Chapter Twenty Five: Of Fakes and Reals
November 12, Wednesday, 6:30 PM
"Okay, guys, we're done here! We're going to have another practice tomorrow. On Friday, we'll have a rehearsal using our actual costumes. Good job, everyone!"
While Toushirou is packing his things up, he feels someone stop in front of him. He looks up to see Irisu watching him, a smile on her face.
"I have yet to thank you for agreeing to do this, Hitsugaya-san," she says, the brightness of her expression not changing a bit.
Toushirou feels kind of tired and he is not up for any small talk at the moment. Participating in this play is exhausting enough for someone like him so no one should still expect him to pretend like he cares to socialize with people he's not even close with. Anyway, it is not within the extent of the agreement. In the effort of being civil with this woman however, he shrugs in response. "Don't get me wrong, Irisu-san. I am not doing this because I want to do it," he tells her indifferently. He slings his bag on his shoulder, ready to get out of the room, then gives Irisu an emotionless stare. "All I am just asking is for you to keep your end of the bargain. I mean that thing you have promised Kaito."
"So you are doing this for him, huh? He must be really like a little brother to you if you care so much for him." Irisu speaks softly. She turns her head to the side and lets her eyes roam in the room as if looking for something. "Speaking of Shiba-kun, I just invited him to watch this rehearsal."
The news piques Toushirou's attention. Karin is here? He looks around and searches for her, but frowns when he can't find any sign of his roommate.
"Weird." Irisu sounds sincerely confused. "He was just here a while ago."
Toushirou doesn't already want to prolong this exchange with Irisu. He really wants to go back to the dormitory now. Still, if what his classmate is saying is true, then he also finds it odd that Karin didn't wait for him so they could walk back to their room together. Come to think of it, they have not done that since Toushirou started rehearsing the play with his classmates.
"Maybe something came up so he had to leave," Toushirou whispers more to himself, but Irisu hears and assumes that he is talking to her.
"Yeah, maybe you're right," Irisu answers.
Toushirou heaves a sigh. "I have to go too." He bails out of the conversation without so much caring if Irisu still has something to say.
He walks in the hallways, wondering what made Karin suddenly leave. She didn't even let him know she was watching the rehearsal earlier. This morning, when they were walking together to their respective classes, Karin even told him she was so bored out of her wits yesterday, what with all the students being busy with the preparation for the school convention. She said that even if it has only been a day, she already missed their soccer practice in the afternoon and their walk together back to their dormitory room. That said, Toushirou doesn't get it why Karin didn't wait for him if she had already been there during the rehearsal.
Just as he exits the school building, Toushirou spots the very person, who has the answer to his present concerns, crossing the path to the boys' dormitory.
"Kaito," he calls.
Karin stops and turns to him. At first, she seems like she was not looking forward for this to happen, for him to find her, and when Toushirou sees her smile at him, he figures something is definitely off. The smile is forced, a far cry from her usual grins.
Karin waits for Toushirou until he is beside her. "Hey, Toushirou, what's up?"
Wrinkling his brows, Toushirou shoots back his own question, "Shouldn't I be asking you that? Irisu-san told me you were watching the rehearsal earlier. So why did you suddenly disappear?"
"Oh that." Karin resumes walking with Toushirou keeping in stride with her. "Uhm... It was just... I suddenly didn't feel well so... Uhm... I thought I gotta go back to the dorm. Eh, heh, sorry I didn't wait for you."
"If you don't feel well, then why are you still out here?" Toushirou asks, not a bit convinced by Karin's explanation.
Karin looks anywhere but Toushirou. Vaguely, Toushirou hears her answer. "Well, I feel alright now obviously."
With Karin's present behavior, Toushirou is growing concern. "Is there something wrong, Kaito? Are you sure you're alright?"
"C'mon, Toushirou." Karin runs ahead of him as they arrive near their dormitory room. She opens the door with her keys, and then turns to Toushirou with another forced smile. "I'm okay. Jeez, whatever makes you think that I am not?"
Maybe it's the fact that you are acting strange. Toushirou thinks as he follows Karin inside their room. "By the way, Irisu-san gave me free tickets for the play, said I could give this to anyone who wants to watch it. You're going, right?"
Again, Karin looks at Toushirou like she didn't expect what he just said. And then her expression settles with something similar to apologetic. "Uhm... I'll see about it. I might join our class in their cake baking that day."
Now Toushirou is hundred percent sure that something is wrong. Did something happen while Karin was watching the rehearsal?
"I mean, I have practically read the whole script of your play anyway. And I have watched most of it earlier."
Toushirou stares at Karin. Okay, something did happen if she's so obviously avoiding to watch it again. Toushirou is just currently thinking of a way to get Karin spill the problem, when the woman blurts out something that kind of gives the answer to everything.
"She's really sweet, isn't she? Ari-san, I mean. Aren't you one lucky guy to get the chance to kiss her?"
Toushirou blinks. He is already confused with Karin's latest remarks, but her tone is even more puzzling. Is it only him, or Karin really did sound... bitter?
And then, everything occurs to Toushirou.
Oh. Karin saw that. She witnessed that particular scene and it somehow set her off.
Toushirou brings his curled hand near his mouth and pretends to clear his throat when he is actually trying to hide his amused smile. God, Karin, you're cute when you're jealous.
He walks to his study table and puts his things down. Rummaging in his sling bag, he tells Karin, "You know, I actually had a hard time with that particular scene." He pulls out his printed script of the play and turns back to Karin. With a smirk on his lips, he tosses the bound sheets to her. "So why don't you help me with that one, Kaito?"
Karin gapes at her roommate as she grips the papers that has been tossed to her. Help you practice that scene? Are you for real? Don't you have any regard about how I feel? Isn't it obvious that I don't wanna have anything to do with that play?
Much as she wants to demand the answers from Toushirou, she is pretty sure that those questions will just completely give away her real feelings at the moment. Bringing up about the subject of Irisu Ari without thinking is already bad enough; she is careful not to make it any worse.
"Then why didn't you ask Ari-san to help you with it?" Karin winces, realizing that that doesn't come out any better. It just sounded as bitter as before.
"So where do we have to start?" Toushirou asks, completely ignoring her rather rhetorical question.
Karin frowns. "You're not really serious about it, are you?"
Again, her question falls on deaf ears as Toushirou stares at her with a serious expression. "Alright, if you're not going to deliver the lines then let's just go straight with the kissing scene."
Karin's eyes widen at the suggestion. "W-what?!" She steps back as Toushirou takes a step forward. "W-wait. Are you drunk, Toushirou?"
Raising a brow, Toushirou answers, "Of course not. Does it look like I am?"
"No, but you're acting like you are." She is going to take another step back but is too late when Toushirou catches her wrist and stops her from making another move.
"Relax, Kaito," Toushirou whispers, "How am I going to improve on this scene if you're not cooperating?"
Karin freezes in place as Toushirou places a hand on her cheek. She gulps. He is not really going to do it, is he?
Eyes wide, she looks up at her roommate just in time for Toushirou to tilt his head sideways and close his eyes, leaning close to her face. No, no, no, no! He's actually going to do it! Karin's heart beats faster just like before, her control to her body is lost. Toushirou really has this incredible knack of putting her on pins and needles.
And then, she feels it. She feels that something is pressed against her lips while the distance between her and Toushirou's faces is practically non-existent.
In the midst of utter bewilderment however, Karin is still able to note the distinct difference between this and their first kiss. This is not how Toushirou's lips feel at all. Karin blushes, embarrassed by her own thoughts. It shouldn't be your biggest concern at the moment! Just what the hell does Toushirou think he's doing?
