Hello, guys!
Here's the new chapter! I'm sorry for the late update! Since I catch up all the chapters I had already written, well, my updates will become irregular from now on, but don't worry normally I'll post a chapter within two weeks or less (and not more, because it even makes me crazy to wait so long) depends on my inspiration for the chapter.
Anyway, in the previous chapter, I said this would be the end of the Festival Arc but I underestimated the Festival power! So it will go on for one more chapter! Aha to tell you the truth, I only wrote the Play chapters for Akashi and Asaka's duel, so I never thought hard on the kissing scene and what follows.
So for this chapter, I kind of went with the flow! (and in my opinion, it's really a weird one)
Enough talk! Good reading and see how the end of the play unfold~!
Hidden behind the curtain, Akashi closed his strained eyes in wait. He did as usual, that is to say his very best. He wouldn't allow himself to do something as unsightly as half-measure, this was a second nature in him. One had to put everything they got to be at the top. Therefore it was so natural and rather easy for him to do so, that he couldn't fully understand this feeling of awe others had whenever he did his best.
And yet as natural and easy as it was, this duel had left him completely spent. How rare for him to go to such lenghts and felt so much thrill in just one fleeting moment. The tremors of the battle still ran through his body, his heart couldn't stop beating in excitement forcing him to stay on his two feets while his mind was somewhat overexerted by the long concentration span and urged him to rest. No matter how he thought about it, he completely lost himself in the duel; how strange it sounded, he let his heart commanded his actions. The only ones who could bring him that much fun was his basketball teammates. Their fair and strong mind were what he truly respected about them. And that quality also lay in her – Ritsu, a soft-hearted friend to everyone's eyes and a humble girl to his eyes. That was why he liked her.
Akashi reopened his eyes facing the dark stage. Truthfully, he could almost laugh at his impetuous behaviour during the fight. The emotional turmoil had likely messed with his mind, and he wasn't the sole one to be in that similar post-transe condition as a faintly audible laugh softened his weary face. Ritsu completely lost it.
The curtain opened slowly and a spolight shone upon him, revealing the Prince's flamboyant form one last time.
[The Prince crossed the castle and saw three glows darting around him. Those lights were the fairies.]
On the dark scene, another spotlight illuminated the three skyblue fairies bowing in front of the Prince.
"My lord! You're safe! Our prayers has reached you!" exclaimed the fairy on the left.
"So the Witch has fallen under your sword. How tragic." The fairy on the middle closed her eyes compassionately. "Yet, your victory was the only miracle we could hope for. We are truly indebted to you, my lord. Thanks to you, we can step again in this castle so dear to our heart."
"She won't be a threat anymore. Your land has been freed from the Witch's ruling, dear fairies."
"Not yet, my lord!" outcried the fairy on the right. "The Witch may have died but the curse has not been lifted. The Princess is still sleeping."
"The only way to undo the curse is a true act of love. With your pure heart, this land shall return to its past glory."
"Love, you say?"
"Yes, love. When you'll see the princess, follow your heart my lord. You'll understand."
"Now, hurry to her, my lord! Our princess awaits you in the highest room of the castle." The three fairies backed away while keeping their head low.
The light faded out, letting the fairies to leave the stage.
[Reaching the highest room of the castle, the Prince saw the Princess' dormant silhouette lain on a flower bed.]
Akashi advanced near the bed flower and rested on the side of the bed flower observing Himeno.
[At the Princess' side, the Prince was struck by her beauty. It was exactly as the tale said. She was divine.]
Up close and at first glance, he couldn't deny the fair beauty of the raven haired girl. Yet it was a pity that her beautiful sleeping face was ruined by excitment. The corner of her mouth was twitching as she forced herself not to reflex smiling, and her closed eyes were squeezed tightly making her entire face contort in a rather odd way.
Following the script, Akashi brushed her cheek with his fingertips witnessing the girl's face suddenly turned bright red. Now her lips were trembling in impatience.
"How angelic she is. I have never met purest beauty in the whole world. How can a beautiful angel possibly sleep so peacefully when a curse locks her heart away? I shall awake you, my princess." The Prince grazed the black hair of the Princess letting a long strand of hair slipped on his fingers and laid a faint kiss upon it. As he continued his acting, the bright red princess jolted screwing her face up. "My heart cannot bear such a harrowing sight. Is that what the fairies told me? That feeling, is that love? My princess. An angel shouldn't close her pure eyes, but let a smile rise upon those soft lips..."
Akashi braced himself and bent over Himeno as his face steadily met hers.
As the Prince's lips drew closer to the sleeping Princess, Momoi was completely rapt into the love scene, holding her breath till the two silouhettes formed one. She couldn't help but stared intensely at the blazing prince laying a kiss upon the slumbering princess. The chastity of this scene touched her straight to her maiden's heart that dreamed of sharing a kiss with the one she loved. Her fast-throbbing wouldn't stop hitting her chest, wishing that the day she find love everything would be just as magical and simple as that moment.
"Oh, he did it." Aomine muttered in a very casual tone that didn't grasp the solemn mood of the scene.
Sadly, Momoi came down to earth whose mood got ruined by her awfully dense friend comment.
"Can't you read the mood!" yelled a frustrated Momoi at Aomine who raised an eyebrow, wondering why he was being scolded all of a sudden. He sent a enquiring gaze at Midorima and Murasakibara who ignored him for their own's sake, they didn't want to be dragged in a strange conversation.
