Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Yumehara flitted excitedly from desk to desk, dropping off a paper at each one. As the students read it one by one, chatter filled the room.

“What’s a sweetheart dance?”

“Isn’t it like a party? I think I saw it in a movie once or something.”

“Only the girls get tickets and boys have to be asked? I’m never going.”

Minds too hummed with girls plans to ask out their crush, and guys plotting to get invited. Saiki was going to get a headache.

This all started last week, when Yumehara was watching an american movie that had a “sweetheart dance.” She had the bright idea of convincing PK’s board to host one. They didn’t agree at first, but after over two hours of convincing they approved it.

This would certainly be a bother, but not one Saiki hadn’t dealt with before. In fact, he’s dealt with it twice.

The first time was Auira Mikoto, who decided their school needed a prom. Her mind kept scheming about getting him to go with her and other events of the night equally unappealing. So Saiki made the executive decision to turn back time and make Mikoto promise not to do it again.

The second time was none other than Kokomi Teruhashi herself. She came to the school board with the idea and they agreed enthusiastically. This was much more of a pain to undo, as it involved several individual events where Saiki had to erase each person’s memory.

But Saiki knew now the universe’s determination for this dance is unyielding. It’s bound to happen at some point. He may as well let it be now. 

It’s not like he had to go to it anyway. He would stay at home, and maybe reward himself with a coffee jelly for the inconvenience.

Chapter Text

A random lottery tasked Hiroshi Satou and Hii Suzumiya with organizing and decorating the dance, respectively.

The main problem: neither of them knew what a dance was supposed to be like.

They sat in the library staring blankly at a piece of paper. It was just Suzumiya’s luck that she would be tasked with decorating for something she didn’t understand. Art was once one of her hobbies before one too many accidents involving construction paper and craft scissors. She was cursed with bad luck, but today she was going to power through it. Right after she figured out what she was supposed to do.

Satou asked her, “Do you know what we’re supposed to be doing here?”

Hii sighed. “Honestly, no. I’m not allowed to watch American shows. The last time I did I caused one to be canceled.”

Satou looked confused for a second before nodding slowly. “I’ve never seen anything like it either.”

The bell rang, signaling the end of that day’s planning period. They had only three months, and they were going to fly by. With Suzumiya’s luck, she’d slip on a banana peel and fall unconscious until the day befpre. Weirdly enough, her bad luck wasn’t quite acting up right now as it usually did, but it could strike at any moment.

“Gotta go,” she said.

She was halfway pulling her heavy backpack onto her shoulders when Satou called out.

“Wait!” 

She turned around and noticed him looking down. “If you want, we can come to my house and research together.”

Suzumiya was immediately surprised by the offer. No one ever invited her places, due to her reputation. She supposed that maybe she would have better luck while planning with him rather than at home, so with a smile she accepted his offer.

———

Satou didn’t know why he suggested to research at his house. He guessed it had something to do with Suzumiya. She was unpredictable, and it brought him out of his usually mundane life.

However, that also meant that he now had to figure out what to research. He had no American movies at home, nor books to reference. The whole thing put him into a mild panic by the time that Suzumiya arrived.

“Come in,” he said. He held the door open as she walked in.  Her hair was completely messed up and she looked a bit stressed. “What happened to you?”

“Oh, I, uh- never mind. This kind of thing always happens. Anyway, how do you want to study?”

Satou thought for a few seconds in vain before admitting he had no idea. To his surprise, his companion smiled.

“Good! Well, bad I guess, but it’s okay since I came prepared. I brought some movies with american dances in them.”

She set down her backpack and drew out three movies. He noticed she also kept at least two of every medical supply in there, including epipens, first aid kits, and fully frozen ice packs. “I’ve always wondered why your backpack is so heavy.”

Suzumiya tried and failed to cover her smile by digging through her backpack more. “With a life like mine, you learn to be prepared for literally anything.”

With that figured out, the two sat down on opposite ends of a long couch. They began to play the movie when he noticed another problem. “There’s no subtitles, and I don’t speak English.”

She frowned. “I must have forgotten that. The curse strikes again I guess. It’s probably because I speak English.”

“You do?”

“If there is any possibility of things going wrong for me, they will. I could get on a plane and accidentally end up in America! So I learned to speak English fluently, among other languages.” She paused for a moment. “If you want, I could translate after each scene. I think we’re just looking for the general vibe, right?”

He smiled. “That’s a great idea. I’ll pop some popcorn.”

Minutes later he returned with two bowls of the delicious looking snack. The girl popped one in her mouth and instantly regretted the action. “So hot,” She announced as she swallowed it. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Are you okay?” He looked genuinely concerned.

She swallowed. “Yeah, I think so. I might wait a second before having any more though!”

The two watched the movies late into the night, writing every detail they could in a small notebook. As the credits rolled on the last movie, it was full from cover to cover.

Suzumiya yawned. “I’d call that a success!” She stretched as she got up.

“For sure,” Satou said with a smile.

After waving good bye, she set off for home. He was very kind to her, kinder than most who didn’t even know about her curse. 

Then a sudden thought entered her mind. ‘What if I’m endangering him?’ Would being his friend cause more harm then good? 

Maybe she should avoid him, so he wouldn't fall prey to her unluckiness.

But a small part of her mind didn’t want to.

Chapter Text

Mikoto was glad she didn’t have Saiki’s mind reading. Otherwise, she figured, she would be exposed to whatever Toritsuka was thinking in that exact moment. With that look on his face, she could probably guess. The two were walking home together, as they had somehow made a habit of doing. 

Toritsuka looked toward her, a question forming in his mind.

“Don’t even…”

“I wasn’t gonna say anything!”

She side-eyed him. “Right, and Saiki Kusuo isn't my soulmate.”

“So I was thinking of getting as many women to invite me as I can. And then selecting which one I think is the hottest, and walking in with her, kinda like how I-“

“If you so much as look at one of those girls like you look at me, I will tell everyone that your soulmate is-“

“Shhh,” Toritsuka covered her mouth. “Not so loud.”

Ever since Mikoto  found out who Toriska’s soulmate was, she had been using it to blackmail him. So far, it had worked splendidly. She wondered if she would actually tell anyone, as it had been great leverage so far. She supposed if it came to it, she could. She preferred to keep it in her back pocket for now though.

With that threat, Torisuka’s plan, whatever it was, was finished before it even began.

Chapter Text

Saiki didn’t like playing matchmaker for Suzumiya and Satou, but if he didn’t shift the odds in their favor he would have been paired up with Teruhashi. It was surprisingly easy to match them together, almost as if fate wanted the two together as much as it wished for him and Teruhashi. It surprised him, but he didn’t care enough to dwell on it.

A week had passed since the invites were handed out, and all ready new announcements were being made.

Suzumiya mentioned that some of the dances had themes and suggested their dance could too. Few people agreed until Teruhashi (the self appointed head of some made up role) announced it could be themed “opposites.” The four leaders agreed unanimously. Saiki still had yet to figure out how this theme fit into her plan.

Personally, he thought that they were missing the entire point of the dance, but his classmates all seemed excited. Really it didn’t matter to him, because he wasn’t going.

Saiki had made a point to be “sick” the last three days. Teruhashi wouldn't dare venture all the way to his house to ask him to go, after all. He felt bad for telling his mother that he couldn’t go to school because of a vision. And for “forgetting” to mention the dance all together. But it was still the best approach to ensure he could avoid it entirely.

The problem with never getting sick is that people begin to notice when you suddenly do. Saiki could see that if he stayed home any longer, people would start to get suspicious. He would just have to go to school tomorrow and pretend nothing was up. His parents would never even know there was a dance–

His thoughts were interrupted by a squeal from downstairs. Saiki’s mother and father gathered around a note. “Kusuo! Why didn’t you tell us there was a dance?”

Shit.

“I’m not going.”

“You’re a strapping young man, I’m sure you’ll be asked,” said Saiki’s father, earning him a glare.

 “Not interested. I’ll just tell them I’m busy that night.”

“Kusuo Saiki.” His mother spoke in a scarily calm voice. “It is horribly rude to decline an invitation like that. If you get asked, then you will be going.”

That settled it. Saiki was going to stay home from school for the rest of the month.

“Is this why you've been staying home?” His father asked. Saiki wanted to throw something at him without his power limiter on. His non response was enough for his parents.

“Oh well, at least we can chaperone!” His mother declared.

“What?”

“That’s how we found out about the dance. They sent these papers to all the PK academy parents requesting volunteers!”

Saiki already knew that, but he had made sure the paper going to his house would fly out a window and land in a trash can. The trash can would then be set on fire and the note would have been lost. “How did you get that paper?”

“Some cute girl with brown hair delivered it.”

