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A school dance. A soiree. Whatever the hell you want to call it– it was frighteningly embarrassing. It was something scrounged together at the very last minute for cherry blossom season, and here Opera was, being a wallflower! The gall!
To be fair, hardly anyone else was here, let alone dancing, which was a shame. It was a dance! There was good music playing, too! Oh, the humanity of it all!
Opera leaned against the wall, sipping her punch and flashing her best and brightest smile at any party-going admirers. But other than that, this was a very uneventful Spring party…
This punch was absolutely horrid. Far too sweet. Opera grimaced as she gulped down the very last of it, before proceeding with minding her own business.
In her suit breast pocket, she felt her phone vibrate. A very specific rhythm, which meant someone special had texted her. She smiled, pondering what the message could be as she fished the phone out her pocket and read the sender’s name in her mind.
“Sounds of Earth…” she thought to herself, her smile slightly widening as she opened the message.
‘Look on the stage’, was all it said, along with a few violin emojis. Opera glanced at the stage out of the corner of her eye. A few umas were pulling a table onto the center of it. She even spotted Meisho Doto running into a corner and picking up boxes to put next to the table. Opera chuckled to herself, then looked back at her phone. A new message.
‘Look to your right.’
Opera paused, then looked to her right, as instructed. Sounds of Earth stood there, dolled up, hair in a loose braid. She wore a black button up and pinstripe vest, with matching pinstripe slacks and heeled loafers. Seeing her in all black made her look… chic. It was nice, but where in the FUCK did she come from??
“HOLY–” she almost threw her phone in Earth’s face. She watched Earth’s eyes slightly widen in surprise before she held her hands up defensively.
“Sorry, sorry, love!” she apologized, ears slightly drooping. “Didn’t mean to startle you! How’s the party?”
“I’ve been glued to the wall,” Opera tucked her phone back in her pocket. “I must admit, even for me, this party is a bit…”
“Blah?”
“Mm.”
“Well, I think it’ll get better.”
“What makes you–”
Before Opera finished her thought, the sound of microphone feedback rang through the gymnasium. The music quieted down, and everyone’s attention went towards the stage. There, three umas, Meisho Doto, Jungle Pocket, and Fuji Kisei, stood, surrounding a microphone. The curtains began to close behind them. Opera could faintly hear things scraping behind them.
“G-Good evening!” Doto said timidly into the mic. Even with the microphone, she was so quiet.
“This party was last minute, but it’s for a very very special somebody,” Fuji Kiseki said. “Someone we all know and admire.”
Fuji locked eyes on Opera. Opera stared back for a moment, before her eyes widened and she looked at Earth, who was pretending to be oblivious. Opera looked back at the stage, watching Doto and Fuji walk away from the microphone and open the curtain behind Jungle Pocket, as she took her turn speaking into the microphone.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, T.M. OPERA O!!” she exclaimed with a loud inhale. The crowd erupted, as a banner lowered from the ceiling, with “Happy Birthday, Overlord” in big blocky letters. Opera’s eyes widened, and she looked at Earth once more.
“Surprise?” Earth said with a shrug.
“Love, my birthday isn’t for another week,” Opera mumbled.
“Well, yeah, but I wanted to throw a party for you a little early,” she said. She snaked an arm around Opera’s waist. “Don’t worry, I have something planned for just the two of us on your actual birthday.”
“Well, goodness! Now I’m intrigued!”
“Patience, tesoro mio. You have to wait until next Friday.”
Opera pretended to pout, crossing her arms over her chest. Earth leaned close, kissing her on her cheek.
“Regardless,” she said softly, nestling her cheek on Opera’s head. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Opera put her hand over where Earth’s was on her waist.
For the world’s most uneventful party, it took a very pleasant turn. If Opera had known this party was for her, she would’ve gone all out to charm the attendees!
The music resumed, switching to a slow waltz, and Earth moved in front of Opera.
“May I have this dance?” she asked, offering Opera her hand. Opera raised a brow.
“You planned this, didn’t you?” Opera asked, placing her hand in Earth’s.
“I have no idea what you mean,” Earth winked, before slowly pulling Opera forward, their chests pressed against each other. Earth’s hand made its way to the small of Opera’s back, and Opera brought her hand to Earth’s shoulder, her fingers barely grazing her shoulderblade.
Opera had to admit, she was a bit rusty when it came to the waltz. When Earth started to move, she thought for sure she’d fall on many occasions, but…
With Earth leading, Opera felt more than confident as she simply followed the rhythm.
The music picked up the tempo, and so did Earth’s lead. It became more precise, with more highs, with Opera nearly standing on the very tips of her toes. Opera looked around her, seeing the crowd all making a circle around them, letting them dance. Watching them dance. Watching them be. Opera smiled, looking back at Earth who smiled back.
“I love you,” Earth mouthed. Opera’s smile widened as she felt her cheeks flush pink.
“I love you, too,” she mouthed back, as they continued the birthday waltz.