"What mood?" The tanned boy asked cluelessly causing the pink haired girl to rub her nose bridge in a exasperated manner and breath a long heavy sigh. But she couldn't win against his genuine face and that dense character of his. It was like water off duck's back to him. Obviously, Aomine couldn't grasp something as subtile as this. He was so oblivious that Momoi was getting a bit worry about him. In sports, he managed well, but for other things it was hard to actually rely on him. "Even if he's the prince, it's just Akashi kissing a girl."
"Even so...it's the most important scene!"
"How so? For me Akashi and Asaka's fight was way more stunning than this crap. I bet that guy's thinking the same." He shot, looking up at the Prince who raised up after the kiss.
"Don't call it crap! How can you be so indifferent before a romantic scene!"
"Romantic?! You call that love? The dude randomly fell in love and kissed a random princess!"
"That's called love at first sight!"
"That's bullshit!"
"... Maybe but it's every girl's dream! You could at least feel something from it, you heartless ganguro! " She replied back to make him understand a girl's heart for his own good.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Aomine yelped at the insult while she puffed her cheeks and ignored him looking the other way. " Why are you so worked up? You have your peri–"
The foul-mouthed boy went too far. Momoi reacted instantly as she hit him in the stomach with her elbow causing her childhood friend to stoop in pain.
"I'm done talking to you!"
"Tch...! Do what you want! Like I want to talk with a ugly face. I'm out of here. The play is over anyway." Pissed off, Aomine clicked his tongue and leaped to his feet without minding the racket he was causing as he headed to the exit. Momoi glimpsed at him with one eye but didn't stop him from leaving.
"Mine-chin is really an idiot." Murasakibara said nonchalantly as he watched the boy's casual form disappeared behind the door.
"He's beyond help." The glasses boy sighed and threw a glance at the pink manager who already seemed to regret her words. Downhearted, she was cluctching her skirt, facing blankly at the ground. "Don't mind him. Aomine is an idiot, he'll forget soon."
"Yep, he can't stay angry with Momo-chin very long. But..."
As the two boys tried to cheer her up, Momoi raised her face and nodded with a little smile. It was as they said. They quarrelled time to time but it never lasted long. Even if she always was the one who made the first step to make up, he never rejected her and kept his usual easy-going attitude.
"What Mine-chin said is true...This scene is very boring. Aka-chin just said flat lines and kissed her."
"Yes, that was...a bit anti-climatic." Midorima commented without much interest as he expected something more «epic» for the final act. "And the sight of Akashi kissing that princess is unsettling. In my opinion, it could have been a pleasant scene if it weren't for the lingering bad impression of the Princess."
"It's stupid. Whether it's her or another girl, this scene would still be boring. I don't understand why it's supposed to be interesting." Murasakibara yawned heavily and rubbed the corner of his eyes. "The story should have ended at the fighting scene."
"That wouldn't be a love story if it had ended at that moment, Murasakibara." The giant boy ignored the green haired boy's glare. There was no difference for him though.
Momoi perferred to add nothing more, still having regret for taking it out on Aomine when he sadly wasn't a special case regarding love matter. Murasakibara was on the same level without much surprise. Dejected again, her gaze returned to the stage as they suddenly flashed opened and blinked by what just happened on the stage.
His lips parted from the Princess and returned to his sitting stance waiting the girl to awake in a delicate manner as it was written in the script. But her eyes flew opened, and like a robot she sat up straight on the raised flower bed.
"What, I was having a beautiful dream...Oh, my! You're the young man of my dream!" She exclaimed in a high-pitched voice to show her surprise. "Why are you here? Oh! I remember I was wandering in the castle and that old hag was doing something with a spindle. When I played with it, I suddenly felt sleepy!"
She took Akashi's left hand and rubbed her cheek on his palm as she continued her improvisation.
"I was dreaming about a ugly witch who tried to kill me. It was a nightmare! But a shining prince came to save me by killing her." She faked sobbing. "And you look exactly as the one in my dream! You came to save me, right? That's why you are here, my prince!"
Himeno suddenly eyed him up, looking straight at his incredulous red eyes. Akashi was in disbelief before such a special case as her. This scene was supposed to be the grand finale yet her improvised lines destroyed the whole magic of the final scene. Everything went well until she opened her eyes. He couldn't believe his ears as she had, with just few lines, wasted all his efforts with Ritsu in bringing the play to its climax. All those strong emotions that had born in the public's heart during the fight were now a distant memory after witnessing her acting.
"My lovely prince, t-there is something I want to tell you! Something I long to say to you since the first time I saw you...I...I..." Himeno stammered shyly, clutching her chest.
In spite of the fatigue, his brain worked at full blast sensing that if he didn't do something now this play would truly end up as a comical show which was not the case. In respect for Honda who had spent days in writting the script, he would do something before...
"...I've always loved you!"
Absent-minded for a couple of seconds, Akashi didn't sense the princess springing to embrace him. When her form flew to him, his dulled senses didn't react in time to stop her. Sitting on the bed edge, he couldn't support himself at the violent contact with the princess' flying body, and so her rash move made him lose his balance. As they fell off the bed, a thud suddenly echoed in the gymnasium and a death silence ensued. In a flash, the Prince and the Princess had disappeared behind the flower bed under the dazed gaze of the public that was once again rendered speechless at the Princess' performance.
