-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE, MAIN THEATRE HALL-
-6:58 PM, FEBRUARY 21, 2017-
The theatre was full.
Every seat occupied.
Students.
Teachers.
Parents.
Guests from other schools.
Soft murmurs filled the air as the audience settled in.
Programs rustled.
Lights dimmed slowly.
On stage—
The curtain remained closed.
Behind it—
Everything felt different.
-BACKSTAGE AREA-
-6:59 PM-
The backstage corridor buzzed with quiet tension.
Actors stood in position.
Costumes adjusted one last time.
Whispers replaced by silence.
Hoshino-sensei walked between them.
"Everyone breathe," she said calmly.
Masayoshi stood near the curtains, gripping a rolled-up script.
"I'm more nervous than all of you combined."
"You're not even performing," Takeda said.
"That doesn't help."
Ichika stood near the stage entrance.
Her hands were steady.
But her breathing slightly uneven.
Rikuu stood beside her.
"…You okay?"
"Yes."
"…You're lying."
"A little."
He looked at her.
Then—
"…Just look at me when you forget anything."
She smiled faintly.
"Alright."
A stage crew member whispered,
"Thirty seconds."
The room fell completely silent.
The low hum of the audience beyond the curtain echoed faintly.
Ichika's fingers brushed against Rikuu's.
Just briefly.
A quiet reminder.
Then—
The lights dimmed further.
The curtain began to rise.
-MAIN STAGE-
-7:00 PM-
The play began.
Soft music filled the theatre.
The winter town appeared under gentle lighting.
Artificial snow drifted slowly from above.
The audience leaned forward.
Drawn in immediately.
Scene by scene—
The story unfolded.
Actors delivered their lines with precision.
Emotions built naturally.
The audience laughed at lighter moments.
Fell silent during heavier ones.
And slowly—
The play reached its heart.
-MAIN STAGE, FINAL ACT-
-8:12 PM-
The stage was quiet.
The final scene.
Haru and Yuki stood beneath the artificial snow.
The lighting softened.
The audience held their breath.
Rikuu stepped forward.
"You shouldn't be here."
His voice carried clearly through the theatre.
Ichika answered softly.
"Then stop pushing me away."
Every word felt sharper tonight.
More real.
Because this wasn't rehearsal.
This was the moment.
"You don't understand what kind of life I live," Rikuu said.
"Then show me."
Their pacing was perfect.
Every pause intentional.
Every glance meaningful.
The audience watched in complete silence.
Some leaning forward.
Some holding their breath.
Rikuu's voice dropped slightly.
"…I break things."
Ichika stepped closer.
"You protect things."
"That's not the same."
"It is if the reason is love."
A faint stir moved through the audience.
The emotion had reached them.
Completely.
Then—
The final line.
"You deserve someone better than me."
Ichika stood right in front of him now.
Her voice steady.
Gentle.
"I choose you."
Silence.
Deep.
Complete.
And then—
Applause.
It started softly.
Then grew.
Louder.
Stronger.
Filling the entire theatre.
The curtain slowly fell.
-BACKSTAGE AREA-
-8:18 PM-
The moment the curtain closed—
The cast erupted.
Cheers.
Laughter.
Relief.
Masayoshi ran toward them.
"YOU DID IT!"
"Relax," Rikuu muttered.
"That was incredible!"
Takeda walked over, smiling.
"Well done."
Hoshino-sensei nodded proudly.
"Excellent performance."
Ichika exhaled slowly.
Her hands still slightly shaking.
Rikuu glanced at her.
"…You didn't forget anything."
She smiled.
"Because I didn't need to."
He understood what she meant.
-AURORA ACADEMY, THEATRE HALL EXIT-
-8:46 PM-
The audience slowly exited the building.
Voices filled with praise.
"That was beautiful."
"The leads were amazing."
"Felt so real."
Outside—
Snow fell gently under the night sky.
Rikuu and Ichika stepped out together.
The cold air hit softly.
But it didn't feel cold.
Not after everything.
"…We did it," she said quietly.
"…Yeah."
They stood there for a moment.
Under the falling snow.
No stage.
No script.
No audience.
Just silence.
Then—
Ichika smiled.
"That confession scene…"
"…What about it?"
"It still feels real."
Rikuu looked at her.
"…Yeah."
And this time—
There was no acting involved.