2023-03-31 - Dance Club Showcase
| Title: Dance Club Showcase | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Ohtori hosts a showcase to highlight all of the talented dancers among the Sister Schols. Kyouka participates as a replacement partner for Himeko Hasegawa, Setsuna attends to support her friends (both fellow Precures and non-Precures alike), Ye-jin makes a dazzling entrance with an even more dazzling performance, and Nori is her usual glamorous self as Akamira. Afterwards, the show's sponser makes makes a surprising declaration. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Ohtori Academy (Yamanote High City - Ohtori Academy) | |
| OOC - IC Date: 3/31/2023 - Sunday, February 28, 2016 | |
.******************** Yamanote High City - Ohtori Academy *********************.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Ohtori Academy +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The ivory crown on the brow of Southern Cross Island, Ohtori Academy is
separated from the world by more than just water. Outside, education can be
a luxury. Within this white-walled compound, education is /luxurious/.
Marble colonnades spring up like fountain spouts, scarlet flowers drench
every free surface. The architecture is at once daringly art deco and
austerely Classical, white marble lending an angelic weightlessness to
pillars and fences that can seem more woven than carved.
At the center of campus is the Chairman's Tower, a dizzyingly tall spire in
the center of a manicured grassy field. Radiating around this field are the
lecture halls, dormitories, art buildings, and other facilities by which the
chosen few receive education, with small class sizes in large buildings.
It's common for students to refer to a building's location as if the hour
hand of a great clock extended from the central tower. At twelve o'clock,
for instance, the Duel Arena looms like a jade stormcloud, a great forest
forming a living pagoda of leaves that reminds even longtime students that
their school keeps many secrets.
The rose is the emblem of Ohtori, and campus is decorated with a profusion
of them, both living and frozen in frieze. Poppies are favored as well, and
thick carpets of either flower can be found wherever the loosest excuse is
available. Only the most bitter of winters seems able to fully erase the
faint fragrance from the air, and students who leave the island via quick,
convenient bridge or ferry can often find a memory of it on their clothing.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
A large hall on the school grounds of Ohtori has been taken over for the occasion, the inside done up in typical, over-the-top Ohtori fashion. It's a tribute to dance--well, ostensibly it's a tribute to the dance clubs of the Sister Schools, but the event's sponsor seems to have a rather... expansive view of the event's scope. Lavish, ornate set pieces from the world litter the hall, providing set dressings, props, and atmosphere related to various forms of dance. One enterprising organizer with infinitely more sense than the sponsor managed to capitalize on this, setting the various student clubs and groups up with spaces near set pieces that matched their clubs, providing ambiance and theming for their stands from which they can talk to event goers about their craft and provide small demonstrations and lessons.
For the bigger demonstrations, of course, is the main stage located at one end of the hall. While the event was open to the public, the signups for the stage were only open to the various student groups (whether or not they were affiliated with a specific club), and the visionary sponsor has, of course, spared no expense here, as well. A live band, and elaborate sets suited to each performance accompany each dancer or set of dancers to go up, all being changed out by tireless stagehands in between performances.
Accordingly, while most visitors may be dresed with the weather in mind, there's plenty of fanciful outfits and costumes present as well, as the various dancers mingle with the crowds in between performances or talk with guests from their booths. The result is a fun, lively atmosphere, with lots of gaudy colors and dancy moves on display wherever anyone chooses to look.
Roaming the event floor is the event's sponsor, Yasuhito Inaguma. He's a tall, slender man with an overly long white scarf and seemingly more passion for dance (and money) than sense, leaving the trivial details like 'running an event' and 'making sure the students are the star of the show' to others in favor of roaming the floor looking for talent.
Behind the scenes, Ohtori's newest dance teacher Yuki Okazaki is doing her best to make sure all the students are prepared and that each group can get up and off the stage for their routines successfully. She looks both the part of a teacher and a dance instructor, dressed in slacks and a blouse with her hair up in a bun.
