Chapter Text
Maya was the best.
It wasn’t arrogance, not really. It wasn’t an exaggeration or hyperbole, it wasn’t overcompensation, it was just plain truth.
She was the most naturally talented out of the current Seisho students and her drive has always been second to none, she put in the most hours on the dance floor, on top of the stage, and between the music sheets. With all of that, it was easy, almost natural even, for her to become the Top Star of their class.
Too easy, disappointingly so even. Oh of course, Seisho being Seisho, there were several gems that would no doubt shine brightly once given a bit more polish outside of school. Daiba Nana was one of them, and Maya would have loved to have her as a rival, but the girl had a preference for direction instead of standing on the stage which was truly a shame, but having worked under her, Maya could understand. The girl was talented in that end as well, even better with it than her acting
Another pair Maya was looking out for was Tsuyuzaki Mahiru and Isurugi Futaba, her coleads of the capstone production Starlight of their first and second year respectively. Given enough time, Maya was more than confident that the two of them would be some of the best alumni Seisho would produce.
But that was the issue though
They needed time to grow into their skin, needed time before they could challenge Maya. They were getting there, and getting there quick, but it wasn’t fast enough for Maya’s liking.
If she was being honest with herself, Maya was frustrated. It was a bit selfish of Maya, she realized, but she felt she deserved the small selfishness of wanting someone to push her . She wanted someone to challenge her, to constantly nip at her heels, force her to be a better actor, performer, musician, to be a better person than she was just a day ago or risk the danger of being overthrown from her place at the top.
She wanted someone to break her complacency, because that was the most dangerous thing that could happen to an actress, her mother always warned, but with no one to really shock her from her place, Maya found it impossible to even know if she was even complacent or not.
The latest and most promising candidate that Maya could see being that person was Aijou Karen, the current counterpart for her very own Flora, and the one that, privately, Maya liked the most.
She was a wonderful person, was an even better Claire, had grown leaps and bounds in just their third year, and someone that Maya would be happy to admit, was her best friend.
But she still wasn’t enough.
Oh she didn’t blame Karen of course, Maya loved the girl, saw her as the little sister she’s never had, but like with everyone Maya’s worked with, she just simply wasn’t enough .
“Would anyone even really be enough?” Maya wondered, in a moment of weakness. Deciding that depressing thoughts needed good sweets to counteract it, she made a detour from her route - she had practiced in school on a Saturday of course. Maya had invited Karen to come with her, but she had a prior engagement with Daiba Nana and Hoshimi Junna. Maya loved their two’s rendition of Phantom of the Opera, perhaps her favorite play from their year that didn’t involve herself - to go to a cafe she had overheard her classmates tell each other about that apparently had a wonderful baumkuchen.
The line was long, and the place was a bit unfamiliar to her, the route it took to reach it was quite a detour, but taking a bite off of a slice, Maya was hooked. She bought a whole cake, telling herself that she would share it with her friends, knowing that half of it would be hers and hers alone, and began her trek back to the dorms.
It was enough to lift her spirits, the thought of tea and eating with Karen and everyone else, almost enough to get her mind off of things.
That was when she heard it.
There was a park somewhat near their dorm, mostly for children really. It had swings, a jungle gym, see-saws, and slides. A playground for kids, and seats for their parents more than a real park with trees and a lake and walkways really.
It was there that she saw her .
“Valjean, at last we see each other plain! ‘M’sieur le maire,’ you’ll wear a different chain!” The girl- who was standing on one of the benches, back turned so that all Maya could see was ash-blonde hair, a hint of a plain pastel sweater and a matching skirt- began to sing , and it hit Maya almost like a physical blow. Her voice was beautiful, forceful, arrogant , so perfectly in the role that Maya had to step in, complete the duet, because to do anything else would be an insult.
The words came easy to her.
While she may not have been Valjean - she was still far too young to be able to audition for Valjean in any troupe, and Higashimatsu wasn’t an all-girls group anyway so she would not have been able to get the part even if she were to be old enough - she was still in Les Mis, and no self-respecting theater kid would not know all the songs of the productions they’ve been in, especially one of the climax pieces.
“Before you say another word, Javert. Before you chain me up like a slave again. Listen to me! There is something I must do!”
The girl snapped to attention, turning around so quickly that Maya was worried about whiplash and - Oh.
The girl was so heartachingly beautiful that Maya nearly forgot the lyrics of her part, only pure instinct allowing her to continue on.
“This woman leaves behind a suffering child. There is none but me who can intercede. In mercy’s name, three days are all I need.” Maya internally shook her head over the sudden shock of seeing the girl’s full features, lips curved into an impressed smirk, gorgeous purple eyes hungrily taking in Maya’s entire soul, a challenge burning inside that gaze of hers.
It was that that made Maya stand taller, eyes all but glaring back at the stranger who crossed her arms, raising an elegant eyebrow over at Maya, and the melody in Maya’s voice tilted up, voice going soft, shaking but somehow firm, fully bringing in the desperation of Valjean into the performance. “Then I’ll return, I pledge my word. Then I’ll return-”
The girl cut Maya off, so perfectly in script that if Maya herself didn’t know better, she would have sworn they rehearsed it for countless hours.
“You must think me mad. I’ve hunted you across the years. Men like you can never change. A man, such as you.” The disgust in her voice was so perfect, the sneering expression so perfect that seeing it aimed at her, Maya felt her heart begin to beat faster and faster.
This was what she’s always wanted, Maya realized, feeling a savage grin begin to creep into her face, an expression that was mirrored by the strange girl across from her. Someone to just know her instinctively, someone who was able to catch on to what Maya was aiming for at the drop of a hat.
“Believe of me what you will.” “Men like me can never change.”
“There is a duty that I'm sworn to do.” “Men like you can never change.”
Maya continued, cheeks almost beginning to hurt at how widely she was grinning, slowly beginning to pace left, the girl once again reading her perfectly, and they began to stalk each other in a circle across the park, continuing their duet.
“No!” “You know nothing-” “24601!” “-of my life”
“All I did was to steal some bread” “My duty’s to the law!”
The two of them were slowly picking up the rhythm, growing more comfortable with each other- if that was even possible, Maya’s never been THIS in sync with someone before - the words growing faster, harsher, more and more melting into their role.
“You know nothing of the world” “You have no rights!”
“Come with me 24601!” “You would sooner see me dead!”
“But not before I see this justice done!” “Now the wheel has turned around!”
The girl, whoever she was, performing with her, even just this single scene was intoxicating, Maya realized during the lull, the two of them listening to music that only the two of them could hear at the moment, each of them waiting for a cue that Maya just knew instinctively, the two of them would know by heart.
“Jean Valjean is nothing now!”
She’s never felt this way before. Not with Tsuyuzaki, not with Daiba. Not with Isurugi, Hanyagi, Hoshimi, not even with Karen who she had the most chemistry with. This girl was just different in all the right ways, and was proven right when they started their next lines in perfect sync.
“I am warning you, Javert” “ Dare you talk to me of crime”
“I'm a stronger man by far ” “And the price you had to pay”
Each word was cleanly laid out between them, building on each other perfectly. On some unknown signal, they began to walk towards each other, slowly, slowly closing the distance.
“There is power in me yet “ “Every man is born in sin”
“My race is not yet run! ” “Every man must choose his way”
“I am warning you -” “ You know nothing of - ”
There were barely a handful of feet between the two of them now, and Maya felt herself getting more and more lost in the hypnotic fire in the girl’s eyes.
“-Javert !”
The two of them had attracted a crowd, and Maya relished in the feeling. Just barely in her periphery, she saw phone cameras out and pointed at the two of them, and Maya absorbed it all, saw the girl across from her making her mind up, saw the moment she made her decision, knew in her heart of hearts that they were thinking the same thing, and with perfect synchronicity, they span around, breaking the dialogue between their characters(something that would make some of Maya’s puritan teachers apoplectic with rage), fully embracing and welcoming audience into the performance. They cheered, igniting the flame inside of Maya even more, knowing it did the same to her partner
“There is nothing I won't dare! ” “ I was born inside a jail”
“If I have to kill you here ” “ I was born with scum like you”
“I'll do what must be done !” “ I am from the gutter, too”
Maya tore at her chest the same time Claudine staggered back after speaking her line, fully playing their roles, and Maya felt the girl’s back against her’s, fitting into each other seamlessly
“And this I swear to you tonight ” “ There is no place for you to hide”
Her voice was haunting, Maya thought, feeling herself grow lightheaded as the ending drew near.
