Volume 4, The Third Question(2/3)
“That’s right, this saved me from a lot of trouble, but we still have to read the contents at least, I’m worried that there might be some weird scenes, like....kissing..”
If, if there is then it’ll be a pain. We newbies can’t act those kinds of scene.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t write those kinds of scene. Even if I did, you guys are going to act at the blind spot anyway, just do some voice acting. Let’s stop chatting, time is running out, we’ll have to act fast.”
Under this kind of frustrating condition, Minami, Himeji-san and I were pushed out of the classroom by Hideyoshi.
“That....”
Do we really have to? Just when I was going to say that, I saw Himeji-san show me the ‘shhh’ gesture. Ah ah, I see, the corridor may have been bugged, that’s why she told me not to speak lightly.
Feeling frustrated, I could only walk the corridor quietly, getting ready to go to the roof floor. There might be hidden cameras somewhere near here, so we kept out scripts inside for safety purpose.
Creek..
I pushed open the rusty door to the roof floor, this is the second time we come here today. Next, I took out my script and winked to Minami, Minami then nodded back at me.
When we opened the first page of the script, the lines for each of us was written clearly inside.
Shimada : (Eh, Aki.)
Akihisa : (Yea? Minami, anything you need?)
Shimada : (Although it seems a little late....I still want to tell you my true feelings.)
Akihisa : (Eh? By now, you don’t have to mention that matter on purpose....)
Shimada : (But I still hope Aki will listen to me. Although it’s true I can’t control my feelings and went to kiss you—I should clear this up to you.)
Akihisa : (Oh....En, I understand. Then you may say it, I’d also like to know Minami’s true feelings.)
Staring at our lines, I feel as if all of my blood is freezing. What is this script? Is this a punishment game?
“....”
Minami who was beside me was also frozen when she read the script. Does she dare to say these lines?
“....Eh, Aki.”
Oh oh! It has begun! Minami seems willing to help me. If so, I must put in some effort too.
“En? Minami, anything you need?”
I read the script out loud. It’s a lot easier if I can read the script and say it out loud.
“Although it seems a little late....I still want to tell you my true feelings.”
It might not be fluent, but Minami managed to finish reading that line. Her mind must be slightly rejecting it, but if things stayed this way, I doubt there’d be any problem.
Good, now it’s my turn.
“Eh, By now, you don’t have to mention that matter on purpose..”
By the way, there were phonetics beside the ‘by now’ in the scripts. It’s very considerate of Hideyoshi—but I thought I was being treated as an idiot, it made me feel very unhappy.
“But I still hope Aki will listen to me....I should clear this up to you.”
Huh? Did Minami just skip a line? Let me see....ah ah, it’s the kissing part. It’s not wrong, asking her to say it out would be very embarrassing for her. Also, if she were to mention that topic, I’d feel embarrassed too....I thought Minami would skip those undesirable parts as if nothing happened.
“Oh, en, I understand. Then you may say it, I’d also like to know Minami’s true feelings.”
Once I’d finished that line, my face felt so hot, doing this was more embarrassing than expected....It’s just saying, but we didn’t have any time left to hesitate, the next would be the lines on the second page. Now it’s Minami’s turn to speak—
Shimada: (I’m very sorry for calling you here suddenly, Aki....That, actually I....I really like you!)
The moment I saw this line, I thought my gastric juice was going to spurt out of my nose.
She, she need to say this line? After all it’s an act to provoke Shimizu-san, so I can understand why it is so....But saying it, it’s really embarrassing!
What, what will Minami do? I observed her expression, her body was so stiff that she looked as if she’s going to tear the script apart, and she opened her mouth trembling.
Can it be, is she really going to say it?
“I, I’m very sorry for calling—"
She had already read a few words, I thought she actually decided to say it.
Good! Since Minami can handle her embarrassment and read this line, I shouldn’t hesitate or feel embarrassed. I must play my role well!
“I’m very sorry for calling you here suddenly, Aki..”
Minami read that line with a soft and somewhat weak voice.
“That, actually I, I really—"
Minami stopped for a second, she took a deep breath for the next line.
What Minami was trying is interpret, was a delicate and charming girl calling me to the roof floor to confess her feelings, I was sure she would confess to me in a feminine and cute way—
“I really—hate you!”
To hear these words, is this the reason she called me to the roof floor?
“Mi, Minami?”
“From the first time I met Aki, I’ve always despised you! And us being friends, it actually pains me! I really, really can’t continue being your friend!”
What is with this new kind of confession? Calling me to the roof floor on purpose, saying that she’s hated me all along....Forget about in reality, I’ve never seen this kind of scene in comics or novels before.
