The morning sunlight filtered through the school’s hallway windows, glowing warmly on the posted play audition posters. Iwamoto and Nakajima were busy pinning up the last few when they noticed a group of basketball players approaching, their sneakers squeaking against the polished floor.
Iwamoto, always energetic, turned around with a bright smile. "Good morning, Nakano!" she called out, waving one of the posters. Nakano and his friends, laughing about something from practice, slowed down as they neared the girls.
"Morning," Nakano replied, his usual laid-back tone evident.
"We’re holding auditions for the school culture festival play after classes today," Iwamoto continued, her eyes sparkling enthusiastically. She extended a poster towards Nakano, but one of his friends playfully snatched it before he could take it.
"Hey, Nakano, you should totally audition for this," his friend joked, waving the poster teasingly.
Nakano chuckled, a small smile playing on his lips as he shook his head. Iwamoto and Nakajima exchanged amused glances.
"See you there!" Nakajima added with a wink before both girls darted off down the hallway, leaving the group of boys behind.
As they disappeared around the corner, the sound of their laughter echoed faintly, leaving Nakano and his friends to ponder the unexpected invitation.
**RING!!**
As the bell rang, signaling that morning classes were about to start, Nakano and his friends made their way to their usual hangout spot, Nakano's homeroom where they often gathered before school officially began. The room was already buzzing with students chatting and getting ready for the day. Nakano’s group didn’t belong to the same class, but that didn’t stop them from claiming their territory in the back corner, where a few were already lounging on desks and chairs.
Matsuda, the loudest of the bunch, hopped onto a desk and swung his legs back and forth. “So, Nakano, are you seriously not going to audition for that play?” He flashed the poster Iwamoto had handed them earlier, the one now slightly crumpled from being shoved into his pocket.
Nakano chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “What, you think I’m cut out to be a theater star? Isn't being a basketball star enough for you already?”
Yoshinaga, always the one to push things further, leaned in with a grin. “Tell you what, if you audition and actually get the part, we’ll all chip in for your birthday party after the school festival. No joke.”
Matsuda nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, man! We’ll throw the biggest bash at my dad’s lounge. Private room, all the food you can eat—everything. But there’s one more thing…” He paused for effect, his eyes glinting with mischief.
Nakano raised an eyebrow, curious. “What’s that?”
“If you land the role and kiss the princess in the play, then take her out after the festival,” Yoshinaga added, laughing. “And if you do, we’ll cover the entire party—no holding back.”
The group erupted into a mix of laughter and mock disbelief, with Nakano shaking his head at the absurdity of it all. “You guys are nuts. But fine, I’m in. We have a few regional and prefectural competitions coming up but it shouldn't affect our training schedule"
Yoshinaga jumped up and grabbed Nakano by the neck, "Exactly! Winter Cup is in December, the culture festival is in November, you got plenty of time"
The boys exchanged knowing looks, sealing their pact with exaggerated nods and fist bumps. It was all in good fun, and Nakano figured there was no harm in playing along.
Just as the teasing peaked, the classroom door swung open, and their homeroom teacher entered, carrying a stack of papers. “Alright, everyone, back to your seats. Let’s get ready for the day.”
Nakano’s friends quickly disbanded, slipping out the door with waves and quiet laughs, leaving Nakano to settle into his desk. He glanced down at the slightly wrinkled audition poster still clutched in his hand and smirked. “This should be interesting,” he muttered as he tucked the poster away, ready to see how far this bet would take him.
[Lunch time]“Who do you think it’ll be?” Nishikawa asked, glancing back at Nakano with a mischievous grin. “If you do get the part, that is.”
“Well, it’s gotta be someone cute,” Matsuda said, leaning against the classroom doorway. “How about Morimoto from 2-B? She’s pretty popular and has that whole ‘princess vibe’ going on.”
“I don’t know, man,” Yoshinaga responded, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. “Morimoto's cute, but she’s kinda shy. I bet Shimizu would go for it—she’s always in the spotlight, loves attention.”
As they continued to toss around names, they noticed a figure approaching from the opposite direction. It was Kuroda Sayaka, one of the prettiest girls in school, known for her long, glossy hair and graceful demeanor. She also happened to have a well-known crush on Nakano.
