This afternoon. Inside the school gymnasium.
The students of Class 2-B who were going to participate in the stage play formed a circle, watching Kurosawa Hoshino and Ran's performance. They occasionally whispered to each other, pretending to comment on the two's acting skills, and some even deliberately gave them disgusted looks. The reason for this was to help the two overcome their nervousness in front of the audience, so that they could ignore the audience's interference. Otherwise, when they were performing on stage with so many people below, they might get so nervous that they would forget their lines.
Ran stepped forward, holding the script in one hand and extending the other to Kurosawa. "Who exactly are you—the one who has been helping me so many times lately? Nameless knight shrouded in black, if you would grant this princess's humble wish, please remove your mask, as black as night, and face me with your true face."
"If this is truly the princess's wish—" Kurosawa placed his hand on his forehead and gently pushed it upward, "I would present this face, etched with ugly scars, to the princess under the moonlight." He then revealed his forehead, showing the cross-shaped scar in the center. Of course, this was fake, created with makeup.
Ran stared wide-eyed in shock at the scar, her pale purple eyes instantly welling up with tears. Excited yet apprehensive, she asked, "You wouldn't happen to be—Prince Spite? Could you be the prince of the Kingdom of Toramp—the one my father pierced between the eyebrows and banished from the palace long ago? If you remember our childhood vow—please, write your proof on my lips."
The surrounding classmates held their breath, watching this scene with bated breath.
Sonoko swallowed, licked her lips, and stared intently. Though she knew the two wouldn't actually kiss, she still felt a strong urge to see them truly kiss.
"Princess~" Kurosawa stepped forward, gently pulling Ran into his arms, lowering his head, and slowly approaching her lips.
Just as their lips were about to touch, Ran suddenly reached out and stabbed Kurosawa directly in the abdomen.
Kurosawa let out a muffled groan, clutching his stomach and staggering backward, staring at Ran in disbelief.
"I'm sorry—I—" Ran stammered, tears streaming down her face. But before she could finish, several classmates around her spoke up.
"Black Knight, today is your death day."
"Hahaha, didn't expect that, did you? Princess Hart, for the sake of her people, agreed to our king's request. As long as you—who has repeatedly sabotaged marriages—are killed, we won't wage war against her country."
"But she's too stupid. She doesn't know that we're lying to her, just to kill you."
Hearing the words around her, Ran took two steps back and fell to the ground, staring at them in disbelief. "You—you—"
"Hahaha, foolish princess. Go to hell with the Black Knight."
"I—I won't let you hurt her." Kurosawa struggled to stand in front of Ran, beginning his final act. In short, he killed these guys playing the soldiers, and then, severely wounded, he collapsed into Ran's arms, held tightly by her.
According to Sonoko's script, before Kurosawa dies, the two will actually kiss. Of course, here, just exchanging glances counts as a kiss. In the end, Ran embarks on her journey to marry into a foreign land alone, and on a cold night, she freezes to death alone in the snow. So, after all that, both the male and female leads die—making Kurosawa mentally complain.
"Alright, everyone, what do you think? If there's anything inappropriate, you can tell me, and I'll revise it." Sonoko asked everyone after the performance.
"Sonoko, can you add some more scenes for me?"
"What scenes do you need for a lowly soldier? How about I make your death even more gruesome?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Kurosawa got up from Ran's arms, pulled her up, and came to Sonoko with the script. "Isn't this a bit too melodramatic? How about we cut the last part?"
"No, I think it's great." Sonoko refused directly.
"Ran, you think so too?" Kurosawa looked at Ran helplessly.
"I think it's alright." Ran felt the final tragedy was acceptable. The princess's character changed a bit at the end, but it wasn't unacceptable.
"Sonoko, I think the Black Knight's character is so strong—the first kiss should be a real kiss. That way, he'll lower his guard, and the princess's sneak attack will succeed. Otherwise, the sudden injury feels a bit unbelievable."
Hearing this, Ran blushed. Though she knew it would be a mismatch—a fake kiss or something—it still sounded embarrassing.
Sonoko thought for a moment. "Hoshino, you have a point. But if the Black Knight dies in the princess's arms, a kiss would seem redundant."
"Then we can skip the final kiss and just have the Black Knight die in the princess's arms."
"Ran, what do you think?" Sonoko hesitated, looking at her best friend.
Ran hesitated for a moment before replying, "Then let's do it the way Hoshino says. I'm fine with anything."
"Since you two lead actors have agreed, I'll revise the script again." After Sonoko finished speaking, she called everyone to continue rehearsing—this time for the supporting characters' scenes. Don't think that supporting characters aren't important, especially villains. If they're played well, they can really stir up the emotions of the audience, making them want to kill the villain.
"Ran," Kurosawa said softly, "I think it's better not to have the scene where the princess hurts the Black Knight. The best ending would be for the two of them to kiss, the princess to fake her death, and then elope. That would be the most perfect."
"It's no use talking to me." Ran spread her hands. "Sonoko is the director and screenwriter. I can't do anything about it."
"Of course, I'm asking you to whisper sweet nothings in her ear."
Ran laughed and playfully slapped him. "What sweet nothings? I didn't sleep with Sonoko."
Kurosawa chuckled. "Anyway, that's the gist of it. Go try it. Maybe Sonoko will agree to the changes."
"Okay," Ran agreed, thinking a change was a good idea. After all, the princess was so kind and perfect in the beginning, but she ended up hurting the Black Knight—which did somewhat distort her character.