CHAPTER 4: The School Play
-TheSilentReader-
Second semester, two years ago,
before the Lillian culture festival:
The student council of Hanadera and the Yamayurikai members were to assemble at the auditorium for their first practice for the Torikaeba Monogatari. The boys had their meeting with the Yamayurikai members at the Rose Mansion a week ago, which went quite accordingly to Sachiko's plan. Before the fated meeting, Sachiko-sama had reminded her sister to discuss the play to Yuuki-san, after their very brief silent disagreement. It was because of the roles, and it was obvious that Yumi did not want the spotlight. Yumi, however, after witnessing another rampage of words from the senior, was reminded by sudden flash of memory. There was no reason to reject the role. As usual, the sentence was revealed through her face. She left the scarf of her collar in a mess after fumbling with it when they argued, and agreed with her Onee-sama with a smile. Sachiko began arranging the scarf that Yumi jumbled up as a reflex for thinking too hard, or rather, being indecisive about the role that her Onee-sama gave. After she finished, Sachiko said,
"Yumi, I know that eventually you will like being in the spotlight."
"That, is very out-of-character for me, Onee-sama."
"But, you must know, being in the Crimson Rose Family, always being in the spotlight is quite normal. This family enjoys it."
"Do you, Onee-sama?" That was quite rude, darn it.
"I do now. That brought me to you, Yumi. Don't underestimate that power. You might use it soon." She giggled privately by covering her lips with the back of her left hand. She'd become as conniving as the former Crimson Rose. For Mizuno Youko-sama to witness her little sister's behavior would be priceless for her. However, the rest of the Yamayurikai heard this conversation clearly, and Sachiko was discussing this "Spotlight" topic with such pride bordering to arrogance. She even had that smirk, that smirk that she usually saw in Kashiwagi Suguru—no, this was a different case. Whatever she observed about that smirk, Yumi considered this as an assurance coming from her Onee-sama.
Yumi did not quite understand Sachiko-sama's reply, yet Sachiko-sama did not supply more hints to this... spotlight thing. But then, on the bright side, she had Yuuki to share it with. This might be fun.
"The Crimson Rose Family and fame and spotlight... those sure are synonymous." Shimazu Yoshino, Rosa Foetida en bouton, blurted out few moments after Sachiko-sama spoke. She was sitting beside Yumi, and with her empty bento already arranged for keeping. She was observing the not-so-heated conversation of the adjacent Crimson Rose sisters, and for Yumi-san to first-hand reject the idea of having the main role was pretty boring. Boring (also) was her acceptance after Sachiko-sama's brief sermon. This supposed-to-be a silent side comment was heard at the whole table, and with Toudo Shimako's slight gasp the assumption was that, Yoshino was being rude.
"That was quite forward, Yoshino!" Yoshino, upon hearing the flabbergasted voice of Hasekura Rei, the Rosa Foetida, began to sweat in the forehead. Her attitude, butting into the conversation of the other Rose Family, was definitely not the attitude that the Rosa Chinensis would accept. Yoshino's eyes began to move side to side in erratic instability, as if calculating the best possible escape to the Biscuit Door, rather than be lectured. She wanted to melt to the ground, no dig a hole on the ground, wait, to dig her grave...? Be prepared for another batch of tongue-lashing—
"No, it wasn't."
Yumi stood up, ready to rebuke Yoshino— "No, it was my fault—"
"Yoshino-chan is right, you know. Boring as our family could be, but that power never leaves us, though it is perceived by others in different ways." Sachiko-sama heard the comment all right, but her reception to it shocked the whole table. Yumi never want to admit it, but she realized her older sister's reason for being so giddy and ridiculously happy; 'My cute little Yumi finally taking up the stage as the lead actress!'.
Oh brother.
"Back to our discussion; Yumi, please inform the student council in Hanadera about their responsibilities in our cultural festival." Rei began to direct the meeting into its proper course. For Sachiko to be a little laid-back, disregarding the current meeting because of her...crazy fascination for her cute little sister were such a rare phenomenon that the other Roses just considered this one of her facets being revealed once in every ten minutes, just this day.
