PLEASE READ THIS TO UNDERSTAND THE FORMAT OF THE STORY
The "episode" is formatted in such a way that it matches the original show. If it's italicized and within the brackets, [like this], it's like the cutscene where either the bride or the host is interviewed in a separate room. The "episode" is also the unedited version (videographer-wise) because I really think the amount of words I've written is enough for a movie.
Thanks to 2 of my real-life friends, pajamarama, and misuwumi for giving me beautiful ideas that I may have or may not have stolen.
This is more dialogue-heavy than the previous chapter.
Anyways, enjoy.
o0o
Help me, my God, this got messy
Least I got the best seat
'Cause we put on one hell of a show
~Ellie Goulding, Slow Grenade
"You lot are really trying to test my patience, huh?"
Tsumugi, along with most of the younger Mankai actors, sans Yuki, visibly winced at the eerily calm tone Sakyo used. It was the day of the shoot for 'Say Yes to the Dress: Japan' where their director would be appearing as one of the brides and to be honest, he had expected something like this. Tsumugi, after the tutoring session they had yesterday, overheard Taichi talking to Tenma over the phone about 'a great escape'. He didn't assume anything but inwardly, he knew there was a plan. The one thing that surprised him was Tasuku arriving with the other adults, who had jobs, as well.
"Do you know how much trouble we're all going to be in?! There was a reason we insisted you to stay put except these three. They only required at most three to four people…bla bla bla bla…"
"So how did you guys get here?" Yuki asked Muku who nervously laughed.
Overhearing the conversation, Banri answered, "Broke the fire alarm so I can easily sneak out. Met up with Masumi on the way out scaling the walls like a lizard."
"Wasn't asking you, Neo gangster," Mankai's costumer flatly answered then raised an eyebrow at his schoolmate, "So how did you get out? Our school doesn't let us out without a waiver from our parents or guardian, or a family member fetches you for valid reasons."
Muku scratches his cheek, "He he…well…"
He had just excused himself from class claiming to get permission to leave the school grounds. He knows his school won't let him out unless there was proof that his family had an emergency or something but he just wants to try. He knows his co-actors from Mankai had their own respective plans in going to the set of the reality TV show. There was no way he was going to miss the director trying on multiple princess-like dresses.
He, definitely, will make it.
'This is bad…I'm scared,' Muku shakingly sighed as he opened the faculty room door, 'No, Muku. You're an actor in Mankai. Treat this like its and etude and you'll be fine…'
"Sakisaka-kun, what brings you here?" his homeroom teacher greeted him.
"Um, sensei…c-can I go out of s-school?" he stuttered further panicking him, "I don't h-have a waiver b-but-"
His homeroom teacher sadly smiled at him, "Sakisaka-kun, you know we can't let you out without a valid reason. But if you insist, I can give your parent's a call to confirm?"
'I knew it,' he bites his lips, 'I should've prepared a better excuse. I had a week to prepare an excuse and I ended up daydreaming about how fairytale-like today would go. I'm such a patheticbunchofstringbeansbeingpickedonbychickens-'
As he wallows in despair, the door of the faculty room opens again revealing his Math teacher, "Ah, there he is. Sakisaka-san, your cousin's here to fetch you."
"Thanks to Juuchan arriving, I was able to go out," Muku smiled at Yuki, "We had to explain that a family member was getting married and he was really my cousin but…I guess it turned out alright."
"How about you, Tsuzuru-san?" Sakuya asked the college boy who had face clearly asking, 'are you serious?' but nonetheless answered his troupe mate.
"I was in one of the more boring classes and I decided to close my eyes for one second. FOR ONE SECOND," he heavily sighed as he rubbed his temple, "Next thing I knew, the wind was hitting my face and I was on a three-person bike with Kazunari and Omi."
Omi, hearing his name, looked at the little gossip group and shared his side of the story, "I was busy developing some pictures from my camera to make way for the pictures I'll take of the director in different dresses when their bicycle passed by. I thought you were having a seizure so I rode on the third seat to help Kazunari pedal. By the time, you woke up and the two of you had a scream fest, I understood what was happening."
"Ugh, call me after he stops talking and we can go in the store," Tsuzuru sighed as he sat on the sidewalk.
"At least, you didn't have Banri, Juza, Taichi, and Masumi in one car," Tenma whispered behind his bloody red Oni mask, making Muku jump in surprise.
Looking at the orangette's mask, Yuki casually threw an insult, "I initially thought you had bad choices in clothing but it turns out your accessory choices are more drastic."
"Oi-"
"Okay," Tsumugi quickly inserts himself before the argument escalates and Sakyo gets angrier, "Tenma-kun, how did they end up riding your car?'
"Initially, Taichi and I had a plan to get to the set using my car," Tenma starts as he lowered his voice when Sakyo's eyes lingered over at him, "He spotted the other four in a train station then suggested carpooling."
It only took 5 minutes of peace and quiet.
"Would you move?" Juza simply asked, "It's tight in here."
Banri, though triumphant he sat near the window, replied, "Asshole, there's no more space. How about you lessen on those sweets so that your ass wouldn't get fatter?"
Tenma regrets his bout of goodwill for the day.
"Stop wiggling!"
"How about you stop wiggling?"
