[Warning 15+]
Chapter 4The Actual Cultural Festival Event
'Okay—the 44th Akagawa Academy Private Middle School Cultural Festival! Let's get started!'
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
As the Student Council President delivered the opening remarks, firecrackers went off and confetti rained down from all directions.
Immediately afterward, the students' cheers shook the Gymnasium.
D-Day for the Cultural Festival—.
Amid the peak of the festivities, I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
…This past week has truly been a turbulent time.
Although the ordering issue was finally resolved, this time the sewing machine broke down, delaying the costume work, and on top of that, a dispute arose over the classroom layout, causing problems to pop up out of nowhere. As for the Theater Department, it wasn't until yesterday's dress rehearsal that we managed to run through the entire play from start to finish.
It was a close call—we were truly on the brink—but we finally made it to today.
To be honest, everyone is exhausted leading up to the performance, and I've been so stressed that I've even been giving instructions in my dreams, so we decided to postpone the Celebration Party for now. I'm sure that once this is all over, I'll feel like a zombie for a while.
As I was daydreaming about things like that amid the crowd, my gaze fell on Zomu-kun, who was joking around with our male classmates. Not far from there, I also saw Mi-chan having a discussion with members of the Costume Team.
…And then, over there in the back.
There was also Ōmori-kun, standing alone with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
─Lately, aside from working together on the Cultural Festival, I haven't been talking to the other group members.
It's true that I've been busy, but the main reason is that I want to keep my distance as much as possible.
…If the feeling I had after school that day was wrong, that's okay.
But if it turns out to be true, all that lies ahead is a bleak future where no one can smile.
I really need to figure out how to deal with this, but right now I don't have the time to think about it. In a situation like that, I didn't know how to act around everyone, so in the end, I chose to avoid them.
After all, we can't drag the whole class into our problems. If a major problem were to arise, all the effort we've put in so far could go to waste.
Right now, the success of the Cultural Festival is the most important thing, so we've had to put our own issues on hold.
Besides—it's okay. Ōmori-kun definitely won't do anything reckless at this Cultural Festival.
Ōmori-kun isn't the type to get carried away by a lively atmosphere, and he surely knows there's no point in acting recklessly.
Um…
Not only will he gain nothing, but Ōmori-kun definitely won't make a choice that would only cause him to lose something.
'—Okay, every classes and grades, please begin your preparations. Starting with the first-years, please head to the exit—.'
As I listened to the announcements coming over the loudspeaker, I slapped both my cheeks hard.
◆
The Cultural Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. During that time, the booths are open until 2 p.m., while the remaining three hours are filled with stage performances attended by all the students in the Gymnasium.
Our event is essentially not open to the public, so the audience consists only of students from other classes and grades.
These students also each have performances from their own classes or club groups, so they manage their free time well to visit other classes. That's why issues like large crowds at the booths during lunchtime—when people gather all at once—are systematically unlikely to occur.
…Yeah.
This shouldn't have happened so easily.
"Huh, not enough fresh cream!? Isn't there any in the fridge!?" "It's all gone, I told you!" "Besides, there's not nearly enough meringue either!" "The extra equipment still hasn’t arrived, has it!" "Ugh, d*mn it! The batter isn't rising at all!" "Forget that—how far along are the orders!? How much of it is done!?" "Why did the orders suddenly increase so much!?" "Besides, it's so hot—is the AC broken or something!"
—With success far exceeding expectations, the second kitchen for Class 3-A's maid café became extremely busy.
It seems that our effort to set ourselves apart from the other classes by focusing more on food and drinks has actually backfired.
Just like how I'm struggling to handle the orders, the food that needs to be cooked is indeed difficult to manage. Since the whole class is reluctant to do it and prefers to serve ready-made products, it seems this situation means people can only come to our place if they want to enjoy decent food.
It's 11 a.m. right now. If things stay like this until noon, the system will definitely crash when the number of visitors increases even slightly.
"Zomu-kun and the others are setting up extra equipment, so hang in there a little longer! Use the hot plates together to save time! Boys who aren't busy right now, focus on making whipped cream and meringue! Don't rush when baking the pancakes because they might not turn out right, so stay calm! For now, prioritize serving drinks first!"
Meanwhile, I myself, still wearing my waitress uniform, kept giving instructions nonstop.
