Dance For Me, Keiji

The Precious but Perilous Past

A young boy with hair as dark as night peeked out of the corner by the wall.

"..and pliet.."

He watched as the dancers bent their knees to the move, their arms dipping gracefully.

His eyes as pale and green as grass blink occasionally, mesmerized by the way they swayed to the music with confidence and poise.

"..raise your arms, Yuki.."

He listened to the music, and tapped his feet to the beat, so lost in his thoughts that he had failed to notice the assistant coach sneak up on him from behind until he felt the hands on both his shoulders.

He jumped, gasping in surprise.
He swiveled around.
"I-im so s-sorry ma'am I d-didn't meant t-to intrude-"

The teacher laughed, cutting off his rambled apology.
His cheeks dust red in embarrassment.
"It's alright," she says, a smile on her face. She looks past him and watches the dancers dip a bow.

"Say, do you like to dance?" She asks him, her hands still resting on his shoulders.
He blinks.

Then he nods.
"I do," he says. "I like to dance"

She doesn't respond to his answer, still watching the students.
"How strange," she hums. "Boys like you normally prefer to play sports outside on the field"

Akaashi Keiji only watches her with an owlish gaze.

"Do you want to dance?"

"Yes"

The assistant coach began to guide him by the shoulders, pushing him out of his hiding spot.

"W-what.." he trailed off as the girls snapped their gazes on him.

He looked up at the teacher with questioning eyes.

"You said you wanted to dance, little swan," she prods him forward gently, and into the group of dancers.

"..then go"

The girls crowd around him, babbling about-

"He's so pretty!"
"Right? His skin is so pale.."
"The boys in my class are all tan from playing outside too much-"
"Do you play outside too?"

One of the girls smile at him, offering her hand. "Hi, I'm Yuki, what's your name?"

He shakes it hesitantly.
"K-Keiji," he stammers.

"We've never had a boy here before" Yuki says, crossing her arms. "They say dancing is for weak people that can't play sports"

She narrows her eyes at him.
"Do you think we're weak too-"

"NO!" he accidentally yells.
They look at him with wide eyes, surprised at the outburst.

"N-no" he repeats, softer, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck.

"I think dancing is cool," he says, giving them a shy smile.

One of the girls stare at him, dazed.
"Even his smile is so pretty".

He blushes all the way to his ears.

//

His classmates laughed as they crushed his lunch under their shoes.