so that was a great excuse for him to make the suggestion. "The one here is real special."

"He's not exaggerating." Ishi agreed for once. "It's not the type with those four steps. It's a flat board with circles across that you step on for the moves." A different way to describe the machine was to think of the popular game, 'Uso'. Where players click on circles on the screens to the beat of a song. "But seriously, just because you're an idol doesn't mean you always gotta be dancing."

"But I love dancing." She responded by twirling on her foot in a circle. "How else did you think I became an idol?"

"Just wanted to make sure, that's all." He wasn't going to fight her. A part of him felt a little bad that people kept asking her to do this on account of her profession. But at the same time, she seemed to want to always please. "Go ahead, but Koto please be more careful this time." That boy ended up spraining his ankle the last time they played on this.

"Don't worry, now come on Rinse." He dragged her on top of the dance floor. The boy was just so excited that he forgot about the people around them as he selected one of the songs available.

"Hey look, isn't that Rinse Hattori?" Someone took note of the rare sight. Of course getting a performance from anyone known for dancing would garner a crowd. In response to their interest, she gave them her trademark warm smile as the notes began to play.

Besides her was Koto who was elated to be able to have this chance to share a dance with an idol as their feet moved to the rhythm. This was a different experience than she was used to, having to react to the circles as they came compared to her rehearsed performances. Of course, a little improvisation wasn't a mystery to her so this came easy.

Ishi stood towards the back of the crowd, arms crossed, watching the two of them having the time of their lives. That girl really was something else. He could tell how happy she was to put on a show and a smile for everyone. This wasn't like before back at the beach.

"So this is your true form." He commented to himself, knowing that no one else would understand what he saw. This performance was so much fun that everyone was getting lost in the moment. Even though it wasn't supposed to be a game with singing, Rinse did start singing along with the lyrics.

To him, it really was hard to separate her livelihood from her personal self. Especially when she'd pull something like this out, making an impromptu concert out of thing air. That girl really was someone special, and somehow this was also his neighbor.