"Dammit, why did you even let this asshole in?" Banri shouts as the two kept on elbowing or hitting each other.
Taichi commented from the front, "Come on Ban-chan. We're all heading the same way, anyway."
"Oi, this is my car-"
Their argument about their seats faded somewhere along the way. Even so, it didn't stop them from arguing on other things. Taichi and Muku were fine but they still added to the noise in the back when they started gushing about the different types of wedding dresses the looked up on the net or manga.
But by god's grace,
Masumi was the worst.
"Are we there yet?" he asked after 30 minutes of travel.
Tenma looks at the rear-view mirror in nearly empty patience, "No, we're still an hour away."
The dark-haired guy didn't speak after that and Tenma was grateful. He thought he might never make it out of this car ride if Masumi added to the racket.
"She's definitely going to be beautiful in anything…Maybe she'll realize I'm a better choice when I compliment her on every dress. Ahhh, why is this car so slow? I can't miss her trying on wedding gowns-"
"Sir," Igawa asked as Tenma looked pained, "Please don't forget to wear the mask. It's in the glovebox."
Flatly opening the compartment Tenma's face fell further, "Drive a little faster, would you?"
Tenma sighed as he sat beside Tsuzuru on the sidewalk, "As soon as Igawa said that the bridal store was only 10 minutes away, Masumi took off and jumped out of the still-moving car."
"Sorry about that, Tenma," Muku sadly said.
Misumi pats the cotton candy-haired boy as he said, "Don't be sad, Muku. We're under a very beautiful triangle today."
"What triangle?" Sakuya asks.
"That one," Misumi points to the roof of the building where the bridal shop was, "Citron-san and I found it while I was looking around for big triangles."
Looking at the rest of the adults, Tsumugi was about to ask when Tasuku handed him his phone, "You left it and it has been ringing nonstop."
"Ah, the message for my tutees didn't get sent," Tsumugi said as soon as he unlocked his phone.
"I finally finished my poetry for those two. It is such a waste if at least they didn't get to hear it, "Homare proclaimed as Hisoka bit off the marshmallow from his hands, "Tasuku had graciously given me a ride-"
"You just slipped in my car," Tasuku exasperatedly whispered.
"-and along the way, we saw Hisoka sleeping on a park bench and brought him along," he finished as Azuma then spoke up, "I met up with an old client of mine. It was near here so I decided to check this place out."
"How about you Itaru-san?" Sakuya asked the oldest spring troupe member.
Without taking his eyes off of his game, Itaru replied, "I was already on leave today then ByteMon Go alerted me that there will be a Mega-Rare Mon around here this afternoon."
"Are you serious?" Banri said as he checked on his own phone.
"In the meantime, I need you to pull for me again," the gamer-by-night handed his phone to the spring troupe leader.
"O-okay"
Noticing that no one was listening to him, Sakyo flares up further, "Oi, you're not even listeni-"
"You guys, what are you doing here?" Izumi asked as she ran ahead to her merry little group of actors.
"I guess, they really wanted to see you try on dresses?" Tsumugi generalized for the rest.
"Izumi-chan, are these the rest of your actors you were talking about?" Hanami asked as she caught up with her, "Didn't you say you were only bringing your fiancé and three actors?"
As Izumi apologized to the older woman, Sakyo glared at the rest of them, "See. If you had just followed-"
"No, don't apologize," the black-haired woman said as she thoughtfully looked at the other boys, "I think we could use this to our advantage…"
"Sen...pai?" Izumi rose up from bowing and gave show producer a confused look.
"So far, the brides and their entourages we've filmed were incredibly demure and looking back on it, it doesn't really make an exciting episode," she explained as she rubbed her chin, "The aim of this show is to persuade the population, or at least the women, the joys of looking for that one dress…The banter between you all is nothing short of smooth and entertaining. This is what we need."
"Are you saying?" Muku said in high hopes as the other boys' eyes widened.
Hanami brightly smiled, "I say we give it a shot."
[Producer: Just normally introduce yourself…
Bride: A-ah sorry, I spaced out…um
ooo
Bride: Hi, my name's Tachibana Izumi and I'm the theatre director of Mankai company. Ever since I was young, I held a strong preference for acting and theatre. Over the years, I learned that I wasn't really set for stage life. It didn't stop me, though, rather, that realization served as a guide for me to sort-of inherit Mankai from my dad, who was its previous director. I may not be the one on stage but it is very rewarding to see your actors get claps and standing ovations on every show.]
As the bride and her companions took a look around some of the dresses in display, a certain someone was busy preparing to surprise the unsuspecting bride. Making their way further into the shop, they stopped by in front of a row of mannequins where he finally made a move.
"Hello, beautiful," Randy greeted from behind one of the mannequins, "Do I call you Tachibana or…"
"Oh my- Ran- y-your real!" Izumi half-screamed, "And please, c-call me Izumi."
"Heeh," the green-haired boy in a cute dress said, "I suppose if he's the one doing the choosing, I-"
"Yuki," the blue-haired man squeezed her shoulder and hushed her as Randy finished greeting Izumi.
"So who did you bring in today?" the fashion designer asked.