"Yes, I'll talk to Yuuki about this."
"Aside from that, having read that story, we lack actors even we combine our numbers with Hanadera's. Though I am not so sure how many actors that we need. Maybe we should announce for an audition?" Shimako supplied another agenda, to the relief of the other members. This Yamayurikai presentation must be polished before they present it to the adhoc commitee handling the festival and to the Hanadera. There was a brief silence until Yumi said,
"I can name two."
"Yeah, Kanako-san and Touko-san." Supplied Noriko.
"Yup!"
Rei turned to Yumi, to resolve the curiosity that abruptly came to her, "Are you sure that they have free time for practice? Touko-chan is in the Drama Club. Therefore, it's possible that she has things to do there. And Kanako-chan..."
"Kanako-chan agreed that she will participate to whatever project that the Yamayurikai has in the festival. She will accept." Yumi supplied.
"Oh." The rest made that unnecessary sound. Yoshino tapped Yumi's shoulder. Her reason, Yumi did not know. Sachiko, on the other hand, sipped her tea, and watched Yumi calmly.
"And Touko?"
"I asked her already. So, now we have two." Sachiko again sipped her tea. With brief review of the characters in the play, the members found out that the additional students were just enough for the play to function. The rest of the meeting went and minutes were recorded, thus, came to the day where the Hanadera students finally came to Lillian for an official meeting.
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"Yuuki!"
"Yumi-Onee-sama!" Yuuki did not reply but his classmate Arisugawa Kintaro, and greet her with a fierce hug. Yumi was not perplexed by how Alice-kun greeted her, but she felt odd when she suddenly tapped Alice-kun's head like a little sister. Yuuki, having a trained eye, noticed the sudden change in Yumi's features, deadpanned, "Yumi, you simply cannot make Alice your imoto, no matter how many times you pat his head."
Alice was reminded of his manners, and reluctantly detached himself from Yumi. She explained that she was not bothered by it, admitted that something else came to her mind, after she hugged and patted his head. Yumi was quite easy on the Yuuki's schoolmates because they conduct their non-official meetings on Yuuki's house. Kobayashi-kun served the student council as the treasurer; therefore, he discussed finance with the president first before its presentation to the council. Yuuki was quite strict with that arrangement.
Yumi was the one tasked to guide the student council inside the campus for the first practice and the introduction of the Hanadera student council to the crew. Having Rosa Chinensis en bouton guide the boys was a sight in the high school division that girls of all levels stopped and stare at the incomers with curiosity. It was not usual that members of the male species, particularly within the student's generation walked along the road, surrounded by falling leaves of ginkgo trees. Yet, it was not as if the former student council president, Kashiwagi Suguru, was there for all Lillian students to act like this. With Yumi leading them, the sight seemed ethereal, except for the occasional whispers from students.
"Is that Rosa Chinensis en bouton's brother?"
"She's so like him. He's so cute, like a stuffed toy."
"Yuuki, that comment was the first." Yumi quipped.
"I never expect that girls here would describe me as cute as a stuffed toy." He black expression said it all. He was bored.
Kobayashi-kun began to tease the president."A stuffed toy? Tell me, is it because you look like your sister?"
"Am I that... big as a stuffed toy?" Yuuki's hand suddenly came in contact with his torso.
Yumi was seeing the conversation in a very different direction. "Don't act like I'm not here. Wait. Is that the way the students see me? Cute as a stuffed toy?"
With Yumi's blurted observation, Alice began could not suppress to be closer to Yumi again. He immediately grabbed her arms and walked with her along the ginkgoes. The rest of the boys did not mind Alice's behavior; they just enjoyed the scenic routes of the school. Alice rested the side of his face on Yumi's shoulder, and even with the female crowd increasing their whisper's volume, Yuuki was happy. To the most generic meaning of it. To see Alice this hyperactive was enough. It was hard to grant this sort of freedom to Alice, especially whenever they were at school. Being at Lillian was a break for Alice, and Yumi did not seem to mind, as if it was natural for her to be so generous to the person who lazed his head upon her shoulders.
