My Dance With Her, Feelings I can't Ignore

The party at the gymnasium was very loud and fun. But I could only enjoy the very loud part. The whole time I was sweating my palms out. I could not concentrate on anything. I was so nervous I had to go to the restroom multiple times to calm myself damn. Splashing water on my face only worked half the time. I looked at the time and it was 3:45 PM. 15 minutes until the dance. Kanjiro told me to go in 10 minutes but I was so nervous I went regardless. It shouldn't be an issue. I saw the outfit in a box and it was a black tuxedo and a white buttoned up shirt. On top of the box was a black venetian half mask. My hands were shaking more and more as the clock ticked down. I put on the outfit and did my hair so that it was the same hairstyle from when I went to the aquarium. I took off my glasses and put them on top of my clothes. I felt the ticking of the clock go faster for some reason until I heard one last tick and the noise of the gymnasium lights shut off. I heard a knock on the door and immediately put on the mask. A male teacher came into the changing room.

"Are you ready male dancer?"

"Ye…yea…"

I was surprised for a second, does the teachers not know the identities of the dancers either?

"Uhh excuse me teacher for asking a weird question, but do the staff also don't know the identity of the dancers?"

"Nope. The only people that know the identity are the four candidates chosen for the two genders and the principal of the school. All the staff and teachers don't know who you are."

"I see."

"Yep, we are all in for a surprise until the dance is over. Anyways, please wait by the stairs that lead to the gymnasium stadium. Until the principal walks off the stage from the stairs at the front and then exits off the stage, you cannot go on the stage. The female dancer is given the same information by another teacher right now. I will give you a little tap on the shoulders and that will signal you to go up. Now come on, let's go."

I left the changing room. Me and the teacher quietly walked behind the stage where there was a short staircase to the stage. I took a peak behind the stage and there were other short stairs on the opposite side of where I am. I guess that's where the female dancer will enter. The principal is already on the stage. He took out a few note cards and began his speech.

"Thank you everyone who attended our festival this week. The school as a whole would like to thank all the students for working so hard these past few days from preparing their ideas from scratch and bringing it into a reality. This is one of the most successful years and although it is truly sad, everything unfortunately will have come to an end. However with this in mind, we will now deliver the school festival dance that will be performed every year by two specially chosen students. I hope you all enjoy the dance and students, you might even get a surprise!"

There was a small giggle from most of the students and the principal started walking off the stage. There was a round of applause for his speech. I started getting nervous as I heard the steps of the principal until I didn't hear it anymore. I felt a tap on my shoulders and closed my eyes while walking forward. I walked up on stage and there was no light other than the stadium. I saw the female dancer, Tochaki-san, walking in my direction while I walked towards hers. She was wearing a rose red dress with heels. Her hair was tied up with several accessories on it. She was also wearing a half mask but it was white instead. Me and her walked towards each other and stopped until we were close enough. I waited a few seconds and then I held out my hand. She grabbed my hand and the dance began.

It was just like when I practiced with Tochaki-san last weekend. Although her eyes were not closed this time, both of our moves complimented each other. When I make a movement, she moves with me. When she makes a move, I move with her. The song in the background syncs up with dance moves as well. We understood what each other wanted to do and moved together in harmony. When I heard the song about to come to an end, I decided to end it. I held out my arm outwards and she spinned around until I heard the final chord of the song and took her into my own arms while she held her hands up my chest. The song came to an end and me and Tochaki-san were staring at each other, with one of us not knowing who the other person was. The crowd cheered with clapping and me and her stayed in that position the whole time. When the clapping stopped, I could hear everyone murmuring their guesses for who the dancers were. I saw Tochaki-san's hand move to her mask and she took it off. There was a huge round of applause for her grand reveal and almost every guy in the stadium was either cheering for her success, or jealous because another man was dancing with her. It was time for me to reveal mine. I was nervous but I knew I had to do it. I slowly raised my hands to my mask and took it off. The moment I took it off, there was a noise made all around the stadium with people questioning my identity.

"Who is he?"

"I've never seen him before."

"Why does he look kind of familiar?"

"Which class is he in?"

There were questions thrown out quickly but no one could find the answer. However this was not the most shocking reaction I've received. Tochaki-san's face basically dropped. She looked me dead in the eyes and could not speak a single word. She looked so surprised I would have thought someone dead if I saw her reaction. However, what she did next was nothing I could have imagined. Although I didn't think this optional dance tradition was going to be fulfilled this year, it apparently will be. She leaned in and connected her lips to mine. It was soft and sweet. I could move a muscle other than to accept it. Her eyes were closed and I closed mine as well. I could not see anything but I could hear the audience screaming with shock and surprise. This kiss however, didn't feel like the kiss from when Tochaki-san kissed me to protect me from Tachi. It didn't feel like something a person would do just to prove something. It felt so genuine and filled with love and feelings I couldn't describe until now. She let go of my lips and gave me a smile. I saw her lips move but couldn't hear anything due to the loudness of the audience. It was at this moment that I could not ignore it anymore. I didn't think I deserved her since I thought of myself as a loser. She was always a step in front of me and I thought I couldn't possibly catch up to someone like her. If I were to be a complete stranger and look at her, I would think she deserves someone way better than me. But I can't let that happen anymore. I don't know if she would accept me or not, but I want us to be something more than just friends, more than someone important to each other, more than someone who we can depend on. I don't want anyone else to take her away from me. She is the one and only. I love her…