Karin's perplexity redoubles when Toushirou leans away from her but that thing pressed against her lips has not yet gone away. Noticing that Toushirou's hand is still on her face, it finally dawns on her. Toushirou didn't kiss her. He made it look like he did, but he didn't actually do it. During the last second that their lips were supposedly going to touch, Toushirou managed to slip his thumb in between their lips. As a result, his kiss landed on his thumb and not on Karin's lips. So that was the whole purpose of putting his hand on her face. It could also help hide what's really going on from the audience's point of view. Clever. Real clever.
Karin blinks, then stares at Toushirou curiously. His smirk confirms her conclusion.
"Anyone around here in Seireitei High, who has watched enough plays being presented by the students, is already well aware of this trick when it comes to faking a kissing scene," Toushirou expounds, staring down at Karin with an amused expression. "That was the same trick I used with Irisu-san. So no, I didn't really get to kiss her. I wouldn't even desire. Even if it's Irisu-san." Toushirou leans one more time and brings his mouth near Karin's ear. "You said she is a sweet woman, and I won't argue on that. But... have you already forgotten, Kaito? I am not really into sweet stuffs. I always prefer something with lots of spice."
Karin gets tongue-tied. She can't tell if she is rendered speechless because Toushirou's thumb is still on her lips or because she is dumbfounded by the implication of his last statement. When at last, reality kicks in, she yanks Toushirou's hand away from her face. "A-and why are you suddenly explaining, Toushirou?" she splutters as she feels the heat creep on her cheeks. "It is not as if I give a damn whether you actually kissed Ari-san or not! I don't really care." The truth is relief was the first thing she felt when she learned Toushirou never kissed Irisu Ari. Not that she is ever going to admit that to him.
"Of course you don't care," Toushirou agrees but his playful expression is telling otherwise. He takes the script back from Karin, before turning away from her and putting the thing back in his bag. "Go wash yourself now, Kaito. I'll just go outside to grab something for us to eat for dinner."
"But even you still haven't changed your clothes," Karin points out with a frown.
"Yeah, I'll do that when I get back." Toushirou turns back around and perks an inquisitive brow at her. "Unless you want me to join you in the shower now."
She feels her blush rise on to a whole new level. "I-idiot! You go away now, stupid Toushirou!"
She pivots on her heels and runs straight for the bathroom. Just as she locks the door behind her, she grips the front of her shirt; her fist feeling the hard pounding of her heart against her chest. "Fuck. I really thought he was going to kiss me." She inhales sharply. "Oh god, was I actually hoping he'd kiss me again?" Shaking her head in frustration, she admonishes herself quietly. She really wants to scream but she is afraid Toushirou is still in the room. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. Toushirou, you fool, what the hell did you just turn me into?"
•нιтѕυкαяιи•
November 15, Saturday, 8:00 AM
School Convention
"I thought you're going to join your class in their cake-baking, Kaito?"
Karin rolls her eyes. "Shut up, Toushirou. You seem to be nervous about this play and I figure you need a little bit of cheering up from the audience. Don't screw this up; I don't want all my efforts in helping you practice to be wasted."
"Not a chance." Toushirou scoffs. Shifting his gaze from Karin to the strawberry blond woman beside her, he states more than asks, "You're here too?"
"Of course. I also need a break from the library once in a while," the woman answers, "And I won't miss the chance to watch my adorable cousin act on stage. By the way, you look absolutely stunning in that outfit of yours."
It is Toushirou's turn to roll his eyes. "Please, Matsumoto. You happen to slack off at your work not only 'once in a while.' And these clothes are not really any different from my usual ones, are they?"
"Well, yeah." Rangiku bobs her head in agreement. "You look like a frosty executive with those, and given you're typically aloof, then I guess you don't even need to try hard in giving life to your character."
Karin can't help but snicker, dialing it back only when she catches Toushirou giving her a peevish scowl. She is just about to open her mouth to say something when...
Crash!
The three simultaneously look at the direction where the loud sound came from. It seems like something happened in the backstage.