We were supposed to be rehearsing for the play at this hour. But due to a shortage of staff, the entire class is working full-time to keep this shop running.
"Mei, sorry! RINE came from the classroom to help out!"
Then, Mi-chan—who was in charge of helping me put on my uniform and acting as a liaison—peeked out from inside and called out.
"Okay, okay! I'm heading out now!"
As soon as I replied, I ran out of the kitchen.
In the un-air-conditioned hallway, the hot air felt stifling, and sweat trickled down my cheeks.
Just like someone said earlier, it really is so hot today… …Maybe I feel that way because I'm wearing a maid uniform.
As I wiped the sweat from my hands and reached the upper floor where the classrooms were located, a long line immediately caught my attention. It was clear that the line was from Classroom 3-A, so they must all be our guests.
Wow, this really is way over capacity… …the line even stretches all the way to the end of the hallway.
Looking inside, the classroom sounded pretty rowdy, too.
With a bad feeling, I greeted Mattsun, who was organizing the line at the entrance.
"I'm here! What's going on?"
In response to my call, Mattsun turned around, fluttering the skirt of her maid uniform.
"M-Mei…!"
Mattsun's face looked so pale that I was startled and asked again.
"Wh-What's wrong!? Is there a problem!?"
"I can't hold it in anymore! We have to do something right away…!"
My arm was yanked hard, and I was immediately dragged toward the entrance.
As I peeked into the classroom from between the people in line—.
"Hey, we've been waiting 20 minutes!" "S-Sorry!" "Hurry up, I want to be next!" "Please wait just a little longer!" "Besides, you guys don't look like maids at all!" "This is a scam, a scam!" "Give us better service!" "Give me my money back!" "Call the Manager!"
The room was buzzing with complaints flying everywhere and everyone constantly apologizing.
"Oh, M-Mei!"
Then, the girl in charge of that floor—Fujimi Rio-chan—ran over to us.
"I don't know what to do… ...the situation's been completely out of control for a while now…"
When I looked, tears were welling up in Fujimi-chan's eyes.
Fujimi-chan is the leader of the largest girls' group in Class 3-A, as well as the inventor of the maid café idea.
Fujimi-chan's Group's unity is indeed very strong, and in group battles like this, they always support the class with incredible teamwork. That's why I thought we'd be able to get through this one too… …but it seems this chaos has gone beyond their ability to handle it.
"Don't worry, no need to panic! But why did it suddenly turn out like this...?"
At least when I arrived earlier, the situation wasn't this bad. It was crowded, sure, but it should still have been manageable—huh?
"Could it be that you guys added more seats!?"
It turned out there were some extra seats—just a row of tables. Of course, people were sitting there, and the classroom was packed with customers waiting for their orders.
"I-It's because the line was too long to handle..."
Oh, I see…! So that's why orders suddenly spiked!
Maybe they added more seats based on an on-site assessment, but increasing the number of seats without careful consideration is indeed the wrong move.
There are limits to our capacity to provide service, and most importantly, it's clear that we can't handle all the orders, so to avoid unnecessary chaos, I deliberately didn't give instructions to add more seats.
However, my mistake was not explaining that reason clearly. Because I was so busy, I hadn't had time to think about it…!
"What's the status of the orders now!?" "Besides, the order is all messed up!" "Who!? Why aren't they following the rules!" "Even if you say that…" "I can't take this anymore…!" "Enough already, this is impossible!"
Everyone in the food stall was in a complete panic, and they couldn't even deliver the rehearsed responses properly.
In fact, the moment they started complaining so openly like that, the store's image was already beyond repair.
"What do we do, what do we do…!"
Even Fujimi-chan lost her usual leadership skills and was left completely at a loss.
I thought for a moment—.
"What do we do, what do we do…!"
Fujimi-chan had lost her usual leadership skills and was just at a loss.
I thought for a moment—.
"─Okay. I'll buy us some time."
I decided that was the only way.
"Huh…?"
As I retied my belt, I gave instructions to Fujimi-chan, who was staring at me with a confused look.
"The main cause of this chaos is the delay in the cooking process. But right now, we're already operating at full capacity, so there's no way we can speed up service. Until the additional production system is ready, we have to find a way to manage this situation."
"Huh? Huh?"
