Looking at her charm, it was too infectious. So infectious, my body had no choice but to reciprocate her mood. "Thanks," I said, genuinely grinning, "it's good to be back."
It was then I noticed she had changed out of her tracksuit into a bright yellow sequin dress. It produced numerous 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 stared at me quizzically. "About what?"
"To be honest, you don't really strike me as the type that would wear fancy clothes like that."
She projected a soft pout and blushed. "Well, excuse me for trying something fancy! Even if it doesn't look good, I still want to try a dress at least once in my life!" She sighed, looked down, and pinched the waist of her dress from both sides. "I guess I should stick with a boyish tracksuit, huh?!"
It was now my inexperience talking with others reared its ugly head. 'Did I say that it didn't look good?'
I had no idea what I said, but I put all my trust into the one thing that could solve the issue, a compliment.
"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 became a blank stare, "really suck at giving compliments, don't you?"
Her words were painfully familiar. Throughout my life, there were many occasions where I had to praise someone, but, more often than not, my attempts ended the same.
"Yeah, I might've been told that once or twice…." I couldn't stop there; her stare seemed to see right through me, "or several times."
She burst out in laughter, likely at my expense. It wasn't bad, though. Her aura of cheer must've infected me, 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."
She shot me an unsatisfied glare.
"Okay, I promise I won't," I reaffirmed.
"Uh. Well…" She hesitated and fidgeted her fingers together.
I waited in nervous anticipation of what she was going to tell me. Usually, at least during the short time I knew her, she was confident and outspoken, but now she was doubtful and timid.
'Is she in trouble?!' What could she have possibly done in the time that I've been gone?! I'll admit I was both frustrated and panicked thinking of the problems she might have caused.
Her eyes darted in every direction in an effort 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, half in relief and half in disappointment. Relief that she hadn't gotten herself into danger and disappointed that she had me worried about something as minor as that.
"C'mon," she furrowed her brow in frustration and blushed, "I know I told you not to laugh, but you've got to say something, anything!"
I sighed and smiled. "Sorry, I couldn't help but admire your honesty."
"My honesty? Are you messing with me?!" She exclaimed with irritation and crossed her arms.
It perplexed me. Though her words seemed frustrated, her face gave way to a subtle smile. Did she like what I said, or didn't she? I wondered if women were always this complicated.
Either way, in trying to mend my blunder, I apologized while making an easing gesture. "No! I wasn't try-"
"Look at you! You're so serious!" Agawa erupted in laughter again, this time hunching over and literally 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 compliments, but you're pretty bad with social cues too." She pointed her finger at me 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 replied, slightly ashamed of my own weakness.
"I guess it can't be helped," Agawa said with a playful grin, "I'll forgive you."
"I appreciate that." Her words were a relief to my weary mind.
With that resolved, I returned to the matter at hand.
Realizing we were in the same 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 about to hang out around the table next to Takagi. Did you want to jo-"
"Do you want to dance with me?!" She exclaimed, clutching the base of her neck.
"...What?" Though it was a simple request, it took time to register it.
"Would you dance with me?" She repeated.
"But… didn't you just tell me you were bad at it?" I gave a hesitant grin and twitched my eyes at her in confusion.
"Yeah, So? Just because I'm bad at something doesn't mean 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's something I'd do. But swaying and leaving myself completely vulnerable? That wasn't something I wanted at all.
Besides, I wasn't much of a skilled dancer anyway, so the excuse I'd use wasn't a lie.
"Uh," I scratched my ear, "I appreciate the offer, but you're probably better off partnering with someone else."
"Ah, you refuse to partner with a novice, huh?" She smirked.
"No, no, no. Not at all." I waved my hands in disagreement.
pαпdα Йᴏνê|,сòМ "Then why?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"It's just that," I paused, "dancing isn't really in my skill set either, so you won't get any good experience with me." Having said that, I thought for sure she'd reevaluate her decision.
Only she didn't…
Her face became 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!" She proudly proclaimed.
I was shocked at what she'd said. "Why would my being bad at dancing make me a good partner?" The idea made no sense to me. If I were learning to shoot, I'd want a veteran to teach me, not an amateur.
"It'd be embarrassing to dance with someone that knows what they're doing." She smiled. "I'd rather dance with you, especially since I could blame any fumbles on you."
"That's kinda rude," I pointed at her, "using me as a shield for something like that."
"That's pretty much what you said you were, wasn't it? That you were going to protect us?" Agawa offered me her hand. "Well, here I am, a civilian in need… So? You aren't a liar, are you, Sato?"
Maybe it was her charm again, but my common sense was overwhelmed with the desire to oblige her. I completely forgot my role of playing the watchful eye for my countrymen.
Seeing her smile, I felt confident with my actions. 'Maybe just this one moment. This one moment where I didn't have to be just another killer. Maybe this moment... Maybe I could just be Katsuro.'
And so, I did what you're explicitly told not to do in the military. I let my guard down. A decision I hoped to not regret.
"Well, if you insist." I took her hand. "Don't blame me 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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