Ricky nodded thoughtfully, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spread through him. He had always admired Ni-Ki's effortless charisma, but now he was starting to understand it more deeply. It wasn't just about the moves. It was the way Ni-Ki felt the music, the way he made it his own.
"Well," Ricky said, his voice a little more confident now, "it shows. You really know how to make it look... effortless."
Ni-Ki smiled at that, his eyes sparkling. "You know, I think you've got something too. The way you pick up on details and sync with the group... it's impressive. You might be a little quieter than the others, but you've got your own kind of intensity."
Ricky blinked, surprised by the compliment. He wasn't used to people acknowledging his quieter side, especially not in such a direct way. "I... don't usually get that kind of feedback," he admitted, scratching his chin. "But... I appreciate it. You make me want to push harder, you know?"
The two of them stood there for a moment, the quiet stretching between them. It wasn't awkward, though. It felt easy. Comfortable. They were two dancers who understood each other in a way words couldn't always capture.
Ni-Ki, noticing the quiet but intense connection, stepped closer. "Hey, Ricky... would you want to run through a few of the moves together? You know, just to get the flow right. I think we could really nail it if we worked together."
Ricky's eyes lit up, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'd like that," he said, his voice steady but excited.
Without another word, they both moved to the center of the practice floor. Ni-Ki turned on the music, a familiar track from their joint stage performance, and the beat filled the room. Ricky and Ni-Ki exchanged a glance, and without hesitation, they began to move.
It was different from dancing with anyone else. With Ni-Ki, it felt like they were speaking the same language, their movements perfectly in sync as they followed the rhythm of the music. Ricky followed Ni-Ki's lead for the first few steps, but soon, their roles began to blur. They were feeding off each other's energy, the choreography flowing effortlessly between them.
Ricky was surprised at how easy it was to connect with Ni-Ki in this way. They hadn't even practiced together before, yet the dance felt like it had been rehearsed for months. There was something about the way Ni-Ki led—so fluid, so natural—that made Ricky's own movements feel more confident, more alive.
As the song reached its peak, they both executed a final move—a sharp, synchronized spin that ended in a shared pose. They both stood there, breathless, eyes locked. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade. The room was quiet except for their heavy breathing, and neither of them moved.
"That was... amazing," Ricky said, breaking the silence, his voice full of awe.
Ni-Ki grinned, his usual playful energy returning. "Yeah, I think we've got this."
Ricky laughed, his heart pounding in his chest, but this time, it wasn't from nervousness. It was from the exhilaration of having shared something real, something powerful, with someone who understood the language of dance just as he did.
"Thanks, Ni-Ki," Ricky said, his smile wide and genuine. "I've learned a lot just from dancing with you."
Ni-Ki shrugged, his grin never fading. "Same here. I think this is the beginning of something really good."
As the music faded and they took a break, Ricky couldn't help but feel like something had shifted between them. It wasn't just about the dance anymore. There was a deeper understanding, a connection that neither of them had expected but was undeniable. And as they laughed and joked, it felt like this was just the first of many moments they would share—on stage, off stage, and beyond.
For Ricky and Ni-Ki, this was more than just a practice session. It was the start of something new, something special. And both of them knew, without saying a word, that they'd be there for each other, every step of the way.
