Chapter 8:New year Eve's Party
Alexis pondered, "The party is today." He sported a black oversized shirt with white sleeves, a beige baggy cargo, and black Converse. Upon arriving at the venue, he discovered that bringing a plus one was required. He scanned the room for Rei-kun or Kunishima-san, but they were nowhere to be found. Kunishima-san was preoccupied with his 'partner', leaving Alexis to continue his search. Shuji and Koji were next on his list, but he only spotted Koji engaged in conversation with the board director. Shuji was also missing in action. As he scanned the room, his eyes landed on a familiar face - Usami, also called Sam. Usami was Alexis's childhood friend, perhaps his only one. Approaching Sam, Alexis inquired, "Have you seen Rei-kun anywhere?" Sam shook his head, adding, "He did mention not to disturb him once the party began." A sense of unease crept over Alexis.
The party was about to kick off, and the excitement filled the air. Suddenly, Koji took the stage, beckoning Shuji to join him for a speech and to kickstart the countdown. Alexis couldn't help but think, "Wow, this guy hasn't even shown up yet. How reckless!" Just as the thought crossed his mind, Shuji made his grand entrance. Dressed in a dashing suit, he resembled a prince straight out of a fairy tale.
After Shuji delivered an inspiring speech to kick off the new year, the atmosphere was filled with a variety of music. People were having a blast on the dance floor, enjoying themselves to the fullest. However, there was one person who seemed to be left out - Alexis. Apart from Sam, who unfortunately didn't possess any dancing skills, Alexis had no one to dance with. Shuji, too, found himself alone amidst the crowd. As Alexis observed the event, he couldn't help but notice Koji sneaking out discreetly, without anyone's notice. But before he could dwell on it further, the music changed, diverting his attention back to the lively crowd. Suddenly, he found himself being pushed towards the center of the dance floor, facing Shuji. The enchanting melody of a waltz filled the air, a classic tune for couples to dance to. Everyone quickly found their partners, leaving Shuji and Alexis standing face to face.
Caught off guard, they found themselves in the midst of the dancing crowd, constantly getting in each other's way. However, Shuji's quick thinking saved the day. He took hold of Alexis as if he were his dance partner and gracefully started waltzing with him. Alexis, overwhelmed by the situation, couldn't think straight. He simply let Shuji take the lead, as if his body was under Shuji's complete control. During the dance, Shuji suddenly drew Alex in for a close embrace, their faces almost touching. With a gentle lift of Alex's chin, Shuji leaned in for a kiss, igniting a moment of intense passion before pulling back. After the intense kiss from Shuji, Alexis found it difficult to regain his breath. Shuji locked eyes with Alexis and openly admitted, "I like you."