LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Confirmation
Chapter 18: Confirmation
17th of July, Tuesday. (3 days until the festival)
Kiyoshi's POV:
Today, while I was delivering some papers to the teacher's office, I managed to listen on some girls gossiping about the festival:
"Hey, have you heard about that play they're gonna make?"
"Yeah, I heard they are gonna play 'Rapunzel' or something like that"
"Ah! I can't wait to see Kate-san acting!"
"I heard that Andre-kun and Risa-san are going to act together, isn't that like, the cutest thing ever?"
I guess girls DO like this type of story… Or at least the people who play it.
Let's just hope that everything goes well. I heard that Joe, Mitsuko-san and Cake-san have almost finished preparing their 'cafe' thing. I'm surprised how fast they did it.
Not to mention that a lot of girls have volunteered from different clubs to prepare activities or perform on stage.
"Hey hey, have you heard?"
"About what?"
"About the… kiss?"
Hmm? Kiss?
"Kiyoshi!"
While I tried to listen to their gossiping, suddenly the president appeared behind me.
"Y-Yes ma'am?"
"Why are you slacking off? I told you to deliver this as fast as possible, we have a lot of work to do! Get on it, NOW!"
"Y-Yes!"
Apparently, after Mari-san called all of us on Sunday, madam president pretty much returned to how she used to be… At least to me, she still treats the rest of the councils' members better than the guys. Now it does feel like she's the boss.
Mmm… I'm still wondering what was that about the kiss I heard… Maybe someone is opening a kiss stand? I doubt it but… I can't imagine anything else…
And now that I think about it… I haven't seen Andre and Risa-san in a while… I suppose they were going on dates and… Doing that other 'stuff', but… They pretty much disappeared…
Kate-san said she was trying her best for her role in the play, even if her script is actually really short… I just hope she's doing fine, I could ask Andre in any case…
As I delivered the papers I was assigned to, I decided to take a small break and go to my room. I wanted to check up on the boys, who have been acting in really different ways so far…
The one I'm worried the most for is Joe, who has been overworking his ass to the limit. Andre told me he almost didn't sleep the past nights, and knowing his poor health, missing a few hours of sleep could mean death to someone like him.
…
Now that I think about it… I suddenly feel much more attached to the boys… Probably is another side effect of my conversation with Chiyo-chan… But I feel like I've come to really love them… No homo, of course.
After everything we endured, after the time we spent together and the goal that we are working towards… I can say I managed to make some really good friends in my time at Hachimitsu.
As a dumb smile formed on my face, I found Gakuto on the bottom of the stairs, holding what I could see was the script for 'Rapunzel'.
"Hey, Gakuto!" I cheerfully called his name. "What's up dude?"
Suddenly, Gakuto's body jumped back, as he slowly turned his head towards me, trying to hide a terrified face.
"K-Kiyoshi-dono! Y-Yours truly w-was not expecting to meet thy h-here…"
"What do you mean? I literally sleep here, dude"
"H-Haha! I-Indeed! P-Pardon my foolishness! I-I've been busy, t-that's it!" His face went from forcing a laugh to an awkward one that refused to look at me in the eyes.
"I-Is everything okay? You know you can tell me if something happened, Gakuto"
"N-Nai! E-Everythings is fine!"
Gakuto's attitude had me worried since yesterday, when he suddenly asked to sleep in a different room of mine, even refusing to look at PBR-sama. And now this? Something's going on…
*BZZZZZ*
"M-My, my! It looks like yours truly has to go! S-See you later, Kiyoshi-dono!"
And so, he ran, leaving me alone in the entrance of my room.
What the hell was all that? Did I say something wrong? Is it about Mitsuko?...
Well… Guess I'll have to ask him later.
As I entered my room, I stumbled upon Joe, who was about to leave.
"Kiyoshi *cough*, what's up, man? You look freaked out?"
"A-Ah, don't worry, I just saw Gakuto, he was acting pretty weird, do you know why?"
"Mmm… Not really, maybe it's because he's working a lot on the script?"
"Huh? Isn't it finished already?"
"Nope, he said he wanted to add some last minute details *cough*"
Details? After all that we wrote? That's weird to say the least… I should read them just in case.
"Anyways, how are you doing dude, you look destroyed"
Joe hasn't been sleeping a lot since he started his cafe project with the two girls. Apparently, all three of them have been working their asses off to make it the best cafe possible, Cake-san ordering and preparing everything food related, Mitsuko-san doing the 'yaoi' related stuff and Joe helping them both… at the same time. That's why he looks like… shit, basically.
"Y-Yeah, After everythings over, I'll have my chance to take a good nap, but now, there's a lot of work to do" Joe struck a heroic pose, putting his closed fist on his chest. A bit exaggerated, but still impressive and manly.
"S-Sure dude, just don't overwork yourself"
"*cough* I won't, mama" He said as he punched me on the shoulder. I let out a small chuckle.
"See ya, bud"
[...]
Inside my room, I sat on my bed while watching some random stuff on my phone. I wanted to use my free time as best as possible.
There, I had a moment to reflexionate once more:
So, the festival is in the next few days… The grand event, in other words.
If our plan doesn't work, not only we'll feel like total losers for working the last weeks on something as big as this for nothing, but we'll also lose the opportunity of partici- No, of LIVING a WTC, on a beautiful beach, mixed with hundreds of pretty girls…
…
Damn… Since we got into prison, the WTC has pretty much been the only motivation we have to push ourselves this much, huh?... I pretty much destroyed my life just for it to occur… Well, for that and for having a chance to date Chiyo…
…
I wonder… What would have happened if Chiyo and I started dating? I would have already taken her out on a date, for sure. I guess she would have taken things slowly so… No hand holding until the third date, that is!
…
W-Wait… If I dated Chiyo… Would I be allowed to see a WTC?... W-WAIT, I-IF I LIKE CHIYO, SHOULD I REALLY BE WANTING TO SEE THAT?
H-How come I never thought about it? O-Of course a good boyfriend wouldn't look at other women like that! Especially a true man… B-But… A WTC is a unique event that every man should live, right? T-This is a really hard dilemma…
C-Calm down…
I think… Even if I dated Chiyo-chan… I still had to maintain the promise I made to the guys, right? We all have to watch it… Together!
And also, Andre, the manliest of us all, accepted to do so too, right?! Then there's nothing I should worry about!...
…
Well… I still feel a bit like an asshole for wanting it now… But damn… I want to see it… This festival must go well…
*BZZZZZ*
Hmm?
I suddenly got a notification from my phone, an email to be exact.
…
?!?!?!
I dropped my phone to the ground…
My worst nightmare came true…
In my phone, a small text could be read:
'Kiyoshi, don't be an idiot!
Of course your father and I are coming! We are not losing the chance to meet your school and your friends!
See ya on friday!
Love, Mom'
End of Kiyoshi's POV.
Meiko's POV:
The festival is around the corner.
Yet, the work has remained the same: Making sure the boys don't mess up their part, checking if every club has what's needed for the event, talking with the teachers and the chairman. Thank god Hana and the ASC have been helping, otherwise this would be impossible. Who knew having them as an ally could be so useful.
Regarding the summer break and, consequently, the summer trip, we'll basically have to pray in order to collect the money.
We depend on some few aspects: We need to sell everything food related (the crops we collected, the food the cooking club makes, the cafe, etc), that four-glasses idiot making a decent script and promoting it correctly, the rest of the clubs making a good job and making sure no man do any troubles in the campus.
Luckily, in the past years, the USC has managed to maintain order in the last festival, but as this is not only in summer, but the rest of schools won't be as occupied in their culture festival like us, it will only bring trouble to us. And yes, I'm saying this because I'm sure that boys WILL appear at the festival, some will be brothers or cousins of a student, some even friends or lovers, but I'm sure that some of them will also invite their friends. In the end, if we can manage them, it will only mean more people to get money from, but still, it's dangerous.
"... Ah…"
I wonder how Mari would have handled this…
Sadly, she didn't leave any instructions for a scenario like this, but I hope that with the power of the two councils united and… the boys, we'll be able to pull it off.
*Knock Knock*
"Come in"
"Excuse me!" Chiyo entered through the door.
"Ah, good evening, Chiyo-san"
It's been a while since I've last seen her. I knew she came back to classes, but I still have to find out the reason she disappeared in the first place.
"You look tired, Meiko-chan, want me to get you something to eat?"
"No no, thank you for worrying about me but I'm fine, there's just a lot to do. Anyways, what brings you here?"
"Ah, right!" She took out a piece of paper from her backpack. "Kate-san asked me to give you this"
"This is… For me?" I grabbed the paper and automatically noticed what it was. 'Rapunzel script' could be read from side to side on the first page.
"Yes, she told there has been a change on the script"
"But… I'm not part of the play"
"H-Huh? What do you mean?"
"As I said, I won't be performing any of the characters. Still, I'll read it, I want to make sure they don-" While I went through the pages, I read a line with my name on it.
"That's not possible, Meiko-chan, Kate-san told me you're playing with her as the other step-mother of Rapunzel!" She said with a confused look, but not as confused as I was.
"S-SINCE WHEN?!"
[...]
After a small rant from my part, and with some help from Chiyo-san, I managed to calm myself.
"Damn it! I'll speak to that shitty four-eyes and Kate after this!"
"S-Sure"
"Sorry for worrying you, Chiyo, thanks for delivering it to me"
"Y-You're welcome… U-Uhm… Meiko-chan, I'd like to ask you something…"
"Mmm?"
"Is kinda… Weird but… H-Have you ever fallen in love?"
Fallen… In love?
"... I think… Yes"
"R-Really?!"
"U-Uhm… Y-Yes"
I mean… I don't know if love is the right word… but admiration wouldn't be enough…
"W-With whom?!"
"...M-Mari-san, I guess"
"W-What?! W-With big sis?! R-Really?!"
"Y-Yes… I thought it was pretty obvious"
"N-No way…" Chiyo blushed as she looked at the other side. "W-When did you… Uhm… Fell in love with her?"
"W-When? Uhm… Maybe while we went to school together… Or maybe somewhere between her time at Hachimitsu"
"I-Is that so…" Her face was still red, but it looked like she wanted to know something else. "S-So… H-How did it happen?"
Ah…
A series of flashbacks came to me the moment she asked me that.
"L-Let's say… Mari was my hero"
"Y-Your hero?!"
"Yeah… She saved me when I was in my worst moment. She dedicated a lot of time and effort to make sure I was good. All of that because she cared about me. If anything, my loyalty towards her is the reason I joined the USC, working my hardest to be the Vice-president, the closest position to hers."
"... W-Wow… T-That's really cute actually"
"A-Ah, s-sorry I talked too much" I blushed a little.
"N-No! It was really pretty to hear that from you. I'm sure she loved you a lot as well… That reminds me… Of the time we met in the prior year culture festival"
That's right, last year, while the chairman was preparing to assume his position, Chiyo and he came to the festival to learn about the different clubs and to know how the school looked.
"Yes. what about it"
"I remember asking her how you were doing, as you two looked really busy making sure everything went right with all the boys going around"
"Mmm? And what did she tell you"
"She said that if it wasn't because of you, her council would have fallen apart"
"W-What?"
"She believed that if you weren't there to help her, she wouldn't be able to handle everything. She believed in you like no one else. Maybe she even loved you more than I" she said while blushing and smiling towards me.
I couldn't help but smile the same way to her.
I thanked her again for bringing me the script and we both said our goodbyes. Then, just before leaving, she looked at me with an embarrassed face.
"M-Meiko-chan, aren't you angry at her? You know… For not telling you the truth?"
"Mmm?"
"She… Lied to you, right?"
…
Well… She technically did. She left without a word.
"It may be. But when someone you love does something wrong and apologizes with their heart, you can't help but accept it, right?" I said with slight doubt.