But, this isn’t the time to be shocked, I’ve got to play my part! How? Minami can’t be controlled. If so, I’m the only one left, I must continue reading the script!
I looked at the script, and confirmed my following line.
“Minami..”
“Aki....”
In order to cover up for Minami’s screw-up, I looked at Minami’s eyes with passion, and said:
“Me too, I’ve also felt the same way all along.”
Minami kept hitting me with her tight fist, this is preposterous!
☆
“The both you are so....How can you guys do something so off sync....”
While returning to Class F, I can see that Hideyoshi’s hand is on her forehead; her expression is full of frustration with no idea how to handle us. Everything that happened on the roof floor, the guys must’ve heard about it through the listening bug that Muttsurini planted.
“This, this can’t be helped! How can I say those lines! And it might be recorded as evidence!”
"‘That, that’s why! And how is it possible for Minami to say such a cute line—Weird? Did my right hand just go numb?”
To be able to see Minami doing something so cruel to my arm, was it just me thinking too much?
“Ah, can Hideyoshi act a part for us to see?”
Himeji-san clapped her hands and shared this idea. Right, we should see how a veteran actor acts, and then we should be able to act more naturally....But I thought it’s rather late to say this now.
“Huh? I’ve no problem with that.”
When he finished speaking, Hideyoshi picked up the script, and read through it with full attention for a few minutes.
“Good, I am ready.”
Hideyoshi put down the book, and pulled my hands up instead.
“Eh? What?”
I didn’t expect Hideyoshi to pull my hands up so sudden, I was shocked. What? What is happening?
I was confused and not paying attention at the same time, Hideyoshi then held my hand softly, lifting his head slowly.
“I’m very sorry for calling you here suddenly, Aki....That, actually I....I really like you!”
“....”
Hideyoshi suddenly confessed! Hideyoshi who is holding my hand, with both of her cheeks blushing, trying hard to convey her feelings to me, is undescribably cute.
“From the first time I’ve met Aki, I’ve always like you! And us being just friends, it actually pains me! I really, really can’t continue being your friend!”
One after another killing lines, it short-circuited my brain for an instant—you admire me secretly all along, it made me happy from the bottom of my heart.
“Aki....Kissing you first then only telling you this is a little late, but....I really like you, please date me.”
I can’t stand this anymore! After hearing this, how can I still be rational?!
“Mother....This is the first time I thank you from the bottom of my heart....Thank you for bringing me into this world....”
“—Oh en, it should be like this.”
Suddenly, the warm touch on my hand went away. We, weird? Where did that feeling of bliss went?
“He, he’s really good....”
“That, that’s right....Although it isn’t me who is confessing, I could feel my heartbeat speed up.”
“You guys are flattering me, I feel a little embarrassed....But I have given up most of my studying to learn acting, this level is nothing much to me.”
Hideyoshi rubbed his cheeks shyly.
I, I see, so those words came from the script....
“Akihisa-kun, why did you cry?”
“It’s nothing, Himeji-san....That, can you leave me alone for a while..”
There’s nothing sadder than being awaken from a blissful dream. That moment, I’ve finally felt that sorrow.
“Let’s not talk about that first. From the way things are turning, forget about making Shimizu freak out, it’s the other way instead. Muttsurini, is Shimizu aware of Akihisa’s conversation at the roof floor yet?”
“....I doubt so, I did something halfway, causing the bug to have poor reception.”
Muttsurini’s hands are still busy operating some kind of machine while leaning over the table, he’s distracted for a while to answer Hideyoshi’s question. That’s Muttsurini, with his good judgment!”
The problem now lies at not knowing how much Shimizu-san managed to hear.
“All the lines came from the script at the beginning, Shimizu won’t know that it’s fake. All is not lost, now you guys better act well as a sweet couple.”
""oh..""
Since Hideyoshi has already shown us such excellent acting, we can’t reject it even if we wanted to. Regarding that screw-up just now, it has to be us who will be making up for it.
“Just now before Himeji’s appearance, the act was interrupted, now I hope it won’t be too much of a trouble for you guys.”
“O, OK, I will try my best!”
“Un un, I hope you do.”
Looking at Himeji full of spirit, Hideyoshi nodded with satisfaction.
“I don’t mind acting, but isn’t the next period going to start soon?”
I looked at the clock to confirm the time, lunch break has only—What? Forget about lunch break, the first afternoon period is going to start very soon!