Akashi winced when his back slammed hard on the wooden stage with the princess' heavy body on him that added more to his torment. Stunned by the impact, he looked blankly at the ceiling lying flatly on the floor. How unsightly was the first thought that leapt into his mind. He fell in front of everyone during the final act. Had he overestimated his own limit was the second thought that followed. Despite the exhaustion, he thought he could go on without trouble till the end and yet he didn't see coming the Princess' stupid move. Would he even be able to do something to save this play after such pathetic sight of himself was the third thought that made him realise how weak he could become at times. Flat on the floor, he could hardly find a suitable solution to the mess he caused by letting himself dragged by the Princess.
"Akashi-kun! Did you get hurt?" flapped Himeno as she was still over him, not really hasty to move away.
As he sat up, he met her eyes who continued to look straight at him which kind of irritated him. He was well aware she was genuinely worried about him but as his mind showed some flaws, his heart got the upper-hand this time.
"Himeno-san, tell me. Why didn't you follow the script?" He asked curtly.
A gasp escaped from the raven haired girl becoming red as tomato.
"Because if I did, I wouldn't be able to confess to you, dummy!" Akashi knitted his brows to the nonsense she spouted.
"We are on stage. Couldn't that wait after the play?"
"No! The stage is the best place to express feelings!" She told him, gripping his white jacket. "And I think fate is on our side!"
"You're making no sense at all. What fate has to do with your improvisation?"
"During the role distribution! It was fate that brought us together! So that our love could finally bloom on this stage! Even if we didn't–"
"Himeno-san, I would ask you to refrain yourself from taking this stage as an outlet for your personal desire. I won't tolerate any further your self-centered behavior." Having his plan thwarthed for such incoherent and egoistical reason and being pushed down on the floor didn't help him in keeping a cool head as his patience ran low. "Are you realising this play is everybody's work and not yours alone? Your feelings are being a nuisance for everybody including me. Right now, they do not have their place on this stage."
The red haired boy locked eyes with the girl who was utterly shocked.
"Wh-What are you saying, Akashi-kun? You don't care about my...feelings?" Himeno stammered as she clenched his white jacket more tightly.
"I made myself clear enough. Or must I repeat myself?"
"...Akashi-kun...? I knew that there was a possibility for you to reject me, but...but...you didn't have to put it that way! Y-You're being cold...! I-I..."
Akashi raised a brow. He wasn't being cold but rational. Wasn't that normal for someone to bring somebody into the line when it went against everybody's interest? He couldn't understand why he was qualified as cold when he cared for the play success. His forthright words told her exactly what he expected of her so why didn't she understand her role on this stage.
He heaved a sigh which made Himeno averting her eyes in frustration.
"M-My child! You are awake!" bellowed the King in a hesitant manner who dashed on the stage with the Queen and the three fairies at Honda's order.
"A miracle! That's a miracle, my King!" The Queen said her lines eyeing strangely the two of them on the floor.
"Fatheeeer, motheeeer...!" Without looking at Akashi, Himeno leaped to her feet, ran in direction of the Queen and hugged her suddenly to everyone's surprise. The Queen herself didn't know how to react to Himeno's strange behaviour and glimpsed at the blazing Prince who was getting on his two feet, his back on them. He turned and bespoke the group to continue with their acting.
"P-Princess...! M-My dear child!... How glad I am to see you again!" She put her arms around the princess and patted her head giving an inquiring look at the King and the fairies. "If the fairies hadn't put us all in a deep slumber, I could not have seen you ever again, my luminous child."
One of the fairies advanced and inclined her head before Her majesty. "Please forgive us for our selfish action. We couldn't bear the sight of our majesties grieved by the Princess' deep sleep." Then the two others did the same.
"Raise your heads, dear fairies. Without your kind souls, this Kingdom would have been lost forever. As the Queen said, we are indebted to all of you. We could not have lived this day if it weren't for you." The King pleaded the three fairies who bowed gratefully before they turned to the Prince.
"Then, there is another person your majesties should be grateful to. This young prince had triumphed over the Witch in order to save this land. His pure heart is the miracle that awoke the Princess."
"I see." The King approached the Prince and before him, he slightly bowed his head putting his right head on the chest. "Your bravery knows no bound, Prince. You defeated the Witch who ruled mercilessly upon on our land. Prince, our Kingdom shall be indebted to you. But how can I, the King of a fallen Kingdom, be even able to repay this debt?"
"I may ask you for the hand of your daughter. Let me marry her. That's all I ask for." At the Prince's answer, the King laughed heartily and patted his shoulder.
"My, determination and honesty are qualities I highly regard in someone. Alas, the decision is not mine, if my daughter do not approve of you. I cannot let my most beautiful treasure in the hand of someone who can't appreciate her value!" After his emotional tirade, the King took a heroic stance, placing himself three-quarters on to the public and giving him a solemn image.
"You are a rightful king. Now, I understand the fair beauty of the Princess."
"My luminous child! What is your answer to our savior?" The King exclaimed wholeheartedly.
The Princess swung around and outstared the Prince but she was the first one to drop eyes.
"...He is my soulmate, father. How can I refuse him? I love him the moment I opened my eyes. He was perfect."
"My dear child, you have made your – WHAT? That's aaaaaall!?" The King was surprised by how smoothly this scene was going. Since the beginning of the play, he was so used to hear the Princess acting in a exuberant manner, he expected a Himeno-like ending, that is to say a Princess madly in love with the Prince, ready to cuddle him up just as she attempted few minutes ago, forgetting about all since Akashi was the only person who truly mattered to her. And yet, since the beginning of the play, Himeno had said the Princess' lines for the very first time which came as a shock not only for him but also the Queen and the three fairies who gaped awkwardly.
