Chapter 137: At the practice range (2)

A private ballroom, just for the two of us.
No interruptions, no prying eyes, just Aya and me.

Ah, bliss.
I’d been feeling uneasy lately, ever since the poster incident. I’d become overly sensitive to Aya’s actions…

But now, the anxiety had vanished.
In this moment, it was just Aya and me.

“Rina, take my hand.”

Her words made my heart flutter. I gently took her hand, feeling its warmth. Music started playing softly from Aya’s phone, which was connected to a Bluetooth speaker. The melody, perfect for ballroom dancing, filled the studio, and Aya expertly led me into the dance.

“Just follow me slowly. I’ll lead.”

I matched my steps to hers, following her lead. One step, two steps. We moved together, in perfect sync.

Our bodies brushed against each other with every step. Our shoulders almost touched, our legs and arms grazing each other’s. We’d kissed before, even shared a deep kiss, but this light, almost accidental contact felt even more thrilling.

“…Rina, I can almost hear your heart beating.”
“W-Well, you’re so close…”

I looked away, flustered, and Aya chuckled.

“Cute.”

And then, she pulled me closer.
My heart skipped a beat. We were so close that our breaths mingled.

“Is it okay… being this close?”
“Of… of course…”

We moved closer still, our bodies almost touching, our warmth mingling. It was as thrilling as our kiss. Aya’s eyes met mine, and I felt breathless.

“Rina.”
“Yes…?”
“Your legs are tangled.”
“Oh…”
“Are you nervous?”
“Maybe… a little.”

Aya stopped, and I untangled my legs, which had become stiff from nerves. Aya smiled faintly and gently placed her hand on my waist, guiding me back into position.

“It’s okay, Rina. It happens to everyone at first. Just relax and follow my lead.”

‘Aya… how can I not be nervous…!’

But her calm voice soothed me. I relaxed, and my movements became more fluid, my body following Aya’s lead effortlessly.

“Yes, like that. You’re doing great.”

We moved gracefully across the dance floor, our steps in perfect sync with the music. Our reflections in the mirror looked elegant and beautiful. I finally understood why ballroom scenes were so popular in romance novels. I’d always thought of dancing as… trivial, but seeing our reflections in the mirror… it was mesmerizing.

Then, our faces drew close again. My heart pounded. How could it not? Her beautiful features, her white hair, her blue eyes… Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world, even the music, seemed to fade away.

“…Aya.”
“Yes, Rina.”

Every time she said my name, a shiver ran through me, like when we kissed.

Was this… what they called ecstasy?

“Aya, are you going to… keep saying my name?”
“Of course, Rina.”

Aya said, then gently touched her forehead against mine. Our breaths mingled, our warmth intertwined, and the world seemed to shift, painted in different colors.

“Rina, I like you… much more than you think.”
“Aya… I know…”

“Good. Then let me show you… more clearly.”

Aya pulled me closer still. There was no distance between us anymore. Our breaths, our warmth, everything mingled as one. Seeing our happy reflections in the mirror, I hugged Aya tighter.

“We can still dance like this.”

Aya said, her voice soft and seductive, a command disguised as a whisper. I lowered my head, surrendering to her.

We started moving again, our bodies pressed close, our steps in time with the music. Our breaths mingled, our hearts beating in unison. The thrill intensified, a mix of physical exertion and the excitement of being so close to her.

Even in this close embrace, Aya’s lead was steady and precise. Her hand on my waist was gentle yet firm, guiding me effortlessly across the dance floor. It felt less like I was following her and more like she was moving me, my feet naturally finding their place in the dance.

“Haa… Aya, are we really supposed to dance like this…?”
“Yes, you’re doing great, Rina.”

It felt less like dancing and more like… hugging and swaying to the music. I’d never seen anyone dance like this… but our reflections in the mirror were so beautiful…
Our foreheads touched lightly, our noses brushing against each other, and every touch sent shivers down my spine.

We no longer looked at our feet, our eyes locked on each other as we moved to the music. Our breaths mingled, our chests pressed together, our hearts beating as one.

As the music slowed, our movements also became more languid. We stopped and gazed at each other, our warm breaths mingling. A light sheen of sweat glistened on Aya’s cheeks.

“…Rina.”

“Aya…”

The last note faded, and silence descended. We looked at each other and smiled.

“That was… wonderful.”
“Me too… It was wonderful.”

I slowly pulled away from Aya’s embrace and realized how sweaty I was.
We laughed, just because it felt good.

“Should we cool down and order some food?”
“Yes… anything.”

I nodded at Aya’s suggestion. She ordered food on her phone, and another song started playing.

“Want to dance again?”
“…Yes.”

Aya wasn’t going to let me rest.
As the music started, we were once again lost in the dance, our breaths and bodies intertwined.

****

“Haa… haa…”

After a few more dances, I was breathless and covered in sweat. Aya’s casual flirting… It was dangerous!
Aya, noticing my flushed face and sparkling eyes, leaned in and whispered in my ear, her voice husky with desire,

“You know, Rina… you’re even more irresistible when you’re flustered.”
I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even form a coherent sentence, just stammering,

“A-Aya… s-stop it…!”
But Aya just chuckled softly, her eyes fixed on me, a predatory glint in their depths.

“Why should I? I love seeing you like this, Rina.”
Just then, the doorbell rang, interrupting our moment. Aya ordered pizza. We finally stopped dancing when the food arrived. Dancing was more strenuous than I’d thought.

We ate, facing each other, laughing and chatting. It was a perfect moment. I took a sip of water and sighed contentedly.

“Aya.”
“Yes?”
“I really enjoyed today.”
“Today? You mean our date?”
“Wasn’t it a date?”

“A date… do you want a real date, Rina?”

Aya’s voice was laced with meaning. Had the innocent Aya… evolved? I felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a hint of fear. Aya giggled, looking at me.

“What are you thinking, Rina?”
“Aya… stop teasing!”

“Heehee… I can’t help but tease you, Rina.”

I quickly took another bite of pizza before she could tease me further. I took a large gulp of water instead of soda – I didn’t want to gain weight – and grinned. Aya, resting her chin on her hand, smiled.

“You just made the cutest face, Rina.”
“Ugh… not again.”
“I can’t help it. I want to keep teasing you.”

For some reason, seeing Aya’s playful side made me happy. I liked this mischievous smile she only showed me, so different from her usual perfect lady image.

I was starting to feel full after two slices of pizza.

“Ah, I’m full. Are you, Aya?”
“Yes, me too. Should we start moving again?”

“I’m a bit too full to dance right now… Let’s take a short walk and then continue.”

“Okay.”

Aya smiled and stood up. We stepped out of the studio, and the cool night air greeted us. The chilly breeze felt pleasant against my sweat-dampened skin.

We walked hand in hand, strolling through the streets of Shinjuku, which was already decorated for Christmas.