Chapter 9: Friday – The Performance
Morning – Classroom 8-1 (Before the Performance)
(Students are nervous. Costumes are ready. Makeup is applied.)
Sōta: "Today is the day."
Rin: "Are you ready, Yuki?"
Yuki: "I've been ready since the first rehearsal."
Hiroshi: "I've been ready since never."
Yuki: "That's not true. You kissed me twelve times yesterday."
Hiroshi: "That was practice."
Yuki: "Today is the real thing."
(She takes his hand. His palm is sweaty.)
Yuki: "You're nervous."
Hiroshi: "I'm warm."
Yuki: "It's winter."
Hiroshi: "The heater is on."
Yuki: "The heater isn't on."
Hiroshi: "Then I'm sick."
Yuki: "You're in love."
(His ears turn red. He doesn't deny it.)
Final Preparation – Backstage
(Students line up behind the curtain. The gymnasium is full of parents, teachers, and students.)
Teacher: "Places, everyone. The play starts in five minutes."
Yuki: "Hiroshi."
Hiroshi: "What."
Yuki: "Whatever happens out there, just follow my lead."
Hiroshi: "I know my lines."
Yuki: "I'm not talking about lines."
(She reaches up and touches his cheek. Her thumb brushes his skin.)
Yuki: "You're blushing already."
Hiroshi: "The lights are hot."
Yuki: "The lights aren't on yet."
Hiroshi: "Then I'm nervous."
(He admitted it. She smiles.)
Yuki: "Good. That means it matters."
(The curtain rises. The play begins.)
Act 1 – The Meeting
(The prince walks through the royal garden. The princess appears.)
Yuki: "Who goes there?"
Hiroshi: "A traveler. Lost in the beauty of this place."
(Unscripted. The audience leans forward.)
Yuki: "You have a way with words, stranger."
Hiroshi: "I have a way with you."
(Another unscripted line. Yuki's eyes widen. The audience murmurs.)
Yuki: "And what way is that?"
Hiroshi: "The way home."
(The crowd gasps. Romantic. Unexpected.)
(Yuki's heart races. She forgets her next line for a second.)
Yuki: "...Then let me be your home."
(She takes his hand. The audience applauds.)
Act 2 – The Evil Knight
(Sōta enters in black armor.)
Sōta: "You cannot have her, prince. She belongs to me."
Hiroshi: "She belongs to no one. She chooses."
(Another unscripted line. The crowd cheers.)
Sōta: "Then I will take her by force!"
(A sword fight. Choreographed. Hiroshi wins.)
Hiroshi: "Leave. And never return."
(Sōta exits. The audience applauds.)
Act 3 – The Fairy Godmother
(Rin enters in a sparkly dress.)
Rin: "Young lovers, I see a bright future for you."
Yuki: "Will we be together?"
Rin: "If you are brave enough to kiss before the setting sun."
(The crowd laughs. It's a funny line.)
Yuki: "Then I will be brave."
(She looks at Hiroshi. He looks at her.)
Act 4 – The Confession (Final Scene)
(The sun sets on the backdrop. Orange and pink.)
Yuki: "My prince, I have waited for this moment."
Hiroshi: "As have I, my princess. Longer than you know."
(He steps closer. The audience holds its breath.)
Yuki: "How long?"
Hiroshi: (pausing, looking into her eyes) "Since the first day of eighth grade. When you smiled at me from across the room."
(The crowd gasps. That was not in the script. Yuki's lip trembles.)
Yuki: "You never told me that."
Hiroshi: "I'm telling you now."
(Her eyes well up. Real tears. Happy tears.)
Yuki: "Then kiss me. And never let go."
(She closes her eyes.)
(He cups her face. His thumb wipes away a tear.)
Hiroshi: "I won't."
(He leans in. Their lips meet.)
(One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.)
(He doesn't pull away.)
(Four seconds. Five seconds. Six seconds.)
(The audience is silent. The teachers watch with wide eyes.)
(Seven seconds. Eight seconds. Nine seconds.)
(His hand slides to her waist. Her fingers thread through his hair.)