"Fujimi-chan, gather everyone and organize the orders. Sort them by priority, starting with the drinks that can be served the fastest, then pass them on to the kitchen. Here, just leave the kids in charge of managing the line and the cash register, okay?"
"W-Wait a minute, Mei!"
Fujimi-chan exclaimed in a tone that betrayed her utter confusion.
"Wh-What do you mean by 'Stalling for time'...?"
As if to strengthen my resolve, I tied the strings of my maid uniform tightly—.
"—I'm going to get through this by following the maid café's rules."
◆
"Welcome back~♥ Gentlemen, ladies♥”
That's it.
In a coy voice that sounded as if I were saying it for the very first time in my life, I stood tall in the middle of the classroom.
The classroom suddenly fell silent, and all eyes were on me.
Okay….
Without hesitation, I lifted both hems of my skirt, then, with a big smile, I bent over slightly, balancing on my tiptoes.
"Today~♥ Thank you for visiting the Class 3-A Maid Café♥"
Then, with a 'Pacchin♥' sound, I gave the most seductive wink ever.
Seeing that follow-up move, the customers cheered.
"Whoa, whoa…?" "Eh, wait, could that be Kiyosato…?" "That's Mei-chan…! So Mei-chan really did become a maid!" "Whoa, the star of the show has finally shown up here!"
Ahaha, just as planned, just as planned….
Eh, yeah, come to think of it, this is actually pretty embarrassing.
As I tried my hardest to cool down my flushed cheeks, I continued.
"Now~, Mei-chan is going to start the 'Moe-Moe♥ Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament' with all of you~♥"
"Whoa!" Shouts echoed through the room.
"For those who make it to the end~♥, I'll give you a special handmade caramel filled with love from Mei-chan~♥ and a cute photo of the two of us as a prize, meow♥"
As I said that, I formed my hands into cat paws, lifted my right leg slightly, and let my skirt flutter in the breeze—I struck the perfect pose.
─.
Wow!
"S-Suko! Suko-ko-ko-ko!" "Huh? Is the damage output too high here??" "Th-There she is, the number one pretty maid in school…!" "Marry me, please!" "I mean, her skirt is way too short!" "What an amazing carpet attack!" "Can I touch it!? I can touch it, right!?"
"Ahaha~♥ Don't touch it at all, okay♥"
And the video! Don't record the video! I'm begging you, please!
While screaming inside my head, I went about my duties.
"Okay, then, Gentlemen and Ladies who want to join in, raise your hands~♥"
"""""""""Me!"""""""""
Ahaha, ahaha.
Huh….
…The job of people in this field must be really tough, huh….
◆
─That's it.
After successfully calming the chaos and seeing the situation improve to the point where the line started to shorten, I left the classroom.
In the locker room, I changed back into my uniform, and then, with my mind completely blank, I slumped wearily onto a bench.
"Eh… ...well, thanks for all your hard work."
From Mi-chan, who looked incredibly awkward, I received a thank-you and a sports drink.
The reason I felt awkward was that I'd just happened to be caught saying "Hope you enjoy it~♥" with all my heart and soul. It really stung.
"Well… …if this is the price I have to pay to get through this, it's a small price to pay. Besides, if I just gave orders like a know-it-all, I wouldn't be fit to be the Team Leader."
"…"
Even though a lot was lost, the crisis had passed.
The food stall activities were coming to an end, and next up was the play—after I'd cleared my head.
I let out a long sigh, saying, "Phew," then patted my knee hard and stood up.
"Okay. Well then, I'm going to go make my final preparations. Please watch the stall for me, okay!"
"…Sure."
After making sure Mi-chan nodded, I hurried toward the Gymnasium where the event was taking place.
Since we have to move large props that will be used on stage, drama performances are usually scheduled at the beginning of the event.
Of all the acts, we're up first. As the opening act, we get a little more time to prepare, so we asked the Student Council Official members to adjust the schedule accordingly.
There's one hour left until the stage performance begins. Until then, I wanted to finish making adjustments to the performance as much as possible. Based on the results of the dress rehearsal, I was still worried about the long scene Mattsun was playing, so maybe I should focus on helping with that part….
