Tennis Training
Morning practices: Mon-Sat [regulars only] 6:30-7:50 a.m.
Afternoon practices: Mon, Wed, Fri [regulars, non-regulars, freshmen] 2:50-5:30 p.m.
Dance Studio:
Tues 4-6 p.m.
Violin lesson:
Thurs 4-6 p.m.
Acrobatics & Gymnastics classes: Sat afternoon 2-4 p.m.
*Time skip- after school on a Tues afternoon*
Kunizumi packs her bag and rushes out of Rikkai to catch the train to Osaka. Today is her first dance lesson at BELLE dance studio. The courses that she signs up for are Argentine Tango, Jive and Free-Style.
A year ago in Paris, she represented her school, Institut International de Danse Janine Stanlowa, in a competition organized by the Marais Dance Centre. She has swept the judges off their feet with the Jive on the dance floor and emerged as a finalist. Sad to say, she wasn't able to participate in the dance contest for Argentine Tango since the competition day clashed with the Wimbledon tournament.
As for the reason she chooses Free-Style dancing, well, it's just cool. It involves runs, spins, kicks and leaps as well as many other diverse steps and movements with lots of different arm and hand actions. The music can be either fast and 'beaty' or slow and sensuous, giving her freedom of expression to enhance her dance style. Not only that, it also complements her acrobatics tennis.
After arriving at the dance centre, she changes into a white off-shoulder top, black tights and heels before entering the dance studio.
It's spacious and has a hardwood floor. It has a barre which is fixed to the wall at approximately waist height as a means of support. On one side of the studio, the whole expanse of the wall is transform to a mirror, for dancers to ascertain their body position and alignment. The entire studio is illuminated with warm yellow lighting and has a built in stereo system that is connected to a laptop.
BELLE dance centre is the most prestigious one in Japan, it is costly thus resulting in a small class size so that the instructor can dedicate more time to develop the potential of the dancers.
KUNIZUMI POV
I look around the studio. There are 3 guys and 2 girls, excluding myself, who are stretching and warming up. A male instructor with blond hair and a foreign feature enters the dance studio and says in Japanese with a thick British accent.
"For this term, we would be learning the Jive. There is an upcoming dance contest this June and I am expecting all of you to participate in it. Now I would like you all to pair up, the one whom you pair up with would be your dance partner in the contest."
I shuffle my feet to the nearest guy beside me. He has silver-brown hair that is medium length, and his eyes are a grayish-brown. He also wears elbow-length white bandages over his left arm.
"Excuse me, do you mind being my dance partner?" I ask him.
He looks at me for a moment before giving me a smile of his own. "No I don't mind. Watashi wa Shiraishi Kuranosuke desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu." He holds his right hand out for a handshake.
"Ah. Gomen I forgot to introduce myself. You can call me Izumi. Nice to meet you too, I'll be in your care from now on."
"You can call me Kuranosuke too. Since we're dance partners now." He says.
"Hai, Kurano-kun." I say in a cheerful tone.
Afterwards the instructor demonstrates the movement with his dance partner and repeats for a few times in slow motion before beckoning us to try it out.
Those are beginner moves which I'm very familiar with. I turn to face Kurano-kun and we start to experiment with the arm-jive, turn and return till our movements are in coordination. In no time, we are able execute the moves in a fluid motion.
The next series of moves are basket, sway, exit, return. He pulls me into his right hand side by raising his left arm, then turning me 180 degree anti-clockwise under it.
"You're rather good in this." I comment softly as he moves with grace and poise.
"Thanks, you too. " He whispers back.
"Well, I was in a dance school before so I guess it comes rather naturally, after practicing for years."
"Wow that's cool to know. I've been attending dance classes since I was 6 too. So it comes naturally too. Coincidentally, Jive is my favorite dance style so I tend to practice more." He lets out a soft chuckle.
"Great! I love Jive too! I really wish to participate in the contest in June too. Let's work hard together yeah?"
"Sure." He smiles as we display another series of catapult, spin and return.
The instructor has been scrutinizing our movement from a distance. He comes up to us.
"I take it that both of you are experienced dancers? I can tell that both of you possess a high level of physical flexibility and fitness. Your balance and coordination with each other is excellent too."
"Hai sensei. Arigato gozaimasu for the compliment." We stare into each other's eye before we chorus.
"Well that's great. If both of you can master all the basic movements in 2 months time and execute the movements flawlessly, I would incorporate the more complex dance moves in your dance routine. It will make your performance more outstanding too."
A sense of pride and happiness swell in me as he acknowledges our strengths. My orbs shine in determination. I can tell that Kurano-kun feels the same way too, judging by the way he looks at me with his jaw sets in a firm line and grayish-brown eyes that sparkle with resolve.
With the same target in mind, we become more conscientious in rehearsing the moves. The instructor interjects every now and then to correct our posture but otherwise leaves us to practice on our own. We are in our own world and fully immerse in perfecting our series of twist and turns.
Time flies and for the last 30 minutes, we try to coordinate the dance moves with the music through the sound system. Initially we miss a few beats but after several attempts, we manage to enter and get into the correct rhythm.
By the time the instructor dismisses the class, both of us are covered in a glean of sweat and are slightly out of breath.
The other 2 pairs are complaining of the soreness of their muscles and blaming their dance partners for stepping on their feet. We just shrug it off and walk towards our duffle bags.
"Today is quite productive ne? " I comment as I uncap my water bottle.
"Aahh... Ecstasy~~~ Tashika ni, we do work well together. Let's work hard together next week too, shall we? Izumi-chan~" He gives a bright smile.
"Mochiron da yo! You have been a wonderful dance partner too." I reply enthusiastically. "I guess I'll see you next week then." I added.
"Hai, ja mata."
"Ja." I wave good bye before stepping out of the dance studio and walking towards the station.
OMNISCIENT POV
After a few minutes, a sandy blonde hair guy exits the same dance studio with a smile on his face. 'I'm so lucky to have Izumi-chan as my dance partner. She's attractive and her serious expression is kawaii too. What's more, she's not like other girls. Most girls just blush furiously and stutter when they meet my eye. Whereas she's able hold a decent conversation with me and in a natural way. I can't wait to see her next week.' He muses and smiles unconsciously.
A/N: Please review so that I know what changes to make and whether I should change my writing style. I hope you'll like the development of the story. Thanks for your support.(:
