Fumiaki

As much as I was enjoying myself, I couldn't help but start to wonder just when this dance was going to end. Though, as I studied the whole room, I saw signs of it winding down. Most of the second years had left, and it seems like Class 78-A did too. Oh, no, wait. Coda Kanzaki has apparently wrangled Kiyoki Kurosawa, the boy who has a talent relating to cryptic crosswords and Kimia Takagawa, the SHSL Biwa Player to help take down some of the decorations. There were a few third years also putting things away, and I spotted Akari and Azami in a corner, dismantling their photography equipment and putting it all back in their cases. I briefly considered going to help them when I then notice that the snack table was also being put away.

Immediately, I made my way over to it. That snack table was possibly one of the best snack tables I've ever seen in my life. It would be a shame to waste the snacks there-I couldn't believe more of us hadn't taken advantage of them. Oh well, I supposed in the end it was their loss.

"Oh, are you coming to help?"

I hadn't noticed Arisa Amano coming to help with the clearing away efforts but I supposed it made sense. She had only coaxed out for a few dances by some of her closest friends. And me. The rest of the time she'd mostly been on the sides, taking to various people but otherwise staying out of the limelight. That hadn't been too different to me, actually. It was a shame we hadn't banded together for this party, but I supposed there was always next time.

"Reece." I said politely. "I am, yes, as long as it's alright to eat a few more first."

She nodded.

"I'm going to make sure that everybody gets a chance to take some back with them. The rest, I'll see if I can take down to the shelter tomorrow morning."

"The day centre might like some too." I suggest.

Arisa nodded seriously, her eyes lighting up at the idea. She didn't verbally acknowledge my suggestion, but I could tell she'd taken it on board and appreciated it all the same. We didn't say very much to each other, but we worked well together boxing up and organising the snacks (and eating some) while the others clear away cutlery and litter. The amount of litter depressed me, but I bit back from complaining too much about it. There was still a festive atmosphere and in my glances back to the dancefloor I could still see some of the others dancing. Azami had left Akari now, and returned to Eizo's side, but though they were arm in arm and looking very much like a happy couple, they weren't dancing. Instead, the were walking around talking to others in our class, and when they stopped by Moeka and Katsuya, Eizo's expression became almost mischievous.

Eventually, the tidying had progressed enough that Arisa sent the others away, and the two of us finished the last of the packaging. We then put the boxes and smaller bags into larger bin-bags, which Arisa had already pre-labelled with a handwritten note stating that the contents are not rubbish. I once again marvelled at how organised she was. Then again, given the things she did to help her hometown, I wasn't surprised. But putting that thought aside, I attempted to lift one of the bags and realised it was actually heavier than I thought. I looked to Arisa, still filling the final binbag.

"Would you like help carrying those?" I ask.

Arisa looks at the bags, and then lifts one up herself before smiling at me.

"It will certainly make the job quicker."

We each took one of the bags, but just as we made our way to the door, Eizo and Azami came running up to us.

"Hey, Fumi, where're you off to?"

"Helping Reece." I said.

Both Eizo and Azami looked over, as if they only just realised. Azami lit up and greeted Arisa with a giddy 'hi, Reece-sempai' , to which Arisa smiled. The two had a brief chat before Azami turned her big smile onto me.

"Anyway, when you're done, come around to the back playing fields!"

"Why?"

"We're doing one last dance, all of us together-that is, Class 78-B. Sorry, Reese-sempai."

Eizo looked shamefaced as he looked over at Arisa, who just shook off the apology:

"No, no, it's fine."

"What do you mean, last dance?" I asked.

"Well, maybe not a last dance, but just a little hangout before we all separate for the winter break. I mean, this party is practically over-" Eizo gestured dramatically to the almost-empty hall. "But like, we haven't done anything fun as just our class, you know?"

This was true enough. I considered it, but apparently, I was taking too long for Eizo, because he gave me a puppy-eyed look after a few seconds.

"Please?"

"Yes, please?" Azami echoed. "It's more romantic under the stars, too! So we have to dance outside!"

I sighed heavily.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just turn up, that's all!" Eizo exclaimed.

I gawped at him. I'd totally been expecting him to ask me how to plan this little night-time rendezvous, so I wasn't quite sure how to respond. Eizo just grinned at my confusion and continued:

"Yeah, we've told everyone, mostly, and Komiya and Kamiya will make sure we're all gathered once we've got coats or whatever."

"It's not going to take too long, is it? We do still have to sleep. Most of us have long journeys home."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know. But anyway, Fumi, are you in?"

I sighed again, but I knew what my answer would be. I didn't need to think about it.

"I'm in. Let me finish helping Reece though, alright?"

Eizo punched the air and Azami giggled delightedly.

"YESSS! It'll be great fun, Fumi, you'll see!" Eizo crowed.

"We've got a playlist already and everything! But anyway, we'll see you there!" Azami added.

They linked arms again and left the hall and I just shook my head with amusement. Then, I went to get the bags.

…

Akari

I finally managed to put away all the equipment, leaving me with the camera still around my neck and a small case of my personal accessories. Shutting the cupboard, I leaned against the door with a sigh. I should have hunted down Azami and made her help, but then again I wasn't entirely sure where she'd gone. That, and I could always consider letting her get out of it a nice-older-twin gesture. Still, I was pretty tired, and I hadn't enjoyed the party as much as I could have, given we were both taking pictures. Azami had looked after the cameras herself for a while at the beginning, and then I'd let her go at the end to hang out with Eizo, and we'd had brief forays to the snack table and so on, but I in particular felt like I'd missed out a bit.

