Chapter 10: Dance Disaster and Accidental Confessions
680 Words
Lee Arden Santos had lived through mud, mafia, school, and a week of motherly lectures; he was, of course, eminently ready for the adult challenge of a night on the town in a bar.
What could go wrong?
Everything.
Arden strode into the bar, mental checklist in order:
1) Maintain milk tea–level dignity (substitute: cocktail).
2) stay away from alleys.
3) avoid accidents.
4) act casual. Arden didn't see Kaito anywhere. Perfect.
He made his way to the dance floor, which was mercifully empty except for a couple of unsuspecting patrons.
Arden’s brain whispered: It’s your time to shine. Show your heroic, stubborn, unstoppable dance moves.
Impress no one and everyone at the same time.
In a matter of minutes, Arden had thrown subtlety out the window. Arms flailed, feet flew, and hair bounced to the rhythm of heroic exaggeration.
His internal monologue narrated every movement: Left foot, right foot, heroic spin! Milk tea preservation stance! Victory pose! Possibly… moonwalk?
Arden was full-on drunk by the third song in—well, "strategically buzzed," as he liked to put it. He felt a surge in confidence.
He hollered loudly to absolutely no one in particular:
“I… I am Arden! Hero of alleys! Milk tea preserver! Stubborn, brave… and… possibly… slightly tipsy!”
In this state of drunken bravado, Arden spotted someone nearby-a shadowy figure who he assumed was a friendly stranger, perhaps a fellow dance enthusiast, someone who looked like a friend. Perfect.
Time to share heroic secrets.
He sidled up to the person, leaning in dramatically. "You… you must understand! I… I survived the alleys! Mud! Mafia henchmen! School! Milk tea almost spilled multiple times… and I… I… I am unstoppable!"
The "friend" just stood there, remained silent and still, and Arden recognized something off: the posture, the aura, the sharp jawline, the coat… wait. This is Kaito?!
Too late. Arden, in a glorious wave of liquid courage, continued:
“And also… I am heroic! Stubborn! Brave! Sometimes reckless! But always… ALWAYS… heroic! If… if someone tried to—oh, you know… harm my friends… I would… protect them… at all costs! I… I… I—"
Kaito c****d an eyebrow slightly, his expression inscrutable, as Arden executed a heroic spin mid-confession.
He seemed to have gotten his shoes tangled up in the lighting cables, but he ignored it. Heroism first. Safety second.
“You’re… interesting,” Kaito said in a low and calm tone.
Arden froze mid-spin. Interesting?! Like… the mafia leader… and school… prophecy…
He tried to recover, but the floor was slick, his coordination gone, and his speech even more tangled.
“And also! I… I survived school! The cafeteria! Principal! Milo! Mud! Milk tea! And if… if you ever… tried… to… look at me… the wrong way… I… would—”
He realized too late that Kaito wasn't just listening.
He stood before him, eyes calm, analyzing, possibly plotting, radiating the same chilling aura Arden had survived with the mafia.
Arden staggered backward, arms flailing, and knocked over a cocktail table.
Drinks splashed. Patrons screamed. Arden attempted a recovery spin and went down in a dramatic, heroic heap on the floor.
Kaito stooped slightly to help him up, his expression still unreadable.
Arden, half slumped against the floor, whispered.
“I… I am heroic. Stubborn. Brave. Alley… survivor. School… survivor. You… should… respect me… possibly… admire me… definitely… fear my persistence…"
Kaito's lips twitched. Just slightly.
"Persistent," he murmured. "And. reckless. But. brave."
Arden's eyes had widened. Praise?! From Kaito?! Legendary praise! Milk tea would approve!
He attempted a dramatic bow—slipped a little, his head hitting the floor again—and muttered.
“I… I survive everything. Even… bars. Even… accidental confessions. And… you… interesting… very interesting.”
Kaito leaned back, face serene. "You… are… something else, Arden."
Arden lay on the floor, completely exhausted, and whispered to himself:
“Yes… I… am Arden Santos. Heroic. Stubborn. Milk tea legend. And. accidental confession. survivor!” Somewhere, faintly, he heard echoes of Interesting… very interesting. Arden smiled.
Prophecy continues. Legendary survival intact.
- Writer