While thinking about the flow of the play, I entered the Gymnasium and headed straight to the backstage area.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Backstage in the dim light, the cast had already gathered. They all looked tense—some were studying their scripts carefully, others were going over the scenes they'd rehearsed, and they all seemed restless.
"Hey, Kantoku… …eh, wait, is it just Mei? Where's Matsubara?"
Zomu-kun greeted me right away when he saw me.
"Oh, Mattsun isn't here yet?"
"Yeah. I thought Matsubara would definitely come with Mei."
Huh, that's weird. Mattsun's break should've been over a while ago.
When I'm busy, I usually ask Mattsun to manage the line, but since I figured she'd probably want to practice too, I told her to take a break early. Come to think of it, I haven't seen her since then.
Maybe Mattsun didn't forget about our get-together… …maybe I'll go look for her for a bit.
"Oh, looks like Matsubara's here. Hey, Matsubara!"
Before I could even move, Zomu-kun had already said that while waving his hand.
Oh, thank goodness. It turns out Mattsun was just a little late.
I turned around and saw Mattsun climbing the small stairs leading up to the stage.
"Huh…?"
…But.
For some reason, there was something strange about Mattsun's movements.
Even though there were only three steps, each one felt heavy to Mattsun, and she walked while leaning against the wall as if to support her weight.
—That's what I thought, a moment later.
Matsun's body suddenly staggered.
"…Matsun!?"
Without a second thought, I immediately ran over and supported Mattsun's body as she slipped and leaned against the wall from the side.
"Mattsun! What's wrong!?"
Mattsun's face was pale.
And even though it was extremely hot, Mattsun wasn't sweating at all.
That meant—.
"Mattsun has heatstroke…! Zomu-kun, please help me! Let's go to the Nurse's Office!"
"Oh, okay!"
I called out to Zomu-kun loudly, then supported Mattsun's swaying shoulders.
"...I'm fine..."
"You idiot! There's no way you're fine! How did it even come to this…!"
Since when!? It was when Mattsun was organizing the line earlier—.
Just thinking about that scene gives me goosebumps.
─Wait a minute… ...didn't Mattsun look pale just now?
I slapped my leg hard.
Stupid…
I'm so stupid!
Why didn't I realize it back then—!
With this kind of heat, plus the unusual maid uniform Mattsun was wearing. Not to mention having to manage the line in a hallway where the AC wasn't working. Days of a packed schedule must have drained my energy, and on top of that, there was the nervousness leading up to the show. No wonder she got sick.
This is terrible… …this is terrible.
Something like this isn't funny at all!
"I'll carry Matsubara! Yuta, please help me!"
I lifted Mattsun onto the back of Zomu-kun, who was running toward us, and asked him to take her to the Nurse's Office.
Among the remaining classmates, panic spread quickly.
"Wh-What are we supposed to do!? Without the lead actress, we can't put on this play!" "Will Mattsun recover in another hour…?" "Besides, what if Mattsun doesn't get better? Eh, is Mattsun going to drop out?" "No way… …why would we have come this far…!" "Who made Mattsun work herself to the point of this!?" "I don’t know. Anyway, stop yelling!"
Thud!
"Calm down!"
I immediately clapped my hands once to calm their anxiety.
─Here, I can't let myself panic.
Anyway, just do what you can.
We can only make the best choice we can right now.
I made sure everyone was calm, then slowly began to speak.
"…Anyway, for now, let's wait until Mattsun recovers. All of you keep making adjustments so you'll be ready whenever Mattsun comes back. Especially when it comes to battle strategy."
As if trying to convince myself, I spoke calmly.
"I'll check in with the Teacher later, so we'll decide on our final course of action then."
"Th-Then what are we supposed to do… …If we can't, does that mean we have to give up!?"
Someone shouted something like that.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
─At this stage, replacing an actress is impossible.
Everyone is busy preparing for their own roles, and no one knows anyone else's lines by heart. Especially since Mattsun is the lead actress, who's almost always on stage. The situation is very different from that of supporting actors who only appear in a single scene.
Of course, this isn't a problem that can be solved with just a few script adjustments, and the show simply can't go on without the lead actress.
Which means….
We're really stuck.
"Could it be…?"
—No.
I won't let that happen.
Besides… …we've all worked so hard to get this far. If we give up now, it'll all be for nothing.
