-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE, THEATRE CLUB STAGE-
-3:48 PM, JANUARY 27, 2017-
The stage lights flickered on one by one.
Warm amber tones washed across the wooden floor of the theatre room.
Scripts shuffled.
Chairs scraped softly.
Rehearsal day.
Hoshino-sensei stood near the front row with a clipboard in hand.
"Alright everyone," she announced. "Today we begin blocking the final act."
A few students groaned.
"That's the emotional scene," someone whispered.
Masayoshi leaned back in his chair.
"Oh this is gonna be good."
Rikuu shot him a look.
"Shut up."
Masayoshi grinned.
"You have to confess dramatically on stage. This is entertainment."
Across the room—
Ichika tried to ignore them while reviewing the script.
But her fingers lingered on one particular page.
The confession scene.
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
Hoshino-sensei clapped her hands.
"Arakawa. Komori. On stage."
Both stood.
They walked up the small steps together.
The rest of the club settled into the seats to watch.
-THEATRE CLUB STAGE-
-4:02 PM-
"Scene twelve," Hoshino-sensei said.
"The moment where Haru finally admits why he pushed Yuki away."
She looked at Rikuu.
"Remember, your character believes he's dangerous to the person he cares about."
Then she looked at Ichika.
"And you refuse to leave."
Masayoshi whispered loudly,
"…This sounds familiar."
"Masayoshi," Hoshino-sensei warned.
"Sorry."
Rikuu exhaled once.
Then stepped into position.
Something in him shifted again.
The stage had that effect.
His posture changed.
His gaze hardened.
The character took over.
Ichika stepped toward him slowly.
"You keep telling me to go," she said softly, reading the script.
"But you never tell me why."
Rikuu didn't answer immediately.
Just like the character.
Just like himself sometimes.
"Because you don't belong here," he said quietly.
"You belong somewhere warm."
The line echoed faintly across the stage.
Ichika continued.
"Warm places aren't real without people."
A few club members exchanged glances.
The scene felt… very natural.
Rikuu stepped back.
"You don't understand the kind of person I am."
"Then explain it."
"I break things."
Ichika moved closer.
"You protect things."
"That's not the same."
"It is if the reason is the same."
Silence filled the room.
Even Masayoshi had stopped joking.
Then came the final line.
The one Hoshino-sensei had warned them about.
Ichika lifted her gaze to meet his.
"I'm not afraid of you," she said gently.
"I'm afraid of a world where you push me away."
Rikuu froze for half a second.
The script in his hand felt heavier.
Because the words…
Didn't feel like acting anymore.
They felt like something real.
Still—
He delivered the final line.
Quiet.
Low.
"…You deserve someone better than me."
Ichika shook her head.
"No."
A pause.
Then—
"I choose you."
The room went completely silent.
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them broke character.
And the line between acting and reality blurred just slightly.
Hoshino-sensei clapped once.
"Good."
Everyone exhaled at once.
"That was intense," someone whispered.
Masayoshi leaned forward with a grin.
"Bro, you two are basically dating on stage."
Rikuu stepped back immediately.
"Idiot."
Ichika laughed softly.
But her heart was still beating faster than usual.
-AURORA ACADEMY COURTYARD-
-5:21 PM-
Rehearsal ended as the winter sun dipped low.
Snow covered the school courtyard in soft white.
Students headed home.
Rikuu and Ichika walked toward the gate together.
For a few minutes—
Neither spoke.
Then Rikuu muttered,
"…That scene."
"Yes?"
"It's weird."
She tilted her head.
"How?"
"It feels like we're just repeating our conversations."
Ichika smiled slightly.
"Maybe that's why the acting works."
He glanced at her.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
He sighed quietly.
"…I should've expected that."
Snowflakes drifted down between them.
Then she asked softly,
"Does it bother you?"
"The acting?"
"Yes."
Rikuu thought about it.
Then shook his head.
"…No."
A pause.
"But it's strange hearing someone say those things out loud."
Ichika's smile softened.
"Then get used to it."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I'm not planning on stopping."
He stared at her for a moment.
Then looked away again.
"…You're stubborn."
"You already knew that."
Snow continued falling over Aurora Academy.
And on a small stage inside the theatre—
A fictional love story had begun rehearsals.
But the real one walking through the courtyard…
Was beginning to feel just as real.