Rein's POV

This is really an amazing story. Even through I should probably be making sure that my classwork is right, I can't really help but be interested in this play. The story of a jealous marionette. A prima dona was in love with someone and the love was mutual between them. The marionette was jealous, because she was in love with the same man, but because she was a puppet, she couldn't say or do anything. Then someone granted her wish, to become human. Really, it's an amazing love story!

"Rein, I have no idea what's making you have strange facial appearances, but can you stop? They're kind of creeping me out a little," Altezza said not even looking up from her paper.

"But Altezza, the plot for the play is amazing! Such a romantic and dramatic story so far!" I quickly skimmed through the rest of the play. Then after that, the marionette became a human and danced out her love to the man. Their romance didn't last that long through, because soon the prima dona was engulfed by envy and she decided to expose the puppet's secret. The puppet and the prima dona decided to dance for who would win the man's love and in the end the prima dona won, because the puppet's dance was just a copy of the prima dona. And so the marionette became a broken doll once more. I sniffled a little. How sad!

"Rein, it's nice that you're taking an interest in this, but still, it's a little creepy. Your reactions that is," Altezza said again.

"I can't help it, I've been in love with romance stories since I was young," I said, still sniffling. And then somehow I developed something like a switched personality whenever I try to think up my own romance fairy tales. "Altezza, what part do you want?"

"The fairy who grants the wish of the marionette," she said. "I prefer giving help to others than getting pity from other people because of the state that I'm in, so that's why I chose the fairy rather than the marionette and prima dona."

"How like you Altezza," I said thinking about all of the times that she's help me. But she would suit the role of the prima dona too since she's really good at dancing. "It's too bad it's a dramatic play instead of comedic," I said, smiling, thinking aloud.

"Not you too Rein. I'm already tired of hearing about that from Sophie. Anyways, you've been practicing right? Auditions are after school."

"Yep. I've been practicing a lot, so I'm ready today." And from Mother and Father being home, I know what I want to express this time in my dance. I was to express the feelings of happiness and joy even when there's something that's sad. Hopefully this time I'll be able to get all of the feelings across properly.

Then the bell rang for lunch and the teacher said, "Please turn in your worksheets before you go. Your homework will be to read chapter 9 and you will have a quiz tomorrow on it, so please be sure to read it."

Eh! I never do well in those. Science is just not my forte. Neither is math, or history. I do decently in English and Japanese literature, but they're not really my strengths. Ah... at this rate I'm going to have to take supplementary lessons when summer comes, especially if I actually get a part in the play... but I don't want to go. But who can help me? I don't want to go to cram school or ask Fine or anything... "What do you two think?"

"Rein, why not just ask Onii-sama if he can tutor you sometime? He's smart," Altezza said simply.

"Oh right, he got a really good score on the last few tests too. Bright-san would be the perfect tutor and in the past, I remember him tutoring Altezza and I," Sophie said. It sounds like it was a lot of fun back then.

"Wait, what classes did you have trouble with anyways Altezza? I can imagine Sophie having problems with literature or something, but what were you bad at?"

"That isn't the point right now," Altezza said with a weird smile on her face. That bad, huh? I remember before I never got anything higher than a 72 in elementary school. Fine and I always tried really hard, but we couldn't get that many high scores until Shade tutored us. Then somehow, Fine started to understand all of the lessons better and her scores got really good, nothing under an 80. I sighed. And yet I'm just... yeah... "So do you want me to ask Onii-san?" Altezza asked as she closed her bento box.

"Well..." I still don't really understand what I've been feeling around Bright-san, so it could become really awkward. But then again, my grades aren't really the best and I really don't want to take supplementary lessons during summer, so... why not? "If he won't be too bothered by it, then please."

"Then I''ll ask him about it later," Altezza said.

"Thanks, Altezza."

~Later~

"Yes, that wasn't terrible. I could feel the emotion in your dance clearly though," Sumizone-sensei said marking something on her clipboard. "Taiyou-san, it's your turn. Please tell me when you are ready."

I took a deep breath. I practiced a lot and I know what kind of feel I want to express in my dance. "I'm ready." The music started to play and I soon started to dance, happily and very cheerfully as I remember all the fun moments that I had with my family. It was always so much fun when we did something together as a family. The music ended abruptly and I stopped in mid-step. "Sumizone-sensei?" Was there something wrong with my dancing?