“Because students of the other classes are taking tests, the few afternoon periods are changed to self-study periods. The teachers are busy correcting test papers and supervising, not to mention that there’s also not enough manpower to repair the Shoukanjuu Summoning System, all the teachers are busy as bees.”
I see. Because the teachers have to deal with strange cases like all the second year boys getting suspended, now all of the second year boys are having exams to replenish their points. It can’t be helped that the teachers will lack manpower.
“The few morning periods are all filled in by substitute teachers.”
“Oh yeah, I guess that we’ll be spending most of this weekend attending tuitions. From the way things are going, it might be actually helping us.”
Tuitions..Although it’s not the way we want it to be, it is as Hideyoshi said, the afternoon self-study periods came at the right time, we must make good use of it.
“The next scene will be Shimada and Akihisa leaving the classroom to date outside, Akihisa and Shimada will have to hold hands.”
""....""
Both Minami and I take a look at each other. Why are we left with such a difficult issue?
“About, about that....Hideyoshi-kun, it, it’ll be fine even if we don’t hold hands right?”
Maybe she’s concerned about how we feel, Himeji-san stood up to protest against Hideyoshi, while waving both of her clenched fists wildly. It seems that Himeji-san understands that we don’t feel like doing that, she’s such a tender maiden.
“Himeji, it’s not that I don’t understand how you feel, but when they are walking together, they may be photographed or seen by others anywhere anytime, it’s crucial that they hold hands.”
“Bu, but....”
“Akihisa, Shimada, to make up for that previous mistake, both of you have to get your head into the game. Not only the visual effects are crucial to the plot, it’ll be easier for both of you to get into it."
To put it another way, if we hold hands, both Minami’s and my act will be more heartfelt? Since even Hideyoshi also said it, I could only bite the bullet.
I turned my head to look at Minami, to see her nodding her head lightly with reluctance and holding out her hand to grab mine.
“Great, the chosen stage this time is the rooftop. This way, it’ll also be more convenient for Muttsurini to control the thingamabob right?”
“....If we need to sabotage the listening bug, choosing the one on the rooftop is more natural.”
If there are any accidents during the act, we’ll have to temporarily disable the listening bug, compared with the listening bugs at other places, choosing the one on the rooftop that is faulty before is more natural.
“I see....Let’s go, Minami.”
“....I don’t mind holding hands, but if you dare to touch anywhere else, I’ll kill you.”
“I, I understand, I’ll be careful.”
Both Minami and I started to let out a stiff aura of discordance, but we still walked towards the corridor holding hands. The students from our class didn’t say anything about it, I guess Yuuji must’ve informed them about it beforehand.
While walking on the corridor leading to the rooftop, both Minami’s and my face were all smiles, and we’re chatting with each other.
“Hahaha, oh Minami. Holding my arm so tightly, don’t you find it hard to walk?”
“Hehe, I don’t see the problem, since we are in a relationship, it doesn’t matter much for me to hold your arm.”
My elbow joint made some scary cracking noises, but my smile stayed the same, because we were closely connected lovers.
“But Minami, you’ve been pushing against my elbow from just now.”
“Eh? You, you, you big pervert!”
“—My ribs!”
Being pushed against here and there with force, was causing so much pain that I wanted to die.
“Hehehe, oh Aki, you love to joke around, it’s really cute.”
“Hahahaha, oh Minami, you seem to be holding my hand harder than just now.”
“So what, I really do feel like hugging you tightly.”
“I really can’t stand you, Minami is a flighty girl.”
While chatting, I tried to hide the part below my elbow quietly so the others wouldn’t notice.
If they were to see this swelled up and beet red wrist of mine, no matter how hard we tried to act as a sweet couple, it would seem unconvincing.
While my fingers were getting numb, we were still strolling on the corridor. Good, now what should I say now? A lover’s conversation, a lover’s conversation....
“Right, Minami.”
“En? Is there anything, Aki?”
“Which part of me does Minami like?”
I remembered seeing this somewhere before using this line, from the examples of “conversations that makes you unhappy if it happens in front of you” I guess.
After hearing my question, Minami quieted down for a while, then hid all her emotions, and while looking directly at me and said: “Do I have to say such a thing?”
Oh, Minami seems to know about it too. I think she should be saying: “From your head to your toe, I like everything there!” an answer like this.
“From your head to your eyebrows, I like everything there.”
It seems that she’s only interested in my forehead.
“Anyway, what about you, Aki?”
“Do I even have to say it? Of course it is the same with Minami.”
“Oh, Aki....you are really cute!”
I heard my joint made scary cracking sounds again.
Once we had reached the rooftop, my poor elbow couldn’t stop twitching and trembling due to the overwhelming pain.