With Sakyo squeezing her arm, she blinks out of her stupor and answered, "I've b-brought with me Sakuya, the leader of the Spring Troupe-"
"Wait, Spring?" Randy interjects in curiosity, "So there's different troupe per season?"
[Izumi: Mankai company is one of the older theatre companies in Veludo Way. It traditionally has four troupes named after the four seasons. Each troupe specializes in a different type of play, whether it be in theme or genre.]
Continuing, she points to the other boy beside her, "Yuki, an actor from the Summer Troupe and Mankai's costumer or designer-"
Randy's eyes twinkled and shook the youngest of the four boys Izumi brought, "So his opinions are what we should be taking into account for?"
[Yuki: I don't care whether the gown's designed by a famous designer. I'll tear it to shreds if it doesn't suit my taste.
Sakuya: Um…Yuki…that's…
Yuki: I meant what I said.]
"This is Tsumugi, the leader of the Winter Troupe and would be arranging my bouquet and last but not the least," the brown-haired lady gulps but smiles, "this is S- Furuichi, my fiancé, an actor from the Autumn Troupe."
Sakyo respectfully shook Randy's hand as he asked, "This is a first, I've heard of actors getting together but a director and an actor? Tell me, what's the story?"
[Director: I know it's a bit intrusive but just share a tiny bit
Sakyo: …really…
ooo
Izumi: Apparently, we've met when we were younger in the same theatre company, we're in now. We reconnected after so many years.
Sakyo: Let's just say, our relationship was years in the making.
Izumi: Wha-
Sakyo: She was clueless about it.]
"Now that we've been properly introduced. Let's get down to business," the American designer clapped his hands, "What kind of dress are you looking for?"
"Simple" "Showy", Sakyo and Yuki instantly replied in unison making Izumi have a strain in her smile.
[Izumi: And this is what I was afraid of…]
"It's a wedding, not a play," Sakyo stubbornly made his point as Tsumugi and Sakuya tried to placate the two.
Not having any of it, Yuki insisted, "Exactly, this IS a wedding. She has to stand out because she is the bride."
[Randy: Now, while those two sort out their differences, I took our bride-to-be to the changing room and have a one-on-one talk with her.]
As Randy closed the door to the room, he began, "So now that they're out of earshot…what is it do you envision as your dream dress?"
"I don't really have a specific style I want," Izumi cluelessly answered in truth, "I guess as long as it's easy to move in and is within the budget?"
Raising an eyebrow at her condition, Randy asked, "What is your budget?"
"25000 yen," Izumi sighed.
[Randy: I was like "What?!". That's like less than $300. You can't even buy a good veil with that.]
"You're serious" Randy laughed, unbelieving.
"My fiancé's going to pay for it," the Mankai director supplied a reason, "He's quite frugal with everything. He manages the finances in the theatre company too so I guess he calculated everything from the ceremony's cost to the dress."
"Is there," Randy holds her hands sincerely, "no chance of that budget increasing like, at all?"
Izumi sweatdrops but replied, "…Maybe, if he deems it necessary. And he's very stubborn and hard to convince."
[Randy: Oh, honey. I'll definitely convince him. Just watch me.]
[Randy: I've been creating and finding wedding dresses for different types of brides for years. Each one had their own style and sometimes their entourages don't quite agree with them. This particular one though might just be the most difficult yet…And it's not even because of the bride.]
"Ayaka, where are you?" he calls out in the stockroom of wedding dresses.
"Over here, Randy," a female's voice sounded from the far side aisle.
The fashion designer brisk walks to where she was and said, "I see you already found a few."
The short half-Japanese woman smiled at him and showed a small collection of dresses she'd picked, "I've kept in mind the simplicity the husband-to-be wants but…"
"The price range," he finished.
[Randy: So the plan is to make Mr. Frugality, here, see that cheaper isn't always the way to go. Just like their mini-designer said, it IS a wedding.]
The door to the changing room opened as the two greeted Izumi who changed into a robe, "Hey, I'm back. This is Ayaka, by the way. She'll also be helping you today."
"Hi, Randy, Ayaka," she nervously greets them as she shyly and subtly glances at the camera.
"So what we've got here is a sheath type of gown, strapless, and most importantly, simple," Randy explains, "Just natural pleating of the fabric."
"Well, it looks flowy enough to move in," Izumi enthusiastically smiled, "I'll try it on."
"Good," the designer nods as he leaves, "Ayaka, I'll leave you to it."
"See you, Randy."
[Randy: Now, while she gets dressed, I think it's time to check up on her entourage. I just hope the showroom is still standing by the time I get there.]
As Randy walked to the entourage's area, he noticed a sudden increase of voices and people. Subtly peering behind the divider, he sees an assortment of boys scattered into groups with the initial four guys Izumi brought talking or lecturing the newcomers.
"This would look good on our dear director, don't you think?" an ethereal-looking silver-haired man asked.
A stoic man with an undercut bluntly replied, "I think it looks like something a hostess would wear."
"Tacchan, don't say that," Tsumugi nervously laughed as he eyed another group.
"No, that's ugly. Bohemian is not your style," Yuki frowned as he touched the fabric's design in her hands.
The red-haired teen pouts but spins around in a long grey maxi dress, "But I think Director-sensei would look good in this one."
