Episode 44: A Place I Love
I moved my body along with the music. I’ve practiced so many times that my hands and feet move before I even have to think about it.
Customers in their seats film with their phones and cameras while waving glow sticks to cheer us on.
Pink light — that means they’re cheering for me, right?
My eyes find Maria’s right away, front and center. But it’s not just Maria.
All across the shop, customers are waving pink glow sticks, and wherever I look, I catch someone’s eyes.
Every single one of these people is rooting for me.
Deciding to hold this event was originally just about earning tuition money.
But somewhere along the way, working hard toward it, it stopped being only that.
I want this event to succeed for my beloved Sweet Stella coworkers, and for the customers I’ve come to love too.
That feeling had grown stronger and stronger, far beyond the original reason.
The first song ends, and Sora-san and I step down from the stage. Möbius-san and Miyuki-san’s unit song is a much more intense dance number, and the whole atmosphere shifts completely from a moment ago.
Amazing. There’s no way I could dance like that.
Even the customers who came for me have their eyes locked completely on the two of them now. It’s a strange feeling — proud, but just a little bit lonely too.
Once their song ends, it’ll be my and Sora-san’s turn, just the two of us. A simple, mostly easy routine, built entirely around being as charming and cute as possible.
“Let’s go, Ruri.”
Sora-san took my hand and led me onto the stage.
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Wh-what do I do, wh-what’s the next move again…!?
I thought my body would just move on its own without me having to think — but suddenly, my mind went completely blank.
Maybe I got so focused on smiling and giving the crowd good fan-service that the basic choreography just slipped out of my head entirely.
Should I just ditch the actual dance and improvise something cute instead!? But what if that throws off the timing with Sora-san and it turns into a mess!?
While I was spiraling, the song kept playing, and we hit exactly the part where I’d lost the choreography. Right as my mind went completely blank, Sora-san yanked my arm toward her.
Then she kissed my cheek.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Screams and cheers erupted at the exact same moment.
Our eyes met, and Sora-san winked at me.
Sora-san… noticed I’d lost the choreography, didn’t she?
Which means that cheek kiss was definitely her saving me, playing it off as “yuri act” service.
Thank you, Sora-san…!!
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Once the dance ended, the customers gave us a huge round of applause.
The performance wasn’t perfect, maybe, but I’m happy everyone had a good time.
…At the very start, all I wanted was the thrill of being fawned over.
But somewhere along the way, everyone else having fun, everyone else being happy — that started making me happy too.
I came to love the customers who love me, and that’s exactly why seeing the people I love enjoying themselves makes me happy in return.
“U-um, excuse me!”
Before I even realized it, I’d opened my mouth. Everyone looked startled at me suddenly speaking up.
“Th-the event’s still going, so… I’d be really, really happy if everyone keeps having a great time!”
Not just the customers who root for me specifically — everyone here.
I want everyone to enjoy Sweet Stella, the place I’ve come to love so much, and to fall even more in love with it themselves.
My eyes drifted down, and met Maria’s, sitting right up front.
I smiled at her, as wide as I could.
That alone, I’m sure, was enough to carry everything I was feeling straight to her.