(Ten seconds. Eleven seconds. Twelve seconds.)
(The crowd starts cheering. Clapping. Whistling.)
(Thirteen seconds. Fourteen seconds. Fifteen seconds.)
(He finally pulls back. His forehead rests against hers.)
(His face is crimson. His ears are burning. His breathing is uneven.)
(She opens her eyes. They are shining.)
Yuki: (whispering, not into the mic) "Fifteen seconds."
Hiroshi: (whispering back) "I lost count."
Yuki: "You never lose count."
Hiroshi: "I lost count of you."
(The crowd ERUPTS. Standing ovation. Cheers. Clapping.)
(The curtain falls. The play is over.)
Backstage – After the Curtain
(Students hug. Sōta claps Hiroshi on the back.)
Sōta: "You stole the show, man. Those lines..."
Rin: "I was crying backstage. Real tears."
Teacher: "Asagiri, that was the most romantic thing I've ever seen in a school play."
Hiroshi: "I don't know what came over me."
Yuki: "I do."
(She pulls him into a corner. Away from everyone.)
Yuki: "You meant those lines. Didn't you?"
Hiroshi: "I don't know."
Yuki: "You said 'since the first day of eighth grade.'"
Hiroshi: "I was acting."
Yuki: "Your voice cracked. You never crack."
(He looks away. She turns his face back to her.)
Yuki: "Look at me."
(He looks. Her eyes are soft.)
Yuki: "Do you love me?"
(He is silent for a long moment.)
Hiroshi: "I don't know what love is."
Yuki: "Then describe what you feel. Right now."
Hiroshi: "My heart is pounding. My face is hot. I can't think clearly. I want to kiss you again."
(Her breath catches.)
Yuki: "That's love."
Hiroshi: "That's biological reaction."
Yuki: "Same thing."
(She laughs. He almost smiles.)
After the Performance – Walking Home
(The sun is setting. Real this time. Orange and pink.)
Yuki: "You were amazing."
Hiroshi: "You were better."
Yuki: "I just followed your lead."
Hiroshi: "You're the reason I said those things."
Yuki: "Why?"
Hiroshi: "Because when I looked at you, the script didn't matter. Only you mattered."
(She stops walking. She stares at him.)
Yuki: "Say that again."
Hiroshi: "No."
Yuki: "Please?"
Hiroshi: "...Only you mattered."
(She throws her arms around him. She hugs him tightly.)
Yuki: "I love you, Hiroshi."
Hiroshi: "You've said that before."
Yuki: "I'll say it every day."
Hiroshi: "That's inefficient."
Yuki: "I don't care."
(She pulls back. She looks up at him.)
Yuki: "Kiss me. For real. Not for the play."
(He looks at her lips. His heart pounds.)
Hiroshi: "We're in public."
Yuki: "I don't care."
Hiroshi: "People are watching."
Yuki: "Let them watch."
(He hesitates. Then he leans in.)
(Their lips meet. Soft. Slow. Real.)
(No count. No script. No audience.)
(Just them.)
(He pulls back after a few seconds.)
Yuki: "That was short."
Hiroshi: "I'm still learning."
Yuki: "Then practice more."
(She kisses him again. Longer this time.)
(His hands find her waist. Her arms wrap around his neck.)
(The world disappears.)
(A car honks. They separate.)
Yuki: (laughing) "We should get home."
Hiroshi: "Probably."
(They walk hand in hand. Neither of them lets go.)
Their Street – Opposite Buildings
(They stop at the crosswalk.)
Yuki: "Same time Monday?"
Hiroshi: "School starts at 8 AM."
Yuki: "I meant the kissing."
Hiroshi: "...Same time."
(She smiles. She stands on her tiptoes. She kisses his cheek.)
Yuki: "Goodnight, my prince."
Hiroshi: "Goodnight."
(She crosses the street. She waves. She blows a kiss.)
(This time, he catches it again. But he doesn't look at his hand.)
(He looks at her.)
(And he smiles. A real smile.)
(She sees it. Her heart soars.)
(He walks into his building. His heart is still racing.)
(He doesn't try to stop it.)
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End of Chapter 9