Chapter 8: Date - A Promise to Meet
“VINCENT, do you have a moment? I have something to report regarding the dance lessons.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll be right there,” he answered warmly.
Her lips pulled into a smile. Ah, I love the way he says “Yeah.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The end of winter hailed the coming of spring and with it, the start of their fourth year. The color green soon filled the grounds of Lagen Magic Academy, the Herbology fields busy with the planting of seeds. Their first term exams were over as well, which meant everyone was leisurely passing the time. Well, everyone except Vincent Tanzine.
“About our practice venue… Since we’ll be using it for a prolonged period, our natural first choice would be the assembly hall, but it was already reserved. Instead, we’ve secured two inner rooms on the third floor of the west building, which are completely empty. Along with our written petition, I included a list of 204 names of students who are unconfident in their dancing skills. Apparently, Professor Wilton will be overseeing us twice a week.”
“Thank you. Your assistance has been invaluable,” Vincent said, smiling as if he trusted her from the very bottom of his heart. Each time she saw such a dazzling expression on his face, her heart pounded.
Ugh, stupid feelings. My pulse keeps going crazy at every little thing he does.
Even so, Oriana wasn’t about to be embarrassed of herself or depressed simply because Vincent managed to evoke such emotion in her.
It’s stupid for sure, she thought, but I actually kinda like it.
Thanks to Yana’s encouragement, she was no longer trying to run from her feelings and could instead face them head-on. Once she acknowledged that her feelings were valid and acceptable, she felt much calmer, which allowed her to speak to Vincent again naturally. While she did feel bewildered by her own emotions at times, she no longer got so worked up that she couldn’t interact with him.
“I also managed to recruit some people willing to help as instructors,” said Oriana.
“In that case, we should be able to start before summer.”
Since Vincent was as busy as ever, Oriana was pitching in to help him out; he’d come up with the idea of providing dance lessons for students in anticipation of their graduation ball. Though she was assisting, Oriana was more or less just following the plan he had already come up with. She did also make her own contributions, however; she was the one who managed to convince the teachers to let them hold dance lessons twice a week as part of their extracurricular activities.
“Still, it’s incredible you recognized that many students were feeling nervous about dancing,” Oriana remarked.
“It’s all thanks to you. Though I also referenced the opinions of Miss Bälz and others.”
“Glad to hear it, but…considering how in-depth this plan is, you had to have been putting it together for a while, right?”
“Yeah. I had other things going on concurrently though, so I wasn’t able to move forward with it until now.”
Oriana nodded thoughtfully. “Well, with this, we have over half a year to practice. Constance and the others are over the moon, naturally.”
Most of the people around her were commoners. Those from similar upbringings who’d been instructed in etiquette had no issues dancing, but there were many others who didn’t enjoy that luxury. She could think of two such examples off the top of her head: Edda, whose parents were scientists and knew little about the ways of the world outside their field of study, and Constance, whose father was a knight and single parent, who’d yet to remarry. Constance had polished her sword arm to perfection, but she knew nothing about wearing a dress and curtsying.
“You truly do care about your friends,” said Vincent.
“Yes, I love them all.”
Oriana had spent this past month running around like a chicken with its head cut off, anxious to be of help to her female companions. And not so long ago, she finally managed to take down the last barrier to their plan: Professor Wilton.
While she was busy chatting with Vincent, a few girls called over to him in cutesy voices. “Mister Tanzine?”
Vincent glanced at them and smiled.
Ah, that’s his business smile, Oriana noticed. After being friends for a year, she could spot the subtle difference.
When girls first started clustering around him, Vincent was utterly bewildered by the sudden change, but after dealing with this for four months, he’d naturally become accustomed to it. He no longer grabbed her by the hand and tried to escape but instead greeted the girls with a smile.
Since she had already finished updating him on the progress of their dance lessons, Oriana moved to excuse herself and leave the floor to the group of girls. The moment she moved, however, Vincent’s eyes followed her.
Huh? What’s with him? She wondered, retreating a step. The power of his gaze only grew stronger. Is he trying to tell me to stay where I am? Her heart suddenly drummed louder. Is he maybe…asking me for help?
Oriana put on a graceful expression and stood in place, inwardly praying that her lips hadn’t betrayed her and curled into an idiotic grin. As the group of girls pressed in closer, they glared at Oriana for not moving, even as they circled around Vincent.
“Um, you see, I was fretting over what type of wand I should settle on. Would you mind lending your ear and giving me your thoughts?”
“I would like the same. You use your wand for the rest of your life, right? It’s an awfully heavy decision to make all on your own.”
“I can hardly believe this! You girls, too? I actually came hoping to consult him about the very same thing.”
“Perfect timing, since tomorrow happens to be Flower Day (Saturday). Would you mind meeting us at a cafe in the city to discuss our wands?”
What part of that was perfect timing or why they decided to invite him out to the city, Oriana couldn’t be sure, but the girls nodded to one another as if they thought it was a splendid idea.
“Um…” Oriana began to say, intending to fulfill the request Vincent had made of her, but apparently she had misunderstood because he shot her a look again, as if telling her to wait. Wise enough to heed his instructions, she snapped her mouth shut.
“Hm,” said Vincent. “If it’s about your wands, I can speak to Professor Proston for you. Tell me, what year are you girls in?”
Hearing the name of the professor overseeing Magical Implement Construction took the wind right out of the girls’ sails.
“Uh…we’re third years. B-But it’s not so major that we need to get the professor involved.”
“Yes, agreed. Mister Tanzine, if you would just give us your—”
“Terribly sorry, but my schedule is full,” Vincent replied.
“We won’t take much of your time, we promise.”
“That’s right. We don’t have to go all the way to the city to discuss it with you. Right, girls?”
“Yeah.”
Vincent shook his head. “Apologies, but I truly am busy. Speaking to the professor for you is the most I can do. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He left no room for them to argue the point as he spun around, turning his back to them.
Urged along by his gaze, Oriana bowed to the girls and hurried after him. He made sure she was following before he started walking, his pace slow and leisurely.