ACT 10 – GOOD EVENING

"Damn rain!" Nobuo grumbled.

"Nobuo, please! Stop grunting and have a seat." Kazuo shook his head and had a sigh.

Nobuo walked from the window to the couch and flopped into it, by Kazuo's side, "Seven days of rain. Despite the rain, I checked every day for Jadeite in Arisugawa Park, but obviously he wasn't there. He can't spend his lunchtime under this lashing rain. Damn rain!"

Kazuo snorted and glanced at Nobuo.

"And what about Tokyo University? Satoru and I have tried to look for Jadeite at K.O. University, with no result." Mamoru stared at the cloudy sky, "It seems it's going to stop raining, though."

"And it's going to start snowing." Satoru smiled, "At least, this is what the weather forecast said this morning".

Nobuo rested his back against the couch and looked at the ceiling, "No sign of him at Tokyo University, neither. But there are so many students that it's impossible to notice his presence, if he is there."

Makoto rested her hands on her hips, "So, what's our next move?" She frowned, "Just waiting until he'll show up?"

Minako walked close the window, crossing her arms behind her back, "Unfortunately, we can't do much more. Nobuo is going to Arisugawa Park, every day, at lunchtime. And looking for him at K.O. and Tokyo University is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Nobuo ruffled his hair in frustration, "If I think I met him twice, and I didn't ask his name! If I had asked his name, now we would have already found him!"

Makoto had a sweet smile, "Come on. It isn't your fault."

Ami nodded.

Minako turned round and pirouetted to the center of the living room, grinning, "What if we have a pause? We should spend the evening out and have fun!" She winked, "Why not the show Motoki talked about some time ago? It's this evening."

Kazuo blinked, "A show?"

Minako nodded and hopped to Kazuo. She bent forward and placed her face in front of Kazuo's one, "A great band is going to play in a pub near Tokyo University. Motoki says they are really good, especially the singer. A girl. I could learn a lot from her," she had a little jump back and another pirouette, moving away from Kazuo, "in order to become an idol."

Usagi suddenly stood up, "The show! Yes. I was forgetting about it!" She turned her head to Mamoru, "Please, Mamo-chan!"

Nobuo stirred, "An evening out could be fun. At least, we'll relax a bit."

Ami glanced at the silent and gloomy Rei, knelt by her side at the living room's small table; she had a worried smile, "Rei-chan, if you prefer to stay at home, I am going to stay with you. We are going to wait for the others here." She glanced at Mamoru, "May we wait for you here?"

Rei shook her head and smiled, "Don't worry, Ami-chan. I'd like to go out, this evening. It doesn't matter if we haven't found Jadeite, yet. I am happy to go out and have fun with you all. When we'll find Jadeite, we'll have another evening out."

Ami sighed in relief and nodded, while Satoru rested his hand on her head and gently caressed her blue hair, smiling.

Rei winked, "Besides, I am in the mood for music. Lately, I am remembering that Jadeite liked music. He liked finding calm places and whistling sweet songs."

Minako opened her eyes wide in surprise, "Really?"

Nobuo smirked, "Really. I usually reproached him for it. That lazy guy."

Makoto blushed and sighed, "Nobuo!"

Minako clapped, "If Jadeite likes music, maybe he'll be at the show. Another reason to go there."

Kazuo had an amused smile, "Good excuse, Mina."

Minako placed her hands around her eyes, as spyglasses, "Keep your eyes open wide and check if Jadeite is among the crowd. If Jadeite will be in that pub, I won't let him escape."

Nobuo sniggered, "Weren't you planning to study the singer in order to become an idol?"

Minako folded her arms and frowned, "I can both studying the singer on stage and look for Jadeite among the crowd."

Kazuo sighed and stood up, "Ok. Let's get ready for the show."

Jun scratched his nape, "Are you sure you want to start the concert with this song? It's a bit slow … and sad."

Madoka patted Jun's shoulder, "Your last song is beautiful, Jun-chan. I think this is the perfect song for starting the concert. I want a sweet atmosphere."

Jun nodded, "OK."

Yasu laughed, "The kind of song that attract girls. Unfortunately, all the girls among the crowd are usually for Jun. They would kill for dating you, Jun-chan."

Jun shrugged, "I am not interested in love affairs. I just want to play guitar."

Yasu shook his head, "AAHH, always so serious!"

"WOW! The pub is really crowded!" Usagi placed her hands on her mouth, in surprise. She walked to the center of the pub and turned round, her soft and white dress gently moving around her; she looked at Mamoru, "Mamo-chan! Let's go near the stage."

Minako nodded and reached Usagi, "Yes, near the stage. Otherwise, I can't study the singer."

Kazuo snorted, "If you used the same passion for studying math, Mina – "

Minako turned around and frowned, her hands on her hips, "Not now, Kazuo!" Her orange dress with puffy skirt, coupled with her voice and pose, gave her a breezy look.

Nobuo burst out laughing.

Rei tossed her hair behind and walked past Usagi and Minako, "Aren't you able to be less noisy?" Her tight, long, red dress and her red high-heel shoes, along her slender body and refined walk attracted the eyes of many guys inside the room.

Satoru winked at Mamoru, "The girls have smartened up, this evening." He gently wrapped his arm around Ami's waist and had a sweet smile, looking at her short and blue dress.

Mamoru nodded and gently blushed, his eyes on Usagi.

Makoto grabbed Nobuo's arm and pulled him to the stage, laughing. Her green dress with long culottes highlighted her height, so she looked nearly as tall as Nobuo.

"MOTOKI! REIKA!" Usagi finally reached Motoki and his girlfriend Reika near the stage.

From their position, Minako glanced at the crowd, "The pub is becoming more and more crowded. If we had come later, we wouldn't have reached the stage. Do you see Jadeite?"

From her height, Makoto carefully stared at people inside the pub. She finally shook her head.

Voices around them, girls' talking: "Jun is SO CUTE" – "I MUST meet him".

Rei shook her head and sighed at that babbling.

Motoki caught Rei's reaction and laughed, "Jun is the band's guitarist. He is the guy I was talking about some time ago. From time to time he comes at the Crown."

Reika winked and smiled, "I confirm it. He is really cute. And girls fall head over heels for him."

Rei crossed her arms around her chest and muttered, "Falling head over heels because he is cute? So stupid."

The light went down. Total dark inside the pub. Anxious silence. Steps as five silhouettes took their place on stage.

A guitar. A melody.

Rei's heart skipped a beat and her legs trembled.

Spotlights on stage.

Female voice, "Good evening. We are The Jades."

And Minako's shout, "REI-CHAN! YOU ALL! LOOK AT THE GUITARIST! AAAHHHH!"

The story is close the end. I am having really fun in writing it, and I am sad it's almost over.

THANKS to you all for reading.