Right when Mia settled down next to Souta, the lights in the whole place went out for a second.
Just as he thought it went dark, bright lights lit up the stage in the back of the club.
The spotlight caught a man in black clothes.
He had a mic in his hand and made an announcement in a voice that filled the room, like he’d done it a million times.
”Heyyy! Everyone, thanks for waiting. It’s shooowtime!” he announced.
Clapping broke out from everywhere, and Souta clapped along without thinking.
Mia next to him clapped too, all cute.
”Oh, look like the show’s ’bout to start,” Mia said.
Mia peeked at Souta’s face and added that.
”A show?” Souta asked.
He asked his big sister with a pure heart, and like a good teacher she gave him the answer he wanted.
”Yep, today the first event is dancin’,” Mia explained.
”Today is Dance Battle Day! First up, a solo showdown! You know her, you love her, it’s Mio!” the MC shouted.
Right after Mia’s words, the man who looked like the MC ran the show smoothly on stage.
The one who came out at the man’s intro was one of the cast members Souta remembered-Mio, with cat ears and a cat tail.
She shook her unique tail, stepping all over the stage with moves so graceful and smooth they’d put a pro to shame.
”Everybody cheer for meow!” Mio yelled.
When she finished her whole performance, she threw her arms up and did little hops, pitching herself to the Fans in the club.
Right when she’d done enough promoting, the MC started introducing the next cast member.
”Next up, with her trademark water tricks and the catchphrase ‘I get wet so easyyy,’ it’s Nene!” the MC introduced.
Following Mio, who went first, the woman who got introduced came onto the stage.
A woman with a calm vibe, different from Mio.
She hadn’t come to greet Souta’s table, but he’d seen her walking around a few times.
A see-through woman with a vibe like Lime, who came to Souta first.
Even when she stood in front of the MC, her body was so faint you could see the MC through her.
”Lock on to your heart!” Nene called out.
As she said that, she put her hands together, made them look like a gun barrel, and pretended to fire at the crowd.
At the same time, a water drop about the size of a person shot out.
It floated softly through the air and drifted up to the ceiling.
Right as the rising drop touched the ceiling, it burst in all directions, and the burst drops burst again, sparkling and fading into mist under the spotlight.
It was a beautiful sight that the word “dreamy” fits perfectly.
At the same time, both the Fans and the cast in the club let out sounds of amazement.
”Water tricks are so nice. Wish I could do some trick too~” Mia muttered.
Mia mumbled next to Souta, sounding jealous.
”Y-yeah..,” Souta replied.
The tip of Mia’s tail poked Souta’s arm like a finger.
Before long, Mio started dancing on stage to the music.
She matched lively moves to intense music, and sometimes showed off smooth, dynamic dancing.
She used the stage-never that big-to the fullest, right and left, never forgetting to play to the crowd, keeping up a cheerful dance.
Souta had almost zero knowledge about dance, but he figured she was pretty good for an amateur.
He even thought she could pass as a pro dancer.
Before long, the vibe flipped, and quiet BGM started playing in the club.
The one dancing second was the cast member called Nene, who’d just done the water tricks.
Her clear skin was super see-through, and it shined even more beautifully in the light.
With slow, easy moves, she mixed in her trademark water tricks and danced in the center of the stage like she was flowing.
He thought it might be his eyes playing tricks, but Nene was definitely changing the shape of her body.
While she kept a human shape, sometimes parts of her body broke apart, but the way it looked was beautiful, never weird.
”Beautiful..,” Souta whispered.
The word slipped out of his mouth.
”Sayin’ stuff like that with me right here? Big sis gonna get jealous,” Mia pouted.
Mia, standing next to him, picked up on it and pouted.
For a second, he forgot a woman was even next to him-that’s how much Nene’s dance stole his heart with its gorgeousness.
”S-sorry..,” Souta apologized.
”Ufufu, just kidding♪” Mia giggled.
Mia gently leaned her shoulder against Souta, who was looking down feeling awkward, and pressed her cheek to his.
The two of them watched the stage like that.
Soon the music stopped, and Nene’s moves on stage stopped too, and after a short pause, tons of applause praised her performance.
Souta clapped too, no exception, and asked Mia next to him.
”Mia, do you ever get on stage?” Souta asked.
”Today, well~, I ain’t on stage duty so no turn for me, but if I was, you would’a cheered?” Mia asked.
Mia was clearly way too close.
Her cheek had pulled away, but she kept the close distance and stared right into Souta’s eyes.
”Of course,” Souta said.
If he leaned in a little, they’d be close enough to kiss.
The reason he’d almost jumped her so many times since coming to this club
was fighting hard to hold back his instincts.
”Right, right~, then next time I’m up there, come cheer for me for sure, a’ight♪” Mia said.
”Huh? When’s that?” Souta asked.
Mia’s pupils, which looked like they could suck you in, turned into vertical slits.
Exactly the shape you’d expect from a snake.
”To·mor·row♡” Mia whispered.
A tongue slipped out from Mia’s closed mouth and licked Souta’s lips.
Just like Iku, the tip was split in two, a unique texture.
Mia’s lips touched Souta’s for just a second while he sat there stunned.
A moment way too short to call a kiss.
”Oh, you just made a face like tomorrow ain’t gonna work. You so honest, but big sis loves that♪” Mia teased.
She kept her distance again, and her smile opened up.
Luckily, the love exchange with Eruna kept his urges from exploding-
you could say that without exaggeration. If he’d been totally fresh, Mia would’ve taken his heart and body for sure.
”But I’ll come again, so I’ll cheer for you then,” Souta promised.
Feeling his crotch get hot, Souta shook his head left and right
to clear his dirty thoughts, and looked at Mia again.
”Ufufu♡” Mia giggled.
Mia’s hand traced the line of Souta’s jaw, and she stood up from the chair she’d been sitting on.
The ones who don’t fall easily burn you up more, and as if to say she’d planted the seed, she gave a fearless smile and glanced around.
”A’ight then, Souta. Sorry for buggin’ you. Call me over again, a’ight♪” Mia said.
Her behavior, likable to the very end, made him nod later when he found out she was in the club’s top 5 most popular.
Trivia:
- Mia’s pupils turning into vertical slits and her split tongue match Iku’s, hinting that snake-like traits are common among certain cast members, not unique to one person.
- Mia says she is off stage duty today but hints she will perform tomorrow with the word “To·mor·row” drawn out, planting a promise that Souta does not yet realize is a trap.
- Nene’s body breaking apart while keeping a human shape suggests she may not be fully human or that her race has a natural shape-shifting ability tied to her water tricks.