The week passed by quickly.
Every single day after classes, Aoi stayed at the drama club until her body felt exhausted. She repeated lines over and over, adjusted the tone of her voice, practiced movements on stage, and when she finally got home, she still continued rehearsing alone in her room before sleeping.
Then Friday finally arrived.
At the end of the last class of the day, Takeo appeared at the door of Class 2-B.
— Aoi.
She slowly lifted her eyes toward him.
— The teacher said today's the real final rehearsal. We're practicing until we drop.
Aoi closed her notebook and slipped it into her bag.
— Alright… let's go then.
The two left the classroom together.
As they walked down the stairs, they spotted Souma several meters ahead, hands in his pockets as he headed toward the track club building.
Takeo watched him quietly for a few seconds.
— Aoi… what happened to him?
Aoi tightened her grip on her bag strap.
— I don't know.
She looked away.
— And I don't want to know either.
Takeo widened his eyes slightly and unconsciously slowed his pace.
— Ah…
Aoi noticed immediately.
— What?
— Nothing.
He forced a faint smile.
— Sorry, Aoi. It's just… you've seemed kind of distant this week.
She let out a quiet sigh.
— Sorry, Takeo. I've just had a lot on my mind.
Then she looked at him more firmly.
— But I never stopped practicing.
Takeo smiled softly.
— I know.
He adjusted the strap on his shoulder.
— But theater isn't about where your feet are. It's about where your heart is.
Aoi stayed silent for a moment.
Then Takeo pointed ahead.
— Come on already. The gym's freezing today… and everyone's probably waiting for us.
The two walked through the quiet hallways of the school.
The cold December air seeped through their uniforms, while the faint smell of heaters slowly spread through the building.
When they pushed open the double doors to the gymnasium, the stage setup immediately came into view beneath the harsh fluorescent lights.
Hand-painted wooden panels.
Makeshift curtains.
Cables scattered across the floor.
— Look who finally showed up! — Kaito shouted from the top of a ladder while adjusting a spotlight. — Aoi! Shinohara wants to test your voice projection! The echo in this gym swallows anyone who talks too quietly!
Aoi slowly climbed onto the stage.
The sound of her footsteps echoed through the empty gym.
She looked toward the rows of metal chairs lined up in front of the stage.
More than one hundred and fifty seats.
Parents.
Teachers.
Graduates.
Tomorrow, every single one of them would be filled.
Shinohara appeared holding a stopwatch.
Her eyes completely focused.
— Everyone's here? Good.
She took a slow breath.
— Final Friday rehearsal.
Then she looked directly at Aoi.
— Take your position.
Her voice became more serious.
— Forget everything outside this stage. Tonight, you are Mizuki.
Aoi slowly inhaled.
The dusty scent of the stage.
The coldness coming from the metal chairs.
The blinding gym lights.
For the first time in weeks, everything finally felt real.
And for the first time in weeks, the other problem inside her head went silent.
She glanced toward Takeo, who was already standing in position on stage.
He simply nodded once.
Aoi answered with a small nod of her own.
And then the rehearsal began.
Lines echoed through the empty gymnasium.
Footsteps.
Stage marks.
Voice projection.
One scene after another.
Time passed quickly.
Before anyone noticed, two full hours had gone by.
Shinohara Mai clicked the stopwatch one final time.
The dry sound echoed throughout the silent gym.
Kaito turned off the main spotlights, leaving only a faint service light glowing at the back of the stage.
Then Takeo stepped forward.
— Everyone to the center. Now.
The club members gathered in the middle of the stage.
The first-years trembled slightly — partly from the freezing December air, partly from nervousness.
The upperclassmen looked calmer.
But even they seemed tense.
Soon, everyone formed a circle.
Aoi felt her right hand being held by Takeo's rough, calloused hand.
On her left, one of the first-year girls held onto her with slightly cold fingers.
The warmth of the circle felt strangely comforting.
Takeo looked around before speaking.
— Tomorrow, this gym is going to be full.
His voice was low.
Steady.
— Parents, teachers… seniors who came through this club before us.
He took a deep breath.
— They're not coming just to watch a play.
His eyes moved across everyone there.
— They're coming to see whether we were able to protect what they left behind.
Silence filled the stage.
Aoi quietly observed the faces around her.
Shinohara was biting her lip, clearly holding back emotion.
Kaito — usually joking nonstop — looked serious for the first time that night.
Then Takeo looked toward her.
— Aoi.
She raised her eyes.
— Want to say something?
For a few seconds, Aoi remained silent.
Then she gently squeezed the hands holding hers.
And felt something warm rise inside her chest.
Everything else suddenly felt far away.
— I…
She inhaled deeply.
