Author's Note

Thank you for that guest that replied for more! I was currently writing as you replied! I like writing these and I hope you enjoy reading them!

News has been going around the school for a while now that it was hosting a New Year's Dance for all the students. Najimi has been super pumped about it. Tadano has been extremely nervous. Komi was excited.

Tadano did forget about the dance until Najimi called him today. His phone buzzed, startling him, as always. "Why do you always get so freaked out when your phone rings, Hitohito?" his sister asked, walking into the room.

"It's just that...I'm not expecting any calls," he replied, rather quickly.

"Then why do you hand out your number?" Tadano ignored her as he picked up his phone to see Najimi calling. He answered.

"Oh, there you are Tadano! I was afraid you wouldn't pick up!"

"What is it, Najimi?"

"Remember that New Year's Dance coming up?"

"Well, I do now."

"Well, today's the day!" Najimi cheered on the other end.

"Wait, that's today?"

"Come on, Tadano! You always forget things like this!" Najimi sighed. "Of course it's today!" Najimi paused as a smile spread across their face. "Are you bringing anyone, Tadano?"

"Huh?"

"You know...a date to the dance?"

"Well...I..."

"Come on, Tadano! You can't just NOT go. You need a date!"

"Was it required?" Tadano checked.

"Yep!" Najimi is half telling the truth. The poster said you could bring a date or a friend. You can't go alone. "Are you sure?" Tadano checked again. Najimi has lied to Tadano so many times. "Yep! Absolutely, positively!"

"Oh...well...I...guess I have to find one..." Tadano said, his face turning pink.

"You better!" Najimi paused for a moment. "I called Komi. She said that she didn't have anyone to go with so she wasn't coming. You better call her!"

"Wait! Najimi-" Najimi hung up. "Najimi-"

"What was that about?" Hitomi asked.

"I need a date for the New Year's Dance tonight..." Tadano muttered.

"Ooooh! A date!" Hitomi teased. "Who's the lucky girl, huh?" She elbowed him playfully. "I...uh-"

"You like someone, don't you?" she asked playfully.

"Of course not!" Tadano said, his face turning red. "I don't like anyone! Why would you assume that, huh? What told you that?" He waved his arms around dismissively.

"Your attitude," she replied with a straight face.

Tadano's face turned red and he walked out the room, ignoring his sister. A date...I need a date... Tadano thought to himself as he sat down at the table. But Najimi said Komi won't come to the dance. She can't miss this! She could make more friends!

Tadano put his phone on the table and stared at it. "Komi needs to come," Tadano muttered to himself. "She has to." Tadano grabbed his phone and went to his contacts. "Then why is my heart pounding?" Tadano asked himself.

Komi's phone buzzed. She flinched. She glanced at her screen to see Tadano's name on it. She grabbed the phone and answered. "Komi! Najimi told me that you weren't coming to the dance tonight!" Tadano exclaimed.

Komi nodded on the other end. "Is there a reason for that?" Tadano asked. He waited patiently as Komi answered. "I...I don't...have...anyone to...to go...with..."

"Well, uh..." Tadano paused mid-way through. "Well, uh...I can go with you...Komi." Komi liked the suggestion.

"I mean...like a friend...of course!" Tadano said quickly, his face red again.

"No..." Tadano stopped. "I...I want you to...to go with...me...Ta...Tadano."

"You mean...how, Komi?"

"Just...you and...and me, Tada...Tadano..." Komi whispered on the other end.

"Like...like a...like a date...?" Tadano asked. Komi nodded. "...Yes..."

They were both quiet for a little while before Komi thanked Tadano. Then she hung up. Tadano sat there with his phone on his ear before his sister broke his trance. "Hey, you okay?"

"Huh?"

"You were just sitting there, listening to nothing," Hitomi said, pointing at his phone, still on his ear.

"Oh!" Tadano put his hand down. "Sorry."

"You make no sense to me," she mumbled as she walked away.

Tadano looked at his blank screen once more before he walked to his mother. "Mom?"

"Yes, Hitohito?" she asked.

"Uh...remember that New Year's Dance the school is hosting?" She nodded. "Well...I have a date now and...I kinda need something to wear."

"Aww! My Hitohito is all grown up!" Jeanne cried, hugging her son.

"Mom! I need a suit!" Tadano cried.

"I'm sorry," Jeanne said. "It's just...I'm so happy for you! I'll take you to the store to get one!"

Komi shuffled through her drawers to find the perfect dress. She threw clothes out, with the intention of folding them back up and putting them back where they belong. When she found nothing in there, she put all her clothes back and checked in her closet. Her mom puts some of her more 'fancy' clothes in there so she should find something.

Sure enough, she did. She took the red dress off of the hanger and held it up in front of her and walked over to her mirror. She stared at it until she was satisfied. She found the one!

Tadano opened the changing room. He came out with a blue suit and a matching tie. "How's this one?" he asked.

"Hmm..." his mother paused. "We'll leave that one. Try on the last one."

Tadano closed the door again. Why did she have to get so many? he thought as he put the suit back onto the hanger. He's already tried on four others and was hoping his mother would pick. "Do you mind if I ask who your date is, Hitohito?" Jeanne asked on the other side of the door.

"M-my date?" Tadano asked, surprised at the question.

"Mhm!" His mother nodded. "Of course, you don't have to answer."

"Just this nice girl at school," Tadano replied.

"Aw, that's nice!"

"She's very pretty too."

"Is she?"

"Yes."

Tadano came out a few seconds later, wearing a black suit with a red tie. "How about this one?" His mom scanned him for a moment. Then, she smiled. "It's perfect!"

"You think?"

"Yes! It's wonderful! Plus, it fits perfectly!"

Tadano smiled as he entered the changing room once more to change back into his regular clothes.

A few hours passed and Tadano's phone buzzed again. This one was an alarm, to remind him of the dance. He turned it off and changed for the dance. "It had to be formal wear..." Tadano grumbled as he put his tie on. It's not that he minded wearing a tie. He just doesn't like tying it.

He walked downstairs to be stopped by his mother...again. "Oh, Hitohito! You look so grown up in that suit!"

"Mom, you picked it out," Tadano said.

She smiled at him. "Why are you smiling at me?"

"I'm just so happy for you!" She hugged him, again. "I remember going to my first dance! That's where I met your father!"

Tadano returned the hug. "Mom, I really do need to be heading out though," he said after a few seconds.

"Yeah, right," Jeanne said, breaking the hug. "You go have fun out there!"

"Thanks, mom."

Tadano walked out of the door. "Oh! Hitohito! Wait!" HIs mother ran outside to stop him. "You almost forgot these!" She handed him a bunch of petunias. "Oh, thanks!" He smiled and walked off again.

Tadano knocked on Komi's door, and was greeted by her mother. "Oh, Tadano! Come in!" She invited him in. "Shouko has been super excited all day! I'm glad she's going out to this dance!"

"That's good to hear," Tadano said.

"Make yourself comfortable. Shouko's changing."

Tadano thanked her and sat down on the couch. Why is my heart beating so fast? he thought. It's just a dance. So why am I so nervous?

"Oh! Here she comes!" Komi's mother exclaimed. Tadano glanced at the stairs to see Komi coming down in a long, red dress. On the back is a big bow, tied neatly. Komi has her hair up. Tadano's face turned pink again and his heart skipped a beat.

"Are...are you ready, K-Komi?" Tadano asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. Komi nodded. "Have fun out there you two!" Komi's mother waved as Tadano opened the door for Komi.