Chapter Text
Rui has it all planned.
As a director, he is no stranger to planning. He does that all the time. For example: Robo-Nene upgrades, his inventions, and their shows. It’s not an arduous task for him. He enjoys the process of brainstorming ideas, exploring what-ifs, and connecting the dots of his thoughts into a story worthy of being shared.
He plans, plans, and plans.
Rui always has plans. He doesn’t mind if not all of it is will be usable. He can just save it for another day. For another show.
Well, for this plan specifically, he can use it again next year.
Maybe.
You see, it’s summer now. Right in the middle of the season. The scorching sun. The shrieking cicadas. The occasional breeze that fails to bring the reprieve people want from the heat.
A typical summertime.
Rui can list all the attributes that summer is associated with, but one particularly stands out in Rui’s mind.
That attribute in question: Festival.
Summer is known for their festivities. And in a country brimming with folklore and mythology back in the day, it is no surprise that the nation celebrates it every year to honor its rich history.
The perk of living within Shibuya, arguably the most popular commercial ward in Tokyo, is that in summer like this, festivals are everywhere.
Every district is preparing for one. There’s this sort of unspoken yet evident rivalry between each area. Everyone tries to one-up each other, trying to become the most dazzling, most extravagant, most unforgettable, most—
Most everything, if they can help it. Competitiveness and greed mesh together, turning a revered celebration into a cutthroat competition for organizers to prove their worth.
Each place will be diversely unique. It’s rare for Rui to come across a festival where they reuse their old concepts without reinventing them. After all, doing the same concept each time will not pique attendees' attention. It will be pitiful and embarrassing for the organizers if they have a full year to come up with ideas and end up empty-handed.
Under normal circumstances, Rui would be ecstatic. Why wouldn’t he? Events like this are brimming with potential inspiration! Every year, he’d always go alone. Not because he has no friends, mind you. By going alone, his mind is clear and ready to absorb every idea that crosses by during his visitations. He’ll be able to focus on the concepts, on how the decorations came to be, and on the performances and shows the festival has put on for the audiences.
It’s nice. It’s convenient. And Rui prefers it that way (a lie that Rui still tells himself to this day).
But this year’s summer is quite different from Rui’s previous ones. A new variable has entered Rui’s life.
That variable is a star. A beautiful, shining star who is currently humming while sketching out outfit ideas in their shared notebook.
Tenma Tsukasa.
Rui still stands that going alone would be more beneficial. Give less distraction. But… Tsukasa is like him, right? A show fanatic. Someone who shares the same passion and enthusiasm with the same intensity as Rui, if not more by his loudly declared ambitions and ever-confident personality.
Asking Tsukasa to accompany Rui on his expedition for inspiration makes sense. A lot of Rui’s ideas need to go through him first. Tsukasa is their troupe leader and showman, after all. That means he’s the one who is burdened with carrying out Rui’s demanding stunts.
By bringing him along, they can discuss whatever comes to mind on the spot. Moreover, second opinions are welcomed, especially if it’s from Tsukasa. He has brilliant insights. It’s easy for Rui to keep up with Tsukasa’s thoughts. And he found all of Tsukasa’s ideas quite intriguing.
(And if this excursion gives Rui a chance to get closer to said star… it’ll be an additional bonus).
That thought process is what leads Rui to this moment.
Rui has it all planned. A couple blocks away, there's a festival being held by a well-established event organizer. The venue they are using is a big field inside a massive park, so it’s almost guaranteed that this event will be grand. Looking at their website, portfolios of their past events look promising. A sneak peek of what to expect was posted, and Rui considered himself interested.
Scenarios run through Rui’s head, imagining what point he needs to raise to convince the star to join him.
He puts it into a checklist.
The festival? It’s good enough to capture Tsukasa’s interest. The place? A perfect center from both of their houses. The time? They have no scheduled show for them to do as Keisuke pushed them on a break to do stage maintenance, so there’s an 80% chance that Tsukasa is free.
The performance? Well…
The website doesn’t elaborate on what will transpire. But, with behind-the-scenes pictures and the emphasis on how it will be ‘the best of all times’, it’s obvious it’ll be the festival’s headliner, which will please the dearest troupe leader.
There’s a low chance that Tsukasa will turn down his invitation. It’s enough to convince Rui to go through with his proposition.
So here they are, doing their usual lunch routine. Hanging out on the school rooftops, elbows occasionally bumping as they do their own thing while sitting side by side. Tsukasa's second lunch box is filled with light snacks, placed between their thighs, and shared for two.
It's nice. It's casual. It's the perfect time for Rui to drop his proposal.
