It didn't matter that it was almost curfew, it didn't matter that she'd probably have detention in the morning, and it didn't matter that she'd be tired tomorrow either. Mousic pulsed through the small arcade, people gathered around in awe around the figure in front of a glowing screen. Step after step in rythm to the beat, she was so into, perfectly stepping in time to the difficult directions scrolling across the screen. She'd been practicing like crazy since she'd been here last, she'd been beaten before, but not next time, next time she'd surely win against her. 

For now, she struck a cool pose as the song came to an end and a challenger came from the crowd, tossing tokens her way as the crowd ooh-ed them on. Challenger chose the song and Kono smirked with confidence. The music started, and she hopped along, locks of hair lifting and falling with the motion, she threw in some extra moves too, arm motions, hip undulations, anything to make the crowd marvel at her. Everything blurred in time with the beat, the flashing lights of the screen lighting up the arcade like a nightclub. 

Chances were slim her crush would appear here tonight, most likely Arceia never left campus on her own to come to a place like this. Another song, another challenger, she really put on the moves with this one, getting better, no mistakes but she was losing heart. These players didn't have her fire, she wanted to play against someone who really wanted to win. 

From her room, she could only think of school. It was time to get some fresh air. The trouble was, she knew she would be suspicious on her way out the gate if she were seen. A good student and semi respected swimmer breaking rules? Heresy! So, she opted for her first Idol outfit and made her way out that way. She needed time to think.

Every time she thought back to her live performances, all she really thought about was Kono. The girl was very sincere in her feelings, and left nothing to be speculated - which was nice. She probably wouldn't have noticed any emotional connection otherwise. However, she was now trapped in that thought process. Why?

Why was a fun question she had to keep asking herself. Why her? Was it actually her, or her stage character? Did she reciprocate those feelings? If so, was it to the same degree? It was... New. Thinking about another in this way. Especially a woman. Sure, she knew it happened around campus, but she assumed it was all pseudo-romance to make up for the lack of boys. So why...

She shook her head and made her way up to the machine to challenge whoever it was that was there. She didn't look their way, but rather gave them a wave as if to say 'you pick.' Being so distracted in thought wasn't good for her performance, so she cleared her mind with a deep breath. No doubts. Dancing would help her think straight. As long as nobody caught her on her return to campus, she may as well stay out all night. Maybe.

She wasn't even aware of any potential gawking or gossip. She zoned the world out for just this one song. For once, she wanted to be selfish and be in her own little world, where thinking happened after action.

The new competitor took the stage and Kono did a double take. "Cei?" But her voice was swallowed by the music. So she was giving up the choice? It would spell her doom, she chose the most epic song on the list and upped the difficulty, smiling mischievously. As much as it was about the competition, it was also about putting on a good show, between the two of them, they'd be super stars at this place.

The song started and Kono marveled at how they moved in time, it felt good, her heart beating, the sweat building, and catching glimpses of the beautiful girl beside her. It was distracting how her long hair swished with her movements, her focused gaze. The lyrics of the song were slightly romantic too, "I'll be your anchor," which echoed their mutual connection to water. Kono didn't know her well enough to promise to save her from her troubles, but really, she did want to be there for her.

And as they stomped along, hopping and creating the very definition of fancy foot work, the crowd whipped into a frenzy, cheering them through the hardest parts to the point Kono even had to laugh. "Keep up Cei, let's bring it home!" she laughed, she accent skewing the words in a memorable way.

At the finale, she struck a pose looking at her partner, ready to greet her surprise with her usual brotherly grin and held out her arms, as if to hug her and thank her for playing-or so it would look to everyone else. Really, she wanted to hug her out of the sheer joy it brought her to see the girl.

She was ready to get off this thing and hang out, but that was if she wasn't going to be challenged further. For now, she wanted to revel in Arceia's reaction to noticing her at her side.

The fever of the moment overtook her thoughts. Yes, she was a wild dancer in the now. Why cloud her ideas and decisions with ridiculous over thinking? Just do it. Just live how you want.

SShe thought she heard her competitor say something, but she ignored it. The music started, and she she was let loose. A frantic example of grace and party in one package. All of the while, she kept her eyes low. Almost closed, even. Then again, seeing out of that mask would not be easy to begin with. She made out enough to keep up though - not to win of course. Actually, it was so close to a tie that it almost was, if not for a ten point difference on screen.

It was then that she saw her opponent. In her own stylish pose, she glanced over.

Why--

"I should have guessed." She joked. "Nobody else would be at that level with me."

