Sneakers En Pointe

Chapter Ten: Akira Iori

  We knew Setsuna for some time now. So it was okay to ask her to help us, right? Not like we're actually gonna make her do work or anything, I just... I had to get to her somehow. I don't know why, but I have to.

  "Don't drop her!" Remy cried. "Poor fragile doll..."

  "I'm not fragile!" Aoi said. Hinata was grinning as he held her on his shoulders so she could pin up a banner.

   "Raikou, you be careful too!" Michio scolded.

  The smaller boy paused mid-cartwheel on the stage before falling over, giggling.

  I sighed myself but couldn't help but relax a bit too. It was nice to be out with the guys and away from the suffocating atmosphere at home.

  Orochi and Remy were racing around the theater, seeing who could vacuum the fastest, and Levi was double checking the green room with me to make sure it was cleaned and stocked with snacks and water. Everything looked pretty good...

  "Hey, Setsuna, what's the song you're using for your piece?" I asked, jogging up to the sound booth.

  She grinned over her shoulder as she sat cross legged on the stage, facing the back. "It's a secret. You're coming to watch, aren't you?"

  "I'll even bring you roses." Pure white roses and violets would look beautiful in her hair. "Why? Need my support?"

  She flicked her hair and stood up. "Tch. I don't need anything from anyone... Would be nice though, since you dragged me out here to help set up." That sassy little smirk on her face was still there, and it was driving me crazy. "Can you play something with a beat? Michio, you dance, right?"

  She extended her arm and I felt a twinge of jealousy as Michio smirked and went to join her center stage. "Yep. I'm an upper level though, think you can keep up?" He laughed, ignoring that icy glare Setsuna was shooting at him. "I don't do much ballet though, it's optional once you reach Alto II. You're in the Treble levels, right?"

  Aoi arched to stretch her back as I scrolled through my playlist for something those two could dance too. I knew Aoi could dance to anything, you could see how it came so naturally to her. As for Michio... He was quite aggressive in his dancing. I wonder if they could actually work together.

  "I guess you could say she's... A Treble Maker?" Raikou said, hoping up in the sound booth with me. He plugged his phone into the system and hit play. "This will be perfect," he whispered, leaning against the wall.

  The rest of them took a seat in the audience, quieting down.

  "Don't drop me, alright?" Aoi teased Michio.

  The song started off slow, the two of them on the stage, facing the back. But as soon as the drums were heard, Aoi launched herself in the air, completely trusting Michio. He caught her as she posed, arms out, then stepped forward, grinning as she did some kind of tutting routine. Michio just gaped at her as he did the exact thing, although he stumbled a bit.

  "We just learned this combination today. How do you know it?" He asked.

  Aoi threw in a high kick then gracefully twirled to the side of the stage. "Those mirrors you guys use in your class are double sided... Though you were an upper level, huh? Keep up."

  I bit back a smile as I saw Michio blink in surprise. This girl was amazing. But never one to back down from a challenge, Michio turned back forward in confidence, somehow matching more hardcore moves to such a slow lovesong...

  That was the difference between Aoi and other dancers. Michio may be very talented, being able to incorporate crazy flips and things into his dances and such. But he moved to the music. Aoi let the music move her.

 I almost didn't want to stop watching the two dance. But the song ended, and Michio brushed his hair back, coughing as he tried to catch his breath while Aoi lightly hopped down from the stage, barely breaking a sweat. "Damn... You're really good, Aoi. Why don't they move you up already?"

  Aoi curtsied. "Thank you. You're pretty good too. You gotta teach me that layout later... And actually, I think it's because I haven't had much dance background. I mean everyone in my class has been training since, what, three?" She shrugged and threw her hair up in a bun. How do girls even do that?  How do they look GOOD like that? If a guy tried to pull that off, he'd look sloppy...

  "You mean you've never taken dance classes until you got here?" Remy asked, tossing Aoi a water bottle.

  Aoi shook her head and caught the bottle, taking a sip before recapping it and tossing it to Michio who looked like he needed it more.

 "Guess it's just natural talent then, huh?" I offered my hand to her and she took it, no longer hesitating. She let me waltz her around the theater for a bit before she leaned in close.

  I leaned in as well, groaning inwardly at how my stupid heart fluttered in responce, but then I heard her whisper, "I'm kinda hungry. Could we go eat now?" I rolled my eyes as hers lit up in amusement. "You thought I was gonna kiss you, huh?"

  I looked away and pulled one of my hands away from her as I called the boys over so we could head over to the café and eat. I wasn't gonna answer that question. But still... We kept our hands linked as we headed down the halls and up to the school café that was once an empty room that a few random kids used as a hiding spot.

  We've come so far since that day. And not too long ago, we welcomed a new member into our little circle. But soon, she'd be mine and only mine.

Wow I need to update more! Thank you to all who have been reading until this far ^.^
The song Aoi and Michio danced to is linked above, so check that out, I really love that remix hah.
All comments/votes/shares are appreciateted, thank you so much!