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Everyone who knew Shirabu well enough knows he will absolutely and surely refuse to dance no matter the situation. Even if it means to save his life— sure, that may sounds absolutely dramatic but it is probably true either way.
There was never a personal reason why he disliked the idea of dancing himself, he just really doesn’t like it nor the attention it brings. Maybe it could be also stage fright but there really isn’t a solid reason. Plus even so he had better things to do rather than to this though sometimes the reasons were just petty reasons.
So here are three times wherein Shirabu Kenjirou was asked to dance which he had declined, and one when he accepted willigly for the first time.
( Jeez you make this sound dramatic like some Disney movie, Teru.
Leave me alone, Kenma! Let me have this.
Both of you, shut up.
Sorry, Akaashi.
Of course, right, back to the story. )
- Elementary Talent Show ft. Yahaba Shigeru
“Alright kids, remember! All of us will be participating for the Talent Show, don’t be afraid to show your skills in front of the stage. You may have the option come with partner or as a group to perform.” The teacher says loud enough to the group of children as she gave a warm smile.
“Yes Ms. Satou!” A chorus of children spoke. Some gave off an excited demeanor as some were thinking and talking about the performance they could give.
While at the corner of the room, two kids were found discussing and one did not seem please for a six years old unlike the other. “Come on, Kenji! This is our first ever talent show, please perform with me.” The light hair brunette pleaded to his friend giving him teary eyes.
Kenjirou kept an unimpressed look on his face, of course the eyes did not work for him. No one understood how did he get this sass of a personality as a child but most had to bare with it as this point. The kid in-front of him have been all at it bugging his friend by talking about the talent show since last week it was mentioned. He was not certainly please after finding out it was a required performance to do in front of the class. “Fine, what do you want to do?”
Shigeru’s face lightens up at the acceptance as he did little jumps in excitement. “So I was thinking we should do..” he pauses for a moment “A dance!” He whispers to him excitingly while spreading out his hands for effects. The copper hair thought of it for a moment, he gives him a small smile and said..
“No.”
The taller’s eyes widened, he really thought the smile on his friend’s face was a good sign though unfortunately it wasn’t. “What? Why not?” He exclaims, no one really batted an eye to them considering the classroom was full of children chattering and a few of them shouting so it was not anything new nor surprising for a kid to be exclaiming about something.
“I just don’t want to dance.” He explains as he shrugs like it was nothing. Shigeru gave an angry face, he was really looking forward to do this with his best friend but of course he would refuse.
He sighs calming down remembering that he could not get angry at his friend’s choices, “Fine, what do you suggest, party pooper!” He says, crossing arms and stomping on the floor.
Kenjirou hums as he scans through the room and recalling anything he could do, “Maybe you can dance and I’ll play the piano.” He says confidently as Shigeru gave an unimpressed look.
“But I don’t want to dance to stupid classical music.” Stomping once again on the floor refusing to look at the boy in front of him. The copper hair nods as he gave a small smile, not the friendly one.
“Then I guess we will be performing alone.” His friend’s eyes widened as he thought of performing without his friend, he groans as he looks at him “Fine! I will dance and you play the piano.”
The smaller nods as he walks back to his sit with the other trailing behind “We can practice in my place since I have a piano. Just don’t look weird when you dance.” He laughs as the other rolls his eyes but laughs with him.
- Junior High Dance ft. Kawanishi Taichi
“Kawanishi-san, please go with me to the dance!” The girl exclaims as she bows down handing out an envelope to the tall red head while his best friend stood beside him giving an unimpressed look to both the girl and him.
The taller rubs the back of his neck in slight embarrassment considering they were still in school grounds and the girl’s friends were watching behind a tree, they were really not slick about hiding. “I’m sorry, Aki-san. I am planning to ask someone out already.” He says apologetic. His classmate stood back up face flushed from embarrassment and looked like she was about to cry.
“Oh! I am so sorry, I did not know.” She stutters throughout her sentence “I should.. get going.” She quickly left possibly crying as her friends followed her to comfort.
