The next day

Shinji stared blankly at the ceiling. He was still in bed and didn't feel to get up although they have school today. He looked at the bed opposite his and saw no Kira on it. She usually wake up late and had been receiving alarm clocks as gifts from friends, seeing that she may be suffering from narcolepsy. Shinji thought of how every thing started. From the train, Tsubasa, the girl's dormitory, and now, Kira. He knew that ever since Kira moved in, he never had the time to think things like this. Everything that happened was like a huge black hole sucking him in, not knowing how everything inside it came to be.

Then it hit him again, his past that until now is hunting him. The girl that he left in pain. She was reaching for him, calling him but he didn't listen to her. He then realized that tears were already falling from his eyes. He shook his head and buried himself in his pillow.

000000000000000

"Shinji, wake up."

Just as he heard, he opened his eyes and looked at the figure that awakened him. "Tsubasa," he said as he smiled. "What brought you here?" he said as he turned to face his pillow.

"What brought me here?" Tsubasa repeated in a mockingly voice. "Are you forgetting about school?"

"I don't feel well today. Where's Kira?"

"I don't really know but she left early accompanied by I think two strong men and a maid," Tsubasa answered as she sat down on Shinji's bed. "I was going to ask that to you too."

Shinji rose from his bed and sat beside her. "You mean, she's not going to attend classes today?"

Tsubasa nodded. "Why are you so worried about her?" Tsubasa asked. "Is there something going on between you and Kira?"

"What, I'm just a bit worried that's all. And as you know, she's my room mate so it's just plain simple why I asked." Shinji said. "Hey, why do I have to explain to you? It's not like you're my mom or something."

"Oh, yeah right. I came by also to remind you about our school play."

"School play?"

"The Kashibakara High School Play Fest!" Tsubasa shouted. "I've heard from the sophomores that this fest is one of the best! Every year, per section competes to get the gold price!"

"Oh, yeah. So how does this play works?"

"I can't tell you yet. All classes today are excused to give way for the preparation. That's how important this event is!" Tsubasa proudly shouted.

"Okay." Shinji didn't care about it at all. He has more problems to worry about than this play fest. "Hey, tell our dear president I'll be one of the props men."

"What? A props man? Oh, come on Shinji, don't want to shine? Why a props man?"

"I don't know too. As far as I can remember, there was one play when I was in middle school and I get to be the leading man of Cinderella…"

"REALLY?" Tsubasa shouted. Shinji was a shocked by her scream. Tsubasa motioned for him to continue his story while she moved in closer. "Continue, continue"

Shinji sighed. "Okay. So as I was saying, I was picked to be the prince. Oh I practiced and it was well during the rehersals…" He swallowed. "But it was a damn mess during the real thing. First, I forgot almost half of my lines."

"Oh that is terrible!" Tsubasa cut in. Shinji raised an eye brow.

"Do you want to hear it or not?" Shinji said.

"Of course I do! This time I'll be attentive!"

"Good. Okay, so first, I lost my lines. Second, I tripped over three times on the stage. But that wasn't the end of it. At the end of the play, I accidentally threw the glass shoe to Cinderella which knocked her off! Then, ever since, I've been a props man."

"Oh poor girl! Okay then, I'll tell our president about it."

"Good." Shinji laid on his bed.

"But aren't you going to try? I mean, everything changes."

"I'm not taking the risk. I might end up our play my style and knock off someone again. Who knows, it might be you."

"Okay. I think I should get going now. Time sure runs fast." Tsubasa said as she headed for the door and got out. As she closed the door behind her, her smile faded. "I am willing to take the risk, Shinji." she whispered.

At the class I- A

"Okay classmates, as we all know, our school will have a play fest the week after the next. We have exactly two weeks to prepare and rehearse." President Tsukai announced. "Let's see…" he said as he read the paper. "This piece of paper was given to me by the department head of English. The play assigned to our class is… Cinderella."

"Huh?" Tsubasa was shocked. 'Cinderella… I just remembered Shinji's story. He's such a clumsy boy. Ever since I woke him up from that train, I have liked him. He's so – '

"Ms. Minase! Are you listening to me?" President Tsukai shouted as he grabbed her notebook and scanned it. "What is this? Shinji, Shinji, Shinji? You've almost filled up this page with his name!"

"Huh? Give it back." Tsubasa blushed as the whole class started to tease her.

"Speaking of Mr. Ikari… and Ms. Andrews… where are they?"

"Mr. President, Shinji's not feeling well today and Kira… well, she left early this morning." Tsubasa answered.

"Okay, never mind… Let's get this play going."

President Tsukai pulled out a big transparent bowl full of rolled papers. "This bowl contains our future responsibilities for the play. Our roles will be given by our hands." He said as he got a rolled paper from the bowl and passed it to the class.

The bowl finally came to Tsubasa's hands. She stared at it for a moment then swallowed. 'I must pick out the role of Cinderella… I must pick out the role of Cinderella… I must pick out the role of Cinderella… I must pick out the role of Cinderella… I must – '

"Hey, aren't you done yet? You sure taking your time." One of Tsubasa's classmates shouted.

"Oh, okay, okay. Here goes nothing…" Tsubasa quickly picked out a paper wishing it was the role of Cinderella and passed the bowl to the next. She closed her eyes and unfolded the paper. She opened her eyes in excitement only to see a word props man written on it. "WHAT!" then she sighed and approached the president. "Hey, can I exchange my role for another?"

"Definitely not, darling. So get back to your seat and I'll organize this play."

Tsubasa's mouth fell open. "O-okay…" she went back to her seat as if a storm struck her.

Everyone was talking about their roles while Tsubasa horribly stared at the paper she was holding hoping it will change to Cinderella.

"So, everyone. There's only two left papers here reserved for those who are absent. Okay, props men you'll have the whole day to discuss everything we'll need. And as for those who have roles for the play, please stay on that side."

"Hah… me, I'm just a props man. Just exactly what Shinji wanted to be." Tsubasa said as she approached her fellow props men and started to discuss. Everyone in the group was talking except for her who was lazily looking at the group of people where she thinks she belongs. 'Hang on' she thought as her eyes widened. She looked closely at the 'cast of characters' chart posted on the board. 'The part of the prince is still left blank!' she thought.

"Oh no! Sh-Shinji!" She shouted as she ran towards the door of their classroom, ignoring the voices that called to her and rushed out.