Projecting her voice exactly as she had practiced countless times.
— I think… I spent a long time being far away, even while I was still here.
Her eyes lowered briefly.
— But today, holding everyone's hands… I realized something.
She lifted her gaze again.
— Tomorrow isn't just about acting well.
Her voice trembled slightly.
— It's about saying this "goodbye for now" together.
The silence remained.
But now it felt warmer.
— So… let's make everyone feel every single word.
A quiet murmur of approval spread through the circle.
Shinohara smiled emotionally.
— Very good.
She took a breath.
— Tomorrow is our official performance.
Then she raised her hand toward the center.
— Let's show everyone the pride of the drama club.
Everyone stacked their hands together in the middle.
One over another.
Takeo smiled widely.
— ENGEKI-BU!
— FIGHT!! — everyone shouted together.
The echo bounced off the metal ceiling of the gymnasium.
And for a few brief seconds, even the winter cold seemed to disappear.
When they finally let go of each other's hands, nobody moved immediately.
The moment still lingered in the air.
Until Kaito suddenly clapped loudly.
— Alright! Everybody go home already!
He pointed dramatically at the group.
— Eat something hot, wear thick socks, and sleep early! If anyone shows up sick tomorrow, I'm replacing you on stage myself with a wig!
Laughter finally broke the tension.
Little by little, everyone grabbed their bags.
Aoi walked toward the edge of the stage and stared at the empty audience seats one last time.
Tomorrow…
Every seat would be occupied.
She lightly tightened her grip on her bag strap.
Lost in thought.
Then she left the school.
The sky was already completely dark.
She checked her phone.
— 8 PM…
She let out a soft sigh.
— Mom's probably already home.
Far behind her, Takeo and Shinohara walked out together through the front gate.
Shinohara watched Aoi's figure slowly disappear down the street.
— She seemed better today.
Takeo nodded slowly.
— Yeah… she—
But he suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Shinohara noticed immediately.
— Takeo?
He was staring ahead.
Toward a boy walking alone several meters away.
Souma.
Takeo narrowed his eyes slightly.
— Give me a minute, Mai.
Shinohara blinked.
— Something wrong?
— Nah. I just wanna ask him something.
She sighed.
— Fine… I'll wait up ahead.
— I'll be right there.
Takeo quickened his pace until he caught up with Souma.
— Hey, Souma-kun!
Souma looked back.
— Ah… Takeo-senpai.
Takeo casually wrapped an arm around his neck.
— Where're you headed? Aoi's house? Haha.
Souma immediately frowned.
— What?
His tone sharpened.
— Why would you say that?
Takeo laughed lightly.
— Relax. You just look way too tense, I was joking.
— Could you let go of me, please?
— Ah, right. Sorry.
Takeo released him.
But then his expression completely changed.
Serious.
— Alright, seriously now…
He looked directly into Souma's eyes.
— What happened to you?
Souma stayed silent.
Cold air escaped in small clouds from his heavy breathing.
Then he sighed.
— How long have you known Aoi?
Takeo raised an eyebrow.
— Our parents were best friends.
He smiled faintly.
— So… a pretty long time.
Souma lowered his gaze.
— I see…
Silence.
Takeo tilted his head slightly.
— Why?
Souma clenched his fists inside his pockets.
— I… don't know what to do anymore.
Takeo let out a tired sigh.
— Dude, you're talking in circles right now.
Souma stayed quiet for a few more seconds.
Then finally muttered:
— It's all my fault.
Takeo watched him silently.
Souma kept staring at the ground.
Shoulders lowered.
— Your fault? — Takeo asked. — What did you do? Cheat on her or something?
— No.
Souma closed his eyes briefly.
— I tried to tell Aoi something.
His voice came out strained.
— I already tried twice.
Takeo's expression turned serious.
Waiting.
Souma gritted his teeth.
— Do you think…
He hesitated.
— Do you think she'll hate me for the rest of her life?
Takeo studied his exhausted face for a few moments.
Then sighed.
— You kinda remind me of a friend of mine when he fell in love once.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
— But it also feels like something else.
Souma remained silent.
Then Takeo shoved his hands into his pockets.
— Listen.
His voice softened slightly.
— If you like Aoi… then talk to her properly.
He stepped aside slightly.
— I already told you this before.
Souma clenched his fists again.
Takeo continued:
— The only way she'd hate you is if you said something truly cruel.
The cold wind passed between them.
Then Takeo started walking away.
— Anyway… I'm heading out.
He raised one hand without looking back.
— But think about what I said.
His voice echoed quietly down the empty street.
— Be honest with her.
Souma remained standing there, eyes fixed on the ground.
And quietly thought to himself:
— But that's exactly the problem…