Operation Dancefloor Romance (part 2)

“Mmm, prez, remind me why Sato is duct taped,” Ryota asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.

He only left for a few minutes to get a cane of lemon tea for Mai, and when he came back, he found Sato duct taped to a chair at the corner of the clubroom. Mai, looking slightly embarrassed, attempted to explain the situation.

“Oh, that,” she replied, pausing briefly. “It was an unfortunate turn of events. It’s just a minor form of payback. Nothing serious. You don’t have to think about it too much.”

Sato’s mouth was sealed shut with the same silver tape, preventing him from uttering a word. Despite his predicament, he widened his eyes in an expression of anger and plea as he struggled against the restraints. His futile attempts to free himself were accompanied by muffled sounds and exaggerated gestures as if he were attempting an elaborate dance routine.

Ryota tilted his head slightly, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. He couldn’t deny that the sight before him was absurd, yet he couldn’t help but find it amusing. “I suppose I can’t really define the president’s actions in this situation,” he said, his tone laced with gentle sarcasm. “But good luck, Sato. You might need it.”

“And now, a question for you,” he continued, turning his gaze back to Mai. “You said something about a letter Yuuki-kun found, right?”

Mai nodded, her expression growing serious. “Yes, I think it has to do with the secret admirer case. My brother found another letter with a rose inside the student council’s mailbox. We were planning to discuss the matter today, but...” She gestured towards the duct-taped Sato.

She took the letter out of her pocket and handed it to Ryota. “We were hoping you could read it, Lazy-kun.”

Ryota looked down at the letter. The flowery envelope caught his eye, and he couldn’t help but smile at the heart shapes that adorned it.

“This one is less romantic than the previous letters,” Mai remarked, a playful smirk curling the corners of her lips.

The young man chuckled and nodded, his fingers gently tracing the heart shapes on the envelope. “Well, let’s see what our mysterious sender has to say this time,” he said. With a quick motion, he carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the letter, unfolding it with care.

“To the esteemed members of the Whimsical Matchmaking Brigade,” he began, his voice resonating through the clubroom. “I commend your efforts and dedication thus far. It appears you were only a few steps away from finding me, and I must say, you served my purpose perfectly this time.”

He then paused, exchanging a glance with Mai.

“How about you show what you’re capable of,” the letter continued, the penmanship elegant. “There awaits a classic dance competition this Sunday, organized by our school’s dance club. It is the perfect opportunity for you to show your skills. This realm of twirling melodies and graceful steps shall be the canvas upon which you can weave your magic.”

The clubroom was enveloped in silence, save for Sato’s muffled protests in the background. Ryota’s eyes scanned the letter, his voice steady as he read on.

“The letter concludes,” he says. “In the gentle embrace of melodies and rhythmic footwork, two souls exist, veiled behind a mask of timidity and unspoken desires. Within the hallowed halls of our school, they have hidden their affections for years, their hearts entwined in a delicate dance of longing.”

The clubroom fell into an unusual silence, interrupted only by the muffled protests of the duct-taped Sato in the background. Ryota, his mind already weary from the day’s events, threw the letter onto the desk before him with a heavy sigh. He sank into his chair, feeling the weight of exhaustion tugging at his shoulders. It was becoming increasingly challenging to keep his thoughts focused and his head clear.

Rubbing his temples, he tried to keep his head straight, his mind grappling with the absurdity of the situation. “This mysterious admirer isn’t thinking straight,” he muttered. “Sending a letter like this, thinking it would make us move.”

Looking towards Mai, he sought reassurance, his eyebrows raised in a silent question. “We’re not doing this, right?” he asked. “Right?”

Mai kept silent for a moment, her expression contemplative. Ryota’s heart sank at the lack of an immediate answer, uncertainty creeping into his mind. He couldn’t help but worry...

“Are you okay, Prez?”

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, it seemed as if Mai would continue to withhold her response. But then, as if a switch had been flipped, her eyes sparkled with energy and excitement, and she burst out with uncontainable enthusiasm.

“A dance competition!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with delight. “Can you believe it? It is going to be an incredible opportunity. I can already envision the rhythm and the enchantment of the dance floor. It’s like a scene straight out of a romantic movie!”

“We’re not doing this, right? Prez?”

“Oh, we are definitely doing this, Lazy-kun!”

“I should’ve seen this coming when I read that letter.” Ryota’s exasperated muttering hung in the air, his words a reflection of his disbelief at the unfolding situation. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples again as if trying to ward off an impending headache. The weight of exhaustion pressed upon him, and he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events.

As Mai’s excitement bubbled over, she repeated the words “a dance competition” like a mantra, her voice filled with childlike enthusiasm. Her eyes sparkled, envisioning the enchantment and romance that awaited them on the dance floor.

“I told you! You should never trust Mai to make the right decision,” Sato suddenly interrupted, his muffled voice breaking through the room.

Both Mai and Ryota turned their heads toward him, their eyes wide with surprise.

“How did you free yourself from the duct tape?” Ryota asked.

“I simply ate the tape!”

“You ate the tape? Seriously?”

“Yep, just chewed through it like a pro. A little trick I learned from a Houdini documentary.”