(Author's note: It seems that doesn't like double-spacing or any attempt to seperate paragraphs...I'm sorry for the wall of text o_o')
Part Nine: Dancing With the Heart
"There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good." -Edwin Denby
"Turn, step, glide. One, two, three, one two three..."
Masa stared at her feet, trying to keep up.
She was failing. Miserably.
"One two three one two three..."
Glancing up at Yuujiro, she was slightly disconcerted to see him decked out in a tuxedo.
"Yuujiro, what the hell are you all dressed up for?" she whispered urgently. "This is practice, isn't it?"
"What are you talking about, sweetling? This is the competition, remember?" Yuujiro gave her a Brilliant Smile, quite different from his Blinding Smile.
Masa stared at the blonde before realizing something.
Yuujiro had cut his hair. He looked...manly.
The two of them whirled past a mirror, and Masa gasped. She was in a full, luxurious ballroom gown, and her feminity was quite obvious. The faceless people around her were whispering.
"...Masa Inoue...guys' school..."
"How horrifying...her parents must be so ashamed..."
Panicking, Masa tried to discern the people around her. She spotted Tooru, Mikoto, and Kaoru, all dressed (as males) to the nines, dancing with girls.
"Yuujiro! What's going on?" Masa nearly shrieked.
"Nothing, sweetling," Yuujiro said with a deep chuckle.
An announcer's voice rang through the dimly lit hall.
"Contestants two and three, Yuujiro Shihoudani and Masa Inoue. Would Yuujiro and Ayafuya please move to the center of the floor?"
The music sped up, and the two spun faster and faster. Dizzy, Masa tried to tell the blonde to stop, but he was growing bigger and bigger. She let go of him, and she fell to the ground...
With a thump, Masa fell out of her bed, completely disoriented.
"Ayafuya!" Kaoru whispered from across the room. He had heard his sister mumbling, then watched in slight amusement as she tumbled out of bed.
"Wha...?" Masa mumbled, sitting up. She rubbed her shoulder, which she had smacked from her fall.
"Good thing you weren't in the top bunk, Ayafuya."
"Kaoru."
"Hmm?"
"Shut up."
Kaoru snickered and rolled over, ignoring his sister's pointed glares. With a sigh, Masa rubbed the sleep from her eyes and threw a long-sleeved sweater and sweats over her pyjamas, the latter not being attire she'd want to be seen in outside of her room.
A glance at her clock showed it was only 6am. Curling her lip in disgust at herself, she exited her room and went around the corner to the washroom. It was small enough that it didn't have a shower, much to her chagrin.
Masa peered at herself in the mirror, taking a good, long look at herself for the first time in a long time.
Wide, expressive hazel eyes stared sleepily back at her, small lips set below a pert nose turned downwards in a grimace. Her skin was pale, so pale that the marks from her pillow stayed on her face for a good long while. She ran a hand through her messy, unkempt hair, which had grown a bit since her first day here; now, the brown wavy strands were nearly to her shoulders.
She pulled her lower eyelid down, examining the bags under her eyes critically, then glanced at her figure.
"I really can't believe I've managed for this long," she mumbled. "I should probably thank Mom for the androgenyous genes." She paused for a long moment, lost in the past.
Snapping out of her reverie, Masa sighed and splashed her face with water before returning to her room. Kaoru was asleep again, and the brunette sat beside her brother's bed.
"Baka," she muttered, poking his cheek lightly. "Coming here and getting everyone all riled up. Why can't you just make up with him already?"
Kaoru opened a hazel eye. "I don't need to tell you that, do I, Aneki?" he mumbled, startling Masa. She twitched, then smacked her younger brother lightly on the head.
"Ow," Kaoru grumbled sleepily. "Leave me 'lone."
"Go back to bed. You don't have anything to do today." Masa absently petted her brother's soft, fluffy hair, then frowned. She ran a hand through her own hair, which was tangled and definitely not fluffy.
"Stupid Kaoru and his nice hair," she muttered. Getting up, she plunked herself down at her desk and brought out her English textbook. While she studied, she pondered what Yuujiro and Tooru had been planning. They'd been quite secretive for a while now, and it disturbed her.
She heard a door creak open and the light patter of footsteps. Deciding she'd spent enough time staring at her textbook, Masa quickly changed into her uniform, staring at herself in the mirror.
"Come on, I'm a young girl in the prime of her life," she grumbled. "And still nothing up top."
"Good thing, Aneki, otherwise you'd have to go to a different school," Kaoru said, sitting up. He rubbed his eyes tiredly for a moment, then yawned. "Do you still have some milk in the fridge?"
"Yeah, go have breakfast. I gotta go eat with the others." Masa attempted to wrestle her hair into some semblance of neatness, but failed completely.
"By the way," Kaoru said, rolling onto his stomach, "I just noticed I've never seen you in phys. ed class."
Masa glanced at her brother with amusement. "We actually don't participate that much," she said with a wry grin. "We're usually doing Princess duties during seventh period. But when we do, we wear the normal gym clothes. Most guys don't care all that much about us if we're not in Princess mode."
Kaoru thought about this for a moment. "I really don't understand what it is about you four that makes these guys go batty," he grumbled. "Especially you."
Masa chucked a pillow at her brother. "Shut up, baka. I'm quite popular in my own right." She attempted to tame a cowlick without success, then pouted at her reflection.
A rap on the door made her jump. "Come in," she said after a moment, and Yuujiro stuck his head in.
"Hey Masa, Kaoru-kun. You ready to go eat?" the blonde inquired. Masa glared at his perfectly arranged tresses. "What's that look for?"
"Damn your hair," she muttered, trotting to the door. "Kaoru, what are your plans today?"
"I thought I'd practice judo today. Eiji-senpai invited me."
"Don't forget we're practicing dancing today," Yuujiro reminded Masa, who shivered.
"I had a really odd dream about that," she mumbled. "You were all...manly. It was weird."
Yuujiro raised an eyebrow at the brunette. "I'm manly all the time. It's just hidden behind my more feminine attributes."
Masa snickered, then turned to her brother. "I think we're practicing in the gym, if you want to stop by. Dance practice starts after school. You know how, right?"
"Yeah. Dancing was mandatory last year, as part of gym class."
"Maybe we can use you." Tooru stuck his head in the door, blue eyes dancing. "I don't know how well the soccer team knows how to dance."
"Even Katsumi-senpai?" Yuujiro asked in a teasing voice. Tooru blushed slightly.
"Never asked."
"You were too busy being rescued by him."
"You were saved by Masa."
"...shut up," Yuujiro grumbled, shooting a look at Masa, whose expression rivaled an angel's innocence.