The copper hair sighs as he looked at his friend “Who is this person you are planning to ask out? Three girls already asked you yet you haven’t even mentioned who you want to go with.” He says as they walked together through the field of the school.
Taichi’s face was slightly flushed with red as he rolls his eyes scoffing off the smaller’s response “Whatever, no one even asked you out anyways and you don’t have a date yet.” He says which made his friend gave an unimpressed look.
“The dance doesn’t even require to have a date anyways, plus this isn’t about me, its you who kept rejecting all these people when the dance is nearly in a week yet you haven’t asked this person who you’ve been saying to them.” The red head sternly looks at the path they were walking on as he chuckles nervously. “Well.. this person is not real, it just something for them to know so that they could stop asking me out.”
Shirabu did not believe the other’s answer and was certainly sure he was hiding something, he would’ve pushed who was this person really, but he was feeling nice and did not. “You could have just told them that we were uninterested on asking someone out, you know?” He nudges the taller playfully.
“I guess that is true..” Kawanishi says “Well how about you, are you asking someone?” He curiously asked returning the playful nudge.
“No, I might as well ditch the dance but unfortunately my parents said to go for fun experiences.” He groans at the convo they had the other night when his folks found out their son’s school had a dance. He formerly plan to stay at home to study and maybe watch some shows though he could not disobey his parent’s wishes when they just wanted the best for him.
Kawanishi nods in understanding as they continue to walk in comfortable silence. Well.. the comfortable part was not really the good choice of words when one’s heart was pounding really fast. The red head quickly stopped and stood in-front of Shirabu with his eyes close seemingly he wanted to calm himself before saying something. “Go with me to the dance!” Shirabu gave a confuse and shocked looked which made the other panicked “Like as friends! Since we don’t have anyone to go with and your parents practically force you to go to the dance.” He says avoiding eye contact.
“You know everyone knows I am openly gay, right? Do you want people to get the wrong idea of you?” Shirabu says as he rose a brow at him, seemingly calm and oblivious. He did not really mind he was going to the dance with his friend as ‘friends’ but he is slightly worried that people might make assumptions about his best friend when he was still figuring out himself. “Well it doesn’t matter to me, it better than looking like were lonely losers.”
“Wow, you really think we are losers, huh?” Shirabu chuckles teasing his best friend “Sure, why not.” Kawanishi smiles at this response as they continue walking in comfortable silence.
The dance took place at the gymnasium during 7 pm. There were loud chatters of students and music playing which felt like the place was vibrating as bright colorful lights were everywhere shinning onto their face. It was really not pleasing to Shirabu. He and Kawanishi just has arrived to the venue seeing students dancing near the music speakers with of course, no explicit languages on the music since they were still in junior high school and supervise by their teachers.
Getting into the sea of students practically dancing made Shirabu shiver since he knows he could easily get lost in it despite being considering tall (thankfully for volleyball) for some, though that does not matter since there still many guys in the dance flood who are considerably taller than him, and a crowed of people would end up pushing him around without knowing he was there.
“We should look at the food first!” Kawanishi shouted through the loud music and students chattering. Shirabu nods as he lets his friend take his hand and drag him to the food table. The noises were still loud around the area but not as much as the entrance where it was near the dance floor.
The red head hands over a small pastry to the other accepting it as he ate on it humming in delight “These are surprisingly good for a school who provided it.” He says between chewing on his food.
Shirabu took a small bite on it with a surprised look on his face as he finishes the pastry. “Yeah, that is surprising.”
Kawanishi smiles at him and scans through out the gym as the other continue to look over the food aisle. He nervously looks over him lightly tapping on his shoulder as he held his hand, kinda awkwardly. Shirabu looks over him with a confuse looking on the hand and his face. “I know that Yahaba has said that you absolutely despise to dance- and know one knows reasons the reason, well maybe you just don’t feel comfortable or something— but I’d like to try and ask if you’d like to dance with me? If you want!” He says cursing himself inside for getting himself carried away and taking too long to ask.