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"I heard that Alice-kun was touchy-feely when you escorted the Hanadera boys from the gate." Yoshino began her interrogation, while watching Shimako deliver her lines along with Kanako-chan. She began to nudge the other about the rumors, even if Touko-chan was just a breath away from Yumi. Touko, on the other hand, acted as if she did not overhear the conversation.
"I think he was. I don't mind." Yumi replied with a smile.
"Now that I confirmed it, I am having second thoughts about what he said during our last official meeting with the Hanadera."
"Now what was it?"
"If ever he really regretted the fact that he was a 'female soul trapped in a boy's body'."
"Alice-kun just linked his arms with mine, and placed his head on my shoulder. What's with that?"
Touko-chan almost took a step towards the pair who were talking but luckily prevented herself from doing it. Alice, no, that Arisugawa Kintaro, the one who was so jovial after Sachiko-onee-sama announced the gender-swapping idea, having hallucinations of the seour tradition exclusive for Lillian high school students... That is so way out of line!
"Those are way too much. He acts like he's your little sister. Or rather, is he hitting on you?"
"Now, that's harsh. I don't mind, he's a girl at heart, and a friend. It made me think of something though."
"What?"
"About seours."
Touko's heart skipped a beat. Or, it was just blood pressure surging up for her sake. No flowery figuratives. If watching from afar was just what she wanted, everything that went with it was fine. Even Yumi not noticing her true needs.
"Yumi, the next scene is between you and Yuuki-san!" Sachiko, the director, announced.
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Touko was watching the Yumi-sama rehearsed on the stage. She was focused on Rosa Chinensis en bouton that she did not notice the shadow that intercepted with hers. The auditorium was generally dark, and only the lights focused on the stage were allowed to be used. The idea of having a gender-swapped Torikaeba Monogatari still lingered to her as a new oasis for extraordinary experiences, and even with a budding problem with a sempai in the Drama club, Rosa Chinensis' idea made her day. The idea sprouted from the culprit's mouth a few days ago, after they officially met the student council of Hanadera Academy. Meanwhile, the person who owned the shadow that intercepted with Touko's was in a kimono. That person was watching Yumi performed, too.
Yumi's presence gave her a fright. No—dammit, Yumi-sama is on the stage right now! Then, it occurred to her, as she insulted her diminishing common sense, that the person beside her right now, watching Yumi, was the latter's brother.
"Fukuzawa-san, you gave me a fright!" Her hands, unknown to her, were placed on her bosom, as if she could settle her heart from beating irregularly. Yumi-sama had this strange effect on her, but Yuuki-sama? Maybe it's because of their killing resemblance.
" 'I gave you a fright?' What's up with that line?"
"I thought I'm seeing the doppelganger of Yumi-sama. Wearing a kimono like that..."
"Do I have a choice? Sorry about that..." He coarsely whispered, while acting very girlish to the point of being flirtatious. He then stopped acting like a flirt, then nervously grinning at her. He then apologized again, and further tried to help by asking if Touko needed some water (after all, he gave her a fright), or anything that could relieve her. Then, a warning came from the front row seats of the auditorium.
"Shhhhhhhh!"
Rei's strict nature during kendo practice was oozing out during rehearsal. If ever she had a shinai with her, she might have hit one of the chairs with it just to shut unnecessary noises behind the seats of the auditorium. They both put their hands on their mouths. Then they looked at each other as if they were little children who were caught eating candies. However, as this feeling of ease swept over Yuuki, Touko-san abruptly resumed to her original stance, and watched the stage with calm. She was so professional, but that calmness though, he surprisingly observed, felt like it did not came from the heart. Something, a small thing, must have been bothering her. Being talkative like her sister, he started a conversation, hoping that the girl would respond.
"What do you think about Yumi's acting abilities, you know, base from the observation of a member of the Drama club?"
