Chapter 26

Thursday was the last day to finalize preparations for the interschool festival. Mass chaos overtook Seigaku as students rushed to complete last minute tasks, as well as booth and classroom decorations. The hallways were filled with obstacle courses consisting of teachers, students, coaches, the school staff, and student council members. It was one of the busiest times in Seigaku's history. Every corner and every inch of the building consisted of chaotic activities, and the large auditorium was no different.

"Echizen! I need that hammer! Where is it?" Momoshiro bellowed out across the stage.

"I gave it to you already!"

"Oi, no you didn't!" The second year's eyes drifted to the corner as he checked to make sure that he really didn't have it. "Tsk, why did this nail have to pop out at the last minute," he mumbled as he picked up the hammer, which turned out to be behind him, and proceeded to pound the nail back into what was supposed to be a finished prop.

"Everyone in the backstage crew, listen up!" Tomoka bellowed into the megaphone. "Move your stuff towards the back! We are about to start a full run through of the play."

"But we're not finished with everything yet!" a student protested from the stage.

"Then hurry up and finish it in the back! We need everything set up later to do a final run through after lunch." Tomoka sighed and wiped the sweat off her forehead. She grumbled quietly about how the boys were so slow with the props, given that the girls' tennis team were already all done with the costumes, and just needed to double check everything. She couldn't wait for all of this to be over. She hadn't realized how tough it was to be a director. Blinking, she noticed her friend sitting on the stage in the corner, sewing furiously a long, beautiful bed sheet. She raised her megaphone and called out, "Sakuno-chan, gomen, but you guys need to move more towards the corner so that we can do our run through."

"H-hai!" Sakuno called back out as she turned to her side. "Um, Sanada-senpai, we need to move towards the left."

The dark-haired male, who had just tugged on a thread frustratingly on the bed sheet, looked at her. "Aa?"

"Oh no! You're doing it wrong! You made the pattern crooked here!" the young first year suddenly exclaimed as she pointed at the edge of the cloth.

The Rikkaidai man, who doesn't like to be talked to in such a manner, bellowed, "Oi! I'm trying my best here-" he immediately stopped at the sight of frightening, dark blue eyes that flashed at him immediately from a few feet away. Shivering at the silent aura surrounding his captain, Sanada quickly said, "I-I'll fix it!"

"Huh? Oh, okay," Sakuno beamed.

Sanada immediately proceeded to tug out the crooked threads when he heard snickering behind him.

"Ne, I didn't know Sanada can sew," Niou whispered with a smirk to his red-headed teammate.

"Yea, but it looks like he's a little tied up right now!" Marui joked.

The two broke into hard laughter, doubling over themselves while their vice-captain felt a vein pop on the side of his forehead as he proceeded to tug on the thread furiously before continuing to sew at lightning speed.

Meanwhile, a couple feet away, Saeki and Bane watched the sight unfold before them.

"Hey, I have to say, it is kind of weird to see Sanada sew," Bane remarked.

"Not to mention creepy," Saeki added as he watched the dark-haired male help Sakuno move the bed sheets to the side before continuing to stick a thread through a needle. "Serves him right though." His eyes flickered at something on the grumpy man's face. "Interesting…"

"Sanada-senpai," Sakuno turned to the man next to her again. "Why do you have this gauze on your face?"

"Hm?" Instinctively, the dark-haired male felt his right cheek, where a white gauze was bandaged to his cheek. "Aa, it was a tennis practice accident."

"Huh? That can happen in tennis?"

"I said it was an accident!" Sanada snapped, and then seeing everyone stare at him for a moment for his outburst, the vice-captain's cheeks became flustered before he lowered his gaze and quickly worked furiously at the sewing.

"Sanada-senpai. Can you go get another pair of scissors for me?"

"What? Why?"

"This part of the sheet is too long, so I need to cut it."

Sanada's eyes enlarged. "Oi! That's the part I worked on! Do you know how long it took me to sew that part?"

"Gomenasai! But see how this fold is longer than the other side? It has to be even."

"You-!" Sanada stopped mid-sentence at the feel of sharp dark blue daggers paralyzing him from the back. "I…will go get it," he stammered, getting onto his feet before stumbling a bit and even limping towards the table where the tools were.

Saeki raised a brow as he folded his arms. "Dare I ask what the Rikkaidai captain did to him last night?" The Rokkaku pair watched in amusement as Sanada reached the table with his hands out to support himself as he gasped and rested for a moment.

"Ne, we're about to start."

The two regulars turned to find the beaming face of the tensai behind them.

"Ah, Fuji. I heard that the girls were giggling earlier this morning when they had you try on Juliet's costume," Saeki chuckled.

"Hm, they did a good job on the costumes," Fuji smiled as he let out a small laugh. "Although, it was kind of scary being alone in a room with that many women."

"By the way, where's Tezuka?" Bane asked.

"He's checking on all the clubs with the rest of the student council members."

"Today is going to be the craziest day of his life, no?" Saeki smirked.

Fuji chuckled. "Hm, I think he's going to be super stressed today."

Tezuka collapsed onto the couch in the student council room as lunch began. Lying on his back with arm thrown over his forehead, he stared up at the ceiling, taking in a deep breath at this morning's chaos. Apparently, a lot of things liked to go wrong at the last minute. One of the students had accidentally knocked down a pedestal holding up their decorative booth. Another had issues with not getting enough supplies for the café they were hosting in one of the classrooms. The worst was the computer club launching a vicious accusation against the literature club, claiming that the literature club's president had stolen one of their newest computers in a so-called friendly competition. Tezuka had his suspicions that it was a bet, which was not allowed in the school.

Speaking of bets…

Tezuka let out another sigh as he took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Yesterday's events still had him slightly rattled, and the student council president was eager to move on from the whole thing. Breathing out, he closed his eyes for a minute before opening them and putting on his glasses. As his hand released the spectacles, a certain shiny object came into clear view. He spread out his hand and gazed at the silver ring that shimmered gracefully against the ceiling lights of the room. As his eyes stared into their own small reflection against the surface of the ring, the bespectacled man's heart filled with calm warmth that made him temporarily forget the unfortunate incident from yesterday, only serving to remind him of Fuji's words to him as the tensai kissed the back of his hand and then his lips.

Ne, don't you find it funny that both of us bought rings for each other, and from the same person?

There was a knock on the door, waking Tezuka up from his trance. Getting up from the couch, Tezuka went to the door and opened it, finding in surprise Inui standing on the other side.

"Aa, Inui."

"Tezuka," the data collector smiled, adjusting his glasses.

"I was expecting to talk to you after lunch."

"Gomen. Would you like me to come back later?"

"No, that is fine. Please, come in."

The data collector entered the student council room as Tezuka shut the door behind him.

"Ah, the student council room is very interesting. Rarely do I get to come in here," Inui noted as he admired the simple setup and large tape on the side near the wall. "This will make for some interesting data."

"Inui," Tezuka coughed.

"Ah, yes, Tezuka," the taller man turned around with a smile as he faced his captain.

Tezuka paused for a moment, searching for the right words before finally saying, "I want to thank you."

"Hm?"

"For everything. For your help on this whole thing for the past two weeks, and especially for helping me…and Fuji."

"Ah, I see," Inui smiled widely at the stern, serious man. "I see that you are wearing the ring that I had made for you two."

"Aa."

"And from what I can see, you had figured out that the both of you had asked for the same thing."

"Aa."

"Who is wearing which?"

"Unfortunately, the ones I had had disappeared into the fire."

"Fire?"

"Nevermind. My apologies for that. But the one I am wearing is from Fuji."

Inui nodded. "I understand."

"But, I just wanted to let you know that, well…thank you."

Inui grinned again. "It was my pleasure. I had collected some interesting data on you this past two weeks-"

"Inui."

"I guess I'll be going now." Inui began to head towards the door. "Don't overstress yourself today, Tezuka. You still need to enjoy the festival."

"Aa."

And with that said, the data collector left and closed the door behind him.

The room was silent once more as Tezuka stared at the door, watching the shadows of students passing by in hurried paces. He lifted up his hand and stared at the ring once more.

The day of the festival finally arrived, and Seigaku began with a big welcome to all the attendees as the school opened its gates to a fun-filled event. Music and decorations dominated the place as everyone bustled their way through to the different booths and cafes. There were mini-games to be played, goldfishes to win, and delicious snacks, food, and drinks to try. New friends were made as the students got to know others from the different schools participating in the event. But amidst all the fun, the student councils from all the different schools were secretly stressed more so than ever. For Seigaku, the vice-president and secretary were rushing to grab last minute supplies to help a club fix their booth, which now slanted sideways from a splintered piece of wood. The treasurer was rushing to find out why the computer club's other new laptop had gone missing right before their video game tournament event. And the student council president, the one who is the most stressed of them all, had to deal with countless calls from his members calling him to ask for solutions to problems that had suddenly occurred all at once.

Tezuka's cell was ringing off the hook as he ran back and forth simultaneously to attend to other matters at hand. Never letting his guard down, the serious and well disciplined student council president could not get a break from it all. He ran up the stairs, entering a classroom where the beautiful maids café was being hosted. There, a first year informed him that one of the council members had promised to bring the bananas they were missing for their dessert item, and so far said council member had not returned. Tezuka could only guess that his peer must have encountered another issue and was currently dealing with that. Thus, the bespectacled third year, like the responsible model student he is, ran to the cafeteria to one of the workers there and asked for a stack of bananas. Later, Tezuka had to deal with a call from his vice-president, who was currently in an argument with the literature club's president over why said club had the computer club's laptop. Shortly after that, the poor bespectacled man had to deal with a complaint from another club over a flaky member who didn't come dressed in the proper attire as agreed for their host café.

Tezuka felt as though their two weeks of preparations were for them to deal with a living nightmare. It wasn't until around two did Tezuka finally have the chance to sneak away into the student council room to rest, where a few of his fellow peers, as well as other student council presidents, had already collapsed onto the ground and the couch.

Fuji glanced around the rows of booths as he strolled past them, eyes wondering around over the crowd.

"Ne, Fujiko, at least try to enjoy yourself," Kikumaru frowned. "You've been so preoccupied for the past few hours."

"Gomen," Fuji smiled friendly at his redheaded friend. "It's just that, I haven't seen Tezuka since we walked to school this morning."

"Hm, but that's to be expected. I can only imagine that a lot of things probably went wrong the minute the festival started, except no one knows about it."

"True," Fuji chuckled. "But," he let out a sigh, "I was really looking forward to today." The tensai had expected a romantic date with just the two of them, doing the cute things that other couples do at a school festival like this – playing fun games, winning prizes for each other, trying out the different food stands – it was something Fuji had been waiting to do for a while, and this was now the opportunity to do it.

Except, the bespectacled Buchou was nowhere in sight.

Fuji bemoaned his current situation. Tezuka did tell him ahead of time that he would not be able to see him until the school play that evening, but still, the tensai had a small shred of hope that he would be able to run into the serious third year at least once in the day. Perhaps he can even steal a kiss.

"Cheer up, Fujiko. Look! Those takoyakis look so good! Want to share?"

Fuji nodded. "Okay."

As the two continued strolling with takoyakis in their mouths now, Fuji asked, "Hey, Eiji."

"Hm?"

"It looks like you and Oishi are good now?"

At this unexpected question, the acrobatic boy turned as red as his hair as he looked away. "Yea…"

Fuji chuckled at this cute response. "And…anything else?"

Kikumaru blushed a little before finally blurting out, "Fuji! It hurt!"

"Huh?" Fuji blinked, confused.

"The first time, it hurt! Oishi did such a bad job!"

Realizing what his friend was actually talking about, Fuji did not make an effort to hide his surprise. "You mean…you two-"

"I mean, he was bad at preparing me. But after that, it was…" Kikumaru glanced away, his ears getting even redder. "It felt…really good."

Fuji gaped before breaking out into laughter.

"Ne, what's so funny?"

"Nothing," the tensai wiped a tear from his eye. "It's just that, well, I didn't expect this all of a sudden. But, I'm glad that you're happy now."

Kikumaru blinked before breaking out into a smile. "Hm, I agree." His eye caught sight of something. "Ne, look! That's Inui's booth!"

The two stopped right in front to see the sign for "Inui's Special Juice." In small letters was the subtitle, "You will never forget the taste!"

"No kidding," the redhead grimaced. "Is Inui even allowed to sell his drinks? I thought Tezuka forbade him from doing so."

"Perhaps Tezuka doesn't know given that he's so busy right now," Fuji said, rubbing his chin as he looked at the menu. "Hm, that green power-up juice looks interesting. I wonder if it has wasabi in it."

"Ew, that's gross!"

"Hello, you two," Inui greeted them at the booth. "Would you like to try this new clear crystal clear juice I have created?" The data collector held up a transparent plastic cup of what looked like clear liquid.

The other two Seigaku regulars leaned in to eye the drink closely.

"Hm, that looks too suspicious," Kikumaru wrinkled his nose. "It looks normal, but who knows what you put in it!"

"Oh, don't worry," Inui said as a small glint flashed across his glasses. "It's sure to be good for you." He smiled widely.

"I don't trust you," Kikumaru folded his arms.

"It's free," Inui persuaded.

"I get enough of your free drinks from tennis practice!"

"Inui, I'll try it," Fuji offered. He took the drink and began gulping half of it down.

Kikumaru watched his friend carefully. "Ne, but nothing ever effects you. How does it taste?"

Fuji sighed with a smile. "Tastes just like…water."

"Huh?" Kikumaru blinked. "You're lying!"

"No, I'm serious," Fuji chuckled. "It tastes just like water."

"Impossible! Inui, were you trying to trick us?"

Inui held up his hands. "I can assure you it's not water."

"Then let me try!" Kikumaru took the cup from Fuji's hand and drank some. He swished the liquid around in his mouth before swallowing. "Ne, it is water!"

At this, Inui took the cup as well and also took a sip. He stared at it, rubbing his chin. "Hm, strange. This doesn't seem like the drink that I prepared. Did I grab the wrong cooler?"

When it was an hour to six, some of the attendees at the festival began to file in to the auditorium to grab good seats early for the most popular event of the day: the school play.

Behind the curtains, crew members rushed to make sure all props were in place and ready to go as the costume designers helped dress the actors and put makeup on them.

"Hurry everyone, we have less than an hour before the play starts! We need to start right on time!" Tomoka called out to everyone.

"Tomo-chan, I am so proud of you for directing this play," the girls' tennis team captain patted her on the back. "I have no doubt that this play will be amazing, especially with all the hard work you and everyone else put into this."

Tomoka stood proudly at this compliment. "Thank you, Buchou!"

"Echizen, help me grab this," Momoshiro called out in a strained voice as he lifted up something heavy.

"Momo-senpai."

"What is it, Echizen?"

"I'm not looking forward to tennis practice next week."

At the reminder of their punishment, the two of them sighed heavily.

"Echizen, why did you have to remind me..."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, the student council president stood firmly in place, arms folded as he made sure that everything was running smoothly. He was relieved to finally make it through at least half of the day. The play was honestly the last of his worries, given that he put a lot of trust in Tomoka's leadership. He was very impressed with how well the first year was able to lead everyone in the play. He was very much looking forward to watching it too. It would give him a chance to rest more.

"Tezuka."

At the sound of that familiar voice, the bespectacled regular turned around before nearly dropping his mouth in a silent gasp. Standing before him was not Fuji, but a beautiful young woman with long, wavy honey brown hair, large mesmerizing eyes, and an ornate Renaissance gown. Tezuka nearly found himself stumbling back from the shock. It sure sounded like Fuji, but, was this really Fuji?

"Tezuka," the individual purred. "What is it? Do you find me…pretty right now?"

Tezuka coughed into his hand as he avoided eye contact. "I didn't exactly expect this, nor did I condone this."

"Oh, come on!" Fuji yelled at him, breaking into frustration as his womanly grace was temporarily ruined. "Is that all you can say?"

Tezuka sighed. He looked straight into the tensai's crystal, blue eyes. "You…look beautiful."

At this, Fuji blushed slightly before beaming once more. "That's better." He twirled around, admiring his costume. "Ne, they did a good job, did they not?" He flipped a few strands of his hair back. "Although this wig is kind of itchy."

Tezuka's eyes noted the attention Fuji was currently receiving as a few of the male regulars passing by began to blush at the sight of the tensai. The bespectacled man immediately shot a death glare at each and every one of them, causing said individuals to jump and quickly scatter away.

"Ne, isn't Fuji-senpai beautiful?" Tomoka giggled as she walked up to them. "The girls did such a great job with him! Oh, I love how they did your mascara and eye shadow."

"Tomo-chan!"

The first year turned around to find Sakuno calling for her. "Tomo-chan, I need your help with something!"

"Hai!" Tomoka faced the other two Seigaku regulars. "I have to go. Get ready, Fuji-senpai! We'll start the play soon!"

As the first year scurried off, Fuji and Tezuka returned their attention to each other.

"Ne, Tezuka," Fuji said flirtatiously again, inching closer towards the serious, stern man who was failing to hide the small blush on his cheek. "I haven't seen you all day."

"Aa, my apologies."

"To make it up to me," Fuji placed a finger on his chin playfully as he batted his lashes, "how about you give me a kiss right now?"

"Fuji!"

"Shh!" Fuji stepped forward even closer, leaning up to him. "Don't worry, everyone is too busy right now. No one will see."

Tezuka looked at him suspiciously, finding himself wavering at those beautiful, blue enchanting eyes half hidden beneath those thick lashes. He glanced slowly to his left, and then he glanced slowly to his right. Turning back to face the tensai, he sighed and said, "Aa, but just a quick one."

Fuji's eyes immediately glittered in delight, and he tiptoed in his heels, puckering his lips expectantly.

Tezuka hesitated for a second before placing both hands on those slim shoulders, leaning in slowly.

"Tezuka!"

The bespectacled man's eyes shot wide open as he pushed Fuji back and turned with a flustered face. "Aa!"

"Tezuka!" Oishi ran up to him. "One of the crew members cut his finger earlier when he was trying to adjust one of the props, but we can't find the first aid kit anywhere. Can you help me look for it?"

"Aa, I understand," Tezuka said, releasing his hands off Fuji's shoulders and promptly following the vice-captain.

Fuji stood there in the middle, now left alone.

"Oi, Fuji-senpai? Why are you just standing there?" Momoshiro asked friendly, walking over to him. "Did you need help with something-" At that moment, the second year froze on the spot, mouth half open in mid-sentence as he watched a blue aura envelope the beautiful "girl" in front of him.

"Tezuka…you're so cruel…" Fuji said with a twisted smile, blue eyes no longer glittering with that graceful light.

"F-F-F-Fuji-senpai! Um, I'll just leave you alone now." Momoshiro said in a cracked, high-pitched voice as he began to slowly back away from the strange aura surrounding his teammate.

Meanwhile, a group of girls nearby were sighing and giggling as they gathered around a certain actor near the center of the stage.

"Atobe-senpai, you look magnificent!"

"Atobe-senpai, this costume is perfect on you!"

"Atobe-senpai, you make the perfect Romeo!"

Atobe Keigo stood there proudly as he did a curtsy and bowed before the girls' tennis team. "My magnificent may be great, and perhaps I am the perfect Romeo, but of course that was all made possible by your hard work. Let Ore-sama show his appreciation to you all."

"KYAAAAAAAAAA!"

Niou and Marui clasped their ears at the high-pitched squeals.

"I can't tell what's more annoying-Atobe's vomit-induced personality or the girl's screams," Niou cried out over the noise.

The rest of the actors and crew prepared themselves as people continued to pile into the auditorium. By fifteen minutes to show time, the seats were completely filled, and everyone was excited for the play the different tennis teams had collaborated on.

