In case it isn't clear, this is the spin-off of The Trip, what happened with Tadashi after leaving. The title was originally Doble Cara, but my idea for the original was a bit too hard to follow. Anyway, with this, I'll be filling in as Yuujin, Tsukki's partner because why not?

Also, this turned out less than what I expected, but I hope I got some message across. 

I'm not an expert with open endings, so... I hope this works. 

🎭🏐🎟🎟🏐🎭

It has been weeks since Tadashi got back to his hometown. 

He may have been earning pleasantly back in the city, but the peace of mind he was so far acquiring for himself was surely worth the decision. 

He even got to have more time to spend with his ageing parents. Although, right now, they had decided to leave their children to enjoy some hot spring together with their local mahjong circle. 

He was left to attend to their home on a weekend. 

That was when he decided to spend some time at a nearby park, relaxing and taking in that clean air the city could barely have. It was almost summer, the temperature was becoming unfriendly. 

Perhaps, lounging in an open area right about lunch was not a great idea. 

That was when he heard a voice.

"-dashi! Tadashi!"

He turned to where he thought the voice was coming from. 

It was an old friend. 

"Ran!"

The two immediately greeted one another, of course, after finding some shade.  

Ran is an old friend from elementary, someone who could put Kei in his place if needed. To the green-haired male, she was quite a refreshing individual to talk to. She just knew what to say at times of awkward moments. 

After her family moved somewhere, they never saw each other again. That was until Tadashi got an unknown message via SNS. Apparently, Ran got his info from another friend who happened to know the guy. 

Connections that we don't have...

Since then, they would message each other from time to time. 

In fact, it was her who suggested the guy confess to the beanpole, without knowing that the blonde was already in a relationship. 

She loved her friends, she held them dearly. Some could even say her heart is mostly in the right place. But they don't know where her brain is the moment she randomly rains down advice. 

Well, no one is perfect. 

"Do you think you can come?"

"I guess. I mean, I have nothing planned for next Saturday yet."

"Perfect!"

They were now at a café close to the park. Both found themselves thirsty for something, so they decided to get something down their throat. Needless to say, they enjoyed having something wet. 

"I'll chat you the details, Dashi. I surely hope you can come."

And then, there the lady went, leaving a contented Tadashi who was enjoying the air-conditioning of the establishment. He moved his fingers to the piece of paper Ran left on her side of the table. It was a ticket for a theatre performance. 

She really got to become a stage performer. Good for her. 

"He's coming, so you better be on your best!"

"But I don't even know him!"

Saturday the following week. 

At Miyagi's Theatrical Society. 

Weeks after weeks of preparation and the red curtain was finally parting for the troupe's first-ever performance as the city's newest stage play.

To say that [Male Name] was cool as a cucumber minutes before the things began rolling was a misinterpretation. 

He was a nervous wreck.

And Ran inviting someone the male just happened to find attractive was not making matters easier for anyone.

"All I said was your friend was cute. You didn't need to invite him to watch!"

"Every one of us here is thirsty. Now, if there is any chance for us to get laid, we have to take it."

"Yes, but not everyone can just spread their legs to anyone they don't know. Have you been using me as a mirror lately?"

"Your point being?"

"You can't expect me and your friend to go all out on each other right away."

"Sure, you can. Just put something in your drink and you'll be humping like there's no tomorrow."

All [Male Name] could do was pinch his nose. The moment Ran enters her 'hoe mode', even he can't get anything serious out of the woman.

She was getting hot from whatever she was thinking. The male performer could just hope for things to pan out without any issue.

With the troupe leader being horny, this was going to be easy.

It was my first time watching a play. 

Sure, I've been to a Noh theatre before with Yuujin. It was fun, although it wasn't easy to understand what the actors were saying. Both of us ended up confused and fascinated by the show that night. 

Ran said that their play was an original screenplay they all created and because it was set in the modern time, I doubted I would be having problems with my Japanese again. 

Anyway, I directed myself to a seat Ran herself said she prepared for me. 

It had a nice view of the stage. And when I looked around the theatre, people were slowly filling in. She did say that some of her coworkers were actually popular in their circles and got to invite a lot of people. 

I waited in my seat, playing with my phone for a while when I got a message. 

From: Ran

You better show your butt backstage after the play. 
Tell me what you think of the show on my face. 

I guess I won't be heading out right away then... 

A few moments later, the curtains slowly parted. 

It was... 

A-Amazing. 

Everyone being on their feet and clapping relentlessly at the end of the performance solidified it. Heck, I couldn't even stop myself from doing the same. In fact, aside from Ran, who actually did well as a manager, I found the guy playing an athlete in jersey number 12 so passionate and breathtaking. 

Not to mention cute. 

"[Male Name]! Get out of the dressing room!"

"No!"

"Sweetie..."

"I messed it up! I had one job and I couldn't even do it right! My lines aren't as complicated as yours but I still mumbled and embarrassed myself!"

The play had ended. 

People were preparing to go back to their everyday lives. 

But some were blocked from entering one of three dressing rooms backstage. 

And Ran, along with some of her troupe members, were clearly worried about their fellow member on the other side of the door. 

"Sweetie, it's ok. It's normal for people to forget their lines. I don't even think you made it obvious."

"Yeah, [Male Name]. I even forgot my lines during the second act. Don't feel too bad about it. It happens."

"But even if you forget your lines, Endou-san, you'd still be popular. Half of the audience were people from your fan club. No one I asked to watch even showed up. Even Ran got some people to come."

