Osananajimi ga Zettai ni Makenai Love Comedy Volume 1 Chapter 2 part6

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The next day after school I found myself standing on stage in the gym together with Tetsuhiko.

My meeting with Shirokusa in the library prep room was set for four-thirty. It was now four. So for the next twenty minutes, to test out if "I could still act" as Kuroha suggested, we planned to do some simple acting practice.

The basketball, volleyball, table tennis and badminton teams were all beginning their various trainings in the gym. Having just started, most of them seemed to be focusing on a programme of strength training or fundamentals.

The stage was always unoccupied at the Theatre Club-less Hozumino High School, which meant that even an appreciation society like us could secure its use without much hassle.

"A, E, I, U, E, O, A, O"

Tetsuhiko and I tried doing some light vocal exercises, only to be heavily scrutinised. I knew we were an unusual sight, but being stared at fixedly was obviously embarrassing.

I was a little relieved. I hadn't made any glaring mistakes while practising. Kuroha, who was in the badminton club, observed me from the corner of her eye as she ran and appeared to be reassured as well.

"Oi, Sueharu. Look at that…"

"Hm?"

At the end of Tetsuhiko's gaze - were Shirokusa and Abe. The two of them entered and stood near the entrance of the gym while looking in our direction, so as to not interfere with the ongoing club activities.

"Seems like they came to watch."

If there was a school-wide popularity ranking, those two would be far and away numbers one and two. They stood close to each other. They weren't holding hands, but they were at a distance that could have been said to be appropriate for a pair of lovers. Having never even so much as let themselves be seen talking to each other in school, this was truly an appalling sight to all. It was enough to make not a few students in the middle of their club activities stop in their tracks and whisper in high-pitched voices.

"Tsk…"

I unconsciously clicked my tongue.

It was perhaps a token of defiance on my part. I found the sight of them next to each other unexpectedly shocking.

Was this what seeing ghosts felt like?

-Seeing something that you didn't believe was real?

It was. But now that you did you had no choice but to believe it.

"Tetsuhiko, you've got the combined script, right? Let's do it."

"You sure about that? Didn't you say we were just gonna do some light training and get used to people looking at us for now?"

"It's fine, let's just go."

Frustration, pain and anger. At any rate right now I couldn't stand still and do nothing.

When glancing over a script, it was necessary to feel the euphoria of traveling to another world. I felt the nostalgia of doing something again for the first time in six years - yet I was unable to keep my head in order.

Tetsuhiko lowered his gaze onto the script and began reading out loud.

"A pound of Antonio's flesh is thine. The court awards it, and the law doth give it. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it and the court awards it."¹

As expected of someone who deceived girls regularly, Tetsuhiko's acting was pretty solid. I honestly thought he had a talent for it. While his acting may not yet have been at the level of a professional, with enough training that was something he could certainly aim for.

The next line of "Oh, most rightful judge!" was mine to say.

I flipped on a switch in my head. It was a switch I kept for work, one I couldn't remember the last time I had used.

When I turned that switch on I became a different person. Using the same imagery I had when I was a kid I "transformed". Just as a main character might transform from a man into a hero, so did I morph from an ordinary person into a character within a story.

But-

"Oh, m- mos… t…"

How strange. My tremors wouldn't stop. My throat became bone-dry, and my stomach seemed to cramp at any sound which I tried to make.

Realising something was off the various club members began whispering in low tones amongst themselves while looking at me.

Light and stares, the stage. Warmth… and death.

All sorts of emotions came crashing out of me like waves and I felt the blood being pulled out of my veins.

"Ugh-"

The urge to vomit rose up in me.

I unconsciously dropped to one knee.

"Haru!"

Kuroha left her position and rushed over.

"Oi, Sueharu! Shit, grab my shoulder! Come on, we're going to the infirmary!"

"Yeah…"

I reached my arm out to borrow Tetsuhiko's shoulder - but my strength left me.

The instant I hit the floor of the gym I thought I heard Kuroha scream, but I passed out before I could be sure.

¹The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare, Act IV Scene I

Chapter end