Ayla and Erik stopped as they looked around. Mathias and Lisanna were looking at them both as they stomped a little.

"...?"

"Don't give me that look. I wanted to dance with Freida... ah, whatever. It looks like even Jasmine is dancing with Eldrich."

"There were so, so, so many boys that wanted my autograph too! Ugh, it's a shame, but we can move afterwards. I pick Mathias first!"

"...?!" Mathias snorted in displeasure.

"Yes, yes. You can have my autograph, too. Later though! We're the only ones not moving! Erik, get to it!"

"Stupid, I was waiting for you!"

"Who're you calling stupid, you idiot?!"

Mathias sighed and Lisanna laughed a little as she grabbed his shoulder and felt him grab her hip - a process expediated by her own freehand guiding his hand there.

He leaned in and whispered, "five? Right?"

Lisanna turned away as his breath tickled her ear, but turned to Ayla, "is it okay if he just dances a few times and goes back? I told him five because... well, all that happened."

"Five?! That's it?! Haa, fine," Ayla said as she stepped into Erik before twirling at her own volition - or, rather, being exposed was a quick beat to the song suddenly. "Fine, fine. But I have to go first and I'm not telling them they're not allowed to ask."

Erik grumbled, "don't do things on your own," as he, too, moved faster at the beat. "Also, Mathias, I'd suggest you stick with Scylla. I heard from Tanner you got kidnapped or something."

"..."

That did happen, he thought - twice. He looked around and saw Thomas and a girl dancing not far from them. Their attention shifted back to each-other, but Erik caught his line-of-sight.

"Spies... well, whatever! We're already winning."

"Spies?! Damn, so soon. I didn't think they'd come to the actual banquet. I thought that they just would've lost to the second- and third-years who probably wanted the tickets more. Who?"

"Vanessa and Thomas."

"... Sounds about right. It's kind of cool that we already have spies in our midst, though!" Ayla snickered.

As Ayla and Erik discussed plans to mitigate the intel the spies could gather - while dancing with arguably erratic and unpredictable motions - Lisanna lowered her hand, once resting onto his shoulder to her hip, raising Mathias' own to her waist.

She did not know much about it, but Irina and Claude were doing the same behind them as they kept quite slow and intimate. Even as she replaced her own closer hold on his shoulders.

"... Like this." She said.

Mathias took it as her actual experience in dancing so he just followed her lead, copied what the others guys were doing around him - aside from Erik since Ayla seemed to be a poor case study -, and kept going.

"...?"

The song tapered off - and another followed after.

Ayla looked at the scene and pondered as they stopped.

She and Erik split off and Mathias assumed Lisanna knew what she was doing. His parents were doing the same thing after all - a sentiment that bolstered Lisanna's justification from both parties.

Lisanna drew closer, "now when I step back, spin my hand up and over my body like that, okay?"

She said, looking at another she was using as a reference. Mathias caught sight of them, remembered their movements and foot-work, and nodded.

It didn't come immediately, however. Lisanna waited for another seemingly appropriate beat before pulling back and sliding her hands from his shoulders.

He twirled her and caught her hand as the other did.

Lisanna nodded approvingly, moving a little closer. "Yes, just like that. Now let's try that one."

"...?"

After analyzing it, he nodded.

After three or four songs, Ayla finally interjected, hands clasping over their own interlocked fingers. "Okay! I waited long enough! It's my turn!"

"Huh? But...!"

"No, no, no! It's how it is! Erik, dance with Lisanna and Freya!"

"Huh? Okay. Lisanna, come here. Jennifer and Wendi are close by, too," Erik called out over the music.

Lisanna was half-pushed away as Ayla cackled victoriously. "Ha-ha! I win this time, right, Mathias?"

Mathias quirked his head.

"Anyways, it looks like you just learned how to dance so let me show you some moves! Just follow me and pay attention - or you'll be late!"

'... At least one is done,' Mathias thought in annoyance.

He still nodded. Mathias had to concentrate fully as if Ayla was clearly testing him. She moved seemingly in tune with the music, insofar as her pace was concerned, however, her actions at any one point in time were completely unpredictable. Just the pace was predictable - not whether she moved left, right, up, down, forward, or back.

Ayla grew discontent of his moving out-of-sync quickly - so she grinned and leaned closer to whisper: "Now back-step, side-step, release, I'll spin, you grab my waist, spin me back, and then back to normal! And... now!"

She gave him no time to process it, but he managed to not screw it up too badly as Ayla cheered. "Okay, okay! Now, we'll be something more complicated!"

'And that wasn't?!'

"Something better now - and faster! Please!"

Ayla told the band to play something faster as they tampered off and the man at the front passed and pushed out a drum-kit from behind the piano.

After three-seconds of tapping the drum-sticks together, Ayla grew excited and grabbed tightly onto Mathias' arms. "Perfect! I think I know this one! It's perfect! Mathias! Be ready!"

"...?!"

He saw Ayla step back, take a deep breath, and then lean forward as she started tapping her feet. And the piano grew more electronic.

The students cheered and some of the adults were interested in the different genre.

