Work Text:
contact exchange
[Outside the dance competition event, 5 p.m.]
"Hey, Maito-kun. Do you mind if we chat for a little bit?"
Maito turns his head and finds himself face-to-face with Yuriya. The dance competition had just concluded, with a sea of attendees walking towards the exits to catch up with evening plans. The Kiraboshi High Dance Club members all gathered in a spacious area to have their photo taken as a celebration for a successful performance, courtesy of Gaku. Once the shoot was finished did the twin students of Mantense High approach the group, with Nemu heading towards Gaku's and Hayato's direction while Yuriya headed towards the young breakdancer to ask the question.
"I don't mind. Everyone's still busy anyways."
The dance club members appeared to be in the mood for idle chatter with the way they were gathering in small groups talking amongst themselves, mostly about how the competition went. Kouga's father, Souichirou, was also present, happily talking to his son about how proud he was while he performed on stage, leading to Souchirou waving the large fan bearing the Tengen family name around the air, catching the eyes of some passersby that gave Kouga secondhand embarrassment. Sasana, who was a few feet away from the father and son, simply lets out an amused chuckle, eventually joining next to the dance club vice president's side to wrap an arm around his shoulder.
"So, what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Maito begins the conversation.
"I, uh, I wanted to apologize for earlier... When I called your tsundere personality cute, I happened to grab your shoulders and you immediately pulled back, so I thought I made you uncomfortable because of it. I'm sorry if I did so."
Yuriya gave him a ninety-degree bow, an unusual gesture for him to do towards anyone. Although he was known for being snarky, sassy, and somewhat rude, he still has an ounce of decency within him especially right after finding himself a group of genuine friends in the forms of Gaku, Hayato, and Maito.
Speaking of Maito, the purple-haired breakdancer was a little taken aback both by the sudden apology and change in the older boy's personality, but he can tell he was not lying about it. "It's nothing, really, senpai. Don't feel bad about me; honestly, I wasn't uncomfy with what you did at all."
The yellow haired boy lifts his head and gives a small, earnest smile, relieved that he didn't offend Maito in any way. The atmosphere between them was suddenly turning awkward, so, while scratching his head, he complimented him, "Amazing performance you guys did there."
"Thanks! All that practicing was worth it."
Of course, he doesn't forget to compliment him back. "Your performance with Nemu-kun was incredible too. It's cool that so many people thought the same."
"Sure is..."
Yuriya trails off, but, like lightning, a quick thought flashes through his mind. He pulls out his phone and approaches the boy closer. He wanted to seize this chance, worried that the dance club would leave at any moment now. "Can I... ask for your number?"
The second question catches the younger boy off guard. Eyes slowly growing wide, a subtle blush began forming on his cheeks. Did he hear that right? The boy from a different school who he considered a competition rival... asking for his number all of a sudden? He's not too sure if the blaring loud music from the venue finally got to him now to mess up his hearing...
"W-well... it's just... I really want to learn more about breakdancing from you. Nemu managed to get a taste of it before with your fellow seniors, so now I want to learn it myself as well. Consider it another way of me apologizing to you, specifically on how I used to insult breakdancing before."
Scratching his head again, Yuriya is fully aware this isn't the only reason why he wants to get Maito's number; it's just that, he's struggling to articulate it without sounding a bit mushy or off. Then, with a dusty pink shade coloring his cheeks, he blurts out,
"A-and... you're probably the only breakdancer I know who isn't a total jerk to offer some dance lessons or two. Plus, your dancing style is super cool, I-I couldn't peel my eyes off of you back there at all..."
He ended up saying something mushy. Yet what he said was true, he did constantly focus on Maito the whole time the Kiraboshi High dance club performed on stage. The way he moved with precision, his technique, and the impressive stunts he managed to do, it pulled him in as if the boy possessed some sort of strong magnetic force. He was one weak piece of metal.
The way he was fixated on the boy the entire time made it sound like he was his personal fancam recorder, but only through his eyes... as his hands were full from holding signs containing support messages for Gaku, one that he was handed by the pink-haired boy to his reluctance. (Even though it was only one item, he also didn't choose to pull out his phone at that moment, literally not wanting to miss out a second of the entire thing.)