"I've seen enough for your dancing skill. You're good enough to do the steps perfectly for the marionette role, but you do know that it's a romance role, can you do really that? That was the reason why you didn't get your pointe shoes last time."

"No matter what, you can see through it all, that's very impressive for someone your age," I said, thinking out loud by accident.

"You know, I hate it when people comment on my age," she said smiling a dangerous smile.

"I'm very sorry," I said quickly. Note, never ask her about her age. "The thing is, I don't really understand love too much, but there's a person that I think about who's really nice to me. Every time I think about him, somehow I get a really nervous but happy feeling inside my chest. I'm not sure if that's the same as love, but I think that people who are in love probably feel the same way."

She just stared at me. Did I say something weird? "I see. Well then, here," she said throwing me a pair of ballet shoes. They're hard in the toes, so that means that they're pointe shoes... What does this mean though? "You should try practicing in those shoes now. Your feet aren't sore anymore right?"

"Yes. Thank you very much."

"Don't practice too much, like last time. I don't need to hear from your parents how you're not eating and practicing all of the time. Don't forget that there are people who care about you a lot even though it might not seem like it."

I blinked in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

"You'll find out soon. Anyways, there's still some time before class is over. Go ask Hotori-san to help you with them." I nodded and walked to the ballet room where everyone else was. Before I was completely out through the door, I could have sworn that I heard her say, "Use those shoes to convey your feelings to people precious to you."

Well... it's not like it's anything strange. People often dance or draw out feelings that they cannot describe clearly with words, but when she says that, who is she talking about? When she saw me, Sophie immediately asked, "So Rein, how did you do?"

"I think I did well. She gave me pointe shoes," I said showing the shoes to both of them. But still... what did Sumizone-sensei mean that I'll find out soon? Oh well, it doesn't really matter. "Altezza show me how you dance with pointe shoes."

"It's not too different from your other shoes, but I suppose that you need to get used to them eventually," Altezza said. "It's a good thing you finally got them, that teacher really should have given them to you the same time as we got them for working so hard on that pas au deux by yourself."

"Well, I guess my dancing didn't really need work. It was more of the feelings that I have while I dance," I said, kind of explaining it. At least that's why she gave them to me.

"I see. Well, just put on your shoes, and I'll show you how to balance properly in them."

I smiled at her. "Then please teach me, Altezza-sensei." Then I obediently followed all of Altezza's directions, almost as if I was absorbing it all. Even though it was a little hard and made me sore when it was time to get back into my uniform, it was fun.

"Rein, Sophie and I have to do something today, so we can't walk home with you," Altezza said as the three of us were walking out of the classroom. "Sorry."

"Oh, it's fine. If you're busy then it really don't be helped." They've got other things to do sometime and it's not like they're de-friending me or anything, so it should be fine.

Sophie looked confused though. "Ara? But I don't remember-"

Altezza quickly interrupted her and said, "Anyways, we need go now. Later Rein!" And so they disappear. Are they hiding something from me maybe? It feels lonely... just like before. I clenched my hand into a fist. I should stop thinking about this. I need to stop thinking about this, or it'll just proved that I haven't changed at all.

"Rein, are you walking home?" I looked up in the direction of the voice and saw Bright-san. "Do you want to walk home together?" He asked with his usual smile.

"Ah, sure. If it's not too much trouble." We walked back in a comfortable silence, but somehow I felt nervous. Oh right... I need to ask him about tutoring me. "Bright-san. Um... would you...well, um... " Why is this so hard to ask?

"What's the matter Rein?"

Okay, just say it in one breath and nothing will happen. "Ijustwantedtoknowifyou'lltutorme!" I took a deep breath after. I noticed that Bright-san was looking at me a little strangely. "Well, the thing is, my grades need some help and I don't want to take supplementary lessons, so can you tutor me sometime?"

"Sure. Why not just do it a couple times a week during lunch, since we're both normally busy after school?"

I smiled. "Sounds perfect! Ah, but if it becomes a bother to you then I can always find someone else to help me, so don't be hesitant to say anything."

"I think I'll be alright. Anyways, we're here at your house, now," Bright-san said pointing to my house. This time, the walk felt shorter than how it normally is. Maybe because I felt happy? But when I walk with Sophie and Altezza, I feel happy too... so it's weird. "I'll see you tomorrow Rein."

"Yeah. Later Bright-san," I said walking through my front door.

"So who was that boy?" Mother asked.

"He's a friend of mine," I said smiling.