The lights hit me in the face.
The music exploded.
And the audience…
The audience lost their minds.
But not for me.
"REIKO-CHAN!!"
"THE QUEEN IS BACK!!"
"REIKO-SAMAAAAA!!"
Was she an artist or a cult leader?
Because honestly I was starting to suspect the latter.
Reiko smiled naturally and waved at the crowd.
The reaction was so over the top that one of the clients nearly fell off his chair.
I, meanwhile, was actively struggling to remember how to breathe.
Then I heard something unexpected.
"Aika-chan!"
I blinked.
"You're back!"
"So glad to see you again!"
"Do your best!"
I turned around, surprised.
There weren't many.
But there were several people cheering for me.
Fans?
The original Aika had fans?
Something strange settled in my chest.
So… the original Aika wasn't doing so badly here after all.
I didn't know if that relieved me or made me sad.
Maybe both.
Reiko moved.
And I forgot how to think.
There are things you never truly understand until you see them in person.
Reiko dancing was one of those things.
In the practice room it had already been impressive.
On stage it was an entirely different dimension.
The audience was breathless.
Literally.
I saw three men in the front row with their mouths hanging open like their brains had melted.
Reiko was born to be a star.
There was no other explanation.
Meanwhile I was trying to remember what she'd taught me.
Posture.
Hips.
Don't look at the floor.
Don't look at the floor.
DON'T LOOK AT THE FLOOR.
I looked at the floor.
Focus.
I breathed.
I need to visualize it…
…
…
More…
With more intensity.
I need to become the character…
Not Ren…
Not Aika…
The person I need to be right now is…
REIKO!
Something clicked.
And I started moving.
PIIING.
[Acting Affinity activating secondary effects.]
[Stage Presence amplifying.]
Of course.
My theater skills working in a strip club.
My life was a masterpiece of the absurd.
But it worked.
Reiko started taking off pieces of her outfit.
I imitated her.
First the skirt.
Then a layer of the corset.
Until we were both in full lingerie under the stage lights.
I tried not to think about that too much.
I failed.
I turned red.
I kept dancing anyway because the alternative was collapsing and that seemed worse.
Reiko moved toward the edge of the stage.
And the audience exploded.
The men in the front row were pushing each other to get closer.
Bills in hand.
Reiko accepted them with a smile and a hip movement that should have been declared a biological weapon.
One tucked them into her stocking garter.
Another into the side of her thong.
A third was digging through his pockets with trembling hands.
"Hey. Aren't those the deed to your house?"
His friend stared in horror.
"My true home… is here."
He said it pointing at the stage with the expression of someone who had just achieved spiritual enlightenment.
Then he turned toward Reiko.
"REIKO-CHAAAAN!!"
And collapsed.
I watched it all from the back of the stage.
With an expression that was probably not very professional.
These people urgently need therapy.
…
I moved toward the edge of the stage too.
Tried to match Reiko's energy.
I smiled.
I moved.
Someone tucked a bill into my garter.
Fine.
Normal.
Professional.
Then someone pulled my thong.
The shudder ran down my spine from top to bottom like an electric shock.
"Kyaaa—!"
I walked forward instinctively to get away.
The heel lost its balance.
The world tilted.
It can't be.
I did ruin it after all.
I'm going to make a fool of myself and ruin Reiko's moment and—
An arm wrapped around my waist.
Firm.
Steady.
It caught me before I hit the floor.
Reiko.
She looked at me for one second.
And then…
I don't know exactly how to describe what happened next.
Reiko turned my stumble into a choreography.
She spun me.
Repositioned me.
And started leading me into something the audience interpreted as a rehearsed routine.
The audience stopped breathing again.
She started sliding her hands over my body and pressing herself too close to me as she moved.
And when she made a move to pull down the straps of my bralette, I gave a small jump.
"Reiko-san, what are you doing?"
I whispered, completely flushed.
She pulled me closer.
Leaned toward my ear.
"Just go with it."
Her voice was low.
Calm.
Too close.
My heart shot to speeds that were probably not healthy.
If I'd still been a man at that moment, something very embarrassing would have happened in front of everyone.
I felt like we were doing something indecent.
And I didn't know if my heart could take it.
"R-Reiko-san…"
"Shh."
I'm not sure I can do this.
But I did.
Because there was no other option.
Because Reiko wouldn't let me fall.
Because somewhere between the panic and the embarrassment…
Something clicked again.
And we became a spectacle.
When the music ended the audience exploded.
Shouts.
Applause.
Some threw money directly onto the stage.