Touko was astonished about the straight question that the man threw at her. As a reflex of trying not to be thoroughly rude to the visitor, she just replied, "She memorized her lines well, and reflected the role's character close to mark." She deadpanned.
"She's unable to use her acting skills outside the stage though." Yuuki-san agreed by nodding his head.
Touko wondered why it was easy for Yuuki-san to tell other people about his older sister's shortcomings to a girl that he barely even knew. But that observation was not new to everyone who knows Yumi-sama. But why that topic to start a conversation? He was so transparent.
"Kashiwagi-sempai also says that about me. I guess, my sister and I are quite alike. That's why I've been observing how she behaves here in school just to spot even a little difference between her and me."
"Suguru-onii-sama did?" Finally, a two-word sentence as a response.
"Yup. Though, I think he was more interested to what Yumi has." They watched the scene of the play. Yuuki's words still lingered inside her head. The fact that Suguru-onii-sama has sudden interest to Yumi-sama was not a big and new matter at hand, but the reason for Onii-sama's reason for especially picking her as an interesting being was something that she somehow knew. She began to stroke the hem of her costume with her fingers, trying to ease her tension with the smoothness of the silk, and began to shift her focus to other things rather than Yumi-sama. The auditorium gave her an opening to reveal the true expression behind her unfaltering white mask, and as she bowed her head, she noticed Yuuki's hands holding the script of Torikaeba Monogatari. It was folded, and she observed, although with difficulty because of lack of illumination, that Yuuki's copy contains several scribbles. Just like how she does it. There scribbled in red ink the way a lady should minimize the movement of her hands... the mood that his character must create in that particular scene, the degree of force of his voice he should consider for the scene, and so on. Terrible coincidence. And when she lifted her face to follow the outline from Yuuki's arm to his face, she suppressed a light gasp. Yuuki was smiling, his eyes focused onto his sister. He was proud of her. It showed through his face.
"Yeah, you have the same unguarded expression as Yumi-sama."
"Eh?"
She decided not to reply anymore or to repeat the statement, as she assumed Yuuki-sama would like her to do, since she said that clear enough for the boy to hear her.
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She could not believe that she let her guard down. And Yuuki-san saw through her facade.
She meant to act in front of the Hanadera boys as a very taciturn girl, not wanting any kind of mindless conversation from them. This was her instant realization after the Yamayurikai introduced to the Hanadera student council her and Kanako-san. She acted as unapproachable as possible, not wanting to have any connection with them. She acted with them in a colorful and proud manner that her character portrayed, but after every scene that she rehearsed in front of Sachiko-onee-sama, she reverted to her "unapproachable mode". It was always easy to get away with long pleasantries during introductions, since the boys were a little afraid of her. Boys like girls who are nice and approachable, right? Touko did not want any connection from other people right now; she was already satisfied with the small number of friends and relatives who she trusted. Was she? Even now, as Touko watched the rehearsals unfold with Sachiko's frequent interruptions because the senior wanted a scene to be perfect as she'd seen it, Touko was beginning to face an identity crisis. Who am I, really? Do I really want this?
She began to rub the hem of her costume with her fingers as she watched Yumi-sama performed in front of the stage. To her surprise, the senior was quite into her role; she delivered the lines with lyrical comedy that her character rendered, which was an introvert courtman. Touko, being an insufferable actress to the bone, studied and researched every character involved in the play, and Yumi's interpretation of her character was similar with hers. That, Touko was very proud of. She watched Yumi-sama's every move, and thought to herself, why was she not applying this talent of hers in real situations? For Touko, concealing her true soul was the way to get away with everything. No one would know her true colors, her true intentions. Every person had his o her own observation and understanding of her character, therefore, it was possible that no one has a similar perspective of who she was. She might act too cheerful in front of a person, but gloomy in front of another. No one would understand her rather than herself.
"'I gave you a fright'? What's up with that line?"
