Chapter Text
"Thank you everyone for coming!!! See you next time!!!" - The whole team shouted, waving goodbyes to their audience.
Todays show was super spectacular!! It was a story about a bard who tried his best to impress a flower goddess, but in the end he tried too hard and made her wither away, which broke his heart. They worked hard on the decorations on this one, so it would be truly a memoriable experience both for the audience and the actors. Rui hired "a special someone" to make a long dress for the flower goddess, and built special robots that would make the scene look more alive, full of animals and plants, and Emu asked her brothers if they could allow them to play around with lights around the stage and to turn them pink, so it would create a perfect mood for this story.
And, it seems people really loved it, because almost every seat was taken! People cheered while standing, and clapped their hands even after the young actors left the stage!
"That was a good one! I'm so happy we could pull it off!" - Rui started, who played the bard. The show was his idea, and his facial expression showed how much he was proud of what they did today.
"ME TOO!!! THAT WAS SO AMAZING I COULD DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!!!" - Said Emu, who played the bards best friend, who tried to make him calm down about his wild dreams about finally making the goddess look at him with amazement after listening to his ballads. The friend was a cheerful poet who tried to find positives in every situation, and yet knew when to let go and try another time.
"But if we did, the audience would eventually memorize every line of dialogue. Remember that the show was supposed to be an experience you would never forget. If we overuse the idea, the show wouldn't be special anymore." - Nene tried to chill Emus enthusiasm so she won't accidentally make mess on the backstage (which Tsukasa desperately tries to keep clean). Nene played the flower goddess. She was a calm nymph, cold and calm from the outside yet caring and sweet from the inside. She was afraid to show that side that to others, but the bard tried to desperately bring it out to the surface. After she realized she kept hurting the bards feelings even though she really enjoyed his songs, she chose to wither away to never hurt anyone again. Truly, a tragic story that almost made Tsukasa sob, when he was observing them in the backstage when he wasn't needed on the stage.
Tsukasa in question was playing an evil elf who in the end of the story showed the goddess how to wither away by selling her a magic potion, for which she paid with a magic flower that granted him immortality. Tsukasa wasn't the biggest fan of the character he played, he was an asshole and after the goddesses feelings, the main antagonist of the story, but he was really an important part of the plot and propably without him if wouldn't end so bittersweet, and the way he acted was actually similar to how Tsukasa acted.
"Sorry Emu, but I think Nene is right. But it's alright!! We can make more amazing stories like this one!! Ha ha ha!!!" - He finally answered.
"Awh.... But you're right!! WE CAN LOOK FOR OUR NEXT SHOW IDEA TOMMOROW!!!" - Emu jumped, gaining back her enthusiasm.
"Hmm, yeah. Emu is right, after all tommorow is Saturday, we can spend the whole day on stage." - Said Rui, who just left the dressing room, now dressed in his normal clothes. - "After all, our next show is in two weeks, and if we want to beat todays visits record we need to start working on it now."
"YEAH!!!!! AND I THINK I HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT WE COULD MAKE NEXT!!!!"
"Then let's meet here tommorow, at 9 am??" - Tsukasa said, as the troupes leader its natural for him to choose when their practices take place.
Everyone agreed, and after some time, they parted their ways. Tsukasa waited for around 10 minutes in the nearest bus stop, he spent 30 minutes in a traffic jam, and after he finally reached his home, ate late dinner and finally settles in his bed, he realizes he propably won't be able to sleep anytime soon. He can't focus on anything. Literally anything. He tried to read a book that Toya recently recommended him, but he realized he didn't memorize the past sheet and needs to start again, which he really didn't want to. Then, he tried to come up with ideas for their next show. He really wanted to think of any amazing ideas that would make his troupe members jaws drop when they hear it, but no idea came to his mind. Only thing he could think of was one of his best friends, a girl he spent his past months with, that he may or may not caught some feelings for that aren't completely platonic.
Is he in love with Emu Otori? Sadly.
It's his first time ever feeling romantic feelings to anyone. When he heard the saying that love makes people dumb, he thought it's really really exaggerated, but today, laying in his bed trying to remember all of todays moments he spent with Emu, he might actually agree with that. But, he would change it to "People in love lose their minds". This one suits his situation better.
He spent his past three weeks mindlessly thinking about her. At first it wasn't very alarming, he just thought about how much he'd prefer to be with her and not studying during really long and stupid classes. Then, he started zoning off during breakfasts with Saki, thinking about how much he can't wait to meet Emu today (which wasn't an issue, because Saki always forgave him, until she asked him about who he was thinking about because he's red like a tomato). And finally, here we are, where he can't sleep because all he can do right now is think about her. Who knows, maybe love is some sort of stage of insanity? Because he really feels like he is insane, losing his precious hours of sleep because of his crush best friend. He opens his phone, realizing he propably won't be able to doze off in a while.
3.32 AM
Well, he's totally going to be a wreck tommorow. Tomorrow's practice is at 9 am, so he will need to wake up at 7 am to get ready, eat breakfast and try to not get stuck in a traffic jam... Yeah, he changed his mind. He should try to fall asleep now if he wants to get at least 3 hours of sleep.
After a while (which felt like years, thinking about his troupe member with pink hair and a precious smile) he finally felt himself doze off.
Saturday, 13 days left to the big show!
He woke up startled by his alarm. The events of the past night slowly returned to him, realizing he needs to get up now if he doesn't want to be late. He turns to his phone to turn off the sound that ruined his beauty sleep, only to realize..
8 AM!! SWIPE TO TURN THE ALARM OFF.
8 AM??? HE WAS SUPPOSED TO WAKE UP AT 7. DID HE FORGET TO SWITCH ALARMS??
He looks in the mirror, he looks like mess. But if he doesn't want to be late he needs to leave in around 10 minutes. He quickly dressed up and took a snack to eat later, and ran out of his house. Of course, with his luck, he missed the bus, so it looks like he needs to run to the wonder stage, 3 kilometers away from him, in around 30 minutes, while feeling like shit. It's his best idea in the moment though, and looking that he doesn't have time, he starts running, better now than later.
"My fucking god I should get a raise for this."
He arrives at the wonder stage 2 minutes before 9 AM, guess his running skills aren't so bad after all.
Yet, he realized how shitty he feels, all of his energy went wasted into that run, now he could propably fall asleep again. He went backstage to meet Emu and Rui, chatting about something using the weirdest words possible. He didn't even bother deciphering what they meant, too much energy would go wasted. But instantly when Emu saw him, of course she came jumping at him, making both of them fall down. He should get used to it, he knows it, and yet his heart skips a beat when they both end up on the floor, with Emus hands wrapped around him.
"HI TSUKASAAAA HOW ARE YOU!!" - She said, of course screaming. Even though he loved to see her cheerful and energetic, ready for the day, she really needed to stop screaming right into his ear, especially when he was barely alive.
"Could be better, how about you??" - He answered, struggling to stand up.
"I'M AMAZING!! ME AND RUI HAVE AN AMAZING IDEA FOR THE NEXT SHOW!!!"
Great, at least he won't have to share that he spent his last night making zero progress about his show ideas.
"IT'S FROM-"
"Hey Emu, you promised me something didn't you?" - Rui joined the conversation, taking Emu off Tsukasa to give him a chance finally sit down. Yet, Emu didn't seem to take the hint, and jumped at him again once he finally sat down.
"We were supposed to tell them once everyone is here, only Tsukasa is here."
"OHHH THEN SORRY TSUKASA WE WILL NEED TO WAIT FOR NENE!!!"
"Nene sent me a message earlier that she got into a traffic jam and she will be around 20 minutes late, so we have some free time."
Great, he ran there like if someone was chasing him only for their practice to be moved by 20 minutes. But he can't bring himself to be mad at Nene, he knows there is a chance that if he took the bus it could be him that is currently rotting in some loud bus, with no idea when he will reach his destination. At least now he is around people he knows, and he can use this opportunity to rest.
"Great, now if you excuse me, I'd use this time to take a nap."
"Huh, did someone stay up at night a little too long?~" - Said Rui, a small smirk visible on his face. Oh god if he will pull a prank when he's asleep...
"Yeah, and ran here like if it was burning"
"It's alright Tsukasa!! Rest how much you will like!!" - Said Emu, tightening her grip (because she never let him go in the end) around him. Oh only if she knew how messy it makes him feel, being hugged to sleep by someone he loves while she doesn't even realize it. Actually, maybe it's not such a bad idea, and it will help him sleep? If he can't do anything but think about her when he tries to sleep, maybe today her presence will actually allow him to rest?
He closed his eyes and was about to drift off, but suddenly he heard steps on the stage. Great, if Nene really is here that would mean his precious nap time won't happen.
"I'm sorry I'm late, there was a big car crash which stopped the traffic completely, I had to go here by foot." - Yeah, it was Nene. Tsukasa slowly opened his eyes, first thing he saw was Nene apologizing to Rui. Great.
"OH MY GOD IF BOTH TSUKASA AND NENE ARE HERE IT MEANS I CAN FINALLY SHARE MY IDEAS!!!!" - Emu jumped from the bench she was sitting on with Tsukasa (and accidentally hit his head with her hand). Then, she ran off back on the stage looking for something in her backpack.
"Oh yeah, she showed me them already. To be honest, I think that's a great idea" - Rui said, grinning at Nene and Tsukasa.
"If you say it's amazing I fear how weird the ideas are.." - Nene stared at him, making him chuckle.
"I GOT IT!!!!!!!" - Emu came back into the backstage, jumping at Nene.
