The school festival was three weeks from now, at the end of June. Rain was pouring outside and the droplets were clattering against the windows but it wasn't enough to bring the excited students down.
Early in May, the entire class decided to perform a play at the festival, hence today was a special homeroom to decide which play they would perform and assign roles among her classmates.
The two class representatives, who were Akashi and a glasses wearing girl, were in charge of the upcoming preparations under the supervision of their homeroom teacher, sitting quietly in a corner of the classroom.
"Whoever has a suggestion, please raise your hand. Yoshiwara-san will write them on the board and we will decide by majority." Akashi announced clearly, standing at the front desk, unperturbed as ever. "And note we won't take any eccentric suggestions into consideration. Then let's begin."
Some students were sharing opinions between them. From plays taken from Japanese folklore like the Princess Kaguya to more classical ones like Cindrella, everyone began to get excited as ideas fused across the classroom but none were directly suggested to Akashi and Yoshiwara.
"«The Sleeping Beauty»!" a boy shouted in a jest, unexpectedly supported by the class. Everyone sounded enthusiastic at the named play.
"Wait. Isn't it a little too boring? Look, the princess sleeps almost the entire play!" Some students spoke up. "I think we should at least do something more impressive."
"And what exactly?" a girl asked.
"Change the play or add some action!" was the vague answer she got.
A girl with braids stood from her chair abruptly and gestured vehemently. "Oh! Wait, wait, I see it coming! An amazing fight between the Prince and the Witch's minions!"
"Does the Witch even have minions?"
"Don't forget it's a love story, Honda!"
Honda began to sneer. "A love story with epic action scenes!"
"You've got it wrong, Honda. It should be an epic love story with action scenes!"
Akashi and Yoshiwara exchanged looks before he called for order. "It seems it won't be necessary to have a vote. Any other suggestions? If not, we'll proceed."
The class quieted down. Only Honda had difficulties remaining calm, fidgeting in impatience to get to the role assignment.
"Then our play will be «The Sleeping Beauty»." Under the title play, Yoshiwara began to write down the leading and secondary roles on the board while Akashi continued to give instructions. "The cast will be determined by drawing lots. Everyone will write down their name on a piece of paper and I will collect them afterwards in two different boxes. One for boys, another for girls."
"Say Akashi-kun, are you also participating in the drawing?" a girl asked curiously.
"Yes. As far as I am concerned, I'm part of this class. Yoshiwara-san is also in." His reply made some girls giggle. Like they said, his poised personality was his charming point.
A few minutes later, Akashi and Yoshiwara finished collecting the pieces of paper. The latter clapped her hands together, drawing the class's attention to the board. "So, between the Prince and Princess role, which one are we drawing first?"
"The Prince role!" half the female class population shouted unanimously, making the boys jump and yell back at them, annoyed by the sudden ruckus.
At their fervent response, Yoshiwara plunged her hand inside the boys' box, mixed up the contents and picked a piece of paper. Every girl was carefully watching her unfolding it, forgetting to even breathe, all focused on the white paper. The bespectacled girl froze when she read his name, her eyes looking up in disbelief. The prince role would be played by him...
"A-Akashi Seijūrō." She stuttered while reading the piece of paper.
A loud shout echoed in the classroom when his name was revealed. Everyone was dumbfounded, the girls who held a tiny hope that his name would show up had their mouths agape. Even the unfazed Akashi had lost his composure while confirming his own name on the piece of paper, not expecting such abtwist of fate.
Ritsu stared at him stupidly, unable to comment on the situation. Honestly everyone could almost break into hysterics at that surprising turn of events. Akashi in the role of a sweet prince...
"Akashi-kun is the prince?!"
"No way~! It's like a dream coming true."
The girls' excitement reached its peak, their prince was the best prince they could ever dream of.
"You can refuse, Akashi-kun." Yoshiwara whispered. "Playing a leading role with your obligations at the basketball club including the preparation of the festival, it'll probably be hard on you."
"No need to worry. I'll be fine. And concerning the formalities, we are two. I'll be counting on you." With a simple smile he brushed off her worries.
Hiding her blush, Yoshiwara clapped her hands to have the calm back. "N-Now that our prince has been chosen, it's time for the princess."
Intense stares were directed at the girls' box; each girl hoped her name would be announced and thus become Akashi's princess. As he picked a piece of paper, the atmosphere was palpable, everyone waited for his next words. Prayers could almost be heard.
After a glance at the name, he revealed the girl's name.
"Himeno Reiko."
As all eyes fell upon her, the girl smirked and let out a faint cry of joy. She was the one who would share the same stage with Akashi.
For the rest, the final result was hard to swallow as their tiny hope had completely disappeared.
Himeno didn't care about the envious stares, she stood up and bowed slightly. "Akashi-kun and «I» will do our best. I hope you'll support us to the end. Right, everyone?"
A dark aura emanated from all the girls, she had done it on purpose. The haughty tone she used to emphasize on herself with Akashi drove the girls crazy. All had the same thought, instead of the princess, she would be better off playing the evil witch.
