Chapter 12: Frozen Rhythm【P1】

Anza

“That was amazing, Asuka!” I scream in her ear over the music.

I support her slumped body, guiding her off the dance floor and into the lounge area. Overhead, the disco lights flash in perfect sync with the bass as the music transitions into the next round.

“Please tell me I won…” Asuka says toward the floor.

A quick peek back over my shoulder confirms the shuffling girl is still bouncing, already facing a new contender who just entered the circle.

I pout. “I am not actually really sure how you win a dance battle, now that I think about it.”

We reach our spot where Toma still sits motionless over the table, surrounded by three empty cups. I drop Asuka’s exhausted frame onto the standing table right next to him.

“Toma,” I huff at him. “Stop acting like the world is about to end.”

A low groan tries to rise above the music before his face tilts lifelessly toward the ceiling.

“But it has ended,” Asuka murmurs, slipping off the table as gravity drags her straight onto the floor.

I step onto her back, using her as a soapbox. “Toma, there are tons of clubs out here. You just have to find the one that actually fits you. Hey, maybe we can check out if this place seeks members. Asuka just went toe-to-toe with one of them, right Asuka?”

“P-put me back in, coach,” Asuka mumbles from below, trying to lift me off her back.

“See!” I reposition myself on her lower back as she flails flat again. “Or maybe we should just check out the drama club first because you already seem to be—”

“Excuse me,” a voice from behind calls, accompanied by a tap on my shoulder before I can even turn around.

A girl in a red suit with deep blue accents and long silver hair stands with stretched-out arms, holding a ribbon.

“Your prize!” She shoves it closer to me. “You went off without collecting it after the round ended, here!”

Before she can pin it to my shirt, I duck down. “I think—” I hoist Asuka up like a restaurant worker setting an A-frame chalkboard onto the sidewalk. “You need this one!”

“W-what?” Asuka blinks, dazed.

The girl pins the ribbon onto her without asking. “On behalf of the Theater Club, I am honored to award you third place in our seasonal open dance rankings! You were very close to dethroning the academy’s reigning champion. Not bad at all!” She pats Asuka on the shoulder, driving her weak, noodle body right back down into the floorboards.

“Thanks…” Asuka wheezes from the ground.

“Huh,” I look down at her. “I didn’t know you were in an actual dance competition.”

“Apparently…” Asuka scrambles up, adjusting the ribbon and puffing her chest out.

My eyes start scanning over the crowd. A boy catches my attention, wearing a red suit in a familiar style. I knew I had seen it before.

“So, the Theater Club?” I gesture lightly toward him with my chin. “Do the clothes resemble membership?”

The suited girl’s eyes dart back from him to me. “Absolutely! That is Banri. Only board members wear the suits, though.” She jerks her thumb toward her chest. “Saori. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Anza.” I nod, tapping Asuka’s leg with my shoe like a bass drum kick. “Asuka.” I fling my head toward the table. “And our resident zombie, Toma.”

“Hi everyone. So, that makes you guys first-years, right?” She flicks a business card smoothly from her sleeve and extends it to us.

“Uh, yes?” I slowly admit, looking down at the outstretched card, wondering if I will accidentally sign away my will just by touching the paper.

Asuka snatches the card right out from under my nose. “Wow, you guys have business cards?”

She brings it right up to her face, inspecting every corner meticulously. “I have to get some of these from my club, if they even have them.”

“I’m sure they do. Standard practice for board members.” Saori dismisses the amazement with a flick of her wrist. The fluid momentum causes another card to slip straight from her sleeve into her fingers, aimed directly at my nose.

I gently slide the card from her hand to inspect it. “But… you’re with the Theater Club?”

“Yep.”

“Then… what is a theater club doing hosting a dance competition on a beach pier?” I flip the card over, checking the glossy back for a hidden catch.

“We are involved in all sorts of entertainment on this island! If you are having fun, we probably organized it. The Theater Club is more or less just the main headquarters for operations, so to speak. And like most clubs around this time of year, we are always hunting for fresh talent.” She nudges her elbow into my side with a smirk.

“Oh. Um,” I pick her elbow off me like a used tissue. “We still have to check out some other places first before we make a decision. And Asuka has actually already applied to one.”

“But why limit yourself to just one? Besides, I wouldn’t wait too long to decide. The best openings fill up incredibly fast. By the end of the week, you’d be lucky if a club lets you sweep their floors.”

“Whoa, hold on.” Toma bolts upright from the table like a reanimated corpse. “J-joining a club?”

He stumbles forward, leaning way too close to her face. “What are your requirements, huh? Three hundred flyers? Five hundred flyers!?” His voice drops to a harsh whisper. “Tell me your secrets…”

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Discover what happens next in: Chapter 12: Frozen Rhythm【P2】

Written by Limited_Infinity. Extras, official publishing platforms and updates are publicly available only on the Patreon page “_Limited_Infinity_”

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