Chapter XIV: A Different Kind of "Stage on!" (Part 1 of 3)

A/N: Don't worry, people. The story doesn't end here. This is only a halftime break. The next half of this story will be updated after the halftime show in a few days.

"Kamo!" ("The Haruka Show") Halftime Finale

For generations, the school's theater club has made countless standing ovations with their marvelous plays of different genres. This year, they plan on doing a medieval-like melodrama with the expected…and the unexpected stuff. Unfortunately one fateful day, they suddenly faced one of the club's worst crises in their life.

"T-This is bad! The leading stars broke up and quit!" One of the members came barging into the club room; panting.

"What? That's impossible! Don't they know that the play is three days from now?" The president of the theater club replied. "What happened?"

"Asakura and Mizuhara were fighting with each other when I saw them. The next thing I heard; they…they gave me their resignation letters."

"Darn it! Why does it have to be now?"

"Should we cancel the play?"

"NO! There will be no canceling. We've prepared everything for the big day. It would be a waste to cancel the play at this point."

"Then what should we do? Even if we manage to get a replacement for them, the allotted time won't be enough."

"We must try. The past members of this club have made marvelous plays during their time. We won't allow that tradition to be broken! Spread the word: auditions are open for the role of the Prince of the Johto Empire and the Princess of the Hoenn Kingdom!"

The theater world is now held for ransom…and all the theater club has is three days.

---0---0---0---0---0---

"Huh? Konomi, aren't you supposed to be in theater practice?" Haruka asked one of her classmates—Mizuhara Konomi: 12 years old; born on the 16th of September; black short hair; a resident of Kaina City (Slateport City); and another of Haruka's best friends aside from Kanata. Unlike Haruka's purple-haired friend who oftentimes is a pain in the neck, Konomi is very friendly even when talking to delinquents and can be usually found talking to a friend or a conference of peers.

Konomi let out a big sigh before replying. "Not anymore…I quit the theater club because of a certain somebody."

"Huh? But you can't quit kamo. What about the people who are expecting you to perform on stage?"

"You know, you can try out for the role of the princess. I bet you'd make a great princess, Haruka-san."

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly—"

Just from out of the blue, an eerie voice spoke from behind her. "—do it, Haruka."

"EEEEEEEK…! Kanata, how many times must I tell you? Don't do THAT!" Haruka cried (this one confirms that the purple-haired girl is, in fact, a pain in the neck…and not to mention the ear).

"Sorry, force of habit…" Kanata apologized.

"I can't possibly do it. I'm too shy to face a full house, kamo. Remember the last time I did a skit on stage back in middle school?"

"Oh yeah, that one was a complete bust. But that was because some idiot messed up with the pulleys."

"I don't want to do it. I'm not going to."

"But—"

"No buts, Kanata. My decision is final, kamo!" Haruka put up a stern face and glared at her friend.

She seemed resolute when she made this act. Who could change her mind anyway? Not even Kanata could get close enough for a persuasion; not even if she uses Satoshi as the object of manifestation. Heck, Kanata is not even sure if Satoshi is going to try out for the part of the Johto prince. The day passed like clockwork and the theater club didn't find anyone fit for the role. They had wasted a full day out of their three-day deadline. Disgrace was the last thing they wanted to face.

Haruka went home; very exhausted not only from school but also from Kanata's constant bugging about taking the part. Upon entering the house, she heard the voice fax machine activate.

"Hello, this is the Kumano residence. Just leave a message, kamo!"

Suddenly, she heard a constant stream of "pretty please" which ticked her off completely. She walked towards the voice machine, turned it off, and answered the call indignantly.

"Forget it, Kanata!" Haruka answered back and slammed the handset back. "The nerve of her…! I need a hot bath, kamo."

She went upstairs to the bathroom where she turned on the hot water faucet and, while waiting, fed her two Pokemon with some Pokemon food downstairs. Surprisingly, the telephone rang again. This time the voice machine was off so she couldn't identify who was calling. She picked up the handset and answered the call.

"Hello, Kumano residence…Haruka speaking—"

"Pretty please, pretty please, pretty please, pretty please, pretty please, pretty please…" The brunette girl heard the same constant stream of annoying phrases once more. Guess what? She didn't need to ask who was calling.

"Kanata, what part of 'forget it' don't you understand?!"

"I think it's the 'it' part. You see, 'it' can pertain to anything."

"Stop bugging me, kamo!" Haruka slammed the handset down forcefully.

---0---0---0---0---0---

The next day, the brunette girl tried looking for her purple-haired friend. They were supposed to have lunch together today—just like any other school day of the school year. Then again, she didn't need to go look for Kanata. Instead, Kanata came to the brunette girl; gasping.

"What's the matter? Why were you running?" Haruka asked.

"Haruka…" Kanata tried catching her breath. "You have to come with me! Satoshi's hurt!"

"Say what?!"

"Come on! He's in the theater club room!"

Without hesitation, Haruka followed her troubled friend towards their intended destination; running as fast as their stamina could allow them. The theater club room was at the other end of the building—at least five walking minutes. But after all that running, they quickly entered the room and looked for an injured Satoshi. If Haruka wasn't as very gullible as she was as of this moment, she would have easily known that she was being set up by her best friend.

"You must be Haruka-san!" One theater club member greeted. "Konomi-san has told us a lot about you. You're just in time for voice rehearsals."

"Huh? Voice rehearsals…?" The brunette girl replied; confused. "What are you talking about? Where's Satoshi?"

"He's inside the hall; memorizing his lines."

"Oh is he, well thank goodness he's not…" Haruka broke off from what she was going to say; realizing the fact that she was set up just right now. "Kanata!"

The purple-haired girl could do nothing but laugh out loud. "Ha, ha, ha, ha…sorry Haruka, but that was the only way."

"For the last time, I don't want to do this! I won't even do it for Satoshi—"

Suddenly, the mood changed drastically. It was no longer a comedy skit.

"Haruka, you idiot…!" Kanata yelled irascibly.

"W-What…?" Haruka replied; surprised at her friend's reaction.

"I'm not asking you to do this for Satoshi! Do this for Konomi!"

"K-Konomi…? But why…I-I don't understand, kamo."

"The people here in the theater club have made too many sacrifices. If this play of theirs doesn't push through, then…then…"

"Kanata…I didn't know you…"

"Satoshi agreed to do this one for his classmate Kirei. Please Haruka…try to understand."

"Kanata, why are you working so hard?"

All the brunette girl got as a reply were tears trickling down her best friend's face. Suddenly, Kanata began sobbing. Eventually, some members of the theater club who were witnesses to this melodramatic scenario started crying as well.

"Kanata..." Haruka said; enveloping her arms in a warm embrace. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

"I'm sorry, Haruka." Kanata's words were unclear because of her crying. "It's just that…"

Haruka let go of her warm embrace and looked straight at her crying friend. "Okay Kanata…I'll do it. I'll be the Hoenn Princess."

"Y-You will?"

"I may not be as good as Konomi in acting. But I'll try my best, kamo."

"Thank you, Haruka! I'm in your debt!" Kanata jumped towards the brunette girl and gave her friend an even warmer hug.

"(Kanata, you may be oftentimes a troublemaker for me. But I know deep inside you're trying to help me get close to Satoshi. I think it should be me who should be in your debt.)"

Having heard the sound of agreement, the theater club members felt so relieved; they raised their hands and applauded.

"But what I'm worried is if we can pull this one off in a day." Kanata wiped her tears away. "The play is the day after tomorrow."

"Don't worry, Kanata. You can count on me, kamo!" Haruka replied with a wink of an eye.

TO BE CONTINUED

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This has been a presentation of Lightning and Sword Fan Fiction Productions. All the characters, places, events, and other materials used here in this story are being disclaimed by the production team and are property of their respective creators and licensing companies. Any occurrences stated in the story that are somewhat similar to other works created by other writers are purely coincidental and the production team has absolutely no intention of plagiarism. Under any circumstances this fan fiction should not be duplicated or modified without the consent of the production team. Failure to comply is punishable up to the fullest extent of the law. The law applies to all; otherwise none at all.

Thank you for reading and reviewing this story. Your comments and suggestions are very welcome for the improvement of future stories and for your viewing pleasure.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fate of the theater club is now in Haruka and Satoshi's hands. Will they make it through a day of practice full of mishaps?

Kamo! ("The Haruka Show") Halftime Show

A love-obsessed girl, a dense boy, and a romantic play…could this be it?