Social Dance Club Opening
Dance With Me
Social Dance or Ballroom dance—a dance performed by a man and a woman pairing up for the sake of socializing.
It evolved from European court balls and is considered a cultivated skill for gentlemen and ladies.
The male "Leader," dressed in formal wear like a tailcoat.
The female "Partner," dressed in various styles of gowns.
These two dancers take hands to form a single "Couple."
Using their clasped hands, body to body, and even the space between them, they communicate their will and rhythm to dance.
It is a sport that only works if you trust your partner.
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One day in February, Tokyo, Korakuen Hall.
Today, the Alex Cup Dance Championship was being held here. On the competition area surrounded by spectator seats—the "Floor"—couples composed of beautifully dressed women and men in black tailcoats were dancing the Waltz.
Catching the audience's eye in particular was a Partner in a blue dress and her Leader.
The Partner's name was Riko. Riko and her Leader were captivating the audience with an overwhelming presence. The spectators believed without a doubt that they were the ideal couple.
Until that moment.
Smack!
Suddenly, a crisp, bursting sound echoed.
It was as if a spark had exploded—no, in a sense, it had exploded.
The entire venue, which had been shimmering and writhing with colorful dresses like a jewel box, froze instantly.
"Say that one more time!"
In the middle of the floor. Two dancers stood there.
One of them was Riko, in that blue dress.
She had just delivered a flat-handed slap to her own Leader.
The other dancers had already cleared the floor. Beyond the gaze of the audience, there were only two people left: Riko, wearing a dress as blue as a midwinter lake, and the Leader in his black tailcoat.
The Leader, having been slapped and sporting a nasty look, screamed with bloodshot eyes.
"Huh?! I’ll say it as many times as I want! You just have to move exactly as I say! Don't move on your own will—nobody wants you to do anything! I don't need your power, you just have to follow me! Got it?!"
Due to the sheer shock of the event, the audience fell silent without even being asked. No music was playing, so the pair's voices carried clearly across the hushed floor. Their exchange reached even the spectators in the very back row.
"...with you."
Riko, who had been looking down and trembling, sharply lifted her face, painted with stage makeup.
Then, glaring straight at the Leader, she spoke clearly, word for word.
"I AM DISSOLVING THIS COUPLE!!"
＊ ＊ ＊
Two cherry blossom petals fluttered down right before her eyes.
"Sigh..."
A bitter memory of days past crossed the back of Riko's mind.
It had been exactly two months since then. That day, snow was falling outside Korakuen Hall, but now it was fully spring. It was warm, as if that freezing cold had been a lie.
At the entrance ceremony, she learned that "Competitive Dance"—competing via Ballroom dance—was popular at this high school. The club had a long history and was apparently a powerhouse. Before, she would have been happy, but for Riko, who had decided not to do Competitive Dance anymore, it didn't matter.
She would never take a man's hand again. She wouldn't dance with a guy.
Just as she reconfirmed that resolve, she stepped out of the gymnasium where the ceremony had ended.
"Wah..."
The wind blew, lifting Riko's red ribbon and ponytail. The petals of the cherry blossoms blooming in full glory beside the gym danced down, twirling like a Waltz.
The Waltz, the dance Riko loved. A dance she had been familiar with since she was small. Even though she loved it, she felt like she was going to end up hating it.
But the petals danced down happily. Not knowing a speck of how Riko felt.
Fascinated by the scene, Riko unconsciously stopped walking.
At that moment, a shock ran through her body. Thud.
"Kya...!"
"Hyau!"
Riko looked at the cause of the impact, which had landed on her butt.
It was a girl. She must have been running when she crashed into Riko.
"Ouch..."
"I'm sorry, are you okay?"
Riko hurriedly offered a hand to the girl, who was rubbing her backside.
"I-I'm sorry too, I was looking away... Thank you."
Holding a piece of paper preciously to her chest, the girl grasped Riko's hand with her own small hand. She looked like an elementary school student to Riko, but she knew she was a high schooler because she was wearing the same uniform. Riko looked at the ribbon color. Maroon. She seemed to be a first-year student just like Riko.
"Ah."
Still holding hands, the girl looked at Riko's face and widened her eyes.
Riko asked the girl, who had her mouth hanging open in a daze, "What's wrong?"
"You... You're the slapping Partner from the Alex Cup!"
"Wh—!?"
Riko was speechless. The girl looked up at Riko with round, small-animal eyes.
"Why do you know about that!"
"I went to watch that competition. From around the third row. I knew that super beautiful partner was the same age as me, so I remembered it really well."
Riko held her head. To think she would meet someone who saw that blunder here...
"Um."
In front of the depressed Riko, the girl smiled and spoke.
"If you'd like, won't you join the Dance Club?"
"...You do dance?"
"Yes! ...Though I just started."
If she was inviting her, that meant she was from the Competitive Dance Club. Riko shook her head.
"Sorry, I won't join the Competitive Dance Club. I decided I wouldn't do Competitive Dance anymore. Bye."
"It's not the Competitive Dance Club."
Riko, who was trying to leave the spot quickly, stopped at those words.
When she turned back, the girl smiled brightly and offered her hand.
She showed Riko the single sheet of paper held at her chest—a Club Activity Approval Form.
"Shall We Dance? ...Won't you dance together with me?"
The wind blew, swaying the small girl's hair softly.
Between the girl and Riko, cherry blossom petals twirled and danced down.
Translator notes : 社交ダンス (Shakou dansu) literally translated as Social Dance, but it also has the meaning of Ballroom Dance. The dance they’re doing in the novel is Ballroom Dance, but the club name is Social Dance club. Because of this, I use both of those terms in this translation.
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