Shohno: What a Feeling
Sho walked down the hall of the rehearsal studio, feeling the pulse of a bass line reverberate through the floor boards. The strain of an electronic 80’s melody got progressively louder the closer he got to Arashi’s designated dance studio. He couldn’t deny the music’s catchiness and felt as though he’d heard it somewhere before. As he turned down the hallway where their studio was located, he heard a series of muffled “woos” in a familiar female voice over the underlying signature melody. He felt the name of the song and artist tickling the back of his brain, but he just couldn’t place it.
Sho looked through the small square window in the door and saw one rather sweaty Ohno Satoshi. He turned the handle and pushed the door open quietly to watch the older member steal glimpses of himself in the mirror has he nailed a complex set of improvised choreography as the hook poured through the stereo system. “What a… what a… what a… What a feeling.”
Sho leaned against the door frame, continuing to watch Ohno as he worked his way through isolations, freezes, and intricate footwork that he was known for. Rather than the serious look of concentration that replaced his usual daze when at dance practice, Ohno’s face showed nothing but the rapture of dance. During the bridge of poorly pronounced, random English words, Sho finally placed the song.
“Satoshi, are you dancing to Amuro Namie?” he yelled over pounding synthesizer. Ohno spun around on his heel as he heard Sho’s voice, jumping slightly but working it flawlessly into his dance. He caught Sho’s gaze and without a word, transitioned into Amuro’s choreography with a goofy smile on his face. Ohno hit every hair toss sharper, spun tighter on the balls of his well-worn Adidas stripes, threw his arms harder than Amuro ever did or would; it looked like a completely different dance. Ohno seemed to float across the floor as the song came to an end, strutting cat-like towards Sho, rolling his hips in time with the music. Sho was mesmerized.
Ohno stopped toe-to-toe with Sho and looked up into the younger man’s face. “Yeah, I am. What of it?” He jutted his chin out, attempting to play tough. Sho merely blinked and Ohno dissolved into giggles. Sho cracked a smile too.
“I saw the video on TV and the song just got stuck in my head. It’s viral or something. I had to come and work it out of my system.”
“Viral is one way of putting it.”
“It’s good to dance to though, makes you work up a nice sweat.” Ohno leaned forward and attempted to wipe his damp head on the front of Sho’s t-shirt. He managed a two-second nuzzle before being punched in the shoulder.
“That’s nasty! You’re soaked!”
“Just the way you like it.” Ohno leaped on Sho, wrapping his arms around Sho’s neck, pressing their bodies together from neck to knee, maximizing sweat transfer. Sho writhed and twisted, trying to free himself from Ohno’s grip, only managing to wrestle the shorter man to the sprung floor.
“I only like it when I’m sweatier than you are. And after lots of physical exertion.” They remained lying on the wood floor, slightly out of breath, in a tangle of limbs as the track began to play again. “How long did it take you to learn the choreography?” Sho asked, trying not to sound too interested.
“About an hour.”
“You look much better doing it than she does.”
“Except for the mini-skirt and stilettos. I tried.”