"I can't help it if I'm more well-versed in ass-whooping than delicate Yuujiro," she said with a smile. "I'm a rough-and-tumble sort of guy." Not a guy at all, actually, she added mentally as an afterthought.
"Indeed, your very manner of speaking is coarse and uncouth," Yuujiro said, nose in the air. Masa lightly smacked the blonde, who laughed, wincing and rubbing his shoulder.
Tooru, noticing Masa's flyaway hair, sighed and shook his head.
"All this time as a "girl", and you still haven't managed to tame that mess you call hair?" the blue-haired boy tutted. "Sit."
Masa obediently sat at her desk. "We're going to be late for breakfast," she reminded him.
"You're not going to die from eating late," Tooru shot back. "Hold still."
Mikoto appeared in the doorframe, curiousity in his ruby eyes. "What's taking you guys so long? Hey, Kaoru-kun." The redhead blushed slightly, remembering the dramatic rescue of the previous day.
"Morning, Mikoto-san," Kaoru said, looking away from the redhead. "You're learning to dance, right? Is your ankle healed enough?"
"Yeah. When we all went to Miyagi-sensei yesterday, he said I should be fine." The group had visited the school doctor after the attempted kidnappings. Mikoto watched Tooru deftly handle Masa's runaway strands interestedly. "Is that how your hair is always so nice, Tooru?"
"Of course." Tooru gave a Blinding Smile at the redhead. "I take care to uphold Fujimori's good name. We're ambassadors of the school, you know."
"Did anyone else get a bunch of phone numbers yesterday?" Kaoru asked after a moment's pause.
"No," Yuujiro, Tooru, and Masa chorused.
"I did," Mikoto said glumly.
"It's because the two of you give off this aura of weakness," Yuujiro said with a gleam in his eyes. "Makes us sadists want to...play with you."
"Yuujiro! I hate you," Mikoto wailed. "I'm not weak!"
Masa thumped her palm. "That reminds me. I'm s'posed to visit Miyagi-sensei today. Someone remind me during lunch."
"Really? He asked you to visit him during lunch? Doesn't he know how much you like to eat?" Yuujiro inquired with a grin. Tooru nodded his assent.
"Does seem sort of odd. Oh, well, if poor Masa gets sick, we'll just have to play with Miko-chan even more."
Mikoto backed away slowly, his face pale. "Don't even joke about that," he said, aghast. "I put up with enough of that from my classmates."
Tooru finished fixing Masa's hair with a satisfied sigh. "There. Isn't that much better?"
Masa did a little twirl, fluffing it. "How about it, guys, do I look sexier now?"
"Sexi-er? When were you ever sexy in the first place?" Yuujiro snorted. Mikoto sighed.
"It's gonna be one of those days," the redhead said gloomily.
Masa yawned as she grabbed her textbook, following Yuujiro and Tooru down the hallway sleepily.
"What's with you this morning?" Tooru inquired, blue eyes curious. "You're a bit lackluster."
"Shuddup," the brunette grumbled. "I have low blood pressure. It gets me sometimes."
Yuujiro glanced at what Masa was carrying. "We have History now, right?" he asked in a tone that made Masa suspicious.
"Yeah, why?"
"Then why do you have your English textbook?"
Masa groaned and smacked her face with her book. Yuujiro laughed merrily at her mistake.
"You're such a space case sometimes," he said, ruffling her hair.
"Quiet, you," Masa said with a glare. "I've got a lot on my mind is all. And how dare you ruin the great Tooru-sama's hard work on my hair!"
Tooru pouted. "Yeah, Yuujiro," he grumbled. "I don't have anything to properly fix it with."
Masa flapped a hand at her friends to go on ahead as she trotted back to the classroom to exchange her books. "English is next class," she muttered. "Damn it all, why does it have to be dancing? It could be anything. But no, someone decides we're going to be twirling around with dresses and ribbons." She paled. "I do not think I can go through that again."
A rap on the door made her jump. Whirling, she spotted a curly mop of black hair, framing mischievious blue eyes.
"Hey there, Masa-hime," Mitsuru said with an easy grin. "Thought I heard you mumbling to yourself. What are you doing all alone?"
In explanation, the brunette held up her history text.
"Ah. I see." The boy rocked on the balls of his feet. "We have math next." His smile faded. "I really, really suck at it. Good thing I have Nori and Fumi with me, though."
Masa gave him a small smile. "You're not the only one. Mikoto struggles with it, too."
"Really? I can't see Mikoto-hime being bad at academics." The curly-haired boy pondered this for a moment.
"Mitsuru, who are you bothering?" two voices asked in unison. Mitsuru jumped up, a bit guiltily.
"Oh, it's Masa-hime," Nori said, his eyes widening in surprise. "Good morning. We didn't see you at all this morning."
"Yeah, we didn't really have much for duties today." Masa shrugged. "Do you expect much out of us otherwise?"
"Not so much," Fumio said, shaking his head. His shoulder-length black hair settled neatly back into place, earning him a jealous stare from the brunette. "Mitsuru, shouldn't we be going? We're gonna be late."
Mitsuru yelped in suprise. "You're right! If I'm late again, Honoka-sensei is going to give me extra homework!" The boy was off down the hall in a flash, and Masa fancied she could see a cloud of dust left in his wake.
The twins sighed and followed after, bidding a good day to Masa. She absently nodded and quickly made her way to her class. If she was late, she'd probably get more homework, too.
Lunchtime rolled around, and Masa grimaced as she stood from her desk, stretching. Catching the stares of her classmates, she shot them a look.
"Can I help you with anything?" she inquired in a sweet-yet-icy tone.
"No, Masa-hime," one student sighed. "Just admiring you."
"While I appreciate the attention, please ensure you do not pay more attention to me than the classes," she reprimanded them. Tooru and Yuujiro blinked in surprise.
"It's been a while since we've seen the 'winter' part of you," Yuujiro said with a grin.
"I'm going to visit Miyagi-sensei," Masa grumbled.
"Want us to buy something for you?" Tooru inquired, but Masa shook her head.
"I'll be okay. I don't know how long this will take." Masa stalked towards the nurse's office, her mood darkening. By the time she got there, she was frustrated at herself. Knocking heavily on the door, she entered and closed it behind her.
Miyagi-sensei was at his desk, going over some papers. Glancing up at the brunette, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Ah, Inoue-kun." He gestured to a bed. "Sit, please."
Masa sat, staring glumly at her feet.
"What's wrong?" Miyagi-sensei asked, raising an eyebrow. "Anything you want to talk about?"
Masa considered this, but shrugged. "Not really, but thanks for asking. I think this is something I just need to deal with."
"All right. If you change your mind, you know where to find me." He pulled a stool up in front of her, his green eyes probing. "Any headaches, blurry vision, or numbness? Have you been eating regularly?"
"No, no, no, and yes," Masa sighed. "Do you need to take blood?"
"No, but I will do a blood pressure test." Miyagi-sensei turned to get the machine when Masa's stomach growled. Loudly.
The brunette blushed crimson in embarrassment. Miyagi-sensei, however, just laughed.
"I see you have Hana-senpai's looks and appetite," he said with a chuckle.
Masa sat up straighter, intrigued. "You knew my mom?"
"Yeah, she and Kosuke-san were my senpais back in high school. Your father drafted me into the Theatre Club." The doctor shuddered.
"That explains...a lot, actually," Masa said after a moment, shocked. "More than it should, anyway. I always wondered where Dad found all those costumes."
Miyagi-sensei rubbed his face. "Kosuke-san was-scratch that, still is-an interesting person. Absolutely no regard for gender whatsoever...like a certain first-year?"
"I know, I know," Masa muttered. "I couldn't tell anyone that I was coming to Fujimori. They'd have had a fit. Even Dad was a bit surprised." A stubborn expression crossed her face.
"And that look is courtesy of your father," Miyagi-sensei said with a chuckle. "I saw it often, especially when he found someone perfect for a part in a play, gender be damned. And he always managed to convince them to help out." The doctor shook his head in wonder. "I still don't know how he did it. Even Hana-senpai was okay with playing men's parts more often than was normal."
"Dad doesn't talk much about his past," Masa said with interest. "I should come and chat more often."
"Well, as long as it's not intruding on your classes, feel free." Miyagi-sensei quickly hooked Masa up and after a few moments, had her blood pressure. "Looks good for now. Here, I figured you'd be hungry." He swiveled and grabbed some meat buns from his desk. "So I guess your brother got Hana-senpai's endurance, and Kosuke-san's looks? You two are like miniature versions of them."
"I s'pose," Masa mumbled as she scarfed the buns down. "Dad is always worrying about me. I took judo so he wouldn't, but it didn't help much, really. What did Mom play for sports?"
"Hana-senpai was, well, an excellent athelete. She was greatly admired by the underclassmen, both boys and girls alike." Miyagi-sensei pondered for a moment. "Now that I think about it, I think she even had a fanclub. Anyway"-he shook his head to clear his thoughts-"she did archery, track, and soccer."
Masa nodded. "I knew about archery. It was how she and Dad met, after all." She stood, dusting the crumbs from her lap. "Sorry, Sensei, but I should probably head back to class. We are done, aren't we?"
"Yes, yes, of course." The doctor waved her out of the room. "Come to me if anything changes, okay?"
"Yessir." Masa bowed and hurried back to her classroom. Tooru and Yuujiro were discussing something in whispers, but upon seeing Masa, glanced askew at each other and straightened up.
"What's up, you two?" Masa demanded suspiciously. "You've been doing that for a while now."
"Nothing," Tooru said with an innocent Blinding Smile.
"That doesn't work on me," the brunette warned. Yuujiro grinned.
"Nothing that concerns you, Masa. Not yet, anyway."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Never you mind." Yuujiro chuckled enigmatically, leaving Masa to shove that odd comment into the back of her head.
Throughout the afternoon classes, Masa's thoughts were far away as she dreaded the upcoming dance practice. Unfortunately, as with most things you're not looking forward to, time flew by. The bell signalling the end of school rang out, startling Masa.
"You're jumpy today," Tooru noted with interest. "Any particular reason or what?"
"Nope, not a one," Masa said hurriedly. "I'm totally fine with dancing."
Yuujiro grinned. "Really? Are you afraid of dancing, or what?"
The brunette shook her head emphatically. "Of course not. It's just intricate steps with music and dresses and..." She trailed off, paling. "Guys, I don't know if I can do it."
Tooru gave her an odd look. "Didn't you do judo?"
"That and dancing are completely different things," Masa said with a shudder.
"You're starting to sound like Mikoto," Yuujiro grumbled, swishing his hair over his shoulder. "We don't need two of you trying to ditch on your duties."
"Come on, we need to go," Tooru reminded them, tugging the two towards the door. "We can discuss this later, preferably within earshot of Mikoto." He grinned, blue eyes sparkling with mischief. Yuujiro laughed, and even Masa chuckled.
Masa and the three Princesses trotted to the gymnasium. They were a bit surprised to see only the ten starters.
"Hey, Katsumi-senpai," Tooru called, waving at the redhead. Katsumi spun, his face lighting up with delight.
"Ah, Tocchi." His gaze dropped briefly down the blue-haired boy's figure before bouncing back up to his face. "You look fabulous."
Tooru blinked, his cheeks reddening slightly. Yuujiro smirked and poked the Princess of Spring in the ribs.
"I, um, thanks, senpai," Tooru said, smoothing down his skirt. The Princesses were dressed in the female version of the school uniform.
"We didn't know what we'd be wearing," Masa chirped, "so we thought we'd go classic."
The soccer team nodded in agreement.
"Oi, Katsumi, quit playing around and get over here," Eiji rumbled, his deep voice bouncing off of the walls. Katsumi bowed to the four and skipped over.
"Where's Nakajo-sensei?" Mikoto wondered, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "We're a bit early, so maybe they're still setting up?"
"Did I hear Mikoto?" As if summoned, the brown-haired teacher stuck his head out of a small door. "Ah, you're here. Good. Early, too. I like that. And dressed already. Excellent." The teacher rambled on for a bit before pausing. "Anyway, sorry about that." He coughed, then rubbed his face. "The reason these guys are here today is because, despite their being the first string team, they still can't dance." Nakajo glared at the ten boys, who looked away sheepishly.
"Hey, we can dance, just not as well as the others," Takeo piped up, hands on his hips. "Don't put Tsutomu and I in with these clods." He ran a hand through his straight hair, striking a pose.
Tsutomu chopped the back of Takeo's head. "Shut up, baka." He turned to the Princesses, bowing politely. "Himes, my partner and I will be in charge of your instruction. Takeo has improved enough that he'll be helping us out."
A girl with long, brown hair turned from the back of the gym at Tsutomu's words. "Oh, I've heard about you from Tsutomu-kun," she said, smiling. "My name is Miwa Kashima. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you as well," Masa, Yuujiro, and Tooru chorused. Mikoto mumbled something at his feet.
"Hey, be nice to the lady," Masa whispered, poking the redhead. "She thinks we're girls."
"Really?" Mikoto said doubtfully, tears welling in his ruby eyes.
"For sure. She wasn't phased at all. Just act like a girl."
Mikoto sniffled, but nodded.
"Sensei!" Tooru called, raising a hand. The teacher glanced at the blue-eyed boy.
"Yes, Tooru-san?"
"There are eight boys and only four of us," he pointed out with a quizzical look. "What are we going to do?"
"Well, we've partnered you four up, and we'll be borrowing some other girls as well. Tooru, you'll be with Katsumi. Mikoto, you and Nori are together, Masa and Fumio, and Yuujiro and Akihiko."
Yuujiro groaned as Akihiko slid closer to him.
"How perfect, my Hime," the blonde boy said, eyes sparkling. "Fates decreed us to be together!"
"That didn't answer my question, Sensei," Tooru said, ignoring Yuujiro's pointed glares.
"Oh, I've invited some of my friends from Kiba School," Miwa said with an easy smile.
Mitsuru, who had been doing jumping jacks out of boredom, looked up with alarm. "Oh, no," he said, suddenly backing away from the door. "That probably means..."
The gym doors burst open behind the Princesses, causing them to jump and whirl.
"Ah, Mitsuru-kun, I thought I'd see you here," a voice said with a laugh. A stunningly beautiful woman entered the gymnasium, blinding everyone inside. Her hair was glossy, the dark curls perfectly falling to frame long eyelashes. She was tall, but amazingly proportioned. Masa looked at her own chest with envy.
"Onee-chan," Mitsuru groaned.
"Yes, that's right," the woman said with a giggle. "Nice to meet you, everyone. I'm Akane Ito, Mitsuru's older sister." She bowed to the group, then noticed the Princesses. "Oh, aren't you four adorable? What school do you go to?"
While she bombarded Tooru and Yuujiro with questions, Masa glanced behind her. Akane's blinding effect was wearing off, and she spotted three girls in the entryway, chatting.
Masa's eyes widened. Mikoto, noticing the brunette's odd look, peered into the doorway as well. He, however, didn't see anything as interesting, and went to talk with Nori.
The three girls that entered the gym were in the Kiba School uniform, which consisted of a yellow vest, a blue plaid skirt, and long white socks. One of the girls was petite, her short brown hair held in two clips, and one had short, thick, wavy black hair. The other, however, was one Masa knew quite well. She was tall, with short, light brown hair except for a long, slim braid down to her knees.
"Ch-Chihiro-chan?" Masa yelped in amazement, her hazel eyes widening.
The tall girl stared curiously at Masa for a moment, her amber eyes lighting up.
"Maa-chan!" she squeaked. "I haven't heard from you in forever!" She hugged the short Princess in glee, her braid entwining around them.
The other people standing in the gym watched in bemusement. Yuujiro had a concerned look on his face, his golden eyes darkened with worry. Tooru and Mikoto stared blankly.
"Hey, Masa, who's this? Did you have a girl on the side and you never told us?" Tooru murmured, moving beside the brunette.
"What? No. No, this is...Chihiro Takahashi. We went to middle school together," Masa said, running a hand through her wig.
"My brother is a friend of Iwao-san," Chihiro said with a grin. "And this," she said, pulling the shorter girl,"is Kyoko Ichihara-chan, and Shion Fuu-chan." She then skipped to the door and pulled the other girl inside. "I'm going to be dancing with Iwao-san, Kyoko-chan is gonna be with Ito-kun, and Shion-chan is dancing with Higa-san."
Masa, whose thoughts had been racing at this new development, suddenly realized the potential danger she was in. "Let's go catch up, Chihiro, while Sensei and the others get set up," she said, grabbing her friend's arm and tugging her away.
Chihiro obediently followed, wondering what this was all about. She then looked more closely at Masa's outfit, and she thumped her fist into her palm.
"I got it," the tall girl said with a grin.
"Chihiro-chan," Masa began, but trailed off at the look in her friend's eye.
"You joined this school because of some sort of quest, right?"
"...what?"
"Yeah! It makes perfect sense! In order to find yourself, you have to learn what you're not, or something like that!"
"Chihiro. No." Masa stared in amazement at her friend, then started giggling. "I...I joined this school because it's the best."
Chihiro paused and quirked an eyebrow. "What are people going to think when they see Fujimori on your list? Isn't this a well-known guy's school?"
Masa started to speak, then stopped. A stubborn expression crossed her face. "This is the best place for me to be."
Chihiro sighed, then gently ruffled Masa's wig, moving it experimentally. "So you didn't grow your hair out. Damn." She pouted, then giggled. "So you're a girl, pretending to be a boy, pretending to be a girl? What would Kaoru-kun think?"
"Kaoru's here, actually," Masa said dryly. "He thinks it's quite odd as well."
Chihiro blinked in astonishment. "Really? Why?"
"His school is being repaired, and you know how he feels about going home."
"I see. So he hasn't made up yet..." Chihiro tilted her head to the side, pondering. "Well, Masa-chan. Wait, it's okay if I call you -chan, right?"
"Yeah, because I think the girls from your school think we're actually girls, in order to avoid any misunderstandings..."
"I understand." Chihiro's amber eyes glinted. "Not as interesting a scenario I had hoped. By the way, the blonde one..." She gestured to Yuujiro. "He's your main, right?"
Masa's face turned crimson. "What?" she yelped, glancing over her shoulder. Yuujiro was watching them suspiciously.
"I noticed while you're all a little touchy-feely (is that normal for the...Princesses, you're called?) he seems to like to be near you."
The brunette stammered, then sighed. "Chihiro-sama. Please, please do not use your sharp eyes on me or the other three. We can't handle your edged truths."
"I suppose," the tall girl said wickedly. She waved at Kyoko, who raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "So, Masa-chan, have you seriously thought about all of this?" Chihiro gestured broadly. "I mean, what is your university going to think, seeing that you went to an all-boys school?"
Masa paused. "I'll think about that later," she said with a nonchalant wave. "This isn't the time, nor the place, to be discussing my future." Masa glanced at the other boys, then at her friend.
"I'll keep your secret," Chihiro assured her, amber eyes warm. "I wish you would have told me you were coming to Fujimori, though. Why haven't you texted me?"
"I'm sorry," the brunette apologized, clapping her hands together and bowing in forgiveness. "I honestly haven't really had time to stop and gather my thoughts. I haven't texted anyone in forever."
Chihiro thumped Masa lightly on the head, sticking out her tongue. "I'll forgive you if you promise to make me something delicious."
"Done and done."
Tooru and Mikoto watched the two girls interact with suspicion.
"Don't they look a little too friendly?" Tooru grumbled, swishing his long blue hair.
"They do look like two proper ladies," Mikoto admitted, then turned to Yuujiro. "You've been quiet for a while, Yuujiro."
"Afraid of some competition, Yuu-chan?" Chihiro asked, wiggling her hips as she walked over.
