▃▃▃▃▃ "ayo, what?!"

"principal nekomata said that it'd be fun for us to participate and perform for our parents", kuroo sighed, holding up the flyer for etsuko to read more clearly this time.

"what...why?", etsuko huffed.

"don't underestimate a noh play, haru-san. not only does it include music, dancing, and acting, but the scripts include poems from ancient times", akaashi informed.

"but why though? I thought our curriculum only consisted of learning mathematics, history, and such", etsuko whined.

"I don't understand either. it's okay, haru", kozume comforted.

"I WANT TO TRY OUT FOR THE STAR ROLE!", bokuto suddenly chimed in, grinning widely.

     "bokuto-san, the star role is a female", akaashi said, to which everyone—except kuroo—had perked up with confusion.

     "w-what? why?", etsuko asked, nearly snorting at the thought of bokuto dressing up as a female.

     "the play features ono no komachi, one of the six great poets in the heian period, famous for her beauty and suitors that she supposedly mocked", akaashi said.

"say akaashi, how'd you know so much about the play?", bokuto questioned, to which kuroo had sighed.

"please, anabara-sensei mentioned it in history recently", kuroo scoffed.

"then how come I don't recall it either?!", etsuko asked, furrowing her brows.

"you were in a weird mood the past few days, so of course you don't remember! which by the way, why was that?", kuroo asked, to which etsuko had just awkwardly chuckled.

"so anyways, what are we supposed to do if the main character's a girl? we don't have any girls here", etsuko asked, changing the subject.

"mm...I heard that they're inviting a special lady to help out with the play", kuroo whispered, to which etsuko was a bit intrigued.

"huh? really?! ah, well, doesn't really matter to me anyways. I'll just sign up to do props or something. how about you, kozume?"

"I'll do what you do", kozume said, to which etsuko had smiled, patting the pudding-head on his back.

"that's the spirit!! let's attend after school rehearsal together then", etsuko smiled, to which kozume had returned a small one.

"HEY!! WHAT ABOUT ME THEN?!", bokuto pouted, crossing his arms.

"didn't you want to be in the play, bokuto-san? why don't you play one of her suitors?", etsuko suggested.

"is there a main one?", bokuto huffed.

"mm...I suppose you'd want to be fukakusa no shôshô then. he's the main love interest, but his side of the story is quite sad too...", akaashi mumbled.

     "plus I don't think you'll be the only one trying out for it. I heard that snake's going for it too", kuroo said, rolling his eyes.

     "WELL I'LL SURELY GET IT!!", bokuto positively proclaimed.

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     "in two days we'll hold an audition for the roles that are to be filled. if one doesn't make their desired role, there's still a chance for you to land a minor one", nekomata chuckled, clapping his hands together as he dismissed everyone.

     etsuko stood up and stretched as she gently nudged kozume's side.

     "guess we're prop buddies", etsuko winked, to which kozume had given the girl a ghostly smile and a firm nod.

     as the students filed out of the stage—that etsuko had somehow never realized the school possessed—the girl yawned as she wondered who the girl actress was going to be.

     after all, principal nekomata hadn't revealed them yet, so everyone was quite curious.

     "huh? hey kita!! are you going for props-building too?", etsuko grinned, slinging her arm around the boy's shoulders, though it was a bit awkward since she was shorter, so hence she let her arm fall back to her side.

"no. I'm trying out for shôshô", kita said, totally serious.

"w-wait, really?", etsuko questioned, to which kita had just nodded.

"why? is it because you're curious about the mystery girl too?", etsuko asked, glancing over kita's still neutral face.

"mystery girl? I don't know who she'll be, but I hope we would work well together. granny said that she's coming to the performance and said that she'd like to see me as one of the main roles", kita explained, to which etsuko had unconsciously sighed a breath of relief.

"oh wait!! granny's coming?! maybe I should bring—"

etsuko suddenly stopped mid sentence as she mentally slapped herself.

'etsuko, are you stupid?! mother doesn't even know that you're going to an all boys' school! plus it's not like you're playing any major roles in the play', the girl pouted, making kita confused.

"is something of the matter?"

"h-huh?! n-no!! say...do you need help practicing? since you know, you'll be trying out in two days", etsuko offered.

"really? you'll help me?"

"of course!! you've always aided me every time I needed guidance. let me help you too!", etsuko cheerfully beamed as she pulled kita's arm, dragging him towards their dorm.

     as the door closed, etsuko quickly snatched the script out from her bag. the girl had originally taken an extra because she wanted to read the story at night, however, it was usable now.

     etsuko cleared her throat as she hastily skimmed through it, getting a gist of what the story was about.

     "let's start from where shôshô comes in", etsuko suggested, to which kita had nodded, holding his own script up towards his face.

     "oh my beautiful, exquisite komachi. you make me—"

     "stop, stop, stop, stop!!", etsuko halted, stifling a laughter as she calmed herself.

     "is there a problem?", kita asked.

     "uhm! what was that?! you're reading it like a wooden doll!! shôshô's trying to confess his love to komachi! who are you trying to convince with that monotone voice?", etsuko snorted.

     kita tilted his head to the side, not computing.

     "then how else am I suppose to read it?"

     "with more passion! like...have you...have you ever confessed your love to someone before?", etsuko asked, to which kita had shook his head.

     "have you...liked someone before?"

     "no. is that crucial to this?", kita questioned, to which etsuko had facepalmed.

     'oh my lord. a block of wood! he's like a block of wood!! no no, etsuko, you must help him! after all, he's done so much for you'.

     etsuko prepped herself up as she determinedly looked over at kita, who just blinked a few more times; clueless.

     "okay, listen", etsuko sighed.

     "let me act it out for you first and you can copy it, okay?"

     kita just nodded, awaiting etsuko's little show. the girl cleared her throat as she purposely dropped the script on the floor, changing her expression to a lovesick one.

     "oh my beautiful, exquisite komachi! you make me feel dizzy, with how little attentiveness you shower me with!", etsuko acted, her lips quivering a bit as she encased kita's hand, making him drop his script.

     "compared to that of a parched dessert, I am nothing but a wide sea of sand, endless, just like my love for you! why...why must I only be one amongst many? komachi...komachi...", etsuko whimpered, inching closer to kita as the male's eyes widened, feeling his breathing hitch as he was truly awed by the girl's performance.

     just as the two's noses were about to touch, the door suddenly slid open with three figures standing at the doorway, frozen.

     "what. the. hell".

     "WHAT ARE YA DOIN' TO KITA?!"

     "need to write this down. I need to write this down", suna mumbled as he nearly dropped everything trying to find his brush and paper.

     "N-NO WAIT!! WE—IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE—"

     "BULLSHIT! KITA, ARE YA ALRIGHT?! WAS THIS PEASANT ABOUT TO MOLEST YA?!", atsumu worried as he hastily arrived beside the male, glaring at etsuko.

     "I've got to say. ya surprise me every time", osamu mumbled to etsuko, to which the girl's face had bursted into a bright red.

     "please...it's all a misunderstanding...", the girl cried.

     "please tell me the next time you decide to embarrass kita", suna muttered, to which etsuko's entire demeanor fell as kita had finally explained to the three what had happened.

     "tch! pity", suna grumbled.

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セレンディピティ
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