"Taichi, be careful with that," the tallest of all the boys hissed as he tried to keep him out of the staff' eyes, "Sakyo will definitely ground you if it rips."
"Are they an entourage of another client?" Randy asked one of the boutique's staff.
The staff whispered, "No, sir. They just…crashed into the store?"
A dark blonde guy comments as he clicks on his phone from time to time, "I didn't know choosing clothing's like selecting battle gear but for otoge."
Handing another silver-haired boy a marshmallow bag, the man with magenta hair exclaimed poetry, "The gl'rious weaveth did inscribe, t cannot compareth to h'r shineth of eyes-"
"Wow, Homare's spitting dung," a man wearing a type of Pakistani robe exclaimed, "I should take note."
"I don't even- don't you dare start copying Homare-" tiredly sighing, the light brown-haired boy tugged a drooling boy with headphones away from the dresses but corrected the dark-skinned man, "and it's speaking in tongues!"
A pink-haired boy, about the same age as Yuki, asked, "Juuchan, what do you think about this one?"
"S'okay," a tall intimidating teen nodded.
Looking at the guy with slicked-back violet hair, another teen with light-brown hair casually said, "Heh, bastard doesn't know about shit."
Feeling insulted, he growled, "What did you say, asshole?"
"OKAY," Randy shouts which caught all of their attention, "This is a surprise."
"We're sorry for their intrusion," Sakyo stood up and bowed, "It seems that some of our other actors didn't get the memo-"
[Randy: Having an all-male entourage isn't so rare even in Kleinfeld. But 20 boys all at the same time? I almost took a double take on whether I should get my eyes checked again.]
With the group arranged in order on the additional couches, the American designer asked for clarity, "So you're all the actors from the same theatre company."
"Yes" "Yup" "Mhm" "Yeppers"
Poking her head behind the divider, Izumi acted surprised for the 2nd time, "Guys, what- You're all here but-"
[Izumi: I really didn't expect all 20 of them to be present. Some of the guys had jobs and others were supposed to be still in school- Oh my god, how on earth did they even get here-]
"I wanted to see you wear the wedding gown you'll wear for ou-"
Aiming to cover Masumi's voice, Kazunari loudly exclaimed, "Director-chan, everyone won't miss this for the world."
"…I napped all morning…" Hisoka slowly said.
"Yes," Citron clapped once, "Even I am at the edge of the cliff for this."
"Edge of my seat, Citron," Tsuzuru corrected again but smiled at Izumi, "But, yes, we all are."
"So director-sensei, come on out," Taichi excitedly bounced on his seat.
[Randy: I wasn't sure earlier if the mini-designer would be enough to haggle the price range. Now, seeing that we've got 20 guys to impress, I'm sure her fiancé would be pressured in increasing that budget.]
"So what do you think?"
"It's a bathrobe," Yuki instantly commented, "Why did you even try it on?"
Trying not to laugh, Izumi answered, "Well, I did say that it should be something easy to move in."
"And it's within your 25000-yen budget," Randy added prompting Mankai's costumer to drop his jaw.
"Your budget is WHAT?" the green-haired middle-schooler stared at Sakyo, "I can't believe this. You're even limiting the budget on her WEDDING DRESS."
"It's only one day and one-time use," Sakyo stubbornly replied, "At least, our play's costumes can get recycled or can get re-called in if the audience wanted encores."
Omi scratched the back of his head, as he said, "Sakyo-san, I don't mean to be rude but aren't you being too…stingy on this?"
"Omi-kun's right," Azuma agreed, "Some of my previous clients mentioned it before. Wearing a beautiful gown on her wedding day is a girl's greatest dream."
"I don't often see our director wear dresses but I'm sure she had dreamt of wearing one," Muku kindly supported the others.
Masumi perks up and suggested, "If he's being cheap then I'll buy whatever dress you want. I knew you should've pi-"
"Masumi-kun," Sakuya nervously laughed as Tsuzuru covered his mouth.
"Okay, that's it," Banri said with resolve in his voice, "If he's offering to pay, then I'll add my card in."
The guy wearing an oni mask, who was actually Tenma, added, "I mean if it's not enough then I'll-"
"Guys, please don't. That's your own money," Izumi said in a panic since she saw how determined they looked from the mirror, "Why don't you save them for when you really need them?"
"But director-sensei, your wedding is important," Taichi reasoned as the others nodded.
"I don't think it's because we wanted to throw money around but," Tsumugi smiled at her, "It's because we appreciate all the hard work you've done for us."
"Just think of it as a gift from us…" Tasuku added.
"Come on, Frooch. You don't even look like you want that dress on her," Kazunari called out the man as he lowered his phone after taking a picture.
"…Fine," the bespectacled man sighed, "And keep your money to yourselves. I'm not letting you kids pay for her dress."
[Randy: Now that the purse strings are loosened, it's time to shop.]
Walking down the aisle of dresses, Randy stated, "I don't think she realizes it but she has that type of body that could wear just about any of these."
"And that's what makes our job challenging but exciting," Ayaka enthusiastically replied as she pushed back a bunch of dresses.
"Exactly," the designer smiled as he paused at one of the off-white dresses, "Hmm, this one could work, don't you think?"
"So we've brought back an assortment of dresses, which are all easy to move in," Randy starts as he and Ayaka hanged the three dresses on the mounted clothing rack.
