The Dance

It was that time of the year again. Mamori hates this time. It was time for the school's festival. She doesn't hate the festival itself, but the folkdance. Her adoring fan gets crazier and crazier every year. Every boy in Deimon wants her to be his partner. Imagine 300 boys follow you around day and night just to ask you to some stupid dance. It's irritating! That's why she never accepts any of them. But they just won't quit. Everyday for the past two weeks she's been followed around by boys acting like rabid dogs. Every morning she would find love letters in her locker. The only place safe for her was the clubhouse. No boy, no student has ever been near the clubhouse. Probably because Hiruma's always there.

It was late. She stayed behind longer until all her fans were gone. She was really tired. So, she decided to rest a bit. She lounged at the sofa in the clubhouse. She took a long breath and let out a sigh.

"Got something on your mind, manager?" A familiar, hoarse voice startled her.

"Hi..Hiruma-kun? What are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm..kinda…sorta…hiding…?" She blushed and looked down.

"From those freaks that were chasing you all day?"

"Yeah.."

"Kekeke.. Look who's popular…"

"Mou..Hiruma-kun.. I'm not popular!"

"Sure you're not. Now go home. It's really late. Besides, there's no one else outside." He said and pointed at the door. She nodded and grabbed her things.

"G'nite Hiruma-kun." She smiled.

"Whatever."

The next day wasn't any different from the day before. Every boy in school was chasing her.

"Anezaki-san! Please be my partner for the folkdance!"

"NO! Be my partner, Anezaki-san!"

"Hey! I asked her first!"

The guys began to quarrel over her. Why must she be cursed with beauty? Every guy in school is- Wait. Not every guy. An idea began to take form in her brain.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you guys, but I'm already going with someone." She said calmly.

"WHAAT??!!" They all said in unison. Their jaws almost dropped to the ground.

"Who is it, Anezaki-san? I'll change his mind!" A guy said.

"I'm not sure you can. He's..kinda stubborn. Okay, I, uh…gotta go to class, guys. See you later." She laughed nervously. Not really sure where this was going. She quickly struggled herself out of the crowd of disappointed guys and headed to class. In class, she saw Hiruma sitting on his desk, typing away on his laptop. She sat on her desk, which was directly behind him, and tapped on his shoulder.

"Ne, Hiruma-kun. Are you going to the folkdance at the end of the festival?"

"Tch. I thought you knew me better than that, fucking manager." He popped his bubblegum.

"You're not?"

"Of course not." He was starting to sound exasperated.

"Not even with me?"

He whipped his head towards her, looking almost shocked. She was blushing, hoping for a yes. Suddenly, to her surprise, he burst out into laughter. Her eyes widened and she smacked his arm. This was not going as planned.

"Hey! I'm serious!" She blushed harder, now because of anger.

"Kekeke! Never thought you had the guts to ask me, fucking manager! I thought guys were supposed to ask the girls, not the other way around. Kekeke!"

"So..Is that a yes then?"

"Don't think I don't know what you're real plan is. You're just asking me because you probably said something about somebody already asked you to the dance to those fans of yours and because, other than the Amefuto team, I'm the only guy who's not following you around like a lovesick puppy, you decided to ask me. Am I right?" He cackled. His analysis ability could put together the pieces in a flash.

"So?! Come on Hiruma-kun… If the other guys see me without a date they'll think I've lied to them."

"You did lie to them. And besides, why would I want to go to the folkdance?" He grinned and stood up. He closed his laptop and walked out of the classroom, still laughing slightly.

"Hiruma-kun! Class is about to start! Where are you going?!" She shouted. But, Hiruma didn't seem to hear her. Yeah, right. He could hear someone whisper from 3 yards away. He probably ignored her, typical Hiruma. She sighed once again and rested her head on the table. 'What am I going to do… I could ask Sena. But he's probably going with Suzuna-chan. Monta? I have a reputation to uphold! Kurita-san? I don't think he dances very well. I could ask one of the Huh-huh brothers. Yeah, I'll go ask Jumonji-kun later.'

"My God… What am I going to do…" She let out a long sigh. She was on her way to go to the clubhouse when she saw Jumonji-kun being asked by a very pretty girl. He seemed to have agreed to her. 'Oh, come on… Who else am I gonna ask? The other two Huh-Huh brothers are..hopeless..' She was starting to feel desperate. 'Should I really ask Monta-kun? He's nice..but he's not exactly the guy who I want to go to the folkdance with..'

