Why She is Here?

“Are you kidding, Minami?”

“Why am I kidding right now? This is my true feelings toward you, Youta!”

“What I supposed to say right now?”

“I know that you like Akemi senpai. But don’t worry, I will wait for your answer. Until then just treat me as we normally do. I will go now. Goodbye!”

“Goodbye.”

My mind becomes blank. Is she like me? I don’t know what to do now. Then, Noda senpai suddenly sent me a message. He asked me to meet him at the café that we had went before. As I arrived at the café, Noda senpai was already waiting for me with two cups of coffee on the table.

“How are you, Arima?”

“I am fine. How about you, senpai?”

“I’m fine too!”

“So, is there anything that you want to talk with me, senpai?”

“Nothing. I just worried if you still think about what happened two months ago. But I see you alright now.”

“Although it’s hard, I try to move on. Noda senpai, can I ask you advice?”

“Oh! What do you want to ask?”

I told him my worry about Minami. I don’t tell him their real names although he can guess it later.

“So, you and this senpai like each other but your friend also likes you. Is this right?”

“Yes.”

“You can just say to your friend that you have someone you like. If you really like Akemi, your heart should not change after your friend, Minami if I am not mistaken, confess to you.”

“Senpai really knows who I am talking to now. But I afraid that Minami will be hurt if I reject her.”

“You should know that you will hurt her more if you still think like this. Be a man, Arima!”

“Right! I should her that!”

That is what I suppose to say to Minami. But I can’t say it in front of her. When I see her again the next day, she sits next to me closely. Saito senpai noticed something happen between us.

“Why both you look so close or is it Minami that try to become close with Arima-kun?”

“There is nothing Akemi senpai! As you know, we have been childhood friends since we were little,” said Minami.

“Right but don’t you see Arima-kun’s face is quite red now?”

“Saito senpai, Minami, I want to go toilet now.”

I don’t want to stay there. I feel so suffocated in the clubroom. Minami sitting close to me and Saito senpai’s gaze toward me, somehow, I feel uncomfortable. Today, we are having discussions about the Cinderella story. In the clubroom, only Saito senpai, Minami and I were already in the clubroom. Now, what should I do? Okay! I will become a man and confess everything that I want to say. As I opened the clubroom door, I was pulled inside by someone. The door was closed and was locked too. I am trying to understand what happened just now. When I look at my back, Minami, and Saito senpai are standing near the door.

“Arima-kun, you like me, right?”

“Youta, do you remember our old days? Don’t you want to do something together like before again?”

Did something happen when I went to the toilet just now? Why are them acting like this? But I don’t want to miss this chance. I will say it now!

“The truth is-“

“Everyone! Sorry for the lateness! What three of you doing just now?”

Saito senpai try explaining situation to Nana who just come with Masaru and Sakuya-san. Again, I can’t say what I want to say. After that, Fujimiya senpai, Takeda senpai, and Sakura sensei come to the clubroom. Fortunately, today we can start early with our script that just done written by Fujimiya senpai. We practice our role diligently. At the beginning, everything was okay but as expected, my act was so bad that we needed to start again many times. I feel so sorry to make them repeat the same scene several times. Fujimiya senpai then decided that we should end our practice today and ask me to practice again at home. She said to me that I need to improve my expression during acting and be more confident. At home, I read the script many times and try to understand more about story so that I can acting more better. I can’t. Why can’t I express what I want with this story? Especially when I will play as prince later. While I was reading my script, Saito senpai knocked on my door. I opened the door and saw her holding a cooking pot.

“Arima-kun, should we have dinner tonight together? I have cooked this chicken curry for more than one portion.”

“Sure! Please come in!”

I feel this is normal thing when I just allow senpai come into my house now.

“What did you do just now? Still practicing?”

“Yes. But I think I have little bit problem with my acting.”

“How about I help you with practicing?”

“Really? I appreciate it, senpai!”

“So, what do you think is your problem when acting?”

“I think I can’t express the right feeling for the character I play. For example, when prince dance with Cinderella, what kind of feeling should I express?”

“If you in his place, how is your feeling when dancing with a girl?”

“I will feel so shy. I don’t think I can look straight into her eyes.”

“That should be fine. You can try to express their feelings based on your own understanding. Now, should we eat first before practice?”

The chicken curry that was cooked by Saito senpai is so delicious. The texture of chicken is also so soft that makes it easier to eat. Although its spicy, I feel addicted with it. After eating, we clean up the table and wash dishes together.

“Let’s start practicing now, Arima-kun!”

“Alright!”

First, she practices for her part at the beginning scene. I start practicing my part when we arrive at the party scene where the prince will ask Cinderella to dance with him. I try to remember all the advice that I got from Fujimya senpai and Saito senpai. I hold senpai’s right hand. But my hand is so sweaty because of my nervousness. Despite this, I placed my left hand on senpai's shoulder as we began our dance.

“You can just follow me, Arima-kun.”

She led me in dancing. She tries to dance slowly, step by step to make sure I understand how to dance. It… feel so nice. I feel like I was in a fairy tale now. I don’t want this to stop even though this is a dream. Until my phone rings. We will stop practicing for now. I picked up the call and found it is Minami is calling me.

“Youta, what are you doing now?”

“I still practicing my part now.”

“Really? Wait for a minute! I will arrive at your house later.”

“Do you come here? Where are you now?”

Why did she suddenly come here? Especially tonight?

“I have arrive at front of your house. Please open your door!”

What supposed I do now? Saito senpai also so flustered right now after heard that Minami already in front of my house.

“Your door is not lock! I will open door now, Youta.”

“Wait, Minami!”

What will happen to me tonight?