“No, you deserve credit as well,” Shinmyou chimed in. “This is the first time dancing with someone has been so enjo...so smooth for me.”
“No, no, it really is because of your prowess as the leader.”
“...Not at all, really, you...
“Aww, enough, enough! Stop trying to ‘out-modest’ each other!”
I wanted to respond that it wasn’t modesty, but Shimozuru had already pulled Shinmyou away in a panic, so it was clear the conversation was done.
I could hear some unsettling words of inquiry, so perhaps this way was better. Luckily, as all that was going on, the dance teacher arrived and began instructing Aritomo and me.
“This is how a professional teaches,” I said, thinking back on the mistakes I made during my earlier lessons. Our partners also joined us in our lessons. “It’s good that she’s been pointing out my flaws, too, so I can try to improve them during practice.”
“Flaws? Impossible for one who dances as well as you do.”
Yes. No matter how vital dance was for nobles like myself in my past life, I still was no professional.
Especially since Shinmyou was twenty centimeters taller than I was. Even with heels, there would still be a considerable height difference. The teacher warned me to be diligent in standing up straight while dancing with him. They caught me trying to stretch to match his height and warned me accordingly.
In my past life, most of my partners were shorter than I was.
My heart was suddenly overcome with nostalgia. Being called Annerosa, having partners who insisted I dance only with them...and after that, I...
“Hey, Urara, do you know that guy?”
“Pardon?!”
Aritomo’s voice brought me back to the present.
That hardly ever happened to me, but whenever I reminisced about my past life, it was as if part of my consciousness were spirited away.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention,” I said, offering an honest apology.
“Like I said, do you know him?” she repeated with a huff and jabbed her thumb at the door. Through the glass, I spied a familiar jersey.
“Haruto!”
“Who?” Aritomo responded in confusion as the door was yanked open. Standing there was my younger brother.
“Big Sister.”
“What are you doing here?”
I remembered telling him about the dance lessons but didn’t think I had told him where. I hadn’t intended to hide it, but since we were all practicing here, it would be inappropriate for a member of my family to show up.
I couldn’t hide the dissatisfaction in my voice, but Haruto was unaffected. He merely continued glancing around.
“Haruto?!”
I called out to him in a louder voice than before, and finally he looked at me.
“Where is he?”
“He who? Who are you looking for? No one is here but my friends and me.”
I wasn’t comfortable referring to Shinmyou as a friend, but it would have to do for now. How does that saying go? “The friend of my friend is also my friend”?
Haruto glanced at Shinmyou and narrowed his eyes.
“Haruto, let’s step out for a bit. We don’t want to disturb the others. They can’t practice with outsiders here,” I said, tugging on his sleeve, but he showed no intention of leaving.
I pulled on his sleeve once more, but peering into his wide eyes, I could see they were fixed on someone.
“Sakutarou...?”
“Do you know Shinmyou, Haruto?”
He had addressed Shinmyou by name. When Shinmyou spun around and looked at him, the wrinkles on Shinmyou’s forehead deepened and he heaved a small sigh.
Haruto stepped onto the dance floor without waiting for permission and planted himself in front of Shinmyou, glaring up at him.
Shimozuru was standing right next to him, and from the sullen look on his face, he seemed to understand what was happening here as well.
Still, Haruto was my younger brother, so I couldn’t have him disrupting everyone without cause. I rushed over to him and urged him to return home, but he merely continued to square off against Shinmyou without looking at me. This was the first time he had ever ignored me like this. I was aghast at his behavior.
“It’s been a while,” Shinmyou said to him gently. “Are you stronger now?”
“Stronger than you, Sakutarou.”
“Hmph. Even stronger than Ui?”
“I could probably take him.”
“You’re certainly confident.”
They were...talking about kendo, right? Haruto had been attending a kendo dojo since elementary school, so if they knew each other from there, this would all make sense, but...
“Anyway, where is he?”
“...He? To whom are you referring?”
There didn’t seem to be fond feelings of nostalgia between them.
“Can I say his name? Can I say it...in front of her?”
Who on earth was he talking about?
“Ahh, you guys, this is a touching reunion and all, but it’s time for everyone to go home.”
Shimozuru didn’t seem terribly sorry about breaking them up, but he was right. It was three p.m., and it seemed a good time to stop for the day.
However, neither Shinmyou nor Haruto seemed keen to take their eyes off the other. And it didn’t seem as though they were planning to forget about whomever they were discussing.
I reached out, ready to drag Haruto away so we could leave, but just then, someone else pulled my other arm in the opposite direction.
“All right then, Urara and I are leaving. You boys do what you want.”
“What? A-Aritomo?”
“Don’t forget to lock up, now!” Aritomo called out and dragged me off to the locker room.
“A-Ah, wait, Aritomo. I need to talk to Haruto...”
“Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine. I’ve got things of my own to talk to you about, so let’s go have some tea.”
She had my arm in a viselike grip. There was no way I could say no now.