Mattsun will definitely feel guilty and hurt, and everyone's hard work won't pay off, so this Cultural Festival will end on a sour note.
Something like that isn't funny at all.
It's not funny at all—and if that happens, no one will be able to laugh.
So—I won't give up.
"If Mattsun's health doesn't improve—"
Yeah, that's all.
For all of their sake, if that's what it takes—.
There's no reason not to do it, right?
"—I'll do it instead."
◆
30 minutes later, in the Nurse's Office.
"─Matsubara is much calmer now. She's sleeping in that bed over there."
"I see. Thank goodness…"
After hearing those words from the School Nurse, I felt relieved.
"But just to be on the safe side, it's best to have Matsubara checked out at the hospital. I'm contacting her parents so they can come pick her up."
"…I suppose so."
I clenched my fists tightly on my knees.
I'd already suspected as much, but it turns out Mattsun really isn't in a condition that would allow her to return right away.
"…Kiyosato, I don't want you to cause any trouble."
My Homeroom Teacher, Mr. Shimo Kitazawa, who was standing in the corner of the room with his arms crossed, said this with a sour expression on his face.
"I trusted you and entrusted this task to you because you said you could balance running both the food stall and the drama play. If something like this happens, I won't be able to say the same thing in the future."
"…Yeah. I'm sorry."
"It's all right, Mr. Shimo Kitazawa. Things like this do happen often during this time of year."
The School Nurse was indeed trying to calm Mr. Shimo down, but the truth was that I had made a mistake that had betrayed his trust.
Even regarding this double workload, Mr. Shimo had been worried from the start that problems would arise. Since I was the one who insisted I could handle it on my own, it was only natural that he was angry.
Mr. Shimo Kitazawa let out a heavy sigh, then opened his mouth.
"Anyway, go back now. We Teachers will take care of Matsubara here."
"Yeah… …Well then, I'll be going."
I bowed my head once more before leaving the Nurse's Office.
"─How's Matsubara doing? I think she'll be okay, right?"
Zomu-kun, who had been waiting outside the whole time, asked with a worried look on his face.
I shook my head without saying a word.
"Oh, I see… …Hey, don't worry about it too much. It's not Mei's fault, though."
In fact, Zomu-kun even said something very thoughtful.
…Thanks, Zomu-kun.
But that kind of consideration is a bit too much for me.
"Actually, I'm the one to blame. I'm the one who told Mattsun to work, and I'm the one who didn’t realize it. Later, I'll have to go apologize to Mattsun's Parents, too."
"Hey, Mei—"
"It's okay, thanks."
I smiled as if it weren't a big deal, then continued.
"Anyway, let's just do the best we can right now. If we let this just end like this, that would really be unfair to Mattsun."
Zomu-kun furrowed his brow, looking as if he wanted to say something.
Since none of the rooms around here were being used as food stalls, the place felt quiet, as if it were cut off from the hustle and bustle of the Cultural Festival.
As we walked, I explained to Zomu-kun that I would be replacing Mattsun and outlined our next steps.
"—That's about it. Coordination with the others has been confirmed; It's just down to you and me now, Zomu-kun. Even though we've never practiced together and you might be worried, I'll do my best."
"…Oh, it's Mei, so I'm not worried at all about that. About that, though."
Zomu-kun replied with an expression that still seemed dissatisfied.
That wasn't Zomu-kun's usual way of speaking—he usually spoke in a way that was full of meaning. I already knew he was worried, but if things kept going like this, I felt it would get in the way of our future.
Just as I was wondering if I should say something, Zomu-kun suddenly stopped.
"Um… …maybe this isn't the right time to ask, but…"
When I looked at Zomu-kun, his face looked very serious. In his eyes, I could see a kind of determination that seemed to show he was ready.
I had a bad feeling, so I spoke up to cut the conversation short.
"Zomu-kun, let's head back soon, okay? Everyone's waiting for us."
"…Well then, I don't know when we'll get to talk again. It's not like you've been avoiding me all this time."
I was taken aback by those words.
…It turns out Zomu-kun had already noticed. I really should have tried harder to keep him from getting suspicious.
Maybe because he could sense my anxiety, Zomu-kun clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tsk."
"So… …that day. Did Asahi criticize you?"
—Thump-thump, that's it.
My heart was pounding.
"That… …day?"
