Dancing with Uncertainty - Hiroshi's Humanity Arc

“Come on! Get on up on the dance floor!” Wisteria laughed as she reached her hand down to Hiroshi, who pretended not to see.

“This may just be one of the worst nights of my life,” Hiroshi thought to himself. After Blossom’s death, he usually preferred his own company. He certainly hated large crowds and loud music.

So, the day out in a club with a dance floor was a terrible idea.

“I feel your pain pal, trust me,” Kuro-Yami sighed, putting his headphones on that Hiroshi had imagined for him. He wished that he could imagine a pair for himself, too. Maybe, if he achieved Carte Blanche, that’s what he would use it for. Headphones…Peace…

It was the end of month three of training. It had been tough, although it was getting a bit more manageable. Tomokazu was being taught how to bring out his full potential, and how to eliminate cockiness. Wisteria was being taught how to control her magic better. Bibi was being taught how to use manna to make her explosions a lot more destructive.

And Hiroshi was being taught about all three, as well as swordsmanship.

He shook his head to signal a ‘no’ to Wisteria, and she understood, if not disappointed, and went back to the dance floor with Bibi. Hiroshi went to the bar that was there. Not that he could drink anything strong. He was still seventeen, and the drinking age in the world was eighteen. He didn’t really mind all that much anyway. It wasn’t really his idea of a fun night, drinking until he couldn’t remember the pain.

Blossom…

“Hiroshi?”

Hiroshi jumped in his seat and turned around, just to see Tomokazu standing there.

“Oh, hey Tomo…what’s up?”

“I need your advice…” Tomo said, stumbling over his own feet slightly. Hiroshi knew he was serious. Tomo never shared his feelings, but Hiroshi knew that look in his eye. He stank of sake. Jesus…

“Sure. Ask away,” Hiroshi said with a slight smile. He was still getting used to the idea of friendships. It’s not that he didn’t care. He did. He just struggled to show it. Maybe he still wasn’t trusting them fully yet…

Tomokazu sat down with Hiroshi at the bar. He ordered himself a strong sake and chugged it in one go. Tomokazu had turned eighteen last month and was the oldest in the group, and he was making every second count.

“An orange juice for me,” Hiroshi asked the bartender. “Go a little easy on them. You’re flying us back home. How much is that now? Six?”

“Actually seven, but that’s not the point,” Tomo grabbed Hiroshi’s shoulder and laughed, before going completely serious again, slurring his words slightly. “How…do I ask a girl out?”

“Huh? What is this all about? What girl?”

“I…I think… I like Bibi. Bartender? Another one please.”

Hiroshi was dumbfounded. It shouldn’t have been possible. Tomo could have killed her three months ago. Why all this sudden talk about love? Was this why he was drunk? The stress of hiding that burden? Hiroshi was starting to understand why people drank alcohol.

“Why do you think that Tomo?” Hiroshi asked, needing an explanation. Tomo chugged another sake, before turning to Hiroshi, uncertainty in his eyes.

“I suppose, a part of me feels guilty for almost killing her…and…she treats me like a normal person. None of this…son of a God bullshit. She makes me laugh too…she so damn funny…but I know she wouldn’t like me because of what I did…what my father maybe did to her own father…I can’t take it.”

Hiroshi remembered the conversation that he and Bibi had a few months ago. He was on edge. Should he say something? He didn’t know what that feeling was like…

Wisteria…

“Well, Tomo, you have both have just become adults. You’re both still really young. Just give it time. Trust me, I think you guys will work it out,” Hiroshi admitted. “Communication and trust is the key.

Trust…

Tomokazu accepted that response and laughed again.

“Sorry, I just knew that you were sooooooo good with Blossom. Also, she is so damn hot. I mean, have you seen her…”

“Not a good reason, Tomo,” Hiroshi sipped on his orange juice. “That should be last in your list of priorities.” Hiroshi was just as confused as Tomo with that response he gave. He wasn’t even thinking…how did he know exactly what to say? Common sense? Or was he getting better at the whole friendship gig?

The club noise died down and switched to a slow, romantic song. The last one of the night, according to the DJ. Hiroshi’s heart started beating faster. All he was thinking of was Wisteria. Maybe he should go up and dance with her? No, she was going to be dancing with Bibi…

“Should I ask Bibi for a dance?” Tomokazu asked Hiroshi.

“Go ahead. Knock yourself out. Just don’t make your feelings too obvious…yet. Ok?”

“Roger!”

Tomokazu ran up to the dance floor. Hiroshi turned back into the bar. If she accepted, Bibi would leave Wisteria to dance with Tomokazu…which means that she would be alone…

“Oshi?”

“Care for a dance?!” Hiroshi yelped out, knowing Wisteria was right behind him. What the hell was he doing!? He turned around to face her. Her face was so bright and colorful. Her cheeks glowed and lit up the room. This couldn’t be happening to him. He couldn’t do this again.

“I-I would love one!” Wisteria blushed deeply. She reached her hand out gently, and Hiroshi took it with grace. He wrapped one arm around her waist and took her hand in the other. Kuro-Yami was on edge.

“Relationships make people soft, Hiroshi. Don’t forget that,” he whispered in his mind, and Hiroshi chose to not respond, but took it on board.

“Oshi, I’m sorry but I don’t really know how to dance…” Wisteria admitted in embarrassment.

“That’s alright, just follow my feet, ok?” Hiroshi guided her into a simple tango. Thank goodness Blossom had taught him a thing or two about dancing. The lights were dim. The music was nice but quiet. Everyone was up dancing with their loved ones. A perfect time for a kiss…

No.

At least, not yet.

He needed to be strong to protect her first.

Because if she died.

The world wouldn’t survive either.