[quote=@Rekaigan]
He moved a little closer to Shizuka, pulling out his phone, typing on it before showing it to her. [color=a2d39c]"Is everything alright?"[/color], he was quite concerned about this girl, she seemed.. Troubled by something. Perhaps he should try ask her to dance? Maybe she doesn't want to dance.. Who knows.
[/quote]

[@Viciousmarrow] [@The Muse]

At first Shizuka wasn't sure that Kazuma was trying to communicate with her since she was somewhat lost in thought, but when he kept his phone's screen pointed at her for such a long time it dawned on her that he wanted to show her something.  Shizuka wondered if he communicated in this way because the music suddenly got really loud and it became hard to think, let alone hear, but she read his message.  [color=a187be]"Y-yeah..."[/color] Shizuka said, but then wasn't sure if he could hear her so she raised her voice slightly, [color=a187be]"I-I'm fine...just...I was just worried for Alban is all, he seemed pretty drunk, but at least Maribelle is with him..."[/color]

Suddenly a row started on the dance floor, causing Shizuka to turn to look.  Alban and Maribelle were slinging insults with another couple.  Then Alban and Maribelle stormed off.  Shizuka got up again, feeling a slight desperate annoyance at having to get up and run around twice on account of Alban.  [color=a187be]"I-I'm so sorry..."[/color] Shizuka began apologizing to Kazuma for leaving him alone at the table for the second time today, but wasn't sure what she was going to say or why she was even trying to follow Alban at this point.  She ran after the two drunks, out the door, calling, [color=a187be]"Alban, wh-what happened?  What's wrong?  W-Wait!!!"[/color] but the music was too loud and Alban was too intoxicated by both the alcohol and the company of his current partner to hear Shizuka.  Before she could catch up to them, Shizuka tripped and fell forward onto the hard marble floor.  By the time she recovered from the shock of falling and lifted her head, she saw Alban and Maribelle enter a cab and leave.  She just lay there for a bit, completely bewildered at having been abandoned.  She could rationalize Alban dancing with Maribelle, she could rationalize that there was nothing going on between herself and Alban other than a simple friendship, but she had a hard time rationalizing that he'd actually forget about her and about the fact that he had driven her here.  She hadn't really paid attention during the drive here and wasn't sure what part of the city they were in.  She could make a guess and she could use her phone's GPS, but she didn't know if walking to the academy was a viable option.  She could take a cab, but at this point, in a numb daze, she simply didn't want to think about anything.  Picking herself up gingerly, Shizuka absentmindedly straightened her dress and walked back into the building.  As if automatically, she wandered back to Kazuma's table and sat down wordlessly.  Right now, she was glad her ridiculous helmet covered her entire face.