"Hey, Tsukasa-kun?" calls Rui, fidgeting with his screwdriver. Usually, Rui would try to add theatrics to his requests. But his brain is too busy regulating his agitated, pumping heart to think of ideas. "Would you like to go to a festival with me? The-"
"Sure."
Rui freezes mid-sentence and blinks. Huh?
Tsukasa just keeps on drawing. He hasn’t given Rui a chance to appeal to him first. He just immediately agrees. It’s as if accepting Rui’s invitation is just second nature to him.
And doesn’t that make Rui’s heart aflutter?
“Huh.” Rui verbalizes his emotion to let it out. Now’s not the time to fluster over Tsukasa’s casual forwardness.
“Huh? " Tsukasa glances at him. "What is it?”
“My apologies, Tsukasa-kun. I was not expecting you to agree at once.”
He halts his sketch. “Uh… Was I not supposed to?” asks Tsukasa. Being this close, Rui sees the moment his contemplative frown turns into apprehension as he squints and questions, “Wait, you’re not planning on something crazy, aren’t you?!”
“Hehe, Of course not.” As much as he likes to continue teasing Tsukasa, this is a perfect opening for him to elaborate on his planned proposal. It’d be a shame if all of his preparation were for naught, right? “I do have a plan in mind. But I doubt it is something akin to what you are assuming in your imagination right now, Tsukasa-kun. Worry not, as you see…”
Rui proceeds to explain. His phone is offered to Tsukasa's hand, allowing the star to scroll through the references Rui has compiled for him.
Tsukasa returns it with a smile. “I see, as expected from our genius director! You truly go far and beyond for our show!”
Rui smiles back and tries not to preen too much at the praise.
“But!” Tsukasa huffs. “Remember, we are on a break! I appreciate the dedication you have to our shows, Rui. But don’t forget to have some fun, okay? This is an annual event! It'll be a waste not to enjoy it to the fullest!”
“Well, of course. Fun is important. I don't want to subject our troupe leader to a dull outing, no?"
Tsukasa chuckles, exasperation present in his (fond? tired?) expression. "I think dull is the opposite of what would happen if it involves you."
The bell rings before Rui can quip back. That's the end cue of their hangout session. Their class isn’t far from the rooftop access, and teachers usually enter the classroom 5 minutes after the bell stops, so there is no need to rush. Even so, Tsukasa always insists on being early. He wanted to stay on the teacher’s good side. Even though hanging out with Rui and indulging in his whims would have the opposite effect.
As usual, Rui watches as Tsukasa shoots up and scrambles around to gather his stuff. The pencil case. The notebook. The lunch box…
…singular?
The second lunch box, the one they've been snacking on, stays beside Rui’s thigh. Rui has the mind to call that out to Tsukasa when he’s already halfway towards the door.
“Just keep it!” Tsukasa shouts without looking back— “Also, finish your share! You can return it after school later!” —and disappear in a flurry.
Rui looks down. Tsukasa’s right. There are still some dumplings left. But, he is unaware of 'having his share' though. Rui was under the impression that he was helping Tsukasa finish his always-packed-too-much dilemma. Is Tsukasa truly in such a hurry that he accidentally omitted the truth he kept for months?
He chuckles as he closes the lid. Oh well. No use dwelling too much about it. Unless Rui wants to explode from affection, that is. Dying from a lovesick heart attack at school sounds like a horribly embarrassing way to go.
Rui makes his way toward the door. His mind is already buzzing about how to finish his meal during class. It looks like he's going to break some rules, but…
Anything for the star, right?
The atmosphere shifts as Rui steps into class 2-A.
He takes the wary glances with ease. Weirdo One-Two does have an infamous reputation at school. Maybe they were scared Rui and Tsukasa would blow up another classroom again. Now that school is over and the teachers stop being so vigilant, the next victim will be theirs.
Honestly, there was no need for such apprehension. The now-empty lunch box Rui held in hand is proof of that.
It's easy to spot Tsukasa. His seat is right in the center of the class ("As a star should be!" Memory of Tsukasa exclaims). As expected, Tsukasa is still here, mingling with his peers while packing for his belongings. Ever the social butterfly. Rui would love to stay put and observe the way Tsukasa charms everyone, but he is here with a reason, so—
"Tsukasa-kun?" Rui calls out from behind, catching the attention around the vicinity, but most importantly, Tsukasa.
"Rui!" Tsukasa beams up at him. "Perfect timing! I was about to look for you."
"Fufu, there's no need. I would never allow a star to do such a trivial task, especially when I can easily perform it myself." With that, Rui offers the object in his hand. "Thank you, Tsukasa-kun. It was very fulfilling."
Tsukasa stares at his lunch box with confusion as if he didn't expect it to be in Rui's possession. “Oh, right. Thanks! Well—er… you're welcome?” He takes it. “But that’s not what I was going for!”