Mathias was let go finally, but Ayla kept telling him, "shake those hips, loosen those shoulder, and follow my steps, and... now flip me over your shoulder, guide me under your arm, and then catch me!"

".. Wh-?!" He coughed. He was parched after dancing for so long with so many warm bodies around him.

"We have enough room - and don't try to talk if that keeps happening! Listen... remember what I taught you... we'll be doing it... now!"

Mathias was forced into her unreasonable request and he was spinning, flipping, dropping to the floor, and otherwise copying her with less effort than she was putting into the process as the song changed.

"Okay! For the nex-"

"I finished dancing with Alexi and Church so it's my turn, okay?"

"Is it okay with him?" Ayla asked curiously as she begrudgingly let go.

Wendi nodded and looked at Church who was forced to dance by another third-year he knew so as to keep a low-profile. The girl seemed resigned to being ignored, but she did her best to shift his attention onto herself - even if he kept his eyes on Wendi. After Wendi pointed to Mathias, he scowled and slowly nodded, adding a penetrating glare to the boy before snorting and turning back to his partner.

There was a small smile sent out their way.

By the girl who finally was recognized by one of the most popular - if peculiar - third-years.

"...?"

Ayla shouted, "you have to show him what to do, but it's more fun that way! He's a quick learner! Hmm, hmm... I wanna dance with Synthy, too!"

Wendi nodded and grabbed Mathias' hands. "I'll lead, okay?"

He nodded wearily. Since there was no one with requests, Wendi shouted, "can we have a slower one next?"

The front-man nodded, getting up from the drums and picking up a saxophone.

The artist was a man of many talents.

Wendi leaned in close as she grabbed his shoulder and waist as the slower beats come to play. Since it was bordering on jazz music, it shifted between melancholy and excitement with equal measure, due to the slight variations in the lead saxophone.

"... Uhm... I-I wanted to thank you for introducing me to your parents... they're really nice, you know?"

He thought a moment and then nodded.

Wendi nested her head into his shoulders and muttered, "I-I lost mine a few years ago, but... Church has been helping out a lot, but... it hasn't really been better until I met them..."

He stayed silent.

They were just rotating and shifting back and forth, but Wendi seemed to appreciate the simplicity of it all.

"... I-I was wondering if I could ask a question...?"

Mathias nodded when he saw her look up.

"... I-Is it okay... is it okay if I lean on your mom for a little while... I-I don't want to selfish anymore... but-"

He nodded easily. They would be bothered if she didn't.

"Thank... Thank God... I'm just going to stay like this for a bit, okay? I think my eyes are a little red..."

Mathias nodded as it was a much easier 'dance' than he was exposed to before. He was essentially rocking back and forth.

However, after the second, slightly quicker song finished, Church pried the two apart. "That's all I'll permit! Dance with someone else!"

"Uh, do you mind if I do?" Jennifer asked as she moved from Fara.

Church nodded. "I accept that. You may dance with him. Rather, please do so that my sister doesn't."

"H-hey!"

Wendi's complaints hurt Church, but he felt it was for the best. Mathias' new (rather, just recognized) identity as a male made Church feel threatened - since he wasn't just a male. Rather, he was a male from the Fellstone lineage. Granted, Mathias' lineage was peculiar, but Church afforded it more significance than most and assumed Wendi would do the same by virtue of Claude's position in the mercenary world.

Church went so far to push Mathias and Jennifer together. "Ayla Argentine mentioned he must be told what to do, Other Girl - whoever you are. Wendi, Ali met Kira's other little sister..."

"Wha-?! Really?! Let's see! Let's see!"

Wendi raced through the crowd before Church could register it. He chased after her and Jennifer grabbed Mathias' shoulders. "Is this fine?"

He nodded. 'Four dances soon.'

He was counting it down.

Yet, Jennifer was looking at him with a red-face but seemed happy.

She nuzzled his chest as the band just played a more cheerful song. It seemed like many people were watching him so it was easier to set a vibe that would transmit to them all, distracting them as they recollected their own challenges and their victories over it.

Church prompting the crowd's attention with shouts just redoubled the artificial social significance.

Jennifer looked around nervously and pushed herself back a little. Mathias was confused, but he accepted the action as Jennifer nodded. "I won't be a bother to you, but I just wanted to thank you for the help over the past week. I was struggling a lot but now I do feel better that's all over, you know?"

He tilted his head.

Jennifer smiled and laughed.

"It's fine, it's fine. I appreciate it even if you don't think it was a big deal. But... like I said, I won't be a pain. Let's just enjoy this next little bit, okay?"

Mathias shrugged and Jennifer started leading him in the dance-floor. As it was growing more cheerful and excited, Jennifer began moving around more elegantly, pulling him with her, and otherwise just enjoying the flow of two or three songs before she felt a tap on the back.

Hana was grumbling as she asked him to dance. She apologized about her mom's actions with the needle and soon Synthy came around. She said she didn't want to dance with the other boys so she didn't. Or really at all. However, she said she wanted to do it since her father would be annoyed - a sentiment Mathias begrudgingly accepted since his father was laughing as he saw Salem's jaw clench. And then Mina and Lina came since the other two did.

