Operation Dancefloor Romance (part 7)

As the lights dimmed, the crowd hushed, and the couples took their positions. Among them were Mai and Ryota, facing off against Koyama and Takumi. The anticipation in the air was palpable.

The music began with a slow, melodic rhythm. Takumi took a step forward, extending his hand towards Koyama. She hesitated briefly, glancing at her opponents, before finally accepting Takumi’s hand.

“Ready to see what a proper dance looks like, Koyama-senpai?” Mai whispered, her voice laced with confidence.

The two girls locked eyes. There was an unspoken challenge between them, a challenge destined to be answered by the performance.

"We'll see about that," Koyama finally replied. "You're still a novice at this."

The two girls smiled. Their rivalry was evident on their faces, but neither showed any hint of hesitation or fear.

With the music playing softly in the background, the two couples moved in perfect unison. They swayed, twirled, and spun across the dance floor, their movements elegant and synchronized. The audience watched in awe, captivated by their graceful performance.

Meanwhile, Koyama’s mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts. Sato’s words echoed in her head, urging her to trust him. But doubts crept in, and she couldn’t help but question his intentions. Why would he help her? How did he even know about her secret crush on Takumi?

The music swelled around her, blending with her internal struggle. She tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing on the dance and the rhythm guiding her movements. But the uncertainty persisted, tugging at her mind like a persistent itch.

Does she have to confess her feelings? Should she trust Sato and his friends to create the perfect opportunity? A part of her longed for the chance, to be honest with Takumi, to lay bare her emotions and find closure. But another part of her feared rejection, the potential fallout if things didn’t go as planned.

Amid her internal struggle, the lights suddenly went off, plunging the dance floor into complete darkness. The music continued playing, casting an eerie atmosphere over the hall. Koyama’s heart was pounding as she thought this could be the perfect time to tell Takumi her feelings.

In the darkness, she hesitated, weighing her options. The absence of visibility gave her a sense of anonymity, a shield from potential judgment and rejection. With her mind racing, she mustered up her courage.

Taking a deep breath, she leaned forward, causing Takumi his balance to be slightly off. She could feel the warmth of his body and hear his surprised gasp in the darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest as she fought against her nerves.

Summoning all her bravery, Koyama whispered the three magical words she had been longing to say: “I love you.”

The young woman remained still, her words lingering in the darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she was terrified of the answer. She struggled to breathe, waiting for Takumi’s response.

But he remained silent. The music continued playing, the darkness enveloping them both.

Koyama waited for him to respond. But he never did. She could feel his hand tightening around hers, his touch warm and reassuring. She closed her eyes, wishing for his silence to be a sign of approval. But as time passed, the silence continued, leaving Koyama with a hollow feeling.

A red spotlight shone down on them, the bright light illuminating the couple in its halo.

Upon opening her eyes, Koyama noticed Takumi's gaze fixed on her. He was looking into her eyes, his gaze intense and penetrating. His expression was stern, and he seemed deep in thought.

Takumi leaned forward. The young woman closed her eyes as he planted a kiss on her lips...

****

“Ah,” Ryota sighed. “What am I even doing here?”

“You’re helping me with my plan,” Mai said with a grin. “The plan to make Koyama-senpai confess to Takumi-senpai.”

“Can I quit now?”

“If you want, but I think the next part will be more fun than dancing to a classical song,” she said, winking at him.

“What are you talking about, prez?” Ryota asked, his expression puzzled.

“Get ready, Lazy-kun,” she whispered. “The lights are about to go off.”

Just as she spoke, the lights faded. The stage went dark, and the music grew silent.

“What do y—”

Mai held up a finger, silencing Ryota.

“This is the perfect chance,” she whispered. “Not only for Koyama-senpai but also for me.”

Ryota stared at her, his expression puzzled. He remained silent, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“If you keep silent, I may just reconsider this entire plan,” Mai said.

“...”

She giggled softly, then stepped closer to him. “You’ll understand soon enough. For now, just watch.”

“Watch what?”

“First, I want you to watch me,” Mai replied. “And then you can watch Koyama-senpai.”

“Watch you? What—”

As he spoke, she embraced him in a gentle hug. He froze, his eyes widening in surprise. His mind went blank for a moment as he processed the unexpected gesture. His heartbeat quickened, and his face flushed with a mix of emotions.

Mai leaned back and smiled at him.

“I wanted to do that for a long time,” she whispered.

Ryota remained frozen, his brain struggling to process what had just happened.

Mai giggled softly.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “We still have more time for that. Just not here.”

With that, Mai turned away from Ryota and walked towards Koyama. Ryota remained frozen, staring at her in shock. He was still trying to process the hug he had just received.

“Now... let’s give this shy couple the push they need to confess their feelings,” Mai whispered.

Just as she was about to make her move, she paused mid-step. A thoughtful expression crossed her face, and she turned back to Ryota, who was still stunned by the hug.

“You know what, Lazy-kun?” she said, her voice filled with a hint of uncertainty. “I think my interference may be unnecessary.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I think it’s time to let fate and the red spotlight take over,” she said. “Sometimes, all it takes is a little nudge in the right direction, and the rest falls into place naturally.”

“Spotlight?” Ryota asked, confusion lacing his words.

“You’ll understand soon enough… I have a feeling something interesting is about to happen. Shall we continue dancing?”

“Uh...” he hesitated, then nodded slowly.

Mai took his hand. The warmth of her touch, the closeness of their bodies, and the playful spark in her eyes made him feel both exhilarated and uncertain. He tried to focus on the dance, but his mind kept wandering back to the moment they had shared just moments ago.

“So, Lazy-kun, did that unexpected hug make your heart skip a beat?”