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𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗪𝗔𝗦 colder than expected, not cold-cold, but enough for the air to bite at your skin. The air conditioning a sharp contrast to the summer heat. The smell of artificial buttered popcorn and cheap rubber filled your nose. "Soo...nachos?" Otoya laced up his 80s style skates, having untied the laces entirely as he wanted it to be in a design. But he was just stalling, not yet putting them on.

"Seriously?" Karasu raised an eyebrow but than quickly reconsidered, nachos actually sounding like a not so bad idea.

"Unless we plan on walking, it's not like we can go anywhere. And since we're here I want food." He shrugged, holding his skates in hand as he walks off leaving you and tabito alone as he acquires his snacks.

"You think he's just avoiding actually putting on his skates or…" Karasu muttered, watching as Otoya settled at a table, completely unbothered, munching on his nachos with zero urgency. You respond with pursed lips and a nod.

You'd only skated once in your life━as the one time you three did otoya flat out refused to go ever again. Something about it being "a death trap on wheels," though really, it was just because he’d face-planted within the first five minutes. 

Skating hadn't come as hard to you and your other friend—it all clicked after a few shaky laps. And now, as you pushed off from the carpeted floor and onto the rink, you felt that same ease settle in. Thankfully. "Show off.." Karasu’s voice was barely more than a mutter, but you caught it anyway.

Glancing over your shoulder, you grinned┈which was met with a smug scoff, as he finally stepped onto the rink. Swerving through the abundance of people, you expected him to do something like he had the first and only other time you'd skated. But unlike last time, seeing as last time he pushed you, instead he reached for your hands. His grip light, like a feather even. Giving you the option to pull away.

You didn’t.

Instead, you let him guide you, his touch hesitant but steady as he pulled you into a slow spin. The motion was careful at first, almost uncertain, like he wasn’t sure if you’d go along with it. But when you did—when you leaned into the movement and matched his rhythm—his grip firmed, moving in closer. Not to close, making sure your skates wouldn't trip each other up.

The world blurred around you, the neon lights of the rink streaking in soft colors as you twirled together. Karasu’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he didn’t say anything. Neither did you.

You just slowly spun on the emptier side of the rink, his warm hands enveloping yours until the momentum naturally slowed down. When the world settled again, you found yourself standing close, still holding onto each other.

You opened your mouth—maybe to tease him, maybe to acknowledge whatever this moment was..but before you could even get a word out, a loud, exaggerated groan broke through the air. "Okay, seriously?" Otoya's voice rang out from the sidelines. "What the hell is this some cringe romance movie?" He stuffed his face full of his cheap cheesy chips, stiffly walking in his skates on the carpet, lifting his legs like a dinosaur.

Karasu dropped his hands, shoving them in his pockets. "It's called skating, something you can't do." You didn't notice but the top of his ears had burned a dark shade of red. It was some cliche movie shit, why did he do it? And why didn't it feel cringe in the moment?

"I can skate just fine." With a roll of his eyes━eita popped another chip in his mouth and waved a cheese covered finger in the air. "It's not my fault I'm human and was born to walk." You and Karasu exchanged a glance, an unspoken agreement passing between you. Otoya realized it a second too late. "Oh hold up wait—at least let me put down my nachos?!"

You both wait a minute, letting him put them down on a bench--to probably be sat down on by some kid later. Once the red and white food tray hit the wood, he stiffly yet as quickly as he could tried to escape. But he didn’t make it far as you and karasu each grabbed an arm, yanking him onto the rink before he could so much as blink.

The second his wheels hit the slick floor, Otoya flailed, grabbing onto both of you like his life depended on it. "Oh my god I'm actually gonna die."

"You're fine calm down." Karasu smirks, enjoying his suffering after what he said.

"I am not fine." Otoya shot back, making the both of you laugh. "I am the complete opposite of fine, the human race was never meant to be on wheels!" His voice an octave higher than usual as he clung to you two for dear life.

"Would you stop screaming?" Karasu groaned, adjusting his grip to keep him upright. "You're gonna get us in trouble.."

