It was then I noticed Agawa had changed out of her tracksuit into a bright yellow sequin dress. It produced nurous iridescent strands of light that swirled around her body with each motion. If I could describe her with a single phrase, she was the Sun incarnated.
"You know Agawa," I stroked my chin, "I'm a little surprised."
"You're surprised?" she tilted her head and stared at with visible confusion. "About what?"
"You didn't really strike as the type that would wear fancy clothes like that."
She projected a soft pout, and her cheeks were tinted a rosy red. "Well, excuse for trying sothing fancy! Even if it doesn't look good, I still want to try a dress at least once in my life!"
Sighing, she looked down, and pinched the waist of her dress from both sides. "I guess I should stick with a boyish tracksuit, huh?!"
'Did I say that it didn't look good?' It was now my difficulty talking with others reared its ugly head. I had no idea what I said, but a complint solves all, right?
"I wouldn't say the dress doesn't look good on you. It isn't very practical, but it's aesthetically pleasing."
"'Aesthetically pleasing?' You," her blush beca a blank stare, "really suck at giving complints, don't you?"
Her words were painfully familiar. Throughout my life, there were many occasions where I had to praise soone, but, more often than not, my attempts ended the sa. "Yeah, I might've been told that once or twice…." I couldn't stop there; her stare seed to see right through , "or several tis."
For a few monts, she maintained her blank stare. However, that soon changed when she burst out in laughter, likely at my expense. It wasn't bad, though… I guess? Her aura of cheer affected , given how I chuckled too.
"Anyways," I tried to change the subject, "why haven't you partnered with anyone? I doubt it's because of a lack of suitors."
"Oh, that," she avoided eye contact. "Don't laugh, okay?"
"I'll try not to," I replied with a tone of sarcasm.
She shot an unsatisfied glare.
"Okay, I promise I won't," I reaffird.
"Uh. Well…" she hesitated and fidgeted her fingers together. During her pause, her eyes darted in every direction to avoid mine. "I…uh…can't really dance well…Or, well…at all."
I didn't laugh, but what I did was possibly worse. I stared at her in disbelief that she was worried about sothing so minor. Especially considering our current situation.
"C'mon," she furrowed her brow in frustration and blushed, "I know I told you not to laugh, but you've got to do sothing. Anything!"
I sighed and smiled. "Sorry, I couldn't help but admire your honesty."
"My HONESTY? Are you ssing with ?!" she irritatedly crossed her arms.
It perplexed . Though her words seed frustrated, her face gave way to a subtle smile. Did she like what I said, or didn't she? I wondered if people were always this complicated. Either way, in trying to nd my blunder, I apologized while making an easing gesture. "Sorry, I wasn't try-"
"Look at you! You're so serious!" Agawa erupted in laughter again, hunching over and holding her sides.
When she finally ceased, she straightened her back and continued. "You know, I think I can kind of understand you now. Not only do you suck at complints, but you're also pretty bad with social cues." she pointed her finger at as if to lecture. "You're not a very good talker, are you?"
Flashbacks of a thousand failed conversations appeared in my mind. "Yeah, I guess I'm better at fighting than talking," I shrugged.
"Well, aren't you the stoic soldier!" Agawa giggled, then sighed. "Well, it can't be helped," she said with a playful grin, "I'll forgive you."
"I appreciate that," I chuckled back. Her words relieved my weary mind. With that resolved, I returned to the matter at hand.
Realizing we were in the sa boat, I considered inviting her to my loitering session with Takagi. Plus, the crowd was becoming denser over where we were standing, so we had to move anyway.
"I was heading to Takagi. Did you want to jo-"
"Would you dance with ?!" she exclaid, clutching the base of her neck.
"...What?" Though it was a simple request, it took ti to register it.
"Would you dance with ?" she repeated.
"But… didn't you just tell you were bad at it?" I gave a hesitant grin, and my eyes twitched in confusion.
"Yeah, So? Just because I'm bad at sothing doesn't an I'll avoid it. That's how you learn, you know?"
I appreciated the offer; I really did. But dancing wasn't part of my job description. Throwing and catching bullets? That was sothing I'd do. But swaying to music and leaving myself completely vulnerable? That wasn't sothing I wanted at all. Besides, I couldn't dance, so the excuse I'd use wouldn't be a lie.
"Uh," I scratched my ear, "I appreciate the offer, but you're probably better off partnering with soone else."
"Ah, you refuse to partner with a novice, huh?" she smirked. "I didn't realize Sato, the Soldier was such an elitist!"
"No, no, no. Not at all," I waved my hands in disagreent.
"Then why?" she asked, crossing her arms and tapping a finger on her arm.
"It's just that," I paused, "dancing isn't really in my skill set either, so you won't get any good experience with ." Having said that, I thought for sure she'd reevaluate her decision.
Only she didn't…
Her face beca puzzled. "Experience? When did I say that I was going for that? The fact that you're a novice makes you an even more ideal partner!"
I was shocked at what she'd said. "Why would my being bad at dancing make a good partner?" The idea made no sense to . If I were learning to shoot, I'd want a veteran to teach , not an amateur.
"It'd be embarrassing to dance with soone that knows what they're doing," she smiled. "I'd rather dance with you, especially since I could bla any fumbles on you." She finalized her statent by offering her hand. "So…would you dance with ?"
'I really think you should reconsider, Miss,' is what I wanted to say. However, the vigilant stares from dozens of mansion staff made reconsider. Maybe by indulging in so of these festivities, I could shake the staff's suspicion and find another chance to escape.
"Well, if you insist," I feigned a smile and took her hand. "Don't bla if I step on your toes, though."
She giggled in response. "I'll be sure to step on yours, too, if you do!"
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