"Oh my god! Ari-san! Are you alright?!" They hear someone scream from that location.
Instinctively, Toushirou runs backstage to check what is going on. Karin and Rangiku immediately follow him.
Arriving at the area of the incident, Karin gasps at what she witnesses. Two students are assisting a limping Irisu, guiding her to the nearest seat in the area. The other people (all of whom are Toushirou's classmates) watch with unconcealed worry on their faces.
"What happened?" Rangiku beats them into asking.
"She lost her balance and fell from that chair while fixing something on one of our props," one of the students explains.
"But why you?" Karin observes as Toushirou furrows his brows in confusion. "Isn't there a separate group in-charge for that?"
Regret crosses Irisu's expression. Bowing her head, she mutters, "Yeah. I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I just really wanted to help so I insisted on doing it." Her voice holds an equal amount of rue.
One of their classmates kneels in front of Irisu. Gently, he holds Irisu's foot and examines it. Everyone watches in silence as if making the slightest of sound will affect the judgment of their classmate. When the concentration on his face changes into woeful expression, they just know that the incoming news is not in anyway nice.
"This isn't good," he murmurs. "It looks like it's badly twisted." Looking up at Irisu, he adds, "We need to get you to the clinic."
"But what about the play?" Another classmate asks, concern in her voice. "It is just about to start in an hour and Ari-san is the lead female role so we can't proceed with it without her."
The male classmate stands, then sighs heavily. "We can't help it. At this rate, it is not likely possible for her to act on stage."
"No way... Are you suggesting that we pull out from the program?" Another asks with incredulity. Seeing the other classmates, it is obvious that they have the same sentiment.
"It is inevitable!" The boy finally raises his voice. "Or what? Do you actually have any other suggestion? Unless you know someone who can take over the role, then we have no choice but to withdraw!" He folds his hands into fists, and bows his head as he continues his tirade in a quieter approach, "Seriously, guys, don't make it seem like I'm completely fine with what's happening. I feel terrible about it too. All those efforts, the preparations just to give the school an excellent show are just going to be wasted. But what else can we do?"
Karin spies at the whole episode, feeling sorry for this class as they all go silent. Their classmate is right; this seems like a hopeless case. She wants to say something to break the tension that has built in the whole area, but she can't find the right words to tell them. Additionally, she is fully aware that she is not exactly in place to say anything.
Glancing at her side, she finds Toushirou watching with his usual nonchalance. She wonders what he has in mind.
"But..." In the midst of total silence, even the quietest whisper can be heard loud and clear. "Just like that?"
"I'm really, really sorry, guys."
Another silence meets Irisu's apology.
And then, as if a light bulb has just clicked, Rangiku claps her palms and shouts rather brightly for the present situation, "I know!"
Everyone turns to her in confusion. Only she turns to Karin.
"Kaito-kun... You mentioned earlier that you helped Toushirou-kun practice his scenes, right?" she asks, her eyes suddenly twinkling.
"Y-yeah?" Karin answers, a little surprised by the random question.
"That means you have read the whole script," Rangiku poses as a question.
Still having no idea where this is going, Karin responds with uncertainty, ""Right."
"If my guess is right, most of the male lead character's scenes are with the female lead character and that means most of the times you assumed the role of that female character while practicing with Toushirou-kun, right?"
"Uhm... Yes?" Karin scowls. "But wait, Rangiku-san. I'm a little lost here. I honestly don't see where all the information fits in."
Instead of answering her, Rangiku turns to the class and grins at them. "Will he do?"
Even the others appear equally confused. They all stare at the older woman with questioning eyes.
It is Toushirou who takes the initiative to clarify it for all of them. "Matsumoto, are you trying to say that we enlist Kaito to take over for Irisu-san?"
Comprehension flickers on their faces, but Karin is slow on the uptake as she remains staring dumbly. When she is finally able to catch up, she bursts out, "But I don't even belong to this class!"