Otoya twisted to glare at him, and the sudden movement nearly sent him flying. "I'm not screaming--" He was swiftly cut off by a grainy intercom.

"Would the screaming white haired boy, please get off the rink and come up to the front desk." Silence fell over the rink.

Otoya’s mouth hung open in pure disbelief. "You’ve got to be kidding me." You slapped a hand over your mouth, stifling a laugh, while karasu didn’t even bother—doubling over wheezing.

The intercom crackled again. "Yeah, you. Red hoodie, off the rink. Now." Otoya huffed, wobbling his way off the rink with all the grace of a newborn deer. The music stopped as otoya stumbled onto the carpet, nearly tripping over his own feet. You and Karasu skated toward the edge, watching with barely contained amusement as Otoya stomped toward the front desk, his red hoodie standing out against the neon-lit walls.

You saw eita mutter something under his breath, dragging a hand down his face as he finally reached the counter. The worker, a girl in leg warmers and an oversized MTV tee, looked entirely unimpressed as she leaned on the counter. Each of the workers were made to wear similar outfits due to the theme of tonight being '80s Night-Throwback Thursday'.

You couldn't hear what was being said, but the girl couldn't have been less interested in what he had to say. She held eye contact with him as she turned the music back on, but this time the song was different from what had been playing. This time to something slower, softer—something that made your stomach jump before sinking in realization.

The intercom crackled once more. "Alright, skaters! It’s time for our totally...tubular.." She held back a sigh, cringing at her scripted lines. "Totally tubular slow skate. Grab a partner and have fun." Once she got over the cringe of her script, she lifted her head back up to otoya who had snapped his head towards you and karasu.

"Oh no way..hell no."

𝙉𝙊𝙒 𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙔𝙄𝙉𝙂..ma meilleure ennemie

Your amusement faded, stomach unsure of how to feel. Turning away from the over dramatic eita to look at the boy next to you, the lights dimming and the neon lights get caught in his blue eyes--an unreadable flicker behind them.

It was stupid, you'd make fun of it later. It was something straight out of some cliche movie. You'd just do it and laugh about it. Karasu shifted his weight, gaze flicking down from the rink up to you. The moment stretched just a second too long, everyone around you already pairing up.

"C'mon.." He muttered, stretching a hand out. His lips parted, wanting to say some sort of excuse as to why you would actually do this, 'it'll be funny' or 'to laugh at later' but his lips closed without anything leaving them but a shaky breath of air.

You take his hand hesitantly, his grip light like before; unsure and lacking his usual confidence. Karasu swallows, guiding you onto the emptier space of the rink as the lights that cascades around you lead your actions. The neon lights above cast shifting hues across the glossy floor, painting his face in soft pinks and blues. Neither of you spoke.

The noise of the rink faded into the background, leaving just the faint sound of skates gliding against the polished floor and the music that once overrided your senses now felt blurred; distant. His hands found your waist, hesitant, like he was waiting for you to pull away. But you didn’t.

You weren’t sure what possessed you to move closer, resting your hands lightly on his shoulders, but it felt natural—like muscle memory you hadn’t known existed. "This is dumb." he muttered, though he made no move to step away. "We look stupid.."

You hummed in agreement, a ghost of a smile tugged at your lips. You weren’t sure why your heart was pounding so hard. This was just a joke, something you’d laugh about later. But right now, it didn’t feel funny--it felt like something else entirely.

Karasu exhaled sharply, tilting his head down slightly, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "You're actually not bad at this," he admitted. His voice was quieter than usual.

"I should be saying that to you." He huffed out a laugh, the warmth of it brushing against your skin. "Hey, about.." You wanted to finally address what happened. To finally talk about what you'd all been avoiding.

A familiar, dramatic groan shattered whatever fragile thing had settled between you. "Oh my god ew." You both froze, the mood and atmosphere immediately gone. Otoya took it another step further, looking forward to know being called out over the intercom and hoping for you three to get kicked out. "𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢"

ɴᴏᴛᴇ .ᐟ

𝗜 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧. (𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲)