Chapter Text
All Shun’s life, his life had been laid out for him. He had to be perfect. He was among the brightest people in his school. He was an excellent dancer focusing on ballet. Thanks to his various performances, he was quite popular among fellow dancers and with his classmates even if some never went to watch him dance. He was a very talented ballerino, directors and famous dancers confident that he would make it big. His own personal flair to the art and his undying determination had gotten himself into the best art school in the country.
The school was known for its state of the art dance studios ranging from traditional Japanese to contemporary dance. It was also known for their high end art and music studios, its impeccable auditoriums for both dance and drama students. Due to this prestige, the classes and teachers were on par. With fundamental classes running during the early morning until the early afternoon and program sessions right after, this school was only for the best of the best.
This was everything Shun had dreamt of, what his parents had dreamt of. He stared at his acceptance letter. It had come in a beautiful creme envelope, wax sealed with the school’s crest. His hands shook as he carefully opened the envelope. His heart was doing flips in his chest and there was a lump in his throat. He had never felt this level of anxiety in a long time as Shun unfolded the letter. His eyes scanned the words meticulously, ‘ Dear Shun Kaido, I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted…Congratulations! ’ He finally felt himself breathe again. I got in . Shun looked up from the paper, his family facing him, itching to hear his response.
“I got in,” he said in disbelief. His parents and siblings cheered. He stared at the words ‘you have been accepted’ .
His family’s hug and ‘congratulations’ echoed all over his body. He got in.
***
The night before Shun’s big audition was restless. His mind raced with his routine, the jumps, the spins, the execution. Not to mention, his lower body tingled with exhaustion from all his training but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. He looked up at the old pair of pointe shoes hanging near his door, the memory of him asking his mother to teach ballet resurfacing. She had initially refused, but in the end gave in, and look at him now, auditioning for the very school she had gone to.
The morning of, he was doing the same thing, nervously picking at his crimson bandages as he sat in the waiting room of the only dance studio in his prefecture. The waiting room filled with anxious and green-eyed dancers, the air in there was so thick it was suffocating. It was a small room glowing with only white, packed with folded chairs. It was also cold, the air conditioner being the only sound in there aside from the occasional assistant calling people into the actual studio.
Shun looked around the room, faces he had seen all his life, except for two. A short brown haired girl with a hot pink headband, he had noticed her when he had gotten there. She had sat at the far end of the room, binging on snacks, dressed in a plain black leotard and white tights. Beside her was a lavender haired guy also in a headband. He was more laid back and attempted to flirt with the girl. He was also dressed in a black top but with black tights.
Thankfully Shun’s name came up, and he made his way to the studio. In front of the mirrors were the directors, the schools’ teachers as well as Yoko Morishita. Shun knew there would be a special guest but never had he imagined that the Prima Ballerina of the World would be watching him perform.
He stood in front of them, they all had the same frown and tightly knitted brows, like everyone before him had been a waste of their time. The assistant who had called him in, introduced Shun to the board. He bowed before getting into position awaiting the music.
***
Being on campus as a new student felt far better than an aspiring student. Shun still couldn’t believe it. The campus was stunning, it looked like those universities in the west. A massive entrance with a long paveway, cherry blossom trees on the side of the pavement. This is where his family had dropped off. The interaction was filled with hugs and empty ‘I love you’s or ‘We’ll miss you’s. The dorms were just as stunning as the rest of the school. He had opted for a two person dorm since it would be cheaper and a chance to make friends.
When he got to the dormitory, the third floor in the west wing of both the campus and dorm building. The hallway was dull, the wood on the floor reflected on the walls and the ceiling. Room 304, the door was already slightly open. Shun peeked his head in to find a boy around his height with blonde hair in the style of a sharp bob cut. He had headphones on, dancing along while he was decorating his chosen side of the room. He did a spin and caught sight of the blue-haired boy by the door. The blond pulled his headphones off, rushing over to greet him.