She looked at me surprised. "You do… right?" And she closed the door.
End of Meiko's POV.
Joe's POV:
I just arrived at the cooking club. As of lately, I've been trying my best to help both Cake-san and Anmitsu-sensei with their parts, that's baking with one and drawing with the other. And let me tell you…
My body can't handle it.
After eating so much food for Cake-san's plan and drawing plus reading so many books with Anmitsu-sensei, I'm almost dead.
"Ah, Joe-kun!"
"H-Hello, Cake-san, how you doing?
"I-I'm doing fine, what about you? You sound really tired" She said with a worried face… She's so cute.
"Ah… I'm just *cough* a bit exhausted about everything"
"R-Really? You should take a break! I can handle this!"
"No no, I'm a man of my word! I came here to help you!"
She looked at me with a small blush on her face.
"O-Okay… Just don't overwork yourself… And try not to cough in the food, hehe"
[...]
After half an hour of baking the two of us alone. We finished another series of pastries, so we decided to take a small break.
"Ahh… I'm dead"
"Yeah… Me too, Joe-kun"
"So… Cake-san… Are you *cough* excited about this?" I said with a smile.
"W-Well… Y-Yeah, just a bit anxious as well"
"Mmm? Why?"
"W-Well… Cooking for friends or classmates is one thing but… Cooking for so many people… It's a different thing"
Mmm… I haven't really thought about how she felt about all of this… Am I putting to much pressure on her? Maybe she didn't want to do something like this from the start…
"I-If you want to… We still have time to change plans or-"
"No no! I already got involved with this, I won't let you down, Joe-kun!"
"... Heh, you never would"
"... By the way, After this is over…"
"Mmm?"
"Do you think that the both of u-"
*Slide*
"Joe-kun, are you here?!"
"E-Eh? Anmitsu-sensei? What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I'm glad. I was looking for you. Ah, hello, Satou-san!"
"H-Hey, Mitsuko-san"
"W-What happened?" I took a look at her, she looked red while holding the script from 'Rapunzel', and wondered where she got it from…
"W-Well… I uhm, had an amazing idea for the cafe"
"Really? What is it?"
"Why don't we interpret one of the stories, too?"
"Huh?" Both Cake and I said at the same time.
"Y-You know, like you guys are playing that Rapunzel thingy, why don't we get two boys to… Interpret a yaoi scene!"
…
"Mitsuko-san"
"E-Eh? Y-Yes, Joe-kun?"
"... That's a great idea"
"R-Really?" Cake-san asked.
"That would not only sell, but it would show the greatness of your works, mixing both your amazing acting with some good acting!"
"See! I knew you would get me" She said with an excited smile.
"We have to choose one of your works and get someone to play it!"
"Yes! I already have some ideas! The one where Lü Bu and Cao Cao, after their battle in Chengshi fall in love is probably the best one"
"I don't really know about *cough* that but sure!"
While my excitement only grew, I turned to look at Cake who was a bit anxious. She suddenly stood up.
"W-Well, I'm sorry guys, but I have to go now, please let me know what you decide on doing tomorrow, see ya!"
"E-Eh? B-Bye Satou-san"
"O-Ok Cake-san, See you tomorrow…"
Before she could even hear us, she already left…
Did we… Made her feel uncomfortable? Shit… Maybe I should have calmed down before talking about this… My brain is so fried I couldn't even think like a normal person.
Or… Is she jealous? She doesn't look like that type of person but… I don't really get women… Guess I'll have to talk to her tomorrow.
"By the way, Anmitsu, how did you get this idea?"
As I asked that, her face suddenly changed.
"Ah… That's the other reason I came here, what's up with this scene, is it okay?"
She handed me the script from the play the boys and I were writing, with one of the last pages open.
…
"W-What?"
My eyes were deceiving me, they must be.
"I-I wanted to ask you the same"
I just read the part of the script I've never seen before once more. When did we write this? Who did this? No… The real question is…
"Why is there a kiss scene in our play?!"
To be continued…
---