Chapter 32 — Mitsuri

Today is the day of the play.

The last few weeks have passed in a flash, and I'm not sure how either I or Akashi managed it. With Reiha gone, I had to pick up more work with the basketball club. Akashi, though, had the full weight of three organizations, two of which he was the leader for, and one he was playing a major part for.

Yet, for some reason, there wasn't one time when he seemed like he would fall over from lack of sleep. Instead, he seemed to take to the work with an eagerness that I usually wouldn't associate with him.

But the last few weeks have been different in more than just the clubs.

First, there's Reiha. She's well enough to leave the house now, but there's no way she could've performed for the play. After telling me her secret, she's also more open to me than usual, almost bubbly. I think part of that is because of Ogiwara, though. He visits every night with various sweets to feed Reiha's appetite, always a huge grin on his face.

Of course, I know what's going on between them. The walls in our house are thin, after all. Grandma and Grandpa aren't in the dark either, but they're surprisingly accepting of their relationship. I think they're just happy to see Reiha happy again.

Apparently, they'd known all along about Reiha's depression, but had decided to wait to let her tell me herself. Although I'm slightly annoyed at being left out all these months, I respect their decision. And I think it turned out all right, in the end.

Which just leaves me and Akashi.

There's been no notable change in our relationship, nothing like Ogiwara's confession to Reiha or her confession to him.

But I'm okay with that, because even if Akashi hasn't said it out loud yet, I know how he feels about me. And he knows how I feel about him. We both can take the next step when we're ready, but for the time being, I'm content with where we are.

Of course, there is the fact that the parts we're playing in Cinderella are of romantic nature, something that hasn't escaped the notice of anyone. Shiyo and most of the drama members seem delighted, most of Akashi's fangirls have been holding funerals for their own feelings, Reiha still gobbles up any details I can bring her of our practice together, and our grandparents have been practically begging for him to come for dinner again.

Akashi seems almost oblivious to all the attention, single-mindedly focused on all the tasks before him. I'm kind of glad he hasn't mentioned it, because then that'd mean having to make something "official" to everyone watching, and maybe it's best to keep people wondering.

Currently, I'm sitting in the dressing room as one of the cast pastes make-up onto my face (apparently I didn't do a good enough job by myself). I'm in my maid's outfit, with the ballroom gown hanging at the side of the room, just waiting to be put on.

At that time, Kikuchi barges into the room. "You ready? You should see the crowd out there —"

My stomach does a flip at the mention of "crowd." It's true that acting with Akashi helps calm my nerves, but there are really only a few scenes where he and I are onstage together. The rest . . . I have to survive without him.

Kikuchi sees my green expression and retreats a few steps. "I mean — w-we have a good turn-out. Are you feeling okay?"

I nod, even though all I'm feeling is a strong desire to go to the bathroom.

"You'll be fine," Kikuchi says in a surprisingly nice tone. "Just think about getting to see Akashi, okay?" He wrinkles his nose at this statement, and I get the feeling that Shiyo had told him to say this.

"Thanks," I say.

He checks his watch, then makes a shooing motion with his hand. "Get in position."

As soon as he speaks, I can hear the shushing of the crowd, and a few seconds later, the narrator's voice booms through the speakers.

I leave the dressing room, Kikuchi hurrying off to order someone else around, and make my way to where I'll enter onto the stage. Butterflies roll through my stomach, not at all like the ones I feel near Akashi.

Then, the lights flash, my cue —

I stumble onto the stage, but luckily, the spotlight's not on me yet. I reach the middle and crouch down, holding my hands in a prayer. My heart beats wildly, and I can feel the stares of everyone on me, even though they can't see my face yet. I peak from under my hair — their eyes seem to glitter like the stars in a sea of black, all pointed toward me.

The narration continues, and I belatedly realize I'm supposed to move now.

My body strains, my knees creaking like an old lady's.

What was it Kikuchi had said?

Just think of Akashi.

Akashi, with his bangs growing out to cover his eyes. Akashi, with his piercing and knowing gaze, sometimes gentle and vulnerable. Akashi, with his slender fingers that will sometimes graze the side of my arm, my cheek . . .

Yes, Akashi.

I close my eyes, and then I rise.

We've just entered the intermission, which gives me fifteen minutes to catch my breath. Cinderella has just been locked up by her evil stepmother, and we're going to start again with the transformation scene.