“Hey! OMG! I didn’t see you there or hear you come in. I hope you don't mind, I chose a bed already,” he reached out to shake Shun’s hand. “I didn’t know when you would get here so I just picked one. Sorry about that. Oh! Where are my manners? I’m Touma Akechi! Call me which one you want. What’s your name?”
Shun hadn’t been able to get a word in at all, so he quickly blurted out, “Shun Kaido.” Realizing Akechi was giving him time to actually respond, he polished up his words. “My name’s Shun Kaido. And it's fine that you picked a bed, I’m not picky at all.”
Akechi looked pleased with that answer and continued talking, “So what program are you in?”
“I’m in the Dance program with a concentration in Ballet. How about you?”
“I’m in the Drama program but with a Theatre concentration. Did you know that theatre is believed to have originated in ancient Greece? But wow! Ballet! I bet you’re great at it, you have the body for it!”
All Shun could say was, “Thanks.” He had always felt a little self conscious about his body, he was short and not the strongest ever. He looked a bit uncomfortable about the blond’s final comment. He shifted on his heels.
Thankfully Akechi got the hint, he cleared his throat, “Hey, I didn’t mean anything to offend you. I’m gonna go back to decorating my side. I’ll give you space to get settled in.” He put back on his headphones and avoided looking at his roommate.
Since Shun was still by the door during their conversation, he took his shoes off and ventured further inside. The room was good enough, two single beds on opposite sides, a decent sized window in between and a desk at the foot of each bed. Bedding came with the room and there were clothes compartments under the beds. The light was warm and set a calming feeling to the room, like a hug. The pair luckily had a bathroom to themselves, it was like any typical bathroom, bath, sink and toilet.
It took Shun twenty minutes to unpack, he hadn’t packed posters or trinkets to fill the room unlike Akechi. It was just the basics, clothes, dance gear, shoes, school supplies and toiletries. After he had placed the last book on his desk, he felt the urge to leave the room already. He tapped Akechi, who was by his desk watching some conspiracy type video, on his shoulder. The blond turned startled, probably forgetting he now had a roommate, he pushed the headphone off one of his ears, raising his eyebrow.
“I”m going to go explore a little,” Shun said. Akechi nodded before turning back to his video.
The blue haired boy left the room and started roaming the halls. On the floor, there was a communal space with a TV and a video game box as well as couches and seats to fill the whole floor. Beside it, was a mini kitchen, a big table that could fit ten people, a small stove, a refrigerator and a microwave. Shun ventured further, he went up to the vending machines to grab a small snack before the alleged dinner bell was supposed to ring. Beside the machines was a door to the floor’s balcony. He pushed the surprisingly heavy door and was hit with a chilly breeze. He crept a little further out, seeing he was the only one, he went further to the edge. He looked down to find friend groups already formed, laying on the grass and just a great ambiance to the whole place. Shun started munching on his snack when something caught his eye or more so, someone.
This individual was sitting by a big tree with what looked like a sketchbook. He watched in awe of the individual. They had short violet hair arranged in a middle part and rectangle like glasses perfectly shaping their face. They were a black hoodie with light gray pants. Before Shun could examine him more, a loud bell rang. He checked his watch confirming that that was the dinner bell. He took one last glance at the boy by the tree, who was now walking in the direction of the cafeteria. Shun left the balcony and also made his way to the cafeteria.
The tables were already packed, upperclassmen with their cliques and the new students spread out across the room due to lack of friends. After he grabbed his lunch, he walked the sea of tables looking for an empty seat, hopefully one not surrounded by peers. Just as he found one, he heard his name being called in the opposite direction. He turned to the sound of his name, surprised to see Akechi.
“Hey Kaido! Over here!”
Shun made his way over to him, there was a free seat in front of Akechi, who gestured for him to take it. He promptly sat down, saying a breathy, “Thank you.”
The blond cleared his throat, “So… Kaido,” the blue haired boy looked at him. “This is my friend Saiki,” looking over to his left, Shun’s eyes followed his eyes where he saw a pink haired boy with green lensed glasses. “We have been friends since primary school. He saved me from a bunch of bullies. Isn’t that right Kusuo?”