Ayaka huffs but reached for the first one in the right, "This one is a simple white gown but, in the right angle, you'll see a delicate pattern of roses."
"This one, as you can see, is a bit more on the showy side," Randy describes the 2nd choice of gown, "It has a glittery top while the feathers on the skirt make it look light and airy, which it actually is."
"And lastly, this is a compromise between the two. The bodice has an arrangement of flower beadings and a simple flowy tulle skirt," Ayaka finished as Izumi nodded and chose to wear the simplest of the three first.
[Izumi: These bunch of boys has various opinions but I just hope they won't be too…brutal in their comments.]
As Randy helped Izumi on the platform, he asked, "So what do you think?"
"It reminds me of a cake topper. Sorry, about that director," Omi commented.
"Took the words out of my mouth," Yuki rolled his eyes, "Also it looks like it belongs to a museum. It's ancient-looking."
Muku bit his lips, "It is really…"
"…plain," Juza finished for cousin.
Randy nods at them as he swished the part with patterns in the light, "Even with the sparkles in?"
"Goddess…" Masumi muttered making Tsuzuru groan into his palm, "Please, shut up."
Tsumugi winced and whispered to Tasuku, "I don't want to say it out loud but having those roses with yellow sheen doesn't mean anything good…"
[Izumi: Onto the next dress then…]
"No, it's nasty," Yuki made shooing motions, "Chicken feathers? Really?"
Sakuya sweatdrops as he said, "Yuki-kun…isn't that a bit…"
[Yuki: I've said it before, I won't hold my tongue. Never have, never will.]
"Ah, that reminds me of the feather pens I use to write my poetry with," Homare exclaimed.
"No one asked you, dammit," Tasuku sighed as Tsumugi patted his hand.
"My parents brought me to Vegas once," Tenma reminisced, "The feathers do resemble those attached to the dancers' dresses."
"There's still no triangles," Misumi sadly said.
Banri criticized in finality, "It's modernish but it doesn't look like it's for a wedding."
"So that's a no then?" Ayaka asked.
With the boys nodding, Izumi also said, "I think so."
[Randy: And to think, I thought only the little designer had a sharp tongue.]
As Izumi entered the showroom in another dress, Ayaka mentioned, "Fourth dress of the day. Any comments?"
"Now, that's Instablam-worthy," Kazunari snaps away on his phone.
Azuma serenely remarked, "That's certainly eye-catching on you."
"Yes, it's a stow shopper," Citron commented as Itaru reworded it without glancing away from his phone, "Almost, it's 'show-stopper'."
Taichi, noticing the quietness of his troupe leader, asked, "What do you think, Sakyo-san?"
"Again, the primroses and yellow tulips aren't flowers for a wedding…" Tsumugi mentioned to the oldest of them.
"No, it's too gaudy and garish. I don't like it," Sakyo frowns.
Yuki hums in acceptance of his decision, "Looking at it again, the arrangement of beadings makes you look older than you are."
Izumi lightly laughs as she touched the beads on the dress, "I really don't like the feel of the beadings on my skin, too."
Nodding at their decision, Ayaka asked, "So where do we go from here?"
Despite directing the question to the bride, the group of 20 boys made known their own preferences.
"I wanna see triangles."
"Maybe something with a little bit of glitter or bling."
"Can it be a princess gown-um, if it isn't troubling or-"
"That's a magnificent choice, Muku-kun. Just as written in classic literature- Ah, this shopping for dresses waters my dry spring of words."
"…marshmallow…"
"Wouldn't a fitting dress be good?"
Randy and Ayaka looked at each other as he said, "Well, they sure have a lot of opinions."
"I know I said I'm willing to try on anything but I don't think I'll live by wearing a minimum of 20 dresses today," Izumi sighed but smiled at the catastrophe of clashing ideas in front of her.
[Randy: So Izumi had an idea to limit the dresses she'll try on while keeping every single one of her actors' opinions in mind.
Izumi: Each of my troupes had a short meeting and agreed on a certain style. I've had each of the troupes send a representative, which they decided with janken for fairness, and have them choose from the selection of dresses in the stockroom.]
"Ugh, this is the worst," Masumi groaned, "He doesn't even ca-"
"Trust me, I don't even want to but my game's energy is depleted," Itaru said as he pocketed his phone, "I guess I'll take part in this real-life avatar dressing game."
Kazunari threw an arm over his troupe mate, "Sumi-sumi, remember what style we talked about, okay?"
"I'm gonna get one with many triangles," Misumi cheered as Yuki groaned, "This is going to be a disaster."
"Settsu, stop it. Juza won," Sakyo sternly scolded as Omi held the delinquent in place.
"His style is stupid," Banri angrily reasons, "What makes you think he'll get the right type of gown?"
"Well, this is…unexpected," Azuma giggles as Tasuku sighed and Homare spouts nonsense at the side.
Hisoka yawns but determinedly said, "…I'll do my best…to find a marshmallow…"
"Just do your best, Hisoka-kun," Tsumugi rubs the boy's head.
"Okay, we're back," Ayaka greets as she and Randy carried four gowns behind them.
Randy wipes his forehead then hanged the dresses according to the season, "Those boys were really…something."