He casted a glance at Himeno who shrugged him off and then he shifted his gaze to Akashi; the latter didn't seem trouble by her quiet behavior finding the situation perfectly normal.
"...I shall love her. You have my words." Akashi immediately followed up and sent a look to the narrator behind the curtain instructing to end this play right this instant. There was nothing more he could do to end this mess.
[Err...T-The fate that tied those two souls together was marked by the Prince's vow. Their pure love was the true miracle that shone upon this land. And so later, they got married and lived happily ever after. The end.]
The lights faded out slowly letting the public engraved this last scene in their heart.
Meanwhile, Akashi and his classmates awaited silently complete darkness to leave the stage. During that moment, the King snuck up his way to him, folded his arm around his neck and clasped his head to him.
"Oi, Akashi, did Himeno fall on her head or what? After you both fell, she acted oddly."
"What do you mean by odd? This is what she had to do from the start. But I praise her effort, she did well at the end." The two boys stared at the Princess' back who forced herself to talk with the others girls.
"She did well, my ass! Damn, Akashi, did Asaka wreck your head? We're talking about Himeno! " He hollered to his ear. "She never listens to anyone and only cares about her! Knowing her, the final act was not supposed to end like this!"
"What were you expecting exactly?"
"Dunno! Maybe she'd have fly into your arms and try to kiss you again! We all know Himeno is obsessed with you. So, we kind of all expected an ending like that." clarified the King rubbing the nape of his neck, then a huge grin showed all his teeth. "Guess, that'd be a nightmare for you to have a crazy girl going after your lips. It'd have awesome to see though! Oh, talking about kisses, how was the taste of Himeno's lips? You kissed her, right?"
Akashi gave a sidelong look to his curious classmate before the light faded out completely.
"Himeno's reaction is the answer to your question."
"Don't give me that crap, Aka–"
Ignoring him, the Prince made his way off the stage. In the backstage, his classmates gathered around the two stars of the play.
"Akashi-kun! You're alright?"
"It looked quite painful when you fell."
"And Himeno tried to attack you, didn't she? You two were pretty close." A girl joked while she was pushing Akashi in a friendly way.
"Yeah, you nearly knocked him out on the floor! What would have happened if the Prince was out cold during the final act?" Another tossed in, stirring on purpose the strangely quiet Princess who was staying behind Akashi, avoiding any direct contact with him.
"It wasn't my intention. "
"Who are you trying to fool, Himeno? It was the perfect occasion!" brushed it off a girl.
"Are you all deaf? I said it wasn't my intention! I'm not that obsessed with Akashi-kun!" Everyone went silent when the raven haired girl shouted in protest. All were baffled, they were used to hear Himeno fawning over Akashi but as of now, she seemed to keep her distance with him which was very disturbing for the whole class.
"We are aware of it. In fact, I should apologise for this pitiful sight of myself to you, Himeno-san and you all as well. If I had grabbed hold of you, this play would have known a better ending. My apologies."
Once again, the silence took place awkwardly. When he turned to face Himeno, the latter immediately avoided his gaze with a light flush on her cheeks seemingly still upset about what happened on the stage. Akashi stared at her for a while and then looked away with little concern.
"Aha. No need to be so formal! No one's putting the blame on anyone." chuckled Yoshiwara glacing at both of them. "Admittedly, the play ended as it is, but we all had fun doing it. Overall I kind of like it. Thanks to the Princess and Prince's improvisations, this play has a unique feel to it. At least, everyone will talk about it for a while at school. Don't you think Honda?"
The braids girl agreed wholeheartedly. She didn't care about the evident gap between her script and the actual play. For her, its magic resided in everyone's heart. It wasn't exactly what she had hoped for her play but the result was quite enjoyable.
"Yay! But I have one question for you two." Honda came closer, grinning widely at them. "If you two behave so strangely, does that mean the confession went well?"
At the question, Akashi stared blankly at the all smile scriptwriter who dared to ask the question that the whole class was wondering.
"Himeno can't even look at you and you spoke up for her when we teased her. Did love bloom on the stage?"
Their classmates brought them together and laughed as they were awaiting a reaction of the two supposed lovebirds. Akashi didn't utter a word, expecting a certain princess to bristle their claims which she did when their fingertips touched.
Embarrassed, she slightly pushed him away causing all their classmates' mouthes to curve into large grins. "D-Don't be stupid! My confession...was part of my improvisation! You're all so simple-minded to be completely taken in! It only proves my superb acting skills!...It was only improvisation..."
His classmates exchanged confounded looks, she wasn't the usual haughty and hyped Himeno. At the start of the play she was glued to Akashi and now she was avoiding him like the plague. Something was off.
As the backstage quieted down, Akashi studied all his classmates' concerned expression but there were two faces he didn't find among them.
"...Now's not the time to look gloomy! It's high time for the curtain call! Is everyone here?"
"Wait! Asaka is still not back and Sudo went to find her!" said a boy of the backstage team. Yoshiwara sighed in exasperation and had everyone wait for their return.
"Did something happen?"
"W-Well, while you were on the stage, she just couldn't stop laughting and decided to cool her head off outside. But it's been a while now." Yoshiwara explained quickly, then examined amusingly his Prince appearance. "You have a strange effect on girls in that costume, Akashi-kun."
