March 7, 2026. Deadline day.
The auditorium was half-full for the preview—seniors, teachers, club reps, a few parents. Lights dimmed. The crowd hushed.
Sora stood in the wings, heart hammering.
Akira stood opposite her, waiting for his entrance cue.
They hadn't spoken much since yesterday. Just quick nods. Shared glances. A single brush of fingers when passing props.
The music started.
Act 1: narration duet. Calm to chaos. Their voices wove together—his steady, hers rising. The audience leaned forward.
Act 2: argument sequence. The tie-pull. The wrist-catch. The push. Every touch lingered a second longer than rehearsal. The crowd whispered.
Act 3: climax. The breath before resolution.
They stood center stage—foreheads almost touching, hands hovering near each other's waists, music swelling.
Sora's line: "Until hate becomes—"
Akira finished: "—something we can't ignore."
The line wasn't in the script.
The audience gasped softly.
They held the freeze.
Eight counts.
Nine.
Ten.
The spotlight narrowed.
Sora whispered—off-script, barely audible: "I'm staying."
Akira's eyes widened.
The music crashed in.
They stepped back on cue.
The final scene played out—chaos resolving into harmony.
When the lights came up, the auditorium exploded in applause.
But Sora and Akira stood frozen—eyes locked.
The cast took bows.
Sora barely registered it.
As soon as the curtain dropped, she grabbed Akira's wrist and pulled him into the wings.
Away from everyone.
She turned to him. "I said it. On stage. In front of everyone."
Akira's voice was hoarse. "I heard."
Sora's eyes shone. "I'm staying. I called them this morning. Told them no. I'm not going to Tokyo."
Akira exhaled—like a weight had lifted.
Sora continued. "Because I can't leave this. I can't leave… you."
Akira stepped closer. "You chose us."
"I chose me. And you're part of that."
Akira's hand lifted—hesitant—cupped her cheek.
Sora leaned into it.
They stood there—breathing each other's air—until footsteps approached.
Mai burst in. "You two! Everyone's looking for you! The after-party—wait, are you crying?"
Sora laughed—shaky. "Happy tears."
Mai grinned. "About time."
She dragged them back to the stage.
The crowd was still clapping.
Ren stood near the front row—smile gone.
He met Sora's eyes.
She shook her head gently.
Ren nodded once—accepting.
Then he turned and left.
Akira squeezed Sora's hand—brief, hidden by the curtain.
She squeezed back.
The after-party was waiting.
But for now, they had this.