"Shall we?" Gakushū asked formally, offering me a hand .

"Eh, why not?" I took the offered hand. The music in the school reached the conservatory thanks to the brand new speakers Gakuho installed months a go.

"You're in my arms... And all the world is gone, the music playing on, for only two" we heard the beginning of the lyrics

"Let's put all those lessons to use" He said, putting a hand on my hip. I placed one on his shoulder, our free hands held tight to each other. You know what? I just realized how romantic this setting is. Full moon out, flowers and plants everywhere, nice romantic music in the background...

"I'll lead"

"A life goes by... "

And a charming partner. "I was gonna let you anyway" I mumbled

"Romantic dreams must die, so I bid mine good bye and I never knew" we started to dance. He led me slowly, letting me get comfortable with our closeness because he knows I'm not used to getting too close and touchy with anyone, not even with my old friends. But a few seconds into the song, I got into it

Gakushū slowly twirled me, syncing with the lyrics "All that I want is... To hold you" he sang along, whispering the lyrics to my ear. I swallowed the lump in my throat, his breathe tickled my ear. "So close.. " and we danced on

And yes, I'm really enjoying my self. And judging by Gakushū's smile, so was he. If only I could freeze time because God, this moment was perfect. Even felt like I was meant to be in his arms, as sappy as that sounds.

"Now you're beside me, and look how far we've come" This wasn't the singer, but, Gakushū. He sang along softly enough for me to hear. My heart was beating so fast now, Did he feel it too? I looked at his lips and at his eyes again. He was genuinely singing and I just lost it

Acting on impulse I slowly closed the distance between me and him, hugged him for a second or two before pulling away. "So far, we are so close" The song tarted playing the instrumental part of the song and we just danced again all over the conservatory.

Our moves synced to every beat

"There's another reason why you didn't wished to come here, isn't there?" He asked me. It's true, I didn't want to come to prom not because I just felt like it was a waste of my time, there was a different reason.

"The entire evening, I noticed you Karma" he continued. "You didn't just look angry and unapproachable, you also seemed lost and... despairing" I can tell he was trying to thread lightly, which I understood. "That's one way to put it" I said.

"What is it then?"

"It's an anniversary"

"Of?" His voice was soft. I lowered my head and gripped his shoulder tighter. "Of an achievement...E-class's first achievement together, as a team, as one class, as.. " somehow friends, allies, and comrades sound too weak. I wanted to use stronger, more meaningful words but my brilliant mind came up with nothing. Actually no... It has something..

Would it be too much to call E-class my family?

"I see, so that's what this is about, you miss them" he sounded, sympathetic?

"How could I not?"

He placed a hand under my chin and tilted my head up gently. He smiled reassuringly, then winked at me. I was confused, what did that wink mean? Suddenly he lifted me up and spun me around.

If I was a girl, or maybe much younger, I would have described this as magical, like a fairy tale.

"Oh how could I face, the faceless days.. If I should lose you now?" The instrumental part ended. "We're so close to reaching that famous happy ending, almost believing...this one's not pretend"

"Let's go on dreaming, for we know we are" I sang along this time

"So close, so close and still... "

"So far" He finished, pressing our foreheads. His tender look and smile made me weak in the knees, I could hardly breathe.

_________________________

I woke up from my nap.

"Had a nice nap brat?!" Bitch-sensei demanded, glaring at me. I chuckled "the best, too bad I had to wake up to a nightmare" I stuck out my tongue at her. Immediately the russian woman started yelling crap at me but I didn't care

Eventually she stopped yelling at me and resumed teaching. I couldn't care less about whatever dirty english word she wanted us to pronounce, I turned my attention to the window.

"So close" I was that close to finally reaching the ending of my dream. It's been the same dream since last week, when I realized I liked Asano Gakushū

"And still so far"

End