On the way to the college next day.
The morning sunlight beem thoroughly at the earth today. Senkai was lost in his thought's...
I couldn't sleep well last night… Just what is Reze plotting? He thought while walking. First Kazama, then suddenly swapping me from second lead to first… great. And on top of that, I still need to figure out what Nana is planning against Reze. Then there are the midterms…
He sighed... Troublesome...!
From behind Senna saw him. "Oh it's Yoshimura-kun." He yawned as he walked. Uh, I am so full. He thought, I shouldn't have eaten that much breakfast mother forced me to eat since I forget eating my lunch usually.
Than suddenly, He tripped and nearly saved him self from smashing his face at the concrete. He shouted! "Moth–fucker huff...haah... He steadied himself. My god I've almost—"
Behind him, Senna tried to hold it in—
She tried controlling her laughter, that was still escaping from her lips, but it was too late.
He looked behind hearing her laugh. "Hey, hey you I nearly fell to my death and you're still laughing away."
Pfft, i'm sorr—Bwahhaw Sorry, sorry, she said. While struggling to control herself...
"Are you going to the club gathering he asked trying to regain composure. "…Eh—yeah," she replied, still laughing a little. "Let's go together then," he said.
They started walking side by side.
"Sigh — there was a missing brick on that walkway." He muttered.
That was it—
She completely lost control and burst out laughing again.
"Fuck—hey! Seriously, stop laughing already!" he said. "Hey…!"
———
"Theatre and flim, club room."
"I won't laugh anymore she said as she entered the room. "You already laughed for a long time you know...?" Senkai replied, twisting the doorknob open.
"Greetings guys.. They both said.
Mami look up from her notes, "Hi–
Then she paused. "Huh? Why is it only you two? And why are you here so early?"
He asked. "Why there's only you in the room, vice preze?"
"That's because it's not meeting time yet," she added. "Why did you guys come so early?"
Senkai glanced at her notes. "Wow… using all your free time to study is this what a scholarship student looks like?"
"Argh—!" Mami quickly closed her notebook and slammed her hand on the table. "C-Can't I study in my free time? Wanna get beaten up?"
"How amazing…" Senna said.
"I'm just admiring you—why are you getting so embarrassed?" Senkai added. "Senpai, do you want some chewing gum?" She asked, offering it to her.
"Oh, thank you," Mami said, immediately calming down as she took one.
As she unwrapped it, she glanced at both of them. Now they're both lead actors… They must be feeling a lot of pressure, becoming leads in their first year. I really don't know what's going on in Reze-senpai's head this time…
In the background—
"Hey, Senna, why didn't I get one? You're biased toward your senior," Senkai complained. "Ah—I forgot about you," she said, handing him one. "I was going to give it to you, b-but I just couldn't find the right timing during the conversation…"
"Is that really the extent of our friendship?" he said.
Resting her chin on her hands, Mami watched them.
How adorable…
"Senna, Senkai," Mami said, her tone softening, "don't panic because of the lead roles, okay? If you mess up, remember—we seniors are always here to clean up your mess. Just try your best together."
Senkai suddenly froze.
"…Being the lead is kind of making me nauseous… Why did I even agree to this role again…?" he muttered, half to himself.
Senna sighed dramatically.
"I'm going to die from the nervousness soon… this is way too much pressure…"
"Ah! Ah! Ah! Sorry, sorry!" Mami quickly waved her hands. "I shouldn't have brought it up! Don't panic, don't panic!"
———
"We both waited for while as the others started coming in—"
"Hello Mayama Senpai, he said. Mayama waved back casually, Yui entered next. She glanced over at Senkai, then walked up to him. "Hi... senkai," she said.
"Hm," he nodded in acknowledgment.
She moved away and sat at a table a little farther off. The ladies in the club had already gathered there, chatting—daily time gossips, college affairs, and weekly fashion news.
Then—
The sharp, polished sound of heels clicking against the floor echoed through the room.
He turned around.
Reze had entered the room. Her expression was, as always, perfectly composed and professional. "Don't block the entrance," she said. "Hi—Reze senpai, he greeted. "Hello. Can you move out of the way?" she replied flatly.
