They missed each other yesterday. Which was definitely a good thing.

So why did she feel they had to fixed that? And arranged for it?

Thus, disregarding the warnings of her logical brain, Akemi was waiting inside the arcade, nervously fiddling with the guardrail of one of the dance pads.

Outside, in another world, the rain was falling.

He'd borrowed an umbrella from the hotel and made his way down. Shokomaru seemed in a decent mood, whether that had been the case earlier was up for debate, but it wouldn't do to scowl for the lady.

He left the umbrella and a small bag with the clerk at the front and seeing Akemi he waved and headed over.

He was in casual wear, black pants and grey short sleeved shirt buttoned up just short of the collar.

"Hida-san, good afternoon. I hope you stayed dry and are feeling up for some fun."

"Hi, Sh... Daigotsu-sama."

Public place. Focus. Do a minimal bow as if all this was perfectly normal. Add the mandatory dig when talking with a Spider.

"Got worried for a moment the other Crab had changed their mind and you were currently tied up in the cellar of the Drunk’n Crab."

"hmmhmm", he said with a quirk of the eyebrow and lips. "And I'm flattered that you thought of me at all, I was worried I was too easy to forget."

He sat against the railing where her hands fidgeted, looking at her with hands in his pockets. He was a bit close, and if he leaned just right, would be a lot closer. Though he didn't seem to be on the attack yet.

"It's a nice day to be indoors, and this isn't a bad pick...but", he looked the machine. "Dancing already?"

"Hey, gotta train you. Plus, I got a high score here yesterday."

She pointed at the machine, where the name "JHnd" could be read among the recent champions. The nom de plume of Nakauchi Mumei was probably also there somewhere, associated with a even higher score.

He chuckled. "Fine, fine. You know, I only had to play one game last night. Shame they put it away, you should have seen it. Thinking about trying out for my Legion's baseball team now."

He stood up and pushed her gently by the small of her back onto the dance pad.

"So explain how it works and I'll do whatever's needed."

"Oh. Uh. Haven't tested the cooperative mode yet actually. I think it works more or less the same though. Put your feet on the same colored arrows as the ones you see on screen. Except when you partner misses, you're supposed to slow down to wait for them instead of exploiting your advantage?"

She pulled a face:

"Guess that means I'll have to dance in slow mo."

He scratched the back of his head. "It's only been two days..."

"but I expect no mercy, Akemi-chan."

He stood on the pad.

Akemi did think about being merciless.

But that would have been a repeat of two days ago, so she tried her best to actually accompany Shokomaru instead of starting that silly game where each of them was trying to outdo the other, with no end in sight.

---

D4 EA | Cooperative dancing | Dancing / Agility: 2#4d10o10l3 7 11

And he went right into it. He paid attention to Akemi's tempo, the signals from the machine. In thr end he was able to finish in step with her just feeling the music, though to be sure he never took his eyes.off the screen.

OOC
Dance: 9, 14. Picking 9

The victory jingle resounded and a pair of most gaudy pins dropped:



Akemi grabbed the blue one and looked at it as if it was a curious beast:

"That's... something I guess. Maybe competitive mode would have been a good idea in the end.

Even if... It was kind of agreeable to actively try to match each other instead of dragging and pushing like we've mostly done until now."

She's not blushing, those are just normal red cheeks after a physical activity. Totally.

--

9 is within range of both 7 and 11, so pins won whatever the pick.

"Can't argue with that", he said and took the pink badge. Then he stood in front of her, communicating with a motion of holding it up, and his eyes meeting hers that he was going to be close. Then he pinned it, right on her collar. Hands close to her face, eyes directly on hers.

"Good work, Akemi-chan."

Akemi's brain went into overdrive. In one fraction of a second, her eyes scanned the entire room for possible witnesses. None were closed enough to have heard that.

She breathed and grabbed him by the collar in turn, in a gesture that was definitely all about pinning a glossy pin and not an intimidation maneuver:

"Good work too Daigotsu-sama. Public placer remember? After all these efforts, what do you think about taking a short smoke break outside? You've got an umbrella for the rain I presume?"

"I do...if your inviting I can't refuse", he said and gestured for her to walk with him.

Will she kiss me or beat me up in the alley though...?

He snatched his umbrella, but waved off the bag he left. They'd be back he figured after all.

Then he went through the door, popped open the umbrella and held the exit open for Akemi.

Ah. Air. The closest to pure fresh air she could hope to breath in the city, with the pouring rain taking down the usual city's pollution. And a most agreeable contrast to the arcade's moist, oppressive atmosphere.

She breathed. Deeply. Then turned to face the man:

"Commander Shokomaru I know I've granted you permissions to call me by my first name... But do you really need to call upon that right when we have an audience?"

She adjusted the gaudy pin on his now creased collar:

"I mean... You realize that will happen... If the rumors keep growing?"

He held the umbrella above her as he fished in his pocket for his pack of cigarettes.

"Is that really a problem?" He shrugged slightly, opening the pack with his mouth and taking out a smoke with his teeth. "I'm sure Nakauchi-san is dancing somewhere right now."

He put the pack away and then took out his lighter, then handed it to her.

"But sure...if that's how you want it. I can't call you Akemi-hohei in mixed company. But you remember what i said, right?"

Hand free, he pulled her close by the waist.

"No quarter. Or you can just light my smoke without setting us both on fire."

"Sure. One cannot ask without being ready to offer in exchange... Shokomaru-chuui."

She lit his cigarette, and made the lighter disappear in her own pocket. His visage was strange like that, behind a fine veil of smoke, its shadows distorted by the small light of the ember. But not unpleasant to look at.

"Actually, there's something I need to ask you."

Yes, it was the perfect moment. They were alone, hidden from sight by the pouring rain, the sound of their voices muffed by the wrath of the elements. No one in the world but them.

She put her hand on the one that was holding the umbrella, tenderly. Looked right into his eyes. Froze for an instant. And finally dared to speak:

"You wouldn't happen to possess an extra firearm whose Spider's origin could easily be hidden and that you could lend me for the night?"

"..."

He smiled, tilted his head in thought, then smiled again.

"Officers only carry those so we can blow our own brains out rather than be captured. I see being taken prisoner as a luxury upgrade, so no
I don't have any incriminating evidence to give you."

He blew smoke in her face.

"..."

She coughed.

"Damn. Would have made my life easier.

Cause I might have stumbled into trouble. And that trouble might be the kind more easily solved by adding some extra firepower into the mix."

He sighed.

"What kind of trouble..."

It wasn't that he didn't want to help if there was actually an issue. He just thought it was...sudden.

"And before you tell me to forget it, try and realize who you're talking to. I'm not going to let anybody screw with you of I can help it."