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Halloween is near. Niji is very excited about it, since it’s one of her favourite festivals. Rui and Akito, her parents, intend to give her a Halloween of a lifetime. They had an idea. Rui worked at the local theme park as a stage director of a troupe, so they thought they could put on a show for her, and all the children that adored Halloween. Rui thought to let Akito make a guest appearance at the show too, as a special surprise for Niji.
And so the redhead joined the troupe for practice. They had to decide on a story, design the stage, props and costumes while practicing their lines. They all share the same goal of offering children the best Halloween to ever exist.
They start thinking about the story.
“Hahaha! As the world’s most wonderful star, I already have a few great story ideas in mind!” Exclaimed Tsukasa, leader of the troupe.
“Uwahh, Tsukasa-kun! It must be some really wonda-hoi ideas!” Emu responds, as the cheery and bubbly girl she is.
The chaotic duo ramble on without going to the point. Nene, the quiet girl of the troupe, decides to convince the other two to actually talk about their ideas. Akito stands unamused, but Rui keeps him on track.
They finally start talking about the story. They wanted to do something out of the blue, something that would shock the crowd. They thought of a deeper story. An adventurous one, sure, but one against a stereotypical Halloween show. They wanted to spread the stories of ghosts, so they thought of doing a story of a little boy, who hates ghosts and Halloween, discovers the festive spirit of Halloween and the world of ghosts. They originally wanted to star Tsukasa as the boy, but they decided Akito would be the better option. Tsukasa could be the hyperactive tour guide of the ghost world, while Emu and Nene are the companions of Akito. Rui would be the ghost who makes Akito realise ghosts aren’t evil or bad, since Akito would most likely be uncomfortable with anyone else.
Then and there, they start staging out the play. Akito felt uneasy with Tsukasa and Emu being so overactive, but he could act out the nonchalant and annoyed boy well nonetheless. He often became flustered in scenes with Rui, but Rui helped him focus. At the end of the day, they were pretty satisfied with their progress and how the play turned out.
The couple bid their farewell to the rest of the troupe and took their leave. Akito had a slight frown on his face and Rui noticed it. “Darling, something up your mind?” Rui asks Akito.
“No, it’s nothing. I’m thinking about the play,” Akito responds with his usual monotone voice.
“Oya, I’ve told you that you can trust me with anything.”
“Rui…” Akito sighs, “As much as I have been performing in front of large crowds in Vivid Bad Squad, acting is still a new genre to me. I don’t want to leave a bad impression on the children, especially… Especially not Niji.”
Rui smirks slightly at Akito’s statement, then he huddles closer to him so that his hand is around the redhead’s waist. “Akito, I believe in your abilities,” Rui’s smug expression dissolves into a serious one, “You won’t mess it up, if not, I wouldn’t have let you take such a major role, or even participate in the play.”
Akito blushes slightly at Rui’s reassuring words, as he averts his gaze away. The two continue their walk home, knowing that their precious child would enjoy the play they put up for her.
The month passes by quickly. The troupe have patched their play up, fully presentable to the public now, as Halloween arrives. Akito had asked the other members of Vivid Bad Squad to bring Niji along with them as he invited them to bring their children to watch their play.
Toya brings Niji to Phoenix Wonderland as An and Kohane join the two with their own child, Anhane. (Temporary name) Niji was a bit disappointed when Toya told her Akito and Rui were busy, but was excited nonetheless for the visit to Phenix Wonderland. The five arrive at the amusement park, amazed by the humongous crowd. It was Halloween after all. It was normal for parents to bring their children to a park, especially a Halloween themed one. They arrived there after lunch and knew that the show would be played at around six, so they decided to go play around.
The hours pass by quickly. Toya wasn’t able to join the other four in much of the rides, due to his fear of heights. Niji and Anhane had a lot of fun, for sure. It was now time for the show, so they settled at Wonder stage. The lights turn off, as more and more visitors enter the audience seats. The all so familiar siren that signals the start of the play blows loudly.
