Shirai Konohana
The changing room was rather filled, other dancers and strippers gathered and preparing. Shirai, well, she was pretty thoroughly confused by the whole ritual. what was the point of putting these skimpy leather pieces if you'd just take them off in front of everyone? Wouldn't it be more practical, as well as conserve more energy, to just go up naked? And obviously the little cloth bits weren't for modesty or anything like that- the other girls seemed almost excited to be getting naked in front of many men. Shirai couldn't fathom how anyone could enjoy the lewd and indecent act, but it's not as if she had any say in the matter. It was part of her repentance, after all. She had to make up for her hubris and her pride, as soon as possible.
"Hey, Shirai." One of the louder and more promiscuous girls called to her, a sweet little smile plastered on her face, "Why you even here, doll? You don't really fit in with the rest of us, y'know?" What was her name, Alex? It was Alex, right? Two other girls turned their heads, interested in Shirai's response. And it wasn't as if the environment with the girls was bad or anything- there was certainly competitions and sabotages and trying to look better, but since none of them really would feel right in trying to do anything against the submissive Shirai, they all treated her kindly and gently enough.
"Uh, I just need the money." Shirai said quietly, evenly, and the other girls just sort of stared at her in disbelief. One specifically walked up to the flower girl and grabbed her by the head, still in a friendly manner.
"Yo, yo." Bree laughed. "You're joking, right? You're smart, girl, not like the rest of us. No idea why you're in this dump!"
A chorus of laughter as Shirai shrunk into her little corner, already feeling naked and vulnerable enough, How could the other girls go around and flaunt their bodies so easily like that; so comfortably? It made no sense. Way back, women were modest... and protected. No good man would let girls like this treat their bodies like a thing to be bought and leered at. And most unfathomable of all, why was little Shirai doing it, too? Every time, when walking onto that stage, she felt like throwing up, it was so revolting and against her nature. But, it was no worse than dying had to be... and she had subjected humans to death for all eternity. Suffering in a night club was the least she could do.
"I bet little Shirai's secretly a total slut!" Alex and company let out a cacophony of laughter, and Shirai managed a weak little grin, feeling edified for at least being able to create laughter for the fellow girls at the nightclub.
She stood up and bowed deeply. "I'm glad to have been able to make you happy." She said politely. "Thanks for being friends with me, minna dou itashimashite!"
These are my precious friends. I hope life gives them enough luck that they won't have to do this to their bodies anymore.
"Party should be up in a bit, guys." Alex said, yelling as if she were the leader of the girl's changing room. "Let's put on a good show, everyone! And dude, Shirai, stop it with the random Japanese, none of us know what the fuck you're saying."
More kind-hearted laughter. Shirai kept her head down and hoped the night could be over soon, almost terrified of going on the stage.