Yumehara. Teruhashi must have had it directly sent to his family after realizing that she lost our paper. Seeing as Yumehara was head of invitations, she had the perfect excuse to not go herself.

Kurumi suddenly remembered, “Oh honey, We’ll be out of town that weekend for some wedding!”

“That’s right. But son, you still have to go to the dance if some kind young lady asks you, okay?”

With Saiki now having to go to school, and not being allowed to refuse going to the dance, he would have to be on high alert until this was over.

Chapter Text

“Will you go to the sweetheart dance with me?”

The girl was some freshman Saiko didn’t know. She was the second person to ask him today, sixth since the event had been announced. He knew that she didn’t even have a job, and her parents were upper middle class. He was not going to the dance with someone like that. He would only accept an invitation from someone at the top of upper class, maybe at the middle of upper class if he got desperate enough.

“Peasant, who would want to go to the dance with some poor girl like you?”

She ran away crying, but no matter. The invitations would keep coming, and he would eventually find someone of the same status as himself to go with him.

———

Saiko only now realized the effects of his actions. The dance was in twenty one days, and the invitations stopped coming on the nineteenth. Not a single girl had asked him recently.

Before, the girls asked him for his money. He was only now seeing the flaw in his logic: someone as rich as him wouldn’t need to go with him. He was in trouble now, because this was a dance he couldn’t buy tickets for.

He would accept even upper middle class at this point, but people had just stopped asking. He was about to face the humiliation of not going to the dance because he had no date. His father lied to him one again, he found out, as he couldn’t pay any of the upperclass girls to ask him out. Not that he would try, that would be shameful behavior.

So he waited, and waited, until there was only eighteen days left. His taylor needed outfit ideas now, or he would not have his costume ready in time. At this point, Saiko was getting desperate.

“I’m willing to accept anyone at this point, so long as I make it to that dance.” Saiko had developed a habit of talking to himself under stress. Little did he know the universe was going to accept his challenge.

Saiko heard a scuffle coming from downstairs. Usually he wouldn’t check on such a thing, but he was getting bored.

It was, unsurprisingly, Mera getting dragged out for the second time this week. She kept impersonating his servants. Something about not having enough money to feed her family.

Then, Saiko had a bad idea.

He really didn’t want to bribe Mera to ask him to the dance. She was the lowest of low class. But it would disgrace the Saiko name if he didn’t go, and no one had asked him in three days. He was about to do something slightly less discraceful, but still very foolish.

When he looked up from his thinking, he reslized that the guards had already thrown Mera outside. Usually this is what he would want, but today he had a plan that required her. He always got what he wanted, including an invite to the dance.

Outside of his mansion the wind howled. There was still snow on the ground, but it had yet to melt. Mera was walking out, wearing only her normal outfit. She must have been freezing, but Saiko couldn’t be bothered to care.

“Mera,” Saiko said. He ran up next to her, irritated that he almost slipped. He would have his servants salt his path later. “Have you asked anyone to the dance yet?”

She looked confused at Saiko, but he refused to clairify. This was humiliating enough as it was. “The dance? Oh, I’m not going.”

Saiko was suprised by this. “Why not?”

“The entrance fee is five dollars. I can’t afford that. Besides, I don’t have any clothes near fancy enough for this, and I have a job that night.”

Five dollars. Five dollars!  He was not going to the dance, because this peasant couldn’t afford five dollars. But then he remembered his father’s advice, and how he could get into the dance clicked into place.

“I’ll pay you a hundred times what your job does and find some dress for you.”

Mera’s face lit up, and Saiko thought he could see stars in her eyes. “Really?”

“Yes, but not as a date or anything like that. I just need you to let me in, and your free the rest of the night. I don’t care if you  camp out at the refreshment table or dance all night. Sound like a deal?”

“There will be… food?”

“Yes,” Saiko said impatiently. “Do you want to go or not?” He would not be so humiliated as to ask again.

“Of course! When do you pay me?”

Chapter Text

Hairo decided that he was not going to the dance. Better yet, he was going to work out the entire time.

Aren knew that no one would invite him, but he had no idea why. He decided that it was due to him being too much of a “goodie-goodie,” and carried around a base ball bat to counteract this. He had no idea why no one, girl or boy, would approach him.

Takahashi was confident he would be going, but he was unaware that he was specifically on the “do not let in” list. Courtesy of Teruhashi Kokomi after she learned of his binocular plot at the hotsprings.

Lastly, Nendo- I don’t actually know what he thought, but he was not invited none the less.

Chiyo approached three of them as they sat outside.

“Hiaro, Nendo, and Aren,” she said. “I am here to formally ask all three of you to guard the entrances once the party starts. All you need to do is hang out around the building and protect us from any suspicious people. You can just… wait outside and do push ups.” She said the last of it to Hairo, who immediately nodded.

“I would be honnered to protect our school!”

The other two agreed after him, and it was settled: the dance would have three (capable?) guards.

Chapter Text

Saiki had been clothes shopping for about ten minutes when he heard a familiar train of thought coming from the entrance.

‘What will I wear next week when I ask him? Rather, if I ask him at this point. It’s going to be too late by the time I finally make up my mind.’

Saiki specifically chose this store because it was in the run down part of the neighborhood. The kind that someone like her would never go into. Good grief, that must have been what all her fans thought and why she came to shop here in the first place.

Luckily for him, Teruhashi passed right by his invisible self. Saiki’s cart had long since been discarded. All that was left to do was find an escape route

‘ What if I just don’t ask him? But if I don’t, then no one will. What’s the point in even going if he’s not going to be there.’ That didn’t sound very confident. It was like she was beating down on herself. ‘Maybe I just won’t go. No, Chiyo would be sad. Besides, I do want to go, especially with him, but he will probably regect me.’

This was just getting sad.

‘What am I thinking? I’m perfect, no one would reject me. But he already has.’ She thought for a minute more before smiling faintly. ‘I know! I’ll invite someone else. It might even make him jealous!’ She smiled brighter as Saiki frowned.

‘ Let’s see: Kaido is taken, and Chiyo said Hairo, Nendo, and Aren aren’t going. I don’t know if that leaves anyone I know in our class, what about the others? Oh, I could ask that purple haired boy.’ She recalled information about him. ‘Toritska, I think?’

Absolutely not.

If you asked Saiki, he was ensuring that Toritska wouldn’t be able to brag about having a beautiful date later. If you asked Teruhashi, it was fate to find Saiki around the next rack, examining the sweaters with perhaps more interest then necessary.

“Hello Saiki!”

He glanced at her, then back at the sweaters.

‘ Not even a “hello Teruhashi” back? Maybe I was right to just ask someone else at all.’

Saiki should really leave now, but he couldn’t let Teruhashi go with someone who wouldn’t treat her right.

If it has to be me, then so be it.

Saiki didn’t know why he wasn’t celebrating that she was perhaps moving on. He especially didn’t know why he asked her, “Are you going to the dance?”

———

Teruhashi was everyone’s favorite. Of course she always got what she wanted.

It was time to gather enough courage to ask him. She took her time as she smoothed out her hair, cleared her thoughts, and finally, smiled.

“Yes, I am.” Now was the hard part. “I’m not going with anyone.”

Why did she say that? What if he thinks that she is unpopular and rejects her because of it?

“ Neither am I. ”

She looked at him, shock playing on her face. He looked nearly as surprised as she was at his words.

“Oh, okay.”

…

“Did you, um…” He looked at her. She was turning as red as a tomato as the words flew out of her mouth. “Do you want to go with me?”

…

“ Sure.”

Chapter Text

Aiura had two options: keep an eye on Toritsuka for the entirely of the dance, never once loosing sight of him, and stopping him from mischief, or ask him herself. That was, until she thought of a third idea.

What if Aiura taught him respect? She couldn’t keep the idea out of her head, so she journeled about it with a glitter gel pen. She only realized she had stayed up all night long after the sun rose.

But at that point it didn’t matter, because she had a plan.

— — —

Aiura announced her presence to Toritsuka by throwing a stack of books at him.

“Ouch! Is that really how you greet a man-“

“You can’t seriously call yourself a man. That’s just disrespectful to men around the globe.” She smiled wryly. “But good news! I have a plan to help you become one. I mean, I may not be a miracle worker, think I can help you somewhat.”

“That doesn’t explain what the books are for.”

“First,” she grabbed the magazines from his hands and ripped them to shreds.

“Hey!”

“Now read the books, and then you can go to the dance.”

“There’s so many.“ There was maybe five. “And you can’t stop me from going to the dance!”

“Your right, I can’t,” she said. “But, I can watch you like a hawk the whole time and scare off anyone that comes near.”

Toritsuka eyed the books carefully. There were two self help books, along with a romance trilogy.

Toritsuka could manage that if it was for the ladies. He just had to read the books, not even pay attention. Maybe he wouldn’t even read them. She couldn’t prove it.

