2023-08-02 - A Match Made in Protest

Title: A Match Made in Protest
Summary: In the aftermath of Ohtori's Dance Club Showcase, Himeko tries to reckon with the fact that she's just been assigned a permanent dance partner she in no way wants.
Who: Himeko Hasegawa, Kyouka Okazaki
Where: Ohtori Academy
OOC - IC Date: 8/2/2023 - Sunday, February 28, 2016

Himeko Hasegawa was not happy. But this was not a new state of affairs.

She wasn't happy that her dance partner for the Showcase had broken his leg. While horseback riding, of all things. An activity that, famously, relied on the use of the horse's legs, and not one's own.

She wasn't happy that she had failed the entrance exams for Ohtori, where her parents had insisted she attend. Instead she had been forced to enroll at Juuban, and every day there was a reminder of her personal failing.

She wasn't happy that her parents–

She was… not sure how to feel about Kyouka Okazaki. That girl was far too unserious for her own good, and seemed to lack ambition while also having a strong work ethic, which Himeko could not understand. On the other hand, Kyouka had stepped up when Himeko needed a dance partner (not that either of them had much of a choice in the matter; Inaguma-san had far too much influence to be denied). And the other girl's dancing in the actual performance was… not an embarrassment. But Himeko could tell that Kyouka was having fun for some unfathomable reason.

Dancing wasn't fun. It was hard work. Why couldn't the other girl see that?

But currently Himeko was not happy with Yasuhito Inaguma.

No, that wasn't right. Inaguma-san was working hard to help her meet the goals her parents had for her. She was just… frustrated, because she didn't understand his thought process, that's all. He was an artiste, after all, and who could understand the thinking of a visionary in their own time?

Still, despite all that… Inaguma-san's declaration following their performance that Kyouka, of all people, would become her new permanent training partner beggared belief.

The two of them rarely saw eye to eye. For many, many reasons. And especially during the rehearsal process, when Kyouka had somehow saw fit to.. make suggestions. To improvise. Experiment. Yes, she had learned the routine quickly enough, but still. It wasn't her future on the line.

Yet, in that moment, as they made mutual eye contact, she knew they both agreed on one thing: Neither of them wanted this.

But the only thing either of them could articulate as they turned back to Inaguma-san was an incredulous "What?!"

"Yes, yes, I know," continued Yasuhito with a blithe ignorance to the shared understanding between the two girls. "Isn't it simply an inspired choice? One wonders why I did not think of it sooner, but mine is not to challenge the whisperings of my muse. Now, if you girls will excuse me, I really must be on my way."

Yasuhito gave a carefree wave and turned away to vanish back into the crowd, but paused and looked down to the boy in the wheelchair, looking down the length of his nose as if seeing something unpleasant. "You, boy, come with me. I may yet find a use for you." Then he walked off without waiting to see if he was following along.

"Ah, I suppose I must be going," remarked the boy as he turned his wheelchair around to follow Yasuhito. "Again, great performance, Hasegawa-san, and… ah, congrats…?" He glanced between the two girls still watching Yasuhito walk away, and gave a weak chuckle. "Or… maybe not? … Good luck, then?" He hastened to follow after Yasuhito before he got too far out of sight.

Himeko wheeled on Kyouka. "I don't know how, but this must be all your fault!"

Kyouka blinked and held up her hands defensively. "Wh– Seriously? You think I want this? This was fun and all, but I definitely don't want to make this a permanent arrangement."

"Fun? Fun?! Don't you know what this means to me?!" Himeko crossed her arms. "Besides, I didn't say you wanted this, I just said it was your fault." It had to be, with how… underious the other girl was, how she was having… 'fun', when she was working so hard to accomplish her goals.

The other girl didn't even have any goals that she could tell.

"Actually, no, I don't. Despite me asking. Multiple times." Kyouka arched an eyebrow at her.

Himeko scoffed. Like she needed to get to know Kyouka better. "Whatever. Let's just… talk to our parents. I'm sure they can straighten this out."

Shrugging, Kyouka glanced to the stage, where Yuki Okazaki was currently introducing the next act. "Suit yourself. I'm gonna have to wait, though."

"Fine." Himeko turned to scan the crowds. Her parents had to be somewhere, and she was concerned they hadn't come to find her after her performance. Even Kyouka's mother had congratulated her backstage after the performance. Okazaki-sensei had congratulated both of them, actually. And if it had been good enough to impress Inaguma-san…

Himeko set off into the crowd, and caught Kyouka moving to follow her. She stopped, and stared at the other girl. "What are you doing?"

"Following you?" Kyouka gestured to their outfits–Himeko was wearing a simple and sleek black swing dress, while the other girl was dressed in slacks, a buttoned shirt, and suspenders. "You know, we're supposed to stick together."

Himeko rolled her eyes. "We're not little kids, and we're done performing. We don't need to stick together."

Frowning, Kyouka looked her over in a way Himeko wasn't entirely sure she liked. Why would that girl, who seemed too lax and carefree, try to pretend to be concerned for her? The other girl's voice softened. "Hey, seriously, you okay? You seem kind of worked up."

"I'm fine!" snapped Himeko. "Just worry about yourself, okay?"

Kyouka fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding. "If you say so." She didn't sound convinced. Himeko didn't care whether she believed it or not. "I know we don't really get along, but if you wanna talk…"

Himeko turned away without replying.

