Chapter 120: Mean

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Translator: Soafp

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[Momo Pov]

“Well then, from the ○× group!”

Six students, looking nervous, stepped onto the stage.

[♪]

As the music began to play, they awkwardly started moving their bodies.

This creative dance presentation was a joint event with both boys and girls participating.

Each group had a maximum time limit of two minutes.

As one of the events for the second-year students, this presentation was usually lively and energetic.

Unlike regular PE classes, the boys and girls would take turns dancing over the course of two hours during the fifth and sixth periods on Fridays.

Seeing the second-year students practicing during lunch had become a customary scene.

“Good job!” “You're out of sync!” “Do your best!”

Some were shy, others couldn’t perform to their full potential.

Some came down from the stage laughing, while others descended with regret.

Among them, five still wore gloomy expressions despite feeling somewhat better after the earlier message.

In the gym, one classmate was conspicuously absent.

What kind of expression was he wearing right now, she wondered.

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“Ahh, I'm really nervous…”

“You'll be fine; just act confidently.”

“Ayanon, you never seem to get flustered in situations like this…”

“I'm just doing what we practiced.”

“Really…?”

As expected of the most beautiful girl in the grade.

Maybe she was just used to being watched.

“Ha…”

She sighed while watching the boys dance.

It was nice to see them perform in front of the girls.

Even if one of them was missing.

…Is everything really okay?

Given the timing of everything, and with the rumors from yesterday, what if he was feeling unwell?

“Toumachi-kun will be just fine. You got a reply from him earlier, right?”

“Yeah, but…”

“Come on, you need to have faith in him. Can't you trust him?”

“…No, I mean…”

She shook her head at her words.

Ah, I can't be like this. I need to snap out of it.

Once the boys were done, it would be our turn.

I didn't want to be a bother to Ayanon, so I had to focus on myself right now.

…But I really wanted to see Icchi dance. He had such great moves during last year’s sports festival; he must be good at it.

“During the performance, don't trip over your own feet!”

“I-I'll do my best.”

…He doesn't need to watch my dance.

It's too embarrassing.

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[Momoji PoV]

The dance presentation continued without Toumachi-kun.

The boys' group finished without a hitch.

We would be the last among the girls.

——“So beautiful…” “She's truly a beauty.” “They don't even seem human…”

To the music, Hatsune-san and Kisaragi-san danced on stage.

Kisaragi-san garnered cheers from both boys and girls, along with some envious remarks.

——“Momo! Momo looks cool!”

Hatsune-san received more cheers from girls than boys.

Both were popular students, and they were also good friends with Toumachi-kun.

“…They're amazing…”

Watching the two dance while receiving constant cheers, I couldn't help but let out a voice of admiration.

If it were me, I would probably shrink back and be unable to dance like that…

“Next up is the group with Hiiragi-san!”

And then, up next, were the two girls who were also close friends with Toumachi-kun.

Even though they were right after Kisaragi-san and her group, they stood there without a hint of hesitation.

[——♪]

——“Wow, amazing!” “So cool!” “If you post this online, it'll definitely go viral!”

To a pop song with a strong bass, they performed sharp and dynamic dance moves.

I immediately thought, “That's so cool.”

It wasn't just because they were beautiful; they radiated confidence.

While their movements might not be as polished as the dance club's, the aura they exuded was something that couldn't be imitated.

“…We'll be right after those two, huh?”

“That's tough…”

God must be playing a trick on us.

Toumachi-kun was absent, and our position in the lineup was also daunting.

But— I had to do my best.

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“Well then, this is the last group! Tachibana-san's group! Do your best!”

“…Alright. Let's go, Shiori-chan.”

“…Yes.”

Feeling the weight of all those eyes on them, especially since they were going on after the previous group, the pressure was intense.

Ah, I can't do this. I need to brace myself.

“Ah!”

“Wait, Shiori-chan!?”

I must be too nervous. My shoe slipped, and I fell.

——“Is she okay?” “Those two are so unlucky going after them…”

Ugh… This is tough.

What a terrible start; it makes me want to give up.

“Alright, we're going now!”

[♪]

The music started playing.

We were just going to repeat five basic patterns.

“!”

Two weeks.

It felt both long and short, but we practiced a lot… or at least I hoped we did.

Tachibana-san had patiently worked with me, never once sighing at my lack of athleticism.

[♪]

I moved my hands and feet, albeit awkwardly.

Just like we practiced, just like we practiced.

Still—

——“Oh no, she's offbeat.” “Isn't she out of sync?”

What do I do? What do I do?

Something felt off.

And it seemed that the other students noticed it, too.

I was so focused on dancing as we had practiced that I had neglected to follow the rhythm of the music.

“…!”

As I tried to adjust and match with Tachibana-san beside me, I couldn't get it right.

I had to hurry; I was running out of time.

Falling out of sync like this was undoubtedly ridiculous.

——“This is the fun part of the presentation.” “She really messed up at the last moment.” “What a shame.”

After all that practice, I felt like a failure. I really was bad at dancing. I wanted to quit.

Even though I thought that, if I gave up now, I'd still be the same me from back then.

What if Toumachi-kun was watching right now—

“!”

Don't stop. Don't let yourself stop.

Listening to the music, I somehow managed to get back on track.

I kept slipping and correcting myself, slipping and correcting.

It was embarrassing, but I kept at it.

Finally, I managed to synchronize with Tachibana-san in the last few seconds.

[——♪……]

As the song came to an end, I braced myself for the ridicule.

——But.

At the moment the music stopped, from the entrance of the hall, I heard the sound of clapping.

“Far away,” it echoed from that spot.

Soft. Yet, it rang clearly through the gymnasium.

“!!”

Eventually, that sound transformed into a cascade of applause.

I stood there in shock, dumbfounded by the sight before me.

It took me a moment to accept this reality.

“——”

Ah.

God is really cruel.

“——Toumachi-kun!”

If he was here, he should have told me!