“Minami, let’s go there.”
“I don’t want to, let’s go to the other side.”
“Nonono, we’ll be able to get sunlight over there, it’ll be really comfortable under the sunlight.”
“If the sunlight is too strong, it’ll have negative effects on our skin! The other side is better since it is under a shade.”
Behind our smiles, we were actually having a skirmish on the stage choice. In other words, it’s me who wanted to get to the blind spot of the camera so that I could free my elbow, against Minami who wanted to continue using her joint locks, a secret silent duel.
“Come, Aki, we’ll have a seat there!”
“Minami, oh you, how can you pull my hand so hard.”
You’ll break it this way.
“Look, it’s cooler here, isn’t it comfortable, right? You are sweating heavily.”
These are obviously cold sweat caused by my body in pain, how can Minami be oblivious to it.
“Guess so. It’s cooler here, so cool that it’s making my back shiver.
“Are you feeling cold? If so we’ll have to stick closer together.”
“Nonono, we are sticking close enough.”
“What are you saying, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about right?”
While we were showing smiles that weren’t seen by anyone, looking deeply into each other’s eyes, I caught a glimpse of Hideyoshi moving towards the blind spot.
Not long after that, I saw Hideyoshi waving his hands towards the safety door of the rooftop, then a familiar figure appeared in front of us.
“What, what are both of you doing here? The classes are not over yet!”
That person in front of us with an angry expression was none other than Himeji-san. She seemed to be really angry, she’s obviously a good student.
“Mizuki....”
“Both of you actually stick so close to each other, and locking arms....From the looks of it, it’s like....like, like a pair of lovers right?”
Himeji-san pointed at our connected wrists. Looks like she didn’t notice that Minami was actually punishing me personally with her joint lock.
From the way things are going, how should I reply Himeji-san? We don’t have any scripts now, improvising shouldn’t be a problem.
“About that, Himeji-san....”
It won’t look good if we stay silent for too long, but after saying a few words, I’m suddenly stuck on what to say. Facing such dilemmas, what should I say?
Minami seemed to be unable to stand my stammering anymore, then she said:
“Mizuki, you are right, Aki and I are really going out.”
If you really think so, I hope that you’ll let go of my wrist this instant.
“Eh....You, you guys are dating, is it true?”
“En, I’m sorry for keeping it from you.”
Minami said it solemnly with an apologetic expression.
“Minami-chan....You really like Akihisa-kun?”
“Yes....I’m not honest with you about it, I’m really sorry. I did know your actual feelings, but I still....”
She can say out these lines without a script, so awesome! This two must’ve actually had the talent to act.
Anyway, what should I say? Uh, un....Right! I’ll just use the lines from comics or novels with similar plots. I remember from that novel, there’s a similar plot, I’ll just use the lines from that novel.
I should be careful and try not to bite my tongue, I took a deep breath—
“Both of you don’t be like this, stop fighting over me!”
Crack—It’d be fine if Shimizu-san didn’t hear my joint being dislocated through her listening bug.
“I see....Minami-chan is also....”
“I know that this isn’t something that can be solved with an apology....but I’m really sorry. I don’t think that you’ll forgive me.”
I might be listening attentively to their conversation, but I was more worried that I didn’t feel anything although my joint was dislocated. I think that I’ve heard before that when an organism’s body is experiencing serious damage, the brain will shut out the pain receptors, I think that I’m....
“No, I can probably feel Minami’s feelings....The point that you’re actually willing to be honest with me, actually lets me feel more relaxed.”
For safety precautions, I tried moving my fingers.
The first is my thumb—Oh, weird, why isn’t it moving at all.
“Eh? Mizuki, you are willing to forgive me?”
“It’s not about whether I’m willing to forgive you....I think that everyone have the freedom to like someone else, how can I chastise you for such a thing.”
“Mizuki....thank you....”
Their rivalry scene is going well, and it seems that I don’t even have to perform, hence, it’s crucial that I verify my body’s current condition.
Now I have to confirm my forefinger’s movement. The colour of this finger seems normal, it should be able to move—Eh? Why isn’t it moving? Is my current condition really that bad?
“But, I can’t forgive that kiss in the morning! That’s breaking the rules! And it’s also Akihisa-kun’s first kiss I think.”
How can it be, my middle finger should be well—there’s not even a slight movement.
Can it be true? Can this be really happening..
“That, that’s because....Aki....sent me that text message, and there are two and three situations happening consecutively, that’s why I....”
Woahohohohoh! My ring finger and pinkie can’t move too! Things are really terrible now!