Two of Juuban's students, Kyouka Okazaki and Himeko Hasegawa, are roaming the floor while waiting for their turn on the stage. Kyouka is dressed in a button up shirt, suspenders, and black pants, while Hmeko is in a black dress. The former is eagerly chatting with other students and asking about their moves while Himeko is far more reserved and respectful, chatting with guests and answering questions.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Setsuna Higashi is interested in dance, and interested in supporting her friends! Love and Miki and Buki are all present for the event, though mysteriously the scene won't be focusing on them! Setsuna doesn't join them, however; she's dressed for the weather, coming to watch and support her friends...
"Oh!" Setsuna says, as she spots Kyouka and Himeko. "Hello," she says pleasantly, recognizing her classmates immediately of course. "Your outfits are very nice," she says.
"You're partners for this, then?" she wonders, noting their seemingly-matching outfits and how they're sticking together.
Or maybe she read the program. It's fine.
<Pose Tracker> Ye-jin Song [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed. <SoundTracker> Tag Walls, Punch Fascists - 2 Mello https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETe9TI2i70k
Ye-jin Song, Ohtori's dance club captain and student council Vice-President, enters the room with a full entourage. Her dark crimson hair flows behind her as she steps through the hall, clad in a vibrant red ensemble made up of fedora, vest, flexible skirt, and dark leggings. Her followers, all four of them, are dressed in the same fashion, fanning out behind her in a V shape as the girl glides through the maze of students, dancers, and visitors.
She flashes bright and wide smiles at her fellow performers, many of whom she's been practicing with throughout the past few weeks. She does not, however, stop. Instead, her long strides take her to the central stage just in time for the opening chords that hammer out her arrival on the scene.
The music is funky, fast, and aggressive, somewhere between hip-hop and jazz. Ye-jin immediately flows into the music, as does her small crew of backup dancers. Their movements mirror the pace of the music, bodies twisting and feet flashing across the stage as they step and twirl with their painstakingly practiced motions. The choreography is clearly meant to highlight the lead, and the Vice-President practically absorbs the (very literal) spotlight.
And then it's over. With a final pose and a shower of cannon-launched confetti Ye-jin's performance comes to a close. She breathes heavily, sucking in a few deep breaths before flashing a bright smile to those near the stage. Hands wave back and forth as she hops off the platform, tossing her hat to one of her backup dancers and flailing her hands around to shoo them off after a short debrief.
And then she sets to wandering the room, ready to take in the other performances now that hers is finished.
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
AKAMIRA is here.
She's not dancing. You wanna get sweat on that stuff?? Worse - SOMEONE ELSE'S?
But the elegantly red-clad diva of fashion is among the people walking around, wearing a silvery and faintly luminous-seeming yukata despite the weather - it's quilted inside, and supplemented by laced hakama trousers, and possibly some HEAT TECH underleggings beneath it. Nori's hair is wrapped up into a side bun with a single dangling tail, threaded through by a red ribbon, and she's also been holding a fan with translucent material for its furniture. The interior design of the fan itself is a simple and classic painting of Mt. Fuji...
If one at night, without a spot of blue. Nice trick, if you can manage it.
Just this moment, Nori has been entranced by the swift, sure steps of Ye-Jin Song and her estimable crew, watching with wide eyes, her lips half-veiled by the crest of the fan. At the applause (to say nothing of the confetti gun), she joins in!
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka grins as she sees Setsuna, telling another girl heading backstage good luck before turning her attention to her friend. "Setsuna-chan! Good to see you! Glad you could come! I think I saw your friends around if you wanna go check in on them." She nods to Himeko. "Yeah, her partner got injured... horseback riding, I think? I was already helping my mom with rehearsals, so I was familiar with most of the routines, and... well, here I am. Could've sworn I mentioned at some point."
Himeko sighs a bit as she joins the other two to greet her fellow classmate. "Good evening, Higashi-san," she says, with a bit more formal regard. "And yes, that's correct. My former dance parter will be out of commission for... quite a while, sadly."
Both turn to watch as Ye-jin and her entourage make their bombastic entrance and head.... directly onto the stage to perform. Afterwards, Yuki is hurriedly getting onto the stage after the dancers leave it, a curtain drawn as stagehands set to work redressing the set for the next performance. Into a microphone she says, "And that was Ohtori's own dance club captain, Ye-jin Song, and her group, the Song Squad. Please give them all a round of appluase for that lively performance!"
Himeko claps politely, but Kyouka is far more enthusiastic, clapping loudly and adding in a few cheers, to boot.
