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In stark contrast to the atmosphere two weeks ago (or to be exact 12 days ago), the hall was filled with a peaceful air.
While it's easy to proclaim a neutral spirit, it's not so easy in practice, and it would be a lie to say that there were none with the thoughts of victory or defeat occupying their mind.
But now, the fierce competitions of the past 10 days were over. The dress code for the festivities was their usual uniforms.
Once again forced to take up his ill-fitting blazer, he thought, "At least if it cos to dancing will this be better?" A thought which had ended up similar to that of digging his own grave.
"Popular, huh?"
Coming up to him with an evil smile was Mari, who had been officially discharged one day earlier.
"Thank you. To tell the truth, I'd far rather be taking it easy."
As if saying it couldn't be helped, Tatsuya glanced over at his sister, who was surrounded by a crowd two, three layers deep.
Fellow students, event organizers, base officials who provided the venue, the executives of companies that sponsored the tournant.
Those were inevitable, but with the inclusion of dia professionals (production companies, comrcial companies, talent agencies) also dressed up as officials, it made one feel like asking what's the big idea? to the organizers of the party.
Truthfully he would have liked nothing more than to forcefully put those noisy and rude people away, but with a shrewd (frosty?) look, Suzune had warned him against such an approach, so he kept a low profile for the mont.
"I'm not talking about your sister."
Hearing Tatsuya's natural reply, Mari chuckled sadly. "The one I'm referring to is you, Tatsuya-kun." From Mari's point of view, Tatsuya made a tired face.
Although nowhere comparable to the crowd around Miyuki, Tatsuya had been constantly sought out from the start as well.
Most of them were unacquainted adults.
It wasn't that he had never seen them before.
Due to his work at his father's company, despite his age, he knew the face of businessn quite well.
Still, it was only on the level of a "high school student".
As a resident of the laboratory, he was not necessarily involved on the business side, but compared to general employees in the sa industry he had far more contact than "just a little".
Of those who had co to talk with him, he knew more than half of them by sight.
"Wasn't that the president of Rozen's Japanese branch? This would be the first ti he talked to a high school student huh?"
"I wouldn't know. It's also my first ti here at the Nine Schools Competition after all."
"Fair enough."
As Mari gave her wicked grin, Tatsuya felt a twinge of annoyance.
In the threshold of around 80% or so.
"......Well, there's no helping it. I don't know why you're so reluctant, but just as you can tell a fake gem simply by looking at it, when you see the real deal you can imdiately tell that too."
"......"
"Don't put on such a dissatisfied face. The dance is about to start soon. From there on, it's students only. Just be patient a little longer."
Tapping his shoulder, Mari walked over to the drinks table. She seed to be in a good mood for so reason.
Far more impressive was that despite pushing herself as always even after being wounded, she now seed to have made a full recovery.
(So a lover has that kind of effect huh......)
Although he himself had no experience, Tatsuya couldn't help but say so to himself.
Around a minute after that, she left the party with Naotsugu, and Tatsuya uncharacteristically was left to ponder on such things.
Doing so, he felt like sighing.
To be certain, very soon, the ti allocated for adults to work their tricks on the innocent would be over.
Yet even so his mind was heavy. The reason was the dance.
Truth be told, students like Tatsuya were the exception.
As the bigwigs left, the venue seed to relax, and a carefree atmosphere filled the air.
The soft sound of wind and string instrunts began to flow.
At the enthusiasm of the organisers who had prepared an evening of live music, the young n imdiately responded.
Making full use of the trials they had gone through they took the hands of the girls they had grown closer to, and proceeded to the centre of the hall.
It was unfortunate they weren't in dresses, but such a fact was utterly irrelevant to them.
The common dress code for the girls of the nine schools was a silk organdy inner gown (worn under their jacket), which fluttered gently as they moved.
As expected, Miyuki was being sward by boys both from school and from without.
It seed no one was capable of staying away.
Because she was surrounded up until the last minute, she probably hadn't been able to get a single word out.
Unlike Tatsuya, Miyuki had been firmly taught manners on how to act at a ball ("it's not a 'dance party'!"), so provided proper procedure was observed she was unlikely to refuse a dance partner (naturally, that didn't an she'd dance with just anyone), but rather it seed the boys were being embarrassed on their own.
From within that crowd, Tatsuya's familiar face beca visible to Miyuki.
Or rather than saying familiar face, it might be better to say companion.
Leaving the wall, Tatsuya advanced to the edge of the crowd.
He was by no ans slender, but he skillfully slipped through the press to stand by Miyuki's side.
"It's been two days huh, Ichijou Masaki."
"Ah, Shiba Tatsuya."
The two exchanged easygoing(?) greetings.
They didn't consider themselves friends, yet at the sa ti, they didn't think that they needed stiff formalities either.
"Is your ear alright?"
"It's fine, it's nothing worth being concerned about."
"Is that so."
At Tatsuya's (intended) politeness, Masaki returned a quip which could hardly be called amiable. Well, for him who suffered defeat in what by all ans should have been a victory, he couldn't really be expected to happily accept concern from the winners. Although his tone was ambiguous, it certainly held a dismissive air.
Becoming aware of Miyuki's cold gaze turned in his direction, Masaki's heart sank in dismay.
"Eh, ah...... Ah? Shiba!?"
He suddenly called out Tatsuya's last na, causing Tatsuya to make a "is this guy alright?" face.
"Are you, her brother!?"
Masaki's words caused Tatsuya no end of weariness.
"......Are you telling
you only realised just now? Seriously?"
His amazed face implying "I think I understand?
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