Curtains rise. In came a ginger boy with a pink haired girl and green haired girl. The narrator introduces the story, “Keisuke was a boy who hated Halloween. He hated everything about ghosts, since he thought that it was worthless to dwell in these mythical tales. Plus, to him, even if it had a purpose, it wasn’t for the greater Good anyway. Halloween has arrived and his friends, Chiyo and Suzume are trying to convince him to go trick or treating with them.”
The lights turn on.
“Keisuke-kun!! Please! Go trick or treating with me and Suzume-chan!!” Chiyo, the pink haired girl exclaimed.
“No, I told you, trick or treating is worthless. Halloween shouldn’t even be a holiday in the first place. Go trick or treating yourself,” Keisuke exclaimed with an annoyed tone.
“Keisuke. Halloween isn’t worthless!” Suzume looks slightly offended at Keisuke.
“Whatever, I don’t care!” Keisuke shoots a nonchalant look at Suzume and Chiyo, then leaves the stage.
“Suzume-chan… I guess we have to go trick or treating ourselves…” Chiyo sighed dejectedly.
Suzume sighs and pulls Chiyo off the stage.
Lights turn off. Then it turns on again.
Keisuke is seen onstage. “How are people so obsessed with this festival? I don’t understand….”
Suddenly, a blond guy drops from the ceiling onto the stage. Keisuke screams in surprise.
“Oi, who are you!? What are you doing here?”
“I AM YEURI!! I AM HEAR TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE OF THE GHOST GOD!”
“Quit your act, I don’t care about your prank. It’s not funny.”
“Hey!! I’m not joking around! You, Keisuke! You don’t respect our Halloween festival! So the Ghost God has decided to send me to open your eyes to the ghost world!!”
“Stop. I’m not going to believe you.”
Yeuri grunts in frustration. He decides to pull Keisuke by the arm somewhere. The two walk off stage, Keisuke shouting at Yeuri as the lights dim once again.
Lights were back on after a while. Yeuri pulls Keisuke towards what seems to be a glowing door in the middle of the stage.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing!” Keisuke struggles against Yeuri, his efforts however in vain.
“I’m not going to let you go! I promise, you won’t regret the adventure we’re about to go on!!” With that, Yeuri runs into the glowing door with Keisuke and its light engulfs them. The stage lights turn off.
On were the lights again. Yeuri was still pulling an unwilling Keisuke, while a purple haired guy stood across the stage. He approaches Yeuri and Keisuke, then introduces himself, “Oya, Keisuke-kun! It’s a delight seeing you here. My name is Hoashi, and I’ll show you around the ghost world!” Hoashi smiles at Keisuke, who still looks very confused.
“What do you seriously want from me?! Ghosts aren’t real…!” Keisuke breaks free from Yeuri’s grip.
“Keisuke! Hoashi will show you around, and I’m sure! I’m very sure!! You will be convinced that Halloween is meaningful!!” Yeuri exclaims energetically.
“Without further ado, let’s start, Keisuke-kun~” Hoashi grabs Keisuke by the arm and pulls him offstage as Yeuri leaves in the opposite direction.
The pair appears onstage again. Keisuke, still being grabbed by Hoashi in the arm, Hoashi starts speaking, “Keisuke-kun, did you know? Us ghosts would disappear from the face of the ghost world when everyone on Earth forgets about us.”
Keisuke looks at Hoashi for a while before he replies. “Why are you telling me that…?” Keisuke looks a bit unamused.
Hoashi sighs then he looks around. “I suppose I could take you around for a little tour.” Hoashi lets Keisuke’s hand go, trusting that the ginger would follow him. A girl and a boy both dressed in completely white go on stage. Hoashi, along with Keisuke, approach them.
