It was only for the most logical of reasons that Nanami invited Kozue to be her date to the ball. Namely: she could feel the attentions of the student body, and of Touga in particular, slipping away from her. She first attempted to cozy up to various boys, but this did not seem to have the power to return people’s gazes to their rightful target. So clearly she needed something more unusual. Something outrageous—perhaps scandalous, even. It wasn’t quite her typical style, but when it came to a choice between this and being ignored—well, there was simply no question of which was worse.
So that was why she had to invite a girl. As for why Kozue, well, she was always doing outrageous and scandalous things, so she seemed the most likely to accept the invitation. It was not due to any personal feelings on Nanami’s part at all. (How could it be? She was, after all, a normal girl, and other girls were her rivals, nothing more.)
Nanami made sure to get Kozue alone to ask her—asking a girl on a date was one thing, but asking and being rejected was another (and one that was possibly worse than being ignored, should it happen in front of an audience).
Besides, this way, she could explain her intentions a little more clearly:
“I have no romantic designs on you whatsoever, of course. I simply wish to... make an impression. And you like to make an impression too, don’t you?”
Kozue stared at her, speechless, for an uncomfortably long moment. (Because of the nature of the invitation, or because Nanami was the one issuing it?) Then she gave a low laugh that somehow made Nanami even more uncomfortable. Then, finally, she said, “Well. Why not?”
“Excellent,” said Nanami, trying for an air of serene confidence. “I’ll see you on Thursday at 7.” (Her voice might have shaken a little, but it was hardly perceptible at all, she was sure.)
“Oh, this will really make him sick,” Kozue murmured, not really looking at Nanami as she said it.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Never mind.” Kozue smiled in a way that reminded Nanami of a wild animal baring its fangs (but, well, better not think too much about wild animals, or that air of confidence would really be in trouble). “I’ll see you Thursday.”
—
On Thursday, Nanami arrived at Kozue’s dorm room at 7 exactly, which she had calculated was the perfect time to meet up so as to arrive at the ball fashionably late. She could picture the scene—everyone chattering among themselves, wondering where she was, then the doors opening, all eyes turning to them....
But of course, for any of that to happen, she’d first have to pick up her date. This wasn’t the time to sink into reverie! She shook her head as if to clear it and knocked on Kozue’s door.
Once again, there was a pause too long for comfort, long enough for Nanami to start wondering what she would do if Kozue didn’t answer—if she’d thought better of it, or the whole thing had been some sort of trick from the start. Nanami had no backup plan, no would-be escort waiting in the wings. Should she simply claim a headache and miss the ball entirely? Or—
But Kozue did answer, in the end.
She was wearing a blue gown, off the shoulder, with a daringly low neckline. It was clearly cheaper than Nanami’s own gown—definitely off the rack—but Nanami had to admit that it did draw the eye. To that low neckline, mostly. Simply due to the lines and angles, of course, not because Nanami had any desire to look at Kozue’s cleavage. (She was a normal girl, after all.)
Nanami made an effort to keep her eyes on Kozue’s face, which wore a smirk that suggested Kozue had noticed it was an effort. Did she think Nanami was abnormal now? Would she tell the whole school? But then, Kozue did wear such an expression often, so perhaps Nanami was worrying over nothing—but the longer she stood thinking about this, the more awkward the situation would become, so she had to do something sooner rather than later. So, trying to assume that air of confidence again, Nanami held out a hand and said, “Shall we?”
Kozue’s smirk widened as she took the proffered hand, her fingernails digging in just a little. “Of course.”
—
They entered the ballroom arm in arm, but with the event in full swing, most people were too preoccupied with conversation or dance or food and drink to take much notice of the latecomers. Hardly any heads turned as they passed—just two more bodies in an already crowded room.
Nanami gritted her teeth. This wouldn’t do at all! She had to think of something else....
The band struck up a waltz. A-ha! Nanami shifted her grip to Kozue’s hand and dragged her onto the dance floor.
A problem soon presented itself, however.
“Um,” said Nanami, “do you know how to lead?”
Kozue chuckled. “You didn’t think this through at all, did you?”
Nanami wondered if she meant the dance or the whole evening. “Well, I just—”
Kozue dismissed Nanami’s attempted explanation with a wave of her hand. “Forget it. I can lead.”
She put her hand on Nanami’s waist and guided the two of them across the dance floor. She wasn’t half bad, Nanami had to admit—at least to herself. She wasn’t inclined to share this praise with Kozue, who probably thought too highly of herself already.
The band kept playing, and one dance led into another, and another, and another. Even as Nanami was aware of the warmth of Kozue’s hands and the nearness of that décolletage that she was still trying not to look at, she was also thinking about how the two of them must look from the outside. She was sure their movements were suitably graceful, and in a way, two women dancing together seemed more picturesque than a woman and a man—two sets of skirts to swish dramatically, and all. And surely the novelty of the thing would draw some attention?
She glanced around surreptitiously—she hoped it was surreptitious, anyway. Some people were looking in their direction, but not enough, not yet. There had to be something more they could do—if Nanami could only think of it.
Then came a moment when they found themselves in the middle of the dance floor, with enough space around them that they could be seen even from the sidelines. Kozue’s feet stopped moving, and the hand on Nanami’s waist drew her in closer.
“What—” Nanami started to say, but she got no further, because Kozue leaned in and kissed her.
Kozue’s mouth was soft and warm, and as the kiss went on Nanami became aware of Kozue’s teeth pressing against her lower lip—not biting, but making it very clear that she could bite, if she wanted to. Kozue’s other hand was in Nanami’s hair, gripping just a little more firmly than was necessary. And Nanami put her arms around Kozue and leaned into the kiss, not because she was enjoying it, but because that was just what you did, and she wouldn’t want to look like someone who didn’t know how to kiss (even if, strictly speaking, she didn’t).
Then Kozue pulled away and whisked them both back into the dance.
“What did you do that for?!” Nanami demanded under her breath.
“You wanted people to look at us, right?” Kozue replied. “They’re looking now.”
And looking around, Nanami could see other students stealing glances at the two of them, conversing with each other in hushed voices. She had their attention at last. But was it the kind of attention that she wanted? Or an altogether more unpleasant kind?
But surely this could be explained, excused. It wasn’t unheard of for girls of their age to experiment like this—practice for a real relationship, a safer alternative to getting involved with boys.
(Kissing Kozue hadn’t felt very safe, but no one needed to know that.)
“Well,” said Kozue, interrupting her thoughts, “I’m getting a bit tired. And I think we’ve made our impression, haven’t we?”
“I, uh, I guess so,” said Nanami, hating how weak and uncertain she sounded even as she said it.
The two of them made their way towards the door in silence—save for the whispering of the crowd around them that followed them with each step.
Once outside, Kozue finally turned back to Nanami. “Honestly, I kind of enjoyed that,” she said. “Maybe we should do it again sometime.”
“Yeah,” said Nanami. “Maybe.” Which was a reasonable and polite response to someone suggesting something you didn’t want to do, discouraging without being so rude as to turn them down outright. If Kozue actually invited her on another date, she could find that her social calendar was simply too full.
And if she didn’t say no.... Well, of course that would be because she wanted to get people talking about her again. Wouldn’t it?