Always the instigator, Matsuda nudged Nakano with his elbow and whispered, “Here’s your chance, man.”
“Oh, hey, Kuroda!” Matsuda said, feigning surprise. “You should totally audition for the play. You’d make a perfect princess, don’t you think?”
Kuroda blushed, her gaze flickering briefly to Nakano before quickly looking away. “I—I was thinking about it… Are you guys auditioning too?”
Matsuda grinned, throwing an arm around Nakano’s shoulders. “Well, Nakano here might just give it a shot. Wouldn’t that be something?”
Kuroda’s eyes widened slightly as she met Nakano’s gaze. “Really? That would be… interesting.”
Mastuda grabbed onto Nishikawa and Yoshinaga, "Alright man! We're headed off to lunch. See you there." He winked at Nakano as they hurried off to the cafeteria, leaving Nakano and Kuroda to exchange a brief, awkward smile.
As Nakano stood there, caught in the awkwardness of Kuroda’s hopeful gaze, his attention was suddenly drawn to a figure walking past the classroom. It was Mizuki, clutching his bag close to his chest as he made his way down the hallway. Nakano’s voice rang out without thinking, cutting through Kuroda’s words.
“Prez, you heading to the cafeteria too!”, Nakano called out, his tone unusually bright.
Mizuki stopped in his tracks, his heart skipping a beat. He hesitated, keeping his head low, but lifted it just enough to peek at Nakano through his lashes. His face flushed slightly as he registered that Nakano was talking to him—him of all people. Mustering a small, awkward wave, Mizuki mumbled a soft, “Y-yeah, I am” in response, his voice barely audible.
He quickly averted his eyes, his fingers tightening around the straps of his bag. With a slight bow, he scurried off towards the cafeteria, his footsteps hurried and almost stumbling in his haste to escape the situation.
Nakano’s gaze lingered on Mizuki as he retreated down the hallway, watching how he hunched his shoulders and sped up his pace as though desperate to disappear into the safety of the cafeteria. Something was endearing about the way Mizuki carried himself, a mix of shyness and vulnerability that made Nakano’s heart do a strange, unfamiliar flip in his chest.
Kuroda, still standing beside Nakano, noticed the shift in his focus. She followed his line of sight, her eyes narrowing slightly as she realized he was watching Mizuki. A small pang of disappointment welled inside her, but she kept it hidden behind a polite smile.
“Nakano?” Kuroda’s voice was soft, almost hesitant as if trying to pull him back to the present.
“Hm?”, Nakano finally tore his gaze away from Mizuki, blinking as he returned to the conversation. “Oh, sorry, Kuroda. What were you saying?”
Kuroda forced a smile, her curiosity piqued but her heart a little heavier. “It’s nothing… Just wondering if you’re going to audition. I think you’d be great.”
Nakano nodded absentmindedly, but his thoughts lingered on the fleeting image of Mizuki’s hurried departure. He wondered what about Mizuki made him feel this strange mix of curiosity and… something else he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
As Kuroda walked beside him, her gaze occasionally flicking towards him, she couldn’t help but wonder what had captured Nakano’s attention so completely, and why it had made her feel like she was standing on the outside, looking in.
----
[After School - Audition time]----
After school, the auditorium was buzzing with activity as the theater crew prepared for the first round of auditions. The seats were mostly empty, except for a few students scattered about, waiting for their turn to showcase their talents. On the stage, a handful of students had already finished their auditions, with the next group nervously waiting in the wings.
Seated at the long judging table was Nakajima, the play's director, flanked by Harada and Ohara, who would be responsible for helping with choreography and costumes. Iwamoto, ever the diligent vice president, was also there, clipboard in hand and a serious expression on her face. On the other hand, Mizuki was backstage, pacing back and forth as he prepared for his audition.
As the next student finished their audition and exited the stage, two sitting near the front row began to whisper among themselves, casting furtive glances toward the judging table.
"Isn’t it kinda obvious that Mizuki is going to be picked as the Prince?" one of them murmured. "I mean, he’s the president of the theater club. It’s like, super unfair."
The other student nodded in agreement, her voice low but tinged with frustration. "Yeah, it’s like the whole thing is rigged. No point in even trying if they’ve already made up their minds."