“Your child will live within my care ” “Wherever you may hide away”
Maya glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, being the first to break character, and smiling at her, feeling butterflies in her stomach when the girl returned it.
“And I will raise her to the light”
Maya sang her final solo line, wishing the scene the girl chose was just a bit longer.
“I swear to you, I will be there”
The two of them finally sang in harmony, both of them holding the final note for a few more seconds than what was strictly necessary, identical vibratos hanging in the air.
Maya was almost disappointed when they inevitably reached the diminuendo, not that she'd let the crowd see it, who was all clapping for the two of them.
The girl received it graciously, stepping forward and taking a bow before presenting Maya who was technically the lead role in their short interlude. Maya smiled, taking a step forward and taking a bow as well. The girl took a step forward, lining herself up with Maya, grasping her hands- warm - and they gave a curtain call to their audience.
They held the attention of the crowd for a few more moments, the two of them basking in the afterglow before they eventually dispersed, getting a few encouraging messages from a few of them. They stayed like that for a few more seconds, Maya hesitant to say anything, was afraid of ruining the perfect moment.
“You are good,” the girl finally said, being the first one to break the silence, breath perfectly measured. “Excellent really. That uniform, you’re from Seisho then?”
Maya lips curled into a smile, straightening her back, jutting out her chin just a tad. “Currently the top seat of Seisho Academy’s third year. Tendou Maya.”
The girl’s smirked . “My name’s Saijou Claudine, currently, well, currently in between jobs I suppose.”
Maya was so, so thankful for all her acting skills because she did not expect to run into, and perform an impromptu scene with Saijou Claudine of all people.
Saijou Claudine was practically her childhood crush - as much as a 10 year old could have a crush on another 10 year old at least - and seeing her now again in the flesh, well, that old crush was starting to rear its lovely head on Maya again.
“I see,” Maya coughed, trying to make sure her inner fangirl didn’t make her act inappropriately , because she literally had this girl’s signed poster back in her house’s room . “You were incredible as well Saijou-san. My apologies, I must confess I have watched you in Taika Life’s production of Arrie before,” Claudine raised an eyebrow at that wow that’s actually kinda hot , Maya continuing in spite of the contents of her train of thought, “and I was wondering where you continued your pursuit of music, or the stage? Because forgive me if this might be rude, but I was under the impression that you would have gone to Seisho as well, and I did not wish to intrude on your privacy as to look up what you did in your in-between years.”
Claudine’s possible presence didn’t really affect Maya’s application to Seisho at all, only the best to be best after all, but Maya would have still maybe found it nice if she Claudine was readily available for Maya to pick her brains a little.
This was the girl that had made Maya miss out some roles in her pre-teens after all, was the closest thing Maya had to a rival now that she thought about it, and it looked like time had been nothing but kind to Saijou Claudine, growing more beautiful and more skilled than ever before.
That brought a pleasant shock up her spine. Perhaps, maybe Maya could, was it possible if she asked, would Claudine maybe give Maya a chance to get to know her better?
“I was considering Seisho,” Claudine hummed, tapping at her lips with perfectly painted nails. “But Theater du Flamme scouted me four years ago, and I flipped a coin.” Claudine shrugged, oblivious to the sinking feeling in Maya’s gut. “I’m all the more happier for it.”
A coin toss. Maya’s bit her lips at the thought. A coin toss had decided that the girl in front of her, the only one that made Maya feel that sheer magic they had performed just a few minutes ago, would be kept halfway across the world from her.
“I see,” Maya managed to get out, biting at the inside of her cheek. “Well, I am truly happy it worked out for you Saijou-san.”
“What about Seisho?” Claudine asked, looking honestly curious. “In another world I would have been with you guys over there, so I hope you can forgive a girl’s curiosity.”
“No problem at all,” Maya said with a smile. “Our capstone project for each year-end has been Starlight, at least that is the case for our generation as the 99th graduating class. I have been Flora for the past two years, and if all goes well, I will be Flora as well in my third.”
“You’re that good then?” Claudine smirked. “My my, if I were to go visit one of your performances later this year, I do hope you won’t disappoint Tendou Maya.”
“I can save you a front row seat to Starlight if you wish,” Maya demurred. “I can even provide backstage access so you can congratulate me that much sooner.”
Claudine let out a laugh, shaking her head in mock sadness. “You really should come with a warning. After all that skill and grace, and you can be an unexpectedly vexing woman.”