"Sure..." he said, stepping aside and looked into her expression and thought. Is she in a bad mood…? Or has her face always been like this? Or is it because of me…?
Mami clapped her hands.
"Everyone attention Okay–good, it seems that everyone is here, I'll be announcing few things more, this week's a exam week so I'll keep it short."
She took a deep breath.
"The play name is getting changed, it will now be called, Oath of the crimson Blood. Yep it will be called that for now, but it's isn't finalised yet. Any questions."
A girl raised her hand. "When will be going out to play, I wanna drink booze." A dude sitting beside her leaned in. "We'll go after the meeting ends. Another guy asked. "May I ask Mami can we go out to get a dinner sometime, it's a date."
Mami stared at them blankly. I see. So no one has any important questions, she said, Ignoring almost all of them. "The plot structure and the first draft of the script has already been send on the group chat, please take a look at it, everyone—"
"The lead female role will be played by the Senna first year."
"The lead male will be played by the Senkai also a first year."
"The second female lead will be played by the Yui, another first year."
"The second male lead will be played by Ron, second year I believe most of you know him."
She crossed her arms slightly. "The three leads are the freshmens, So I hope the other seniors will give them hand, also I sent the name list for each person in charge into the group chat as well, but I'll briefly say it out loud once here as well—
Sounds control-Gian, Director-Reze the president, Lighting-Mayama, Props and miscelaneos-Rya and Waguri."
Each group can report the budget to me Later— Reze added.
"You hear that now don't come and look for me Now later–" Mami shouted.
Reze continued without reacting, "preparations will start officially next week, we'll read through the script once or twice when it's finalised other groups should also prepare accordingly,
That'll be all be for now I'll wish everyone good luck for your exams."
Mami now again talking the lead. "Alright for all the groups, please coordinate well between your members we'll all meet again after the exams as for the actors please gather here for a while I have a few things to say—"
Rya shouted waving her hand. "groups members for the prop please gather here, Group members for the miscelaneos please gather—"
Gian said from the side, "Sound control members please gather here. "
"Mayama says there's nothing for the lighting group for now you can dismiss."
In the middle of the crowd, Reze leaned slightly toward Mami and whispered, "I have something to say to the Senna and Senkai, you can tell the others first."
Mami blinked."Oh-Okey, Senpai." Than Mami thought and paused for a second... and leaned closer. "Senpai you are not going to do anymore weird things alright?"
Reze eyebrows lowered slightly, her voice dropped. "What do you mean?"
Before Mami could respond—
"Senna. Senkai." Reze's voice cut through the noise of the room. "Come here."
———
"The side room of club."
The three of them stepped inside.
Senkai closed the door behind him, Senna's fists were clenched tightly. Reze leaned lightly against the table, completely at ease. "Hmm, it's nothing really important, she begin clamly, I just wanted to confirm something briefly with the two of you while having chat, actually there was another female candidate for the female lead actress, But she is unable to act due to certain circumstances..."
"The acting abilities of the female lead is very important in this play that's why we choose you in the end. because no one else in the first year was available. And to be honest, Yui isn't strong enough for the lead role, Senna. So don't think much just because you're the 'ace' actress of the first years."
Senna's expression tightened. "It's clear that we still have Mami Senpai along with many others with the great acting skills, she replied, The way I see it... it's just an excuse, right?" Senpai. Her sharpened. "Wasn't it senpai your intension to let me take on that role in the first place?"
Behind them, Senkai stood quietly. Oh man… why is she pushing this so hard? she is being so aggressive he thought. Miss Senna… why are you going head-on against Reze like this…?
Reze calmly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sure you know Mami is busy, right? she said, whether you believe me or not is up to you. Though, I am glad you agreed to act."
Senna stared at her. Her expression was hard to read—anger, worrying… something more complicated.
I couldn't able to tell apart, he thought, but I could tell it was a mix of many emotions. Reze folded her arms. Did you read the script? How were the amendments? I called both of here to ask you about them, there are quite a few explict lines and scenes within– what do you think, Senna?"