Akashi and I passed each other briefly when he'd gone on stage to have a talk with the king about the ball, but we hadn't had time to exchange words. Instead, he'd just briefly touched my arm and smiled. Once he'd gotten on stage, I'd lingered a little longer than necessary to watch him from the side. His voice, his stature . . . it was all magnificent, exactly the kind of attitude you'd expect from a prince. When compared to Akashi, Ikeda's version of the prince looks poor-mannered and frivolous.

Judging from the audience's reactions, they think the same as well. There's loud applause when Akashi leaves the stage as well as some desperate calls to come back. I flush happily. Even though a part of me is jealous, of course, it's almost flattering to know that out of all of Akashi's admirers . . . he chose me.

Now, I'm back in the dressing room, reapplying make-up while Emi's making sure my clothes are ready for the switch. There's a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," I say.

Akashi steps in. He's changed from his "casual" prince clothes to the fancy tunic he'll be wearing at the ball. Even though I've seen him in it before, I still have to take a moment admire it.

"You've done great so far," he says.

My cheeks warm, because I know that he can't have been watching. When not on stage, cast members have to huddle in the back to wait for their next cue. The fact that he's saying that means . . . he doesn't expect anything less.

"Thank you," I say. "I watched you for a bit . . . you're doing really well tonight, too."

Emi glances not-so-furtively between us. "Ah," she says. "Well, I think your costume looks good to go, Mitsuri. Let me know if you need anything." With that, she scurries out of the room, grinning at me.

I want to tell her she can stay, but I'm also glad to have a moment alone with Akashi.

"Have you seen your sister tonight?" he asks.

I shake my head. "No. She tried convincing Kikuchi-kun to let her come backstage, but he refused."

Akashi lets out a small laugh. "That sounds like her."

"I hope she's okay," I say. "Watching this must be hard for her."

He tilts his head. "I'm sure she'll be fine. She wouldn't have asked you to take the part if she didn't think you could handle it."

"You're right." I take in a deep breath. "Now, all I have to do is convince her that she made the right decision in choosing me."

He smiles. "I don't think you need to convince her of that."

He's right again, of course. I glance to the clock on the wall. "Two minutes until break's over. We should probably get in position."

"Yes. I'll see you soon."

We're finally at the ball scene. I enter the stage, holding up my skirts and assuming an overwhelmed look (which is half genuine). Cast members swirl around in a flurry of colors, almost looking like professional waltzers.

As I move nearer to the center, people begin to collectively gasp and move out of my way until —

I have to force myself to keep a neutral face rather than bursting into a smile. Akashi strides through the crowd of dancers, his eyes solely on me.

And when he reaches me . . . he looks a little breathless, too.

He holds out his hand, and his voice echoes into the mic. "May I have this dance?"

"O-of course." My blush isn't an act.

He leads me through the steps. We'd practiced the moves so many times, in my small room at home and in his dining hall, which could almost pass for a ballroom.

The music serenades us as the scene continues, before — a loud sound effect of a bell tolling ruptures the speakers. I jerk away, shocked, and then say, "I-I'm sorry, I have to go —!"

"Wait —" Before Akashi can finish, I'm off.

Since we obviously didn't want a repeat of Reiha's incident, we've slowed down the tempo of the escape, and I safely make it backstage.

"Great job!" Shiyo whispers to me before flouncing onto the stage, the picture of a haughty stepsister.

The rest of the play passes in a blur — villagers hearing the announcement of the prince searching for a certain someone, my stepmother locking me in my room, Akashi visiting our house —

Then, the final scene.

In our final costume change, I'm now wearing an elaborate white dress, Akashi in a similarly-colored outfit. It's supposed to mirror a wedding, obviously, an idea that makes me both nervous and excited.

We walk down the middle of the stage, hand in hand, and then — Akashi draws me in close, and I squeak in genuine surprise.

His eyes are bright under the stage lights. He smiles, a full smile that I don't often see from him. Then, he leans forward, and I automatically close my eyes. His lips brush the edge of my lips, a half-kiss — but close enough that no one can tell the difference.

There's a roar from the crowd.

Most people won't know that that wasn't scripted.

And that's okay with me.

A/N: ! So, yeah, that happened. . . . First kisses are always my favorite, favorite part to write, and I debated a long time what Mitsuri and Akashi's would be like. I was hesitant about it being like this because it seems a bit out of character for Akashi. But it's also super cheesy and romantic. So, in the end, I went with it. Thanks for reading! If you have any comments, I'd love to hear them!

~ J. Dominique