Yuujiro snorted. "As if you could compete with me," he said proudly, swishing his hair. His golden eyes narrowed. "And who are you to call me Yuu-chan?"
"Why, I'm Masa's childhood friend," Chihiro said sweetly, hugging Masa, who was about to speak. The small brunette was squished by her taller friend, unable to talk, making muffled noises of distress. "And Masa's friends are my friends, right, Maa-chan?"
"You sound like Katsumi-san," Masa grumbled, pushing away from Chihiro. "Giving me weird nicknames."
"I object, Mocchi," Katsumi piped, an easy grin on his face. "I only give those names to people I like." He winked, and Masa felt herself blushing.
"Damn you and your roguish looks," the brunette muttered, sighing.
"Okay, okay, that's enough time," Nakajo said, clapping loudly. "May I have your attention, please?"
The soccer members, the Princesses, and the three girls turned towards the teacher, obediently shutting up. Nakajo looked a bit surprised at how easily the boys had listened.
"Damn, if I knew getting you all together with some girls would make you this complacent, I would've petitioned for a co-ed school a long time ago."
The boys laughed half-heartedly, and Masa snickered.
"Anyway, I'm going to turn you over to Tsutomu-kun and Miwa-chan, okay? Be good and listen, or else I'll get in trouble from the Director for letting you guys mess up on the dance floor." Rubbing his head, Nakajo sat in the corner, motioning for Tsutomu to take his place.
"All right, guys and girls"-Tsutomu bowed to the women-"let's begin, shall we? These guys know the basics of dancing already, but who among the girls knows the waltz?"
Shion and Akane raised their hands.
"Good. I figured you would know, since Miwa-chan said it was a class." Tsutomu glanced at Kyoko, Chihiro, and the Princesses. "You guys need to learn from scratch? It shouldn't be too hard. Hey, Takeo. You take the guys through it while Miwa-chan and I work with the girls, okay?'
Takeo looked quite disheartened, but nodded.
"Good. We'll only be doing the basic box step waltz, but you'll need to get the rhythm down before we put you with the men."
A chorus of groans met this statement, which was met with a glare from the first-year.
"Can't you go easy on us, Tsutomu-sensei?" Hiro inquired, making a sad face.
"No chance. You forget I work in the Goto Dance Studio. You will learn, or you will spend the next two days in hell."
Masa swore she saw fire in his eyes as he said this, and she shivered. Yuujiro, sensing her discomfort, edged over.
"What's up?" he asked, golden eyes curious.
"I'm in for hell," Masa muttered.
"No, no, no! It's a smooth action, not choppy! Shoulders parallel to the ground! You guys need to look over the lady's right shoulder unless you're turning, not at your feet!"
"That's not quite right, Tooru-san. Your waist should move like this, not like that."
Apparently, Takeo was having some problems with getting the guys up to par, so Tsutomu left the girls with Miwa. His demeanour changed greatly when he was teaching the guys, and Masa giggled at his sudden change.
"Oh, Tsu-kun's always like that when he's in dancing mode," Miwa sighed, hearing Masa's laugh. "And Masa-san, the rhythm is one, two, three, not one, two, three. You're off by a beat."
Masa stared in bewilderment at the long-haired girl, who smiled.
"Don't worry, you'll catch on quickly," Miwa assured her. Masa still felt a sense of dread, however, that couldn't be dispelled by pretty words of encouragement.
Shion and Akane knew enough that they were helping Miwa, guiding the first-years into the proper stance and ensuring their steps weren't faltering.
"Glide, not stumble," Shion chided Mikoto, pursing her lips. "Heel, then ball of the foot. Long steps, and a rise to the toes at the end of the first beat."
Yuujiro, who was being chastised by Akane for slouching, sighed. "I never realized there was this much work involved," he grumbled, wiping a strand of hair off of his sticky forehead. "It's hot in here."
"Tsu-kun, we should take a breather," Miwa called, noticing the lackluster movements from everyone on the floor. "Then we can pair them up and let them go."
"I agree," Tsutomu said after a moment. "Take fifteen. Miwa-chan, can you come here?" The two went into a corner, whispering.
Chihiro sank onto the floor, rubbing her calves. "I'm not used to this," she complained, shaking her head. "It doesn't look that hard."
"I know, right?" Masa said with a laugh that ended in a gasp. "I'm doing better than I thought I would, anyway."
"You mentioned you hated dancing," Tooru said, sitting cross-legged, his blue eyes probing Masa.
"Well, I've always been absolutely horrible at it. Like rocks-for-feet bad. My dad wouldn't let me try after a while." She paused, hazel eyes distant. "I can't exactly remember when, but he finally forbade me from dancing."
This was met with quizzical stares from the three Princesses. Masa shrugged.
"He was kinda disappointed, actually," Masa murmured, thinking. "He wanted me to follow in his footsteps."
"Your dad dances?"
"Not anymore. He used to, though. His club in high school put on musicals all of the time."
Mikoto shivered. "Ugh, I hate singing."
Yuujiro elbowed the redhead. "We'd probably hate your singing, too. You probably couldn't carry a tune in a bucket."
"Yuujiro, shut up!" Mikoto wailed.
Chihiro watched this with rapt fascination.
"What are you thinking about, Chihiro?" Masa whispered, scootching over to her friend.
"While they pass for ladies, I'd figure something was up," the tall girl murmured. "Are you like this all the time?"
Masa paused. "Yeah, actually. We have an...odd relationship."
"No kidding." Chihiro looked thoughtful for a moment. "What are your plans on Showa Day?"
"Hmm? Nothing, I guess. Why?" Masa looked suspiciously at her friend.
"I just figured I'd get to know your friends better," her friend said with an angelic smile.
"I vehemently refuse," Masa said grumpily. "You'll cause trouble."
"Me? Never."
"What are you two talking about so seriously?" Yuujiro inquired, poking Masa in the ribs. The short brunette jumped and yelped.
"Masa won't let me hang out with you guys on Showa Day," Chihiro said with a sad look. "I wanna talk. We can go to that cake shop!"
Yuujiro blinked, considering the tall girl's proposal. "I don't see why not. Yo, Tooru. Mikoto. We're going out with these two on Showa Day."
"What?" Mikoto said, aghast. "But I was going to hang out with Megumi-san!"
"Nope. Not anymore." Yuujiro's eyes glinted mischievously. "Or else we'll tell her."
"I hate you," Mikoto said, tears in his eyes.
Tooru hugged the redhead. "It'll be okay, Mikoto," he whispered. "We can bring Kaoru-kun along."
Mikoto gave Tooru an odd glance. "Why would that cheer me up?"
Tooru shrugged. "You two seem to get along."