The day went by surprisingly quiet. No more guys followed her. Practice also went by calmly, other than the fact that Hiruma-kun just bought a new gun and used Sena and Monta-kun as target practice. She stayed back at the clubhouse to organize the new data about Ojou, she cleans when she has something on her mind. She was realigning the folders when the door to the clubhouse opened. 'Who would come here at this time?' She thought. She peered a little from behind the folder rack and saw Hiruma slowly walking in. He sat down at the table and took a long sigh. He tilted his head back and covered his head with his hand. She heard him say some curses under his breath. 'Wonder what's wrong with him…' She thought. He opened his laptop and started opening some files. Funny, he wasn't writing like he usually does. He smiled slightly and his gaze softened.

"Hiruma-kun?" She said, walking from behind the folder rack. He was startled, but didn't panic. The files he was opening were all closed in one swift move. But she saw he was looking at some pictures. Pictures of some girl. Who strangely look a lot like her. He aloofly stared at her.

"Are you here every night? I thought you took care of your little pest problem."

"I was reorganizing the files. What are you doing here?"She questioned him back.

"I practically live here, fucking manager. Kekeke…" He teased.

"Really? I don't believe you. Tell me why you're really here." She raised an eyebrow.

"Shut up and go home, manager. It's late." He looked back at his laptop and started typing.

She crossed her arm and huffed a breath of exasperation. She grabbed her things and headed to the door.

"See you tomorrow then, Hiruma-kun." She smiled. Hiruma just nodded and she left. It's funny how they always meet there at night. The next day was the last day of the school festival. The folkdance was going to be held later that night. She still hasn't found a partner yet. 'Darn that Hiruma! This is all his fault, he always ruins everyone's plans! Oh, well. I guess I just have to skip this year's folkdance then.' With that thought in her head, she went on her day like nothing was wrong. Then nighttime fell.

"Partners for the folkdance part of the festival please get ready! The event will start in a few moments!" The principal announced on stage. Rather than being seen without a date, she went to the school's rooftop, hoping it was open. Unlikely though, the teachers don't like it when students go to the rooftop, much less on the last day of the school festival. But, strangely, it was open. As if somebody was already there. She could see a very familiar silhouette looking over the railing.

"Hiruma-kun? Is that you?" The man looked back slowly, revealing the face shone by the light from the bonfire below. He grinned.

"Aren't you supposed to be down there, fucking manager?" He gestured with his head.

"I thought you knew. I don't have any partner, remember?" She rolled her eyes.

He chuckled and she walked toward him. From there they could see the students dancing around the bonfire. Sena was with Suzuna, Jumonji was with the girl from yesterday, and even Ishimaru had a date. Wait, who's the girl? Mamori had never seen her before. She smiled while looking at Sena and Suzuna. They looked cute together. Monta was stuffing his face with chocolate covered bananas and looking disappointed. Probably because he didn't have a partner.

"Why didn't you look for another partner?" Hiruma broke the silence. She was actually getting used to it.

"Dunno. Just didn't want to I guess." She stretched her arms to the sky. He just popped a bubblegum and continued to stare at the people down below. A slight smirk formed on his lips occasionally, as if he had just seen something funny. They both stayed in the quiet for a while. Accompanied only by the music from below. Both of them don't really mind the silence. She never realized how people watching could be kinda fun.

"Is this where you go when you're not at class?"

"Yup. Being here helps me think. It's…quiet here." He turned around and pressed his back against the railing. He put another stick of gum into his mouth.

"Not so quiet now, is it?" She giggled.

"Actually, the music's kinda soothing…" He popped a bubble. His lips tugged into a thin smile.

"Huh. Never thought you were the type that likes music, HIruma-kun." She chuckled slightly.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, manager."

"Oh, puh-lease. Stop being all mysterious around me!" She finally burst into laughter.

"There's still time for one more dance! For those who haven't joined yet, join now! I repeat, it's the last dance of the night!" One of the teachers announced.

An awkward silence fell between them. It wasn't the kind of silence she likes. She was about to start a conversation when he asked a very un-Hiruma-like question.

"So…You wanna dance?" She chuckled and took his hand. Below them, Sena and Suzuna smiled at one another.

"So, You-nii finally gave in to Mamo-nee, huh?" Suzuna giggled.

"Who knew he dances so well." Sena said. And they both continued to dance.