He was trying to escape the dance-floor each time, but since they just grabbed him, he didn't have words to stop them.

He ended up dancing with a lot of people before he finally forced himself out of the crowd.

"... Hah..."

"Tell me about it," Claude said with a grunt. "Your mother is busy with Alyssa and some of the girls in your class, last I saw. She stole his wives, too."

Claude thumbed back to show a dizzy and disorientated Alexander who looked up at the mention. "... I drank too much to dance."

"Really?" Claude asked as he sipped his wine. "This is nothing."

"... You're a monster when it comes to that."

"Me? Ah, nah. Some of my guys can drink me under the table - hell, Almer here can hold his own against me, no problem."

Almer laughed and lifted the glass. "----!"

"Yes! To new friends! And good booze, I might add."

Almer nodded and Alexander weakly lifted up a glance - to which he forced himself to drink, as per the social ettiquette. And peer pressure.

"Uh, ma-may... may... may I...?" A voice interjected.

Kira looked at Mathias timidly, shying away from Alexander's sight.

Mathias quirked his head - and then remembered. He shook his head. He didn't want to-

"Nah, he'll do it. He hasn't done his time yet," Claude said with a laugh as he poked Mathias' back with his greatsword cheerfully.

Thankfully, he blunted it, forcing the boy forward only. Nary a vertebrae were severed in two to expedite his son's forced movements. Mathias released a betrayed expression, but Kira channelled the courage to drag him from the table with the two very, very intimidating men. The third seemed fine, but since he was a companion of them, she could not be certain. She couldn't look up long enough with the other two there to realize it was Almer from the cafe who was just dressed up for the occasion and not in his normal stained smock.

"... Uh... tha... thanks... for... the... c-citadel...!"

Kira said as she was looking away. Mathias sighed and shrugged. And when he saw another, he grabbed him.

James seemed confused, but when she turned her head back to look at the boy, she only saw James. Mathias lowered his head apologetically and tried to run back to the table.

"...?!" Kira gulped. And her body grew rigid.

"What's the matter?" James asked in confusion - first to her and then looked over.

And then Mathias was grabbed by Ayla as she saw him and dragged him just as he was about to turn in the sanctuary of free space.

Since he was (justifiedly) struggling, Erik helped Ayla.

"...!"

"No, don't give me those eyes. I wanted to introduce Freya to you! Look, isn't she beautiful?"

Ayla nodded, "she's pretty, but still! Look!" She victoriously wrapped her arms around Mathias. "We captured the target. Now... onwards! Assemble the class and their dates!"

"Yeah, yeah. James! Kira! Jasmine! We're going to the dance-floor! No one is allowed to miss this!"

'... I was promised just five dances...!'

Mathias felt betrayed, but when he saw Lisanna she immediately lowered her head and took charge of him. "Sorry, I didn't think that there'd be that many people... I was caught up by Ayla and them, and even your mom, so I didn't see you. Hey, after this, it'll just be the final dance with me, I promise."

'You promise?' He asked with wounded eyes.

"... You really don't like to dance," Lisanna murmured awkwardly. "I promise. I'll fight them off if I have to."

"..."

She nodded again to confirm that what she said is true. Mathias knew that it was ridiculous to assume that she would be around him all the time, ergo the notes he prepared in the event of his separation, but so long as he didn't have to talk and explain things that were really too troublesome to deal with it was fine.

Lisanna grabbed his hand and then led them to the group that forming right in front of the stage. Seeing the spectacle those on the inside gave them more room as Ayla requested a new song. Yet, he felt an exhausting premonition surge behind him just as they were breaching the group on the stage.

Mathias turned to see Kira and James were coming up behind them.

However, James' face was a little sterner as he grabbed both Lisanna and Mathias and pulled them off to the side of the group.

"Mathias, she has something she wants to ask you."

Even Lisanna was curious about it, but James kept his sight on Mathias.

"Are you willing to hear her out?"

He sighed and nodded, scratching his head. He pointed to the crowd dancing and firmly shook his head.

James sighed. It took a second for him to process it, but he still said, "it's not that. My apologies if you were under that belief. Kira?"

Kira gulped and looked away. "M-my f-family... a-about t-them... wi-will y-you... tell...?"

He thought back on them, but Kira continued.

"M-my mom... she... she was really nervous... I mean, when she saw him... but more... your Mother... an-and you...!"

"Mathias?" James asked.

Mathias shook his head.

And Kira visibly relaxed. She let out a small breath and wrapped her arms around Mathias before hiding away behind James.

"... S-sorry...!"

She murmured as she hid and James led her to the group.

Leaving Mathias and Lisanna back at the sparser section of the dance-floor alone.

"... What was that all about?"

Mathias shrugged. It was no big deal to him, but it seemed his mother was pre-emptively thinking more for Kira's sanity. If that's the case, it was fine.

"... It's nothing," he whispered, moving back to the group to finish the last dance he was forced to do.