"Why does everyone else get to ditch out of this?"

I sighed as I listened to Harada complain and tried not to lose focus on the costumes I was working on.

"Everyone else got here and finished their jobs on time."

Harada huffed and went back to painting part of the set. He hadn't remembered that we were meeting in the auditorium to finalize the set today, so he had missed the first half of the club meeting.

I continued sewing the costume I was working on, but my mind wandered. Shig and Shinohara were practicing at her house again today, and part of me wondered what they were up to right now. They technically haven't told me outright, but I could tell that they were dating.

I tried to focus on the positive things about that, such as Shinohara's rising confidence and acting skill, but something kept nagging at me. Part of the reason I begged my parents to let me get an apartment in Tenjin was so I'd be able to finish high school with Shig. Now that he had a girlfriend, he wouldn't have as much time to spend with me anymore.

When Harada pointed out that he had finished his part of preparing the set, I realized that I was working more slowly because of my daydreaming. I still had two more costumes to finish before I was done. I decided to just finish them up the meeting before the next rehersal and packed everything away.

—-

Ishida and I clapped at the end of the rehearsal, smiling at everyone. It wasn't just an empty gesture, either: even after making the transition to a dress rehearsal, everyone was nearly ready for the production.

"G-Good job e-everyone."

"We're almost there!" I added. "We have two weeks before Tanabata, so make sure to make it to the last two rehearsals!"

Everyone started getting changed back into their normal clothes, looking relieved. I stood up from my seat and went to go check on Shig.

"Hey, Shig!"

I tapped Shig on the shoulder and he hesitantly turned around, wearing only his shorts and an undershirt.

"Something wrong, Mayu?"

"No, no. I just wanted to tell you that you really nailed it this time. Ishida said that she can't imagine anyone else fitting the role as you do."

Shig nodded. "I suppose that's a good thing, then. It'd be unforunate for me to have been cast in the wrong role simply because the part was unpopular."

I nodded in agreement to that sentiment when I noticed Shinohara approaching. I turned to her and smiled.

"You've almost got it, Shinohara! There's only a few things you need to fix before you're ready for the perfomance!"

Shinohara smiled. "I told you I always wanted to be a star, right~?"

I realized that she was only wearing a sweaty tank-top and some shorts that she had worn under her costume and I started to feel awkward. Of the three people left in the changing room, I was the one with the most clothing on.

Shinohara turned to Shig and her smile became even wider. "Though, to be honest, I'd never have gotten this far if not for Sakutaro."

I felt a strange tightening in my chest. I looked at Shig, but he seemed unfazed at being called by his given name. I remember him telling me that he didn't like others using that name for him, since most people considered it old-fashioned and judged him for it. So why was it okay when Shinohara used that name?

Shig adjusted his glasses. "All I've done is oversee your attempts and keep you focused." He picked up Shinohara's uniform skirt from a pile on the floor and tossed it to her.

After catching the skirt, Shinohara's eyes narrowed slightly and she began speaking in a softer tone. "Still… thanks, Sakutaro. I'm glad you've been around to help me."

I started to get the feeling that I was intruding on a private moment and started to creep toward the dressing room's exit. "Well, see you two next meeting! Bye!"

I hurried out of the dressing room, trying not to think too hard about what I saw in there. I started packing up my things, but I noticed that a few club members were still standing around, gossiping.

"—totally dating. That kiss during the rehearsal was a real kiss."

"No way! They don't suit each other at all. It's called acting!"

"Would you ever kiss someone like that and call it 'acting'?"

I wanted to ignore them, but I decided it would be better if I tried to break it up before it turned into an argument. I walked over to the students and waved at them.

"Hey, what's the matter?"

The students looked at each other and shrugged. One of them muttered that nothing was wrong.

I nodded and smiled at them. "Alright, then see you next meeting! Be sure to make it, we only have two rehearsals left!"

The students started to disperse after that, and I sighed with relief as I walked out of the auditorium. If only it were that easy to stop my parents when they started arguing…

On the way home, I recalled how Shinohara had called Shig by his given name, and how her siblings used my nickname for him. For a moment, I felt lonely.