Chapter 6: November 3

The day of the Cultural Festival dawned bright and clear and beautiful. Unfortunately, Daisuke didn't get to see it.

"You are supposed to be an innocent village girl, Daisuke!" Saehara bellowed. "So look innocent already!"

"How?" Daisuke asked blearily.

"Open your eyes wider!"

"It's kind of hard to open your eyes wide when you're still half asleep!" Daisuke retorted. "Why didn't anyone else have to get here before dawn?"

Saehara glared. "Because nobody else skipped twelve practices!"

Daisuke sighed. "When's the performance again?"

"Seven tonight!" Saehara frowned down at him. "If you do well, you can go home at noon and get some sleep. We can't have a heroine with bags under her eyes, after all."

Daisuke groaned and started to run through his lines once more.

XXXXX

Unfortunately, Daisuke never got to go home for that extra sleep. Instead, the girls in charge of makeup took one look at him and ran out to buy another concealer stick. Daisuke continued to mumble his lines under his breath as the girls patted the makeup onto his face and fiddled with the hem of his dress.

"There!" one of them announced at last, stepping back and clapping her hands. "You look beautiful!"

"Where's Saehara?" another girl yelled. "He has to clear the final details of the lighting!"

"His dad needed him for something. He said he'd be right back," Nishimura hollered back.

Suddenly, a hush fell over one side of the backstage, and all the girls immediately started swooning.

"Oh, you look so handsome!"

"He looks just like him!"

Daisuke looked up to see Satoshi standing before him, dressed in the guise of Phantom Thief Dark, complete down to the purple hair and the black leather. Needless to say, the Honorable Commander was radiating disgust.

I look so much better than that!

Daisuke could not find it in him to laugh. "Oh, Hiwatari-kun," he said in helpless sympathy.

Satoshi did not acknowledge the comment, but as he passed by, Daisuke could hear a faint whisper. "Your mother's taste in clothing leaves somewhat to be desired."

He's just jealous that I look better in it than he does.

Daisuke closed his eyes. Please, Dark. Please don't say anything during the play.

But I was gonna help you with your lines!

And how many of them would be changed to have that special 'Dark' touch? Daisuke asked severely.

Well…you have to admit the play is little dull here and there.

Rolling his eyes, Daisuke picked up his script. Yeah, I can see it now: Scene 4: Freedert tries to impale Elliot with the sword.

It's only fair, after all. He did it to me first. And you have to admit, the audience would be glued to their seats.

Daaark…

And then the world stopped turning as Riku entered.

Daisuke's heart wrenched. She looked horrible. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was blotchy. Even worse, she was pointedly not looking in his direction.

It's not your fault, Daisuke.

Yeah…

"Daisuke!" Hands placed on his shoulders spun him around, and Daisuke found himself staring dizzily at Saehara. "I want you to meet Hashimoto Aimi. She's visiting with her dad. He's on special assignment here."

"Nice to meet you." Daisuke had an impression of long brown hair and green eyes before he looked back around. Riku had vanished.

"You should go get a good seat," Daisuke heard Saehara advise the girl faintly. The redhead's brow furrowed. Where did she go, Dark?

I dunno. She was there a second ago.

"Hey, stop staring off like that. That's not innocent, that's haunted. Totally different feel than the one that I want," Saehara scolded, shaking Daisuke's shoulders. "Are you ready, Daisuke?"

He smiled weakly. "Yeah. Sure."

"Great!" Saehara grinned excitedly. "The show's about to start. Go up front with Hiwatari so you can go onstage at your cue."

Daisuke squared his shoulders. Freedert deserves to have her story told.

That she does.

I can do this.

You can.

Daisuke frowned as he walked to the edge of the wing. You know, I get really nervous when you start agreeing with me all of a sudden.

Just trying to be encouraging, Dark said with a mental shrug.

Satoshi turned to look at him as he awkwardly maneuvered through the crowd of stage hands.

"Are you ready, Hiwatari-kun?" Daisuke asked as he straightened his skirt.

"As I'll ever be," Satoshi said sourly.

