CHAPTER 4

"Geez Okita! I told you to come to school early today. It's supposed to be our dress rehearsal today but we still haven't gotten your body measurement. You're the only actor who has no costume yet!" shouted Sa-chan as I entered the classroom late as always.

"Hai, hai. It's so early in the morning and you're already making a big fuss about it." I said as I approached her. Seriously, sometimes she gets worked up over trivial things.

"What's so early in the morning? It's almost 9 o'clock." She said.

"So what? Atleast I came."

"Aaargh! Shut up and come here. I need to take your body measurement. The school festival is 3 days from now. We don't have time to waste." She said angrily.

Who cares about a stupid school festival?

I really didn't care. I was still bitter for not getting the role of the huntsman. Who cares about being the prince? That otaku freak should have gotten the role. It was all that stupid china's fault.

Sa-chan took a measuring tape and started taking my body measurements. But as she was doing that, Kondo-san called her and asked her to fix the raffles in Otsuu's dress. So she left and asked someone to do the measuring for her instead.

I really wanted to get over this and ditch rehearsals. I wanna go home!

While I was spacing out, a hand suddenly grabbed my shirt from behind.

"Don't move" said a small voice. I knew where that voice belongs to.

"I want to get this costume thing over with! So don't move while I take your body measurements." It was china clinging on to my shirt while holding a measuring tape. I didn't know she was in the costumes committee.

I let her finish what she was supposed to do. Geez! We were so close to each other. I can even feel her breath. I kept silent. For some reasons, my heart was beating like crazy. And for some reasons, I noticed that she was taking a long time measuring my waist.

HER HANDS WERE ALL OVER MY ABS.

Yes. I have abs.

"Ne China! What's taking you so long? Are you obsessed with my abs or something? You're taking advantage of the situation." I told her.

Of course, the moment I said those words she strangled me with the measuring tape she was holding.

"Dream on! Why would I do that? I was just having a hard time using this tape. And for your information, I didn't feel and abs!" she shouted.

"You've just admitted that you're after my abs." I said. It was fun teasing her so I continued.

"You obviously like me and you know it." I told her. I was wondering what her reaction would be.

I can see her all flustered. You're so easy to read china!

She paused for a moment. Then she looked at me with a grin on her face.

"Hmmm. Why do you keep bringing up this "like" thing? Maybe you're the one who really likes me. You keep on eavesdropping with my conversation with Shinpachi. You tried to hit on me on our first encounter. And you keep getting on my nerves!" she said.

I don't know what she's talking about. She's taking it personally.

"Sorry but you're not my type! I prefer black-haired ones over brown haired guys! There's now way I'd like you. Baaa-ka" she added.

"Good, coz I don't like you either. Plus, it would be a problem if you start liking me." I said.

We ended our supposed to be conversation violently. The props nearby were almost destroyed. I always get worked up when I'm with her.

At the rehearsals

"My goodness. She's so pretty. Her hair is as dark as e-ebony. Her skin is as white as snow. And her lips is as err...red as blood?" I said as I read the script.

"-AND CUT!" Kondo-san shouted after I read the lines.

"Sougo, can't you put any emotions while reading the lines?" he said.

I hate this. What's with these mushy lines anyway? I even saw china laughing like crazy while Kondo-san is scolding me. By the way, she's one of the dwarfs coz she's small.

Things were going pretty well (I guess) in the rehearsal when Kondo said,

"And for the last part, I want the prince to give snow white a...

...PASSIONATE KISS"

...

EH?

What the hell was that?

Everyone became excited after Kondo-san said that. Otsuu-chan, who was lying on the casket, turned red. I stared at kondo-san blankly, trying to decipher what he had said.

A KISS?

"A kiss is like licking another person's lips right?" I said, followed by

"Why does the prince have to lick Snowhite's lips? Can't the dwarfs do the instead?" I asked.

"What are you talking about you JERK!" Hijikata-san said as he kicked me.

