holidays were spent back home. exchanging gifts with my mom, hoshi coming by with the two kids, a missing shinou very apparent. new years, however, was just me and my mom.

but soon after that, break was over and i needed to make my way back to campus.

-

"gosh, it's so weird being back on campus after such a long break." mina draws, stretching out on the couch.

i laugh and agree with her. "yeah, i know! but i'm kind of excited to get back to dance, y'know?"

"oh my god! bro, i'm looking forward to that big show the whole dance crews plan out, you know what i'm talking about?" mina was buzzing now. she was always energetic when it came to dance, it's one of the things that make her such a great dancer.

"that's one of the things Yuuei is known for, how can i not know?" i laughed.

"hmm, yeah, you have a point. but i'm just thinking about how much stricter our classes are gonna be." and just with that thought, mina melts and slouches into the couch once more.

-

like mina predicted, classes were stricter. it was only our second term at Yuuei, two more left after this one, and we were expected to be able to move at a faster pace.

back with mistress kayama, she was preparing us for a piece we were to perform in april.

she had even announced that we would be working in groups and choreographing our own pieces for the Yuuei show that would take place in july.

-

it had only been a week back at school but i had yet to see shinsou. i felt silly for thinking about it, seeing as he had his own classes to worry about, especially since he was in his second year.

but almost like i had jinxed it, i ran into him during the weekend.

-

"l/n!"

the name sent a shiver down my spine, remnants of the biting cold from our last encounter somehow present.

when i turned to face him, he was waving off a group of people.

he jogged up then stood in front of me, "hey."

there was a hint of nervousness in his voice and i couldn't help but find it entertaining. "hi."

"are you headed somewhere right now?" he put his hands in his pockets.

"yeah, i was going to head to the studios." i answered, "dance stuff."

"ah, want company down there?" the question caught me off guard and i think shinsou caught it since he added to his comment. "or just company on the walk there, that's fine too."

"oh, no, it's just that.. i.. um.. yeah i guess company would be nice."

"you don't have to agree, you know?" he chuckled. "it's fine if you say no."

i gulped, "no, really, it's fine."

"alright." i nodded and we fell into a step.

"so," i started and out of the corner of my eye, i could see shinsou throw a small glance at me. "how have your classes been?"

"it's only the second week back so not so bad. but i know it's only prone to get harder."

i locked eyes with him and offered what i hoped was a reassuring nod.

it was only my first year, and hell, only my second term at Yuuei. i couldn't truly sympathize with shinsou because i didn't know much.

"just be careful, okay? it's so easy to lose yourself once the pressure starts coming down." he murmured, words soft.

"you sound like you speak from experience," i bit my lip, "how was your first year?"

shinsou had mentioned it before, in a scenario like this, when he told me about professor aizawa helping him or something.

"it was good," he said but i detected an unevenness in his words, "i just needed a bit of guidance every now and then."

i made a sound of acknowledgement, the building of the studios beginning to form in front of us. i clutched my bag closer and hoped that shinsou would not stay to "keep me company". shinsou had grown quiet but the silence wasn't really awkward.

i spared a quick peek at shinsou, commiting the pretty side profile to my memory, then quickly turned my eyes away.

i clear my throat, "are you coming into the studio?"

"do you want me to?" he challenged, eyes shining.

"i don't mind, it's up to you." i tried to play off as i reached to open the door to the studio, reminding myself it was a pull not a push.

shinsou held the door open for me, however, and kept his hand above my head. i spinned to face him as he spoke again. "tell me, l/n, do i stay or do i go?"

don't look at his lips, don't look at his lips

my eyes dropped against my will, i swear something possessed me, and i saw said lips turn up.

"i-" i started, but for some reason it's always 'interrupt me' day.

"miss y/n, i'm so glad to have caught you today. there's something i'd like to talk to you about." both shinsou and i turned to face the professor calling out to me.

it was mistress kayama. she was sporting a knitted sweater that was falling off her shoulder, revealing the black leotard wrapping around her neck.

"oh, mistress, hi. i was coming in to run the april piece." i stepped away from shinsou, missing his eyes lingering on my figure.

"working hard like always, dear." she gives shinsou a small smile before getting back to me. "come into my office, please."

she didn't wait for an answer and had already turned to head towards her office.

"um," i stood there.

"do you want to wait out here?" i gestured to the small hall we were in, "or are you gonna head out?"

shinsou laughed quietly, "still haven't answered my question, l/n."

"i don't know how long i'll be and i don't want you to wait around for a while." i almost crossed my fingers in hopes that he wouldn't notice how i still avoided his question.

he seemed to study me, eyes relaxed and a smile still pulling at his lips, and after a moment, shook his head.

"i'll get going then." pulling his hand away from the door, putting it back in his pocket. i pressed my finger tips against the cool glass at the same time he stuck his foot out to prevent the door closing on me.

i clenched and unclenched my hand, mistress kayama was still waiting in her office but i was reluctant to see shinsou go. he waved, walked away backwards for a second, then turned to walk away.

"stay" i called out, leg bouncing anxiously.

i tried to picture what shinsou's face looked like but i wasn't complaining about the view of his back.

he came back, teeth showing, and he got close. less than a foot between us, i squinted up at him.

"meet me in studio 4, 5 if 4 isn't empty, okay?"

he nodded and he wandered off in the direction of said studios. seeing shinsou's frame disappear, i make my own way to the office.

-

i knocked softly, "mistress?"

"y/n, please, have a seat."

i settle into the small couch in her office. i stare at her midnight blue hair, small pieces poking up from behind her computer monitor.

she moves out from behind the computer and smiles at me.