Her gaze settled on her.
"What do I think? Senna froze for a moment.
She remembered the day of the orientation play. Her voice dropped low and cold. "Senpai what's the meaning behind your question?"
Reze's voice softened—but only slightly.
"Don't you hate content like this?" she asked.
Then, more deliberately—
"How do you intend to deal with it?"
A brief pause.
"Let's say I'm asking as the director."
———
"Senna Remembers back in the past:
"At the Clubroom."
...Senpai The nude scenes and lines are too much for me... I can't act something like this...
Reze glanced at her and replied clamly. "At most its only like a sleeved shirt, it's nowhere near to the point of nudity also, what am I supposed to do if you're telling me this just now?"
"But the script wasn't like this in the beginning... Senna argued. The original script I wrote wasn't like this..."
Reze stood with a one hand on her waist tilting her head sightly she said. "The script has been edited according to the needs ascertained by the club leaders. It be too bland if we were to follow your original script."
"Can't we just use the original script I wrote? Senna pressed. These kind of changes... The intentions are too obvious it's just a brain dead drama using the racy and sexual undertones to excite the audience am I wrong? Senpai."
"What's so bad about that? So what if it's so obvious? What matters that's it's a good watch after all, our primary goal is to attract a lot of people's to come and watch."
"But a university club stage play doesn't need to go this far in order to attract large audience, does it? Senna shot back. This kind of thing isn't artistic at all..."
"Sigh… how annoying," Reze muttered, sitting down at the desk behind her.
Her voice dropped.
"Senna do you think you are only one preparing for this play? Rather than the plays made by those who think that they are doing is art and end up with no audience–"
"Isn't it actually better to put–up some brain dead dramas that someone would actually watch?"
"It's as you said, this is just a university Club. Do you think I am doing this for money? She continued. How many members do you think are involved with the preperations of this play? Or do you think everyone is obedient and serious as Mami?"
"Everyone is here it's because it's their interest, It's because thay all want to have a some sense of archievement, isn't that so? Spending so much money so much time, all just to prepare but in the end no one turned up to watch its because it's too boring."
"Who would be motivated enough to press on, if they had to look at the empty audience seats?" All the club members would start to leave one after another now tell me, Her voice turned cold. Can a club like this continue forward?
"At the very least I won't let something like that happen while I'm the club president. Reze said. The former old seniors of the club has entrusted me with this task and what would I"ll be called if failed to meet their expectisons."
"I have been using the same method to keep this club afloat all this while... and this time will be no different, do you think I look like a kind and understanding club president? Not even in the slightest, in fact, I am maniac."
"If the play acted out by the club under my lead my direction wasn't well received and ended up with the no audience, she said. That'll be too humiliating, that hurt my pride too much I am doing this for my own self satisfaction. Just as how you think you are making art, I'm just doing it for my own amusement as well that's why, I'm very unhappy when someone questions me."
"The thing about sexual and mindless contents being unartistic, she leaned forward to her and continued slowly. That's just your one sided opinion isn't it? What is art exactly? Interesting and engaging content is art, you've got that? as long as the drama play will be entertaining enough to watch, everyone will regared it as a art."
Senna lowered her gaze. I knew my script wasn't good enough… she thought. That's why I asked for help… But you didn't have to be like this…
"…Haha… sure."
Reze's words kept echoing in her mind—her voice, her glare, every sentence.
And after thinking about it for myself, she thought, what senpai said could be right.
Because the first play I watched of the Reze senpai was what I had previously disregard as unartistic, but that day I harbored the feelings of "I want to write a drama like this too" That was the play of the Audition day the one for the Club entry day.
———
"Back at Present:
"It's interesting Senna said. The changes made by the seniors are very interesting."
Then she thought—
Ah… so maybe it was just me… not wanting to admit. 'The intentions behind the sexual and mindless elements are too obvious'… That was just an excuse. I just didn't want to admit that the story I wrote was boring.
Her lips tightened slightly.
