Chapter 18 – “Scene Three, Take Two”

“Line!”
Kenta shouted for the third time in five minutes.

“You don’t have any lines in this scene,” Daiki said, flipping through his script.

“Oh. Then what am I doing here?”

“Ruining everything,” Mika muttered, adjusting the backdrop he just knocked over.

Rehearsals were back in full swing.

Mr. Kumagai stood at the front of the room, wearing a scarf like a director from a movie no one had actually seen.

“Class! Focus! We're playing in one week! The drama club is already talking about us! Do you want them to call us ‘the pity play’?”

I sat quietly near the back, pretending to review my lines.

In truth, I was trying not to think about yesterday.

The café, The aquarium, The polaroid.

And the girl who smiled through all of it.

Because now, walking into the room with her usual sharp eyes and quick steps was not that girl.

It was Airi.

She didn’t say hello.
Didn’t even glance my way.

She just tossed her bag beside a desk, rolled up her sleeves, and said, “Can we start now? Some of us have better things to do.”

Mr. Kumagai practically cried with joy. “Yes! That’s the spirit! Get ready, everyone!”

Scene Three. Take… whatever.

I stood in the center of the classroom turned stage. The desks were shoved aside, the props were duct taped together, and Kenta was in the corner practicing sword poses with a mop.

Airi walked to her mark, flipping her script closed without looking at it.

In this scene, the villainess finds the prince me injured in the woods.

Instead of killing him, she helps him escape.

It was the scene we had rehearsed before.

The same scene where, last time, she said.

“You’re the only one who sees me, even when I wear my scariest mask.”
That always hit me like a truck, I forgot my next line.

when she said it, her voice was flat, Sharp like glass.

Perfect acting.
“…Then show me your real face,” I said finally. “Even if it scares me.”

Cut, End scene.

Then silence.
Daiki whispered to Kenta, “Did they just break up?”

“I don’t think they were even together,” Kenta said. “But somehow it still hurts.”

During break, I sat on the windowsill, script in hand, mind somewhere else.

Kenta and Daiki plopped down on either side of me.

Daiki nudged me. “Okay, be honest. Is that real tension I saw, or are you two method acting a breakup?”

“I’m not dating her.”

“Which part of ‘not dating’ involves that level of eye contact?” Daiki asked.

“I’ve seen less emotional tension in soap operas,” Kenta added. “And one of those had a plot about twin brothers fighting over a ghost bride.”

I stared at them. “You two are so helpful.”

Kenta shrugged. “We’re rooting for you.”

Daiki nodded. “We just don’t know what team you’re playing on.”

Before I could respond, Mika walked by and paused.

Then, without a word, she handed me something.

A small notepad.

“The props team found it in the costume bin,” she said. “Looks like yours.”

I opened it.

Blank.

But on the inside cover, someone had scribbled two words in messy pen:

“Don’t forget.”

“…Thanks,” I said, not really sure why.

She just nodded, then returned to organizing the villainess’ cape rack

Across the room, I noticed Hina sitting with Airi near the chalkboard.

She said something.

Airi didn’t answer.

But she didn’t look up either.

Rehearsal ended with Mr. Kumagai dramatically declaring that “Scene Four shall be our redemption arc!” and assigning Kenta to make up more stage tape. He returned ten minutes later tangled in it.

Everyone started packing up.

I stayed back to help clean.

Airi didn’t.

She left first.

Didn’t even say goodbye.

Just walked out.

Later, when I grabbed my bag, something fell out.

A single page from the script.

Scene Three.

My part was marked up with red pen.

But it wasn’t corrections.

They were notes.

“Try pausing here. You rush this line when you get nervous.”
“Look up when you say this it makes you look more honest.”
“Don’t drop your voice at the end, That’s where it hits.”

At the very bottom, in smaller handwriting:

“Even if I act cold tomorrow, say your line anyway.”
“Someone’s still listening.”

There was no name.

But I knew.

And somehow, that made it harder.

Airi Status: Warm Ice Queen Mode??
Mental State: Confused but functional
Rehearsal Vibe: Emotional ping pong
Kenta Contribution: Fought a mop and lost
Mysterious Note Count: 1