Chapter 8: Thursday – The Final Rehearsal
Morning – Classroom 8-1
(The third and final preparation day. Students are tired but excited.)
Sōta: "Tomorrow is the big day."
Rin: "Are you ready, Yuki?"
Yuki: "I was born ready."
Hiroshi: "That's biologically impossible."
Yuki: "Don't ruin my moment."
Teacher: "Everyone, listen up. Today is our final rehearsal. We will run the entire play from start to finish. No stopping."
Class: "Yes, sensei."
Teacher: "And we will practice the kiss scene. Multiple times. Until it looks real."
Hiroshi: "Multiple times?"
Yuki: "Don't complain. You need the practice."
Hiroshi: "I don't need practice. I need an alternative script."
Teacher: "No alternative. Now, everyone to the gymnasium."
First Period – Final Rehearsal Begins
(On stage. The class runs through the play. Scene by scene.)
(Act 1: The prince meets the princess. Act 2: The evil knight threatens. Act 3: The fairy godmother helps.)
(Finally, Act 4: The love confession.)
Teacher: "Scene ten. The kiss. Asagiri, Hoshino, center stage."
(They stand face to face. Yuki is calm. Hiroshi is stiff.)
Yuki: "My prince, I have waited for this moment."
Hiroshi: "As have I, my princess."
Yuki: "Then kiss me."
(She closes her eyes. Hiroshi leans in. His lips hover near hers.)
(He hesitates.)
Teacher: "Kiss her, Asagiri. It's just acting."
Hiroshi: "Acting requires emotion. I'm not good at emotion."
Yuki: (eyes still closed) "Then pretend I'm a math problem."
Hiroshi: "That doesn't help."
Yuki: "Then pretend I'm the answer."
(He stares at her lips. His heart pounds.)
(He presses his lips to hers. Soft. Brief. His eyes are open. Hers are closed.)
(He pulls back.)
Teacher: "That was a peck. We need a real kiss. Three seconds minimum."
Hiroshi: "Three seconds is a long time."
Yuki: "It's an eternity when you're waiting."
Teacher: "Again."
(Again. Longer this time. His lips stay on hers for two seconds. He pulls back.)
Teacher: "Better. But your eyes were open. Close them."
Hiroshi: "Why?"
Teacher: "Because it's romantic."
Yuki: "Close your eyes, Hiroshi. Trust me."
(He takes a breath. He closes his eyes.)
(She kisses him this time. Her lips move against his. Soft. Warm.)
(One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.)
(He doesn't pull away.)
(Four seconds. Five seconds.)
Teacher: "...That's enough."
(They separate. Yuki is smiling. Hiroshi's face is red.)
Yuki: "You lasted five seconds."
Hiroshi: "I lost count."
Yuki: "You liked it."
Hiroshi: "I tolerated it."
Yuki: "Same thing."
(The class claps. Sōta whistles.)
Second Period – Kiss Practice (Multiple Takes)
(The teacher makes them practice the kiss ten more times.)
Take 1: "Too stiff, Asagiri."
Take 2: "Your nose bumped hers."
Take 3: "Better. But relax your shoulders."
Take 4: "Good. Now add a hand on her waist."
(Hiroshi places his hand on Yuki's waist. She shivers.)
Yuki: "Your hand is warm."
Hiroshi: "I'll move it."
Yuki: "Don't."
Take 5: "Perfect. Again."
(Again. And again.)
(By take 10, Hiroshi no longer hesitates. His lips find hers naturally. His hand rests comfortably on her waist. Her fingers thread through his hair.)
Teacher: "Excellent. That's how you do it tomorrow."
(They separate. Yuki's lipstick is smeared.)
Yuki: "You messed up my lipstick."
Hiroshi: "You messed up my composure."
Yuki: "Fair trade."
(She wipes his lip with her thumb. A small smudge of pink comes off.)
Yuki: "There. Clean."
Hiroshi: "You're touching my lip."
Yuki: "I've done more than that today."
(His ears are crimson.)
Lunch Break – Rooftop (Private)
(Yuki and Hiroshi sit alone on the rooftop. Sōta and Rin are downstairs.)
Yuki: "You kissed me twelve times today."
Hiroshi: "You kissed me back."
Yuki: "Of course I did. I love you."
(He looks at the sky. She looks at him.)
Yuki: "Did any of those kisses feel real to you?"
Hiroshi: "They were rehearsals."
Yuki: "That's not what I asked."
(He is silent for a moment.)
Hiroshi: "The fifth one. Maybe."
Yuki: "Just maybe?"
Hiroshi: "The eighth one too."
Yuki: "That's two."
Hiroshi: "And the tenth."
Yuki: "Three."
Hiroshi: "And the twelfth."
Yuki: "Four. You're counting."
Hiroshi: "I always count."
Yuki: "What did the twelfth one feel like?"
(He turns to look at her. Her face is close.)
Hiroshi: "It felt like... not acting."
(Her breath catches.)
