Chapter 6: A Body That Doesn’t Hesitate

The Dream of a Dancer

Renji never liked looking at old pictures, but sometimes, his mother would force him to.

She pulled out a dusty album after dinner, flipping through pages of childhood memories.

"Look at this one!" she said, pointing to a photo of six-year-old Renji in a small white suit, mid-spin on a stage. "You used to love dancing."

Renji forced a smile, but deep down, he felt something uncomfortable in his chest.

Because it was true.

He used to dance.

At school performances. At weddings. At family events.

Back then, moving felt natural—not forced, not awkward. He could copy moves effortlessly, twirling and stepping to the rhythm without a second thought.

But somewhere along the way, he lost it.

Now, if he tried, his body felt rigid, stiff, unnatural. He could see the moves in his mind, but when he tried to execute them, they looked lifeless.

So, like many other things, he gave up.

"You never lost it," Shin's voice murmured.

Renji tensed.

"Your body still remembers. Your mind just refuses to let it happen."

His grip on the album tightened.

---

The Fluidity That Wasn't His

The next day, Renji's body felt light.

Too light.

Like his limbs were moving smoother than they should.

It started with small things—how he stepped over puddles, how he moved through crowded hallways without bumping into anyone.

Then, during lunch, it happened.

Shun had brought a Bluetooth speaker, blasting music in the classroom while others chatted and ate.

"Damn, this song's good," one of the girls said, moving slightly to the beat. "I wish we had someone in class who could actually dance."

"Renji used to dance, right?" Kazuya said casually, biting into his bread.

Renji froze.

All eyes turned to him.

"That was a long time ago," he muttered.

Shun smirked. "Come on, try it. Let's see if you still got it."

Renji was about to decline. He always declined.

But before he could speak—

His body moved.

He stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. His feet slid into position, his weight shifting perfectly.

Then—

He danced.

And it wasn't stiff. It wasn't awkward.

It was effortless. Perfectly timed.

Like a movie hero, like a star performer.

He wasn't just moving—he was commanding the space around him.

When the song ended, silence filled the room.

The entire class stared.

Then—

Applause.

Someone whistled. "Damn, that was insane!"

"Renji, where the hell were you hiding that?" Shun asked, grinning.

Renji had no answer.

Because that wasn't him.

"See?" Shin whispered. "You never lost it. You were just scared to try."

Renji's hands felt cold.

He hadn't danced.

Shin had.

---

A Past That Haunts Him

That night, Renji stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

His knuckles were still bruised from the fight a few days ago.

His body moved differently now.

Not just in dance. In walking, in stretching, in how he instinctively dodged things before they even got close to hitting him.

Even in how he spoke.

Like something inside him had woken up.

Like the old version of himself—the one who used to dance, who used to fight, who used to be open—was trying to take back control.

But was that really him?

Or was it Shin?

"Why are you so afraid?" Shin's voice was almost amused. "I'm making you better. Stronger. More confident. Don't you like it?"

Renji clenched his fists.

"I don't need you."

"Oh? Then stop me."

Renji's breath hitched.

Because deep down—

He didn't know if he could.

---

The Girl He Never Had the Courage to Approach

Two days later, Renji found himself in an unfamiliar situation.

He was talking to a girl.

No—not just talking. Flirting.

She was a student from another class, someone he had noticed before but never had the guts to approach.

Now, they were casually chatting in the hallway.

And he wasn't the one talking.

His voice was smooth, controlled. His words were perfectly placed, his body language effortless.

The girl was laughing, smiling—completely engaged.

Renji wasn't even thinking about what to say. The words just came out.

"You're welcome," Shin whispered in his mind.

Renji stiffened.

The girl tilted her head. "Something wrong?"

He forced a smile. "No, just spaced out for a second."

She smiled back. "You're interesting, Renji. We should talk more."

She walked away.

Renji stood there.

He had done nothing.

Shin had done everything.

And the worst part?

He liked it.

---

End of Chapter 6