Suddenly, Tsutomu and Miwa trotted back, and Tsutomu clapped his hands.
"All right, guys, we're going to pair you up now. Mind you, you don't have to dance with each other at the banquet, so keep that in mind."
The guys cheered lustily.
"Okay, let's try not to crush our feet. Remember the basic steps, and if I so much as see the guys glancing at their feet..." Tsutomu glared in the direction of Eiji, who grinned and rubbed his head.
Miwa smiled reassuringly at the ladies. "Don't worry, just do your best. We have all the time we need tonight."
"As long as my legs hold up," Chihiro grumbled.
"Iwao-san, you and Chihiro-san are going to be together, because you're both quite tall." Tsutomu ducked as Miwa tried to smack him, but Iwao laughed.
"I know Chihiro-chan's brother, so it's not going to be awkward at all," he said with a smile. "Good. Eiji, you'll be with Akane, so she can help you if you happen to screw up." Eiji bowed and offered his hand to the lovely maiden, who graciously accepted.
"I'll be gentle," Akane said with a wicked grin. Eiji's eyes widened in alarm.
"Katsumi-san, you'll dance with Tooru-hime. Hiro-san, you and Shion-san will be together, and Nori-san and Mikoto-hime."
The three obediently held hands, Tooru blushing slightly. Masa watched with interest-Tooru was usually so calm. Although it was a bit uncomfortable for them to be dancing with guys. This was the most contact any of the Princesses had ever had to have with the students.
Mikoto was staring at his feet as he put his hand on Nori's shoulder. Nori smiled at the redhead.
"Don't worry, Mikoto-hime," he said, patting Mikoto. "I know how to dance, so follow my lead."
"Masa-hime, you'll dance with Fumio. Akihiko..." Tsutomu trailed off, the Ouji-sama of Fujimori already having taken Yuujiro's hand. Masa covered her eyes at the sight of the two blondes together, blinded by the brightness.
"Never mind. Mitsuru, you'll dance with Kyoko-san." With that, Tsutomu started the music, and the sixteen started their practice.
Masa stumbled over the first few steps, accidentally trodding on Fumio's feet. "I'm sorry," she whispered, staring at her feet, feeling a blush creep up her face. "I really, really suck at dancing."
"Don't worry, Masa-hime," Fumio said, brown eyes warm. "I'll help you along."
Masa glanced up at the boy, then at her hands. They were so much smaller than his.
I wonder how big Yuujiro's hands are? the brunette wondered, then shook her head. "I'll do my best," she said with a tentative smile.
"That's all we ask," Fumio grinned. "Besides, what's the worst that can happen? You step on my feet? That's nothing compared to training."
Nori, who glided beside them, laughed. "It's true. I'm surprised we haven't broken any bones yet."
"Not for your not trying, Nori," Mitsuru grumbled as he sidestepped. "I swear you're trying to kill us."
Katsumi whirled past them all, looking as though he was on ice. "You just need to increase your endurance," he called as he swept Tooru around. The blue-eyed boy was staring at his senpai with an interested look on his face. Katsumi, noticing this, gave an easy grin. "What, is there something on my face?"
Belatedly realizing he had been staring, Tooru gave an awkward laugh. "No, it's just...I've never seen you with your bangs back."
Indeed, the redhead had his bangs pinned to the sides of his face, which seemed to enlarge his green eyes. Katsumi laughed.
"Yeah, it's rare. By the way, Ecchi," he called, and snickered at Eiji's pointed glare. "Are we properly doing our hair?"
"Of course," the captain snorted. "We can't make a bad impression."
"You guys sound like girls," Kyoko said with a giggle. "Do guys really think about that sort of stuff?"
The Princesses glanced at each other, then grinned.
"Not usually, no," Mitsuru admitted, then nearly tripped Kyoko. "Oops, sorry."
"Slow down, Mitsuru. You're moving too quickly," Tsutomu chided. "Kyoko-san can't keep up."
Mitsuru sighed. "Yes, sensei."
Masa, who had been pondering what she was going to do for supper, and what Kaoru was doing, suddenly tripped. She hit the ground hard with a squeak.
"I'm sorry, Masa-hime!" Fumio said in horror. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Masa said, slowly standing up. She brushed herself off, looking mournfully at her dress, which had a large dusty spot. "I haven't fallen in a while, so I guess I got cocky." She gave a half-smile, which caused Fumio to blush.
"Are you okay, Masa-san?" Miwa inquired, hurrying over.
"Don't worry," the brunette said, giving a Blinding Smile. The other three Princesses instinctively shielded their eyes.
"Been a while since we saw that," Tooru said with a laugh. Yuujiro snickered as he swept by. Akihiko looked like he was on top of the world, his hazel eyes shining.
"This is great," Nori said with a small smile. "We get to occupy all of the hime's time."
"That's true," his twin said, blinking. "I never thought of it that way."
"By the way, why do you call those four hime?" Shion asked curiously. "Are they special?"
"I guess," Katsumi said, glancing at Tooru, "it's because they always cheer us on, no matter what. They're part of our school life. We wouldn't have won without them."
"I see," Shion said, pondering this. Akane shot a sidelong glance at Eiji, who avoided her stare.
"Does Akane-san know about the Princess program?" Masa whispered. Fumio shrugged.
"It's quite possible. She's Mitsuru's sister, after all. He probably told her."
"But the other two don't know?"
"Probably not. I don't really know how much people outside of the school know." Fumio stumbled for a moment, but managed to catch himself. "Does Takahashi-san know as well?"
"Yeah, she figured it out," Masa said. The fact that I'm a girl probably helped, she added inwardly with a grimace.
Fumio laughed at her facial expression.
"What?" Masa asked, frowning.
"I've never really seen you outside of the morning meetings and cheering," the forward murmured. "I guess you were some sort of untouchable person. I never really thought you had that sort of expression in you."
"I guess not," Masa pondered. "We have to keep up appearances, you know."
"Is it hard, being a Princess?" Fumio asked curiously. "It seems to be tiring."
"Some days it is," Masa admitted. "But we just remember how many people are depending on us, and we get through it."
"I see." Fumio was silent as they continued dancing, Masa's steps slowly becoming less faltering. Improvement was quite slow, but Masa was heartened by the fact that she was improving.
At five-thirty, Tsutomu turned off the music. "We'll break for supper, and meet up again at seven. Miwa-chan, what are you girls doing?"
Miwa considered this. "I don't really know," she admitted.
"I know," Eiji boomed, making everyone jump. "I know a great yakiniku restaurant. It's a five-minute walk. My treat," he said with a grin.
The boys and Masa cheered.
"You do love eating, don't you?" Yuujiro said, raising an eyebrow at Masa's enthusiastic response.