Yuki: "That's the most romantic thing you've ever said."
Hiroshi: "It wasn't romantic. It was observational."
Yuki: "Same thing."
(She leans her head on his shoulder. He doesn't move away.)
Yuki: "Tomorrow, we kiss in front of the whole school."
Hiroshi: "I know."
Yuki: "Are you nervous?"
Hiroshi: "Yes."
(He admitted it. She smiles against his shoulder.)
Yuki: "I'll be there. We'll do it together."
Hiroshi: "That's logical."
Yuki: "I'm learning from you."
(She takes his hand. She intertwines their fingers.)
Yuki: "Same time tomorrow?"
Hiroshi: "The performance is at 2 PM."
Yuki: "I meant the hand-holding."
Hiroshi: "...Same time."
(She squeezes his hand. He squeezes back.)
Third Period – Costume Final Check
(Back in the costume room. Final adjustments.)
Rin: "Yuki, your dress is perfect."
Yuki: "Does it make me look pretty?"
Rin: "It makes you look like a princess."
(Yuki twirls. The dress flares out.)
Yuki: "Hiroshi, look."
(He looks. His eyes widen slightly.)
Hiroshi: "The hem is uneven."
Yuki: "That's all you have to say?"
Hiroshi: "The color suits you."
(Her face lights up.)
Yuki: "That's two compliments in one day. Are you sick?"
Hiroshi: "I'm honest."
Yuki: "Then be honest about something else."
Hiroshi: "Like what?"
Yuki: "Do you think I'm beautiful?"
(The room goes quiet. Everyone looks at Hiroshi.)
Hiroshi: "...Yes."
(Yuki's heart stops.)
Yuki: "Say that again."
Hiroshi: "No."
Yuki: "Please?"
Hiroshi: "I said it once. That's enough."
(She runs to him. She hugs him tightly. Her arms around his neck.)
Yuki: "You made me so happy."
Hiroshi: "You're wrinkling my costume."
Yuki: "I don't care."
(She doesn't let go. After a moment, his arms come up. He hugs her back. Awkwardly. Gently.)
(Rin and Sōta exchange looks.)
Sōta: "Are we witnessing a breakthrough?"
Rin: "Shh. Don't ruin it."
Fourth Period – Final Run-Through (Full Dress Rehearsal)
(On stage. Full costumes. Full props. An audience of teachers and a few students.)
(The play runs smoothly. No mistakes.)
(The kiss scene arrives.)
Yuki: "My prince, I have waited for this moment."
Hiroshi: "As have I, my princess. Longer than you know."
(He added the extra line again. It wasn't in the script. But it felt right.)
Yuki: "Then kiss me. And never let go."
(She closes her eyes.)
(He cups her face. His thumb brushes her cheek. He leans in.)
(Their lips meet. Soft. Warm. Real.)
(One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.)
(He doesn't pull away.)
(Four seconds. Five seconds. Six seconds.)
(The audience is silent. The teachers nod approvingly.)
(He pulls back. His forehead rests against hers.)
Hiroshi: (whispering) "That was seven seconds."
Yuki: (whispering back) "I counted."
(The audience applauds. The class cheers.)
Teacher: "Perfect. That's how you do it tomorrow."
(Yuki doesn't let go of his hand.)
After School – Walking Home
(The sun is setting. The sky is orange and pink.)
Yuki: "Tomorrow is the real thing."
Hiroshi: "I know."
Yuki: "Are you scared?"
Hiroshi: "No."
Yuki: "Liar."
Hiroshi: "Maybe a little."
Yuki: "I'll be right there. Holding your hand. Kissing you."
Hiroshi: "That's what I'm scared of."
Yuki: "Why?"
Hiroshi: "Because I might not want to stop."
(She stops walking. She stares at him.)
Yuki: "What did you say?"
Hiroshi: "Nothing. Forget it."
Yuki: "I won't forget it. Ever."
(She grabs his arm. She pulls him to face her.)
Yuki: "Say it again."
Hiroshi: "No."
Yuki: "Please?"
Hiroshi: "...I said I might not want to stop. Kissing you."
(Her eyes well up. Not from sadness. From happiness.)
Yuki: "Then don't stop. Tomorrow. Don't stop."
Hiroshi: "It's a play. We have to stop eventually."
Yuki: "After the play. Kiss me after the play. For real."
(He looks at her. Her eyes are bright. Her lips are slightly parted.)
Hiroshi: "...I'll think about it."
Yuki: "That's not a no."
Hiroshi: "It's not a yes either."
Yuki: "It's a start."
(They reach their street.)
Yuki: "Goodnight, my prince. Tomorrow, you're mine."
Hiroshi: "Goodnight."
(She crosses the street. She waves. She blows him a kiss.)
(He catches it. Without thinking.)
(She giggles and disappears into her building.)
(He looks at his hand. The one that caught her kiss.)
(He doesn't know why he's smiling.)
(But he is.)
End of Chapter 8