Xue
...What's this all of a sudden?

Ramona
I thought of a plan. Xue, I have a favour to ask...

Xue
Hey now, you're getting all formal...I've got a bad feeling about this.

Ramona
Please! Have a dance battle with Hikari!

Xue
Huh!?

Ramona
Look, you borrowed Libea's CD from Hikari, right? And at the cultural festival when you were suddenly asked to dance, you pulled it off magnificently.

Ramona
So! You challenge her to a battle, and Hikari accepts! ...I can tell you want to do something about Hikari's current situation too.

Xue
Don't talk based on your own assumptions! Why do I have to battle!?

Ramona
Hikari has that kind, gentle personality. There may be a rebellious spirit at her core, but someone needs to light the fire of her fighting spirit.

Ramona
Besides, it won't feel right for you two to stay at odds like this. Don't you want to seriously face off against Hikari once, Xue?

Xue
...

Xue
It's true I'm irritated. I'm telling you now, I'm getting paid for this.

Ramona
Understood.

Xue
Also...if I win against that timid girl, don't complain if she gets even more discouraged, okay?

Ramona
Heh heh, that's the spirit.

Ramona
...Alright.

Ramona
Well then, shall we put on a performance?

Hikari
...

Koyomi
Ramona-san and the others said they were going to buy dessert, but where on earth did they go...

Lilja
Can I eat the picnic lunch?

Koyomi
Hikari-san, please don't worry too much about it. As a member of Gingaza, the most important thing is to devote yourself to training as an actor.

Koyomi
Management said they'd leave it up to you whether to accept or not, right? If so, passing on it this time is also an answer.

Hikari
Yeah...thanks, Koyomi-san.

Lilja
Oh, they're back.

Ramona
Sorry for being late. I was going to buy ice cream, but I couldn't find it...

Hikari
An ice cream shop? I saw one earlier though...

Ramona
I-Is that so?

Ramona
Then let's all go later. Ha ha ha...

Xue
...Continuing from earlier.

Hikari
Huh?

Xue
-I'm disappointed in you. Even though you got a chance, you keep moping about it forever. It's irritating to watch.

Hikari
...!

Koyomi
Wait, Xue-san...!?

Xue
Also, you said to me "you don't understand because you don't like it". But I listened to the CD I borrowed, and I thought it was good.

Xue
I danced with everything I had at the cultural festival too. I came to like the things you like just as much.

Xue
And yet, you keep being spineless.

Lilja
...

Koyomi
Xue-san, that's going a bit too far-

Ramona
Koyomi.

Koyomi
Ramona-san?

Hikari
X-Xue, why are you saying that?

Xue
...I'm going to talk to PR now and get them to let me take the offer instead.

Ramona
Can you do that?

Xue
Hmph, I won't know unless I try, but that's my intention.

Xue
If you don't like that-Hikari, battle me!

Hikari
What!?

Lilja
A battle? Sounds fun.

Ramona
Then I'll explain the rules. We'll choose songs from the Libea album you both listen to. There are no restrictions on dance choreography, it's improvised.

Ramona
The winner will be decided by evaluation from us audience members and the people in the park. Whoever attracts more people and receives more cheers and applause wins.

Koyomi
What is this development...involving the public in a match seems a bit barbaric...

Lilja
It's very street-like. I think this is good.

Hikari
...Why is this happening?

Xue
I'll go first. Well, I don't know if this girl who was hesitating earlier can even dance properly though.

Hikari
...

Xue
Let's begin. Count us in.

Ramona
Right.

Xue
(-That Germany looks so pleased. In reality, I was reluctant about the cultural festival dance too...)

Xue
(I have no experience with improv dancing, but...I'm the one who agreed to this. Now that I've said it, I have to do it.)

Xue
(I'll just think about the opening flow. Remember the song. Right, the intro goes like-)

Koyomi
...!

Ramona
Oh. It's rough around the edges, but that's very Xue-like.

Xue
(Good, looks like I've got their attention. Well, some of the choreography Hikari was dancing before is mixed in...)

Passerby A
What's that...?

Passerby B
A performance?

Xue
(I'm catching the public's eye too. Lucky, the chorus is coming up soon, so I'll show some big movements-)

Hikari
...

Hikari
(Amazing. Even though she hasn't been practicing, she can do this much...the choreography I danced before is mixed in too. She was watching properly.)

Hikari
...Xue.

Xue
Haah, haah...

Lilja
That was amazing, Xue.

Ramona
You're really something! When did you get so good at dancing?

Koyomi
I was surprised too. You really can do anything competently...

Xue
Hmph, don't underestimate my potential...

Lilja
Next is Hikari's turn.

Hikari
Y-Yeah.

Xue
As I declared, I gave it everything I had.

Xue
...Are you going to be okay with such a timid face?

Xue
Hip-hop is about freedom, right? Where's the freedom in your attitude? So spineless.

Hikari
-!

Edit

Pub: 08 Dec 2025 19:40 UTC

Edit: 10 Dec 2025 10:53 UTC

Views: 5