“Read the books, and help yourself. I gave you the romance trilogy to find someone to look up to.”

“Whoever the dumb love interest is in this book, he’s fictional. How can I look up to someone if they aren’t even real?”

“Babe, look. If you want to go to the dance, you’ll read these books. But please, if you ever want a woman to be interested in you, just try to be better.”

“Women are always interested in me, especially when I tell them about my ability!”

”I could tell them more about you, like your soulmate-“

“Fine, I’ll read your stupid books.”

Chapter Text

Chiyo had been sitting still for about two hours now. She was in the upper level of an abandoned building, wearing a costume, and wondering why Kaido had picked today of all days to be stupid.

Okay, maybe she was being harsh with him, but a girl could only spend days creating the perfect scavenger hunt along with her at the end as the “villain” and then spend an entire night setting it up, and then sit alone in a room for hours. She thought about actually giving him a few solid punches before revealing it was her behind the mask.

She had dressed up as one of the characters Kaido had told her about, the Rose Gold Danger. She was apperently high on the Dark Renion Hierarchy.

As she was recounted her lines, the door slammed open.

“D-Dark reunion, I got you now-“

Kaido jumped after seeing Chiyo.

“The Rose Gold Danger? I can’t believe you’re real- I mean, really going down!”

As he walked over to her, Chiyo stood completely still. She had forgotten her memorized lines after she saw him shaking.

He must have thought this was real.

What now?

She cleared her throat. “Jet black wings, behind me is a secret I cannot allow you to see! It would put my whole organization in jeopardy!”

“Wait, Chiyo?”

“No, it is I- the Rose Gold Danger!” She giggled a little at the last bit. Kaido, obviously didn’t hear.

“Chiyo, this is dangerous!” His posture relaxed. “What if the real dark reunion finds out, and… does something bad?”

He is obviously relieved he wouldn’t have to use his “judgment knights of thunder” today. Chiyo smiled. “Sorry, but I really wanted to do it like in America!”

“…what?”

“Read the notes behind me.”

———

Will you go to the dance with me? The notes asked. Kaido was glad for the near darkness; without it Chiyo would’ve been able to see his bright red face. Chiyo was asking him to the dance.

Did this mean that she liked him?

Surely not. They had been friends for years, sworn friends even, and she never showed any sign of liking him. Wait, now that he thought about it…

She might actually have a crush on him. Or maybe he was overthinking He was too flustered to say anything other than, “S-sure”.

Was this a friend thing? He had no idea. The only thing he knew now was that he was going to the dance with Chiyo Yuemehara.

———

The girl who was not The Rose Gold Danger grinned as she walked the street

Chapter Text

Saiko could not find Mera’s house. Try as he might, they all looked the same to him: disgusting and small. He was not going to take the time to learn which one was hers. Luckily for him, his driver knew how to use the GPS.

They stopped in front of a pile of rubble. Saiko was confused, until Mera started walking toward the car.

“ That’s your house?”

“Mhm.”

She sat on the opposite side of the car from him. Saiko made a mental note to do something about it- the house, not the sitting arangementds. He needed to stay far away from the filth that is poor people. He needed his date not to look poor, and living in such a small house was not helping. As they were driving away, he noticed two sets of eyes watching him from the window. Her brothers?

He wasn’t going to ask. No need to get attached to a glorified entry ticket.

Silence filled the car, only broken by Mera’s nervous comments. “I don’t think this is where the market is.”

“Well, we’re certainly not going to that one  by our town. We’re going to a boutique up north.”

“I don’t think I can afford that.” She looked down.

He sighed dramatically. “Of course you can’t, pleb.”

The rest of the ride was silent.

They arrived two hours later at a large dress shop that could hardly be called a boutique. Inside, there were hundreds of dresses, all stunningly gorgeous ball gowns. “I don’t know if we’re supposed to wear…” she trailed off, her eyes sparkling as she saw a row of gilded dresses. Each item was top quality.

“Hello,” said an unframilar voice. “I’ll be your advisor.”

“Took you long enough,” Saiko grumbled.

Mera smiled. “Do you have anything in purple?”

“Oh sweetheart,” the advisor said in a pitying voice, “you’ll do good to wear green. It will compliment your eyes!”

“I just thought-“

“Nonsense, you know nothing of fashion. I’ll go get you some green.”

The advisor turned away. Saiko put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her. “If my date says that she’ll look best in purple, then that’s what she’ll wear. I’m the one with the money here, and whatever I say goes. Got it?”

The advisor quickly nodded and walked away.

The audacity of that woman, believing she knew better than his ticket.

She returned with two dresses. The first was long, with flowy fabric at its base. The other was poofy, with the appearance of a golden laced corset on the front.

“Which one is less expensive?”

The advisor hummed. “The first one I showed you.”

Mera frowned, the slightest movement. Saiko frowned with her. “Why does it matter, didn’t you bring enough for whatever you like?”

“I didn’t know we were going to a designer store. I saved up most of my months earnings, I’ve been eating grass for weeks! But I could only save up 10,000¥.”

“A months worth of work just for that?” Mera nodded. “Fine. I’ll just pay for it myself.” He couldn’t have his date looking like garbage, that would reflect poorly on the Saiko name.

Mera’s eyes lit up. “Then in that case, are there any more I could look at?”

———

By the time Mera had found her top three choices, Saiko was ready to go home. She didn’t even put any on, she just kept looking at one and the other.

“I don’t know. Saiko, what do you think?”

“At this point, I don’t even care anymore.”

He didn’t even look over at her. He sat on a throne, carried by four other people. The advisor was long gone.

Mera looked like she was thinking. She thought, and thought, and Saiko was getting really bored.

“You know what?” He asked one of his henchmen. “Just buy every purple dress in this store. My ticket- I mean, Mera can choose whenever she gets back to her home.”

“Really?”

Saiko swore he saw stars in her eyes. “Yes. Whichever ones you don’t want, you can just give back after the dance.”

Mera squealed. Actually squealed.

“Ok, deal!”

———

Saiko sat on the right side of the car, his head resting against the window. He and his ticket had been there for hours. Eight, to be exact.

Mera leaned her head against her window. After all the excitement today, she looked exhausted. She nearly fell out of the car when one of Saiko’s servants opened the door.

“You’ll need to move over so we can fit the dresses,” he said. Mera looked over to Saiko. He gave an incredulous look.

“Can’t you just fit everything in the middle seat?”

“Sir, you bought fifty seven dresses. We are already using the other two cars and this boutique is in the middle of no where; if we try to drive more, it’ll be another two hours.”

So his options were to wait in a car with a poor pleb, or sit next to a poor pleb. He supposed whatever got her out of here the fastest would be best.

He sighed dramatically. “Why must all the tragedies befall me. Whatever.”

Mera awkwardly sat next to him. She was stiff for the first ten minutes, but after a while seemed to be drowning exhausted.

Saiko, on the other hand, was as far away from her as he could get with his seatbelt still on. He stared out the window, into the fields they passed by. The sun was setting. This was their official ten hour mark of this adventure.

Mera looked like she was going to faint of exhaustion. She was mumbling something to herself about not knowing how much time she spent and the riches of the dresses.

Saiko was about to yell at her to shut up whenever he felt something heavy fall onto his leg. He jumped, but the thing didn’t move. He looked down to see that Mera had practically passed out due to shear exhaustion. Her head was resting on his leg. What if her lack of money rubbed off on him?

He reached down to shove her off his leg when he saw how peacefully she was sleeping. Saiko may have had a giant ego, but he wasn’t (that) cruel.

He noticed in the small space that she smelt like caramel, and he wondered how this was when she often went without food for months at a time. He wondered why he cared at all. His ticket meant nothing to him, after all. All she needed to do was let him in, and he would never speak to her again.

For now, because he couldn’t be bothered to stop her, he allowed Mera to rest her head on his leg.

‘I will be rid of her soon,’ he thought half heartedly.

Chapter Text

“That’s so exciting Chiyo!”

Teruhashi walked along side her best friend, smiling. They were in an unnamed party store, looking for decorations.

“I know! But enough about me, did you ever choose a dress?”

Teruhashi frowned. “No, but I was thinking about something red. I’ll have to see what Saiki is doing for the theme. Any ideas for decor?”

Chiyo grabbed a set of real cloth table cloths, all royal blue. They were about to go to the wall decor section when they heard a sudden noise.

“Chiyo! Kokomi!” The two wirled around at the use of their first name. Aiura approached them.

“Hello Aiura!” Chiyo said. Then, leaning in, she asked, “Did you take care of Toritsuka?”

Teruhashi frowned. “What’s wrong with Toritsuka?”

The others held their mouth open for a long moment before Aiura explained.

