Chapter 129: Just the two of us on the dance floor

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Translator: Soafp

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[Momo PoV]

“…Huh?”

“Over there in the park… or, is it not okay?”

Icchi is definitely a strange one. 

But even I was surprised this time.

This is so sudden. 

I mean, even though there's no one around… someone could walk by at any moment, right?

“…I guess it's fine.”

“Thank goodness.”

Maybe I'm the weird one for agreeing to this. 

I've probably spent too much time with Icchi… it might be rubbing off on me.

---

“When we become third-years, we'll have to dance for social events, you know.”

“And we're doing that now?”

“Haha… well, think of it as a rehearsal or something.”

“Way too early!”

“Yeah, you're right about that.”

“Haha.”

In the quiet, dimly lit park with no one around, the two of us talked.

For some reason, I was starting to have fun.

“Do you even know how to dance?”

“…Sort of. We did a bit in P.E., remember?”

“Oh, good.”

“But I'm not very good at it.”

“Neither am I. Besides, I've never danced with anyone before.”

“…Yeah, I know.”

“Haha, guess I'm no match.”

As usual, we both laughed together.

“Well then… shall we?”

He extended his hand to me. 

It was like a scene from a movie—a ballroom moment.

“Ah—”

…Once again, I told a little lie. 

Before I applied to Hoshigaoka High School, back in middle school—

During the school tour, at the sports festival, I was captivated by the sight of the third-years dancing so elegantly. 

Paired up, boys and girls danced just like in those shoujo manga and movies.

It wasn't the only reason I wanted to attend the school, but… 

I definitely admired that scene at the time.

[――”What are you doing, Momo?”――]

After I passed the entrance exam, I secretly practiced dancing alone. 

I'd imagine that future, sometimes even smiling to myself.

“Are you okay?”

There's no way I could tell him that secret. 

Especially not to the boy offering me his hand right now.

I never imagined I'd be doing this a year earlier than planned.

“…Yeah.”

I took his hand, trying to calm my racing heart—telling myself this was just practice for next year.

“Let's try dancing to the count, okay?”

“O-Okay.”

“Alright—here we go.”

Guided by his voice, I began to match his steps.

“One, two, three, four—wow, you're really good.”

“…Not really.”

“Looks like we don't even need to count, do we?”

To my surprise, my body remembered how to move. 

I was able to dance better than I expected.

Step by step, I matched his pace, left foot forward, right foot back. 

But I was still putting in all my effort.

Step, step, matching his hand movements, I somehow managed to keep dancing.

“?”

“N-Nothing.”

As for him, he moved so lightly, almost like he was humming. 

I never imagined I'd have the experience of being led in a dance.

He said I was good, but Icchi was clearly much better.

“Now, let's spin.”

“O-Okay—”

He danced with such joy. 

What I saw on stage wasn't a coincidence.

“…Icchi, you're really good at dancing.”

“Thanks. But I'm still just an amateur.”

“Whoa—”

“Haha, you're losing focus.”

When my legs nearly got tangled, Icchi pulled me back on track. 

…It's kind of frustrating.

---

“That was pretty good.”

“…Thanks.”

Tapping my toes, moving gracefully with him, we slid across the ground. 

Raising our hands and stepping again.

Slowly, we danced together. 

Unlike the stage at the gym, the park was wide and spacious.

No fear of falling off a platform here, which was nice. 

But the distance between us was incredibly close.

We were so near each other that our bodies might as well have been touching. 

I couldn't help but wonder if he could hear my pounding heart.

“Are you having fun?”

“…Yeah.”

“Good. I'm glad.”

But those worries faded away. 

Dancing under the moonlight, the moment felt like a dream.

Before I knew it, I was completely absorbed in this magical time.

――But.

As I looked at his face while we danced, the unease I had buried began to resurface.

[――“Actually, you know, I think I might be kind of cool?”――]

His voice from before echoed in my mind.

Lately, Icchi had started to become more popular with the girls… just a little bit, but still noticeable.

That's exactly why… 

What if his newfound confidence led him back to Ayanon after all?

“Icchi.”

“Hm?”

“Icchi… since then, have you really…”

I tried to ask, ‘Do you still not have feelings for Ayanon?’—but I stopped myself.

He had denied it so many times before, so asking again would be rude. 

Besides, I was afraid of what his answer might be.

If… if that answer were to be—

“Your steps are off.”

“!?”

“Alright, 1, 2, 3, 4.”

“…Ugh.”

“If we keep going like this, it'll be over too soon. How about we loop it for a while?”

“W-What does that even mean?”

“As long as you follow my lead, it'll be fine.”

“Okay…”

“You’re doing great!”

I let him take the lead again.

It felt like I was just rolling in the palm of his hand. 

It was frustrating, but… I didn't mind.

For now, I had him all to myself. 

It was strange that this alone made me feel a bit better.

[――♪]

Gradually, the music from the ballroom dance I saw back in middle school began to play in my head. 

It felt like I was the heroine in some movie.

…Just kidding. 

I'm really losing it. I'm in no position to criticize others for being unstable.

This is just practice for next year. 

I should stop thinking and just keep dancing…

“About what we were talking about earlier—”

“Huh?”

“I still haven't mentioned what I think about you, have I?”

“T-That's not really—”

“You can listen while we dance. That way, I won't be too embarrassed.”

When we were with the other four, I thought the ‘interrogation’ was over. 

Even though I could barely keep up with dancing and talking, he just kept going.

“…Well, um, Hatsune-san, we share so many interests, and it's always fun talking with you.”

“You're so lively and cool when you're playing basketball.”

Just like that.

“You're kind to someone like me, and your smile is so contagious that it makes me smile too.”

“Your personality is soft and easygoing, and I never feel nervous around you. You always make me feel energized.”

“If I had to compare, you're like a sunflower.”

He said all of that without hesitation. 

I couldn't even dance anymore.

“Uh—Hatsune-san?”

“I-I’m done…”

“You were the one who brought it up with that question, remember?”

“Ugh…”

“You need to hear it all the way through.”

“Then hurry up and say it…!”

“Alright, well, what I wanted to say is—”

I couldn't even follow the steps anymore. 

The dance was over.

Still holding my hand, without dancing, he continued.

“Hatsune-san, you're just as charming as Kisaragi.”

Those words echoed through the night air, each one clear as a bell.

“N-No, that's not—”

“—It's true.”

He looked me in the eyes as he said it. 

There was no escaping this.

My emotions were all tangled up.

“As a friend, but also as a guy, I'll be honest with you.”

It was so embarrassing. 

I was so embarrassed I thought I might lose control.

“You're incredibly cute, Hatsune-san.”

And then, I—