Maya’s eyes twinkled. Oh she enjoyed talking to this woman. “You will have to take that side of me as well as my skills I’m afraid, they come as part of the Tendou Maya deal.”
“That’s a flawed deal then,” Claudine said with a teasing tilt to her voice. “May I perhaps return it if I’m unsatisfied?”
“No one’s ever unsatisfied with Tendou Maya,” she said confidently. Maya suddenly felt her lips go dry and all her confidence shrivel up at the look Claudine gave her, eyeing her from head to toe, Maya for the first time in her life suddenly feeling conscious about herself, about wearing her school uniform while Claudine looked like she came from a fashion magazine even with just her simple get up.
It was not a feeling she was used to, but it was also not an unpleasant feeling. Maya swallowed unconsciously.
“Oh, I do like the idea of testing that claim of yours out,” Claudine purred. Maya felt her heart beating wildly against her chest, someone could probably do a salsa against the beat it was performing.
Before Maya could say anything -it had been a full 5 seconds and Maya was still tongue tied- a phone ringtone cut their conversation short. “Ah, un moment ,” Claudine said, rummaging through her pockets. “Allo? Maman, salut….Oui…Oui…dans le parc Maman…Oui, 15 minutes..Oui.”
“I’m sorry,” Claudine said apologetically, the earlier heat gone from between the two of them. “My mother’s currently looking for me, we have a family event, it’s part of the reason why I’m currently on break with du Flamme .”
“I see,” Maya said, disappointed at their time being cut short. “Maybe I can see you around?”
Claudine laughed. “I’m waiting on those Starlight tickets Tendou. I'll drag it out of you in Seisho if I have to.”
“That’s a promise,” Maya swore, crossing her heart. “I’ll have one ready for you whenever.”
“See you soon, Tendou Maya.” Claudine turned around and was about to leave when she snapped her fingers. “Oh, and Tendou?
“Yes Saijou-san?.” Maya asked, suddenly feeling hopeful at the way Claudine came back to her.
The blonde pointed at the ground behind Maya. “You dropped your takeout.”
It had been a couple of weeks since Maya and Claudine’s impromptu number, and the buzz about it had largely died down. The rumors had been intense when it first surfaced of course, their class(mostly Hanayagi) teasing her about it, but it was all in good fun(most of it anyway) so Maya let it slide.
Karen was the worst one about it, wailing dramatically about how her partner was being stolen away, complete with fake tears.
Hanayagi, the she-devil, had held a fake funeral for Karen (she fully embraced the scenario set by Hanayagi, and had apparently died of heartbreak), Isurugi reading out Karen’s last wish and testament (She was leaving her entire collection of Kani Haniwa to Mahiru, and her hairclip to Maya), Hoshimi presiding over the ceremony, Tsyuzuaki acting as the tearful best friend, and Daiba filming the entire process. Maya had gone along with it and gave a eulogy.
The teachers, surprisingly enough, had simply given them a slap on the wrist, and even then that was mostly just for assembling their chairs so that it had somewhat resembled a casket and not arranging it back in time for class.
“Oh, and class, we’re getting a new face for the remaining months of this semester by the way,” Their teacher said, and immediately set the classroom abuzz with gossip, everyone stealing quick glances at Maya, who for her part, felt her heart quicken again, felt the blood rushing through her ears.
“She did say she’d meet me in Seisho,” Maya thought hopefully, hands practically shaking in excitement.
Their teacher sighed, rolling her eyes at how predictable everyone was. “Just settle down already, yes yes, the rumors are true, it is whoever you’re thinking of, Saijou-san, come in please, before everyone just spontaneously combusts.”
“Hai Sensei!” Claudine sang, and Maya immediately closed her eyes, taking a fortifying breath, feeling the warmth rush across her entire body. God, just the thought of being students side-by-side with Claudine was already making her giddy with-
“So yeah, our headmaster called in a few favors, and Saijou-san here is going to be our assistant teacher for this semester." Their teacher continued, presenting their newest member of the classroom. "It's not going to be an official position, but she will be helping you, mostly in theater and dance, though I hear she's quite a talent with the cello as well."
“I will be in your care,” the blonde bowed elegantly. "Please do not hesitate to ask me for any help, and I will be more than happy to help if I'm able to."
“Huh?” For the first time in her life, Maya was truly, fully out of her depth.
Claudine was going to be a teacher?