Teruhashi paled, and realized that she could have invited a guy like that to the dance.

Chiyo asked “What did you do about him?”

“I invinted him to the dance, obviously.”

…

“Wait, what?” Teruhashi asked.

“That way, I’ll have an excuse to drive him home if he gets to be… too much.” Aiura grinned, proud of her plan.

“What ever you say,” Chiyo said.

———

“She asked you out?” Saiki questioned. In both Aiura and Teruhashi’s failed attempts, Aiura asked him to the dance. Both times she was rejected.

“Who wouldn’t want to ask someone like me out?” Toritsuka challenged

“How much did you pay her?”

“Rude! I didn’t have to pay anything! She- well, her only condition was that I read these stupid books. There’s a mountain of them!”

This would not be a problem for Saiki, but he knew Torisuka was exaggerating because Aiura called him an hour prior.

“Anyway, I’m not gonna read them."

"Afraid you'll finally be educated on how to behave?"

"No, it's just a waste of time!"

“Good grief, if I tell you the reason she wants you to read the books will you shut up?”

“Fine,” Toritsuka pouted.

“Aiura loves romance books. She wants someone to share them with.”

“That’s stupid.”

Saiki hung up the phone.

Toritsuka wondered why Aiura would choose him of all people to share the books with. Because Aiura had taken the time to pick out books for him to read- actually, because it was his only was to the dance- he decided to read one page, and that was it.

Three hours later, as the night finally began, he decided to read just one more page.

Chapter Text

Hii had been avoiding Sauto for about a month now, and it was getting harder by the day. She eventually started looking for him every time she went into a class room or public space. It was tiring.

She scanned the room at her favorite café (one of the few she wasn’t banned from). And there he was, sitting alone in a booth near the window.

Of course she would see him on an unlucky day.

It started out with her slipping on a literal banana peel after breakfast, then running into a wall painted like a door, and several other cartoon level shanagains for the  rest of the day.

She’d thought her luck was finally getting better after she found a penny outside of this café, which prompted her to go in in the first place, but clearly she had been mistaken. She didn’t want him to get her bad luck, or be hurt because of her.

But now it was too late; She had already got in line and decided to just order something quick to go. She picked something simple, hoping it couldn’t possibly be messed up.

When she went to pay, she realized she had forgot her money at home.

The line behind her was growing restless, the barista kept her expectant hand held out, Hii started panicking and-

“Here.” Sauto handed the barista some money and gave Hii her drink.

She sat down with him at his booth. “Thank you so, so much.” She paused. “Wait, how did you know I didn’t have any money?”

“You were fumbling in your pockets. Actually, you looked like you were about to cry.”

Oh.

Hii blushed intensely and tried to hide it behind a sip of coffee. She really hoped he hadn’t noticed he was being avoided.

They began an awkward conversation that lasted about three minutes before they were both sitting in silence.

“It was fun watching the movies with you,” Hii blurted out. She cursed her impulsiveness.

“I did too.” Sauto smiled.

She grabbed her now empty cup. “Well, I have to be going now.” She was sure she was blushing again, but it was fine.

“Oh, okay.” Did he sound disappointed?

Hii opened her mouth to say goodbye. It would be better; she wouldn’t have to worry about indirectly hurting someone. But instead she steadied her breathing and asked, “Would you go to the dance with me?”

He blinked once, then twice. In the month since their meeting, he must have heard of her reputation and realized that she was bound to cause chaos wherever she went.

“If you don’t want to that’s fine, I was just wondering-“

“No, I was hoping you would ask.” Now it was Sauto’s time to turn only the faintest amount of pink.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Chapter Text

Saiko didn’t know what prompted him to drive back to his ticket’s house a week before the dance. Yet there he stood, hesitating to knock on the doors. The handles were not made of 24 karat gold, as the ones in his home were, but instead were rusted metal. They could ruin his perfect manicure.

He decided to run back to his limousine just as the doors opened up. It was not Mera who greeted him but a small boy with similar hair and eyes.

“Chisato‘s not home,” said the kid who after looking at Saiko quickly added a “sir.”

Saiko rolled his eyes. “Well, if she’s not here then I’ll be leaving now.”

“Wait! You can stay, just come on in.”

Saiko contemplated bribing the kid to not tell Mera he came. The kid grabbed his arm and dragged him in the house.

Saiko yanked his arm free, and cleaned it discustedly with his handkerchief. Two things he hated just touched him; the poor and children.

When he finnally looked around the room, he saw only a worn couch, shattered TV, and that a part of the roof was missing, covered by a tarp. He didn’t want to admit it, but it was time for Saiko to run. Never before had he been in a place so wretched.

“Move over, pleb,” he commanded to the kid standing by the entrance.

“That’s rude. Ya’ know, we used to nearly as rich as you are.”

The kid didn’t know what he was talking about, Saiko thoughts he shook his head. Three more kids, all younger than the first, entered the room.

“Really. I wasn’t alive then, but Chisato says we had a fountain, and could afford to eat caviar every single day. But she says that our parents got in debt, and loan sharks came after us, and it was a big mess.”

Saiko paled. If that could happen to someone just like that, then who was to say it couldn’t happen to him. “I’ll give you three thousand yen to stop talking right now.” The kid took it greedily.

Was that why Mera worked all the time? To go back to the life she once had?

Just then Mera came into the room, smiling brightly at her siblings. “ I couldn’t get many groceries today, but guess what I did get.” They did guess.

“Lettuce leaves?”

“Oh no, remember what I told you about them not being worth it.”

“Caviar, like you said you always used to eat?”

At this Mera frowned. “No no, I’m afraid we will never be able to afford that. Stop guessing now. I brought back some extra cakes we couldn’t sell at the café today!”

All of the kids cheered. Only after did she look up and see the great Saiko sitting in her kitchen.

“Saiko! I didn’t know you would be here .” She hesitated for a moment before adding “You can have my portion if you want, I’m fine to go another two days.”

“I don’t need your chairity,” he said kinder than he ment to. I’ll be leaving now.”

“Oh, alright.”

As Saiko got into the car, he realized he was wrong. Mera didn’t work hard to get back her lavish life style. She worked hard to pay for her siblings’ meals. Saiko rolled his eyes at the memory of her offering her only portion of food to him, someone hardly more than a stranger.

It all gave him a feeling he didn’t want to identify, like his perspective of her was shifting.

———

“You wanted to see me?” Saiko asked. His father sat across from him, face obscured by the glow of gold and expensive things.

“Yes. Son, what were you doing at that peasant’s house earlier today?”

He had forgotten to pay off the driver.

“I wanted to… ensure our families money was not going to waste.”

“And what would you do if it was going to waste? You’ve already spent nearly 12 million yen on her!”

“She was throwing away my time. Time is money, it’s like you always say!”

Saiko’s dad laughed, a hollow sound. “Not only wasting your money, but your time too. I’m ashamed you would give that much money to a worthless one time ticket.”

He thought back to everything he had seen in her house, how she was constantly just trying to get by. How she used to have as much money as he did, but it got taken away from her years ago. She deserves it.

Saiko got up and began walking away from his father. He looked over his shoulder and said, “Father, my ‘ticket’ has a name: Mera. Learn it.”

He left without saying anything more.

Chapter Text

Because Saiki was going with her to the dance, he was obligated to go out with Terushashi beforehand.

The beautiful girl sat infront of him, beaming. He knew why, of course. For once he asked me out! Maybe we really will get together!

Saiki thought the coffee jelly tasted better than usually. It was Teruhashi’s idea to go to his favorite cafe. He thought about getting another one, but after four coffee jellies he was starting to feel full. Time to go home.

He was about to telepathically tell her that he was going to leave when he felt a small twinge of sadness. Sadness at the thought of… leaving Teruhashi. He got up before he could think about it anymore.

“Wait, where are you going?” Teruhashi frowned, and now Saiki really felt bad. He didn’t know why he would be disappointed to leave her. She was a nusance, like all the others. He was not fall-

He was not going to finish that thought. This whole get together (which was NOT a date) was a stupid idea in the first place.

“I have to go.”

“Wait, we still didn’t discuss what we were going to wear.”

“Just pick something out for me,” he thought at her. And then he bolted out the door.

Saiki walked as quickly as he could, but a thick crowd had gathered around some new restaurant. People were thinking too loudly, he needed to find a place to teleport home. His own thoughts kept drifting back to the hurt confusion on Teruhashi’s face as he got up. Which he did not care about, so he really needed to think about something else. Such as why in the world he had invited her on an outing when he usually went through so much effort to avoid her attempts at dates.

But this was not a date! He had no reason to spend time with her, the only logical explaination was that he wanted to. But if he wanted to, then-

Perfect, an empty alley.

Hiding behind a trash can, he teleported home.

“Welcome back, brother.” Kuske leaned over the kitchen table smiling. “Why are you blushing?”

Saiki Kusuo realized his face was hot. He always blushed with coffee jelly. That was why his face was pink. Of course.

“Ohh, you just got back from your date with Teruashi!” Kuske clapped in delight.

“It wasn’t a date,” Kusuo snapped at his brother.

“Don’t get defensive, I was only kidding. I would never insult you and your girlfriend.”

“Teruhashi is the last person I want as my girlfriend.” Except… wasn’t that kind of a lie? She obviously knew what Kusuo liked (coffee jelly) and always tried to make him happy. She was a bit manipulative, but so was he. She actively tried not to draw attention to him. If Kusuo was looking for a girlfriend-

“Your face is pink again. Are you daydreaming about her ethereal looks?”

Crap, had his face been blushing again? Why would he be blushing? He was bit dazed as he told Kuske to “go home.”

“Can’t, bought a one way ticket. You could always teleport me.”

He sent Kuske home without another thought. His mind was busy with other things. He wondered why all of his thoughts kept drifting back to her. Or why he always protected her, even when it put himself at risk Of course, the explanation was simple-

No, no, no.

Of all people-

He  couldn’t-

He was not-

Saiki was NOT in love with Teruhashi.

———

Teruhashi was heartbroken.

Okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but Saiki had finally shown some interest only to run away after he was done eating.

She wondered if he even noticed that she had intentionally done her makeup extra well (not that she needed it) and put on her cutest outfit. It was an outfit waisted, and the makeup had long since run down her face as she cried.

She heard a ring at her door and stiffened. She didn’t know who it would be at this hour- it was nearly 11:30pm.

Teruhashi opened the door and gapped at what she saw.

There lied a bouquet of roses with a coffee jelly in the center. With it a note that read: “Sorry about earlier.

-S.K.”

But most importantly, drawn next to the initials, small enough she could have missed it, was a heart.

Chapter Text

Kaido walked along a winding road, fidgetting with his arm wrappings. Were him and Yuemehara a couple now? It diffidently felt like he was being asked out, but he couldn’t just ask something like that. He could probably call her Chiyo now, right? Should he tell her to call him Shun?

He was so deep in thought he failed to notice a figure shift in a nearby alleyway.

He did, however, notice when his mouth was covered by a gloved hand.

Kaido thrashed at the arm holding him, tried to scream for help, but it was no use. The man was too strong.

“It’s alright kid, just need to take some taxes.”

The strange man reached into Kaido’s pocket, drawing out his wallet. He opened it, stood there for a few seconds, and then yelled “Empty! You don’t got any money? I’ll bet your parents have some at least.”

Kaido shook as the man tied a blindfold around his eyes and a rope around his hands. He could die here.

And he very well might.

———

Was Kaido standing Chiyo up?

He had agreed to meet with her here an hour ago, yet he was no where to be seen. He was probably just using her as a way to get into the dance.

Wait- no, that’s not something he would do. Knowing him, he was probably lost. She reached for her phone, when she suddenly heard a yell from nearby: “Empty! You don’t got any money?”

Chiyo paled. Someone was getting robbed, she was sure. She should probably run.

But that person needed help. She would call the police as soon as she confirmed it was a robbery. Besides, she now carried a taser at all times. Kokomi wanted to make sure her friend was safe at all times, but Chiyo had never had to use it before.

She ran at full speed to where a man tied a blindfold onto-

Wait-

Was that Kaido?

As the man tied a rope around bandaged red hands, Chiyo reached into her purse. No way would someone hurt Kaido, not if she could help it. She probably should have reached into her front pocket, where she kept her phone. But instead, she reached into the back one. He would have done the same for her. Delusions or not, he would have helped her in any way he could.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Chiyo was sprinting at the man who dared attack Kaido. She drew out her taser and shocked her target.

The man feel, wheezing in pain.

Before the five second pulse was over, she had grabbed Kaido’s hand and ran into another shop.

She fell to the ground, heart racing, but Kaido would be okay.

———

As soon as the man had tied a rope around Kaido’s hand, he heard some electric shock and felt himself being practically dragged somewhere new.

He tried not to panic. There was a high chance that this was another kidnapper, sending him to a new location. He was pulled left and both him and the new kidnapper collapsed onto the floor.

“Are you hurt?” Asked a feminine voice.

Wait, he recognized that voice.

“Kaido?”

“Yes?” He responded uncertainly. He felt hid blindfold rip off of his face, and saw Chiyo Yuemehara on top of him.

Perhaps seeing the panic in Kaido’s eyes, Chiyo scrambled to get off of him. “Sorry, just- um, needed you to see who I was.”

Kaido blushed a bit, but he was still too shaken from the whole encounter. This was not the first time that someone had attempted to rob him, but this time it just felt more… real.

“Kaido, it’s okay. That robber won’t come for us in here, it’s too crowded.”

“Call me Shun,” Kaido said shakily. Which was a stupid thing to say, especially in a time like this.

“Oh, okay. Call me Chiyo.” She glanced at his wrists and frowned.  “I don’t have anything to cut that in my purse, or money to buy something. My place is not too far, do you want to get some scissors there?”

“Sure.”

Chiyo led Shun back to her house. They walked for a few minutes before the silence between them got awkward.

“Thanks for saving me,” Shun said. He looked the other way quickly so she couldn’t see his embarrassment.

“You would have done the same for me.” Shun nodded, and they were back to silence.

Shun finally decided to assume that they were dating. She did just save him from what could have been a terrible situation. Yes, he would have saved her too, but that was because he was the Jet Black Wings. It was his duty. But she had no obligation, and yet she helped him anyway.

So if they were together, he should be holding her hand now, right?

He reached for her hand only to remember his wrists were bond. Never mind then. For now he would just walk beside her.

After they got to Chiyo’s house, she grabbed a sharp pair of scissors and began cutting at the ropes around Shun’s wrists. He eyes the scissors wairily but trusted Chiyo enough to know she would be careful. Eventually, the rope snapped.

Shun sighed with relief. “Thanks again.”

“No problem.”

Chapter Text

Torisuka opened and closed the book again, only to realize that really was the last page.

Two minutes later, he called Aiura.

“Why did you give me a book with a cliff hanger!”

“Hello to you too,” Aiura said. “It’s not a cliff hanger, the main character really did die.”

“No way, her husband just stabbed her in the back!”

“He loved her for her beauty, and when she grew old and less beautiful he had no more need for her.”

“That’s terrible! She didn’t even want to marry him in the first place. He just did some underhanded things to get with her.”

Torisuka had to admit at first he was proud of the man for getting such a hot wife, but he took it too far. Killing her just because she wasn’t hot anymore? That was insane.

It honestly kind of reminded Toritsuka of this one girl he liked until she started putting her hair up. He had been giving her gifts everyday, but as soon as her hair was in a ponytail he stopped. He was hopping she would take the hint and keep her hair down, but no.

Wait.

“Did you pick these books because of me?”

Aiura’s smile could be heard from the other end of the phone. “I just figured you’d like reading about someone like-minded.”

Toritsuka scowled. “I’m not at all like that.”

“Sure.” She still sounded way too pleased with herself.

Toritsuka sighed. “It was pretty cool how in that one scene the main character picks a lock using a hair clip.”

“I know! And when she snuck into the office to read that guy’s letters! Like, babe go for it!”

The two chatted for much longer than either of them expected.

———

After they finished the call, Aiura stared at the wall. She was surprised to find that she didn’t feel the usually rage she felt after ending a call with Toritsuka. It was actually pretty fun, chatting about the book she forced him to read.

When he wasn’t being such a creep, he was actually kind of interesting to talk to. Her plan was falling into motion, but she wouldn’t see if it took full effect until tomorrow.

The dance would be a test, and if he passed (by being as respectful as he could be (which was not a lot)), then she would finally tell him. A month or two ago she had gazed into her crystal ball and seen that he had an 85% compatibility with someone in the school. Of course she had never told him this, that would give up her leverage. She also didn’t check who it was in case the ghosts had eyes on her.

The test wouldn’t work if he knew it was a test. If he passed and proved he could be respectful, then she would tell Toritsuka and let them be a couple.

The perfect plan.

Chapter Text

Hii glanced at the clock. 4:00.

There was still four hours for everything to go wrong, still time for her to slip and break her arm, and still a million ways for her not to end up on the dance floor with Satou tonight.

She really shouldn’t worry; for some reason, everything seemed to work out when she was with him. But that still didn’t stop her from constituting changing her dress for the 100th time.

As agreed upon over text by her and Satou, their outfits would fit with the oposites theme. Color and monochrome.

Her dress was a mix of colors blending into each other. It was on the shorter side too, hopefully keeping her from tripping. It’s neckline was cut shorter than she preferred, but it was the best dress to keep the theme. She hoped everyone else also followed the theme.