"Hey, Song-san! Cool entrance, and awesome performance!" Kyouka might use the right honorifics but is somehow still far too casual around the Vice President despite that.
Meanwhile, Yasuhito Inaguma approaches Nori--after, of course, stopping to applaud for the performers--greeting the model with a smile and a bow. "Ahhh, we are so pleased to have the esteemed Akamira grace us with her presence. Tell me, does the artistry of dance move your soul with the same fervor with which it shines its radiance for all to behold? Or are you simply here to observe others shining, tonight?"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Mm! I'll go see them next. They aren't set to be on for a while..." Setsuna smiles abck at Kyouka. "I wanted to come." She has shyness issues about dancing herself, but she can be there for her friends. "...Oh, yes," Setsuna says. "I remember now."
She smiles at Himeko. "Hello, Hasegawa-chan. I'm sorry about your partner."
When Ye-jin's performance comes on, Setsuna watches. It is aggressive and fast all right, and Setsuna looks at the way the backup dancers move in time with Ye-jin, and even the cannon-launched confetti.
Setsuna claps! She waves when she sees Ye-jin starting to come out and mingle, but also when she sees Nori--
She waves at her quietly, but doesn't interrupt the important seeming dude talking to her.
<Pose Tracker> Ye-jin Song [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Ye-jin steps away from the stage, surveying the crowd. She beams at the various sources of the applause, stepping over to join those a little ways further from the stage. Setsuna, Himeko, and Kyouka catch her attention, likely due to the later being enthusiastic about her performance. She spots Nori too on the way, but reserves further greeting for after she finishes speaking.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." She says to Kyouka, offering a toothy smile between the three other girls. "Did we meet before?" She folds her hands together, examining the small gathering. She is, though, occasionally distracted by the other goings on and performances.
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Nori raises the fan upwards, flipped close to rest the tip of it on her lower lip as she gazes at Inaguma. She has gotten tall enough that it's easier to see her as a 'young woman' than another schoolgirl, though the boundary is porous. She watches the bow but does not return it, other than a deep nod of the head, and then she is asked a question.
She glances over, and winks at Setsuna.
"A candle may ignite a thousand other candles, with its flame undiminished," Nori says, or perhaps more accurately, quotes. "But I feel that I have lingered long in the clasp of one peak - and I wish to see what else there is to hold in this beautiful sunset world."
She gazes towards Ye-jin and smiles. "My congratulations~! It was a fine performance. Do you have a story to tell with it...?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Yes, there's still a few more performances before they go up on stage, so you'll still have some time to wish them luck," comments Himeko. "How are you finding the performances so far?" She doesn't really talk with Setsuna that much, normally, though she's pleasant enough in class, but she is trying to avoid whatever it is Kyouka's about to say. "And thank you, though to be honest, I'm not entirely sure how one breaks their leg like that... I'm... lucky--" that word comes through slightly gritted teeth "--that we were able to find an alternate arrangement."
Kyouka gives Ye-jin a bit of a disbeliving look. "... Have we met... We're in the show. I've been at the rehearsals helping out. The dance teacher's my mom." She doesn't like to play that card to get any favors, but it's not like it's a secret, either. "... Whatever. I still liked your entrance, just coming in from the entrance rather than backstage. Hey, Hase--"
"No. No more changes! You've made enough 'suggestions' as it is!" says Himeko firmly.
"Fine, fine..."
Meanwhile, Inaguma nods sagely at Nori's quoted words. "Ahh, yes, I see." It's easy to imagine he doesn't, but merely thinks he does. "Then I, too, must travel to see what other peaks of talent and artistry I may find here tonight." And with that, the man drifts back off into the crowd to look for more talent.
Meanwhile, another announcement is made from the stage, and a group of tap dancers take to the stage to give their own razzle dazzle for the event that night.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Mm!" Setsuna then comments back to Himeko of the performances, "They're all very good. And very interesting. Tokyo has such a wide variety of dances..." She trails off at that, "It's very nice, though a little overwhelming, too."
Lucky... Hmmm.
Wonder why her teeth are gritted??
"Yes, that's very fortunate!"
Ye-jin...