"I don't think they mind." Rangiku gestures to Toushirou's classmates. True enough, caring whether the person who can help them is in their class or not seems to be the last thing they have in mind. If anything, every pair of eyes stares at her with the tiniest of hope in them.
Giving her attention back to Rangiku, Karin tries reasoning out again, "I don't memorize all of that character's lines."
"Easy. Just improvise," Rangiku states as though it's the easiest thing to do.
In a fit of desperation, Karin almost shouts, "B-but, Rangiku-san, I am... I am a guy! And you're asking me to play the role of a female character!"
"I think you'll do, Shiba-san," one of the classmates butts in, "I mean you're too cute, you might as well be a girl."
"But..." Karin pauses to look around. Toushirou's classmates have been down in the dump since they were told they needed to withdraw from the program, but now that they have found their last salvation in her, they just look like they are set to pull out all the stops just to make this play successful. Yet, Karin is on the fence about this. She is not sure if this is a good idea at all, thinking she is not really up to par to take the role.
In the end, it is Rangiku who makes the decision for her. "If that's settled, then you guys tell me where your changing area is and I'll transform this cute li'l boy into a pretty young lady."
"We'll help, Matsumoto-san," two classmates offer politely.
Rangiku flashes a grateful smile. "Thanks, but it's alright. I can manage."
Helpless as the older woman drags her, Karin gets a glimpse of Toushirou who also looks like he is dead set against this idea. But like Karin, he can't do anything to stop his cousin on this.
She manages to survive it. She has survived everything from Rangiku's makeover to Toushirou's reaction when she came out of the changing area.
He gaped at her then, and when an embarrassed Karin asked him, "D-do I look weird?", Toushirou merely turned his head and whispered more to himself, "Y-you... You actually look cute." And that answer just made Karin more embarrassed.
Yet she is proud to say she has survived up to this point. While she stumbled for a countless times in the beginning of the play, she eventually got the hang of it and showed a decent performance. Needless to say, she made it through. Well, barely.
And now they are on the last scene of the play.
"I was so afraid that time. I thought was going to lose you. Please, don't go too far away from me again." Karin almost cringes as she delivers her last line. I can't believe I am saying something too cheesy.
Toushirou seems like he is going out of the script on the last minute when he smiles at Karin and steps forward instead of immediately delivering his response.
Karin's stare is a silent question directed at him. What are you doing? She is convinced Toushirou has gone out of his head when he holds her hands and pulls her into a gentle hug rather than do that fake-kiss stuff. It is a lucky thing that the audience can't see Karin's confusion because her face is currently buried against Toushirou's chest.
And yet, she realizes she doesn't really want to complain when Toushirou murmurs the words against her head with the tenderness in his voice that only she has the privilege to hear at the moment.
"Promise. I'll always be by your side. I am not going anywhere."
AN: Was torn between focusing on writing this chapter and worrying about our workplace and my other colleagues as a lot of areas in our town were inundated because of the non-stop rain. While I have not gone to work for a few days since even various roadways were flooded, I was still distracted at home. Really though, I am not sure if I am worried about the people at work, or I'm just worried about the paperworks. xD When it comes to those, I just don't want to lag behind my schedule if I can help it. And some people are just too inconsiderate and stupid that you just stop giving a damn about them at once. Pfft.
Anyway, enough of my pointless sentiment. I was finally able to go back in the animé fandom and catch up with Boku no Hero Academia animé. (But I still can't find the time to read its manga. D': And I also wanna read Nanatsu no Taizai since Harlequin and Diane unexpectedly got my interest. (The last lines of this update are something similar to King's promise to Diane, huh?) Oh well.) So I was saying Shouto and Yaomomo of BnHA kind of reminds me of Toushirou and Karin, haha. Okay, enough of my randomness either. Maybe I just don't have a life.
Bruh, my writing has become stiff yet the scenes are just getting cornier and cornier, what the hell.
I hope you had fun reading this update! Stay tuned! :D