The drama club was full.
It wasn't big... but it was alive.
Worn-out red curtains.
Costume boxes leaning against the walls.
Improvised spotlights fixed onto metal stands.
The faint smell of wood and dust mixed with the sound of pages being flipped.
On the small rehearsal stage, Takeo stood at the center.
Some students adjusted the lighting.
Others worked on the sound.
A little farther away...
Aoi held the script with both hands.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Her eyes scanned the same lines over and over again.
"Can I really do this...?"
Then, a firm voice echoed through the club:
— Everyone, to your positions!
It was Takanashi-sensei.
She tapped the script lightly against her palm.
— We'll rehearse Scene 2.
— Positions!
Takeo took a deep breath.
He raised his gaze toward the stage and announced with theatrical energy:
— SCENE 2 — A PROMISE TOO LIGHT!
The lights adjusted.
Silence.
And then it began.
Ryo (Kazuki, second-year)
(carefree)
— Come on, don't make that face.
He crossed his arms, letting out a light laugh.
— You'll come back during break, right?
Haruto (Takeo)
Takeo let out a quiet, relaxed chuckle.
— Of course I will.
Shino
Shinohara Mai stepped forward.
Her voice came out more serious.
— Everyone says that.
Haruto looked at Touka for a moment.
His smile faltered... just for a second.
— I'll come back.
Silence.
Then—
— Very good!
Takanashi-sensei's voice echoed.
The lighting and sound crew began clapping.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Takeo relaxed his shoulders.
Some of the others smiled.
But Aoi...
Was still staring at her script.
Her heart was beating faster.
She murmured quietly:
— Can I really do this...?
Takeo stepped down from the stage.
— Aoi-chan?
Aoi quickly looked up.
She placed her hands behind her back—they were still shaking slightly.
— H-hi, Takeo-kun...
Takeo smiled, calm as ever.
— You'll do fine.
He shrugged.
— I guarantee it.
Aoi looked down at the script.
— I only have three lines...
She tightened her grip on the paper.
— But... I don't know...
Takeo sighed.
— Why did you join this club again?
Aoi stared at a blank spot on the floor.
As if searching for something in her memory.
— My mom...
Pause.
— She liked acting when she was a student.
A small smile appeared.
— I didn't really have anything I wanted to do...
She raised her gaze slightly.
— So she said she'd help me.
Takeo nodded.
— Ah... Sakamoto-san.
Aoi tilted her head.
— You haven't come over in a while.
Takeo looked away.
— Yeah...
He scratched the back of his neck.
— It felt kind of weird for me to show up after... you know.
Aoi's smile faded.
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Then she asked:
— And your parents? How are they?
Takeo blinked, surprised.
— Wow...
Aoi tilted her head.
— What?
He let out a small laugh.
— It's just... you've never asked about them before.
Pause.
— But they're doing fine.
He took a breath.
— My dad got better... a few years ago.
— And my mom still stays at home.
Aoi frowned slightly.
— What do you mean "got better"?
Takeo looked down.
— Our parents were best friends since school...
He slowly lifted his eyes.
— So... after your dad...
He didn't finish the sentence.
Aoi closed her eyes for a moment.
But there was a faint smile on her face.
— I see...
She took a breath.
— Thank you.
Takeo blinked.
— For what?
— For showing me that my family wasn't the only one affected.
Takeo grew serious.
— I was affected too, you know?
He looked away.
— For a while... I couldn't even look at you properly.
Pause.
— Sorry if I seemed distant back then.
Aoi gave a small smile.
— We were kids.
She shrugged.
— I didn't know what to do either.
— I guess you didn't either.
At that moment, a voice came from behind them:
— Hey.
It was Shinohara Mai.
— What were you talking about?
Takeo answered quickly:
— Nothing much.
He smiled.
— Just reminiscing.
Aoi nodded.
— Yeah.
Shinohara observed the two of them.