Benting down over the outside sink, Ritsu splashed water all over her face letting droplets dripped on her blissful expression. Under this hot weather, cold water was exactly what she needed to forget all about the tiredness and the emotional turmoil that occured inside her. She didn't expect the whole duel thing to be so impassioned. She never felt this weird, this exhausted and this happy to be fighting with someone. It was even sad that it had ended. Akashi's unrestrained behavior and his wild expression – She wanted to see more of it. She liked his placid nature, but the Akashi with whom she shared this ephemeral moment with was the one who set a heart aflame. His crimson eyes seemed to blaze into life, glinting with the purest enjoyment while impulses suppressed any inhibited reactions, indulging himself in freedom as nothing else mattered but the two of them. Recalling this image, her heart started throbbing again with greater intensity. She sighed inwardly as her chaotic heart had yet to completely settle down. Ignoring those strange beats, she splashed water on her face again.
Refreshed, she turned off the faucet and reached the towel on the edge of the sink. After wiping her face, she heard some loud cheers from the athletic track where duos of students were dashing furiously to the finishing line. At the sight, she wondered how the play was going and more specifically how Akashi was doing on the stage. She was lucky to be the Witch since it was her last appaerance but she couldn't say the same to him who was left unable to rest despite the nerve-wracking duel. When the curtain closed, he looked rather spent by the fight, so she was a bit concerned about him. Even if, obviously, everything would go smoothly for him. A guy like him couldn't possibly display any hint of weakness.
Ritsu smiled faintly. Right this moment, he was certainly awakening the Princess with a kiss.
Dragging her heavy body away the sink, she had to return before the end of the play. But Aomine's sturdy form flashed before her. She tumbled while her tanned friend caught her by the hand stopping her from falling.
"Asaka?"
"Aomine-kun!"
"You're not watching the end of the play?" They queried in unison as they were staring each other out of countenance.
"...I needed some fresh air. Akashi-kun didn't spare me as you saw it." She chuckled, thanking him for catching her.
"Yeah, that was one heck of a fight. Too bad you had to die!"
"I'd rather say : fortunately I had to die. Had we continue a bit longer and I wouldn't be here to talk to you. He really hit me hard whenever he could."
"Well, Akashi isn't known for compassion." stated Aomine rubbing the nape of his neck with a casual look. "I can't complain about it though, that's what makes that fellow strong."
"I can't deny it. My whole body is sore and hurt." His last lunge on the ribs kept hurting her when she moved around. Under the black dress, she bet that spot was covered with a bad bruise. "Luckily tomorrow, I can rest since it's the school foundation day!..."
"You'd better. Instead of a witch, you're more like ghost!" The navy haired boy flicked her on the head, beaming a radiant smile.
"If you say so, then I manage to make it flashy to your eyes." muttered Ritsu, satisfied with herself. She had to have an ghastly look on her face but she cared the least, this was the proof of her determination.
"After challenging Akashi, you could only make it flashy, Asaka! You should have beat the crap out of him! That would have been awesome!"
She laughed heartily at Aomine's earnest demeanor. There was no greater reward for her effort than his spirited words. Because, it only assured her she was on the right track to prove herself to them, and like so keeping her promise.
"The Prince has to win."
"Too bad, huh? I'd have paid just to see that."
"Aha, in any case, I couldn't have won against him. You saw like anybody else how insanely quick his last assault was while I had no strengh left."
"You're just lacking stamina, that's all!" He yawped, putting his hands on the back of his head.
"You make it so simple!"
"Because there's nothing complicated in it! If you begin to overthink about things, you lose!"
"Sounds like your motto, Aomine-kun!"
She was teasing him, but his words spoke the truth. By keeping things to the simplest way, one's mind became the sharpest.
"But it only proves your strength." She affirmed with a soft smile, facing the tanned boy who boldly stretched out his fist in front of her.
"You're not bad yourself too!" Both of them laughed as their fist bumped together.
Aomine was truly someone she looked up. He was the simplest yet his light was most certainly the brighest among the four.
"Well, I should probably go back to the play. They must be at the end now." The clamor on the track field reminded her duty. She had to hurry herself, she couldn't make everyone wait on her for the curtain call. "Let's go, Aomine-kun."
"Na, go alone. I'll go grab some food." Aomine said as he averted his eyes. Ritsu stared at him curiously. Come to think of it, he didn't tell her why he was wandering all alone while the play was still ongoing.
"Something happened?"
"Nothing important. I just don't care about the last scene." He heaved a sigh and began to walk on the opposite way of the gymnasium.
"Really? You're missing something. This is the most touching and beautiful scene of the play."
Aomine suddenly stopped in his track and turned around, locking eyes with her who tilted her head innocently. He was slightly baffled by her words, it sounded almost weird to his ears.
"Ah, right, you're a girl too..." He remarked plainly scratching the back of his head.
Her eyebrow twitched at his silly observation. "To date, yes, I'm a girl and will ever be. Why do you sound so disappointed?..."
"I just forgot about that fact."
"Beg my pardon?!" She countered in a surprise manner. "What exactly are you thinking of me?"
"Don't freak like that! I'm just saying I think of you differently!" He shot back awkwardly. "You're not like others girls who get flustered over everything and yap all day long about crappy girly things! You don't care about appearance or–"
"To be short, you think of me as your buddy." His bluntness was appreciated but she couldn't bear to hear more. Strictly speaking, it wasn't the best compliment a girl could get.
"...In short, yeah. But truth to be say, I consider you more as a worthy match than a girl. Like the others of the basketball club, I know I can count on you for a good game."
"That's an honor, but next time be more tactful, Aomine-kun. I'm proud of being a girl, so when you put it so bluntly, it's a bit of an offense." She laughed it off, happy to know how Aomine felt about her. "However, I reckon your way of thinking. In that kind of relationship, gender doesn't make any difference. Sport is all about competition, right?"
