AN: To clarify, this is when Yuka's studying abroad in America and she and Neo are both still in middle school in this chapter.

Yuka shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It was spring semester, but it felt as hot as summer. Or maybe it was only her. Sitting across from her, on the other side of the little round table, was Neo. She was just as unreadable and expressionless as ever. Yuka was right in the middle of being jealous of her incredible poker face when she suddenly realized that Neo was staring right at her.

As if Yuka didn't fear that her face was red enough! She fought the urge to twitch nervously or look away, but that gaze, Neo's gaze… What did it mean?! Was she just as anxious as Yuka, only better at hiding it? Probably not, but it was the only thought that brought Yuka any sort of comfort. Then she realized something else that took all of that comfort away again.

If Neo really was as nervous as Yuka, that might mean that Neo felt the same way for her as she felt for Neo. The thought alone made Yuka gulp nervously, but she was just smart enough to pick up her water glass and take a big sip, concealing her nervous gulp. More than likely, behind Neo's impassive mask, she was laughing at Yuka's idiocy. That only made Yuka more self-conscious.

She knew what—who—she truly wanted, but she also knew that she didn't have the bravery to ask. Even if there was a way she could ask without words the way Neo would, that option felt even more terrifying and impossible that speaking normally. So Yuka stayed silent instead. She set her water glass back down and burned holes into the tablecloth with her eyes. She could still feel Neo's studying her every move intently.

Yuka sighed to herself. Since she was already looking down, she could at least rest in the knowledge that Neo wouldn't notice how upset and confused she felt. But to add to the confusion, Yuka wasn't sure she liked that… Besides, with each day she let the silence continue, the distance between her and Neo would increase. And the clock was ticking. After all, Yuka only had until the end of spring semester…

She could hear that pesky voice in the back of her mind whispering to her, Kiss the girl!

ooo

Now was Yuka's chance, singing in an empty room with Neo.

Girl, you better do it soon! No time will be better! Yuka tried to encourage herself as she harmonized with Neo, both of them singing in Japanese and English. Neo sometimes even showed off by switching between the languages mid-phrase. Yuka could do it too, having sung in both languages longer than Neo had, but she was still a bit clumsier on the transitions and pronunciations than Neo.

It was a fact Neo took a lot of pride in, though Yuka would've argued that it was just because she was nervous. Although, to admit that she was nervous standing beside Neo would force her to admit exactly why. Perhaps she could've hidden under the lie that she was just a tad intimidated by Neo's skill, but that wasn't the entire truth…

As they continued their duo-lingual duet, Yuka glanced at the other blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty out of the corner of her eye. Neo was completely lost in the song and dance, power-belting out flawless note after flawless note, swaying her hips and moving her arms hypnotically. Her sapphire eyes were closed, so Yuka could look at her freely, for once. It was a bittersweet thing, because as much as the idea terrified her, Yuka secretly hoped that Neo might one day catch one of her longing stares.

She's just so gorgeous, vocally and physically… Her appearance, her dance moves, everything! Meanwhile, Neo wasn't paying any attention to Yuka at all. Though, to be fair, neither was Yuka. If they had been paying more attention, they would've noticed that Yuka was no longer singing, too transfixed by Neo to remember that it was supposed to be a duet, not a solo.

Ah, but if there was one thing scarier than singing with Neo, it was talking to her! Yuka may not have been fully confident in her musical capabilities around the other girl, but she was even less confident in her social and romantic capabilities. It didn't matter what Yuka's inner voice said, she knew Neo was her American dream, but Yuka wasn't ready to kiss the girl.

ooo

The next time Yuka even dared think about herself and Neo, they were in a club Neo somehow managed to sneak them both into. It wasn't quite as romantic as a private karaoke room, but Yuka hoped that it would feel less intimidating to her.

"H-hey, uhh, umm, uhh… Neo…?" She forced her voice to be louder than the general din of the club.

Neo didn't say a word, didn't even grunt or make a noise. Instead, she only stared into Yuka's soul. Yuka suddenly felt horribly exposed.

"I was just wondering…" Uhh, this might sound weird, and uhh, I'm not really sure how else to ask it, but… uhh… are you… uhh… single? "Did-, did-, did- you wanna… dance with me?"