"Of course," the brunette shot back. "Besides, I need to eat so I can keep up with this dancing."
Chihiro skipped over to Masa, her arm encircling Masa's waist. "Maa-chan, let's go back to your room," she purred.
"Why?" Masa asked, giving her friend an odd look.
"Don't you want to change?"
"I guess, yeah," Masa said, looking at her dress. "You three changing as well?"
"Of course," Mikoto said instantly.
"Wait a second," Tooru murmured. "They'll figure it out. Are you okay with that?"
Mikoto gave a determined grimace. "I don't care."
Yuujiro's golden eyes unfocused for a moment. "Let's ask Arisada-san," he said, and the four Princesses shivered.
"We need to go and speak with Arisada-san," Tooru said, beaming at the group. "We'll be right back. Where is the restaurant, Eiji-senpai?"
Eiji gave them directions, and Tooru nodded as he committed them to memory. "We'll meet you there at six," he said, sapphire eyes sparkling.
They all nodded. Chihiro still clung to Masa.
"Chihiro-chan, let go," Masa grumbled. "You don't want to meet Arisada-san."
"Why? Is he a delinquent or something?" Chihiro asked, her interest piqued.
Yuujiro and Tooru suddenly clapped a hand over their mouths, holding back laughter picturing Arisada.
"Ignore them," Masa said with a sigh. "They're always like this. Mikoto, are you coming or what?"
Mikoto dragged his feet after the others. "I guess."
"We should grab Kaoru, too," Masa said after a moment. "He's probably starving. He needs a lot of food to keep going."
Yuujiro snickered. "Just like you."
Chihiro raised an eyebrow. "They've seen your eating habits?"
"I've managed to cut back on meals," Masa said with a sigh. "I eat a lot of snacks, though. I'm totally looking forward to pigging out on barbeque." Masa's eyes glittered with resolve.
Chihiro smacked the brunette. "Don't eat too much, or else you'll get fat."
Tooru giggled. "Roly-poly Masa."
"What?" Masa said incredulously. "Tooru, that's not very nice." She suddenly leapt at the blue-haired boy. "Punishment!" She tickled him mercilessly.
"I yield! I yield!" Tooru gasped through his laughter. "Forgive me, Masa-sama!"
Masa gave a suspicious stare. "I suppose, if you promise to buy me lunch tomorrow."
"Anything you want," Tooru said, putting a palm over his heart.
"Forgiven!" Masa skipped ahead, then turned and stuck her tongue out at the four. Yuujiro roared and charged after her. Mikoto sighed and shook his head as he, Tooru, and Chihiro followed after them.
Chihiro was awestruck at the sight of Arisada.
"Masa!" she whispered urgently. "You never told me this!"
"That's why we laughed when you said he was a delinquent," Masa murmured.
"...so we were wondering. Is it okay for people outside of Fujimori to know about the Princess Project?"
"While it's ultimately up to you, it's fine," Arisada said after a moment. "Don't forget, this program has been in place for many years. The director was a Princess, as well. Many people who go on to run corporations were Princesses." He paused, glancing at Chihiro, who blushed furiously.
"What are your thoughts, Takahashi-san? As an outsider?"
"Well, honestly," she said with a hesitant smile, "since I go to Kiba High School, an all-girls school, we have the girls dress up as guys on occasion. So I'm sure we'll understand where you're coming from. Akane-senpai knows, and I'm sure Miwa-senpai guessed it as well."
"I guess we've decided, then," Yuujiro said, glancing at Mikoto, Tooru, and Masa, who all nodded. "We'll deal with anything that comes up."
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," Arisada said with a smile, causing the five to turn away.
"It's like looking into the sun," Mikoto grumbled. Tooru nodded his assent as they went outside, having caught Arisada on his way to supper.
"So you guys are going to change, right? I wanna come. I want to see Maa-chan's room," Chihiro said with a coy glance.
"Whatever," Masa said tiredly. "I feel worn out. Wonder why?"
"Is it your blood pressure?" Yuujiro asked, concerned. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be all right," the brunette said with a half-hearted grin. "I can't wait to get out of this wig. It's been super itchy today."
Chihiro tugged at her friend's wig, which had been in a ponytail. "I can't believe how well-made this is," she said in amazement. "Who does this stuff for you?"
"We've got a designer in our school," Tooru said with a grin. "He loves making outfits for us."
Chihiro's eyes sparkled. "I'd love to see them sometime."
"We have pictures for sale," Yuujiro said with an evil gleam in his eye. "Partial proceeds go towards us."
"Oh? You must make a lot of money on the side," Chihiro said with a pout, but suddenly brightened. "We should go shopping on Showa Day!"
"What? No, we're guys, remember?" Masa said, thumping her friend. "We don't shop."
"Aw," Chihiro said, lapsing into sullen silence. The walk to their rooms was short, though, and Tooru, Mikoto, and Yuujiro disappeared to change.
Masa opened her door and saw Kaoru face-down on the floor.
"Ayafuya," he groaned, words muffled by the carpet. "I'm so hungry! Where were you?"
"At dance practice," Masa reminded him, kicking him lightly in the side. The fluffy-haired teen rolled over, then sat up abruptly.
"Oh, Chihiro-san!" he said with a broad smile. "Haven't seen you in a while."
"Kaa-chan! How have you been? How's Kisaragi treating you?"
"Not that well, otherwise I wouldn't be here," Kaoru said with a wry grin. "Ayafuya and the others have been keeping me busy, though. How's Kiba? Are the girls there as pretty as they say?"
"I'm there, aren't I?" Chihiro said, striking a pose. Masa giggled.
"Kaoru, out," Masa said, shooing her brother outside. "I'm getting changed."
Chihiro sat on Masa's bed, glancing around the room. She spotted the picture on the dresser and examined it curiously.
"You look more and more like your mom," she murmured.
"I know," the brunette groaned. "Unfortunately, I inherited her chest, too. Damn genes."
Chihiro giggled. "You haven't changed much," she said with a smile.
"Why would I?"
"You're surrounded by boys," Chihiro said with a patient expression. "Ever thought what would happen if they learned you're a girl?"
"All the time," Masa said with a grimace. "It's a constant battle."
"What do you do about that time of the month?"
"Grin and bear it."
"Does the school doctor know?"
"Yeah, he knew my dad. And my mom."
"That...explains more than it should."
"That's what I said." Masa giggled, then suddenly got serious. "Yuujiro knows, though."
"What?"
"Yuujiro. He knows I'm a girl."
"Ah, that explains a lot." Chihiro put a finger on her lips, pondering. "He seems like an interesting guy."
"They all are, actually," Masa admitted. "I don't know what I would do if I hadn't become a Princess."