Everyone gave a weird stare at me except that otaku freak whose eyes were so dark that I can't even see them. Is he mad? Oh well, I really didn't care. I was still bitter for not getting the role of the huntsman. Who cares about being the prince? That otaku freak should have gotten the role. It's all that stupid china's fault.

In the classroom

Everyone left immediately after the rehearsals. I was left in the classroom to fix some of the props as a consequence for being late. While I was busily arranging the materials used for the play, a voice from behind said,

"ne~" It was china standing by the door. She had a serious look on her face.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you going home?" I asked.

"Not yet. There's still something I need to tell you. About the kiss..." she said.

"What about the kiss?" I asked.

"Can't you just not do it?'

It had gotten awkward all of a sudden. Then I laughed and said,

"Why do you care so much? And what is it to you if I kiss her? Are you jea – "

"Shinpachi will get hurt!" She shouted even before I finished what I was supposed to say.

Yeah right. Of course, It was about him. What am I thinking?

At home

"What are you thinking?" my sister asked me as she saw me lying on the couch while spacing out.

"Nothing much" I said.

"You shy kid. Is it about her again?" my sister said teasing me.

"Cut it out. It's nothing like that" I said brushing like that.

"Okay okay. If you say so. By the way, your class will be having a play this Saturday for the school festival right? I'm so excited! I gonna see that for sure" She said. It's obvious that she just wanted to see hijikata.

"nee-san. I don't think I can act well." I said.

"Sou-chan? What's wrong" she asked worriedly.

"Nothing much. I'm just tired." I said as I left and went to my room.

What's wrong with me? Just because of what china said I'm getting all worked up. So I'm not supposed to kiss Otsuu just because she doesn't want to see her "precious" friend get hurt? Why would I do that?

There's no way I would do that.

Saturday, School Festival

It was the day of the school festival. There were lots of people. Everyone was busy. Our class was of no exception. We were at the auditorium. Any time, the play will start.

"Hurry up. Go to your designated position. We're gonna start within 5 minutes." Kondo said.

I peaked behind the curtains. I saw my sister sitting in front. China suddenly approached me. When I saw her dressed as dwarf I can't help but laugh.

"It looks good on you!" I said while laughing.

"Shut up. I'm playing Dopey, the youngest dwarf and I can't do anything about it. By the way, regarding what I told you the other day. Please, I'm counting on you. This is the first and the last time I'll be asking you for a favour."

I looked straight at her. I know what to say.

"You know what? I've thought about what you said. There's just something I don't understand. You want your friend to give up pursuing Otsuu-chan right? If he gets hurt by me kissing Otsuu and if ever Otsuu fell for me after the kiss, which I'm sure will happen, then you would achieve your goal right?" I said.

"You're right. But I don't want him to get hurt."

"Will you get hurt if he gets hurt?" I asked her then she left.

The play

The play was going pretty well. I stuttered a few times especially whenever I see my sister watching me. We were near the end of the play.

"Over there is a beautiful girl that is err...well, rather dead and we hope you could revive her." Grumpy said.

I walked towards where Snow white was lying. Around her were the dwarfs who were crying. China was there beside Snow white.

"What happened to her? My goodness, she's so pretty. Her hair is as dark as ebony. Her skin is as white as snow, and her lips are as red as blood." I said.

It was already the part where I will kiss her. Everyone was anticipating the kiss, especially the audience and the hopeless otaku freak. I lean towards Otsuu, I can see her lips trembling. It was a breath-taking moment. I glanced at china for a second.

Then the kiss happened.

The auditorium fell in a huge uproar. Everyone was shocked, even the casts and the crews. Some were wailing. After all,it was a true kiss. A genuine kiss,

between the prince and Dopey.

-end of chapter 4-

A/N: So there. I finally finished chapter four. So what do you think? I was actually thinking of adding more sensual moments between Sougo and kagura but I'm afraid that the story will get too mushy. Comments are very much appreciated.