Reiko separated from me like it was nothing and turned to face the crowd.
She gave them a mischievous smile and blew kisses into the air, winking as she said goodbye.
"Thank you for your money."
She made a heart with her hands while leaning forward slightly.
"I hope you bring me more property deeds next time."
She said it laughing shamelessly.
Laughter. More shouts. Another collapse in the front row.
I tried to do something similar.
I smiled.
I waved awkwardly.
"Th-Thanks…"
The group in the back shouted my name again.
That helped more than it should have.
We walked off stage.
I was gasping.
Reiko looked like she'd taken a stroll.
Absurdly unfair.
Backstage I collapsed against the wall.
I was exhausted.
PIIING.
[Mission Complete: Successful Debut.]
[Reward Delivered.]
[Stage Presence Lv2 → Lv3]
[Acting Affinity Lv2 → Lv3]
[New Skill Acquired: Dance Lv1]
[New Skill Acquired: Allure Lv1]
The exhaustion vanished instantly like someone had flipped a switch.
I stared at the system windows.
"Allure?"
[Passive increase in natural magnetism and audience captivation.]
"That sounds dangerous."
[Correct.]
Bibi appeared before I could process anything else.
Still crying.
Again.
"I can't believe it."
"It was a miracle!"
"…"
"I can't BELIEVE it."
"Why are you saying it twice?!"
"I was convinced tonight was going to be the night this club got ruined because of you!"
"Hey—"
I felt strangely offended by that comment.
"I had an ambulance on standby!"
"That's excessive—"
"And a priest!"
"Why do you need a priest?"
"For my sins in letting you go on stage!"
I had no words.
I want to smack this idiot.
And then smack myself for getting upset about it.
Reiko came over.
And before I could react she slipped two fingers into my thong garter.
"W-What are you doing?!"
She pulled out a bill.
"If you leave it there someone else will take it," she said, winking.
"You could have warned me!"
"Where's the fun in that?"
She laughed and handed it over like it was nothing.
I took it with my face completely red.
My heart was still at unregulated speeds.
Reiko looked at me for a second.
"The audience loved you."
"Really?"
"Really. We should repeat that choreography."
"The ending was an accident."
"I know."
She smiled.
"Nobody else does."
Before I could respond, a girl came over and whispered something to Bibi.
Bibi turned to me.
With an enormous smile.
"Aika-chan."
Something in his tone made me nervous.
"What?"
"Someone at a VIP table requested you specifically."
Silence.
"What?"
"Someone asked for you."
"Me?"
"You."
"Are you sure?"
"Completely."
"You didn't mix me up with Reiko?"
"They asked for the silver-haired girl who just danced."
…
…
…
"I can't."
"Yes you can."
"I'm not ready."
"Nobody ever is."
"Reiko-san tell them I can't—"
"You can."
Reiko put a hand on my shoulder.
"They called for you because you were incredible."
She looked at me calmly.
"Just listen to him while he talks his nonsense and serve the drinks."
"And don't let him touch you. If he steps out of line I'll throw him out myself."
"You yourself?"
"With great pleasure."
I couldn't help laughing a little.
I breathed.
"…Alright."
The VIP table was a private booth at the back of the club.
Quieter.
Darker.
A middle-aged man sitting alone.
Wrinkled suit.
Loose tie.
Glass in hand.
Clearly this wasn't his first drink of the night.
Or his fifth.
I approached trying to project something remotely resembling confidence.
"Good evening."
The man didn't look up.
"Sit down."
I sat.
I poured the drinks.
The man talked.
He talked about his boss.
About an impossible client who changed the specs three times.
About how he'd been sleeping badly for four days.
About how his coworker went home at six while he was still there at eleven at night.
I listened.
I poured.
How funny.
Two weeks ago I had the same life as this guy.
And at company drinking sessions, I was the one serving drinks to my idiot boss.
Now I'm here, being an exotic dancer, stuck serving drinks to this other idiot.
Maybe some things never change…
Or just get worse…
I still hadn't recovered from the embarrassment of the stage.
…
The man kept drinking, and suddenly he started staring at me.
So much that it was becoming uncomfortable.
He frowned.
And said:
"You know, I think I know you."
My heart jumped.
"Y-You must be confused."
"This is the first time we've met."
"Is it?"
His tone shifted.
More serious.
Colder.
He picked up his phone.
Then gently grabbed my arm and turned the screen toward me.
I felt my stomach drop.
"Tell me something."
His eyes locked onto mine.
"Isn't this a photo of you?"