I decided to head back to the hall first, in case some of the others were still there, and started to make my way there. I didn't want to walk back to the dorm building by myself, especially since I heard that Kazutaka Oomori was still hanging around. That man seriously set some alarm bells ringing in my head. I'd only ever experienced or heard about him making weird comments or staring creepily, the occasional lingering hand on shoulder. But I had a horrible feeling that if he caught someone alone late at night with no chance of being stumbled on by others that it'd become more than that. I wasn't about to let that happen to me. Or to Azami for that matter.

I should text her to make sure. I stopped and leant against a wall and took my phone out of the pocket of my cardigan. I saw Azami had texted me. The part of the message that showed on the lock-screen was 'we're going out-' but as I started to punch in my PIN I realised somebody was coming along the corridor and looked up to see Fumiaki.

"I'm looking for Azami and the others. Are they headed back to the dorms?" I asked.

"No, they're outside."

"Outside?"

"Eizo and Azami wanted us to have one last dance as a class. "

"Outside?"

"It's more romantic under the stars."

I rolled my eyes because I knew exactly who Fumiaki was quoting in saying that. Typical Azami.

"It's also cold." I said.

In response, Fumiaki held up a scarf and I noticed something odd.

"You've picked up two scarves."

Fumiaki's eyes widened, and he looked down at the scarves and separated them out. He frowned at them, and then held one out to me.

"If you want to get your own, then you can."

I considered this. I could ask Fumiaki to walk back with me so I could go to bed, because it was cold. On the other hand, it did sound like it would be fun, and I didn't want to be the only member of the class who didn't join in. So I grinned and took the scarf from him, wrapping it around my neck.

"Alright, lead the way."

We headed to one of the farthest playing fields, one which wasn't marked out for any particular sport but was instead used for a variety of different activities. The proper lights weren't on but somebody had taken a few of the paper lanterns and tied them to those poles. There was also a phone attached to some portable loudspeakers lying on the ground next to a pile of purses. And, of course, every other member of my class were there, either dancing or just hanging around. Fumiaki left my side, going to talk with Teiichi and Eikichi. I felt oddly disappointed by that, but that feeling quickly dissipated when Azami peeled away from Eizo and came up to me.

"Akarin! You got my texts?"

"No, but Amai-kun told me we were…gathering?"

"Yes! Look, Akarin, isn't it beautiful?"

She pointed up at the sky, tilting her head upwards, blissful and delighted. I looked up too and saw that the sky was almost completely clear. A few clouds stretched out here and there, wispy dark-grey things, but they did nothing to diminish the dazzling stars that seemed to have been spilled right across the dark expanse. The moon was somewhere between half and full, but that too shone brightly, enough to supplement the paper lanterns.

It's the youngest we'll ever be tonight so let's go, Have a toast for another time, we can come, Be together under the light's and we'll move…

Aware that a new song had started, I returned my attention to what was going on underneath that beautiful stars and moon. Moeka, Kimiko, Katsuya, Rin and Takaaki were dancing in a circle, arms linked, while Sadie and Lilian and Friede danced as a trio, though the latter was less confident than the other two. Naturally, some of the others paired up: Teiichi with Kiran, Osamu with Seiko, Yuki with Yuri. And, of course, Azami and Eizo holding onto each other tightly, moments of adoring gazes interrupted by one or the other tripping over each other's feet, resulting in moments of laughter. I wanted to go and find someone to dance with, but I held back for a moment, watching them.

"Your sister is really good for my brother. The more time goes by, the more I notice that."

I turned to Fumiaki, wondering where he had come from, though not particularly startled by his surprise appearance. It felt right that he'd ended up back here, somehow.

"I could say the same-your brother is good for my sister. I'm glad I encouraged her to go for it, even though I didn't think anything would come of it."

I considered Fumiaki for a moment, and then added:

"No offense."

Fumiaki laughed.

"None taken. I don't think he would have even recommended himself as a boyfriend candidate."

This surprised me. Eizo was a good guy, and in some ways more considerate than those who went out of their way to seem like 'nice guys' or 'gentlemen', but he had a lot of growing up to do. I wouldn't have expected that kind of self-awareness from him. But that didn't really matter. What mattered was that he was good with my sister, that he made her happy and, if it came down to it, she would be safe with him. I wasn't sure they'd live happily ever after, but then again not even adults always seemed capable of having proper happy-ever-afters. But that didn't really matter either, because they were happy now.

This is what we've been waiting for, A time to go, Leave it on the floor, Dance all night. We're so alive, so alive…

Come to think of it, we were all happy now. Even Eikichi and Sen'ya, whom I saw get roped into dancing by Moeka and Kiran respectively, seemed happy enough to be here. Dancing in groups, in pairs, the moon and stars shining from above and the music weaving between us. This school year so far had not been perfect, but it had been good enough. More than I realised, if it had led to this. What a beautiful moment this was.

I turned to Fumiaki, and on an impulse I hoped I wouldn't regret, I held out my hand:

"Want to dance? It's a one-time offer."

Fumiaki smiled again, but thought about it for a moment before answering:

"I might as well."

He took my hand, and I led the way. And then, surrounded by my sister and all of our friends, we danced.

Hand in hand with your heart in mine,Take a stand, Leave it all behind, Dance all night, We're so alive, so alive, oh…

The song that has lyrics from it quoted here, and was in fact a big inspiration for this chapter, is called 'Dance all Night' and it's sung by Nathan Wagner. It's a great song!

But anyway, while some of these recollections were part-written a while back, which is what enabled me to get them out all together so quickly, that's not the case with the epilogue. That epilogue will be a relatively simple one but still, I'm not sure when I'll have it out.