"Okay, people! We're on in one minute!" Saehara bellowed as he bounced by. "And remember, Daisuke, feel the love!"

I think I'm going to faint.

No! Don't faint! Dark said nervously. Emiko will make it my fault, somehow. No wait, Hiwatari's here. Go ahead, faint if you want—she'll blame him.

Very funny.

Yet true!

"Five…four…three...two...cue the music!"

Daisuke swallowed convulsively as the narrator began to speak. "Once upon a time…"

XXXXX

"…God was moved by their love for each other. So, because of their devotion and because of their sacrifice, the village they both cherished was promised eternal time," the narrator finished.

Still onstage, Satoshi and Daisuke eyed each other warily. It was time for the last scene, the final embrace between the two lovers. And Daisuke found that he could not move.

"Come on, guys!" Saehara hissed from offstage, still in his 'village girl #1' outfit. "We're almost done."

Satoshi took a hesitant step forward.

Daisuke remained frozen.

Satoshi's face suddenly grew set and determined, and he strode forward, talking Daisuke's unresisting hand. "I'll never let you go," he declared.

All Daisuke could do was stare up at his friend, eyes wide with something other than innocence.

"Would it kill you two to hug?!" Saehara muttered at them.

It might, you'd be surprised, Dark commented. Just do it and get it over with so they drop the curtain and we can go home, Daisuke.

With a deep sigh that actually sounded good theatrically, Daisuke closed his eyes and gingerly placed his arms around Satoshi.

The audience broke into wild cheers, and the curtain fell triumphantly.

As soon as the curtain was on its way down, Satoshi pushed away from Daisuke. Concerned, the redhead looked up at him. His face was paler than normal.

"Hiwatari-kun?"

"Hey! Get out there and take your bows!" Saehara yelled, pushing Daisuke back onto the stage. Satoshi followed, and the two bowed to loud applause.

When they finally managed to get off the stage and out of public view, Satoshi immediately stalked across the backstage towards the classroom they were using as a changing room, yanking off his wig as he went.

"Wait! Hiwatari-kun!" Daisuke called anxiously. "Are you okay?"

"Don't talk to me right now," Satoshi said shortly without turning around.

You should probably do as he says, Dark recommended, concern apparent in his voice.

Daisuke stopped dead in his tracks. Is he okay?

Once he beats Krad back into his cage, he'll be fine.

"Daisuke!" Saehara leapt onto Daisuke's back. "You were great! The play was definitely a success!"
"Thanks," Daisuke choked out. "Off. Can't breathe."

Saehara got off, smacking him on the shoulder. "Oh, by the way, Daisuke—you look pretty good in that dress." He smirked.

Daisuke blinked at him, then laughed. "Thanks. So do you."

Startled, Saehara frowned at him, and then started laughing, too. Soon, the entire backstage was a jumble of smiling, celebrating students. People were coming up and congratulating Daisuke, taking pictures, and generally enjoying the aftermath of the performance. It was finished…and they had done well.

And then Harada Risa was standing in front of him, her hands on her hips. "You!"

Daisuke stopped in mid-sentence to Nishimura.

"How dare you?!" she continued shrilly.

"H-Harada-san…" Daisuke's heart was pounding. He hadn't thought Riku-san had told anyone—but of course she would tell her twin…

By now the class had noticed the commotion and gone silent. Everyone was watching.

"Out of all the people I know, I never thought you would do something like this!" Risa said angrily. "I thought you cared for her!"

Daisuke went dead white.

One or two people were beginning to send curious glances in Riku's direction. She noticed, and flushing bright red, ran out the door.

"Riku!" Risa cried, turning away from Daisuke and hurrying after her sister. Just before she disappeared outside, she looked back at him over her shoulder. "I hope you're proud of what you've done to her," she hissed.

Once she was gone, everyone looked at Daisuke in blatant curiosity. He didn't acknowledge them; he just bowed his head. Slowly, everyone started to move again, murmurs building as the class discussed what had just happened.

"I'm not proud," Daisuke whispered to himself. "I'm sorry."

No one heard him.