Act 4

Revelation

The next morning, Banri didn't come for breakfast. He packed his bag while Juza was out, intending to leave without saying goodbye to his roommate. In the hallway, he bumped into Omi and Taichi. When they heard he was quitting Mankai Company, they began to persuade him to stay, but he didn't feel like changing his mind. Anyway, he joined the Autumn Troupe only to defeat Hyodo and wasn't planning to dedicate himself to theatre. Why continue if he saw in the rehearsals that Hyodo's acting wasn't a match for his own? He didn't need an audience survey to tell him that he had won.

Banri put on a nonchalant, carefree front as he said this to Omi and Taichi, but deep down he knew he had lost. At heart, he was scared to fail in everyone's eyes, and quitting now seemed like the only way to save face. Hearing the commotion, Sakyo came out of the dining room.

- Do what you will. But never show your face here again, - Sakyo was deeply concerned and upset, but at the same time angry with Banri over his wayward decision.

- Whatever, - Banri scoffed and turned to walk away when the entrance door suddenly opened and an unsuspecting Juza entered the hallway.

Banri and Juza stood face-to-face as their eyes met; Omi and Taichi entreated Juza to say something to Banri to prevent him from leaving. Hearing this, Juza frowned and shut the door behind him - he had to find out what Settsu was up to this time around. Even though Settsu was always a shit starter and trouble maker in the Autumn Troupe, Juza didn't want him to leave at all. They had already put so much effort into the show and fit together so well for the roles of gangsters. It would be very hard if at all possible, to find someone as capable as Settsu just two weeks before the premiere, but that wasn't all. Bizarrely, he had grown attached to Settsu despite his constant picking on him. Perhaps because he was a delinquent himself? He had always felt out of place around good guys. Frankly, he could loosen up and be himself only with Settsu. Unlike others, Settsu wasn't afraid of him even after he knocked him out back then in Veludo Way. He couldn't have imagined he needed someone like Settsu, but now he couldn't just let him go.

- You'd better not be up and leaving halfway through, – Juza began to reason when Banri suddenly laid a hand on his shoulder and moved past him to the entrance door:

- You weren't a match for me from the start. It's pointless to stay.

For a brief moment, Juza was stunned. It was the first time Settsu had touched him gently like this, for he had only punched or kicked him so far.

- I haven't lost. I'll never lose to the likes of you, - Juza asserted firmly as Banri opened the door to leave; he knew that Settsu desperately wanted to defeat him, so challenging him seemed like a good idea to prevent him from quitting.

However, it didn't work. Settsu grumbled under his breath and walked away without a backward glance.

- Leave him, Hyodo. He's not worth your time to bother with, - Sakyo's tone was stern, although he was trying to console Juza. For some reason, he felt that Settsu's quitting would affect Juza more than all of them.

As the remaining Autumn Troupe dispersed to their rooms in low spirits, Banri pensively wandered off towards Veludo station. He didn't feel like going back to his parents' home and instead roamed the town all day, constantly thinking about what had happened to him. It was so dumb, but he couldn't get his mind off it... He couldn't get his mind off Hyodo... This was annoying... He dropped the call on his smartphone when he saw director Izumi's name on the screen. He had to put an end to this silly story and turn this page of his life. But why did he feel so upset?.. Why did he feel like he was losing something important, something he wouldn't be able to find anymore? Damn it...

Lost in the pensive thoughts, Banri was sitting in the café where he used to hang out with his schoolmates. He couldn't finish his fries and went outside, leaving the food on the table. It was already getting dark, and he slowly roamed towards the station when he suddenly heard director Izumi's voice calling his name. Turning around, Banri saw her run up and stop in front of him, trying to catch her breath. He didn't mind when she asked him to have a word.

They strolled to the nearest park and sat down on a bench in a quiet place before director Izumi asked him if he was serious about quitting. Banri noticed that she was sad, but he wasn't going to change his mind just because of this. After all that had happened, he knew there was no coming back for him. He repeated what he said in the morning and got up to walk away when director Izumi suddenly asked him if he wanted to make sure that he had actually defeated Hyodo because his quitting the troupe now looked like running away to avoid facing the results.

Banri stopped in his tracks at once. Director Izumi had a point, he couldn't argue with that. Reluctantly, he followed her to Yuzo's theatre. They took seats in the back row, and Banri skeptically looked at the stage: he didn't believe that watching the portraits of Hyodo and the rest could change anything for him.

First up was Sakyo, then Omi and Taichi. Their portraits were really good, especially Sakyo and Omi's. Banri clearly saw that the sincerity of their feelings had raised their acting to a whole new level, but he didn't really feel moved by this. At last, there was Juza on the stage, and Banri frowned with annoyance: for some reason, he felt a little worked up. Yet, he was all eyes and ears when Juza began his portrait.

