Nayuki wasn't blind.
At first he thought it was for the performance. Alexis, letting his hair down, gaining his life and his childhood friend back. And Lambert, so happy to receive any attention from Alexis, holding onto a precious gift. But that wasn't the prop Alexis was supposed to give to Lambert—and that wasn't Lambert catching up with his friend.
Nayuki had performed so much with Hoshitani he immediately knew the difference. Hoshitani always gave one-hundred percent to anything, but this was something Nayuki had never seen. Hoshitani wasn't shining; he was a supernova. He wasn't speaking as Lambert. He was trying to tell Otori something—and Otori was responding.
It wasn't Lambert and Alexis on stage. It was certainly Hoshitani and Otori.
Nayuki didn't know what happened from the time they left the dressing room, but something had changed. Something Nayuki wasn't sure he wanted to see.
When Hoshitani returned from the curtain call, flushed and beaming, Nayuki joined his teammates in offering congratulations. All in all, it was an amazing show. He was proud of his friends for bringing the production to life.
As Hoshitani gave out hugs, that's when Nayuki noticed the ribbon around his wrist. The ribbon that was always in Otori's hair.
He was reminded of an elementary school friend. She caught him outside the gates, the graduation ceremony finally over and everyone looking forward to middle school. She pulled a barrette from her hair, her face the color of fresh tomatoes.
"I know it's bold, but please accept this gift," she had shouted. "Please think of me while we're apart. You're very special to me!"
Nayuki had accepted the barrette because he didn't know what else to do. He couldn't recall where he put it, what her name was, or even the color of her hair. But he remembered the emotions behind it all.
Nayuki wasn't blind. He just wished he didn't have to see it.