I came back from the dressing room dying of embarrassment.
Did the original Aika wear this like it was nothing?
Maybe she was stronger than she looked.
I stood in front of the mirror for several seconds, staring at the outfit they'd given me.
Black corset.
Short tulle skirt.
Dark stockings held up by garters.
Underneath it all I was wearing scandalous lingerie.
It took everything I had to put it on without passing out — I'd brought the pieces I found at home just in case, but they gave me a new set.
Though I wasn't sure which was worse. That, or the heels.
Infernal heels.
"How the hell did she walk in these…?"
The girl in the reflection looked like she'd stepped out of a magazine.
I looked like a victim.
A very attractive victim.
But a victim nonetheless.
Heat crept into my cheeks.
And then I remembered something.
What a great day to have dignity.
What a terrible day to keep it.
"Done admiring yourself?"
I looked up.
Reiko was sitting in a chair watching me.
"I wasn't admiring myself."
"Of course."
"I was questioning my life choices."
"That makes more sense," she said, laughing.
I looked down at the outfit.
"Do I really have to wear this?"
Reiko raised an eyebrow.
"Obviously. Where do you think you are? Disneyland?"
"..."
I went quiet.
"Touché."
Reiko stood up.
"Alright. Show me the choreography."
And then a small problem occurred.
I didn't move.
Not one centimeter.
"..."
"..."
Reiko watched me.
"What's wrong?"
I panicked.
Because right.
I'd forgotten one detail.
I didn't know how to dance.
Not even a little.
Not remotely.
In my past life I was a log.
A social log.
An athletic log.
And definitely a dancing log.
Maybe if I'd taken some dance classes my social life wouldn't have been so miserable.
Maybe.
Probably not.
I was still me.
"Aika."
I snapped back.
"Yes?"
"Are you okay? You've been staring at the wall for thirty seconds."
"I was thinking."
"That worries me."
I sighed.
"I'm going to do it."
I took a step.
The heel slipped.
I lost my balance.
And fell forward.
"Huh?"
Reiko barely had time to react before I crashed face-first into her chest.
"Wah!"
She grabbed me by the shoulders.
I froze.
She stared at me.
I stared at her.
"..."
"..."
Awkward moment. I composed myself quickly.
"Th-Thank you. If you weren't so soft I would've really hurt myself."
I laughed nervously.
"I'll take that as a compliment. That's strange though — last time you could at least walk in heels," she said, bringing a hand to her chin.
I bristled a little at that.
"I-It's because I never wear them outside of work."
I tried to play it off, but my nerves made me look suspicious.
I wanted to disappear.
Reiko let out a long sigh.
"Never mind. I think it'll be better if you see it done."
She moved to the center of the room.
"I'll give you a demonstration."
"Huh?"
"If I wait for you to remember anything on your own, we'll be here until tomorrow."
I couldn't argue.
Because she was right.
Reiko positioned herself in front of the pole.
And the first thing I noticed was how her short skirt barely shifted with her breathing, revealing a strip of black stockings that made my heart speed up for no reason.
Then she pointed at me.
"Watch carefully."
And she began.
At first I thought she was just going to show me some steps.
But no.
It was like watching someone transform completely.
Her posture changed.
Her gaze took on a playful, mischievous brightness.
Her expression was… provocative. Almost teasing.
Everything looked natural.
Confident.
Elegant.
The movements flowed without effort.
The spins showed the curve of her hips.
And when she arched her back her chest swayed slightly.
It was hypnotic.
I understood immediately why she was the star of this place.
I feel like I've seen something like this somewhere before…
When she finished, I realized I'd been completely entranced.
And without thinking…
I started clapping.
"..."
Reiko looked at me.
"Why are you clapping?"
"I don't know."
"..."
"It was incredible."
"Thank you."
She pointed to the center of the room.
"Now you do it."
"Ah."
Right.
My turn to die.
I stepped forward.
Tried to imitate her.
And it was horrible.
My first step went wrong.
My second too.
The third was worse.
The heels seemed specifically designed to humiliate me.
"How is this possible…?" Reiko murmured.
"What?"
"You're worse than before," she said, barely hiding a look of pity.
"Hey!"
"S-Sorry," she laughed. "Don't feel bad. Some girls just need a little more practice," she said, pressing her hands together.
I tried to continue.
I spun.
Almost fell.
Recovered.
Lost my balance again.
Recovered again.
I looked like a newborn giraffe learning to walk.
I wanted the earth to swallow me whole.
Or a meteor to hit the building.
Either option was acceptable.
Then I breathed deeply.
And thought about Reiko again.
Her movements.
Her expression.
The confidence she projected.