"No… …not recently. It was when there was a mix-up with the order at Kamiizumi, after school."
"…!"
"Actually, I did bring a snack, but… for some reason, Mei suddenly ran out really fast."
No way… …could it be that Zomu-kun found out?
No way. I didn't see Zomu-kun anywhere, and I don't remember running into him in the hallway… ...well, no, but, oh right. I didn't check all the way to the other side, so maybe I can't be completely sure….
Zomu-kun let out a sigh and said, "Hah," then continued.
"Besides, even if I asked Asahi, he wouldn't say anything, though. So… …um, I started wondering—does Asahi ever say weird things like that?"
The moment I realized what he meant by "Weird things," I got goosebumps.
"…There's nothing to it, really. We were just having a normal conversation. If Ōmori-kun didn't say anything, it's probably because there really wasn't anything to talk about."
Trying to keep my heart from pounding uncontrollably, I did my best to answer calmly.
I'm not lying. I was just scared of the strange things I imagined myself, so I just ran away.
Then, Zomu-kun looked annoyed and said.
"Oh, no way. If that's the case, running off like that is weird, isn't it?"
"I was dropping off some documents. I had to hurry before the Student Council Office closed."
"You're lying. Honestly, even I wouldn't fall for an excuse like that."
Zomu-kun looked really upset, his face contorted as he brushed his bangs off his forehead.
"Ever since then, you guys have been acting weird. You guys don't even talk much, do you? Less than I do."
"…"
"If something's wrong… …just tell me. If you keep saying 'Nothing's wrong,' I'm never going to understand anything."
I bit my lip tightly, thinking hard about what I should do.
─It's definitely not good to keep dodging the issue like this.
But that doesn't mean I can tell Zomu-kun everything here.
The truth would only be toxic, and our relationship would surely become awkward. There's no way we could handle the play under those circumstances.
Besides, everyone's already exhausted from these never-ending problems. If Zomu-kun and I—who serve as their emotional support—were in that kind of state, it would definitely have a negative impact on everyone's performance.
Something like that would only bring 💯 losses without a single benefit; It's far from the best choice, and it would definitely be a terrible move that's bound to fail.
So, for now—.
"Hey, Mei—."
"Zomu-kun."
I pushed aside the pain in my heart and firmly cut Zomu-kun off.
"Now, let's focus on the play, okay? After all… ...after all, we've worked so hard to get this far."
"…"
"…Let's go."
I took Zomu-kun's silence as his agreement, then headed toward the gym.
─But not long after, from behind me.
"Okay, Mei! After the Cultural Festival is over—be sure to listen to my story, too, okay!"
"…Oh."
I gripped the hem of my skirt tightly, then clenched my teeth.
─Oh….
The content of that conversation—whatever it was.
It was clear; I didn't need to hear any more of it.
I—strongly, very strongly.
Sincerely, I hoped, "Please, don't go any further."
…I took the first step.
"Zomu-kun. I don't want to hear that story."
Firmly.
Without saying it outright, I made that clear.
"Huh!"
"Instead of that, though, I'd rather talk about things that can make us all laugh together. When it comes to that, I'd be happy to join in anytime…"
"─…"
"…Or, let's just talk about random stuff. Ahaha, sorry, I guess I'm just a little nervous right now."
I really was sick of those forced words, but I still forced the conversation to end.
But… …for now, it's still possible.
All I have to do is keep these feelings to myself.
These feelings, stuck in that uncertainty, can also be replaced by something else.
…So, please.
I beg you, just like before. Choose the path where we can all laugh together happily.
"…Time's up, I guess. I'll be going now."
Unable to bear the silence any longer, I walked away from there.
I don't know what kind of expression Zomu-kun had on his face as I walked away.
I don't know, but—
One thing's for sure: Zomu-kun wasn't smiling.
"Let me speak… …but Mei won't let me, will she?"
─.
─…I'm sorry.
◆
'Okay, Program Number 1. A play performed by volunteers from Class 3-A titled "And a Promise Under Tomorrow's Blue Sky─"'
Accompanied by shouts of "Wow," the curtain rose.
I took a deep breath, then exchanged nods with everyone around me.
Then, I took a step onto the stage.
─Here's how the story goes.
The main characters—middle school students living on a small, remote island in Japan—lead boring but peaceful lives.
