"Girls! So here's the plan!" Eli announced while clapping loudly to get everyone's attention.
Maki glanced at Eli.
"The script is finished, and Umi and I have made a schedule for what we have to do before showtime," Eli continued.
Umi nodded. "So here's the schedule!"
Umi held up a giant calendar. "Today is Wednesday the 17 of July! Nico's birthday is on the 22nd, on Monday, and we are leaving this vacation on Tuesday!"
"Which means that we have 5 days until the show," Eli said.
Honoka gasped. "Only 5 days?"
"Yes! So that's why we have set a very specific schedule to make everything work out," Eli declared with all the qualities of a leader. "As you may have noticed, today Kotori is missing!"
Immediately, Rin and Honoka began looking for Kotori.
"Er, Rin, Honoka, you guys aren't gonna find her. Kotori is currently taking Nico out to a spa for a full body treatment!"
"At my expense," Maki stated, annoyed.
"Anyways!" Eli continued. "They should be back in 4 hours! Umi and I have divided everyone into three teams; the main characters, the side characters and the stage crew." Eli clapped her hands. "Maki, Rin and I are the main characters so we will be in that corresponding team. Which means that the side characters will be in the side characters team, and so forth."
Rin scratched her head. "What?"
Hanayo lightly patted Rin's arm. "You're in the main character's team," she said.
"Now!" Eli declared. "The main characters will be working on memorizing their script here with me, the side characters will be working with Umi in her room, and the stage crew, well, Kotori's not here so the stage crew is kind of spread out. With that, Umi will report to me about our progress so no fooling around or Maki will take away your food!"
Maki frowned. What?
"After 4 hours, Nico should be back, so we will all have a very late lunch at 2 pm-"
"Lunch at 2 pm?" Honoka looked offended.
"-and then the side characters and stage crew will spend time with Nico at the beach or pool, while the main characters continue practicing their lines!" Eli finished.
Rin pouted. "Why? I wanna swim too!"
Eli glanced at Rin warningly. "Rin, it's because main characters have more lines so they need more practice."
Maki sat on her beanbag and gazed at the 80-page page long script. The first page already contained about 2 paragraphs spoken by her character, and there was much much more in the latter pages. It's just like studying for my exams all over again, Maki thought painfully.
"Guys, so what do you think of the script?" Eli asked cheerfully.
Rin and Maki locked eyes and spoke at the same time.
"It's so long."
"It's too long!"
Eli sighed. "Well, let's just start with this first section, all right? So the princess talks about her upcoming birthday and how she will become of age to get married soon. Maki, why don't you read out that passage? Just the first paragraph."
Maki nodded. "As a princess, one gets many luxuries. Cakes, sweets, gold, jewelry, our wished shall be fulfilled. But like a double edged sword-"
"Cut! Maki, did you not see the sigh written in parenthesis? You need to sigh! Again!"
Maki gritted her teeth. "As a princess, one gets many luxuries. Cakes, sweets, gold, jewelry, our wished shall be fulfilled." Maki sighed sarcastically. "But like-"
"Cut! Maki, please take this more seriously!"
Rin giggled slightly.
Eli glared at Rin. "Rin, since you have nothing to do right now, why don't you take a look through your own lines?"
Rin nodded. "Yes, ma'am!"
"Now, Maki! Again!"
Maki took a deep breath. "As a princess, one gets many luxuries. Cakes, sweets, gold, jewelry, our wished shall be fulfilled." Maki sighed deeply. "But like a double edged sword, princesses have many responsibilities. Our freedom is replaced with gold, and we are supposed to appreciate it." Maki melancholically glanced to the floor. "Comparable to handcuffs made of gold, I shall never reach my happiness and I must be married off to strengthen our kingdom."
Eli clapped her hands and cheered. "Much better, Maki! Keep acting like that and we'll have no problems at all. Now, Rin, let's see what you've got."
Rin paled. "Um...ok! So, w-what do you want me to say?"
Eli flipped the pages in her script. "Hmm...how about your first lines on page 7?"
Rin nodded. "Okay! Ever since I was a child, people have bowed to me!"
"Cut! Rin you're acting as a spoiled and mean jerk! Stop sounding so happy and innocent!"
Maki stifled a laugh.
"Oh, ok then. Ever since I was a child, people have bowed to me. I'm used to seeing their bent necks, and it's tempting...to slice...their necks..." Rin looked at her script in horror...and then in glee. "Ah, yea! Evil bloody guy!"
Eli massaged her temples. "Alright, Rin. Let's try that part again, and don't interrupt yourself."