"The lifeless princess will be played by Himeno-san." Yoshiwara declared, writing the name on the board.
"Lifeless?!" she shouted back at Yoshiwara's slip of tongue.
"Oops. I used the wrong word." She feigned a mistake from her part. "Oh well, what's the difference? Lifeless, sleeping, the princess is still lying on a bed most of the time."
Better not pick on Yoshiwara, Ritsu noted, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Like her, the girls and the boys chuckled, trying to stay discreet to avoid death glares from Himeno.
Her sarcasm calmed the atmosphere. The princess sat down, crossing her arms in a pout while some of the male classmates tried to comfort her.
And the drawing lots took up again with the Witch role. Contrary to the Princess role, every girl prayed to not be picked. Yoshiwara unfolded the piece of paper and showed it to Akashi who smirked.
"Asaka Ritsu is the witch!" Yoshiwara announced cheerfully.
What did she do to deserve such a role? She wanted a minor role like the Queen or the fairies or simply not having to participate in the play at all and content herself with a part in the backstage team.
Observing her classmates' mixed reactions, most were amused by the drawing, the rest sympathized with her for playing the Witch role.
"For the fairies..."
"Hold on! Can I make a suggestion?" A girl raised her hand.
"Yes. What is it?" Akashi inquired.
"Concerning the Princess and the Witch distribution role, I suggest we switch roles. I think Himeno would be a better witch than Asaka and vice versa..."
The class supported her idea loudly. Ritsu was even more uncomfortable, she was definitely against playing the Princess role. That role was too bothersome in many ways. Firstly, it was a leading role, secondly, the princess was too passive and thirdly Akashi, the prince itself, would outshine her like the rest of the cast.
"That won't do." Akashi immediately rejected the idea.
"Come on everyone! What's the point of drawing lots if we change the result?" Yoshiwara added, putting her hands on her hips.
"But a haughty princess and a delicate witch? Something's wrong."
"Why don't we go for a vote?"
That smelled bad. Given the enthusiasm her classmates showed to switch the roles, she would eventually end up becoming the princess. Desperate times call for desperate measures!
"Actually, I have something to say."
Standing up, nobody expected her to raise an objection. On the defensive, Himeno deigned to half-listen to what her potential rival was about to say.
"I'll play the witch. Despite the appearance, I'm sure Himeno-san can make a good princess and I an evil witch. If we were to switch role based on our personality, then there'll be no fun in acting. Isn't a play supposed to be an act?"
As she finished her little speech, the class was dead silent.
"Asaka-san is in the right! I'm sure under her meek nature sleeps a wolf. She's perfect for the role! She's not as delicate as everyone thinks. I mean, she's in the volleyball club!" Himeno spoke up, trying to convince her classmates.
Himeno wasn't supporting her at all, instead she took advantage of the situation to keep the princess role for herself. In that very moment, Ritsu was covering her eyes breathing a sigh; and to think she was grateful for her speaking up.
All of a sudden, Honda stood up in her turn, grinning like mad.
"Then leave the rest to me! We don't need to switch roles! I'll bring out the best in everyone!"
"Honda-san, are you volunteering for writing the script?" Yoshiwara asked with a reserved tone.
"I won't let anyone take that task from me! Under my pen, the blazing prince, the haughty princess and the delicate witch will be called the amazing trio! Mark my words!"
"...It sounds like some comedy show." a boy laughed nervously.
"Would you all stop qualifying me as «haughty»?!" the raven haired princess interjected.
Honda was so overexcited that she already let her imagination run wild. For a member of the literary club, she was an exuberant girl, but the class tolerated her excess, as listening to her was always fun. She talked about books all the time and was brimming over with ideas and stories.
"Ho-Honda-san, duo is more appropriate, not trio. It's a classical love story, remember?" said Yoshiwara trying to restrain the burning passion of the braids girl.
"Ah...You're no fun..."
"Well, we'll leave the script under your care. Try to stay faithful to the original story." Akashi shrugged her pout off.
"I won't fail, Akashi-kun!" She chirped, her thumbs up.
"When you have a script, come find me or Yoshiwara-san. We'll do the final checks."
Honda nodded enthusiastically and sat down with a blissful face, already dreaming about the play script.
"Now that everything is clear. Shall we move on?"
With the quiet back in place, Akashi and Yoshiwara resumed drawing the lots, assigning the secondary roles without much trouble, contrary to the leading roles. Then different tasks were divided between those who didn't have a part in the play like designing the set, the narrator's part, and so on...
As she gazed at the gloomy weather, Ritsu looked forward to their play. Him a prince and her a witch, what a comical situation. Neither of the two actually fit their respective characters but this was what made it interesting.
Glimpsing at Akashi from the corner of her eyes, she couldn't help but smile faintly, trying to imagine him as a prince.
Voilà!
Akashi as a prince is a very ridiculous idea, I know...Have to wait for the festival chapter to see how he'll fare! Doesn't it look promising?
See you guys next week!