But one day, they were told that Earth would be destroyed in a few months by a giant meteorite.
Despite facing inevitable death, the main characters decided to carry on with their daily lives as usual until the very end, but doubts began to surface as their final days drew nearer.
The Male and Female Leads—who are both childhood friends and step-siblings—kept pondering what kind of relationship they should have as they faced the end, until finally, the destruction drew even closer—with only three days left.
…For some reason, standing on stage as actors and actresses like this, the story's theme feels as if it's foreshadowing our future, to the point that it's making me anxious.
Oh, s*lly me—what am I even thinking?
I mustn't let my unnecessary personal feelings get in the way. I just need to focus on truly immersing myself in this role.
Pinch my thigh hard as a reminder, I took a deep breath and exhaled, "Su…"
My breath was deep; My voice flowed from my entire body all the way to the top of my head, as if trying to reach the far end of the Gymnasium…
Repeating it in my heart like a mantra to calm myself, the curtain finally opened completely.
In the darkness, only the spotlight illuminated me.
─The performance began with a monologue by the Female Lead.
'─Deities, please tell me. Does that promise—one that can never be fulfilled—have any meaning?'
Wow, suddenly I heard cheers from the first-year students sitting right in front of me.
"That's so cool, Kiyosato-senpai is just like a professional actress!" "Kiyosato-senpai really stands out on stage!" "Wait, but does Kiyosato-senpai actually have a schedule to perform on stage…?" "It's okay, though—Kiyosato-senpai's perfect for it, anyway."
…Yeah. It was actually pretty good at first.
It's just that my pronunciation might not be clear enough. I need to try to say each word more carefully, consciously, and slowly.
'In three days, this planet will come to an end. How should I spend my last moments with him? Wataru-kun, my childhood friend? Wataru-chan, my family member? Or… …Wataru, my lover?'
Yeah, that's better this time.
Don't worry, I've got the dialogue memorized. This play isn't very long, and luckily I've memorized the entire script just in case.
With that kind of enthusiasm, the monologue continued for a while.
Then the entire stage lit up─.
'Hey, Umi! It's morning already!'
Zomu-kun's loud voice echoed through the Gymnasium.
As Zomu-kun appeared, cheerful shouts of "Kya! Nozomu-senpai!" rang out.
Such voices could be heard from all directions, making it clear that Zomu-kun was extremely popular, both among his peers and among the kouhai-s.
'G-Good morning, Wataru-kun.'
'Wow, your hair is a total mess! And there's drool on you, too!'
'Huh!? No way!'
'Just kidding!'
'Oh, come on! Wataru-chan!'
And so, the two of them (our characters) were constantly engaged in conversations not much different from our usual ones.
…Yeah, that's good. Zomu-kun really played his part well, too.
I felt relieved, then imagined how the story would unfold next.
─The performance continued without a hitch.
◆
After that, the two of them had breakfast, headed to school, and finished their last class.
The island, which had always been peaceful, was now filled with sadness. The atmosphere there seemed to suggest that the end was drawing near.
Amid such circumstances, the two of them rowed a boat toward the secret hideout on a small island they had built when they were still kids.
On the wall of the secret hideout—built inside a small cave eroded by the sea—their names were written beneath a drawing of the two of them under an umbrella, along with a message that read, 'When we grow up, we'll get married.'
'Haha… …I'd completely forgotten about this.'
'…Before we even grew up, our relationship had already ended, hadn't it?'
'…That's true.'
The two of them embraced, gazing at the sun as it sank below the horizon.
─And.
This story has finally reached its conclusion.
"Lower the backdrop! Slowly—"
After stepping backstage for a moment, I gave instructions to the crew backstage, then soothed my throat with a sports drink.
Okay… …finally, just the last scene left.
On top of the lighthouse overlooking the entire island, the two of them gazed at the last star, which seemed as if it might fall at any moment.
In the end, they both chose not to commit to any kind of relationship. Choosing one thing means letting go of something else, and they were still too young to choose everything.
So, they simply imagined the blue sky of tomorrow, filled with all their dreams, as they embraced their final moments—.
…Yeah. Whether it's the dialogue or the acting, there's nothing difficult left.
Now we just have to push through to the end.
That way, all our hard work will pay off.