Of course. Now I know where I've seen that before…
Reiko looked exactly like Yuuna when she rehearsed alone in the auditorium.
The same concentration.
The same dedication.
The same feeling of watching someone who truly mastered what they did.
A small pang settled in my chest.
Reiko was the kind of girl who could become an idol, an actress, anything she wanted.
So what was she doing here? I didn't know.
And something told me it wasn't my place to ask.
But whatever the reason… she had decided to give this everything she had.
And it showed.
That's when I remembered that phrase again.
"If you're not going to take this seriously, then leave."
I let out a small laugh.
Is that line going to follow me for the rest of my life?
Probably yes.
Give me a break, Yuuna… can that even apply here?
If it weren't for the yakuza…
I would've already left.
But I was here.
So at least I could try.
I started over.
This time watching.
Analyzing.
Imitating.
As if I were playing a character.
As if Reiko were a role.
And I had to understand it.
Then something clicked.
My body started moving better.
More natural.
More fluid.
Not perfect.
Not even close.
But better.
Much better.
Something felt familiar.
Little by little I stopped fighting the movement.
And started following it.
When I finished, I was breathing slightly hard.
I looked at Reiko.
Waiting for my death sentence.
She stayed quiet for several seconds.
Then crossed her arms.
"I was worried."
"That sounds bad."
"But it was much better than I expected," she said cheerfully.
I blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
The excitement hit me immediately.
"I did it!"
"Don't get carried away."
My happiness lasted approximately three seconds.
"Your movements are still awkward."
"..."
"And the spins need work."
"..."
"And your transitions are clumsy."
"..."
"And you're still fighting the heels."
My smile disappeared.
"So it was horrible?"
"N-No, not at all. You just need more practice if you want to surpass me," she said with a confident smile.
"I never said I wanted to do that…"
"Dreaming big is important, no matter where you are. And since you're here, I hope your goal is to become better than me," she said with a warm smile.
For a moment I felt like a divine light was shining down on her.
I'd probably gotten dehydrated from dancing and was already hallucinating.
"That was good advice… thank you. Maybe I'll take you up on that if you're not careful."
I laughed a little and smiled back.
I took a step.
The heel betrayed me again.
I stumbled.
"Whoa!"
And there I was again, face buried in her chest.
"Hey… are you doing that on purpose?"
I turned red as a tomato and shot back up.
"N-No, I-I'm sorry, it was an accident, I swear!"
Reiko burst out laughing.
"What a shame. If you'd said yes I might have let you do it again," she said, winking at me.
I felt like I was going to combust from all the embarrassment I'd accumulated today.
I picked up and put back on the clothes I'd taken off during practice.
Meanwhile Reiko watched.
When we were ready, we headed out toward the backstage area.
And there was the manager.
The man spun around the moment he saw us.
"Reiko-chan!"
He ran toward her dramatically.
"Tell me everything! How did this girl do?!"
Reiko barely had time to react before she was caught in a hug.
"Bibi…"
"Will we survive tonight?"
"Bibi."
"Should I prepare an ambulance?"
"Bibi."
"A priest?"
"Bibi."
"A lawyer?"
"..."
"She did fine."
Bibi went completely still.
"Fine?"
"Yes."
"Fine fine?"
"Pretty fine. Really."
The manager let out a shriek of joy.
I watched the scene with an increasingly bewildered expression.
"Bibi."
[Nickname for Bibio Binzaki.]
"Of course."
[Confirmed.]
"Modern yakuza are so weird."
Reiko managed to free herself.
"It wasn't that big a deal."
"Of course it was! I'm raising artists!"
"You're not raising anything."
"Details."
Then Bibi clapped his hands.
"Well."
His smile went enormous.
"It's your turn."
I felt my heart stop.
"Now?"
"Now."
"Already?"
"Already."
"This soon?"
I'd practiced but I didn't feel remotely ready.
My legs started shaking slightly. The color was draining from my face.
What if I mess it up?
I'm scared…
"Aika-chan."
Reiko took my hand.
"Easy. I'll go out with you."
"Huh? With me?"
"Of course. It'd be a problem if you bombed it going out alone. Just let yourself go and don't overthink it. If anything happens, Reiko-senpai will take care of it," she said with a smile.
If you say it with that much confidence I think I feel better…
"Come on. The stage doesn't wait."
I swallowed.
And followed Reiko.
The lights appeared in front of us.
The music started.
And then I heard the audience.
The reaction was immediate.
Shouts.
Applause.
Cheering.
And suddenly the system's floating screen appeared.
[NEW MISSION AVAILABLE: SUCCESSFULLY DEBUT AS A STRIPPER]
Oh shit, here we go again…