"Emu I'm excited too but please stop jumping at me, you're going to break my spine..."
She didn't reply, instead she showed her a pink book with some colorful paintings on the cover.
"Well, I thought to myself about how much I liked how magical our last show felt and I looked through my room to find any inspirations and look!!" It's the Brothers Grimms' fairytales!!"
She pointed her finger at the title of the book, "The best of Brothers Grimms' fairytales".
"I thought to myself I'd pick one of them because I loved them when I was younger, but I can't choose any of them because I love all of them so much... SO LET'S PICK IT TOGETHER!!!"
To be honest, Tsukasa didn't remember any of Grimms' Fairytales, no idea if it's because he feels so tired he can't recognize who is speaking right now, or because he doesn't really remember his childhood well. Lately he found out he doesn't remember how he spent his days as a kid when he was home alone, which kinda creeped him out but he thought to himself that it's propably because it was really boring. But he remembers that Grimms' fairytales exist, and maybe he even read it with Saki when he was younger, so it's propably just his lack of sleep. No need to panic, not at all.
"Well then! If we want our show to be even better than our last one, we need to look for it now!!!" - He said in the most energetic tone he could get out of himself, so they don't think he doesn't want to be there. Also, they need their leader to be with them, so he obviously isn't going to let them down!!
"Puss in boots??" - Emu said, showing a picture from her book.
"I'm not the biggest fan of it." - Answered Nene.
"LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD??"
"I am in, if you make Tsukasa play the wolf~!"
"I AM NOT PLAYING THE WOLF RUI."
"OMG LET'S DO RAPUNZEL!!!"
"Our hair is too short, Emu."
Then, Emu's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"I KNOW!! LET'S MAKE A SLEEPING BEAUTY INSPIRED SHOW!!"
Rui and Nene looked at themselves, and grinned. Tsukasa didn't recognize that show.
"Rui, about what is fairytale?"
"Oh, there was a princess who was cursed to fall asleep forever, locked away in an old tower sealed by thorns, and there was a prince who saved her, a simple and short but a beautiful one indeed."
Doesn't ring a bell, at all. Maybe he just didn't read it? But looking how his troupe liked this idea, of course he had to agree to it.
"Then of course! I really like the idea!!"
"OH OH CAN I BE THE PRINCESS??? I WANT TO BE THE PRINCESS!!!" - Emu jumped in, with sparkles in her eyes
"SURE!! THEN I SHALL BE THE PRINCE WHO WILL SAVE THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS!! HA HA HA!!!"
Rui grinned, like if that show had an other meaning... DOES IT HAVE ANOTHER MEANING???? Before he had a chance to ask, Rui spoke again.
"Then, I shall be the king! That leaves the role off the evil witch for you, Nene."
"I guess.. But I hope I will get a pretty dress for that."
"I'll take care of it" - Rui winked at Nene - "It will be the prettiest dress you ever saw in your life."
All is great, they have their roles, but maybe it's just Tsukasa's sleep deprivement but something seems wrong here. It seems like Rui didn't share the whole story with him.
"Alright, so now that we have our roles, I will write the scenario for us! I'd change the story to make it more interesting for kids, and I think I'd change the relationship between the princess and the prince, I don't think the audience would like the "love at first sight" stuff, everyone uses that. That would mean todays practice is over."
Tsukasa nodded, but took attention to how he said "love at first sight". It wasn't supposed to be a love story.
Unless, Rui didn't share everything with him about the fairytale.
He excused himself that he needs to call Saki that he will be early today and that she won't have to eat dinner alone today, but really he went to check if Rui pulling a big joke on him. He opened his phone browser and looked up sleeping beauty story. Rui didn't lie, it was just like he said, a princess was cursed by an evil fairy that in the eighteenth year of her age the princess would prick herself with a spindle and shall fall down dead. But thanks to another fairy, the curse was changed to falling asleep. Then, the king would destroy every spindle in the kingdom, but in her 18th birthday she would find an abandoned tower with the evil witch inside, in the end making her fall asleep. Then comes the prince to wake her up by kissing her, they got married, and lived happily ever after. Classical end.
Hold on, rewind.
Then comes the prince to wake her up by kissing her, they got married, and lived happily ever after.
He plays the prince, Emu is the princess.
RUI SET HIM UP.
He ran back to the backstage, only to realize that Rui already left. Nene said he had to "go and meet his friend about the dresses", but he was 100% sure he left so that he won't have to deal with angry Tsukasa.
He was about to say he doesn't like the idea actually and wants to change, but Emu jumps at him (again.) and tells him that she goes shopping with Nene for decorations and that he should go rest. Well sure he will, he totally won't be able to fall asleep today, not when he has to think about kissing his crush on stage.
But before he realizes, he's alone, Emu and Nene left. Hopeless.
"Well, I'm done for."