"Okay, this is the final stretch—let's give it our all!"
Trying to contain my impatience, I gave Zomu-kun a gentle pat on the back.
"Mm."
But Zomu-kun's reaction felt very flat. He wasn't even looking in my direction.
…?
Just a moment ago, Zomu-kun was acting like he usually does—why is he suddenly like this─.
"The backdrop is ready! Let's go out there, let's go out there!"
Urged on by my friends backstage, I returned to the stage even though my heart was still heavy.
—I can't. I don't have time to think about it too deeply.
The important thing right now is that I have to finish this performance.
'This way… …it's right, isn't it?'
I narrowed my eyes as if gazing toward the distant horizon, pretending to hold back my tears.
From that silent, still room, soft sobs could be heard from some of the audience.
…Thank goodness—it seems they're moved. The script choice was perfect, Mattsun.
While feeling deeply sorry that the person who made this all possible wasn't here, I focused my attention on the final sprint.
'Tomorrow will never come again… …but there's nothing wrong with entrusting our greatest happiness to tomorrow's blue sky.'
'─'
'So… …our answer is "See you tomorrow," right?'
'─'
…?
The Male Lead's last sentence trailed off.
At first I thought it was just a dramatic pause, but—.
'─'
Something seems off.
Zomu-kun kept his head down.
Zomu-kun's fists were clenched tightly, and they looked so full of power that it seemed excessive for mere acting.
Even the dialogue wasn't difficult at all. It was just one line—'Oh, see you tomorrow'—that Zomu-kun had to say. Then the curtain fell.
So, why—?
'—'
Perhaps sensing that something was wrong, the audience began to murmur.
Panicked, I filled the silence with improvisation.
'Wataru-kun…?'
Hearing that call, Zomu-kun finally lifted his head.
Zomu-kun's face, illuminated by the spotlight, radiated strong determination.
─Then.
"I—"
Those eyes.
I wonder why?
I feel as if it's directed at me─.
─!
Could it be?
"Ouch─!"
In the blink of an eye, it felt as if the blood had drained from my entire body.
I forgot my role, my position, and everything else.
I begged, "Please, don't do that."
"That's all—just don't," I thought.
I held out my hands as if I were praying—.
Then.
"─I like Mei."
─.
─…Im-possible.
From the stage, from the audience stands.
All the voices fell silent.
Then.
A moment later—Wow, and.
The venue instantly erupted as if it were on fire.
"…Huh?" "What did he just say?" "Th-This is a confession!" "It's a real confession, isn't it!?" "Whoa, that's crazy!" "Kya-kya, amazing, amazing, so bold!!"
What… …is this…?
What is this…?
Right here, of all places.
In a place like this, confession—.
My arms went limp, and I stood frozen in place, bewildered.
"Good job, Mitaka!" "D*mn it, just turn Mitaka down, please!" "If this gets approved, who knows—they might end up as a couple, right!?" "Hey, Kiyosato, hurry up and answer!" "Kiyosato-senpai, what are you going to do!?" "Hurry up and answer!" "Answer! Answer!" "Come on, come on, this is turning into a play!"
Facing the taunts hurled at us, I thought almost on autopilot.
—I can't let this play fall apart.
But at this point, the script was already in shambles. It was impossible to get the plot back on track, and in any case, I had to give some kind of answer.
…Well then, at the very least.
To make the story a little more concise.
I have to give the right answer as 'Umi.'
─Besides.
Sure, that's─.
The same as my answer.
'─I'm sorry. It turns out I really can't choose just one answer.'
For the sake of all those smiles, as far as I can reach.
That one and only smile ─ I won't choose it.
"Eh…" "Could it be… that it failed?" "It failed, right?" "Wow, Mitaka got rejected!" "Eh, why!?" "Ahaha, there, there!" "You're so lame, Nozomu!"
I turned around and walked off the stage.
"─Lower the curtain."
"Eh, oh, okay..."
When I got backstage, that was all I said.
I covered my ears and eyes, then crouched down right there.
─Why?
Why, why?
I should have known full well that it would end up like this.
I should have known there was no other choice but to do this.
Why, Zomu-kun?
Why, Zomu-kun─!?
"Why did I end up doing the one thing I absolutely shouldn't have...!?"
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
RP: Angga Kun
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