She looked at her purses and decided on a  fancy-looking black one. It was large enough to fit anything she could need.

Two hours later, she mentally prepared herself to open the door. He would be here any minute now. She had already stained part of her dress with pomegranate juice, but she was able to get most of it off.

She was thinking about how everything else had gone wrong when she heard a knock at her door. Time to be brave. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

She peeked through the eyehole to ensure that this wasn’t a killer just as Satou tried the door handle. Hii winced in pain as the piece of wood colided with her forehead. That would leave a bruise.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know you were there,” he appologized. She looked at him as she got up. He was wearing a three piece suit, all in black and white. His eyes reflected the rainbow of her dress. They looked up and caught her staring, and she blushed.

Upon closer inspection, she noticed his hair was dripping wet and that he was standing in the rain. “Oh, you’re soaked! Come in.”

She offered him a towel and he took it. After he finnished drying his hair, she realized that his entire head was covered in flour.

A mortified second later, she spoke. “I used that towel while baking, um… you might just want to clean up in the bathroom.”

Hii paced the kitchen until he came out. He was back to normal, and she sighed with relief.

“Ready to go to the restaurant?” He asked. She nodded.

———

Sauto had saved up enough to rent a car for them to ride in. Once they arrived at their reservation, they sat in a booth close to a window.

“Drinks?” Asked the waitress, coming to their table.

“Water,” said Satou.

“Lemonade, please.” Hii tried not to be embarrassed at how strange of a drink choice it was for a date.

After the waitress left, the pair were left in awkward silence.

“It’s certainly storming out there,” he said.

“Oh, yeah. Are you going to be able to drive in that kind of weather?”

“Of course, we have a dance to go to after all.”

A bolt of lightning flashed outside the window, followed by a loud crack of thunder.

“And we did a lot of hard work planning for it.”

The waitress soon came back with drinks and asked for their orders. After she left, Sauto and Hii attempted to keep up a conversation with mundane topics. Her mind wondered on to all the ways the night could go wrong once again. He could fall and break his legs, she could forget to wear her shoes and have to dance barefoot, she-

She felt a hand grasp hers on the table and looked at it. “Are you okay?”

His hand was soft, and warm too. They had gotten a seat close to the window where the cold air from outside made her feel like she was freezing. She had worn such a short dress and forgotten a coat.

She only realized she had been staring too long when Sauto released her hand. “Sorry, yes I’m… fine.”

He eyed her a bit warily just as the waitress served them their food.

Hii would have loved pasta. It was her favorite food. But knowing her luck, it would have landed on her lap. She could have chosen a salad to empress Satou, except a piece of lettuce would certainly get stuck in her teeth. So, she ordered a small pizza. Of course that could still be messy too, but if she was careful, she could eat without making a fool of herself.

Sauto had ordered not only pasta, but garlic Alfredo pasta. It smelled so good from her seat that she auidibly sighed. Resigned to her pizza, she took a bite.

He looked between Hii and the pasta once, twice, and then smiled warmly. “Want a bite?”

Her eyes lit up as she nodded. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth, thinking of some way to say thank you, when she felt the food touch her lips.

She opened her eyes and saw that Satou was literally spoonfeeding it to her. She ate it, still in shock, and felt her face grow tomato red. “Thanks,” she said around a bit of delicious food. She noticed He was attempting to cover the redness now on his face as well.

“N-no problem.”

They sat in even more awkward silence as Hii drank but didn’t eat any pizza. After that bite of pasta, nothing else even sounded good.

“Did you want to switch?” Sauto asked. Noting the confused look on her face, he rambled, “You don’t have to, you just looked like you really liked the pasta so-“

“Sure,” Hii said with a note of enthusiasm that surprised even her.

After trading, she munched away on her favorite dish. Screw the dress, she was hungry enough (and the pasta tasty enough) that it was well worth it.

When the waitress came around with the check, they both insisted on paying. Hii suggested a game of rock paper scissors, and Sauto agreed. Normally, she was horrible at luck based games. But, seeing how paying the bill could be considered less desireable, she wasn’t supprised when her paper beat his rock.

“Yes, I’m paying!” Hii grinned.

After the bill was paid, they got into the car and began driving.

Hii sat in the passenger seat, beaming. Finally, her luck was improving. Finally, she was going to get to have one good night. And, she really would get to dance with Sauto! Her thoughts were so loud she nearly missed the way the car suddenly jolted forward. It was enough to bring her out of her daze, alarm growing.

The car had stopped moving.

The car had stopped.

And they were not yet at the school.

“Satou-“

“It’s fine, just looks like we ran out of fuel.”

This was Hii’s fault. Her horrible luck had caused this. Dispite what he said, Sauto looked upset. She was so embarrassed that this was all her doing, and now she was about to cry about it. She hated how her emotions spiraled like this, way out of control. Just another one of her flaws.

“It’s okay, we can still get to the dance if we walk, though we might be a bit late-“ Sauto stopped what he was saying as he turned around, seeing the girl beside him. She was now sniveling. Pathetic, he must think.

But why then did he take her hand again?

“Hey, I’m not just saying that we will be okay for no reason. We can make it if we hurry, but only if you’re okay with it. The dance starts in two minutes, and it might be a thirty minute walk, but we can make it.”

Hii looked away. Tears were seconds away, and she was so embarrassed about how she was acting. “Okay, just… give me a minute to breathe.”

“Take all the time you need.”

This silence was a comfortable one. She remembered that this wasn’t her fault, and that she was going to be okay. They would make it.

“I’m ready,” she said a while later.

“Then let’s go.”

Satou grabbed an umbrella and opened it. They ran out of the car hand in hand, mostly covered by the umbrella.

Hii’s heal was caught in a crack in the pavement, causing her to trip forward. Satou’s firm arms were around her in an instant, helping her up.

“Let’s keep going,” she said. She was determined to get to this dance if it was the last thing she did.

They ran for another five minutes before they both nearly fell. The ground was suddenly shaking. “I think it’s an earth quake,” Sauto said. Panic was seeping into his voice.

They felt the shaking again and again.

“My house isn’t too far, we should seek cover,”

“No!” Hii had researched what to do in a situation like this. “We need an open area, like over there!”

The two ran for the open field. They had discarded the umbrella long ago. Their outfits were soaked, and now as they ran in the grass, their shoes were covered in mud.

They reached the field, but realized soon after that the shaking had stopped. The ground was as stable. Satou said, “I think it’s over.” He looked relieved.

Hii sighed. Of course it was too much to hope they would make it to the dance. The doors must have already been locked. It was already dark out; The only thing lighting the grass in front of them was street lamps yards away. Rain poured down her face, probably washing away the little bit of makeup she had put on to feel pretty. The doors had certainly closed by now.

Satou must have known it too. He stared at the ground.

After the silence stretched on for too long, Satou started to hum.

Hii felt resolve slowly wash over her. She was done dealing with her curse. She was going to have a good time tonight, and she was going to dance with Sauto. The universe could deal with it.

She walked up to him. “Do you want to dance?”

In the moments where she waited for an answer, she saw shock play across his face and realized how stupid she sounded. What was she thinking?

Before he could reply, she added “Sorry, that was stupid. I mean, we don’t even have any music-“

“I can sing,” Satou said, then looked away. “If you still want to, I mean. No reason to waste the night.”

And so, they danced.

The rain practically sizzled on Hii’s pink face. She didn’t look up at Satou, as he sung an older song.  She didn’t miss a beat or misstep even once, her usually clumsy feet carrying her lightly.

She didn’t dare break the spell that hung around them. She hardly noticed when the rain stopped, entranced by the rhythm of his notes and the slow dance.  All there was in the world was black and grey and white. She finally looked up at her partner. The clouds had opened, and she could make out a blissful expression on his face.

This night had not turned out as she planned, and yet somehow here she was.

She couldn’t have been luckier.

Chapter Text

“What exactly are we supposed to be doing,” Aren asked.

“Guarding the entrance, weren’t you listening earlier?” Nendo said. He made a “are you stupid” face that Aren wanted to hit with something metal.

“Yeah! And we can work out while we wait for threats!” Hairo had somehow managed to bring an entire weight lifting bench and was already sweating profusely.

The three were positioned outside the entrance to the school, being drenched with rain. People were approaching the door wearing fancy looking costumes. Aren was glad he wasn’t going, just so he didn’t have to wear something ridiculous.

The first couple came to the door.

No issues.

None with the second either.

Or the third.

Or the seventh.

“You guys wanna get ramen while we wait for something to happen?”

“No, just be patient” Aren said. Although, if he was being honest about it, he was beginning to wonder if he should go home and let the other two handle it.