Izumi apologized, "They're really…individualistic…"
[Izumi: At first, I was completely overwhelmed with the choices they gave me. I don't mean it in a bad way but the drastic style gap between all four was an eye-opener. I just hope the number of choices I have would provide me an idea of what I actually want.]
Izumi enters the showroom with a white crystal-embellished mermaid gown with a tulle skirt. Because her hair was long, none of the boys noticed how extremely low the cut in her back was. Randy helps her up to the platform and had her spun around to face her entourage.
"It looks stunning on you," Azuma begins as soon as Izumi turns to face them.
Banri nods, "Not bad, the diamonds on it look real fancy."
"I hate the ruffled fishtail. It isn't you," Yuki cuts in dissatisfaction, "Who in their right mind chose this?"
"I think it's from the Spring Troupe," the half-Japanese woman mentions.
Yuki sighs as he looked at the couch where most of the Spring troupe is, "Of course, the elite swindler."
"Itaru-san, why did you pick this?" Sakuya innocently asked.
"First thing that caught my eye," the gamer replied, " 'sides, Memtoo suddenly appeared so I had to catch it"
"Tch, Im'ma go catch one too," Banri said as he stood up but Omi caught on his collar so he didn't get to leave.
"...to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer-" Tsuzuru puts a hand over Masumi's mumbling mouth.
"I know I have these illusion sleeves but," Izumi turns around to face the mirror again, "I feel so bare in this even more so than the first one I tried."
000
After a few minutes, Randy and Ayaka return with Izumi in tow. Both of them helped Izumi to carry the large white tulle skirt onto the platform. The sleeveless gown had a slightly glittery bodice with a sweetheart neckline. The skirt gracefully falls into a ballgown with a big bow on the back.
"Uwaah, the director looks like a princess," Muku dreamily said.
"It's really dramatic," Taichi adds eagerly.
Tsuzuru, now that Masumi stopped, hummed in appreciation, "It reminds me of the Cinderella gown in the movies."
"It's nice and all but," Izumi's smile became strained as she tried to move, "it's too big and heavy."
"Thought so," Yuki nodded at her comment, "It looks like it's eating you up instead."
"Mhhmm…looks like a big fluffy marshmallow…" Hisoka comments, a brief smile on his face.
"A-ah, Hisoka-kun chose this," Tsumugi smiled at the yawning man.
"Of course," Tasuku sighed, "you'd be fixated on that."
000
In another few minutes, Izumi returns wearing another type of white gown. Keeping her eyes on the floor to prevent stepping on the dress, Izumi steps up on the platform with the help of Ayaka. The gown had a high collar lace and is in a fit and flare style. It had a detachable overlay of a Japanese-inspired off-shoulder gown.
Tenma's eyebrow raised behind the mask as he stated, "That looks like it came from a fashion runway."
"The style is certainly exquisite, if I do say so myself," Homare provided, "A modernistic take on a traditional piece…ah, it fills me with such words-"
"…shut up, Arisu," Homare cuts him off making the poet huff in disappointment.
Citron's eyes lit up, "Japanese culture is so very different from my homeland."
"Thank god, he didn't butcher up any idioms," Tsuzuru muttered in thanks making Sakuya softly giggle.
"Looks like Juza chose well," Omi smiled at the delinquent-looking boy.
Juza plainly said, "It's traditional and modern…s'what you said."
"Good eye, Juza," Sakyo nodded at the teen.
Ayaka asked, "Do you like this kind of style?"
"It's beautiful and innovative…" Yuki's eye squinted before returning to a flat look, "But, as the hack said, it's too high fashion for you. No offense, though."
"None taken," Izumi agreed, "I'm honestly not feeling this either."
000
"So that means the last one's the trianglian's," Yuki groans and sinks further in his seat, "Ugh, tell me when it's over."
In a short while, Izumi walks out with an off-white gown. Muku gasped in delight as his eyes trailed onto the romantic A-line princess gown on their director. The two types of cloth were pinned together by a pleasing arrangement of beads formed on the dress's bosom. Turning around, Izumi looked up to see who had to say something this time.
"Come on, Yukki, look. Sumi-sumi chose well," Kazunari encouraged as he raised his phone up again, "Hold it director, that goes straight to Instablam."
"See, it has many triangles," Misumi shouted in joy.
Sakuya praised wholeheartedly, "It reminds me of our RomiJuli play."
"It does have that renaissance feel to it," Tasuku nods at Sakuya's point.
"Looks like it came out of those mangas you've read," Juza commented to Muku who was star-struck at his seat.
"So what do you think?" Randy throws the question to the two guys who are very hard to please.
"That…actually looks…good," Yuki complimented in shock.
"I agree," Sakyo pushes his glasses up, "It's a classic, queenly look."
Ayaka turns to Izumi who had spun back to face the mirror, "But what does our bride have to say?"
"It's," Izumi's brows knotted, "…not me. I mean, it's beautiful and all but…I feel like I'm in a play?"
[Izumi: I've tried on 8 dresses in a row and I'm completely exhausted. It isn't a lost cause, though. Because I feel like I finally have an idea on what components I want on my dress.]
"Where is it? Where is it?" Randy said as he flipped through the dresses on the rack, "Ah, here it is."