It was a story of loneliness and inner struggle with circumstances and himself. A story of a loner who had been overcoming the misapprehension and wariness of people around him while desperately trying to change himself and his life. Banri leaned forward in his seat, hanging on every Juza's word. He wouldn't have thought that Hyodo had a sensitive side. He couldn't have imagined that this daikon was actually a fine and delicate person despite his delinquent looks and reputation. It was so weird and unexpected that it was hard to believe. What's more, Hyodo was just like him – a lonely, restless soul yearning for change. Unfulfilled aspirations, dejection, and despair – he had experienced the same feelings before he met Hyodo.

The five minutes of Juza's portrait flew by as a single instant. The audience applauded, and the curtain slowly went down, hiding Juza behind it while Banri still gazed upon him. He awakened from his oblivion when director Izumi asked him to wait for her a bit outside the theatre. Banri complied, and shortly afterwards she came out of the theatre too.

Director Izumi got the results of the audience survey, but Banri already knew who had won. Sure enough, Hyodo outperformed them all and won the audience's favour, but not only... Banri felt tight in his chest. Hyodo won his, Banri's, heart, too... It was so painfully clear to him now: he had fallen for Hyodo before he even knew it. Really, Hyodo was the only one he had been thinking about since the day they met. This daikon was the only one who fired him up and gave him thrills he had been craving for. This wouldn't end easily, no... He just couldn't let it end like this!..

Banri clutched at the shirt on his chest as a yearnful feeling pierced through his heart. He wanted to beat Hyodo, he just needed it... He needed to defeat him at least in something, no matter what... He would have to defeat him in sweeping streets if Hyodo decided to do so... He wanted to go wherever Hyodo went, and do whatever Hyodo wanted to do... He wanted to start from scratch, but it was too late for him now...

He thought he was the best at everything and bragged about his acting so much, but ended up being the worst. He thought he was an ace, but proved to be a bad loser... Jack of all trades, master of none. He had never really achieved anything... In the end, he had lost to everyone in the troupe after showing contempt for their acting, but what's worse, he wimped out and ran away to avoid showing his made-up portrait after Yuzo rated him last. He acted like a coward, although he was the troupe leader. A leader escaping the battlefield – how pathetic and unmanly that was!

Banri stood in the street, facing away from director Izumi. He was ashamed of himself, but at the same time, he wanted to know what to do. Standing behind, director Izumi looked at him kindly. She had long noticed Banri's obsession with Juza: Banri had been literally throwing himself at the other boy and wanted to compete with him alone, although the rest of the Autumn Troupe were very capable, too. Objectively, Sakyo's acting was the best in the troupe, and somehow Taichi also seemed like a very good actor, but Banri didn't compete with them. He was fixated solely on Juza, and even now that he was going to quit, he still wanted to defeat him. He said he felt so worked up and excited when he was watching Juza's portrait... What was it, if not an indirect confession of love for Juza?..

Director Izumi smiled empathically. What did she have to do right now? Bring Banri back to the dorm. Bring him back to Juza. Everything else would fall into place. It wasn't too late for him, no. She had a feeling that everyone would accept him back, even Sakyo, if Banri explained to them.

Banri frowned a little. He was apprehensive of how Hyodo and especially Sakyo would react to his return. But come to think of it, no one in the Autumn Troupe made fun of him for his failure, although he deserved to be laughed at after bragging so much about winning an easy victory and laughing at Hyodo at every opportunity. Quite the opposite, they tried to persuade him to stay despite his obnoxious conduct. So, there was no harm in trying again... With a glimmer of hope, Banri timidly followed director Izumi back to the dorm.

When they entered, the rest of the troupe were in the dining room. Omi and Taichi welcomed him back, Hyodo didn't say a word, and Sakyo was stern and unyielding. Banri took his hands out of his pockets; he suddenly felt uneasy. He didn't remember the last time he apologized or explained himself, but he had to do it now. He wanted to do it now with all of his heart. He admitted that he had lost and promised to be serious about acting, but Sakyo still objected. Banri bowed his head and asked to allow him to come back. From now on, he was going to fulfill his responsibilities as the troupe leader.

Finally, Sakyo relented. The only one who remained silent was Hyodo, and Sakyo asked him if he was fine with having Settsu back. Juza put up a tough front as he said yes without lifting his eyes to Banri. He couldn't explain it, but he felt oddly happy that Settsu was back, and not because of the show they were staging... Somehow it felt really empty without this jerk around...

The incident was finally over when Taichi suggested the Autumn Troupe take a bath together, which took them slightly aback. Hanging out naked - what the heck was that? Sakyo objected, but director Izumi agreed that it was a good idea. After all, bath skinship was a good tradition, so the Autumn Troupe got to bathe together in a sign of reconciliation and establishing close bonds!

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Author Notes
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So as you can see, this fic is closely following the canon anime developments. I just unveiled what was going on between Juza and Banri on the inside :)

I'll be very happy to receive your feedback!