———

Once everyone was inside (except for a few no-shows), Aren shut the doors. It was still raining.

“Since we’re waiting, anyone want a turn on the treadmill?”

Somehow, Hairo wasn’t soaked at all. It was as if the rain was evaporating as soon as it touched his skin. He ran on the treadmill on max speed.  Aren didn’t dwell on this.

“I’ll pass,” he said.

“Hey guys, what’s that in the distance?”

Nendo was pointing at nothing.

“What are you-“ Aren cut himself off as he felt the ground begin to vibrate.

Then he could see it.

He could make out at least six robots, one of which carrying a man, all stomping towards them. Aren smiled. Finally, some action.

He lifted a bat covered in nails and various other pointy things and positioned himself in a battle stance.

“Who are you?” Asked Hairo to the man steering the robots.

“Ah, hello!” The man said cheerily. He seemed to assess the group. “Nendo, I belive we’ve met before.”

Nendo scratched his head. “Oh, you’re my buddy’s brother!”

“That’s right. I’m Saiki Kuske, brother to Saiki Kusuo. I assume you don’t know him, he’s very quiet.”

Aren and Hairo glanced at each other.

“Of course we know him,” exclaimed Hairo at the same time Aren asked “What’s with the army?”

“Well, I was just going to see my brother. These robots are for him,” he indicated two small robots, “and these are for you, if you don’t let me in.”

His name was not on the list, meaning he would not be getting in. Good, Aren thought. He was already itching for a fight.

A look of understanding passed between Nendo, Hairo, and Aren. They all nodded to each other.

A split second later, they were a wall charging toward the robots.

Aren took the largest one first (as was customary of those in gangs) and hit it with the bat. At the same time, Hairo furiously punched at the smaller robots yelling something like “For our school !” Nendo… just ran up to one of the robots, blocking it as if it were a basket ball player trying to shoot. It was still effective, he stopped the robot from advancing any further at least.

The man- Kuske Saiki- looked bewildered for more than a few seconds.

Aren couldn’t help but rub it in.

“What’s with the shocked look? You should know not to start fights you can’t win.”

Aren’t robot had long ago stopped moving. He grabbed it and through it in the air, several hundred feet away. It landed with a thud that shook the earth even where they stood.

Kuske’s face changed abruptly from shock to determination. The robots were fighting back now, controlled by some device that he held. Aren figured if he could break the device, then the robots would be as good as hunks of metal.

“Nendo!” He commanded, his days as a gang leader coming back to him. “Go for Kuske’s robot!”

Nendo nodded, probably taking up all of his brain power because he began fighting the robot he had been blocking. Not helpful.

Aren would have to do it himself. He charged on the now largest robot, the one carrying Kuske, and swung the bat. Kuske laughed as the bat didn’t even leave a dent.

“Oh, perhaps you’re weakening from fighting so long,” he teased. Aren felt his eye twitch.

He felt the ground shake again as Hairo finally finished his robot off and through it far away.

While Aren was distracted, Kuske used the legs of his robot to kick him to the ground. He grunted in pain.

Hairo’s eyes seemed to become wells of pure fire. He ran at Kuske’s robot yelling, “That’s my classmate!”

Nendo finally got the memo and ran in the same direction. “And my friend!”

Aren coughed, and attempted to get up. “Don’t worry, we can do this!” Hairo nearly screamed. Aren stayed down.

Hairo’s firey rage and determination was nearly palpable. Even the air began to heat up as he punched Kuske’s robot. He was shocked to discover that this action melted the robot, leaving Kuske without protection.

Kuske made a run for it, what remained of his army trailing after.

Aren could feel the faint vibrations of them retreating like smaller and smaller earthquakes.

Coward.

Nendo began running after him but Aren put out his hand. “No, I’ll be okay.” He got to his feet. Hairo high-fived him and then Nendo.

Aren realized he should probably be upset that his school got attacked, but he was just glad he didn’t have to stand around all night.

Chapter Text

Saiko stood in his kitchen, staff running around in a frenzy as the head chef spoke.

“So, let me get this straight. You want enough food for ten people when it will just be the two of you?”

“That’s what I said, didn’t I? You should really know better than to question the man who pays your salary.”

“Of course, sir.”

Any other day he probably would have fired him for insubordination or something, but today Saiko was distracted. He was weirdly giddy, but he didn’t know why.

It certainly wasn’t to show off his new suit. The suit itself was made of the most expensive materials know to man, but it was made in such a way that it looked like it had the texture of a sack of flour. Not that he had ever seen a sack of flour.

It was made to fit the theme of the dance, opposites. When Mera had suggested that they do Poor and Rich, he was all for it. Then Mera reminded him that he would have to be poor, since she had already got a dress. And he was less for the idea.

At least the taylors were able to make it look sophisticated, like he wasn’t another one of the plebs. Because he wasn’t.

“Sir, it’s time to leave if we want to pick your date up in time,” his chauffeur said.

“Well I’m not paying you to stand around,” he said irritably. They both went to the limousine.

Once they arrived at the pile of scraps that could hardly be called a house, Saiko opened his car door.

“Sir, you don’t need to get out-“

Saiko scoffed as he exited the vehicle. What kind of person did the driver take him for? He wasn’t a pleb, he could knock on his own date’s door.

He reached out and… stopped. What was he waiting for? Before he could get his hand to move, Mera opened the door.

She was truely stunning.

She wore a deep purple dress made of some kind of satin, with diamonds around the neckline and top of the skirt. The skirt itself was shorter in the front and longer in the back. Her white gloves were made of satin too, and her hair was let down for once. Overall, she certainly fit the theme of rich. Although, he thought she was more beautiful than any of the billionaires he had every seen.

“Ready?” Mera asked. Saiko looked away quickly, snapped out of his daze.

———

Once they arrived at Saiko’s mansion, they walked into the large dining room. To show off his immense wealth, he had ordered only the finest of foods from his five star chefs.

Mera inhaled and Saiko suddenly wondered if he smelled bad. Of course he didn’t, what was he thinking? He had worn his most expensive cologne, after all.

The dining room, which usually held several long tables, was now empty save for a small table covered with an ornate cloth and two seats. Saiko felt a small flare of something like rage at someone doing this without his permission. How dare they. Although, now that he thought about it… what did he expect? Were him and Mera going to sit at the heads of a long table like he and his father ate their meals? He supposed, begrudgingly, that this made the most sense.

They sat at the table as the waiters brought out a gourmet charcuterie board with cheese and meat from around the world. The gold platter was so big it hardly fit on the table.

Neither of them moved to take a bite. Mera stared at the food, mouth obviously watering, but she stayed still. Saiko was waiting for her. They were in a stale mate.

“Are you just going to stare?” Saiko asked impatiently. He had never heard his stomach growl, but he feared if he waited any longer he would. The only reason he bought all this was so she could eat like she did when she was rich. Wasn’t she always hungry?

Wait, that was wrong.

He bought it because he could, and to show off his wealth.

Saiko realized he had been absent mindedly staring at his fork. As soon as he looked up, he saw the entire platter was empty.

“Thank you,” Mera said. She blushed faintly, but he didn’t know why. He had expected her to do this. Which is why, with a look at a nearby servant, he signaled for the next board to be brought in. He had ordered enough food for ten people, or one Mera.

Mera ate slightly slower on the next board, giving Saiko the opertunity to eat as well. He was glad everything was up to standard. He realized they had been silent a bit too long, so he started monologueing.

“This cheese comes from Itally. Finely aged of course. A single bite this size would cost over 10,000¥. Although, I don’t expect someone like you would know anything about-“

“Oh, is this Bitto Storico? This was my dad’s favorite back in the day.” She continued eating as if her statement hadn’t been a complete gut punch. He kept forgetting that she had once lived the life he did now. All he could do was nod.

Soon a bowl of soup and salad sat in front of each of them. Saiko had thought he was hungry, but he barely ate. Mera ate quickly as if her food would vanish in a instant. In between bites, she said “It’s weird seeing you without your earring.”

The the taylor who designed his “peasant” suit had insisted he not wear jewelry. That included the hoop he usually wore in his right ear. Something about it. “Not fitting the costume.” He reached up and touched the empty space where it had once been. The earring was a bit bland- no diamonds dispute it being 24 karat.

He would have liked to wear it, as it was a family heirloom his dad had once possessed. His dad was now saving the space on his ear for 30 karat gold, when it was invented.

He should probably think of some kind of remark, but he couldn’t bother. He just shrugged and huffed annoyedly.

After they had eaten (or Saiko stabbed at and Mera inhaled) wagyu beef as the main course, It was time for dessert.

But as the waiter brought it in, Saiko noticed two things. One, it was his favorite dessert (he hadn’t specified when he talked to the chefs earlier that day).

And two, there was only a single plate of it.

