And they said Shin wasn’t good at damage control. Just because she’d flipped off one or two reporters. Well, who was “a troublemaking problem child of the entertainment industry” now?? Though really, all self praise put aside, she had to admit, maybe, that not fighting with someone whose very job description was pleasing people wasn’t all that impressive. Maybe.
But hey, what really matter was that they could return to the more pleasant part of the conversation. The fun trade off of playful half serious flirting and showmanship, and Shin returned to it as effortlessly as if the little interlude had never happened.
“Looks like ya caught me.”
She raised her hands in defeat.
“What can I say? Plenty a creeps out there, don’t gotta tell ya. Ain’t safe. Specially for a pretty young thing like yaself.”
The smile, she posturing, it was all back in an instant. One hint that she could return to her old ways without any posturing, and Shin gladly took it. See? This was fun again now! Her newly acquired knowledge and, indeed, worry were nagging her, sitting at the back of her mind like ugly little goblins hissing into her thoughts of charming and suave things to say to build her own legend that she had been right though, she was right about how creepy this thing was and how unsafe and how terrible, she was right right right and stepping down from a fight, even one she couldn’t win, wasn’t at all.
“And I do what I can to entertain, so lemme tell ya about the miraculous tale of how I started dancin, as requested.”
She edged forward on her bench until she was sitting at its very edge, straightened her back, cleared her throat as if in preparation for a truly epic tale. Then, she began.
“My ma’s a pianist, dad’s an actor. Artists, see? So they signed me up for all sorta stuff. Singin, actin, playin instruments- I still do that, too, on the side. But what really grabbed me was dancin. Ballet, back then. Won a few competitions as a kid. So it just always seemed the obvious choice.”
Her smile grew warmer, thinking back to those days. Even when she was putting on a show, she couldn’t help but be genuine too.
“Course they always supported me. Were so pleased that I was every bit the artist they were. Still are, even if I don’t think either of them woulda guessed me bein a swing dancer as I am.”
At that, she fell quiet for a moment, her eyes being drawn to her rapidly cooling food. She picked up her fork and poked at the kale on her plate. She’d forgotten about how hungry she was. And now, she could feel her appetite vanishing, not because of the food but because. Hell, those had been the days, hadn’t they?
“…Didn’t foresee lotsa things, I guess, but they still happened.”
She poked and prodded at her vegetables for a while, pushing them around the plate. Were they really worth eating? She knew she really had to. And she probably would. She picked one up with her fork and eyed it, doubt clear on her face, but finally, decisively, put it in her mouth. Eugh. Yeah. Not pleasant. She put the fork down while she was chewing, full of doubt on whether she’d pick it up again. Man, even getting sick and accepting the calories of junk food had to be better than this. Several things were, including the conversation she was glad to pick up for both entertainment value and to stall for time until she had to taste this food again.
“So, that’s my background, all laid out for ya.”
Shin was more than glad to be able to ignore her plate, and went back to leaning forward, full of renewed interest in literally anything Satsuki had to say.
“Your turn now- ya got family? Or is that one of ya secrets too, mysterious one? I told ya ‘bout mine!”
Satsuki listened intently, interjecting only where appropriate.
“Oh, I love the piano. There’s one at the club - some of the girls can play, and sometimes our patrons will too, but I’ve never learned any. Never had the time... Ballet, huh? I can’t say I’m too familiar with it, but if I may say so, I don’t know if I could picture you as a ballet dancer. Maybe I shouldn’t say this without having seen you perform, but I get the impression that your current style suits you.”
She gives a gentle smile, meaning no harm with her words. Shin’s change in behavior wasn’t lost on Satsuki, so she prepared to speak her own piece.
“That sounds nice. I’m glad to hear that you have people to support you. As for myself... Well, I live with my dad and siblings. I’m the oldest of five, actually. Isamu is just starting his second year in high school, Miho is in her second year of middle school, and then the twins are still in elementary school.”
Satsuki leaned back, sighing to herself.
“They’re getting so big... It’s a strange feeling, having them grow up on me. I’ve been watching them for so long that you’d think I’d have noticed it as time went on, but here I am fretting over them like a housewife. It’s silly, isn’t it?”
She shook her head with a smile, prepared to move on.
“My family never really knew what I was up to, I’m sad to say. It’s.. not really something I’m proud of, not at all, but it had to be done, I’m afraid. I began working as a hostess while still underage, by a little over two years. Isamu was the only one old enough to realize that something was up, but I just told him that I was spending time at a cram school so I could be ready for my exams.”
She frowned, choosing her next words carefully.
“It’s not that I’m ashamed of my work, you understand. I just regret lying to everyone, both at Moonlight and at home. It’s not like I had much of a choice, but that doesn’t justify it, does it?”
