Chapter 19 – “Rehearsal Disaster”

The gymnasium smelled faintly of sawdust, paint, and the lingering aroma of last week’s PE class. It had been hastily transformed into the stage for “The Princess and the Brave Prince,” complete with a cardboard castle, plastic flowers, and a suspiciously wobbly drawbridge.

Riko glared at the stage, hands on her hips. “I can’t believe we’re doing this. A romantic play? Me? As a princess?”

Daichi leaned against a wall, arms crossed, looking every bit the reluctant prince. “You’re supposed to be the delicate one, right? Good luck with that, Princess Riko.”

Riko glared, crossing her arms. “I am not delicate! Stop calling me that!”

Mina, perched on a folding chair with her phone ready, whispered conspiratorially to a friend, “Oh, this is going to be so much fun. Just watch—these two are going to kill me with blushing before opening night.”

The rehearsal began.

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First, they attempted a simple entrance scene. The script called for the prince to escort the princess across the stage, hand in hand. Simple enough, right?

“Okay… go,” the teacher said.

Daichi extended his hand with a flourish, trying to look heroic. Riko stared at it, expression skeptical. “Do I have to take your hand?”

“Yes! It’s stage blocking! The audience expects it!” Daichi muttered, glancing nervously at the other students.

Riko sighed dramatically and finally let him guide her across the stage. But halfway through, her foot caught on the edge of a rug prop.

“Woah!” she yelped, flailing.

Daichi caught her instantly, his arms wrapping around her waist reflexively. Their faces ended up uncomfortably close.

Riko froze. Her cheeks burned hotter than a sunlit sidewalk. “I-I’m fine!” she stammered, stepping back, too fast, almost tripping again.

Daichi blinked. “Yeah… me too…” His heart raced, though his voice was much steadier than his pulse.

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Next, they practiced the scene where the princess must “plead for help.”

“Your Highness! Fear not! I shall save the kingdom!” Daichi shouted, waving his sword prop dramatically.

Riko rolled her eyes. “Don’t just shout! I need to believe you’re serious!”

Daichi’s earnest expression made him look adorable, if completely awkward. He tried to kneel like a prince, but his foot caught the hem of Riko’s skirt. He stumbled forward, grabbing her hand to steady himself.

They tumbled onto the stage floor — one awkwardly angled bundle of limbs. Riko’s hair tickled his face. Daichi’s chest pressed against hers.

“Get off me!” Riko whispered, pushing him with just enough force to wobble him, but not enough to break contact.

“I-I’m trying!” Daichi stammered, face as red as her cheeks.

Mina, crouched near the stage wings, couldn’t contain herself. She nudged a friend and whispered, “Ohhh… did you see that? Their chemistry is off the charts!”

Riko shot a glare that could melt steel. “Shut up, Mina!”

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By the third scene, Mina had taken matters into her own hands. She “accidentally” placed a box of props directly between Riko and Daichi, forcing them to crouch together to pick up the pieces.

“You’re really taking your role seriously, aren’t you?” Riko whispered, brushing past his shoulder.

Daichi’s heart skipped a beat. “Uh… yeah… of course. Saving the kingdom, all that.”

“Mm-hmm,” she muttered, correcting his posture when he leaned too close. Every time she adjusted him, his face grew redder.

Rei, leaning against the back wall to watch, smirked. “You two… really do make an interesting pair.”

Riko’s ears burned. “S-shut up!”

Daichi’s jaw clenched slightly. “Hmph.”

The tension was thick enough to cut with a prop sword. Every brush of hands, every accidental nudge, and every shared glance made their hearts race faster than a sprint down the soccer field.

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Finally, the practice ran into the scene where the prince is supposed to lift the princess to save her from imaginary peril.

Daichi, attempting to look heroic, bent his knees and reached for Riko. She jumped into his arms with more force than he expected, throwing him off balance.

“Daichi! You can’t just—woah!”

He caught her, but stumbled backward, nearly toppling over the cardboard castle. Riko’s hands instinctively gripped his shoulders, face inches from his.

A pause. Silence.

Her breath hitched. His heartbeat thudded audibly — at least, it felt that way to her.

Riko whispered, “Your heart’s… really loud.”

Daichi swallowed. “Y-Yeah… well… yours too.”

Riko’s eyes widened. “W-What?”

Before anything more could happen, Mina burst from the wings, clapping her hands and laughing. “Perfect! Perfect! Chemistry overload!”

Both Riko and Daichi groaned simultaneously. “MINA!”

“Quit yelling! You’re going to make the audience faint!” she teased, recording every blush-filled second on her phone.

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By the end of the day, both were exhausted. Their hair was messy, their clothes stained with prop dust, and their hearts raced constantly.

“Next rehearsal… I swear…” Riko muttered, glaring at Daichi while wiping her forehead.

“I’m… surviving,” Daichi said, collapsing into a chair, avoiding her gaze.

They both knew one thing for sure: this play was supposed to be practice, but the real danger was their rapidly growing feelings.

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> “This rehearsal is supposed to be for the play… not a heart attack!”