Chapter 26 - Shall We Dance?
(1)
"Ehh, no way, it's too much trouble."
"I don't want to dance with boys."
We were discussing what to do for the cultural festival exhibit.
It is the standard rule for these kinds of discussions that no matter what is suggested, the complaints never end.
"H-how about dancing? Since we can actually use the stage."
It was Mayumi-chan's suggestion.
"I don't want to do any intense dancing because it's tiring,"
someone said, and then the flow moved toward ballroom dancing.
I thought ballroom dancing was intense enough... but since I wanted to decide quickly and go home, I stayed silent.
A play? That was rejected immediately because it was even more troublesome.
Besides, it would be a pain to be compared to the drama club.
"Then, p-please choose about two couples."
Since the stage was narrow, two couples were probably the limit.
No one volunteered...
As a matter of course, Airi and I, whose relationship was common knowledge, were recommended.
The problem was the other couple.
Kanna, the most beautiful girl in class, and Makoto, the coolest guy, were recommended.
Isn't that a bad idea?
I looked at the seat to my right.
However, the two parties involved didn't seem to mind at all.
Am I worrying too much?
Next was what to dance?
What to do about costumes and other details were decided, and that day's discussion ended.
The dance was a slow waltz.
It was decided that uniforms would be fine for costumes.
The reason was that intense dances take time to learn, and making costumes is a pain.
Who's even going to watch something like that?
I wanted to say that, but since it would be a pain to bring the conversation back to the start, I stayed silent.
Practice began after school the next day.
Surprisingly, Mayumi-chan was well-versed in ballroom dancing.
No wonder she pushed for it...
Under Mayumi-chan's guidance, practice began.
There are several types of steps, but we had to learn ten types.
They were the following ten:
Natural Spin Turn
Reverse Turn steps 4, 5, 6
Chasse to Right
Outside Change
Chasse from PP
Natural Turn
Back Whisk
Weave from PP
Chasse from PP
Natural Spin Turn
We repeat these steps twice.
Learning them is hard, but this... takes up a surprising amount of space.
It'll be tough on the stage.
Mayumi-chan negotiated that part and managed to reserve the gymnasium.
Two couples in the gymnasium?
We'll definitely draw attention.
But I don't think it'll be too wide.
Practice is held in the classroom.
We push the desks back to create space and practice while playing a CD Mayumi-chan brought.
Since it's naturally impossible for two couples to go at once, we dance alternately, one couple at a time.
Kanna and Makoto were quick learners.
Airi was also fast, but the problem was me.
"Toya-kun, move more broadly there."
"Right there, Toya-kun, you need to lead more."
I receive various instructions.
Mayumi-chan is enthusiastic.
I can't quite do it well.
The two of us watch Kanna and Makoto practicing.
"Sorry, I'm slow at learning."
"It's okay, don't worry about it."
"Yeah..."
That said, as the one holding everyone back, it's tough.
"Shall we take a break for a moment...?"
Mayumi-chan said, so we took a break.
"Ah, Tosaka-san and Otonashi-san, please stay behind."
The two girls are told to stay.
The two look at each other.
I wonder what's going on?
"B-boys aren't allowed to come in, okay?"
Saying that, the curtains were closed.
Makoto and I take a break in the courtyard.
"Are you okay?"
I tried asking Makoto.
"With what?"
"Dancing alone with Kanna."
"Are you trying to say I'm still dragging it out?"
It seems he finally understood.
"I'm over it already. I'm the one who dumped her, after all. Kanna-san is over it too. More importantly, isn't it tougher for you?"
"Eh?"
"I heard it from Kanna-san: 'I've decided to go as far as it goes.'" (T/N: implying a decision to commit fully to the relationship/physical intimacy)
Ah, so she told Makoto.
"Well, yeah..."
"Once you've decided, don't waver. You get swept away easily."
"I'll be fine... as long as Airi doesn't abandon me."
"You're worried about that too, huh?"
Makoto says, laughing.
"Finally found you. Tada-kun and Katagiri-kun. Practice is resuming."
It seems the girls were searching for us.
"Mayumi-chan is surprisingly Spartan,"
Makoto mutters.
Isn't she just fired up because it's her hobby?
"Well, let's go."
Saying that, I headed toward the classroom.
(2)
The day before the cultural festival.
The final day of practice.
I've managed to learn it somehow.
Though it's still somewhat awkward.
"Katagiri-kun, your movements are stiff, get used to it already!"
The girls point it out.
Today, the entire class is watching, so it's only natural to be nervous.
"I think even more people will come tomorrow."