— You've known each other for a long time...
Takeo replied naturally:
— But we're just good friends, Shino-chan.
Shinohara's eyes widened.
— Huh?
She blinked.
— S-Shino-chan?
Takeo scratched his head.
— Well... since we're in the same club now...
He laughed awkwardly.
— It feels weird to keep calling you Shinohara.
Shinohara looked down.
— I-it's fine...
She said quietly:
— T-Takeo-kun.
Takeo gave a thumbs-up.
— That's it!
But he was clearly nervous.
Aoi couldn't hold it in:
— Hehe.
Takeo turned quickly.
— What?
Aoi covered her mouth.
— It's rare to see you embarrassed like that.
Takeo crossed his arms.
— Quiet, Aoi.
Shinohara watched the two of them.
With a faint smile.
But...
There was something distant in her eyes.
— Well...
She picked up her script.
— I'll head back.
Aoi lifted hers too.
— Senpai!
— I'll stay here with Takeo, I need to practice.
Shinohara hesitated for a moment.
— O-okay...
She walked back toward the back of the club.
Takeo and Aoi stood side by side.
Aoi walked toward the center of the stage.
Then—
knock knock
A soft knock on the door.
Shinohara opened it.
Standing outside was Takase Hina.
Hina blushed slightly when she saw her.
— A-ah...
She gave a small bow.
— I'm looking for Aoi... Shinohara-senpai.
— Of course.
Shinohara replied.
— Sakamoto-chan!
Hina noticed Takeo waving from afar.
She waved back shyly.
Aoi appeared.
— What is it, Hina?
Hina spoke quickly:
— Log in to Eternal Aegis Online at 8:30 tonight!
She pointed her finger.
— We need to run a dungeon to boost Soumakey's defense!
Aoi blinked.
— Oh... okay.
She tilted her head.
— But you came all the way here just for that?
Hina scratched the back of her head.
— I'm going to be with Mio...
She laughed.
— I might forget.
Aoi smiled.
— That's fine.
— We'll play tonight.
Hina closed the door.
Takeo immediately turned:
— Aoi... you play Eternal Aegis Online?
Aoi got flustered.
— Ah... sorry, you heard that...
— It's just a game that we—
— THAT'S SO COOL!!
Takeo practically shouted.
The whole club looked.
Takanashi-sensei ergueu uma sobrancelha.
— Por favor, fale mais baixo.
Takeo fez uma reverência rápida.
— Desculpe, sensei! Desculpem a todos!
Ele coçou a cabeça.
— Hehe...
Então baixou a voz:
— Você voltou a jogar?
Aoi assentiu com a cabeça.
— Sim.
— Mas só com o meu partido.
Shinohara inclinou a cabeça.
- Jogando?
- O que você quer dizer?
Takeo respondeu com entusiasmo:
— Eu também jogo Eternal Aegis Online!
Ele abriu os braços.
— É um MMORPG!
Shinohara piscou.
— Um... o quê?
Aoi explicou:
— É um jogo online.
— Tem dragões, masmorras...
— E você melhora seus atributos.
Shinohara assentiu lentamente.
- Oh, eu vejo.
— Eu não jogo videogame.
Então Takeo perguntou diretamente:
— Posso me juntar à sua festa?
Aoi arregalou os olhos.
— Ah!
Ela coçou a bochecha, nervosa.
— Preciso perguntar ao líder...
— Hina-chan.
Takeo juntou as mãos dramaticamente.
— Por favorzinho!
Ele exagerou no tom de voz.
— Estou preso em uma missão porque estou jogando sozinho!
— Finalmente alguém para me salvar!
Aoi se sentiu constrangida.
Mas acabou sorrindo.
- OK...
— Vou perguntar a ela.
Takeo ergueu os braços em sinal de vitória silenciosa.
Enquanto isso...
Shinohara observava os dois.
Em silêncio.
Pensar apenas:
"Jogos... hein..."