Setsuna smiles back at Ye-jin. "Yes," she answers simply. That is all! That is all she says for the moment. But Kyouka has more than that to say, apparently.
She does not weigh in on Further Changes. Instead she says, "Oh!! Nori-chan is over there..."
Setsuna waves to Nori, hesitantly, inviting her over without being willing to yell about it.
<Pose Tracker> Ye-jin Song [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Oh, right." Ye-jin doesn't skip a beat as Kyouka reminds her of her identity. "I must be exhausted from dancing. I'm not thinking straight. Mrs. Okazaki has been very helpful." The girl smiles again, adding, "But, thank you. I hope your performance goes well too. I'm looking forward to it."
"Thank you, Ankou-san." Ye-jin replies gracefully to Nori. "It wasn't really a story, morefeelings." Ye-jin makes a somber nod. "I'm happy you enjoyed it, though. You look very nice today." She's wearing Ye-jin's favorite color, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
There is some fracas that makes Nori glance towards where Himeko is articulating a desire for NO more changes nor compromise, but it is brief. Her fan is unfolded slightly and she says, "May your journey be safe~..."
Aand he's gone.
Nori's eyes lid as she looks towards Ye-jin. "It was quite a mood," she answers her. "I hope that you won't settle for this plateau, high as it is. I am sure you can find a higher peak -- but I want to say that I mean this only as encouragement." Her lips quirk slightly. "You seem to me as someone who always seeks the higher."
"And do forgive me," Nori adds to Ye-jin, "but I think I am being signaled. I will see you soon, I am sure - do you have any other performances planned...? Ah, alas, I can't linger. Call out to me!"
Nori leans a little to the side aaaaaaaaaand comes up immediately adjacent to Setsuna and holds the fan over her lips and nose, eyes still more or less oriented towards Ye-jin. Setsuna and Kyouka can see her mouth, which is a little more relaxed. Without glancing towards them with abrupt haste, she asks quietly, "What happened with Hime-san...?"
Ye-jin Song has disconnected.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Himeko is pleasant enough at school, though sometimes comes off a little standoffish. But there seems to be something about Kyouka that bugs her.
Some rumors may have been involved. Ones about magic that eventually led Setsuna to Kyouka to begin with.
Meanwhile, Kyouka gives Ye-jin a bit of a skeptical look at her excuse, but doesn't seem inclined to argue the point further. "Sure. But yeah, you really went all out. Full 'performance energy', as my mom would say. Liked your music choice, too."
But Himeko looks interested as Setsuna points out Nori. "--Oh! that's Akamira!" She's not quite fangirling out, but... there is a definite note of recognition and appreciation. Kyouka also looks, and grins, waving. "Yo, Ankou-chan! Lookin' sharp."
Himeko is still (awkwardly) hanging out with Kyouka before their performance, and she huffs a little. "What happened," she says in answer to Nori's question, "Is that this one decided to suggest a bunch of changes to a perfectly good routine." She doesn't really have to indicate Kyouka, but she does point, just to make it clear.
Kyouka holds up her hands in a defensive gesture. "Hey now, I didn't make that many suggestions, I was just trying to add a little bit of flare, that's all."
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Setsuna doesn't mind standoffish. It does mean she doesn't tend to talk to Himeko much, though; she's already quiet in the first place. She doesn't tend to press people for chatting.
Setsuna for now though smiles when Nori comes closer. "Hello," she says, and then the question--Well, Himeko has that covered. Himeko recognizes her, which is nice; and the answer, well...
"...It's difficult to practice something that changes," Setsuna allows, understanding she thinks Himeko's concern. "I tend to stress when things are different than I expect them to be."
A smile. "But I think you'll both still do well."
"How are you enjoying the performances?" she asks of Nori. Even though someone already asked!!
COIN FLIP: Nori Ankou flips a coin. It lands on tails!
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Oh no, Nori thinks, with stark terror. They're fighting! They're disagreeing! Nori would have rather they both drew swords and turned on her!
But she has a fan for a reason. She glances from Himeko and to Kyouka as they speak, although she answers Setsuna first. "Mm - it's quite true. Things are difficult to change on a dot, especially if they are big and complicated. Some would say it is better to have a questionable plan than to have no plan at all."
"How long would it be until your performance...?"
