Operation Dancefloor Romance (part 5)

Among the sea of dancers, a young woman stood alone, her expression indifferent. Looking around, she searched for a familiar face. She glanced around the dance hall, scanning the crowds. A few couples passed by her, but none caught her eye. As she continued to look around, she felt a pang of disappointment.

“Excuse me,” said a voice behind her. “You... don’t want to dance?”

The young woman turned around to face the speaker. A young man stood behind her, his face contorted into a nervous expression. He seemed uncertain, almost timid, but his eyes glinted with an intensity that captivated the girl. She paused, hesitating for a moment as if she had seen a ghost, a flurry of emotions clouding her face.

“Oh, um, sorry. I was looking for a partner,” she replied, her voice filled with hesitation. “But I…”

“Oh, I see. Sorry to have bothered you then.”

The young man looked away, trying to hide the flush of embarrassment that crept up his cheeks. As he turned his back to her, a rush of regret swept over the young woman.

“Wait!” she called out, unable to contain her desire to talk to him.

The young man stopped in his tracks and turned back around, a questioning look on his face.

She swallowed hard, her heart pounding against her chest. “Um... would you like to dance with me?” she asked, her tone almost pleading.

The young man’s eyes widened in surprise, but then a grin crossed his lips, and he replied, “Sure, why not? Weren’t you... like... waiting for someone?”

The girl nodded, her expression filled with embarrassment. She had never imagined that her love would be so blunt, but his straightforwardness made her heart skip a beat.

As the music started, she smiled and held his hand. As they took their positions on the dance floor, she realized that this was the first time she had that kind of smile on her face.

Her short red hair glistened in the light, her skin pale and soft, her eyes full of passion. She seemed to be the epitome of beauty, yet the young man could only gawk at her. He felt out of place, and he struggled to come up with something to say.

“Takumi-kun, you’re unusually quiet. Is something wrong?” the young woman asked, concern lacing her words.

Takumi quickly shook his head, unable to look away from her. “No, Koyama-san. It’s just... You know what, let’s focus on the dance for now.”

“Okay,” she said with a giggle. “You can take the lead.”

The young man nodded and reached out, wrapping his hands around her waist. He then stepped forward, taking her by surprise. Koyama followed his lead, gliding across the floor with elegant movements. She twirled and spun, her feet moving gracefully over the floor. She smiled, her expression one of childlike innocence as if she had forgotten about all of her problems.

As they danced together, they slowly forgot about the other dancers around them. Their gaze was locked on each other, moving in flawless synchronization as if they were destined for each other. Their faces were mere inches apart, and they could feel the warmth radiating from each other.

The surrounding dancers couldn't match their grace, elegance, and beauty. They moved in unison, their steps in time with the music as if they were dancing together their whole lives. The couple was oblivious to everything around them: the other dancers, the judges, and even the competition.

As they swayed and twirled, their chemistry on the dance floor was undeniable. The judges, who had been intently watching the various performances, were captivated by the pair’s seamless synchronization and captivating presence. Awe and admiration shone in their eyes as they witnessed the couple’s captivating performance.

****

“You see that red-haired girl and skinny boy over there?” Mai asked, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of her lips.

Ryota, momentarily breaking his focus on their steps, glanced in the direction Mai pointed. He then looked back at her, a questioning expression on his face.

“Yeah, I see them,” he replied, his voice barely audible over the music. “They’re amazing dancers.”

“That’s Koyama-san, and her partner is Takumi-kun. They are the target of our mission,” she replied.

“Really? How do you know?”

“Let’s just say I have my ways of gathering information.”

Mai's revelation surprised Ryota with no doubt.

As they continued to dance, his thoughts were divided between his steps and the couple they were targeting. Lost in his thoughts, Ryota tried to piece together the puzzle. How had Mai discovered the targets of their mission? Did she observe the reactions of the jury or had she already known about them before the competition? Her involvement in the dance club certainly provided her with an advantage in identifying the shy couple. He couldn’t shake off the curiosity nagging at the back of his mind.

As the music stopped, Ryota and Mai found themselves back on the sidelines, catching their breath after their performance.

“So, do you have a plan, prez?” Ryota asked, a sense of anxiety creeping into his tone.

“First, we should talk to Koyama-senpai,” Mai said.

She then paused for a moment. After a slight hesitation, she turned back to Ryota and said, “Actually, I think it might be better if Sato talks to her.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s something to do with Koyama-senpai’s personality. How should I say this...” Mai searched for the right words, her expression thoughtful. “She has a somewhat twisted personality.”

Ryota’s brow furrowed in confusion as he listened to Mai’s words. He struggled to comprehend what she meant, his mind swirling with questions. “Twisted? In what way?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s better if you see for yourself.”

Ryota furrowed his brow, trying to comprehend those cryptic words. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was something more to Koyama-senpai than met the eye. As he glanced at her, he noticed her interacting with her dance partner, Takumi. They seemed to be engaged in a friendly conversation, but there was an underlying shyness in Koyama-senpai’s demeanor.

Just as Takumi excused himself and walked away, Ryota and Mai reached their target. An instant later, her shy and reserved expression turned into one of cold detachment. Her eyes narrowed, and a hint of disdain crossed her features.

Mai leaned closer to Ryota, her voice barely above a whisper. “To break Koyama-senpai’s character, we need Sato’s special skills," she explained.

"Special skills?" Ryota repeated, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"He doesn't think twice before speaking his mind."

"I'm not sure if you're complimenting Sato or criticizing him."