The tone she gave was a bit of a mix of joy and surprise. But the first sentence had a slight tone of annoyance. Just when she had let go of serious thoughts, they came right back.

"Good work. Helped me get some steam off my chest. Let's go again so I can repay the favor. " a small giggle from behind the mask." And I guess I owe you a beating now too."

She raised one eyebrow, happy to be challenged again even as her greeting hug was put off for the time being. She rubbed her nose with her thumb,

"Sure you got what it takes?" She tried to see her eyes, but couldn't, "You can pick the song if you think it gives you a chance." She smiled, showing off her cockiness for the crowd more than for Cei.

Soon enough one had been chosen and it began. Kono focused on the arrows, stepping here and there, a hop, double tap and so on. It got faster and faster. This was literally one of the best parts of being who she was, having such joy come from physical movement, even if it was hard and left her winded, there was nothing better.

The song reached a point where, if they chose, they could easily add a flourish as if they had planned to do it that way from the start. The extra movements would only impress the crowd, especially being spur of the moment, but it would come to an end, and Kono wouldn't take no for an answer the second time. As the score flashed across the screen she went in for the hug, even though they were both hot, she didn't care. A sweaty team mate was nothing! She took in the sweet smell of her hair and wasn't shy about keeping hold of her hand. "Need some water? I'll buy you a bottle," she offered as the crowd remorsefully watched them move away from the machine.

It was something alright, to refuse a gesture like that. She felt bad, but she didn't know what else would happen if she didn't. These strange emotions she was trying to sort through would well up again and cloud her judgment, and then... Who knows? This was all new to her.

She cycled through the music, idly hoping for something she could do with her eyes closed. Something she memorized inside and out.That would enable her to zone the match out while still looking decent - public appearances for her Idol persona were very important. And that's when she saw it. Pretty Rave Girl. It... Fit. She knew it wasn't supposed to represent things this way, but it did. Still, she had her mind made up and readied herself. The song took over her body again, and her movements perfectly matched and countered her opponent. Everything in fluid motions and flourishes. Crowds needed attention too after all.

The song ended. She didn't open her eyes to see the winner. With this mask on nobody would be able to tell her eyes were closed anyway. Instead of a dramatic finishing pose, she just sank her head robotically as if powering down. That's when she felt it. Those strong arms, and that familiar scent that was both pleasant and strange. That voice which she didn't notice until now. It was remarkably harder than she would think a proper lady of Spica would have. Then again, Spicans did tend toward the more gender neutral ballpark.

When she felt her hand gripped and heard those next words. Something was different about this meeting. Maybe it was how much she was thinking earlier. She couldn't possibly really feel this way right now. Even if it would make sense, there had to be another explanation.

"S-sure." she stumbled, before realizing she needed to retain a certain public image. "Fuel for the never ending party." she quickly recovered. It may have been noticeable though, if one paid enough attention.

Rumors were sure to spread, the way Kono was acting around the strange masked girl made it obvious they knew each other. Still, near the exit of the arcade were a few vending machines and a few couches. They weren't shabby for furniture, but they weren't exactly high end either, still, they looked clean and they weren't ripped, just a little worn. Two bottles of water came out after Kono gave up a few yen and she tossed one to her companion.

"Out in public? I thought you only came to parties DJ." she called her DJ instead of Cei to acknowledge that she was in her persona at this moment. They were far enough away from the crowd they were practically alone over here, but Kono dropped her voice a little anyway, "Famous people should be careful wandering around in public, you need a body guard." She winked and took a sip of her water, noting that she'd need a shower before bed at some point. She had to toss in one final line, no matter how reserved Cei was, Kono couldn't help staving off her own attraction, "You look really cute tonight anyway,"

She wasn't embarrassed about tossing a compliment her way, and it's not like Kono was seriously trying to seduce her in any Shoka like manner, she just really liked her, and wanted her to know it in the most friendly way.

"Famous?" she couldn't help but let out a genuine laugh at that. "Maybe on campus. I don't promote out here at all."

The offer of water was greatly appreciated, and not at all refused. She did have to wonder about drinking it through her mask though. Thankfully the bottom of the mask was open, and if she tilted her head back enough it wouldn't be an issue. Still, she enjoyed herself a nice moment of silence to deliberate about the act of drinking water out of fear of thinking of other things. Kono was definitely one of the only people on campus she could call a friend, so it was nice to see her acting like nothing was happening. To be fair, even if she was being serious, would Arceia notice?