("And thank you very much," Nori adds, at the compliment.~)
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Himeko, for her part, looks a bit surprised at the casual ease with which Kyouka seems to greet Nori, and shoots her a look that plainly reads, 'How did you get to be so casual with Akamira?' A look that Kyouka can only greet with a shrug. She's pretty casual with everybody, really.
"Yes, you do look quite stunning tonight," chimes in Himeko. "Is this outfit bespoke for the event tonight, or will it be part of the line at some point?"
"I know, I know," comments Kyouka. "Consistency is important, but I just got inspired while practicing the routine and wanted to add just a couuuple of flourishes, that's all." But she smiles at Setsuna's assurances of how they'll do. "Thanks, Setsuna-chan."
"Yes, thank you," says Himeko, sincerely.
"Ohhh, not long now, I think...." Kyouka glances over to the stage, where the tap routine is about halfway done.
Himeko's looking too. "Yes, we really should be going. It was nice seeing you, Higashi-san. And a pleasure to meet you, Akamira-san."
And with that, both of them head through the crowd to get backstage.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Yes," Setsuna agrees with Nori. "...Though Love tends to imagine winging it is fine..." She smiles fondly. "But she practices her routines just as much." Love, her adopted sister, of course.
Setsuna smiles to both Kyouka and Himeko. Not long now...
"Nori-chan," she says, "Would you like to come see Love, Miki, and Buki with me after their performance?" Theirs being Kyouka and Himeko's, that is.
"I'll look forward to seeing both of you," she says.
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
"It will be available, I think, for spring," Nori tells Himeko, "and if not then, a little thinner for summer. My hair, of course, is my own choice! But we will have the same ribbon, if you wish to bind our hearts together." She winks, just a little, but it's almost deniable.
The two girls seem to be settling on things. Nori is relieved. Interpersonal tension... that's a positive tension! And if there's anything Nori Ankou, daughter of the bourgeoise, hates, it's a positive tension that leads to discomfort.
Even if she has learned its virtues, at times.
"Oh that would be wonderful, did I miss them, Setsuna?" Nori asks the remaining girl. "Please, lead on-- I just have to be seen, I hope you won't mind if we are Sighted together..."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
There is a bit of a distinct blush as Nori gives such a teasing answer about the ribbon. "Ah-heh, I will... keep an eye out for the outfit in the Spring line, then." She does not say anything about the ribbon.
Kyouka grins and gives a cheerful wave to Setsuna as they make their exit, for the moment. "Thanks, Setsuna-chan!"
The last group is shuffled off stage, and the curtrains drawn for the next set change. Soon enough, Yuki appears on stage once more. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present Himeko Hasegawa and Kyouka Okazaki, both from Juuban High!" She gestures to the stage with a flourish, and the curtain rises.
Their set is rather minimal. It looks like an old timey dance hall or club of some kind. Himeko is standing off to one side of the stage, arms crossed, as if waiting for something. Her dark purple hair is long and curly, falling down her back. She's wearing a simple but elegant black dress, with a flowy skirt..
Kyouka enters through a pair of prop doors, dressed in black pants, a button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of suspenders. (Strike Wolf is still on her right wrist, but that's not important.) She saunters over to Himeko and offers a half-bow and a hand in the universal, 'Shall we dance?' gesture.
Himeko, however, looks disinterested... and pushes Kyouka away by the face, causing the other girl to stumble, quite theatrically, backwards, to land on her butt. Himeko stands up and performs several graceful ballet moves in place, along with a textbook perfect penche. A few stringed instruments accompany her moves for just an instant.
Now it's Kyouka's turn to theatrically roll her eyes, and from her seated position she places a hand behind her and pushes up and backwards into a handstand, then pushes up out of that handstand and flips upright to land in a split. From there, she grabs her suspenders and pretends to pull herself upright to standing. She's grinning the whole time, and she gets a few thumping bass beats from the orcheastra. Himeko only rolls her eyes and pantomimes yawning.
