MATERIALISTIK

♦: Slow dancing

When it came to her attention that Hajime was beginning to draw closer to her, the only response she gave him was a gaze from attentive carmine eyes, predicting to simply exchange words in the form of conversation. Nothing more, nothing less.

That was until the man took one step too close, then a second one, and another, and another. 

She took in a breathe and held it. Despite proceeding to take a few steps into her personal space, Peko didn’t do anything drastic, only continuing to stare at him, an eyebrow lowered as she gave him a questioning look. As he took steps towards her, she began to take steps away from him. 

In other words, money. Droll as it may be, he would not turn down a chance to line his pockets, especially when he was quite sure that this invitation was a trap to oust one of Japan’s most prolific gamblers. So he came, dressed in one of his nicer suits, pressed and clean and with a cute little green pocket square in the front pocket. Spiffy.

Hajime noticed early on that there were several families congregated at this event from lower influence families to the higher ups -- particularly the Kuzuryuu family,.Sure enough, a close-cut head of blond hair indicated the presence of his classmate, Fuyuhiko. He was shadowing his father as they made small talk with other guests. Hovering not too far away was a silver-haired girl toting a sheathed blade (he noted with amusement that none would dare try to separate the girl from her weapon, and for good reason). She was another of his classmates, Peko Pekoyama.

A glance to the clock. There was a good hour before the cards would be shuffled. He had ample time to bother the girl. Taking a few steps towards her, she unfailingly snapped her gaze in his direction, calmly assessing his intent as he approached. The brunet carried no ill intent with his gait; more likely she would think that he came to say hello to a fellow classmate. So understandably, she began to take measured steps back as he closed in. It was only when she spoke up that he halted, offering a smile and his hand as the music in the banquet hall began to pick up -- meandering at a steady beat indicative of a slow dancing song.

@tobakushi