Her declaration brought a broad smile upon Aomine's face. Unyielding spirit was what he liked about a person.
"Anyway, what has made you notice my maiden heart?" She asked in a jest. Now that Aomine told her his feelings, she was even more stirred up by curiosity.
"...It surprises me to know you like those kind of mushy things. I can't imagine you all sparkly in front of a stupid love scene."
"I'm a healthy girl. I can't stay indifferent to genuine displays of love. Love should be fully appreciated." Ritsu replied calmly, wondering how this weird idea even crossed his mind. "By the way, why are you saying that?"
Aomine's suddenly tensed up, emitting a faint groan. "Satsuki nagged me about it and got all worked up by herself."
"You certainly had said something she didn't like."
"What exactly?"
"That's what you have to tell me. I can't read mind."
"Whatever. I don't care about that ugly face. She's none of my concern now!"
Ritsu gasped at the ugly face part. Seemingly, Aomine and Momoi had quarrelled.
"Aomine-kun, turn this way." As he did, she pinched his cheeks and pulled them hard. The boy scowled, bawled some incomprehensible words, and put both his hands on her wrists to pull them away. "It is not nice to treat your childhood friend like that!"
"Achsaka, whadjch dje hewll a' you djouing?! Ledj gow oow mwee! Dwamn idjt!"
"I'll teach you some manners! Don't address a girl like that! Didn't I just tell you to be more tactful?" She stretched them even more, screwing up the poor boy face.
"Whyah a' you gwettching woork'd upch tchoo?! Whyah shoudj ai cuare abwat djat?!"
"I don't understand a thing you say. I hope you're not being rude." Being mocked, her tanned friend got all riled up. He tugged forcefully her hands and freed himself from her grasp.
"Asaka, you tightass! Mind your own business!" He snapped, rubbing his swollen red cheeks that itched in pain.
"Chill out! I was just teasing you. I'm unsure of what happened between you two but it's no excuse to be so rude to Momoi-chan. You should have more consideration toward her. Good-natured girls like her are difficult to find."
"Tch...! Good-natured, my ass! She got angry all of a sudden and then hit me! Anyhow I don't want to see–"
"Asakaaaaa! Here you are!"
The Old Man's silhouette burst into their view, running at full throttle toward them. Near them, he removed the bushy long beard, too hot to keep it because of the summer heat.
"Sudo-san! Don't tell me the play as already ended?"
"Almost! We have to go back now." He replied, straightening his back facing them happily. As he stood up, his eyes met Aomine's and Sudo grinned.
"Hey, Aomine! What's up? You're not watching the end of the play?"
"How do you know I was there?" The tanned boy wondered cluelessly.
"After the uproar you caused with Himeno, it was easy to spot you! Ah, just to warn you, careful of Akashi! That guy looked pretty uptight back there!"
A chill ran down his spine, Aomine pressed his lips with apprehension as he kind of sensed that outcome coming. There was no way that fellow wouldn't recognize his voice or whatsoever. His brain began to work at full blast in order to find an escape to a forthcoming punishment. Like hell he wanted to be punished for something he never intended to do. In fact, Midorima and him would certainly be playing basketball if that nasty Princess didn't draw more attention to them. After a short reflexion span, his simple-minded brain could only find this best solution of all : avoid Akashi for the rest of the festival and wait for him to let it slide. It was a pain to find something more elaborate. Before then, some clutz would certainly do the trick in deviating his attention by doing far worst than he did.
"Maybe you're the reason he took his anger out on Asaka." Fooling around, the Old Man stretched out his arms and waited for his classmate to fly into his arms. "Poor you! Come here, grand-pa will comfort you."
"Akashi-kun is not that inconsiderate." She tittered, moving back as the mischievous Old Man approached to hug her.
"Ahah, who knows how his brain works?" He jested then lowered his arms and folded them, scanning the clueless teenagers. "But you both really missed something crazy out there!"
"If it's about the kiss, I'm not interested."
"No-no-no-no, I'm not referring to that!"
Ritsu sent an inquiring gaze to Aomine who shrugged his shoulders, obviously ignorant of what Sudo was talking about. Curious, the two of them directed their eyes to the latter seemingly very impatient to tell them this crazy thing as all his teeth were shown with his broad smile.
"Himeno pushed Akashi down! They both fell on the stage! The Princess on top of the Prince, you hear that? " roared the boy with laughter.
Ritsu and Aomine couldn't come up with a decent reaction. Their minds went blank for a couple of seconds. Akashi Seijūrō fell, the commanding vice-capitain of the basketball fell, their respectable friend fell, he fell... Those unconceivable thoughts looped over and over in their heads. It sounded so unreal that they wondered seriously if they didn't misheard anything.
"Look at your faces! The public was the same! "
"No way! Even I didn't manage to knock him down in the Haunted House!" She blundered out under the influence of emotion.
"Yaah, Himeno brought off something big! Ah?! What did you just say, Asaka?! Y-You tried to – WHAAAAT to Akashi?!" bawled Sudo confounded in his turn. "What did that freak do to have two cute girls trying to pin him on the floor?!"
She gasped, realising what she just revealed and then began to laugh nervously. She flipped her embarrassed look to Aomine. The poor guy was even more shocked by those two surreal revelations.
"...No, I misspoke...Don't imagine weird things." She said, trying to fix the misunderstanding. "I fell in the Haunted House and he happened to be behind me, but he kind of managed to stand while I was flat on the floor..."