On the other hand, Kanna and Makoto are dancing very naturally.
Do they not know the word "nervousness"?
"It's the same as soccer, right? You move precisely when you're not standing out, right? Just do it the same way."
He added that the attention will probably go to Tosaka-san anyway.
That's exactly where the pressure comes from...
Well, thinking that no one is looking at me isn't a bad thing.
Besides, someone once said.
Doing things hesitantly actually makes you stand out more.
They said if you're going to be embarrassed, do it flashily.
Were those words told to me when I played soccer?
Something inside me snapped.
When you snap, a human can move better.
"Ah, his movements changed."
"That's good, Katagiri-kun!"
I hear the girls' voices.
I got the OK from Mayumi-chan too.
With this, I'm all set for tomorrow.
Today's practice ends.
"Tosaka-san and Otonashi-san, stay behind for a bit."
"?"
The curtains are closed again.
What are they doing in there?
That night, there was a study session too.
Since that incident, things had been perfectly normal.
Except for the fact that Airi started coming along to walk Kanna home.
However, today both of them are strangely quiet.
I took a chance and brought it up.
"What have you two been doing in the classroom lately?"
Apparently, it was something I shouldn't have touched.
"It's got nothing to do with Toya!"
"It has nothing to do with Toya-kun."
Being told that by both of them makes me feel depressed.
However...
"Toya, listen!"
"Toya-kun, listen!"
Don't both talk at the same time.
"Kanna, you say it."
"Why? It's normal for Airi to say it!"
Are the two of them arguing over something?
Eventually, as if having made up her mind, Airi spoke.
"Tomorrow... don't laugh, okay!"
I don't understand the meaning.
"What would I laugh at?"
"That's a surprise for tomorrow,"
Kanna says.
What on earth is happening?
(3)
The day of the cultural festival.
As usual, the boys were locked out of the classroom.
The difference was that Makoto and I were having our hair set in the hallway.
The two of us looked at each other and laughed.
Then, Airi and Kanna came out from inside.
A stir is heard from the boys.
Some of them were even taking phone photos.
The subjects were...
Kanna and Airi in party dresses.
Airi wore one with pink frills, and Kanna wore a light blue one with an open back.
Kanna had changed her hair to a side ponytail. Airi had undone her twin-tails and gathered her hair up.
They had changed into dance shoes.
Meanwhile, Makoto and I were still in our gakuran.
Isn't this completely unbalanced?
Kanna is talking about something with Makoto.
Airi approached me with a look on her face as if she wanted to say something.
"Don't laugh, okay? It's Mayumi-chan's taste."
Was this what she was hesitant about yesterday?
"That's not true, it suits you."
When I say that, her cheeks turn red.
"It's almost time—"
The girls in the class are calling.
"Well, shall we go?"
Airi nods slightly.
I imitate Makoto and escort Airi.
Airi kept looking down.
We enter the gymnasium.
The center is open, and everyone has taken positions along the walls or on the second floor.
We stand in the center.
The black curtains close, and the spotlight hits us.
Eventually, the music begins.
For slightly less than five minutes.
I focus on the dance without thinking about anything.
It was then.
Perhaps not being used to shoes with heels, Airi stumbled and almost fell.
I instinctively support her.
Even I have enough arm strength to support someone like Airi.
The sound of whistling and cheering rings out.
After that, we finished the dance safely.
Some people called for an encore, but we only knew one song.
Without responding, we left the gymnasium.
"Ahhh, it's over!"
Kanna, having changed back into her uniform, stretches.
"I'm glad it ended safely."
Airi also breathes a sigh of relief.
"It wasn't exactly safe, was it? For Airi."
"True. Toya-kun, you saved me."
It was an instinctive action.
I don't remember it well.
"As expected of people who are always together, you're in sync."
"Kanna, good job. How about it? Want to go look around the other classrooms together after this?"
"Oh, sounds good."
Saying that, the two of them left.
Did those two really break up?
"Toya-kun, thank you."
"Don't worry about it."
"I guess it's no good if I'm not used to them. Maybe I'll buy some heeled shoes."
"I suppose so."
"Kanna was cool, right? In that dress."
Certainly, Kanna, with her tall, fashion-model-like build, looked good in a party dress.
But...
"Airi was cute too. You were like a princess."
"Thank you."
"Well then, shall we go look around too, Princess?"
Saying that, I hold out my hand.
"Yeah!"
Saying that, Airi clings to my arm.
What happened to the hand I held out...
"Because this is better."
Airi is smiling.
Well, whatever.
And so, we too went to look around the other classrooms.