“Wow— this is probably the nicest you’ve been to me.” Shirabu chuckles which made the other rolls his eyes playfully “Well, I am not fond of the crowed to dance neither in this party, so I’m sorry I can’t accept it.”
Kawanishi gave a small sad smile and sighs, nods in understanding. “Well, it is worth a shot!” He says as silence fled in a bit. They were both not please at all with the quiet awkwardness between them despite the loud music and students talking, and the fact comfortable silence was something common in their friendship. The red head fiddles with hands as he had idea and took his best friend’s hand “How about we go to the Taco Bell down the street and ditch this dance. This party is killing me.” He groans as the awkwardness disappears between the two despite Kawanishi’s heart was still pounding really fast, Shirabu doesn’t hear it anyways so thats fine to him.
The smaller chuckles and nods “Sure, why not. Its annoying just to shout through the loud music just to hear one another.” Kawanishi smiles as he drags them both out of the gym. Maybe this is fine for him to keep these feelings even if it not reciprocated. It will go away one day, anyways.
- High School Prom ft. Tendo Satori
A loud thump on the table startles the boys’ volleyball team who were eating their lunches, looking over at the source of hand on the table. The red head had the biggest and energetic grin as he shows the poster for the school’s dance. “Oh, the school dance?” Reon takes the paper which Tendo lets him while the libero beside him observes the poster with him.
Shirabu stares at the poster for a moment but goes back to his lunch not thinking of it nor showing interest in it. “Isn’t this exciting? We didn’t get to go to the previous ones because of Nationals! But since we can’t go there anymore, thanks to karasuno— we have this!” He exclaims excitingly but mumbles the mention of losing to a certain school. It was true they could not join dances or most school events due to nationals and game matches, so it was certainly understandable that it was exciting for all of them.
Aside from not only one, but two second years. A mention of a school dance did startle Kawanishi a bit soon brush it off immediately whilst Shirabu just kept an uninterested look “Well, not really.” He says as he continues to chew on his food. “We’ve been to one and we just ditched it at the end to Taco bell or something.”
The team looks at him questing as Tendo looks with curious look “Who is “We”?” He asks teasingly, he really did not expect an answer and was only doing it to annoy or rile up the younger for fun, that was until that underclassman gestures to his best friend beside who just chuckles at this. “You guys were actually a thing in middle school? I thought that was a rumor.” Semi says with a slight disappointment tone in his voice. Though his question, more like a statement made the older of the second years choked on his rice as Ushijima who was beside him pat his back to help him while the smaller’s eyes widen.
Shirabu swallows his food as he looks at his upperclassman with a confuse look “There were rumors of me and Taichi dating?” The other finally stops coughing/choking on his food, he manages to catch his breath until he burst into a quiet but clearly visible laugher which slightly shocks the team. One of the guys in their team who had a stern look most of the time like his best friend just laughed a lot more than he should’ve had.
Yagamata looks to both of them baffled at the knowledge and sight “So both of you never dated?” He asked (and exclaimed). The younger shakes his head while still giving a confuse look as the other’s laugher just gets harder as he tries to contain his voice from being loud, though this still attracted some students’ attention.
Soon his laugher died down “They really thought that happened. We were just friends during middle school but I think everyone knew I had a thing for Kenjirou at some point.” He explains as his friend just nods in confirmation.
“You HAD a thing for SHIRABU-SAN?” Exclaimed by Goshiki a little too loud for the middle blocker and setter’s liking. Both nods in confirmation “Wait, why did we only know this till now? Like did Kawanishi confess or?”
“It was really not a big deal.” The red head shrugs as if it was not a big deal at all answering to their questions “I did tell him after the dance when we went to taco bell, I already knew Kenjirou didn’t feel the same so I was prepared. Though we still have a solid friendship after it. And the feelings faded away by 1st year anyways.”