The two boys fell silent, making her understand that she failed in her explanation. She gave a long and tired sigh, there was no point in dwelling on the subject instead they had to hurry to the backstage.
"...Sudo-san, we have to go. We're going to make everyone wait."
The boy snapped out of his daze and scampered to her who was already on her way to the gymnasium. Ritsu waved at Aomine who did the same back and began to walk in their opposite way.
"Aaaah...feel so sleepy. That festival thing is even more tiring than practice!" Aomine muttered to himself as he yawned widely. Then, hands in his pockets, he headed nonchalantly to the food stalls at the main entrance.
"You have a strange effect on girls in that costume, Akashi-kun."
That being said, the backdoor was smashed open, startling everyone in the backstage.
"We're back! Did you miss me?" shouted vigorously Sudo, posing like a hero but he got no reaction. At the lack of enthusiasm, he scanned the whole place and noticed the perplexed looks of his classmates. "Uwa, why it's so gloomy here? It's almost the end! We have to celebrate, you morons!"
"Sudo-san! Asaka-san! What took you so long?" Yoshiwara who was talking with Akashi ran up to Sudo and sighted Ritsu just behind him staring in a daze the door.
"For someone who's late, you're too loud!" The Queen joined them and cracked the boy's head with his walking stick.
"Ouch...! It's all Asaka's fault!"
"Yeah, yeah." Yoshiwara brushed it off. The curtain call was the priority, minor talks could wait after it. "Since you're all here! All the actors gather to the stage! Hurry! We can't let the public wait any longer!"
At Yoshiwara's order, all the actors lined up on the stage and bowed under the clamor and applauses of the public. In spite of few mishapes, the play was highly acclaimed by the public who cheered fervently the actors' performances. And then Honda, the scriptwriter, was forced out on the stage as she staggered before one of the Fairy who helped to get on her two feets. A bit nervous, the braids girl stood awkwardly in the same spot near the curtain, waving and smiling at the whole public. Yoshiwara who had pushed the nervous girl onto the stage urged the fairy to bring her to the middle of the stage where she was supposed to be. As the scriptwriter, the curtain call was her moment of glory. So, to help the girl, the Fairy pushed her lightly to the other Fairy beside her who did the same. And so on, the scriptwriter reached the center after being pushed by each of the lined up actors in her way. In the middle of the stage, she was waited by the Prince who reached out his hand to her. She put her shaky hand upon his, and was pulled gently toward him, placed right in front of the public. Before such a scene, her heart was bursting out of emotion. Gathering up her courage, she breathed in and out deeply and then shouted across gymnasium :
"Thank you very much for coming watching our play! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
The public cheers became stronger and all of the actors bowed one last time before they all disappeared in their turn in the backstage.
[This concludes the play «The Sleeping Beauty» of class 1-A. We will now have a ten-minute recess before the next performance. If you are leaving the gymnasium, please do not forget your belongings.]
On the backstage, everyone sighed in relief as all the pressure finally went down. Happy, sad or relieved – the play was now over. While some laughed at their fresh memories of it, others kided around or teased Honda for a shy appearance in spite her exuberant character, enjoying their moment of glory since they soon had to leave the backstage that they filled with all sorts of emotions during the whole play.
For class 1-A, this play was like their own festival. And now it was truly over.
After they cleared out the backstage for the next class, the troup scattered around the gymnasium, congratulated by relatives or friends. Among the crowd, Ritsu sneaked away peering at the same time at some tender scenes between her classmates and the public. Honda was suddenly lift up into the air by some boys, including the King and Sudo, all scolded by Yoshiwara. As they continued, the latter sighed lightly but smiled at the enthusiastic display and joined all the boys in their fun cheered by others classmates and students.
When she finally seperated from the crowd, she heaved a sigh and overheard some girls chirping about the play and how the Prince was fabulous. Himeno was in that group, and well, after the final act she could only brag about it with her friends. But during the brief time she observed the Princess, her evading responses and reserved demeanor caught her attention. This situation was quite odd knowing the haughty character she was, and this was even more strange that she wasn't stick to Akashi right this instant boasting about their magnificient performance together and stirring on the jealousy of others girls.
Thinking of him, she didn't get past girls fawning over the Prince, the star of the play. She looked around quickly but no sign of him among the crowd. She then turned her gaze to the rest of the compound and spotted the redhead quietly walking away from the gymnasium.
As she went up to him, she called out his name making the latter looked up at her.
"You're not staying with the others?"
"And you? The Prince's presence is more important than the Witch's."
"I finished my part. The rest is up to Honda-san and Yoshiwara-san." Akashi stared out at their classmates fooling around the crowd. "My presence is not required anymore. As the scriptwriter, Honda-san deserves to reap the reward of her labor. The backstage staff alike. While we, actors, have no longer a purpose to remain."
His words marked their return to reality. Now, they were no longer antagonists, but two friends who had shared the same transient moment which was the play. A shred of sadness left her with a lump in my throat, nevertheless she felt no regret about it.
«Moments that only happened once are those we cherish for a lifetime.» was it? Ritsu couldn't help but smile softly at him. Maybe, he wasn't wrong. This play was unique in itself.
"I'll miss your Prince's look though. I'm kind of fond of it. I'm saying it now since I didn't get a chance to do it before." She admitted in a cheerful tone, making Akashi reveal a little smile on the corner of his mouth.
"You're being surprisingly frank, Asaka."