<SoundTracker> Sing Sing Sing - Benny Goodman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIoTpeM6o2A
Kyouka just shrugs, but a few moments later a regular heavy swing beat kicks into life, and Kyouka nods along with it in time with the beat. She launches into some fancy footwork. Himeko pretends to be disinterested still, but her foot is tapping, and eventually Kyouka turns to her, offering a hand again... and this time she accepts. What follows is a non-stop high energy swing routine, with the pair constantly in motion. It's impressive enough... and then Kyouka flips Himeko and they kick into a higher gear, with lots of fancy moves and lifts, including one where Kyouka seems to sling Himeko around her back. Kyouka is grinning throughout, clearly enjoying herself, but Himeko is the more disciplined of the two, exhibiting a different kind of skill to Kyouka's.
The big finish is Kyouka doing an unaided flip over Himeko as she stoops underneath the other girl, and they both grab hands in a final pose as the band strikes the last big chord. They both take a moment to bow, and then rush off the stage as the curtain falls to set up for the next act.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
To bind their hearts together...
"Is the tying of similar ribbons a thing couples do?" Setsuna wonders. "I should get Lera some ribbons..."
She will have to reflect on this. But there's something to settle on in any case. "You didn't miss them!" Setsuna says. "...And I find being seen with you acceptable." She smiles. "...Though I might not have as much to say as you do."
Which is probably fine.
But the old timey approach... Setsuna watches in clear attention the display; it's a sort of story, different from the choreography she's used to, and it seems to work better for their tension together than it should.
Constantly in motion, with a lot of fancy moves...
When they come out, Setsuna claps once, as opposed to the multiple clapping at the end of a performance.
"That was very good," she says. "...It seems like..." She hesitates, and is not confident enough to describe her feelings on the dance. "It was very good," she says instead.
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Nori twirls a finger through her single trailing pigtail. She answers Setsuna. "I don't know; it could be, if you wanted. You could set a trend. So many things are only eccentric because a few people do them. Once the hundredth monkey washes the clam, who knows what is truly 'normal'?"
And then they promenade together, until...
Until they see the show.
Nori giggles into her fan for a moment at the beginning of the routine. She expects it to be a routine, and the fact that it is *just* the two of them creates a context that wasn't previously present. Her eyes narrow for a moment, expecting a pantomime.
But that's not quite what she gets.
At the end of it Nori nearly drops her fan, although she flips up her foot to catch it with surprising ease, plucks it back up, and then *wholeheartedly* goes into the applause! She looks at Setsuna with wide eyes. Did she see that?? Is that legal??
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
It does take Kyouka and Himeko a moment to come out from backstage again, and Kyouka makes a beeline for Setsuna and Nori. Himeko follows along, a bit awkwardly, though she seems to be looking around for something or someone.
Kyouka is all grins (and very slightly out of breath still, but only just) as she receives Setsuna's compliment. "I'm glad you liked it!" She looks on curiously as Setsuna seems to start to say something... and says something else instead. She'll ask her about it later, when it's less chaotic.
"Hmph. Yes, well, I suppose you didn't embarrass me on stage," allows Himeko, still distractedly looking around.
Kyouka turns to Nori to get her reaction (which might give Akamira more time to tease Himeko), and she strikes up a conversation as she mentions looking forward to seeing Setsuna's friends perform. She already saw most of the acts in rehearsal, but it's different watching the real deal with your friends around.
But it's only a few moments before Yasuhito Inaguma makes another appearance, clapping enthusiastically exclaiming, "Brava! Fantastica!" He grabs Kyouka's hands before she can react and says, "Such energy! Such life! Such natural rhythm!"
"Um, thanks, Inaguma-san," says Kyouka carefully as she tries to extract her hands. "It's not something I do often, but it was fun, you know? I'm usually more of a sports girl, though..."
"Nonsense! You were magnificent! And the way you pushed Hasegawa to such new heights was truly awe-inspiring! I have never seen her with such fire and drive and passion! Unlike with that boorish idiot she was practicing with before."
"Um, I'm right here, you know," says a boy in a wheelchair with a cast on his leg as he rolls up. "You were splendid, Hasegawa-san."
"Thank you," says Himeko diplomatically.
Yasuhito seems to ignore the boy. "That is why, I have made my choice. You must be Hasegawa's new permanent training partner!"
Both girls are silent for a moment. They glance to each other in stunned silence, then to Yasuhito. In perfect unison they both exlcaim "... what?!"