"I should though. When's the next culture festival in town? I could use that as my big break." she asked, completely unsure of how to answer the bodyguard joke. She would come back to it when she had something equally quippy to throw back. For now, it lingered awkwardly in the air as did the first hug attempt earlier.

Then the compliment came to her. Ordinarily that didn't affect her. She had been told that by family before, and she had heard people talking about DJRctic that way from time to time, albeit only in passing, but this was different. She actually reacted to it when Kono said it, instead of regurgitating the same casual, blase thank you that everyone else got.

"I-i, um." she coughed to cover her stammering. "Thank you. Really. Y-you too."

Somehow it was satisfying to see her compliments affected the other in this way, it meant, at least to her, somewhere deep down the girl at least appreciated her crush, even if it wasn't returned--a point that was yet to be seen. it made her reach an arm over on the back of the couch behind her, just to feel that much closer to her.

"Next culture fest? I think it's in the spring? I should know this, I'm in the student council," she laughed in a carefree way, "Shoka-sama seems to have such a good hold on everything, it's like the rest of us don't need to pay attention, or maybe it's just me who feels like that."

Things went quiet for a moment, a sip of water.

"Hey, I don't know about you, but that got be pretty worked up. It's kinda hot, we could head back to the school for a bath, whaddya say?"

It was completely innocent, Kono wasn't thinking anything perverted, it was just another thing they could do together to pass the time, and most likely, they'd have the place to themselves. It would put off getting detention for at least another hour.

"Ah... Spring isn't too far." She gave a slightly dissatisfied noise as she took a sip of her drink. "I don't know how much time I have to prepare. I'll need to be composing and recording all winter."

The way she said it seemed disheartened, but in reality that was just the moment. The initial shock of extreme effort always had that effect on her. She would be worried and upset until she actually got into doing it. And once she started, she would not stop. But enough of that. There were more pressing matters to attend to. Like trying her hardest not to show her blushing, which honestly wasn't that hard with a mask on but her efforts to hide it anyway made it far more obvious.

"I don't follow politics much myself." She continued, trying to change the subject. "But student council means you have some pull right? What's it take to get a concert sponsored by the school? I've been flying freelance all this time."

Despite her question, she immediately tensed at the change of scenery suggestion. It wasn't like she was scared or even shy about group cleanliness. She was in a team after all, and they were often thrust into changing rooms together anyway. But the mere suggestion of the bath by Kono made her nervous for some reason. Perhaps a passing thing. She couldn't be sure, so she just decided to nod. She hoped she could at least handle the bathing by herself. Being soaked from a shower around someone else would be embarrassing enough without her seeing more.

"Hmm, shouldn't be too hard. I'll ask Shoka tomorrow, surely we can get something together." She winked, "I'll do my best not to disappoint!"

But then it was time for a change of scenery, she hopped up and stretched, reaching for her friend's hand, "Don't tell me you're blushing under there," she smiled, leaning in and putting a finger on the "chin" of the mask. She didn't actually lift it, to protect the other's blush. It really was cute, this cool and collected DJ was a cute girl too, as much of a badoss she could be, she was still this great person, not jsut the persona and Konosuke wanted to know more. Just what else was under that mask? Beyond a pair of pretty eyes and full lips?

Her lips? That was a wweird thing to think about, still, she distracted herself, tossing an arm around Cei's shoulders as they walked out.

"Hey," she said,a s the entered the cool air, "is that the necklace we had made?" she noticed the thing around her neck and it made her grin. Of course Kono wore hers too. The arm around Cei's shoulders eventually fell to just holding her hand, as walking with a person like that for too long becomes a little awkward.

Their hands swung between them as they headed toward campus and she pushed her water bottle into the pocket of her jacket. Walking with her at dusk was cool too, no Sisters, nobody around to shake fingers about the time. It was nice.

----

Somehow Kono managed to sneak them on campus, though the sneaking seemed unnecessary, there were still a few students roaming around campus, probably ones with special passes for the library or something so late. It wasn't quite dark, but it didn't matter once they got inside. Through Spica's locker room Kono chose an empty locker and took off her jacket, hanging it, then off came her t-shirt, her muscled back moving with the effort. She wasn't self conscious or hesitant at all. Soon she had her white spica embroidered towel around her neck and a basket of complimentary shampoos and such at her hip.

"Last one to the shower's a bag of Natto!" She took off, following the protocol of rinsing and washing ones self before entering the bath. She didn't even think to steal any pervy sideways glances, and wouldn't have noticed if the other had thrown any such looks her way.