"It's so interesting that it pisses me off, Senna added. "...Really Reze replied. "So what are you going to do?" She said. "I will act according to the senpai amended script." For a brief moment, Reze's eyes widened in surprise. "Alright thanks."
A short silence followed.
"That's why... Senna continued. I want you to apologize to me after the performance."
She clenched both her fists, & her jaw tightened. "Please apologize to me sincerely."
Reze looked at her carefully. "…Sure," she said after a moment.
Then, averting her gaze slightly— "But only if you perform well."
"…Fine. I'll be leaving first," Senna said, turning around. She walked out of the room without looking back.
Senkai's eyes followed her as she left. Then he glanced at Reze. And for just a brief moment—
Her expression softened.
A thought went through my mind, she really seems to loves her juniors... Than why does she do things like this...
———
As the door closes behind him. Her expression softened. Maybe even a little sad.
A silence in the room.
"About that Reze...?" He started.
"...Ah, sorry is it fine to go to the toilet for a bit?" She said.
"Sure. He replied.
A silence for a moment.
Than he realized—
"Ah so it wasn't you who wanted to go but me...? Alright." He said turning to leave. But I couldn't able to leave without saying anything after looking at that expression of her.
"I don't know what has really happened between you and Senna, but you should really learn to stop trying to put your frustation on others."
A pause than—
He added. "You can talk to me, you know about what ever it is your father or anyone else." as she looked up at him. "I'll go to the restroom then," he said, and left.
The door clicked shut behind him. The small room fell completely silent. For a moment, Reze didn't move.
She stood there leaning against the table, staring at the door Senkai had just left through.
"…What an idiot," she murmured softly. But the words didn't carry the usual sharpness, Instead they sounded tired. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and exhaled slowly. My father… huh. For a brief second something crossed her eyes—something heavy.
Then she straightened up immediately, as if forcing the emotion away. "Talking as if he understands anything…" she muttered. But despite the complaint… His words lingered through her head.
———
Outside—
Senkai stepped out and exhaled. phew— the air was so tight inside, he thought.
Mami suddenly appeared, grabbing his attention. In a hushed but angry tone, she snapped, "Damn it—it's you? Are you asking to get beaten up?"
"Why? Are you scolding me...?" He said, Oh my, senpai, you are brazenly listening in on us in the board daylight? I guess being the vice prez does give you more leeway on us."
"You, Shut–up! She hissed. I came over because I saw Senna coming out! Now hurry up & follow me quietly!
"Huh–Why can't you just say it in the club room..?"
"It'll be embarrassing enough if we were to be find out by the Reze senpai." Mami said. "Isn't it embarrassing enough that I found out? He shot back. Then he glanced at Senna. "Speaking of which, all though I don't what had happened... Between you and senpai, but are you okay? Senna."
Mami glare at him, "Hey! Her look at him said, are you dense?"
"Eh? What do I do?" Senkai said.
Both Mami and senkai looked over her. "I said It finally... I told senpai to apologize to me! I had almost got a heart attack from being so damn nervous! Senna said putting the hand at her throubleing chest.
Both Senkai and Mami face got relieved, "I was really nervous, senna said, I'll try my best to play the female lead role, please show me guidance Mami senpai." Mami smiled gently, taking both her hands. "Yep.. Let's try our best.."
From the side, Senkai watched them—And couldn't help but smile.
"Let's head back to the hall," Mami said. "I still have a few things to explain about the play."
Senna replied, following her. "Alright, Senpai," Mami paused and looked back. "Ah—Yoshimura-kun?"
"I still have something to talk about with Reze-senpai," he said. "You guys go ahead. I'll join you later."
"Okay, let me know when you're done," Mami said before leaving.
Senkai stood there for a moment. Although I don't know what happened before, but I must do my best as well. Then Reze her expression flashed through his mind.
That brief moment—
That face she made… It wasn't the usual cold, calculating Reze he knew. But for a moment she looked… almost lonely.
Than scratching his neck, He'd remembers her slightly quiet and sad face. He sighed. "…What a troublesome woman."
He rubbed his face. "Why do I keep getting dragged into her problems...?"
———
To be continue...
———