"That's because I have almost met death thanks to you." Teasing him a bit, she contemplated a last time his majestic outward appearance. As her gray-blue eyes looked up to his face, she could discern some hints of tiredness on his placid expression. Like she guessed, the grueling left both of them spent.
"So, how did the final act go?" Despite her concern about his condition, she preferred to ask about the play, without mentioning his weary features, thinking it would have been rather inappropriate. And maybe he would give an answer without her being nosy.
"As it must have ended." Akashi replied curtly as he resumed his track.
"With some minor mishaps." She added more to his obvious answer.
Gazing at his back, she saw him perked his head up and moved it slightly to the side. "You heard about it?"
"Sudo-san told me." She came to his side as he stood quiet. Taking his silence as an answer, she wouldn't ask more. His point of view on the subject was something he couldn't possibly brag on. In the same situation, who could anyway?
In his case, this matter had hurt his pride, and she couldn't see the point in rubbing salt into his wounds. As a prideful and respectable boy, falling was already the greatest shame.
The two of them walking down on the courtyard, she looked back at their classmates still playing around in front of the gymnasium, shouting some loud «hoorays», without noticing their missing presences. But at this happy scenery, she sighted a pinkish silhouette separating herself from the group, sneaking off to the main building.
"By the way, Akashi-kun, did something happened to Himeno-san? She seems off." She noted, following with her eyes their haughty classmate walking all alone.
"Why are you asking?"
"She's not glued to you and I don't hear her bragging about the kissing scene nor do I hear her usual shrilly voice." She glimpsed at him who didn't seem affected about her behaviour. "Are you to blame?"
Akashi threw a sidelong look at her when accused. "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Don't brush it off like that. You're being cold."
"Still, I don't understand." He insisted in a curt tone causing Ritsu to furrow faintly her brows in anger. "I just made her conscious of her role in the play. Therefore, I do think your accusation is uncalled for, especially when you hardly witnessed anything, Asaka."
Ritsu paused and cleared her mind. She swallowed back all the pending remarks that leaped on her mind, conscious that the moment anger supplanted reason, she would lose against him, and like so lose her chance to know the real story.
"...And so, what did you tell her?" She asked with a little hint of displeasure.
"That her feelings for me do not belong to the stage."
"She confessed to you...on the stage?" Her scowl face suddenly changed to a stunned expression.
"I do not act on impulse. You should be aware of it by now."
"And you rejected her with those very same words? That's pretty cold."
They looked into each other's eyes, then Akashi shifted his gaze forwards.
"This is the part I do not understand. My actions were all for the sake of the play. It is the truth that her feelings do not have a place on the stage. Yet, it doesn't mean I deny her feelings. Had she waited for the end of the play or find me later to confess I would have listened to her. But from her reaction, I assume she didn't grasp the meaning of my words. Well, if she doesn't get it, there is actually nothing for me to do about it. I don't need to bother myself with her if she gave up so easily. It only shows how far her feelings goes, proving her determination is weak afterall."
Ritsu slowed down her pace as the redhead got past her. Instead of cold, tactless would have been a suitable word to define his course of action. Considering Akashi's character, she could absolutely understand his desire to make this play a great success, but from her point of view some tact would certainly not have cause harm to anybody. His words devoid of sympathy and tact would crush anybody's hope. Even she partially approved of his concern for the play, she could only sympathize with Himeno in silence. She couldn't possibly be able to reason Akashi as his mind was cleared out of any shades of doubt and regret.
His back on her, he was really cold nonetheless. As always...
At that displeasant sight, she leaped to him, covered his eyes with her right hand and pulled his head gently against her, letting rest the back of his head on her right shoulder.
"You say that but you kissed her, didn't you?" She inquired as she kept her hand upon his eyes to avoid any menacing gaze.
Contrary to what she expected, he remained strangely calm in spite of her foolish move.
"Did you?"
"...I leave it to your imagination. You can only blame yourself for not being there."
"Because a certain person decided on his own to spice up the play. But it was fun." She laughed as the redhead didn't move a inch from his awkward position. "You know, Akashi-kun, if you don't struggle a little, I won't let you go."
"Fine by me. However, I assume you'll take full responsability for your actions. I refuse to deal later with any rumors concerning ourselves due to your thoughtless move."
At his uncute response, she grunted faintly and let him go.
"You won."
Free from her grasp, he turned to her, glanced and then smirked which kind of annoyed the girl for a brief moment as his stern expression had softened.
That was one hell of a chapter! My brain can't think straight now!
So, in your opinion, did Akashi kiss the Princess? I wonder.
Aha! Well, the next chapter WILL trully be the last one of the Festival Arc.
To Doujin-Maker : Thank you for your all your reviews for my almost every chapters! You don't know how happy it makes me!
To Xhre : I never cease to thank you but hey you're one of the very first to have follow my story, so here we go again! Our love for a certain redhead is our bond!
To amy1945 : I don't know how to show you my gratitude except saying thank you! These are pale words compared to your support who truly inspire me in writing! I'm glad you love Asaka and hope it will continue!
To Sera : Ahaha! Thank you so much! When I read your version of the duel end, I was like OMG HE KISSED HER! (How I long for the day those two will be a couple!) I totally love it!
To pinkus-pyon : Thank you very much! Don't worry there will come a day when Asaka play a basketball match! Not exactly as you think but yeah she will play it again.
And I could go on for every one of you who reviewed my story but it'll take too long. So to you all who support me, thank you so much for your reviews and for reading till this chapter without dropping it! I really appreciate it!
So, feel free to leave some reviews!
And see you soon!