Iwamoto, who had sharp ears for any talk of favoritism, turned her head towards the whispering students. Clearing her throat, she addressed them with a firm but fair tone. “Just so you know, this is a fair audition. We’re here to cast the best talent for each role, including the Prince. If someone is better suited for the part than Mizuki, that’s who will get it. We don’t play favorites in this club.”
The students exchanged a glance, slightly taken aback by Iwamoto’s words. They fell silent, realizing they had been overheard and perhaps even felt chastened.
Meanwhile, the judges continued with the auditions, their expressions varying from neutral to mildly impressed as each student took the stage. Nakajima, the director, sat with her arms crossed, occasionally jotting down notes in her script. Harada leaned back in his chair, and Ohara, ever the perfectionist, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed each performance.
“I think she’s got potential,” Harada commented after one of the auditions, nodding towards a girl who had just finished reciting her lines.
“Ohara, what do you think?” Nakajima asked, looking over at her fellow judge.
“She’s good, but I’m not sure she has the presence we need for the Princess,” Ohara replied thoughtfully, tapping her pen against her chin.
Iwamoto, always the voice of reason, said, “Let’s keep her in mind, though. We’ll need to see who else auditions.”
As the next student took the stage, the judges settled back into their roles, watching intently as the auditions continued. Each student brought something different to the table, some more confident than others, but all eager to impress.
Mizuki took a deep breath, steadying himself as he stepped onto the stage. The theater crew sat silently, eyes trained on him as he prepared to showcase his talents. He had chosen two roles for his audition, hoping to display his versatility and range. First, he took on the role of the Prince, his voice strong and commanding as he delivered his lines with confidence, making the judges nod in approval.
However, the atmosphere in the room changes when Mizuki takes on the role of the Princess. His voice softened as he began to speak, his gestures delicate and precise. His performance was elegant, with a sincerity that made the character come to life like none of the other auditions had. The judges sat up straighter, their attention fully captured by the transformation unfolding before them. It was as if Mizuki had completely inhabited the role, becoming the Princess in a mesmerizing and captivating way.
At that very moment, Nakano walked in from the back of the auditorium, his eyes glued to his phone as he quickly typed out a message to his friends, letting them know he was about to audition. His steps were casual, his focus on the screen, but as he reached the room's threshold, something made him pause. His ears caught a familiar voice that held an almost magical quality, drawing him in like a spell. He looked up, his eyes widening as he saw Mizuki on stage, fully immersed in the role of the Princess.
Nakano froze, unable to move, his heart pounding in his chest. He had seen Mizuki before, but never like this—never with such grace, such poise. He was in awe, completely captivated by the scene before him.
As Mizuki finished his lines, there was a brief, stunned silence in the auditorium. Then, as if released from a spell, the room erupted into applause. Cheers and whistles filled the space, the sound of admiration and excitement reverberating off the walls. The energy was electric, and the audience could not contain their enthusiasm for what they had just witnessed.
"That was amazing!", someone shouted from the crowd.
"He's perfect!", another voice added.
One girl, overcome with excitement, stood up and said, "Mizuki is our Princess!"
The cheers grew louder, the entire theater club buzzing with excitement and approval. Still catching his breath from the intensity of his performance, Mizuki felt a rush of emotions—relief, pride, and a touch of embarrassment at the overwhelming response. He offered a shy smile and a bow, acknowledging the applause, but his heart was still racing from the realization that he had truly impressed his peers.
Still standing at the back of the room, Nakano couldn’t take his eyes off Mizuki. The girl's words echoed in his mind—"Mizuki is our Princess." He found himself nodding in agreement, unable to deny the truth. At that moment, he felt a pull toward Mizuki, a connection he couldn’t quite explain.
Nakano finally snapped back to reality as he made his way toward the stage, the weight of everyone's gaze on him. Iwamoto was flipping through her clipboard, her voice clear and steady as she called out the last name on the list for the day. "Nakano Haruki," she announced, and a hushed gasp rippled through the room.
Dropping his bag on the floor and apologizing for being late, He went to the steps leading onto the stage, focused on the audition ahead. As he reached the stairs, he crossed paths with Mizuki, who was walking off after his stellar performance. With a genuine smile, Nakano lightly touched Mizuki's shoulder in passing, leaning in to whisper, "You were awesome, Prez."
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