Stopping at a particular one, Randy and Ayaka sighed in satisfaction, "I think this is finally the one, they'll all love."
[Randy: It's a classic look, it had the right volume, it's isn't too plain nor underwhelming, it had enough bling.
Director: you forgot the triangle
Randy: Ah that too, it had enough triangles in it. I really do think every one of them is gonna agree that this is the one.]
"So how do you feel?" Ayaka asked as she finished fitting Izumi into the dress.
Eyes sparkling, she does a small spin and said, "It's light and airy. And the design is so intricate."
"Let's have them take a look," Ayaka smiled at her as she led her out of the changing room.
Izumi crossed her fingers as she walks out from behind the divider and steps up again to the platform. Her chosen ninth dress was an A-line gown in traditional ivory white. It has a classic sweetheart neckline that leads down to her natural waistline then flows out into a full floral sparkle tulle skirt. Taking one last look in the mirror, she faced her 20 Mankai actors.
"Guys, why are you so quiet?" Izumi nervously asked, "Is it that bad or-"
Without any pretense, Misumi faints.
Muku was visibly vibrating and in the process squeezed Tenma's arm too hard making him yelp in pain. At first, Taichi just sniffed then full-out sobbed into Banri's shirt angering him. Homare, for the first time, is shocked into silence. Azumi lightly laughs at all the commotion. Omi tries to calm Taichi down and prevent Banri from shoving him away. Kazunari, not only snaps more pictures of the director but also of the chaos. Tsuzuru, on the other hand, is torn between stopping Citron from performing a ritual for the dead and 'reviving' Masumi.
"It's really really really beautiful, director," Sakuya energetically acclaimed.
"UR card get," Itaru complimented in his own gamer way, "Limited edition story unlocked."
Tsumugi gladly supplied, "The flowers on the skirt represent each season."
"It is very nice on you," Tasuku simply added in acknowledgment.
Juza, acting as the translator for the still bawling boy, said, "Taichi says this is the most beautiful thing he'd seen you wear."
"The director's back has triangles," Misumi cried out in happiness, "Ah, and the skirt too."
"Well," Yuki smiled for the first time, "I guess this would do. It matches your personality too"
Ayaka steps forward as she carried a lace jacket with short and simple bell sleeves, "It comes with this too, in case you think her shoulder's a bit bare or something."
As Ayaka steps back, Randy asked, "How about we add a veil on it to complete the look?"
With an assistant handing him an elbow-length bridal illusion tulle veil, which is a design of his own, Azuma steps up to help Izumi in tying her hair into a messy bun. Attaching the veil carefully on the bun with floral clip Tsumugi chose from the assortment in the side, Izumi became lost on her own reflection in the mirror.
"It feels like I really am getting married," Izumi absentmindedly said as she saw the veil cascaded perfectly down on her.
"How about the fiancé? I saw a small smile earlier," Randy lightly jested to the lavender-eyed man.
Not giving any inclination on what he felt on his face, Sakyo asked, "…what's the price on it?"
[Ayaka: Right…the price
Randy: I was hoping he'd not mention it.]
The American designer looked at Ayaka before he said, "It's 171,595 yen."
"Do you," facing Izumi in all seriousness, Sakyo asked, "really love this dress?"
Blushing at her childhood friend's intense look, she shyly looked down on her dress, "A lot…"
Lost on her own thoughts, she only caught the end of Randy and Ayaka's question, "…yes to the dress?"
"…Yes," she delightfully said, "I'm saying yes to this dress."
[Randy: For being such an exciting challenge, I'm giving that veil away for free.
Izumi: I've never imagined myself getting married at all. I left all my thoughts about it in the back of my mind and focused on my job in blooming these actors under my wing to the fullest. Who would've thought, it would be my turn this time?]
The whole 20-men entourage exclaimed and acted their ecstatic in different ways. The Spring troupe was a bit subdued because Masumi, unplanned, was still knocked out but okay, nonetheless. The Summer troupe were in various states of excitement, bouncing all over the place. The Autumn Troupe were generally elated if only the three delinquent teens weren't so easily triggered. The Winter Troupe served to be cool with it but they blissfully applauded Izumi.
While everyone was distracted, Sakyo stood up and headed to his 'bride-to-be'.
"You did a great job hanging in there," he bravely held her hands as he whispered.
Despite the commotion in the back, she heard his praise loudly and smiled, "…I honestly thought we'd never get done."
Hearing a loud crashing noise and a war cry, Izumi winced as Sakyo's eyebrow twitched. Having no idea where his courage sprung out of, Sakyo quickly pecked Izumi on her cheek.
"You made me want to marry you for real."
The bespectacled man turned around and started yelling at Banri, Juza, and Taichi. As the rest of the adults tried to appease all the ruckus the younger members, the other responsible teens decided to reorganize the chaos. Hand on her cheek, Izumi stood still on the platform as she observed the scene in slow motion.
Homare, who had remained still until now, took out a pen and paper on his pocket and jotted down a haiku that instantly formed in his genius of a mind.
She, who arranges
Has bloomed beyond our gauges
His tender kiss, love
"Sorry for all the…mess," Izumi apologized to Hanami for the nth time on her phone, "We made such a scene with-"
"Are you kidding?" Hanami laughed from the other side of the line, "That was a great shot. Sure, the editors would have a hard time choosing which parts to leave but everyone else on set was laughing all the way the whole time."