Neo raised her eyebrows, still silent, but indicating clear surprise.

Well, at least she's not laughing! Yuka nearly let out a nervous laugh of her own, but she managed to swallow it down and hold out her hand. Neo looked at her hand and, just for a second, Yuka thought she saw Neo's nose crinkle. Her heart stopped dead in her chest, and the next half-minute felt like an eternity. But then at last, to her infinite amazement and relief, Neo actually took her hand. Then, she took the dancefloor.

They spun and spun and spun, bass pounding in their ears as strobe lights flickered rainbow over their heads. For the first time since they met, Yuka felt a little closer to home being so close to Neo. Dance was, after all, one of Yuka's biggest fortes, ahead of singing and behind photography. It was the gym buff in her, and Neo knew it too, Yuka having dragged her out to various gyms in the city.

And also, I think this is the first time we've ever touched, like, really touched. Several times in the past, Yuka tried to show Neo her affection through gestures like hugs and hand-squeezes, but never once did it end in anything other than Yuka being violently shoved off and/or snapped at. Now, Yuka knew how to take "no" for an answer, but getting to hold Neo so close like this felt exactly right. It was thrilling!

No sooner did Yuka think this than did Neo pull away from her to dance alone for several seconds. This was not uncommon for either of them, seldom did any dance require partners to stay conjoined at every single step (except perhaps waltz, but even that could have its exceptions), so Yuka stepped back to smile and watch as Neo moved. It was her guilty pleasure knowing that Neo was too lost in the music to notice her staring.

Before long, though, Yuka wasn't the only watcher. Neo was quite the looker, after all. But Yuka felt an unreasonable flash of jealousy when others, men and women alike, paused in their own dances to look over at Neo. Unusually bold, Yuka stepped forward again and took her place beside Neo, dancing in sync with the other girl.

When Neo noticed, her eyes widened in surprise, but a quick sweep of the room answered all of her silent questions. Then surprise turned into a smirk and Neo turned her attention back on Yuka, a tacit challenge in her eyes. She started to dance more aggressively, and then it was Yuka's turn to look surprised, but she recovered even quicker than Neo and accepted the dance-off dare.

Even when the song was over, Neo managed to call out over her shoulder to the DJ and request a song she knew that Yuka knew better than her. With so many eyes just watching the two of them, it didn't take much for Neo to get her way.

"Think you can keep up, Jennifer?" Neo grinned wolfishly.

"Think you can beat me at my own game?" Yuka laughed in delight, a flash of competitive spirit overriding her prior nerves. She was willing to bet that she would win. Neo had once even told her that although she knew how to dance, singing was her primary focus. But Yuka also knew that Neo was every bit as competitive as she was, so Neo would make the victory hard-won, and that was exactly what Yuka wanted!

Yuka's heart pounded to the beat of the Japanese EDM music that was now playing. She could feel her pulse accelerate, not just because of the dance-off, but because Neo was moving closer to her again. With all eyes on Yuka, she knew it was up to her to deliver a wicked, killer finishing move. She knew she could grab Neo at the very end and kiss her, for that sounded like something that would happen in a movie, but Yuka briefly that it would still be a little too forward for Neo. Or perhaps she was only trying to justify her sudden uncertainty again.

But then, an idea suddenly came to her. Even if she wasn't bold enough to flat-out kiss the girl, there was something else she could do.

You wanna—

"Team Neuka/JenNeo forever!" she shouted quickly, surprising Neo.

Go on and—

Then, right as the final beat dropped, Yuka stepped forward. She and Neo were only an inch apart.

Kiss the girl!

Yuka blew a kiss to Neo, and the crowd went wild. Even Neo, once she got over her shock, gave Yuka a smirk, as if commending her boldness.

Yuka didn't remember who won the dance-off, but she would never forget that night. It was an American dream come true!

AN: If this pair wasn't rare and weird enough, yes, I absolutely got inspired to write this fic because I suddenly, randomly thought of the Little Mermaid song. But it does further flesh out the idea that Yuka was down bad for Neo, callous and superior though Neo was.