"It's fine, dear. Not everyone has to have tons of fans. You love what you're doing right? So, you don't have to worry about it. You did well tonight and you should be proud of it."

No response. 

And it didn't seem that [Male Name] was going to open the door, too. 

So the waiting cast was getting more and more worried about their youngest. 

That was when Tadashi appeared backstage. Ran's attention was called from behind by another cast. 

"D-Dashi!" She had to switch gears. "How was the play?"

"It was amazing, but... am I... is this a bad time?"

"Well...," Ran glanced a bit at the crowd in front of the dressing room. "One of our own locked themselves in the dressing room after the play. They have some issues with how they did, so... yeah."

"But, I think everyone did well there, even you who were just standing at the side most of the time."

"Hey, I played a manager. I'm not part of the main cast. But..."

Out of nowhere, a grin from ear to ear took Tadashi by surprise. 

"Would it be all right if I ask you to talk to the guy? Since you're actually part of the audience, I think they'll believe you more."

"Who's the other guy anyway?"

"[Male Name]. The one who played Kairi, the guy in the number 12 jersey." 

The cute one...

"Are you sure I can do it?"

"Sure, you can. [Male Name]— scratch that. Every actor appreciates hearing praises from the audience. Some may not show it, but others certainly take it wholeheartedly. [Male Name] is more on the latter, so much so that us convincing him isn't working that well. So, would you like to try?"

With a supportive nod, Ran guided the other to the door, asking the others to part. 

She knocked gently.

"[Male Name], dear, I'll be using my key to enter, all right?—"

"Don't you dare, you thirty-year-old mattress!"

"Honey, relax. Someone from the audience would like to talk to you. They certainly liked how you did up there, so I asked them to cheer you up. I'll be letting them in, okay?"

There wasn't any immediate reply, but when Ran heard a faint 'sure', the troupe leader immediately fished out her key and let her friend in alone, not before whispering things to him. 

"H-Hey, there..."

"Cut the crap. I know Ran convinced you, whoever you are, to just say anything good about the performance and get things over with."

Now Tadashi didn't see that coming. 

There he was, right inside the dressing room together with the other male who still was in his outfit. The other had his back on him. More specifically, he was crouching on a wooden chair face down, his hands around his legs, and completely determined to not get any crap thrown in his ear. 

"Come on, say it. I did horrible back there. I guess that's a given. People I invited but didn't come is proof enough. I... I can't even deliver lines without stuttering."

"But it was kind of cute."

Eh?

"The stuttering made it more convincing that you were trying your best to catch up with the rest of the team. I should know. I had the same experience in high school. And how indecisive you appeared on stage at first when you were with the other actors and later having some self-confidence also gave the impression that your character was trying to build themselves better."

"I—I kind off saw myself in you, actually..."

"Y—You mean that?"

"Yeah, so I definitely don't think you didn't do great there. You got me moved and I really like how it felt. Thank you for that performance, [Male Name]-san."

[Male Name] couldn't keep up with the praises. 

Ever since he decided to enrol in the Performing Arts, it wasn't easy to get any sense of recognition. 

Anything he got out of his friends was clearly pity in his opinion. The way their eyes appeared to him was nothing more but sympathy rather than awe. 

He wanted to move people. To inspire them. To feel that even someone like him can make a difference. 

His chest was about to burst with gratitude. Genuine compliments were rare in their field, rarer in his life. 

So, without giving a second thought, he rushed towards the other guy and hugged him tightly. Giving whispers of thanks, [Male Name] sincerely wanted to express his gratitude. Meanwhile, Tadashi could simply caress the other guy's back, telling him things were fine. 

"I made a fool of myself!"

"Well, at least you got his number."

"But that's the worst first impression anyone could give!"

"Technically, it was your second."

"You're not helping!"

After the fiasco, Ran got to settle everything. Tadashi even got to have some compliments from everyone — which was odd because he was the audience. 

Later, [Male Name] after collecting himself a bit, was more than willing to properly thank the green-haired male and used the opportunity to get to know him more. 

One other thing that even the theatre performer didn't expect was how smooth the next few words left his lips. 

'Are you free this weekend? I would love to take you out for lunch as thanks.'

[Male Name]. THE [Male Name]. Was openly flirting with someone. 

Smartphones and make-up sets fell on the floor at that instant. 

And now, [Male Name] was at dinner with Ran, contemplating his life decisions. 

"Just make sure to bring protection."

"RAN!"

"Yuu! I... I..."

"Relax. I mean, you DID say the guy is cute.
Why not go ahead with the date?
Who knows, this might finally be it."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, I'm su — HEY!"

"Oi, Tadashi."

"T-Tsukki."

"We all know that there's no point in delaying something we can do much earlier.
Time is not always kind to those who wait.

Sometimes, you have to take matters into your own hands."

"I..."

"We trust you. If it makes you happy, then go for it."

"T-Thanks, Tsukki! Tell Yuujin that I'll give it a try and he doesn't have to be worried about me anymore."

Life is a journey. 

A trip. 

Sometimes, we have to take risks and go places we've never been before. 

Yes, there might be obstacles. Scratch that. There will be obstacles, but the more we face them, the more prepared, experienced, and confident we will be in whatever is yet to come. 

It's not bad to give up, as well. After all, it, in itself, is a strategy as well. It's how we see past beyond it. 

Who knows, that one moment of surrender is all we need to proceed to a better tomorrow. 

🎭🏐🎟🎟🏐🎭

2,145 words.