"y/n, you've really captured my attention in your short time here at Yuuei but i think you're a very promising student."

the room felt warmer, "thank you so much."

"and because the staff at Yuuei focus on providing opportunities to our students, in hopes of taking them beyond, i want to offer you a solo at our july show."

my jaw dropped, "a solo?"

kayama's smile grew wider, "yes, i think you have the potential to choreograph this piece and really make a statement with it. there might even be an possibility of your future employer being present at the show, a lot of powerful people usually do show up."

"i, i don't know what to say. thank you, for starters, i won't disappoint you."

she stood up and stuck her hand out, i mirrored her actions.

"i know you won't, miss l/n."

-

i couldn't help but run down the hall, in search of what studio shinsou was in. if my head wasn't buzzing with the great news i just received, i would've stopped to make a phone call to mina.

but because that wasn't the case and i was still buzzing, the need to tell someone trying to spill it's way out of my mouth, i had to find shinsou.

i peeked into the window of studio 4 and sure enough, shinsou was sitting against the wall.

i pushed the door open, calling out to shinsou.

he lifted his head, turning his attention from his phone to me. "hey, what happened?"

in a perfect (or even just easy) world, i could jump into shinsou's arms and tell him what mistress kayama told me and we could celebrate together. but this wasn't, so instead i leaned up against the studio's door, making the distance between us prominent.

"oh, sorry, nothing." i made my way to the small table near the speakers.

"what did your teacher want to talk about?"

i fished for my phone, "um, she talked to me about a show that we're having later in july."

"oh. cool." when i looked at shinsou, he was already back on his phone.

i pulled my phone into the speakers, shuffling a playlist as i did my stretches. i took in shinsou's form and found it funny that he was on the floor when there was a couch in the studio.

"shinsou, you know there's a couch, right?"

"oh, yeah. sorry, i didn't know if it was for dancers only." he joked but i felt like he was being serious.

"just sit down on the couch." i instructed.

the couch faced the wall he was sitting at and luckily, it would prevent him from having a straight view of me. sure, i had danced in front of him before but that was in public. here in the studio, it was just me and him.

-

the dance was just choreographed and it was still going through revisions so i didn't have much to work on. i ran some older pieces and even tried some things out for my solo piece, though that was months away.

at some point, i had taken my phone off the speaker and opted to use headphones. later, at the end of a song, shinsou tapped my shoulder and handed me a cup of water. he must've gotten to the lounge area in the building.

i placed the headphones on the table and squatted to drink the water. some of cool liquid dribbled down my chin and i ran the top of my shirt there, to catch the liquid.

i sprawled myself on the floor and focused on my breathing. the room had grown quiet now that i was thinking about it. i ignored it though, who knows what i would see if i opened my eyes.

regardless, though, i was able to cool down and the silence was nice. when i finally got up, i saw shinsou, still seated at the couch, but now he was facing me.

"do you wanna get going?" i asked.

"yeah, sure."

i collected my things and made sure everything was off. i flicked the light switch off and followed shinsou into the hallway.

the sun had already setted but it was kind of early still. the darkness emphasized how tired i was, wanting to get home and take a shower.

"are you heading to your dorm?" i asked shinsou, walking by his side.

"oh, no. i live in an apartment off campus."

this was news to me, almost all the people i knew lived on campus.

"really?"

"yeah, it's a good price and it's not that far from here so it's pretty convenient."

"that's cool." i said out loud, trying to imagine myself living in an apartment.

shinsou nodded, "are you headed to the dorms, though?"

"yeah."

"do you want to get something to eat first?" he offered.

"oh, no. mina texted me saying she made dinner." i lied swiftly, too tired and sweaty to spend any more time in public.

i didn't see shinsou staring down at me because i was focusing on keeping my eyes open.

"you know," he started, "that's like the third time you've refused to let me buy you something."

i looked up at him, "sorry?"

he chuckled, shaking his head. "it's fine, i was just thinking out loud."

i thought about it though. he was right.

the rest of the walk to my dorms was quiet, lack of people notable. i told shinsou he didn't have to head up with me but he insisted. the ride up was also quiet, along with the walk down the hall to my door.

"uh, thanks for keeping me company." i began, swaying awkwardly in front of my door.

"yeah, no problem. i've never been inside a dance studio so thank you."

i took in shinsou in the yellow lighting of the hallway. his hair looked darker, skin smoother, and lips redder.

not that i was looking at them or whatever

"i'll see you around, yeah?" it sounded more like a question than a farewell.

"yeah." and if this were a date, i think this would be the part where we kiss.

but it wasn't a date and there would be no kissing.

shinsou smiled and headed off. i waved at his retreating figure, until he turned around.

"remember, l/n, careful with the pressure."

his eyes were strong, determined. i nodded back, hoping my eyes would convey some message like his did.

i unlocked the door and slipped into the apartment. a sigh made its way out of me and i headed to my room to shower.

~

a/n: okay,, quick note! kayama is referred to as mistress because shes a ballet teacher and in the strict etiquette n stuff, that's what u would call ur teacher. the same goes to male teachers but they would be called masters,, i thought it was pretty fitting since the whole r-rated hero thing w midnight soo yeah!

uhh but besides that i think that's all i have for this a/n ,, thank u sm for reading , take care n stay safe cuties!! <3 :))

(ah! also ,, if u haven't already,, give ruthless by the marias a listen! it's what i'm basing the plot on n it'll give u a lil hint at to what will be coming up in future chapters 😉 but yeah! thank u sm!! )