Maito's ears go bright red and the blush on his face turns a shade deeper upon hearing what the older boy just said. If he was already flustered before with how Yuriya called him cute while playfully wrapping his arms around his shoulders, he was now a flustered mess upon hearing the genuine compliment about his dancing.
Amidst rapidly blinking eyes and quivering lips, he manages to reply. "Then, i-in that case... I'd like to learn vogueing from you in return! I like how elegant you and Nemu look when you guys strike a pose. Um.. here... m-my contact number."
With shaky, sweaty hands, he pulls out his phone from his cargo pants pocket, opens it, and shows him his contact details, which Yuriya immediately took note of. All this was done while Maito's body faced away from him out of shyness, with only his shaky right arm stretched out to show him his phone praying that he wouldn't catch the beet root color of his face at the moment.
The older boy closes his phone, satisfied that both of them have each others' contacts saved. "Thanks, Maito-kun! By the way, do you have any plans for tonight?"
He faces Yuriya's direction once his face has cooled down. "Yea. I'll be having dinner with the dance club at some restaurant. Sasana-senpai's treat, since it's going to be his last year of being in the club along with Tengen-senpai..."
Sentimental is what the younger boy is suddenly feeling at this moment as he turns his head back to the group, who were still occupied with conversation. He didn't even realize how fast time flew, and he couldn't imagine the dance club without the blond and mint-haired seniors of his, he truly owes them everything after what they've been through.
Speaking of his two seniors, he caught them becoming physically affectionate with one another, their arms slinging over each other's shoulders and backs, observing the group in peaceful silence. It's as if they were cherishing this moment that they will no longer be experiencing in a couple months. It also seems like Souchirou had left early as he was no longer present in the area; Maito assumed he must have dinner plans of his own.
Yuriya takes note of his sentiment and nods, completely understanding the feeling. He also followed Maito's gaze towards the group, catching sight of his twin brother still conversing happily with Gaku and Hayato, who all laughed at something. Then he switches the topic. "Oh, if you don't mind me asking, are your president and vice president...?"
"Dating? They act like lovebirds alright, but I haven't heard of them becoming an official couple... yet. I mean, they're so obvious, if you didn't know that they haven’t asked each other out, you're not wrong to think of them that way."
With the way they just casually displayed public signs of affection, it's not news to every member in the dance club that they have mutual feelings for one another. Even before Sasana confessed to Kouga, Maito, who has been in the club a little longer than Gaku and Hayato, has often taken note that they felt like parents among the group with the way they stood next to each other during practices. He also remembered how Kouga would constantly watch over him like a mother hen. The other club members secretly harbor those thoughts too amidst Sasana's playful, flirty coaching that they fall for every time.
On the topic of Sasana, the blond dance club president gathered everyone up, meaning it was finally time for them to head out. With that, Nemu returns to Yuriya's side, bidding Maito goodbye first before bidding the rest of Kiraboshi High dance club together with his brother.
"Enjoy your plans for the night! Let's see each other more outside of school." Nemu called out to them, excitedly waving his newly-made friends goodbye.
"Uh, you guys take care. Have a nice dinner." said Yuriya, also waving goodbye, but in a more reserved manner. He's not used to having this kind of farewell with others.
"Bye! You guys take care along the way too!" Gaku calls out to the Otogiri twins as he too excitedly waves goodbye. The rest of the dance club members do the same for a few seconds before they finally set off for their plans for the night.
-----
[Online chat, 8:30 p.m.]
.
[Otogiri Yuriya]
Hi, Maito-kun. 👋
How was dinner?
[Kurose Maito]
Hi, senpai.
👋
Just got home.
But it was really good.
The restaurant sasana-senpai took us to was his favorite one. We ordered so many dishes and all the food was to die for!!
[Otogiri Yuriya]
Glad you enjoyed. Btw what did u eat there? 😯
[Kurose Maito]
There was pork barbecue with the tastiest glaze, a glass noodle dish that I forgot but it came with limes, and pandan crepes!
