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Mahiru remembers her days as a dancer fondly.
The truth is, she doesn’t really know why she stopped. She and Guren were a young talent, learning to dance with each other without stepping of the other’s toes by the ripe age of five. They competed a few times in their teenage years, but eventually, Mahiru dropped it. Guren quit shortly after, missing his partner too much to move on, and they both decided that their academics would take precedence above all else.
But Shinya never really wanted that for them. They’ve been friends for such a long time, after all. She knows he’s always wanted the best for her, above all else.
Though, they aren’t exactly “friends” anymore.
They’re twenty-one, stumbling through the beginnings of a serious romantic relationship, and working to move into their own apartment, with just the three of them.
As of right now, the apartment is quite empty. There are empty takeout containers on the floor, and a speaker singing out a gentle song just a few feet away. Aside from that, it’s just them.
“Hey, Mahiru,” Shinya says suddenly, and she looks over at him from where he sits a little ways away from her.
“What?” she asks.
“Do you want to dance with me?”
She stares at him.
From his other side, Guren laughs.
“You?” he asks. “Dancing? Talk about an unlikely duo.”
“No, no, we can,” Mahiru says hastily. “If we clean up these containers, it’s fine. It’s just us, right? It’s okay if you make some mistakes. Nobody will make fun of you.”
“I’ll make fun of him,” Guren says.
“I’m sure we’re not very good dancers anymore, either,” Mahiru points out.
“Exactly,” Shinya says, sniffing. “Clean up the containers, Guren.”
Guren rolls his eyes, but gets to his feet and does as Shinya asks, piling up the takeout containers and taking them over to a corner of the room to set aside.
Mahiru stands and makes her way to Shinya, offering him a hand and a small smile.
“Don’t step on her toes!” Guren calls.
Shinya flips him off, then takes Mahiru’s hand and gets to his feet.
“Okay,” she says. “Set your hand on my hip, yeah?”
He nods slowly, doing as she says. She catches Guren leaning up against the wall and watching them critically. She throws him a lazy smile, then looks up to meet Shinya’s eyes.
“Move slowly,” she instructs. “Just follow my feet.”
He tries his best, at least. They slowly step together around the room, eyes locked on each other, but Shinya is inexperienced, and he definitely steps on her toes more than once.
“You suck,” Guren remarks.
“Shut up, asshole.”
He steps heavily on her toes again, and her face twitches in pain.
“Er, Shinya,” she starts, but he’s already dropping his hold on her.
“Ah, sorry,” he says, sighing. “Guren’s right. This isn’t my thing.”
“I’m only joking,” Guren says, coming to stand beside them. “Here, Mahiru, let me. I always led, anyway. I’m probably a little better at it.”
“You sound like a jackass when you talk like that,"l Mahiru tells him teasingly, stepping away from Shinya.
Guren takes her place, giving a short laugh. "I am a jackass, Mahiru. It’s kind of my brand.”
“Don’t I know it,” Shinya mutters.
“Whatever,” Guren says. “Put your hands on my shoulders.”
Shinya sighs, but adheres. Mahiru takes another step back, watching them carefully. Guren takes his time leading Shinya into a slow dance. They stumble a bit here and there, but Mahiru thinks that Guren is right: he’s better at leading Shinya through the steps than she is.
Guren eventually turns to look at Mahiru, offering her an inviting grin.
“Join us,” he says.
She snorts. “How?”
“Guren—,” Shinya starts, but cuts off as he accidentally steps on Guren’s toes.
Guren’s face twitches slightly, but he remains otherwise unbothered.
“We’ll figure it out,” he assures her. “It’s no fun with just the two of us, is all.”
She can’t help the fond smile that stretches over her face.
“Okay,” she agrees. “But my toes can only take so much more abuse.”
“I’ll be careful,” Shinya promises.
“You? Careful?” Guren raises an eyebrow at him. “Right…”
Mahiru makes her way over to them, and they all hesitate a moment before Guren rests a hand on Mahiru’s shoulder nearest him, and Shinya tentatively does the same on the other side.
They stand there quite awkwardly for a moment before a giggle rises up on Mahiru’s lips and spills forth, shocking the other two into more stumbling, hesitant laughter.
“We’re idiots,” she says between laughs. “This isn’t going to work.”
“No, no, it’s fine,” Guren says. “Just, uh…”
He pushes them into slow movement, until they’re all swaying softly to the low tune in the back.
It’s uncomfortable, sure, but…
She finds that it’s okay, as long as Shinya and Guren are here, (failing at) dancing alongside with her.