Chapter 26: Just the two of us
Translator: Soafp
“Eh?”
“Ah!”
“L-L-L-Let me buy you a drink (a cheap bribe)”
“……Fufu. What kind of face are you making?”
“!”
At that moment.
For the first time, I was able to see her face clearly.
Yumesaki-san, who usually seemed so intimidating, was smiling gently.
Her blonde hair sparkled under the club's lights, but her smile was even more striking.
[Ichigo Yumesaki.]
I must have misunderstood her all this time.
“It's me who's being strange. I came all this way and got scared…”
She murmured with a smile tinged with self-loathing.
There was no hint of hostility in it.
I hadn't realized Yumesaki-san could show such a side.
“……Is dancing fun for you?”
“Um, well, I guess”
She asked me a question. It was genuinely fun. I used to play rhythm games alone, but dancing gave me an even greater sense of merging with the music.
“……I see.”
“At first, it was scary and embarrassing, but it's not like anyone's watching me.”
“Hmm……”
“Yeah.”
“……”
We walked together toward the dance floor.
As we approached, the crowd and the pulsating sound enveloped us.
She looked down, seemingly indecisive about something.
“……!”
No, it was slightly different.
It was as if she was waiting for some words to be said.
[——“It's me who's being strange. I came all this way and got scared…”——]
Her earlier words seemed to hint at the answer.
……If my intuition is wrong, this is over.
But it might be a bad idea to make her say it.
“Yumesaki-san.”
“W-What?”
As a second-year student, after being separated from her in the classroom.
For the first time, I approached her of my own accord.
“Let's go dance.”
My voice rang out clearly even in the noisy club.
From her reaction—surely it reached her.
“……Ha?”
Ah, it's over (despair).
“……I'm not really into dancing.”
“Ah, ah.”
It wasn't over (revival).
“……What?”
“For now, let's move closer to the front.”
“Eh, wait…”
“It's more comfortable up there than here.”
Come on, let's go.
I led her through the wave of people dancing, guiding her toward the front.
[——♪♪]
“!”
“Just let the music take you.”
Ahead, the lights and sound illuminated us.
In this place—naturally, my body began to move.
“But……”
“No one around here is watching.”
Especially in the front.
It's full of people who have entered their own world.
There are people like me who don't even care about their steps, just shaking their heads freely.
“S-Seriously?”
“Yeah. If you're hesitating, just start moving your body once—”
The beat resonated in our eardrums.
I started moving to reassure Yumesaki-san.
Slowly. In our own little space.
“—Like this.”
I matched the kick of the drums with small steps.
Tapping my toes while keeping the rhythm.
“A-Amazi…”
“Eh?”
She was genuinely impressed (blushing).
But I need to keep my cool; getting too carried away here could lead to trouble.
Flashy dancing reveals a hidden introvert (too late).
I just don't have enough experience.
I can only manage these basic steps, but—
“Let's give it a try. Since we're in a club, try to keep your movements a bit smaller.”
“……Okay.”
This is the complete opposite of our usual classroom dynamic (suspicious). I never thought the day would come when I'd be teaching her something. But I feel like my cover is about to be blown.
“1, 2……Looks good.”
“Y-Yes――”
The moves themselves are actually quite simple once you try them. But it's not all that enjoyable with just the basics.
The real fun is—
“Just go with the rhythm.”
“……!”
“Looks good.”
“Y-Yes――”
The rhythm of the music builds up.
My body sways with the dance, and my brain feels like it's swaying too.
The excitement hits when I synchronize with the rhythm—this moment of blending with the music.
“!”
She's completely lost her shyness.
No basic steps involved; she's moving in the way that feels most natural to her.
……I might as well get a bit carried away too.
‘Charleston'—lifting my feet and moving them alternately forward and backward.
‘Drum and Bass'—slamming my heels on the floor.
I shuffled these two steps, dancing just enough not to be a nuisance.
[――♪♪]
“――”
The beams of light pouring down reflected off her rainbow-colored hair, and my head was filled with a euphoric buzz.
“……Phew.”
One breath.
This is dangerous; I'm getting hooked.
It feels too good――
“――Hey, want to chat with me?”
“!?”
Just as I was lost in thought—a voice came from behind me.
It was a woman's voice.
Turning around, I saw a beautiful older woman with wavy black hair. Her gaze was intense, something I've never experienced in my life.
……Wait, is this a pickup? No way, right?
“Fufu, you have such a nice color. But you're young, aren't you?”
“Ah……”
“Don't be scared. I'm not going to bite, you know?”
“……Y-Yes.”
She approached with her plunging neckline and a look that seemed to invite me.
Just a hint of the sweet smell of alcohol.
――I can't move.
My heartbeat was racing faster than the EDM.
Am I dreaming?
“You're really cute. How old are you?”
“Ah, um, 16……”
“――Just a moment.”
Then, a sharp voice cut through from behind.
It was Yumesaki-san.
“Hmm? Oh, you're with someone—sorry, bye.”
The black-haired woman left. Did I just get saved?
Honestly, the fear was greater than the excitement. I guess I'm still an introvert (self-aware).
“Don't just run off like that……”
“S-Sorry.”
I apologized out of habit.
……That line really hits hard. In a good way.
I thought I was nothing more than trash to Yumesaki-san, but it seems that might not be the case after all—
“Ah, there you are! Ichigo――Eh!?”
“Eh?”
With my heart racing, another familiar voice echoed.
“Toumachi?”
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4 Comments
Getting picked up by s beautiful woman like that is probably the latest thing he thought could ever happen in his life. But yet it still happened.
Y'know what? I'm glad that MC doesn't become a whole different person instantly. Instead, he's progressing slowly and trying to change for the better.
Thank you.