-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE, THEATRE CLUB ROOM-
-3:27 PM, FEBRUARY 9, 2017-
The theatre room buzzed with quiet preparation.
Props were being arranged near the wings.
Lighting cues were tested.
Scripts shuffled in nervous hands.
The Winter Arts Exhibition was only two weeks away now.
Every rehearsal mattered.
Masayoshi leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers.
"You think he's coming?" he asked.
Takeda stood near the stage lights.
"He said he would."
"That's not an answer."
Ichika stood near the stage steps.
Watching the door.
Not impatient.
Just waiting.
Then—
The theatre door opened.
Rikuu stepped inside.
Snow clung lightly to his jacket from the walk.
His eyes were tired.
But steady.
Masayoshi shot upright.
"Finally."
A few students clapped softly.
Takeda gave a small nod.
Hoshino-sensei looked relieved.
"Arakawa."
"…Sorry I'm late."
"You're early," she replied calmly.
He blinked.
"It's 3:27."
"Rehearsal begins at 3:30."
Masayoshi whispered,
"Teacher logic."
Rikuu walked toward the stage.
Ichika met him halfway.
"…How is she?"
"Stable."
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Good."
He studied her face for a moment.
"You didn't sleep much either."
"I was worried."
"…Sorry."
She shook her head gently.
"Just come back safe."
He nodded once.
-THEATRE CLUB STAGE-
-3:41 PM-
Rehearsal began quickly.
Students took their positions.
The stage lights warmed the room with soft amber tones.
Hoshino-sensei raised her clipboard.
"Final act."
Everyone grew quiet.
Because this scene had become the heart of the play.
Rikuu stepped into position.
Ichika faced him from the opposite side of the stage.
For a moment—
They simply looked at each other.
Then the scene began.
"You shouldn't be here," Rikuu said quietly.
His voice carried across the theatre.
But tonight—
Something had changed.
The emotion felt heavier.
More grounded.
Ichika stepped closer.
"Then stop pushing me away."
The dialogue flowed naturally now.
Every line landing exactly where it should.
Students watched silently.
Takeda leaned forward slightly.
Even Masayoshi stopped joking.
"You don't understand what kind of life I live," Rikuu said.
Ichika answered softly.
"Then show me."
The stage felt smaller.
The scene more intimate.
Rikuu's voice dropped slightly.
"…I break things."
"You protect things."
"That's not the same."
"It is if the reason is love."
The room went completely still.
Because that line—
Hadn't been in the script.
Takeda's eyes widened slightly.
Hoshino-sensei looked up.
But she didn't stop the scene.
Ichika continued naturally.
"You think I'm afraid of you?"
Rikuu shook his head slowly.
"You should be."
"I'm not."
The final moment arrived.
The one that always carried the most weight.
"You deserve someone better than me," Rikuu said.
Ichika stepped closer.
Close enough that only a few inches separated them.
"I choose you."
Silence.
No one moved.
For several seconds—
The theatre held its breath.
Then Hoshino-sensei clapped once.
"Excellent."
Students broke into applause.
Masayoshi whistled loudly.
"Best one yet."
Takeda nodded.
"That felt real."
Rikuu stepped back from the scene.
Breathing slowly.
Ichika smiled faintly.
"You changed the line."
"…Yeah."
"Why?"
He shrugged slightly.
"…It fit."
She didn't argue.
Because somehow—
It really had.
-AURORA ACADEMY COURTYARD-
-5:09 PM-
Rehearsal ended as the winter sun faded behind the clouds.
Snow covered the school grounds again.
Students walked home in small groups.
Rikuu and Ichika left through the main gate together.
For a few minutes—
Neither spoke.
Then Ichika said softly,
"That was the best rehearsal yet."
"…Probably."
"You acted differently tonight."
He looked ahead.
"…Maybe I was just tired."
She smiled slightly.
"You're a terrible liar."
Snowflakes drifted between them.
Then she reached for his hand.
He held it without hesitation.
The path ahead glowed faintly under the streetlights.
And somewhere beyond the falling snow—
The stage for the Winter Arts Exhibition was getting closer.