Chapter 41: The Queen of Ballroom Dancing, Rachel-san

ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 BY GUTEZAGUTEREZ0980

After all, coffee is great.

The place is the usual kitchen break area.

Two people are standing and drinking coffee while looking at the view of the kitchen.

It is a familiar sight, and Oliver, the head chef, teases us wondering how we can be drinking such bitter stuff.

“At the Okusama tea party, what kind of attire should I wear?”

I wasn’t sure, so I asked honestly.

“Elsa-sama’s tea party itself is rare, and I haven’t heard who will be there. Since dance is involved, I think a tuxedo would be appropriate. I think it would be fine if it were tailored by Ginjiro-sama’s friend, Elvis-sama.”

I asked about other things necessary for the tea party, but it seems that there is nothing in particular.

He just asked me to bring the handkerchief with the Mainz family crest that Sophia gave me.

After the blissful time of drinking coffee with Sebastian, I was sent straight to Elvis’ shop.

I was dropped off in front of the store, said goodbye and entered the store.

I told Elvis that I had to attend Elsa’s tea party and that I needed a suit tailored in a hurry, and he said it would be no problem if it was a friend’s request.

I bought a tuxedo and shirt by order.

The shoes didn’t fit me very well, so I will buy them from an online store later.

I wondered how much it would cost since I chose a pretty good fabric, but Sebastian had already paid for it. When did he do that?

“Let’s leave the store for a while so we can consult in detail.”

It was too deliberate and his mother knew it, but she didn’t chide him because I bought the expensive fabric.

Lately, I’ve been forced to go along with Elvis’s slacking off.

Even so, Ginjiro, who has few friends in other worlds, still goes out with Elvis.

When I told him that there would be dancing at the tea party, he said that although Ginjiro is not a good singer, with a good sense of rhythm, it should be fine.

I was worried because I had never danced in Japan before.

I told Elvis that I was worried, and he said, “Just follow me,” and started walking toward the center of town.

“This is Rachel’s dance hall, a social gathering place for adults.”

What he described to me was a large and spacious building with a very luxurious atmosphere.

We opened the heavy-looking door and found ourselves in a dance hall with a large piano and a wooden floor.

“Ara, this is unusual. How are you today?”

Madame in a dress with a straight back asks Elvis.

“It seems that my best friend Ginjiro next to me danced for the first time today. Hearing that story made me want to see Rachel-san.”

“I’m happy even if it’s just a joke. I’m sure this dress has worked its magic on me.”

The madam smiles, older but still beautiful because of it.

The madam urges us to take our seats at a table next to the dance floor.

After a while, she prepared a cup of refreshingly fragrant.

The taste was a blend of minty leaves, a perfect summer tea.

“This is delicious.”

I walked in the heat, so this warm tea with minty leaves in it gives my body a cool feeling.

“I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Rachel. I’ve been redecorating this place since my husband passed away and I’m teaching ballroom dancing. This lovely dress was made especially for me by Elvis.”

This person is nice.

I feel safe and calm just by being with her.

When I introduced myself, Rachel complimented me on my dark eyes and black hair.

I had been told before that I was unusual after coming to another world, but to be told that I looked nice made me happy.

Rachel offered me to dance with her, but since I was a beginner and not very confident, I decided to have Elvis do the dancing.

Rachel and Elvis start dancing with the surrounding guests.

At first glance, Elvis’s open-cut white shirt and Madame’s elegant, glossy purple dress may seem like a mismatch, but when combined with the elegant dance, it feels very erotic.

Perhaps the audience around them were also good dancers, but their dancing, or rather their presence, was on another level.

Ginjiro could not take his eyes off them.

When the performance was over, applause naturally broke out.

Yes, from the audience around them.

Men, women, and people of all ages must have been struck by the two dancers in front of them.

Of course, Ginjiro was one of them.

“Hey, will you dance with me this time?”

“Sure, if it’s okay with you.”

Elvis does his usual cool bow and takes the madam’s hand.

Rachel dances with another male guest.

Ginjiro felt strongly that he wanted to dance like them.

The song ends and they take a short break.

The mint tea that she had just brewed for all of us was served, and in return, I took out cookies and manjuu (steamed buns) from the item box for the tea snack.

“I’ve been asked before, this is Elvis who made this dress.”

As Rachel introduces Elvis, a group of women gather around Elvis and ask him to make a dress for them as well.

I’m looking sideways at Elvis, thinking he’s popular with all age groups, and the signal asking for help is sent, but I ignore it.

“Aren’t these sweets precious?”

It was sudden, Ginjiro was approached by a customer who had come to the dance hall with his wife.

I answered that they were not, but they said they were the best they had ever tasted.

When I talked with them, I learned that they were a couple who owned a lumber business, but had retired because their son had grown up and was able to take charge of the business.

They spent their whole lives working, so when they retired, they had nothing to do.

That is when they found ballroom dancing.

The couple came to the dance hall twice a week.

The couple was happy that they had found a hobby together, and were pleased to have a chance to have tea together like this, in addition to dancing, which was a fulfilling day for a retired person.

“Ginjiro, come here for a minute.”

Leaving Elvis alone, it was indeed tough, and a voice called out to me.

“What’s wrong?”

When I went to Elvis, he told them that these cookies and buns were prepared by Ginjiro, and he asked me to serve more because the madams wanted to enjoy them a little more.

“Rachel-san, may I go boil some water?”

Of course, I got the OK, so Ginjiro prepared tea and sweets for the guests.