Chapter 124: The Dance Teacher Comes to Teach at Home

When Hayami Rina heard that Kitahara Chiki had no intention of blaming her for making the decision on her own, the worry that had lingered in her heart immediately disappeared. A bright, delighted smile spread across her face, and her eyes curved into happy crescents.

Kitahara-kun was always so kind to her!

No matter what she did, he was willing to listen to her explanation and understand her intentions. Even when she occasionally acted on impulse or made a decision without thinking everything through, he never rushed to criticize her. Instead, he would consider the situation from her perspective, give her the benefit of the doubt, and offer his support with remarkable generosity.

Such understanding was precious to Hayami Rina.

After everything she had experienced in the past, having someone she could rely on without constantly worrying about being blamed or misunderstood meant more to her than words could express. Kitahara Chiki’s trust made her feel valued and secure, allowing her to face each new day with greater confidence.

The warmth spreading through her heart was accompanied by an increasingly deep affection for him.

She couldn’t help thinking that she had been incredibly fortunate to meet such a wonderful man.

Naturally, she had no objections to his suggestion. In fact, the more she considered it, the more reasonable it seemed.

Regular dance practice would provide her sister with a good opportunity to exercise, improve her stamina, and develop better coordination. The graceful movements would also help Rena become more familiar with controlling her body and moving confidently to music. With consistent practice, she might even discover a new hobby that she genuinely enjoyed.

It sounded like an excellent arrangement.

Unfortunately, not everyone shared Rina’s enthusiasm.

Hayami Rena had been listening to their conversation from the side, and the moment she realized that her older sister was serious about arranging dance lessons, her expression changed.

Her small mouth gradually formed a pout. She lowered her gaze, and the reluctance in her eyes became increasingly obvious.

Exercise?

Dance practice?

And she was expected to do it regularly?

Just thinking about it made her feel tired already.

Rena had always preferred quiet activities. Given the choice, she would much rather spend a peaceful afternoon reading, drawing, or relaxing somewhere comfortable than spend an hour moving around to energetic music. The thought of having to learn complicated steps and repeat them until she got them right was hardly appealing.

She wanted to object, but before she could properly organize her thoughts, Rina had already made up her mind.

“Little Sister, come on! Let’s go upstairs and change into something suitable. The teacher will be here soon.”

Rina approached her with an encouraging smile and reached for her hand.

Rena hesitated, clearly hoping that her sister might reconsider if she looked reluctant enough.

“Big Sister, do we really have to do this? I don’t think I’m particularly suited to dancing…”

“Why wouldn’t you be suited to it?” Rina replied cheerfully. “You haven’t even tried it yet! Besides, the teacher will guide you through everything. You don’t have to learn all the movements immediately. Just follow along, take your time, and have fun with it.”

“But…”

“No buts! Come on, you’ll see how enjoyable it is once you get started.”

Before Rena could come up with another excuse, Rina took her hand and led her toward the stairs.

Her attitude was affectionate but firm, leaving little room for negotiation. She genuinely believed that her younger sister would benefit from the experience, and she wasn’t about to let a little reluctance prevent Rena from trying something new.

Rena could only follow with a resigned expression, her steps noticeably slower than her sister’s.

As the two sisters disappeared upstairs, Kitahara Chiki watched them go with an amused smile.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

He had originally suggested the dance lessons partly because he thought the arrangement would be convenient for everyone. However, he also had his own little reason for being particularly enthusiastic about the idea.

After all, watching the women in his household enjoy themselves while learning something new sounded like a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

And he certainly had no intention of turning down such an opportunity.

Once the sisters were out of sight, Kitahara settled back into his chair. He summoned the system interface with a thought, located the live-stream function, and opened it with a mischievous smile.

The screen flickered into view.

Now, all he had to do was wait for the performance to begin.

…

Downstairs, the spacious living room had been prepared for the lesson.

The furniture had been arranged to leave a broad, unobstructed area in the middle of the room. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating the polished floor and giving the familiar living space a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

A portable speaker had been placed nearby, ready to provide the music.

Three women stood in the cleared area, preparing to begin their practice.

They were Hayami Rina, her younger sister Rena, and the dance instructor who had arrived a short while earlier.

The instructor was a young woman roughly the same age as Rena. She carried herself with the relaxed confidence of someone accustomed to demonstrating dance movements and guiding students through unfamiliar routines. Her figure was athletic and well-proportioned, reflecting the flexibility and coordination that her profession demanded. Her appearance was equally striking, while her composed manner gave her an approachable, professional air.

After making sure everyone was ready, she moved to the front of the room.