Rui tilts his head. “Was it not? Is there something you would like me to assist you with, Tsukasa-kun?"
“There is!" Tsukasa stands up from his chair, his bag already hoisted on his shoulder. He waves his friends goodbye before returning his attention to Rui. "I'd like to check out the festival site on my way back. My classmates said they had already built the main stage there."
"They have?" They walk side by side as they leave the classroom together. "But it's still a few weeks before D-day… I suppose they weren't exaggerating about it being big."
"Right?!” Tsukasa glimmers with glee. “They said the main stage is pretty massive! I was thinking… If we stop by now, we can see how they prepare and stuff, so we’ll have more insights about the inner workings of the festival. And hopefully more inspiration!”
Tsukasa gazes at Rui, expectant. “So, what do you say? You want to come with me, Rui?”
Ah. With such a beautiful face, how can Rui ever refuse?
“I would be honored too,” answers Rui with a smile. “By observing them now, we can also draw some reference later to improve our show and stage decoration in the future… Hehe. A perfect idea, Tsukasa-kun.”
Tsukasa puffs his chest with pride. “Of course! A future star like me would never suggest a bad idea! Ever!!”
With that, they start their journey.
Time is a foreign concept when they’re together. They tend to just talk about whatever comes to mind. If they were in the zone, every topic would bloom into a wondrous concept that Rui would store in his core memory while Tsukasa wrote it on his trusty notepad. So it is to no one’s surprise that they felt not much time had passed when they both stood in front of the plaza entrance.
The sight that greets them does not disappoint.
It was bustling. People wearing staff shirts roam around, helping each other decorate the place. Vibrant banners and fabrics are being sorted out by color-coded. Cables, lanterns, planks, and so forth are passed to each specific area. Some have begun constructing the stall. The steady wham-wham sound of a hammer hitting wood blends harmoniously with the step-step-step of people moving around, getting louder as he and Tsukasa reach the center of the mass. There was no white tent in sight. Are they going to use wooden stalls for all of their shops? That’s a dedication Rui can respect.
“Whoa…!” Tsukasa marvels at the sight. Rui does too, albeit quieter. “This is amazing! They’re really going all out with this!!”
Rui nods. “It seems like they are going with a rural, traditional feel. They’ve picked a good place for it, deep enough within the park to avoid the metropolitan noise pollution. The foliage here is tall enough to obscure the skyscrapers. This area is well-kept. They must've been cultivated and cared for regularly.” Rui finishes his observation with a smirk, thoroughly impressed. “To find a place like this amidst Tokyo… Fufu, they must’ve worked hard for it. Kudos to them.”
"Rui, Look!" Tsukasa points towards a wooden structure farther into the venue. Excitement is palpable in his voice. "Do you think that's—"
"The main stage," Rui answers Tsukasa’s unfinished question. He turns to find that Tsukasa is already looking at him. "Well then, shall we?"
With a clear destination in mind, their pace fastens. It’s a bit far from the main entrance, emphasizing how massive this festival will be in Rui's mind. He quickly scans the banners the organizers have placed as they pass, memorizing the information to discuss later with Tsukasa. They haven’t created their trip’s itinerary, after all.
A slight tug on Rui’s sleeves stops him from their track.
“Tsukasa-kun?” asks Rui. However, Tsukasa’s focus is entirely in front of them. More specifically, the stage in the distance. A frown decorates his lovely face.
“Uh, Rui… I may not be as skilled at crafting as you probably are, knowing your skill set and all…” Tsukasa pursues his mouth further into a confused pout. “But, with my lack of knowledge on the matter, I’m pretty sure what they’re doing there is not how you build a stage?”
That’s concerning. Rui quickly turns his attention towards the said stage. From where they are standing, he can make out two figures.
Rui squints suspiciously at the one above.
Tsukasa's skepticism is not unfounded.
You see, there’s an art to creation. To create, you need to be patient. Allow your mind to weave out the imagination before letting your body bring it to life. There's tenderness to it. The way you brought life to your craft with meticulousness and care, pouring hours and hours of countless research to make sure it stays true to your vision.
Rui partakes in it all the time. Tsukasa dabbles in it. That’s why and how they can recognize the wrongness within their sight.
What the guy is doing above doesn’t quite fit as an act of creating.
Sure, he's being meticulous. His hand chips the wood away ever so slowly like he's carving. But there's no finesse to it. No care. The force he's using is indelicate. With that much power, all he's achieving is blemishing the wood's beauty. The tool also doesn’t suit the activity. If they need to add intricate details, wouldn’t using a chisel fit better than a hand axe?
.
.
Wait.
What if that was the main goal all along?
They are not making the stage. They are—
"—dismantling it."