“You have no excuses! Such sly action, even if God forgives you, I—“
--Dong!
It sounds like something hit the wall.
But I don’t have any will left to be concerned. Fingers! My fingers!
""Ah..""
“What, what I meant isn’t this. That, that....Hehe!”
“That’s, that’s right....Hehe!”
Too weird, there’s something from my fingers to my elbow joint. What should I do? If this continues, I think I’ll be called with an awesome nickname like “the single-handed punishment inspector”.
“Anyway, what I want to say is....Minami-chan is a big idiot!”
“Ah! Mizuki!”
Now is not the time for acting. I have to rush to the infirmary, and have a treat to treat my injuries!
I tried to pull Minami’s wrist away—
“Wait, wait for a while, Aki? Why are you running away to chase Mizuki!”
Uwaaaaaaa! Minami doesn’t want to let go! My body is not well already, and she’s still like this! I really have to get to the infirmary!
“When this situation happens, Aki will actually abandon me and choose Mizuki....”
I had no idea what was Minami muttering, and she didn’t even notice my wrist.
Eiyayaya! The color of my wrist is so horrible that I don’t dare to look at it! This is really bad!
“If, if so, then I....Ah, Aki....Be with me please? Because....that....for you....because I like you....”
Minami continued to act with a serious expression, but I was already at my limits!
“Mi, Minami, I’m sorry! I have somewhere that I really need to go!”
“Ah....”
I threw off her arm with force and bolted off.
Infirmary! I have to get there fast, or else things will turn out to be hopeless!
“....Really....I guess this must be the reality....”
“Shi, Shimada, calm down first, don’t speak such nonsense....”
“I had enough, I don’t want to continue acting. After all, you....like a ‘girl’ such as Mizuki.”
There seems to be a sound from behind, but when my blood starts to flow again, pain starts to invade my injured arm, now I don’t have any strength left to be concerned about anything else.
☆
“Great....My hand can still move, it’s really great....”
Lucky that my injured wrist was treated in time, I stroke my chest with ease while walking back towards the classroom, and bumped into Himeji-san on the way.
What happened? Is she troubled about something? Why does she look so gloomy.
“Himeji-san?”
“Ah....Akihisa-kun.”
I tried calling out to her, and Himeji-san only noticed me then, she lifted her head slowly.
“What happened to you? You look so gloomy.”
“Eh? Do I look really gloomy?”
“Yes, you look a little lonely.”
If she were to ask me “which part of me looks lonely”, I wouldn’t be able to answer it, I just felt that she seemed different from the usual her.
“Do I look really lonely? Actually, I don’t especially feel that way.”
Himeji-san tilted her head with embarrassment.
“But, if it looks this way to Akihisa-kun, it must be—“
“It must be what?”
“—Because the person whom I like is taken away, so I feel miserable....Even though, I knew that it’s just an act....”
The moment she said this, Himeji-san’s expression seems to be veiled by depression and sorrow.
I see, she’s a girl as expected. It’s just the character setting of a plot of being sad because the crush was taken away by a good friend, those macho guy friends of mine won’t have such an emotion.
In order not to hurt the fragile Himeji-san, I tried my best choosing the most suitable words, and telling her: “Himeji-san, don’t worry, it was all an act.”
“Yes, you’re right, that was just an act.”
“That’s right.”
Right, as it was an act, you don't have to be too concerned about it. Moreover, I can’t imagine a guy so charismatic that both Himeji-san and Minami both fell for him. If such a guy really exists, that guy must have an intelligent brain, a handsome appearance and extraordinary sports talent, and also tender, popular with girls, honest, reliable, and completely not a playboy, I guess only such a charismatic guy will be able to capture their hearts.
While thinking about this, I couldn’t help myself but feel envious, although I know that such a guy doesn’t exist in real life.
“....If..”
Just when I was unhappy with that imaginary character, Himeji-san who was beside me muttered something inaudible.
“En? Himeji-san, did you say something?”
“If....that situation really happens....that time, what will Akihisa-kun do?”
“Eh?”
While I was fully awaken, I'd just noticed that Himeji-san was staring deeply at me with a serious expression.
I guess that topic just now made her feel uneasy? It was obviously an act, but she was too into it, maybe Himeji-san is really sensitive.
If so, I can’t talk about this topic with humor.
Even if it’s not good for me, but I’m still a guy, if I just speak lightly, she’ll take it to heart, so I’ll have to answer her question earnestly.
After thinking for a long while, I slowly replied from the bottom of my heart.
“About that, if I were faced with such a situation—I’ll try -->>