Reon looks around the table seeing how his teammates (but Ushijima) were too stunt to say anything, he clapped his hand together gaining the attention of team breaking away from the elephant of the room “Well, do you guys plan to bring dates? It is not required so there is no pressure.” The question led to a few nervous looks and an excited one.
The captain clears his throat “Well I’d say we should go together as a team if ever we don’t accept or ask someone out. It is just a dance after all and our first one in high school.” He announced as he mumbles something about not seeing the point of it, though he saw his friend was extremely excited for this event so he decided to might as well tag along.
Tendo looks over to his friend with a mischievous look which only makes the ash blonde glare at him “do you have something to say, Semi semi?” He asks as he quickly eyes a second year and back to him.
“Well, during the dace I actually volunteered to perform majority of the night, so I won’t be asking someone.” He says, though there was a slight disappointment in his voice.
The red head looks at him baffled by his response. “You what.” Tendo whisper exclaims still making glaces to his underclassman, he swore he saw a hint of sadness in face for a split second. He grab back of the pinch server’s jacket and surprisingly was able to pull him out of his seat.
“What the hell, Satori? I am still eating!” He exclaims as he tries get his friend’s hand off of his jacket only to be dragged to far from the team’s sight without saying a word.
“Yikes.” Yagamata whispers being the only who broke the silence after seeing one of his friends drag another as if he was about to be grounded by an angry parent.
The older second year looks over to his friend who was already packing his slightly finished lunch and wrapping up the box in a cloth. “Shirabu—“ “Its fine, I will still go to the dance but just don’t expect me to participate much.” He says as he nods to Kawanishi as reassurance which he understood letting him leave.
“So can we play volleyball-“ “No, you can’t play volleyball in the dance nor bring a ball.”
Once again, Shirabu was back to the loud sounds of music which was blasting through the speakers in the gym. The big area was well decorated by a team of students and since the gym was a lot bigger compared to his middle school, the food aisle was thankfully further away from the dance area. The downside was there there were a lot more ratio if students who did not want to participate in dancing so it meant the aisle was a lot more crowded for his liking.
The setter came to the area along with Kawanishi since they were roommates so going together was pretty much what they did so they could easily find the team together. At some point they did them, though they soon split to their ways. Yagamata quickly dragged Kawanishi to dance which he really did not mind since he knew there was something going on between the two, especially the fact he knew his best friend also did not mucb fancy the idea of dancing but still complied for his upperclassman. Reon went to his girlfriend to spend time with her either dancing or trying out the food, and as for Tendo who was already trying out ever chocolate they offered with Ushijima.
Do not even ask about Goshiki, even if he did not ran to his first year friends who called gor him, the setter would’ve find a way to get the younger to socialized with other people and not him. Tsutomu is a great kid and he really doesn’t hate him but Kenjirou was not in the mood for a huge ball of energy to follow him around the night.
Leaving Semi who wore a lot more casual fit, probably picked by Tendo, since he will be performing in stage for half or majority of the night. To him, he looked absolutely stunning but it was a shame he will be at the stage for the majority. Speaking of performance, he spotted his upperclassman getting up in a stage which was provided by the school. It was not a big one but it was enough to fit in a whole band with their equipment.
The ash blond introduced himself then played his song on his guitar as he sang which let to many students cheering for him, definitely many girls cheering for him since is popular in their school. Not only as a former powerful setter and pinch server, but for his looks and admirable musical talent as well. Many found him endearing, Shirabu cursed himself for being one of the victims.
Time past to the third year’s third song, which was highly requested by the crowd, the copper hair thought it is best to leave since he was just doing nothing but watching his crush play songs. He could always watch the rest in some social media post by one of his school mates. He was about to walk away till he was greeted by a certain older red head who was smiling at him, handing out his hand “Care for a dance?” He asks teasingly
The setter raised a brow at him, unimpressed with the offer “Don’t you have Ushijima-san to ask?” He asks, crossing his arms.
