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Azura curled her fingers around her toes. She bent down, almost touching her chest to her knee. The tendons in her back and thighs tightened. She took a deep breath and began to exhale. One, two, three, four...
The Nohrian Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker loomed over the horizon. Azura, the company's prima ballerina, was cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy for the fourth year in a row. This was a surprise to no one— in fact, the cast had been roughly the same since she joined. Elise was always Marie, her older brother Xander was always the Mouse King, and the Nutcracker was always--
Someone knocked at the door. Azura raised her head.
Laslow, the company's resident Nutcracker Prince, stood in the studio doorway.
“Azura,” he asked, “Are you about ready to take a break? I have something I want to show you.”
The ballerina released her stretch. “Just about, yes.”
He winked. "Alright, come sit out here. I don't think anyone would appreciate it if I brought this into the studio."
Azura stood up, brushing her slippers off before exiting the room. She sat down on the floor next to Laslow, who held two hands behind his back. He pulled one arm out, revealing a metal lunch box.
“I made myself a bento today,” Laslow said. “But I had portions leftover, so I made you one as well.” He held out his other hand, revealing an identical box.
“Thank you, Laslow,” Azura said. She took the box and popped open the lid. One side held rice and sauce coated fried chicken. The other side had shredded cabbage and halved tomatoes. Azura smiled. He had put a lot of thought into this. Some of the Nohrian takes on bento she’d seen were… sad, to say the least. A hard-boiled egg, sliced cucumber, and water crackers were not a bento.
“Oh, here are the utensils.” Laslow reached into his pocket and pulled out two sets of plastic utensils. “Forgive me, but I still do not know how to use chopsticks.”
“That’s quite alright,” Azura said. “You’re trying.”
“You’d think my dancing skills would lend me a hand,” he chuckled. He sat down on the floor next to her. “All that dexterity and all. And yet here I am, struggling with my fine motor skills.”
Azura took a bite of chicken. The outside was crisp, while the inside remained tender and juicy. The savory sauce gave it the perfect kick of umami. “Laslow, this is wonderful.”
"Thank you," said Laslow. "I hate to admit it, but it was from a box."
"There's no shame in that," said Azura. "I don't expect you to have much time with all the rehearsals."
Laslow smiled. “Ah, you’re too kind.”
The two continued to eat their lunch. Laslow fumbled with his food, a tomato wedge slipping through his chopsticks. “Perhaps I should have brought a fork.”
Azura set her bento in her lap. She laid the chopsticks flat atop her napkin and offered Laslow a hand. “Would you like me to help you?”
“Gladly.” Laslow placed his hand into Azura’s. She took his fingers and positioned them around the sticks.
“You’ll want to hold them back here, not so close to the tip,” she said. “Move the top stick and keep the bottom one still.”
“Erm…” Laslow clacked the sticks together. “Which one is the top?”
“The one between your index finger and thumb.”
“Right.” Laslow wiggled his index finger.
“Now,” Azura guided Laslow’s wrist to the box, “Pinch the rice.”
Laslow did as told. The rice clumped together between the sticks. “Is it supposed to be so small?”
“Good,” said Azura. “Learning a dance always begins with small steps. Now try on your own."
Laslow popped the rice into his mouth, then dove back to grab a piece of chicken. It slipped from his grasp.
“Darn.” Laslow gave a coy smile. “I suppose you wouldn’t be willing to guide me the whole meal, would you?”
“You can do it, even if it’s messy at first,” said Azura. “Just don’t stab your food with those. It’s considered rude.”
“There goes my backup plan.”
Azura, seizing the opportunity, explained Hoshidan table etiquette between bites. Laslow adjusted his stance accordingly. Before the two knew it, their boxes were empty and their bellies were full.
“Thank you for helping me,” said Laslow. “I’m still not very confident, but I liked our little duet.”
“I suppose that was like a duet, now that you point that out.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, and thank you for the lunch.”
Laslow winked. He placed his lunchbox aside and stood. “Elise makes for a great partner, but no one will ever beat you.”
A blush crept up Azura’s face. She stacked her box atop Laslow’s, standing up to meet his gaze.
“Now,” said Laslow, extending an open palm, “would you like to dance?”
Azura curtsied, giggling as she took his hand. “Of course.”