Chapter 380: How Embarrassing!
"Right. Come a little closer."
The first actress to audition for the female lead was the one originally chosen for the role.
Her appearance wasn't bad, but she definitely couldn't compare to Chika or Hayasaka Ai.
As for her age, she was well past the range that could still be called a "maiden."
The original male lead had also been older, so when the two acted together, it didn't seem mismatched.
But Sakurai Saki looked a bit too young — to make the pairing fit, they would probably need to apply makeup to make him seem more mature.
At the side, Chika was still watching the progress of the audition. Seeing the director's expression, she could tell that she wasn't very pleased.
"That actress seems decent, so why does the director look like that?"
Hearing her question, Minamoto Mashiro smiled and replied, "Director Kinoshita doesn't like actors whose 'acting traces' are too obvious. She prefers something more natural."
"…'Acting traces' that aren't obvious, huh."
For a moment, Fujiwara Chika didn't even know where to start with her sarcasm.
You're an actor — of course you're supposed to act!
Next, the actress for the second female lead entered, but the director still didn't seem satisfied.
It wasn't until Nakano Ichika — who was playing the third female lead — stepped through the door.
Ichika's gaze quickly landed on Sakurai Saki, then shifted to Fujiwara Chika.
It made sense for Sakurai Saki to be here, but why was Secretary Fujiwara here too?
Sure, that girl appeared everywhere around Shuchiin, but this wasn't Shuchiin territory!
From Shinjuku to Minato was quite a distance.
Even by car, it had taken Ichika quite some time to get here.
Still, she didn't think too much about it.
This time, if luck was on her side, she might just be able to secure the position of female lead.
After greeting the director and producer, she was handed the script.
After a few minutes of reading, the director gave the outline for this part of the audition.
"Look toward Sakurai-kun, that's right, just like that."
Ichika felt like all the lines and emotional notes she had prepared just went out the window.
What? That's it?
She thought it was going to be simple—until she saw Sakurai Saki's face up close.
Eh? No way…
'Was he always this handsome?'
(⸝⸝⸝• ω •⸝⸝⸝) ♡
Nakano Ichika's focus began to waver, and soon, a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
"Excellent!!"
Director Kinoshita clapped her hands together, her face lighting up with delight.
"That look of a girl feeling her heart flutter — it didn't look like acting at all! Nakano-kun, you did wonderfully, though you're a bit too shy. But that's fine, you haven't read the full script yet."
Hearing that, Nakano Ichika's embarrassment only deepened.
Being praised like that felt like being publicly executed in front of everyone!
Though she genuinely liked Sakurai Saki, having her true feelings seen through so easily made Ichika want to flee from this terrifying place right away.
Still… if the director said that, didn't that mean the role was basically hers?
Soon after, the audition ended.
The director told everyone to go home and wait for further notice.
In truth, Nakano Ichika's acting still wasn't strong enough to carry the female lead role, but Director Kinoshita seemed very fond of her — so there was still hope.
If not, they'd probably go back to the original cast.
When it was over, Sakurai Saki planned to take this opportunity to clear things up with Ichika about everything between him and the Nakano sisters.
But — before he could even say a word, Ichika grabbed him and pulled him into a secluded corner where no one could see.
"What's wrong?"
"Sensei-chan, there's something I want to tell you."
Nakano Ichika took a deep breath, her expression deadly serious: "It's something really important."
Really important?
Sakurai Saki's brow twitched — damn it, could she be planning to confess too, like Nino?
Ichika had once expressed that she liked him before, but Saki hadn't paid much attention to it since she'd said it half-jokingly at the time.
But this time — looking at that serious face of hers…
"What's going on, Ichika? You should think this through carefully! The outcome of this might not be good for you."
Sakurai Saki spoke up to advise her.
"I know."
Of course Ichika knew, but she wasn't doing this half-heartedly at all!
She wanted to take a temporary leave from school to pursue her dream!
"You know?"
This emotion feels a bit too heavy, doesn't it?
She knows I already have a girlfriend, yet still wants to get involved? Since when did Ichika's feelings for me become that strong?
Ichika nodded: "Yes, and I've thought about this for a long time. I feel like if I keep hesitating, it'll only be worse for myself."
If she tried to choose both, she'd end up unable to balance either side.
Better that way, than not daring to make a decision at all!
"...Haizz." Sakurai Saki sighed.
A matter like this—he really couldn't accept it right away.
"But I didn't expect sensei-chan to know about this." Ichika said softly, her tone relaxed.
She had thought she'd be scolded and lectured by Sakurai Saki.
"I had a bit of a guess."
Didn't expect that guess to actually be right.
"Sensei-chan, I want to take a leave of absence."
"You're a good person, but sorry…" Hm?" Sakurai Saki was just about to say "I only see you as a friend" when he realized her words weren't what he thought: "Wait? You want to take a leave from school?"
Sakurai: ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
Huh?
Hold on!
Weren't we talking about two completely different things this whole time?!
Ichika: (｡· v ·｡) ?
Nakano Ichika was surprised for a few seconds, then immediately understood, showing a teasing expression: "Ara ara~ Sensei-chan, what did you think I was trying to do?"
(≖⩊≖)
"I thought you were about to confess to me, scared me half to death."
In his heart, Sakurai Saki felt a bit disappointed, but also quite relieved.
"Confess?"
Nakano Ichika leaned in close, her gaze like a beast staring at its prey, her breath brushing lightly against him, her voice ambiguous: "If you want me to… then I suppose it's not impossible."
"Ichika-san, please have some self-respect!" Sakurai Saki stepped back, his back hitting the wall.
Too embarrassing.
He actually misunderstood her, thinking she was about to confess — if he listed the top most humiliating moments of his life, this would definitely make the list!
Seeing his reaction, Nakano Ichika giggled, then stepped back a few paces.
"Sensei-chan isn't angry, I'm honestly surprised."
"It's just a temporary leave from school. You already guessed it, and taking leave doesn't mean dropping out."
"As long as you understand that, it's fine." Nakano Ichika smiled softly.
She didn't want to betray the effort Sakurai Saki had put in for her over the past year.
Taking a leave felt like betraying him, so Ichika felt she absolutely had to explain this to Sakurai Saki.
"Actually, you didn't have to tell me."
"No, you're our tutor…"
Sakurai Saki cut her off, "You're wrong. I'm no longer your tutor."
"Starting this semester, Nakano-san has ended the contract with me."
A look of surprise appeared on Nakano Ichika's face.
"What do you mean?"
"Actually, I no longer have any obligation to teach you all, so of course I also don't have the right to interfere in your decision to take a leave. This is something you should discuss with Nakano-san, not me."
The words Sakurai Saki spoke carried a hint of distance.
But at that moment, Nakano Ichika didn't seem to hear any of it.
A few seconds later.
She gathered herself, her tone lowering as she spoke:
"I see."
"So, from now on, we're just friends, no longer teacher and student."
"Friends, huh…" Nakano Ichika softly repeated the word.
That's fine too, isn't it?