He had let Mera eat as much as she wanted this whole night, and it would be improper of him not to offer her any at all. But this was obviously for him, so he would get most of it.

As soon as the plate with the chocolate lava cake was in between them, Saiko had his spoon in his hand.

He dug his spoon into it, eating as fast as he could. Of course Mera did the same as she had been doing all night. She was eating just as quickly. At this rate, she would eat all of it before he was even 4 bites in. Unacceptable.

He sped up, each bite quicker than the last. She took a giant bite, and Saiko saw the last piece in the center of the plate. He reached out to snatch it when-

Another spoon reached out and swiped at it. No, this was his last bite! He fought the other spoon, carefully maneuvering it towards himself without giving her enough room to get it back. Her spoon picked up abruptly. She must have surrendered!

He stood there for a split second congratulating himself when Mera suddenly snatched up the piece of cake and ate it.

Saiko was shocked. How could she trick him? Of course he could ask the chefs for another, but that would be the same as admitting defeat. No, he would have to bare this will all his pride intact.

Mera obliviously smiled. “That was really good,” she said. She was obviously gloating. He sighed dramatically.

“Well I hope your full, because it’s time to go.”

———

The limousine ride to the school was strange. It was a big space for just the two of them, yet they sat side by side to enter with each other. Heavy drops of rain hitting the top of the vehicle only added to the energy.

Although, Mera’s nearness was contributing to that as well. If he suddenly fell asleep, he would wake up on her shoulder just as she had done a few weeks ago. Of course he would never want something like that to happen. If his family had taught him anything, it was that there was nothing worse than accidentally touching someone poor.

He wondered faintly if that rule still applied if it wasn’t an accident.

Upon their arrival, Saiko and Mera walked to the door with a noticeable distance between them. I wasn’t intentional, obviously, but Saiko certainly wouldn’t be the one to cross it. A girl at the entrance asked their names. Saiko was about to reply before she spoke. “Oh, it’s you Mera! I thought you weren’t going to make it.”

“Small change of plans,” Mera said, beaming.

The girl- she might have been in their class- eyed Saiko up and down before winking. What was that supposed to mean? He should tell her that this was purely out of practicality.

Before he got the chance, the girl let them in. “Well, have a good night!”

Every dance Saiko had ever been to was elegant. Rich folk like himself sat around tables eating expensive food and bragging as much as they could get away with. They all had crystal champagne, crystal chandeliers, and exquisite art work on display.

So one could understand how he came to the conclusion that this dance would be similar. However, it was not even close. The room could only be described as chaos.

He wondered what to do when he suddenly felt someone pull on his sleeve. Alarmed, he ripped it away and glared at the pleb who dared touch him.

He realized with a start that it was only Mera. He figured she would have wondered off by now, her part of their bargain fufilled.

“I’m going to the dance floor,” she said and began walking away. He was about to follow her but realized how pathetic that would be. It wasn’t an invitation. He should probably find somewhere to be as well.

He walked over to the punch bowl and scooped out a cup. It felt terribly cheap and flimsy, but he didn’t plan on bringing his own. He took a sip. It tasted like pineapple and cherry and a bit of something else he couldn’t quite place.

He didn’t feel like joining the mob by the speakers or the groups of people sitting on the dirty ground, so he just stood there drinking from the red solo cup.

Eventually some other kid in his class stood next to him. Saiko raised an eyebrow at him. “Not dancing, pleb? I don’t know if you can afford a suit like that to just stand around in.”

The insult didn’t land as well as he hoped it would. His voice was less biting than usual, and effect was ruined when his classmate simply shrugged. Agitated, he finally left the punch table and moved toward the dance floor.

The song playing on the speakers was upbeat, and somehow everyone knew the dance. He wondered briefly if he was out of the loop before looking for someone to copy. He spotted a girl who looked like she knew the song well and copied her. He couldn’t see who it was in the black lights, but just as he was finally getting the hang of it she looked at him.

He felt his heart stop as he realized who he had been staring at. Mera. He looked away and made a tch sound. She was already striding over.

“Do you know this one?” She asked as the song changed. Another song, this one with a heavy bass and a lot of words. He should lie and say he did, and then return to the safety of the punch bowl. Instead, he shook his head.

“Stand behind me.” He hesitated, then did so with an eye roll.

“You know, if I wanted to learn this I could have any high performing teacher in Japan teaching me.”

“I assume I’ll be compensated then?”

“Sure.”

He realize that everyone was in lines and rows. Mera showed him how to clap, clap under your knee, kick, clap, clap under your other knee, kick, and turn. She did it slowly until he got the hang of it, then they both fell into the rhythm of the beat. They clapped in unison, and Saiko begrudgingly admitted to himself than this was more fun than the dances he was used to.

The song ended and a new one played, this one much slower. He was supprised to find that this was a waltz he knew. It was a rather simple one, without any words. He nearly looked at Mera before remembering who he was. Of course he wouldn’t dance with her, she was…

His mind felt too foggy to think of an unkind way to describe her. He glanced at her and saw she stood there without moving. She obviously didn’t know this one. They would just stand there until it was over and they could move on to a dance that required no physical contact.

A girl approached them, smiling. “Could I have this dance?” She reached out a hand to Saiko.

“No,” Saiko barked.

“Oh, that’s too bad.” The girl had obviously lost interest and was walking away.

Well, now he certainly couldn’t ask Mera to dance. Not that he ever would, but especially not now.

The waltz ended. Saiko felt too awkward to do another dance to the upbeat song that now played. Instead, he resigned himself to the punch bowl.

“Wait, there’s cookies over there?” Mera looked delighted.

He hadn’t noticed them earlier, but there were several plates of sugar cookies on the table as well. They walked toward the table, and Saiko took another drink of punch upon their arrival.

He was surprised to find that she hadn’t taken a single cookie when he looked back at her.

“Guess I’m not hungry,” she said after noticing his confusion. She sounded far off, and he didn’t press any further. That was, until another song came on. It was a slow dance again, another common one among the wealthy.

Mera sighed and looked… a bit sad. Saiko immediately decided he hated the expression. He would spend any amount of money to change it. But maybe he didn’t need to.

“Do you know this song?” She seemed to snap from her daze and looked at him curiously.

“No, I don’t.”

“Then I’ll repay my debt for your dance with mine.” He wasn’t sure he was filtering his words as much as he should have, but he chose not to care in the moment.

Mera didn’t protest as he reached out- hold on, he was about to break the rule about not touching poor people. But his family would never know. No one else at the party would even notice them, he realized. Dispute his money, here he was just another peasant.

She grabbed his hand that was frozen in the air. He blinked at her grip, warm even through the gloves. Before he decided against it, he grabbed her other hand and laced their fingers together. She didn’t seem to need instruction, but he spoke anyway. “This dance is basically freestyle. Every few beats the lady does a move and returns.”

She nodded doubtfully until the song began to pick up bits of speed. They were swaying now, and he felt her let go of one of his hands to preform a kick into the empty air. At a dance like those he often when to, the kick would be scorned as childish and unimpressive. Saiko decided it was an excellent move, if only because she was the one who preformed it. As the climax neared, he felt the energy in the room grow.

Right at the crescendo, he moved in such a way that she twisted away from him, and then right back. He realized his miscalculation as she ended up right in his arms. Surely she could hear his heart beating in his chest. It was so loud the music seemed nothing more than a buz.

The song ended, the final note echoing in the room. He hadn’t wanted the song to end so soon.

Saiko took a few steps back, nearly stumbling into someone. He shook himself off.

To his suprise, when the next song came on she taught him again. They were together the six remaining songs of the night. The lights in the school’s gym flashed on, leaving everyone blinking rapidly.

“I hope everyone has had a good night!” A woman with a microphone said. “It’s now past the time we are designated to use the gym, so I ask that everyone now exit!”

They began following the flow of the crowd, and he realized him and Mera would be separated on the way out. Sure enough, outside the building she was no where to be found. He waited by his limousine as patiently as he could.

When he was beginning to worry that something had happened to her, she came running up to the car.

“Sorry I’m late, please don’t revoke my paycheck!”

Saiko was supprised to find himself smiling. He rubbed the expression off his face as they entered the vehicle.

“What did you think,” Saiko asked to make conversation.

“It was really good for my first dance.”

He raised an eyebrow. “If it was your first time, how did you know all the dances?”

Mera laughed. “My little sister taught me. She had one of those dancing video games from America, we played it together until she lost it one day. Hopefully after this I’ll have enough money to buy a new one.”

She really did care for her family. Although, he already knew that much.

“I’m glad I got to experience this. Usually with my jobs I’m fully booked all the time. It was nice to have a break. Thanks for that.”

With money, you can buy anything in the world. Luckily, a dance console for Mera was considered part of anything.