Hahah I never forget to order a crepe whenever it's on the menu
I also had this drink called a calamansi cooler, it tastes like lemonade but a little sweeter...?
With a bit of a tart aftertaste to it
Still good tho
Dude I'm so full now but talking abt the food makes me wanna eat it again🤤
.
Lying on his bed, Yuriya chuckles upon seeing the emoji that Maito sent in his latest message. He couldn't deny it, though; the way he described the food sounded so appetizing that he too wants to eat them even though he just finished brushing his teeth...
.
[Otogiri Yuriya]
Hmm, judging by most of the food you ordered, it sounds like you went to a Southeast Asian themed restaurant.
[Kurose Maito]
Yea, exactly!
Apparently the restaurant was senpai's introduction to international food and he absolutely loves going there ever since.
He's known by a lot of the staff since he's a regular
Same with tengen-senpai since they eat there together
Lmao he couldn't stop talking to them while he waited for our orders
Btw how was your dinner with nemu?
[Otogiri Yuriya]
It went great! We headed to our favorite cafe, it's right near our dormitory where we live
Both of us ordered our favorite cakes as a treat after a successful performance🍰
It's great that we all got to eat the tastiest foods after what happened
[Otogiri Yuriya sent a photo. It was a selfie of him and Nemu with mini cakes on their tables]
Post-show dinner👌😅
.
Maito chuckled at Yuriya referencing a meme, the boy also lying down on his bed with only his phone light shining amidst the darkened room. He never knew he had this sort of humor going on in him, along with the fact that he uses emojis a lot. Well, you wouldn't know 'till you get closer to them... was that how the saying went?
Anyways...
.
[Kurose Maito]
K now I'm hungry again lmaooo
😂
Ur still at the cafe??
[Otogiri Yuriya]
That pic was from a couple minutes ago
Nemu and I are back at the dorms now
[Kurose Maito]
Oh ok
How's nemu rn?
[Otogiri Yuriya]
He clocked out first
Nemu's an early bird between us
You can tell I'm a night owl with the way I'm still talking to u hahah🦉
.
The phone clock read 8:45 p.m. Well, that's not exactly a super late time to be awake at night... but whatever. Maito thought.
Their conversations carried on, talking about a wide range of topics from school to their favorite foods to literally anything. Not a single mention of breakdancing or vogueing present was found in their chitchat despite what they previously said. Yet none of them paid any mind to it, completely immersed with communicating with the other person.
.
[Otogiri Yuriya]
Btw are u busy with anything like homework and all?
Just in case your sleep schedule's already passed
It's already 11 p.m.
[Kurose Maito]
Not that I remembered
Whoa didn't even realize the time
[Otogiri Yuriya]
Right??? Like it literally said ZOOM 💨
😂😂
U're going to bed now?
[Kurose Maito]
Lmao i'm already in bed😂
Jokes aside yea, i'm sleepy
Also my thumbs hurt from typing too fast
[Otogiri Yuriya]
It was obvious ur fast with the way you send messages back to me
Cure break in action ig😅😅⚡️⚡️
[Kurose Maito]
Ok that was actually funny AHAHAHAHH
It's fun talking with you
Good night senpai
[Otogiri Yuriya]
Good night Maito-kun🌙😴
I had fun talking to you too!
.
Maito's ears turn red again upon sending that last message. Wow. Just wow. He couldn't believe it, but this was the first time he explicitly told someone outside of his family "good night". And it had to be to a boy who goes to a different school than him. The school that happened to be their rival for competitions...
After turning his phone off, he sets it aside his bedside desk, then pulls the comforter up to his chin. One arm rests behind his head while the other rests on the comforter as his eyes drift upwards to stare at the ceiling, letting his thoughts carry through his head before weariness crept in.
Back in Yuriya's end, said boy switches off the lights of his bedroom, the warm glow of his lampshade being the only remaining source of luminescence. As he lies under the covers of his soft bed, his mind immediately replays the conversations he had with Maito, his face unconsciously curving into a smile.
As both boys drift off to sleep, they dream in peace knowing that this was just the beginning of a beautiful bond that will blossom over time..