Tendo chuckles as he stood beside Shirabu also leaning onto the wall behind them “Wakatoshi is off to talking to the other captains and a few girls swarming around him. I wouldn’t want to intrude honestly.” He says as he sighs sadly. His underclassman look at him in pity but also in understanding of his situation. They both watch as Semi plays on stage silently for a while.
“That ass.” Tendo curses playfully at his friend which Shirabu send a confused look at him “You know, that guy was supposedly to ask a certain someone out and we both agree to do so. But he bails on me by performing for the whole school.” He says glancing at him at the mentioned of a certain someone.
“So he didn’t volunteer since he just wants to play for the school?“ he asks
His upperclassman click his tongue with a small smirk as he shakes his head “Not really. Knowing Eita, he probably also wanted to perform for a bit. Though he also had the choice of only performing like one to two songs with this deal we had, he probably took the option of half the night.” Shirabu nods at this as he looks back again to Semi who was having fun singing for the crowd. He was fixated to him that he didn’t notice at the small laugh Tendo gave when he saw his face. “Though he told me to tell you something.”
Shirabu now looks at him in curiously tearing away his attention from the performance.
“He said wanted to meet you after his performance, which is about after six songs.” He says holding up six fingers. “He wanted to tell you something.”
- Kitchen Apartment ft. Semi Eita
Soft sounds of rain drops outside the apartment of the couple muffles through the wall, both were huddle up in a blanket wrapped around the two holding one another. Small bowls of various half/almost finished dipping sauces and an big bowl of nothing but chip crumbs are found on the coffee table, along as well with an almost finished bottle of wine and two used empty wine glasses. The only light source was found was from the tv as it played a random series they found in netflix.
It was a comfortable silence, a great way for Kenjirou to spend the first hours of his birthday. Staying up this late in their apartment doing anything but work related was rare to both men. Being Semi who is part of a band and the producer as well as balancing his work as a civilian servant, whilst Shirabu was working as a doctor, time was difficult though they still try their best to find time together. Luckily being Shirabu’s birthday today, both were able to receive a three day break to celebrate it together without any distractions but quality time together. So they were very happy with the opportunity just to hold on another and binge a bunch of shows till this hours.
The episode soon rolls it’s credits, being the last episode the season the older stretches himself as removes his arms around the other who just sat on the couch slightly dazed. Semi stood up from the couch and grabbed the bowls and cups from the coffee table as he heads towards to the kitchen to place the dishes on the sink. He looks over to his boyfriend checking if the boy was asleep but was seen look at his phone at the time “Tired already?” He asked with a smile
Shirabu looks back at him as he shake head “Not yet, usually I’d be but I am still surprisingly wide awake.” He stood up walking over to the ash blond who chuckles at him washes the dishes for the night. Semi hums a song, probably one of his own or favorites while the latter rest his head on his shoulders, resting his eyes.
The musician finishes quickly as he puts the bowls and cups in the dish dryer. He rest his hands on the counter thinking on what he could do since the both of them could not sleep whilst the other was still attached near him. “Lets cook something!” Shirabu opens his eyes looking at him and rose a brow in question.
“At this hour?” The idea was not the best considering it was 3am, though both did not mind to have something rather than just chips and a wine. Semi went to the cupboards which meant he had to leave Shirabu’s warmth for a moment as he returns with baking ingredients. “You know, when you said cook, I thought you meant some ramen and not a batch of cupcakes.”
“Well was craving for something sweet plus the baking time for these is just about 18-20 mins while the rest we will be preparing ingredients.” He says grabbing the bowls and kitchen tools from the drawers.
The younger look at him unamused “What are you? Pregnant?” He jokes which results to his boyfriend playfully rolling eyes and ruffling his hair.
“Come on help me with this.”
Within 10 minutes they manage to pour the batter into the cupcake tray and preheating the oven, while another 10 minutes arguing what flavor they should bake, nothing serious though. It was natural to them to argue over small things that doesn’t harmed either of them since that was how they got along. In the end one half was red velvet flavor while the other was a vanilla one. They place the cupcakes in oven and setting a timer at the side, just incase they forget. “Let me get something real quick.” Semi says as he quickly left and came back with a small speaker Shirabu got him for his birthday and his phone as he shuffles his playlist.
