Chapter 27:

A Cultural Festival without him

The School Life of Tanahashi

February 16th. Monday.

During homeroom, Sensei has something to say to the rest of the class.

"I know it will be tough for everyone but Tanahashi-Kun will be absent for the rest of the month. It's still unclear when he will come back to school."

The class started to wonder what happened to Shin. One student, in particular, asked Sensei, "What happened to him, Sensei?"

Sensei answered the student's question, "I can't disclose that information to you yet. I was told to keep matters private."

The class started to speculate about Shin but only a couple of people knew about his situation. Around lunch, Yuuki, Nise, Itsuki, Miu, and Sakura went to the faculty room to meet Sensei.

Sensei asked them, "What are you guys doing here?"

Yuuki spoke on behalf of the group, "Do you know about Shin's condition since last year, Sensei?"

Sensei let out a sigh, "Yeah, but he told me to keep it a secret from everyone. It was his wish for anyone to know about it. I assure you guys will also do the same thing as well."

Yuuki just looked at Sensei, "I see."

The group went back to the classroom. Some of the students are conflicted by Shin's absence without disclosing his situation at all and they think that their director for the upcoming play betrayed them and left without any reason at all.

Miu whispered to the group, "Damn, these rumors."

Itsuki replied, "Yeah, I don't know what they are thinking."

Yuuki followed, "Let them be."

Sakura asked Yuuki, "Are you okay about this Yuuki?"

Yuuki replied, "Of course not but Shin doesn't want them to know."

Nise asked, "What're we going to do at the festival?"

Yuuki replied, "I'll tell you the plan after classes."

—

After classes...

"Everyone, listen to me!"

The whole class looked at Yuuki, who was at the front of the classroom.

"As your assistant director for the play, the show must go on. I know that Shin isn't here to facilitate things but I'll do my best to make the play a success."

One of the students asked, "What's the plan?"

Yuuki replied, "We have a scheduled rehearsal at the auditorium. For now, I'll help the actors rehearse. The people who will be helping the production, you guys coordinate about which is which. It's fine for us to take it a little slow but we have a few days left before the festival."

The whole class seems to understand their parts and the situation at hand.

Yuuki asked, "Did you guys get that?"

Everyone in the class agreed with her, as Yuuki will now be in charge of the play and for the next couple of days, everything went smoothly.

—

First Day of Cultural Festival.

"Where are the props?"

"Over here."

Sakura quickly calls Miu, "Miu, hurry! We still need to do your make-up."

Miu replied, "I'm coming. Geez, this costume is tight."

Backstage was hectic and the play of Class 3-A is about to start in a few minutes.

Yuuki ask the production team, "Did you guys test the lights?"

One member of the production team looked at his fellow members, "Did we?"

Yuuki complained, "C'mon guys, we have a few minutes before the show."

Itsuki buts in, "We test them already. That guy wasn't there when we're testing it."

Yuuki asked another question, "How about the props?"

Itsuki replied, "It's already ready."

Yuuki sighs out of relief, "Thanks, Itsuki," as she runs over to the rest to ask about the actors, "Are you guys ready, we have a few minutes before showtime?"

Sakura replied, "I already did the make-up of the other cast. I'm just finishing Miu's make-up."

Miu insisted, "Don't do it too much or they might recognize me."

While applying foundation to Miu, Sakura said, "I know, I know."

Nise shouted at everyone backstage, "Two minutes left!"

Sakura applied some finishing touches, "Done!"

Miu stands up, "Thanks, Sakura," as she goes over to the stage.

Yuuki called everyone, "Everyone, listen up. Let's get this show started! You guys ready?"

"Yeah!"

"Good luck to us!"

The curtains rise, as the show starts.

—

The story of the play is about a royal princess who had lost everything. Her family, her status, and her home were taken by an arsonist who killed everyone in the palace. The king and the queen ensured that the princess was alive, even if it cost their lives. Everyone in that palace died except for her. She was taken in by an orphanage and she has one goal in mind, to take back her kingdom, the Kingdom of Altair, and find the one who killed her family.

When the coronation of the new king, it turns out that it wasn't the princess who only survive, but also the right-hand man of the previous king, as he was appointed as the new king. The princess couldn't believe it as she seeks vengeance.

As she grew up, she served as a knight for the kingdom under a different name. She climbs up to the ranks until she can meet the king. The current regime was full of scandals, especially corruption. They weren't the kingdom of the people like they were back then.

When the princess knew this, she wants to expose the current regime. However, someone knew her intentions and she got exposed. The king ordered the knights to kill her. The knights tried to kill her and threw her out of the sea but, she survived.

When the princess woke up, she was in a different kingdom. She was asked by the king of Eldernas what she was doing on the shore unconscious. She explained to the king who she is, as well as the current status of the Kingdom of Altair.

The king was a friend of the princess's father. The princess didn't know about it. The princess asked the king to help her and the citizen of the Kingdom of Altair. The king accepted her offer and they went to war.

The fight between the Kingdom of Altair and the Kingdom of Eldernas began but it was different. The princess doesn't want anyone to be killed. She wants a bloodless war. She wants to convince the knights and the people of Altair that the current king of Altair is fake. The Knights of Altair sided with the princess but not all of the knights.

Some knights stayed loyal to the king of Altair they fought. The princess and her army won and they proceeded to the throne room, where the king of Altair lies. The princess told her troops to stay outside of the room, as she enters the throne room. The princess threatens the king but the king didn't take it lightly. They fought but the princess died, as she didn't know that a hiding knight was hiding inside the room.

But her sacrifice wasn't in vain, as the king of Eldernas fought back and they won the war but it was brutal. The last survivor of the royal family died but a revolution started, as a new regime was formed, and it's a regime of the people, for the people.

-The end-

—

On the second day, at the bonfire.

"I wish, Shin was here."

Yuuki stares at the bonfire with the rest of the group, "You think he will be proud of the play?"

Nise replied, "I recorded the whole thing and send it to him."

Yuuki smiled, "I see."

Her smile was gone again as she stares at the bonfire.

Sakura asked, "Do you miss him, Yuuki?"

Yuuki nodded, as her eyes started to cry, "Yeah..."

Miu comforts her by hugging her, "I see, you really love him, do you, Yuuki?"

Yuuki just kept crying, "Yeah. I really do."