Chapter 37: The Actor's Cunning Plan

"This has to stop."

I am in my room.

I am talking to my reflection.

"You are 'Bloody Twilight'. You do not run."

My reflection stares back. Unimpressed.

"You crush them," I continue. "You crush them one by one."

BZZZT.

HirotoJerk: "Rooftop, tomorrow, lunch. Just you. I have a plan."

I stare at the text.

A plan?

His last plan was 'Operation: Annoy Aoi'.

What is he up to?

...

The next day.

Rooftop. Lunch.

I am here.

He is not.

He's late.

I hate when people are late.

"Angel!"

He bursts through the door.

"You came!" he beams.

"You're late," I snap. "What is this 'plan'? Are you going to finally leave?"

"Leave? Angel, I just got here!" he laughs. "No, no. My plan is to help you!"

"Help me how?"

"By accelerating the drama!" he announces.

This idiot.

"You see," he says, pacing like he's on stage. "The problem is stalemate. You hate all three of us... wait, no, you hate 'Fuji-kun' and 'Daiki-kun'. You think I'm 'charming and witty'."

"I think you're an idiot."

"Exactly! Tsundere!" he winks. "So! We need a catalyst. We need them to fight! Not with words. With 'passion'!"

"You want them to punch each other?" I ask, horrified.

"YES! Metaphorically!" he shouts. "Or... maybe literally? Just a little? A little push? A shove?"

"You're insane."

"I'm a storyteller, Angel!" he sighs. "Look. Fuji-kun is all repressed and noble. Daiki-kun is all lazy and arrogant. They won't make a move unless they're PROVOKED!"

"And you're going to provoke them."

"WE," he corrects. "Are going to provoke them."

"No. We are not."

"Oh, we are," he smirks. "And I know just how. Fuji-kun hates losing his 'control'. Daiki-kun hates being called 'second-best'. So... "

He leans in.

"We make Daiki think Fuji is the 'real threat'. And we make Fuji think Daiki is 'reckless and dangerous'."

"And how do you do that?"

"Simple," Hiroto smiles. It's a cunning smile. A real 'actor' smile.

"I'm going to make Daiki hit him."

...

After school.

It's a setup.

Hiroto told Daiki that I was 'crying' in the gym storage room.

(I was not crying. I was hiding.)

Hiroto told Fuji that I was 'in trouble' and needed 'help' at the gym.

So, I am in the gym storage room.

Hiding.

And they both walk in.

At the same time.

"Twilight?" Daiki calls out, looking confused.

"Aoi?" Fuji asks, looking worried.

They see each other.

They see me (sitting on a pile of mats, eating a snack).

And then...

Hiroto walks in.

"Oh, no!" Hiroto gasps, acting horribly. "My two rivals! And my Angel! What a coincidence!"

"You," Daiki growls. "You set this up."

"Fuji-kun," Hiroto says, ignoring Daiki. "You look pale. Is it 'Muffin-Face'? Is she texting you again?"

Fuji stiffens. "Shut up, Suzume."

"And Daiki-knn!" Hiroto wails. "My poor friend! Is it true? Did you REALLY lose to 'Sakura-Blossom7' because you were too busy CRYING?"

"I DID NOT CRY!" Daiki roars.

"Oh, but you did forfeit!" Hiroto chirps. "Which means... you're a LOSER!"

Daiki's face goes dark.

"What did you call me?"

"A loser!" Hiroto sings. "A simp! Second-best! Fuji-kun here? He may be boring, but at least HE WINS! He gets Rank #1. What do you get? Rank #74 at a local arcade?"

"You shut up!" Daiki shouts. "I am 'Deception'! I am a WORLD CHAMPION!"

"You WERE!" Hiroto corrects. "But now? You're just the guy who loses to Fuji-kun for Aoi's attention!"

It's happening.

Daiki is shaking.

Fuji is stiff.

"Take that back, Actor-boy," Daiki hisses.

"Or what?" Hiroto smirks. "You gonna throw a punch? You wouldn't dare. You're all talk. You're soft."

Daiki snaps.

He lunges.

He swings.

But Hiroto is an actor.

He's used to stage combat.

He ducks.

Perfectly.

And Daiki's punch?

It flies past Hiroto's head.

And connects.

WHAM.

Right into Fuji Kenji's face.

Silence.

Fuji stumbles back.

He touches his nose.

Blood.

Daiki freezes. His fist is still out. He is horrified.

"I... I... Fuji? Dude... I didn't..."

Fuji looks at the blood on his hand.

He looks at Daiki.

He looks at Hiroto (who is peeking out, grinning).

And then he looks at me.

His 'perfect prince' mask is gone.

He just looks ... tired.

"I hate all of you," Fuji mutters.

And he walks out.

"Well," Hiroto chirps, clapping his hands. "That went well! Phase 1 complete!"

I look at Hiroto.

I look at Daiki (who looks like he's going to be sick).

This...

This is a new low.