Atobe cleared his throat as he stood on the side of the stage, checking himself. "Kabaji!"

"Usu!" The large male immediately arrived right next to his captain.

"Please get me some water."

"Usu!"

The Hyotei regular immediately went to the table where the cooler was. He grabbed a paper cup and pressed on the knob when only two drops fell into the cup. Frowning, he glanced around for another cooler when he found one tucked away near the very corner behind the stage and away from the lights.

"Hm, it's going to start soon. I'm starting to feel nervous," Tomoka said, frowning at her watch.

"Don't worry, Tomo-chan. Everything will be fine," her captain reassured her.

"I know. I just want everything to be perfect."

"Everything is as perfect as can be. Even the bed that Sakuno-chan made is finished! I was surprised that she was able to complete it given what had happened. But then, she did get help from Fuji and that Rikkaidai vice-captain."

"Hm, true." Tomoka sighed, smiling. "I guess I'll do one more check around before the play starts."

"Oh dear, this costume is much too hot for me!" The Seigaku tennis coach fanned herself furiously in Juliet's nurse's wardrobe. "Couldn't you girls not have given me something less...covered?"

At hearing that suggestion, a few of the males passing by made a face.

"Kabaji!" Atobe called out.

"Usu," the large man finally returned, handing the cup to Atobe.

"Ore-sama doesn't drink out of paper cups. But I see that we have no time." He immediately gulped down the drink before letting out a sigh. "Hm, interesting. This tastes…different. Hm, is this really water?" He eyed the drink closely. "It tastes really odd. It's almost like-"

Kabaji blinked. He watched as his captain continued mouthing silently away.

"Okay, places everyone!" Tomoka bellowed into the megaphone. "We're going to begin really soon! You, stand over here. You over there, please stand on the side. And-"

"Stop."

Tomoka nearly jumped at the strangely faint, raspy voice. She turned around to find the Hyotei captain marching towards her, his arms flaying around wildly. "Atobe-senpai, what is it?"

The man proceeded to let out small grunts and bits and pieces of words as he mouthed off excitedly.

"Atobe, what? I can't hear what you're saying. You're going to have to talk louder. Quiet everyone!" She ordered through the megaphone. But even when everyone became silent, all she could hear were squeaks and a raspy—

Oh no.

"What? You lost your voice? How did this happen!" Tomoka exclaimed.

"I drank…" Atobe whispered, trying hard to cry out. "I drank…" he pointed at the cup in Kabaji's hand.

"Ne, Kabaji," Kikumaru stepped forward. "Where did you get the drink from?"

Kabaji scratched his head with a frown before pointing at the cooler in the back.

"Huh? I didn't know we had a cooler back there-" Suddenly, the redhead's eyes enlarged at a startling realization. "Oh no."

"Ne, did Inui grab the wrong cooler?" Fuji stepped forward as well, finding in amusement a silent Atobe screaming at everyone with no words coming out of his mouth. "So if this afternoon, the drink we got was just water…"

"You mean, Atobe drank Inui's juice?" Momoshiro dropped his mouth as he eyed the strange cooler hidden in the back.

"No, this isn't happening!" Tomoka shook her head, her hands pulling on her pigtails. "You can't lose your voice right before the start of the play! You're the main star!"

Atobe screamed silently in one of the worst frustrations ever as his brows furrowed angrily at the situation.

The actors began looking at each other nervously.

"What are we going to do? The play can't go on without Atobe!" Ann said.

"This is bad!" Kamio lamented.

"We're not going to cancel the play, are we?" Niou chimed in, disappointed. "I worked really hard on my part! Oi, maybe Atobe will be able to speak in five minutes." Niou walked over to the Hyotei man and gave him a couple hard pats on the back, further angering the man. "Maybe we can make him throw up the drink."

"That's not going to work," Yagyuu noted. "The drink's unfortunate effects have already set in."

"Calm down, we're not cancelling the play," Tomoka quickly tried to diffuse the tension as everyone began talking amongst themselves.

"Then what are we going to do?" One of the crew members demanded.

"I have an idea."

Everyone turned at the voice of the beautiful young "girl" standing in the middle of the stage.

Fuji smiled. "Don't worry. We have a backup."

The clock struck six, and everyone in the audience began applauding as the auditorium's lights darkened, leaving only the stage lights on. Out stepped the principal of the school, who took the center of the stage with a microphone in hand.

"Welcome, everyone, to the interschool festival play. I want to take this time to also extend a warm welcome to those arriving from other schools. It is an honor for Seigaku to be able to work together with so many talented individuals from other districts-"

As the principal delivered his speech, Tomoka peered apprehensively from behind the curtains at the crowd. "Wow, so many people. It really is a full house."

"-and so, unfortunately, even though one of the actors listed in the program will not be able to perform, we will be having someone else take his place. As the saying goes, the show must go on! And now, without further ado, we present to you, the play you all have been waiting for, 'Romeo and Juliet.'"

The auditorium erupted into loud applause and cheers as the principal stepped off the stage and the curtains were raised.

The opening began with the famous prologue before the also famous confrontation between the two households. The crowd watched in awe, eagerness and excitement as their fellow peers, especially the popular ones, took the stage.

"Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?"

"Is the law of our side, if I say ay?"

The girls in the audience sighed at the handsomeness of the performers in their perfect costumes.

The scene played out its course until the actors for Montague and Benvolio (played by Oshitari and Jirou) arrived on stage. Everyone in the audience held their breaths in anticipation for the entrance of one of the main stars of the play.

Finally, Oshitari stepped off stage as Jirou turned to face the edge and held out his hand, heart beating rapidly. "Good-morrow, cousin."

Silence.

There was the sound of heavy footsteps walking steadily, further increasing the anticipation before the individual appeared before the audience. Immediately, the crowd broke into loud cheers. Girls swooned and shrieked in delight. Men raised eyebrows in surprise and admiration. The audience fell into a fit of excitement, for standing on stage was Seigaku's tall, bespectacled student council president dressed in a full renaissance costume that further pronounced his elegant and respectable features.

"Ne, so Tezuka-senpai is playing Romeo?" one of the girls giggled to her friend in the front row.

"I'm so glad I came early to grab good seats!"

"Oh, Tezuka Kaichou looks so handsome!"

The girls cheered even louder before the audience finally tamed themselves to let the play go on.

Meanwhile, on stage, Jirou beamed at the sight of the man before him.

"Is the day so young?" Tezuka asked in his deep voice, further making the girls swoon.

"But new struck nine." Jirou replied.

They exchanged a few more lines.

"What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?" Jirou asked.

"Not having that, which, having, makes them short." Tezuka responded.

Jirou smiled. "In love?"

At this, the girls shrieked loudly once more.

"Tezuka, we love you!"

"Tezuka, are you in love with me?"

"Shhh!" A few of the teachers warned the students as everyone quieted down.

"Out." Tezuka said.

"Of love?" Jirou gasped.

"Out of her favor, where I am in love."

"AWWWWWWW." The girls cried out all at once from the audience, earning more shh's from the teachers.

Jirou continued on stage, enjoying this moment to act with such a handsome man. "Alas, that love, so gentle in his view, Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof."

Tezuka took a deep breath. "Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will. Where shall we dine. O me. What fray was here. Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here's much to do with hate, but more with love. Why, then, O brawling love. O loving hate. O any thing, of nothing first create. O heavy lightness. serious vanity. Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health. Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is. This love feel I, that feel no love in this. Dost thou not laugh?"

The auditorium was motionless.

The audience fell silent as a cold air passed by them. Jirou stood frozen on the spot, speechless and wide-eyed with his hand held up in midair. Momoshiro, Echizen, and the whole stage crew gaped, blinking as their bodies remained still. Atobe, Saeki, Bane, and the rest of the actors stared, their minds slowly taking in everything they had just witnessed. Tomoka fainted backwards with a sigh, her captain catching her in the nick of time before she could hit the surface.

Tezuka had managed to deliver a beautiful line in the driest, most boring, most monotonous manner ever in the history of stage performance for "Romeo and Juliet."

Jirou, swallowing the dry lump in his throat, struggled with himself as he finally cited his next line, "No, coz, I rather weep."

And that was exactly how the majority of those in the play felt.

For the rest of the play, Tomoka wanted to bang her head against the stage floor. Everyone's performances were perfect, but the moment that "Romeo" appeared, everything went downhill. Yes, Tezuka knew almost every line for his part, but he continued to deliver them in the same serious, monotonous, stern manner that was so innate in him. Tomoka could have sworn she even heard Tezuka say, "Don't let your guard down," somewhere in the middle of the play.

Meanwhile, Atobe continuously slapped his forehead against the palm of his hand as he watched this disaster unfold.

But one of the highlights in the play was that Fuji's presence helped ease Tezuka's horrible performance, for every time the tensai appeared (much to the delight of the females in the audience, and even the males), Tezuka's acting became more bearable. The tensai was able to draw out a certain spark in the man, and the audience found themselves enjoying the love scenes as Romeo wooed Juliet (although in Tomoka's eyes, it looked more like Juliet was wooing Romeo). The balcony scene, unfortunately, could not be salvaged, and nearly became a joke every time Tezuka spoke in his stiff performance, his strong grip nearly tearing off part of the balcony prop as he struggled to climb.

The famous bed scene was also quite awkward, for Tezuka now found himself acting in the very scene he had originally protested against having in the play. This reluctance further worsened his acting. At least Sakuno's bed prop was enough to distract the audience, who were very impressed by the setup and stage props.

The play continued, and the females continued to giggle amongst themselves at how good looking many of the tennis regulars were, especially in their costumes. Yukimura (who played Paris) was another who drew just as much attention as Fuji and Tezuka. His graceful mannerisms and gentlemanly presence nearly made every girl in the auditorium faint, especially in his scenes with Fuji. The audience felt that it was such an honor to see the two most beautiful people act together on stage. A few of the males in the seats, however, began questioning their sexual orientation every time Fuji beamed with those thick eyelashes and long, wavy hair.

And then, the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet was about to make its debut, and the audience members held their breaths, with a few of them preparing themselves for tears. Meanwhile, Romeo's fight with Paris suddenly saw a huge improvement in Tezuka's acting. Apparently, when it comes to anything confrontational or something akin to competitiveness, Tezuka suddenly knew how to act.

Meanwhile, Tomoka peered reluctantly from the curtains on the side, trying to steady herself as her eye twitched. The first year wanted to cry in horror at the damage already done to the play.

Back to the fight scene, Yukimura fell on the stage, slained as the girls bemoaned the beautiful man's demise. With the last few exchange of words between Romeo and Paris, Romeo finally stood over Juliet's body on the cold stone platform in the center of the stage. Some sniffles could be heard as they watched the man look into the silent face of his lover.

"Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide. Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on the dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark. Here's to my love!"

Tezuka took out the bottle in his pocket and drank, not hearing the loud gasp in the audience.

"O true apothecary. Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die."

Tezuka leaned over the beautiful Juliet, slowly bringing himself closer. He stared at the elegant features of the individual beneath him, those loose strands of hair framing his face perfectly. Softening, he prepared to give a small peck on the cheek.

The audience members held their breaths, the girls all sitting on the edge of their seats in excited anticipation as their hearts beat rapidly against their chests. A few of the first years found their cheeks blushing as the males in the seats also leaned forward at the scene unfolding before them.

Tezuka's lids fell half closed as he drew in closer, and closer, and closer, steadily bringing himself down until his face was just a few inches away from that quiet, graceful figure.

Suddenly, two hands shot up in lightning speed and wrapped around him, pulling him down in one fast swoop until his lips crashed right into the other's.

Tezuka's eyes flew wide open, his hands and arms now struggling frantically to push himself back up as he felt those arms clasp tightly around him, bringing him down further until his lips pressed up even harder against the other's while everyone in the auditorium dropped their mouths and gaped in shock and silence.

...

...

This chapter actually ended up being rather long, so I broke it up into two parts. Ch. 27 will be up soon, and then a short epilogue!