The boy looked between Akechi and Shun before mumbling, “Good grief.” He looked annoyed with both of them and Shun hadn’t said anything except for a small thank you.
Akechi either didn’t notice his annoyance or was simply ignoring it because all he did was laugh and continue talking. “Anyways… Kusuo here is in general studies. He opted for a one person dorm. Isn’t that funny? Makes me feel like he doesn’t want to be near me. But at least it's the same building as us.”
All Shun could offer him was a pitiful smile. “But hey! I have you! Someone new! I love meeting new people! Hey! What’s your first class tomorrow?”
The ballerino had almost forgotten that they had classes tomorrow, today had been so exhausting already. He had zoned out and when he came too both Akechi and Saiki were looking at him with puzzled expressions. Shun snapped out of it, “I think Japanese Litterature. I’d have to double check.”
The blond frowned, “We don’t have the same class then. If I remember correctly… Kusuo! Don’t you have that for your first class?”
Saiki simply nodded.
At least I know someone in my class now
***
Finishing dinner took forever, especially with Akechi talking for the majority. It was time to head back to the dorms for the night, preparing for the start of their new lives. Akechi and Shun got off the elevator first, leaving Saiki to go up alone, not like he would mind. The pair walked up to their door, Akechi struggling to put in the password for their dorm. As the blond racked his brain for the right combination, Shun once again scanned the hall. This time, there were more people entering their rooms. His crimson eyes caught sight of the boy from earlier, violet hair, glasses. He was much taller in person, and dare Shun say handsome. He was two dorms down from his, Room 307. As Akechi finally got the door unlocked and pulled him inside, Shun cast one more glance down the hall. The purple-haired boy was already slipping into his own dorm, not even glancing back. Shun blinked, realizing he’d been holding his breath. Why? He didn’t even know the guy.
Akechi launched straight into rambling about his latest performance while Shun quietly stepped inside, pulling the door shut behind him. The room was warm, softly lit, but Shun’s thoughts were still outside, still stuck on the stranger by the tree.
Dinner had been loud, chaotic, Shun hadn’t expected that. He’d expected cold trays and silent chewing, but instead it was like walking into a stage mid-performance. Voices overlapped, laughter rose and fell in waves, and chairs scraped across the tile like off-beat cymbals.
He had almost missed it, but at one point, as Akechi was enthusiastically miming a leap he’d messed up during rehearsal, Shun caught sight of him again. The violet haired boy had entered the cafeteria late, alone. His hoodie was too big, sleeves nearly hiding his hands as he carried a tray with just a drink and a small bowl of rice. He didn’t look around for friends. He just found an empty corner seat and opened a sketchbook, eating one-handed while scribbling something unseen.
And for just a moment, his eyes lifted.
They met Shun’s.
Not a dramatic pause. No smile. Just a flicker of something, recognition? Curiosity?
Then the boy dropped his gaze, as if nothing had happened at all.
Now, back in the dorm, Shun dropped his bag beside the bed and crossed to the window. The sky was a deep indigo, speckled with stars. He cracked it open just enough to feel the night air, cool and sharp on his skin. Below, the grass was empty now. The tree was still.
“Hey,” Akechi said behind him, his voice softer now. “Nervous about tomorrow?”
Shun hesitated, then nodded without turning.
“Me too,” Akechi admitted. “But we’ll kill it. First day, fresh start.”
He meant well. Shun appreciated it. But his thoughts were elsewhere.
Later, after brushing his teeth and changing into sleepwear, Shun lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The soft hum of Akechi’s lo-fi playlist buzzed low through the room, soothing but distant.
His eyes drifted to the shape of his dance bag by the foot of the bed, ballet shoes just barely peeking from the zipper. He wondered if they’d still feel like magic tomorrow, or if he’d trip in front of the whole class. He wondered if the violet haired boy would be there.
He exhaled and rolled to his side, pulling the covers up. The pressure of his family’s expectations hadn’t left him. But for the first time in a long time, something else was pressing too, something unspoken, unfamiliar.
The look in that boy’s eyes.
And for some reason, it scared him more than any of his performances ever could.