"I'm still sorry though, on behalf of all of Mankai," the brown-haired director stood up from her bed.
"Okay, apology accepted," her black-haired senior gave in, "Sorry, I gotta go now. Just remind your two photographers not to post anything yet until the episode airs in two-weeks' time."
"Sure. Thanks again, Hana-senpai. Bye," she sighed as the call disconnected.
Not feeling tired, despite the late night, the Mankai director decides to venture out of her room. Stars shining down on the courtyard, she slowly checks each of her actors' room. In a short while, she confirmed that all of them were sleeping, even Itaru, who would be usually be still up this late. She sighs as she heads to the balcony up in the front to clear her mind a little.
Gently opening the door, she was surprised to see a figure by the balcony, "Sakyo?"
His body became rigid but relaxed as he turns his head to greet her, "Not tired yet?"
"Couldn't sleep," the brown-haired lady said as she joined him, "I still have leftover energy from earlier."
A calm atmosphere passed over the two as the wind breezes through. The two adults reminisce the scenes earlier and smiled on their faces remain unnoticed. When their lingering thoughts cloud them unknowingly, both simultaneously broke the silence.
"Do-" "Wha-"
"Go ahead, Sakyo," Izumi gave way as the older man turned his face away, "I don't really have much to say."
Waiting patiently, she waited for her childhood friend to face her and say something. After several minutes of nothing, she quietly sighs as she stepped away from the balcony.
"Can we talk?"
Feeling a déjà vu, Izumi giggles, "We are now."
"Let's go take a drive," the light blond said as he quickly passed by her, grabbing her hand in the process.
"Huh?!"
oioio
"S-sakyo?" Izumi asked in surprise, "You actually bought it?! B-bu-"
"Come out after you've worn it," Sakyo instructed as he parked his car, "I'll wait over there."
Shutting the car door, Izumi's pink hazel eyes went back to the box with the gown she had chosen earlier. It was decided that the gown wouldn't be bought after all since it won't be used anyway. She saw the thankful look on Sakyo's face earlier so she was confused as to why this wedding dress was here. Thoughts still muddled even more than earlier, Izumi decides to wear the dress again and quickly follow suit to Sakyo.
Autumn was close and the leaves in the park were turning in various shades of red, orange, and yellow. The changing of seasons became prominent when some of the leaves were already falling on the ground. Izumi walks further to the red bridge where Sakyo indicated he would wait. Finding the man leaning forward on the railing, she speedily walked over to him in silence.
There was no sign of any other person in the park and the atmosphere was so alluring with the bright night sky and autumn illumination over the lake. Izumi was at a loss of words and she was reminded of what Ayaka told her earlier.
"So why did you choose him as your 'fake' fiancé?"
"Ah?" Izumi squeaked as Ayaka slipped the dress back to the hanger.
"Don't worry I was part of the few who knows the whole ordeal here," Ayaka assured her.
"Um…" Izumi reflexively answered, "He's my childhood friend. We feel comfortable acting with each other."
"Mhm, is he really just?"
"Um…"
"I know it isn't my place to say but," the black-haired woman said as she opened the door, "How about reading between the lines more carefully…"
Thoughts fading, she was once again surprised when Sakyo took her hand and spun her around. Dress carried in the air, if a passerby would come now, that person would think that a classic Hollywood movie was being filmed. Elation making her heart pound, she huffs out and looked at Sakyo's stoic face.
Finding his eyes telling a different story, she gathers her courage and stated, "Tell me…what am I…to you?"
Sakyo lowers his hand but refused to let hers go. Eyes closed; he shudders a breath. Unwaveringly, he lets lavender eyes meet with her questioning pink ones. A subtle smile blooms on his face.
It was safe to say Masumi didn't like what he discovered in the morning.
o0o
Information:
Dress codes I used as example: (just type it in google images)
Spring Troupe's choice: Pnina Tornai Style 4718
Summer Troupe's choice: Jill Stuart 9074
Autumn Troupe's choice: Yumi Katsura py13764
Winter Troupe's choice: Cinderella & Co ss4592
Izumi's choice: Moonlight Bridal j6782
A/N:
LOL, I can't believe I wrote so much. I didn't want to miss any of the guys' reaction and I wanted all of them to have almost equal amounts of lines so here is the result. This took like a week to write and I was glad I didn't rush it because some of the ideas came late in the writing.
There was one day where I just looked at so many dresses. I almost felt like I was planning my own or someone else's wedding if you look at my history lol. There were so many types I considered Izumi wearing because she's a character fit to whoever plays the game. In the end, I went off with my gut feeling and old Hollywood classics. The jacket thing I just imagined it because it isn't really part of the gown but I loved pajamarama's idea of bell sleeves too.
I know I said only 2 chapters but here's the last question,
Should I include a chapter where the other four (Chikage, Kumon, Azami, Guy) and a few other key characters in the story react to the episode? If so comment down below who would you like to see. I'm playing in the EN server so I don't know much about them yet but I've spoiled myself/read the guide/wiki so I think I have enough to go with.
Thanks for reading and the comments, I appreciate it.