Lover by Taylor Swift
Semi playfully sways to the beat and singing the song as he looks at Shirabu longingly which he returns to the look too “We could leave the Christmas lights up 'til January” He sang as he went closer to the other while doing a small dance in the process with his hands making the other chuckle at his antics.
“And this is our place, we make the rules” he wraps his arms around behind the smaller who was washing the dishes trying to hide his smile by looking away from him but fails.
He lays his head on the other’s shoulder while looking at him on the side “And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear” He whisper sang into his ears as he sways his hips to the beat.
‘Have I known you 20 seconds or 20 years?’ Semi chuckles at the line recalling the last time they’ve met “Damn, how many years since we’ve met?” He asks.
Shirabu thought for a moment, “We’ve met during my first year which was 2011 I think, so its about 11 years ago.” He states as his boyfriend eyes widen at the realization.
“Wow that was a long time ago, are we really that old.”
The doctor rolls his eyes as dried his hands and turns around to face the musician while his arms were still wrapped around him. “We’re still in our 20s, but in late in our 20s. I just turned 27, you know?” As he put his arms around the other’s neck.
His boyfriend shrugs and smiles to him “Well, I do think its pretty much time we get married, aye?“ he says in a sincere voice which made the other look at him stunt but not in a bad way.
“Are you..” he pause for a moment seeing any signs of a joke but all he saw was sincerity “Are you implying that we should?” He asks in a hopeful voice.
Semi steps back with the both of them letting go of one another. “I know this is far stretched to do this in our kitchen apartment in our pajamas at 3am, but its a win win to me since were baking red velvet cupcakes and playing taylor swift in the background.” He kneels down on one knee as he pulls out a ring from his pajamas’ pocket. “Shirabu Kenjirou, will you marry me?“
Shirabu quickly jumped for hug onto to the musician while kept repeating yes in happiness. Both hugs one another tightly and cried a bit in joy for a few seconds to pull away slightly as to look at one another lovingly with huge grins on their face. The ash blond places the ring on the other’s finger which in return he pulled him into a kiss lasting a few seconds.
Once they pulled away, they stood up from the floor whilst both heart was still beating really fast from the rush of joy that just happened. Semi wraps his arms around his waist once again and Shirabu’s around his neck as he hums to the song in the background. “I know you normally refuse to dance for the past years, but would you like to?” The older asks his fiancé who nods but gave a nervous look.
“I really don’t know how to dance, though.” He says looking away in embarrassment.
Semi chuckles “Just follow my lead. It is just the two of us here.” He nods and complies which sent the other in joy but he decided to not make a fuss about it yet since this was a rare opportunity to do with the copper hair.
The musician took one of Shirabu’s hands and place it on one shoulder while he places his on his waist, whilst the other hands are intertwined. They started it off small as they sway to the beat of the song.
‘Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?
And ah, take me out, and take me home (forever and ever)
You're my, my, my, my
Lover’
“Be ready to spin” he whispers to him closely as he sang “Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand?” Using one hand to spin Shirabu around which he manage to do without tripping and bringing him back to his arms in the same position. The doctor giggles while the other smiles at him with glint on his eyes as they continue to sway to the beat
“With every guitar string scar on my hand” Semi holds up his hand showing that he indeed have several guitar strings from practicing and playing songs everyday while still intertwined with the other’s.
Shirabu lets go of his hand placing it on his fiancé’s face as he admires him “I take this magnetic force of a man to be my lover” this time he sang to the musician.
‘My heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue
All's well that ends well to end up with you
Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover’
Grinning with feeling a rush of joy and affection he burry his head onto the smaller’s shoulder as they tighten their embrace. “You will be the death of me, Shirabu Kenjirou.” He laughs as they finally look at one another once again. “It is your idea, Eita.”
“Happy birthday, Kenjirou.”