“All right, let’s begin with a simple warm-up. Don’t rush yourselves. Pay attention to the rhythm first, and make sure you can move comfortably before attempting anything more complicated.”

Her voice was clear and pleasant, carrying easily across the living room.

She connected her device to the speaker, selected a lively piece of music, and raised one hand to signal the beginning.

A moment later, rhythmic music filled the room.

The instructor began demonstrating the opening movements, shifting her weight from one foot to the other while keeping her posture relaxed. Her arms followed the rhythm in smooth, controlled motions, and her hips moved in time with the percussion.

“Watch the beat carefully. Keep your shoulders relaxed, and don’t force your movements. Let your body follow the music.”

Rina watched attentively, her eyes following every movement. She had already changed into a comfortable, fitted dance outfit that allowed her to move freely. As the music continued, she began copying the instructor’s steps, gradually finding her rhythm.

Rena, standing beside her, was considerably less enthusiastic.

She tried to imitate the movements, but her timing was slightly off. Whenever she concentrated on moving her feet correctly, she forgot what she was supposed to do with her arms. When she finally remembered the arm movements, the rhythm had already changed.

The instructor noticed her difficulty and offered a few gentle corrections.

“That’s fine. Don’t worry about getting everything right immediately. Start with your feet, and add the other movements once you’re comfortable.”

Rena nodded obediently, although her expression suggested that she would have preferred almost any other activity.

The lesson continued.

As the warm-up progressed, the instructor introduced the basic techniques of belly dancing. Rather than relying on large, complicated steps, the dance emphasized control over individual movements, coordination between different parts of the body, and the ability to maintain a steady rhythm.

The women practiced gentle hip shifts, controlled waist movements, and smooth transitions between poses. They also worked on coordinating their arms with their lower-body movements, gradually learning to make each motion flow naturally into the next.

At first, their movements were somewhat uneven.

Rina occasionally moved too quickly, while Rena struggled to keep pace with the music. The instructor patiently demonstrated each technique several times, breaking the more difficult movements into smaller steps so that they could understand the mechanics.

“Good, Rina. That’s much better. Try to keep the movement smooth instead of rushing through it.”

She turned toward Rena next.

“And you, Rena, don’t be so tense. Relax your shoulders. You don’t need to concentrate on every single movement at once. Listen to the music, and let yourself settle into the rhythm.”

Rena took a breath and tried again.

This time, she managed to follow the sequence a little more successfully.

Although she still lacked enthusiasm, she was beginning to understand what the instructor wanted her to do.

Rina, on the other hand, gradually became more absorbed in the lesson. She had initially agreed to dance because she thought it would be beneficial for her sister, but the music and repeated practice were beginning to make the experience enjoyable for her as well.

There was something satisfying about learning to control a movement that had seemed unfamiliar only minutes earlier.

As the lesson advanced, the instructor combined the individual techniques into longer sequences. The tempo grew livelier, and the women had to pay closer attention to the beat to keep their movements coordinated.

Their arms traced graceful patterns through the air, their steps followed the percussion, and their waists moved in controlled rhythms. The transitions between movements became smoother as they gradually grew accustomed to the sequence.

At times, the music slowed into a gentle, flowing rhythm that encouraged softer movements and careful control. At other moments, the percussion became faster and more energetic, challenging them to respond with greater precision.

The instructor continued to lead from the front, occasionally turning around to check their progress.

“Keep going! You’re doing well. Remember, the rhythm is more important than speed. If you lose your place, just find the beat again.”

Rina followed the instructions with growing confidence.

Rena, meanwhile, was discovering that dancing required considerably more effort than she had expected.

She had assumed that she would merely need to imitate a few simple movements. Instead, she found herself concentrating on her feet, arms, posture, and rhythm all at once. Even when she successfully completed one sequence, another followed almost immediately.

Still, with her older sister practicing beside her and the instructor offering constant encouragement, she persevered.

…

Upstairs, Kitahara Chiki was comfortably settled in his chair, watching the live stream displayed on the system interface.

The arrangement had worked out exactly as he had hoped. The living room provided ample space for the lesson, the instructor was doing a good job, and both sisters were participating.

Kitahara leaned back and crossed his feet, occasionally shifting his attention between the system screen and the sounds drifting up from downstairs.

The lively music created a pleasant atmosphere throughout the house.

He had to admit that bringing the lessons home had been a sensible decision. Everyone could practice in a familiar environment, and there was no need to spend time traveling to and from a studio.

More importantly, the arrangement would make it easier for Rina to maintain a regular schedule without disrupting the other responsibilities she had to manage.

As he watched, Kitahara’s expression gradually became more satisfied.

For him, the afternoon was turning out rather nicely.