"Ok! Ever since I was a child, people have bowed to me. I'm used to seeing their bent necks, and it's tempting to slice their necks." Rin laughed in an unconvincing manner. "Their lives are worthless anyway-"
"Cut!" Eli interrupted.
"What?" Rin whined.
"Your laugh is too innocent! Try laughing in a more dark manner!"
"Mwahahahaha!" Rin laughed.
Eli shook her head. "No. Maki, demonstrate!"
Maki looked into Rin's eyes and laughed out her darkest desires. "Hee.. hee.. hee.. heE... hEE... HEE..HHHEEE...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!"
Rin looked fearful for her life. "..."
Eli nodded. "See, I knew Maki would be able to do it. High five, Maki!"
Eli held up her palm and Maki slapped it lightly.
How did she know about my evil laugh? Maki wondered. Eli is creepy sometimes.
Eli smiled. "Now, Rin, try that line again."
Over the next hour, Maki and Rin spent their time acting out certain lines with Eli and getting a general feel of their character.
"Okay, so now we are going to try something a little different," Eli said. "Everyone, stand up. We are going act in the actual positions we would on the stage. So Maki, do that first paragraph again, but this time, stand on the couch and pretend that it's the balcony."
Maki climbed onto the couch. At this point, she had already memorized the paragraph. Maki stood carefully and placed her hand on the place where you would normally lean on the couch. "As a princess, one gets many luxuries," Maki started.
"Cakes, sweets, gold, jewelry, our wished shall always be fulfilled." Maki sighed deeply as she looked up at the nonexistent night sky.
"But like a double edged sword, princesses have many responsibilities. Our freedom is replaced with gold, and we are supposed to appreciate it." Maki melancholically glanced to the floor.
"Comparable to handcuffs made of gold, I shall never reach my happiness and I must be married off to strengthen our kingdom," Maki said as she crumbled to the floor dramatically.
Eli nodded. "That was pretty good, but I think you should walk off the balcony instead of falling to the floor. Also, I forgot to tell you guys but I added a bunch of extra characters who only appear one or twice. Umi and I will be playing those extras so don't worry about them."
Maki nodded. "Can we practice a scene with all three of us?"
Rin exclaimed, "Oh, that would be fun!"
Eli nodded. "Sure thing, guys. How about the scene where I come to rescue Maki?"
Rin nodded. "Yeaahh!"
Eli stood up and gestured for everyone to do the same. "Maki you go lie down on the floor...there. Rin, use this pen and pretend it's a sword. I'm gonna be outside and come in just when you are about to stab Maki, okay?"
Rin nodded. "Okay!"
Eli left the room holding her script in her hand while Maki lay on the floor holding her script.
Rin read from her script as she held up her pen. "You never give up, do you? You will never truly make the perfect woman."
Rin positioned her pen over Maki's chest. "Such a shame. Your face is so pretty. I suppose you'll die a useless damsel in distress-"
Eli burst through the room. "Princess!?"
Swiftly, Eli shoved Rin to the floor and scooped up Maki with little difficulty.
"CUT!" Rin yelled. "Eli, that kind of hurt!"
Eli put Maki back down. "I'm sorry, Rin, but it couldn't be helped."
"Eli, you're actually really strong," Maki said. "I'm quite heavy, how did you lift me like that?"
Eli shrugged. "I don't know. Anyways, we should be practicing other scenes..."
"So, was your practice?" Umi asked Maki a few minutes after the practice was over.
"Er, great. Eli was a bit harsh but we're making progress," Maki replied.
Umi nodded. "Honoka was actually really good at acting. A hidden talent, maybe?"
"Well, she is Honoka, after all."
Maki walked down the stairs into the dining room, where a great feast and Nico were waiting.
"Maki! About time you came. I wanna go hiking!"
Maki took the seat farthest away from Nico. "I know there's a hiking trail not far away. You'll have to walk a lot, though."
Nico pouted. "I don't care! I'm good at hiking! Eli!"
Eli had just entered the room with Honoka and Hanayo.
Eli sat next to Maki. "What, Nico?"
"Can we all go hiking together?"
"Hiking? Er, maybe tomorrow. The weather forecast says it might rain soon."
Maki sighed. Nice quick thinking! Maki thought.
"But it says it's sunny today. Look!" Nico held up her phone.
"Really?" Eli looked like she was thinking of ideas. "Well, um, we should go! Totally! But not all of us."
"Why not?"
"Because, well, it won't be very convenient to hike with 9 people. So maybe only some of us should go."
"Okay."
Eli looked relieved, and Maki sighed.
I wonder if Nico will ever find out about the surprise.
I hope you enjoyed this update! It pretty much wrote itself.
I try to update every Sunday (or Saturday depending on where you live).
Please review!