He found her without her mask on. She, who was too indulged with the searing presence of Yumi-sama in front of the stage, was caught by the male doppelganger, presented with his long rich brown wig and his formal kimono. The fact that she did not restrain two back steps from both her feet, she was indeed frightened. Yet, with Yuuki's playfulness, she began to see similarities between the siblings that she started to laugh at him. For him to act "flirtatious" was like to act like Yum-sama. His joke was priceless, so priceless that they received some warning from the Rosa Foetida who was closer to the stage. Yet, this was the warning. The time to personify apathy.
Yet he was getting more and more talkative. He was asking questions, questions that were totally related to the field of acting that she could not just ignore. The fact that she represented the Lillian Drama Club forced her to let the irritation go away and... to breath for the next set of words to come out. She deadpanned all her replies, like the voices that you hear when calling customer's service. That, she could do well. She did it to Yumi-sama every now and then, why not do it to her brother?
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The conversation did not end there. As the rehearsals progressed day after day, the dialogues between them seemed frequent. Though topics did not expand to various matters aside from acting, the Yamayurikai and Hanadera student council, and the upcoming culture festival, these were enough think-tanks for them. The reasons that they were in the auditorium in the first place were the Torikaeba Monogatari. Yuuki sometimes talked to Sachiko for some technical matters regarding schedules and divisions of labor, contributions, etc., nevertheless, whenever they were not on stage, they usually stay in the back, talking.
Talking with Touko-san, usually consist of at most thirty exchanges of sentences. That's it. It was not a conversation between friends, but more like a business meeting. Nothing unnecessary was supplied by Touko-san. But Yuuki, being assertive he was, usually attempted to coat vibrancy on the conversation. Yet, Touko-san was good at dodging such attempts. Stiff, he told himself, was the word for her. She needs to relax.
Yet, there was a time when she opened up to Yuuki about the rumor regarding Alice's actions. After their turns in the rehearsal, they both situated themselves in their usual spot behind several rows of seats. There was no flow of words between them until, for the first time, she opened the topic.
"There was a rumor running around the school lately. About Alice-san."
"What about him?"
"He, according to what I heard, was too touchy-feely with Yumi-sama whenever he's at Lillian. They were speculating that he's Yumi's boyfriend, and you, being the brother, doesn't mind seeing them like that." She added something to her report: her thoughts about the rumor. She maintained a poker face while she extemporized her brief speech. Like a robot. Amazing, he thought, as he glued his eyes to her face, while suppressing his jaw to be dislocated because of amazement. Do I see prejudice against Alice? Or jealousy?
"What do you want me to say?"
"The truth."
"Why? You want to confirm something?"
"No," she began to execute a smirk. Her well-groomed bangs did not hide her half-opened eyelids that portrayed a venomous snake ready to overwhelm her prey. He had seen this before, back when Yumi and Yuuki went to Kashiwagi's house last summer for a consultation about Sachiko's phobia. She lifted her hands to her side levelling it with her bosom, shifted her pelvis on her left side. She closed her eyes while saying, "Just curious. It's rare that a non-member of the Yamayurikai has the chance to confirm a rumor from the people who are really involved."
"Well," he paused for a moment, and then looked at the stage where Yumi was performing. His gaze was so far away, unfocused. "Alice-san is comfortable with Yumi. He's gay actually, more like a girl, and his fascination for Sis is purely... sister-like."
They remained quiet for a while, unable to say anything, until Yuuki supplied more. "She just accepted him as he is even at first meeting. There were no qualms whether being friends with him is appropriate or not. She treats him with respect without referring to status, or anything. That's why he's so unguarded whenever he's with her."
It was not until several months, particularly during Valentine's Day, that Yuuki's words sank deep into Touko's heart. That idiot of a man... he's so mature.
TO BE CONTINUED
Author's Notes: As you can see, the fic was still slowly developing; I am trying to make the scenarios in the story to be in to the context of the light novels. These are situations where I could imagine them together. So far no romantic scenes. Romance would be coming soon though. Please READ AND REVIEW, so that I could improve the fic, if you have suggestions. This is my first time writing one.
The time lines in the chapters of the story are meant not to be in order.
Thanks for reading!