"You'd be poor, for one thing."
"No more lunch." Masa looked quite despondent at the thought, then perked up as she threw on a t-shirt and some jeans. Carefully hanging up the dress in her closet, she put the wig on her dresser as she attempted to tame her hair.
Chihiro tsk'd. "Still haven't managed to get the hang of this? Here, let me."
Masa obediently sat in front of her friend, sitting cross-legged as Chihiro ran a comb through her hair.
"Just like old times," Masa said with a grin, closing her eyes.
"Yep."
The two were silent for a long moment, the only sound the swish, swish of the comb.
"There, done."
Masa glanced at herself in the mirror, her eyes wide. "Holy. You have the hands of a goddess. I should call you Kami-sama."
"I've been thinking about attending beauty school after Kiba High School," Chihiro said thoughtfully. "Shouldn't we be leaving?"
"Ah, you're right," Masa yelped, leaping up. "Kaoru! Yuujiro! Tooru! Mikoto! Let's get our asses in gear, shall we?" She opened the door with a flourish, only to see the four of them waiting impatiently outside of her door.
"Takahashi-san seemed to keep you longer than usual," Mikoto said with a grin.
"Shut up, Mikoto," Masa grumbled, glaring at the redhead. "At least I don't have to lie to her."
"Masa! That's...I..." Mikoto pouted, looking at the others for support. They all looked away.
"I hate all of you," he mumbled as they left the dorm.
They met up with the soccer team and the Kiba girls at the yakiniku restaurant, energized by the conversation and general atmosphere.
The girls were slightly shocked when they realized Tooru, Mikoto, and Yuujiro, and Masa were boys, but readily accepted it.
"I kind of thought something was a bit off," Shion said with a giggle. "I thought I saw Yutaka-san's hair slip."
"Tanaka-san, you lied to me," Akane said with a raised eyebrow.
"Not really," Eiji protested. "They certainly keep our spirits up."
"It's true," Fumio and Nori chimed. "Without them, we'd be sad." They made pouting faces, causing everyone to laugh.
"We appreciate everything they do," Katsumi said with a smile. "They're the jewels of Fujimori."
Tooru glanced at the red-haired senpai, but didn't comment.
"What do you want to do, Inoue-san? What made you pick Fujimori?" Kyoko absently re-adjusted her hair pins, cocking her head to the side.
"It's the best school in the area," Masa admitted. "I figured it would be great if I could manage to get in. What about you, Ichihara-san?"
"I'm just a first-year," she said with a sigh. "Chihiro-san roped me into this."
Akane laughed. "Miwa convinced Shion and I. We're second years, by the way."
"This is Icchi, Ecchi, and my last year," Katsumi said sadly. "Although we'll have fond memories."
"And lots of memorabilia," Mitsuru said with a grin.
The three third-years looked with shock at him, Eiji lunging to thwack the small boy. Mitsuru laughed and ducked out of the way.
Mikoto sighed as he watched the boys get rowdy. Kaoru, sitting beside him, edged a bit closer, straining to be heard over the sudden din.
"So, Mikoto-san, how did the dance lessons go?" Kaoru's brown eyes were curious as he ate.
"It went well, I think," Mikoto said hesitantly. "It doesn't look hard, but it is." He looked at his food despondently. "I hate the thought of cross-dressing in front of so many people, though."
"Don't worry, I'm sure it'll be fine," Kaoru said reassuringly.
"Yeah, Mikoto, we'll be there with you," Tooru said with a grin, petting Mikoto's hair. "You're not alone."
"I guess."
Masa sighed as the noise died down, smiling contently.
"You look pleased," Yuujiro said with a laugh.
"Best. Meal. Ever." The brunette suddenly yawned, the events of the day catching up with her.
Chihiro glanced at her watch. "We should head back, Miwa-senpai," she said, and the group reluctantly left the restaurant, leaving Eiji to settle the bill, despite the team's protests.
Practice continued until ten o'clock, and the Kiba girls had to catch the train. "We'll walk you to the station," Eiji stated, motioning for Iwao, Katsumi, and Tsutomu to come with him.
"Of course," Iwao said with a grin. "I'd never think of letting ladies go alone at night."
"We'll see you tomorrow, Himes," Katsumi murmured, massaging his neck. "Have a good rest."
"Good night, everyone," Yuujiro said with a Blinding Smile. Masa could have sworn it lit up the darkened avenue.
"Let me know about Showa Day," Chihiro reminded Masa. "I'll bother you until you come."
Masa grimaced. "Yeah, I know you will," she grumbled. "I'll think about it."
"If Kaoru is still here, he can come too," Chihiro chirped, amber eyes glinting mischievously.
"By the way, what will we be wearing?" Tooru asked suddenly.
They all stopped and pondered.
"I don't know," Masa said slowly. "Does Natasho-senpai have something done up for us, I wonder?"
"We should ask tomorrow," Yuujiro said, concealing a yawn. "What about you ladies?"
"We have a variety of gowns available to us," Akane said with her own brilliant smile. "How about you come over tomorrow before practice? We can get you fitted and do a proper rehearsal."
Miwa nodded, a satisfied expression crossing her face. "That is an excellent idea. It's one thing to dance in dresses and skirts, but it's another thing entirely to dance in a proper gown."
Masa looked horrified. "I can barely handle it in our usual dress," she said with wide eyes.
"You'll be fine, Masa-hime," Fumio said with a smile. "We'll practice until you have it down pat."
"Thanks, Fumio-san," Masa said, slightly reassured. Kaoru glanced at his sister, wondering how bad she actually was.
As if sensing his thought, Masa suddenly turned and chopped her brother. Yelping, Kaoru clutched his head. "What was that for, Aniki?"
"You were thinking something disparaging," the brunette said loftily. Chihiro giggled.
"You two really never change, do you? Good night, and see you tomorrow." They waved and headed out, leaving the Princesses and Kaoru to stumble tiredly back to their rooms.
"Ayafuya, what are you going to do tomorrow?" Kaoru inquired, yawning as he flopped onto the bed.
"About what?" Masa glanced at her fluffy-haired brother in the mirror.
"The fitting. Think about it."
Masa paled. "Shit."
"Yeah."
"Maybe Chihiro can fit me."
"Maybe. But those senpai looked mighty interested in you."
"Ugh. I'll worry about it tomorrow," Masa said with a determined stare. Going into the washroom, she changed into her pyjamas, splashing her face with water.
"I'll figure it out," she repeated, exiting. Kaoru was already fast asleep. "God, you're so carefree," she muttered, poking him in the cheek.
"'ve me alone," he grumbled, rolling over. Masa grinned tiredly as she collapsed into her own bed, dreams filled with dance steps and trepidation...