Once Upon a Night
No one ever danced with her.
Oh, there were many gentlemen who had glided with her in the ballroom in all her sixteen years of life. But their question for her hand was never voluntary, always requisite.
No one had danced with her really.
The realization caused a pang in her heart. She was an heiress. They never viewed her as a real woman, a lady they would be interested to know. She was simply a timid, diffident heir of wealthy family. It made her feel like a burden, viewed as someone people had to pamper and admire for her connections.
At least once she hoped to find that one person who'd willingly dance with her, hold her waist like a delicate flower, and caress her hand as they danced the romantic steps of waltz. Someone who would look at her in the straight in the eyes, make her feel the magical fantasy she had always dreamed of.
Yet no one had ever asked her hand before. Not wholeheartedly.
And then the Winter Ball of Seiso Academy came.
The setting was all glittering chandeliers and floral scent, ladies from both department in twinkling gowns and cocktail dresses while the men wore tux of black and white and brown. There were resplendent smiles and trickles of laughter among the student body gathered in the open space.
Fuyuumi Shouko, garbed in neon green lace dress, was sitting morosely in one corner of the ballroom, watching the dancers with veiled envy in her magenta eyes. She sipped her lemonade, unable to stifle the rhythmic tapping of her feet.
Then the familiar tune of waltz began.
Her lips formed a gentle smile as she met the impressed gaze of Mori Manami in ice blue satin dress, which complimented her cyan eyes. She was confidently lead by Tsuchiura Ryoutaro, who looked ravishing in his dark suit, to the complicated steps of the waltz. Unbeknownst to the blonde pianist, her senpai had been mastering the dance to prepare for tonight. Hino Kahoko came into view next in the arms of Hihara Kazuki with their flushed cheeks and silent laughter as they danced, out of sync, to the music.
Blue and feeling sorrier for herself, she sighed. She was not dancing tonight, it would seem.
Just then, a shadow fell over her table and she glanced up with surprise, her lips parting. There was an outstretched hand, pale and steady fingers turned her way.
"Would you care to dance with me, Fuyuumi-chan?"
She looked at the eclipsed features beneath the light, his blue eyes distinguishable from the illumination, then at the lips which spoke of the words she had longed to hear in soft and soothing tones.
She found herself nodding as she calmly placed her hands on his. As they danced the night away, her lips curved into a secret smile.
"Thank you, Shimizu-kun."