The hall was crowded, and it took Himeko a couple of passes through it before she spotted her parents, Yoshiki and Kanami Hasegawa. Yoshiki, her father, was a middle-aged businessman who spent far too much time currying favor with his superiors, and Kanami, Himeko knew, had probably spent far too much time fretting over her appearance for a school function, even an Ohtori one. (Luckily, Himeko had escaped being drawn into that this time around, citing the need to arrive early to prepare.)

Himeko approached her parents, who were busy conversing with another couple, and stood politely off to the side, hands folded in front of her. Just the right spot to be noticed, but not to intrude. The conversation quickly broke up, and Himeko's parents turned towards her.

"Himeko, darling, there you are!" exclaimed Kanami. "We just heard from Inaguma-san, and we must say, he was very impressed with your performance."

"Oh, yes, he told me so himself." Himeko put on her most polite smile. "But I actually need to talk to you–"

Yoshiki cut her off. "Splendid work, my dear."

Her smile became slightly more relaxed. "I'm glad you both enjoyed the performance. But–"

"Oh no, I'm afraid we missed it, darling," said Kanami. "Your father was conducting a very important negotiation just now and we simply lost track of the time. I'm sure you understand."

Of course. It's not like Okazaki-sensei announced my name right before the performance or anything. Himeko forced her voice to be steady. "Of course, Mother. I'm sure I can find a video recording of our performance…"

Wasn't Kyouka going on about that…? Surely she had to know someone else that could provide her with one.

"Very good, dear," said Kanami dismissively. She draw Himeko close to her side and lowered her voice a nominal and truly insufficient amount. "I must say, dear, that taking pity on the less fortunate is admirable, but you simply must consider where your time is best spent. You have your future to think about, after all."

That took Himeko by surprise, and it took her a moment to try and figure out what her mother could be talking about. "I'm sorry, what are you talking about?"

Kanami sniffed disdainfully. "That Higashi girl, dear. I know she's in your class, but even so."

So you're paying enough attention to see who I'm talking to, but not to watch my performance. Himeko frowned softly. "Mother, Higashi-san is…" Odd, certainly, but if the rumors she'd heard were true, then some of her 'eccentricities' might be perfectly understandable. "... fine. Maybe a bit quiet, but she's nice."

Her mother tutted softly. "Be that as it may, dear, your time would be much better spent talking to someone like that Akamira girl I saw you talking to earlier."

That one still confused Himeko. "It was actually Okazaki-san who was talking to her. Though I'm not sure how they know each other…" Kyouka seemed to be like that. Willing to talk to anyone, and her tone, even when using formal language, always seemed just a bit too casual. One more thing that made the other girl confusing and perplexing.

"Yes, well, she must be doing something right, to make such a strong impression on Inaguma-san. You really should be taking more cues from her."

Himeko's hands clenched. Absolutely not. That would never happen.

But the conversation was finally on the right topic. "About that, Mother, that arrangement is never going to work. Okazaki-san only agreed to be my dance partner temporarily because there wasn't anybody else who could both learn and perform the routine in time. She has her own things going on." Whatever those were. Himeko hadn't bothered to ask, but there must be something, she was sure.

Kanami tutted softly. "Now, now, dear. Don't be like that. We'll have a talk with her mother after the performance and see if we can't straighten all this out. Now, come along, I think your father's spotted someone else we need to have a chat with."

Himeko sighed. "Yes, Mother."

The rest of the evening was spent accompanying her parents. Himeko wished she could have seen more of the performances, but there were people to meet, names to memorize, and polite chatter to make. Of course she had seen the dress rehearsals, but there was something different about watching a performance with a live crowd.

But eventually the last group performed, Okazaki-sensei said good night to the crowd, and people started to slowly make their way to the doors. Himeko steered her parents gently but firmly towards the backstage area. It would be far better to nip this arrangement in the bud before it persisted any longer than it already had.

"Mother, father, I'll be right back after I find–" started Himeko. But before she could finish that sentence, she could already hear Kyouka's voice emerging from the door. The other girl was followed by her mother.

"Alright, alright," Kyouka was saying in far too casual a manner for speaking to her own mother. "Twist my arm why don't you–" She stopped short when she saw Himeko and her parents. "Oh, hey Hasegawa-san."

How could she say that so casually? She might as well have been saying 'Hasegawa-chan' for how casual she sounded. Didn't she know they weren't supposed to like each other?

"Okazaki-san," said Himeko in a far more respectful tone. "Okzaki-sensei, please tell me you agree that Inaguma-san's proposal is not feasible."

Kyouka chuckled weakly. "Actually… Mom kinda talked me into it."

Himeko stared flatly. "... What? She… talked you into it?"

"Yep." Kyouka gave a hapless shrug, as if that explained everything.

"Splendid!" Yoshiki stepped forward to speak to the teacher. "I must say, you've done a terrific job, and we truly appreciate all of the instruction you've given our daughter."

"Your daughter is a delight to instruct," replied the elder Okazaki. "But truly the credit goes to her hard work, she is very driven."

The conversation continued on about but without them, as Himeko stewed in her personal thoughts.

'Talked into it.' That must mean Okazaki-sensei was forcing Kyouka to do it. That was a state of affairs Himeko could understand.

And if she had to accept it to make her parents happy, she would.