The two greet them then resume to their own business. Hoashi slightly explains their situation, “The girl almost disappeared since no one remembered them. She was to disappear actually, if it weren’t for Halloween. The people made ghost stories on Halloween, correct? Because of that, the two’s life story was found by some guy and they didn’t have to disappear. Halloween is often seen as an opportunity for ghosts to be remembered to us. The guy, however, was one of the lucky few to be able to visit Earth during Halloween. Halloween allows a selected amount of ghosts to visit the people that remember them, if their bonds are strong enough. The person might not see the ghost, but at least they can be around and know how they’re doing, no?”
Keisuke unconsciously nods as he hesitantly says something. “..so. You’re telling me that Halloween lets y’all see us and not die?” Keisuke looks a bit more relaxed and convinced, also shaken from the information he deceived. Hoashi simply gave a light hum to his question.
The girl and the boy give Hoashi something, and Hoashi gives Keisuke it. “There, Keisuke-kun. A local specialty from us. It’ll take you around the Halloween festival place.” It was a circular shaped object with some dried flowers and crystals inside it. The girl explains, “These are condensed festivities and feelings derived from Halloween. Hold it close to you and you’ll feel them.” She pushes the object in Keisuke’s hands closer to his chest and immediately, the stage lights fade.
As the bright shine resumed, a whole marketplace was next to Keisuke. There were a few stalls near him, so Keisuke approached them.
“…huh? Write your letter here? Delivered as a dream to your beloved humans on Halloween, just for 600 yen?” Keisuke reads out the sign hung up at the shop. He then takes one of the letters and starts reading it. “To Aya Kokoda… I hope you enjoy this Halloween as well. I miss you a lot and I just want to let you know that I love you until eternity, sis. Please don’t cry like you did last Halloween, I want you to enjoy this festival for me, like we have always done. I’ll always be around you to support your choices, so just live life out to your heart’s content. I hope to visit you again next Halloween, sis. Sign, your beloved annoying brother.” Keisuke puts the letter back at the stall, having a moment of silence to himself as he sighs. His voice trembles a little, “So… Halloween is a way for ghosts and humans to connect? Halloween isn’t meaningless… I’ve been wrong.”
Hoashi suddenly approaches Keisuke. “Mhm, Keisuke-kun. You’ve understood Halloween.”
Keisuke looks at Hoashi, “..have you been through anything similar..?”
Hoashi thinks for a while before responding. “Yes, I could say so. When I arrived here, my existence was fairly weak due to the lack of people remembering me. But my friends, oh so kindly, decided to make a show referencing my life in Halloween. More people gradually got know to me and I’ve lived on ever since.”
Keisuke remains silent as if he doesn’t know how to respond. He finally mutters, “I’m sorry, for what happened. I guess.”
Hoashi lets out a hoarse chuckle and continued, “Keisuke-kun. Halloween is about to start. I’ll send you back to Earth.”
Keisuke nods hesitantly.
Hoashi acknowledges his hesitance and comments, “Enjoy and celebrate Halloween, at least for the sake of us ghosts, Keisuke-kun.”
“…aight.”
With that, all the stalls along with Hoashi disappear in a flash, leaving Keisuke by himself. Chiyo and Suzume returns to the stage.
“Chiyo! Suzume! Oi!” Keisuke shouts at them.
“What, are you going to tell us to stop celebrating Halloween again?” Suzume shot an annoyed look at Keisuke.
“No, argh. I- I want to celebrate Halloween with you.. is it too late?” Keisuke makes out in stutters.
“Huh?!! Keisuke-kun! Of course it’s not too late! C’mon, join us in trick on treating!” Chiyo excitedly shouts out. Suzume is also shocked, but she happily nods at Chiyo’s request to Keisuke.
With that, the three run off stage, ready to celebrate Halloween.
The narrator voices again, “In the end, Keisuke learns the meaning of Halloween through the ghost world, and decides to celebrate it as he goes trick or treating with his friends. Rejoice, congratulations to Keisuke. Thank you for watching our show in Wonder stage.”
All the actors go back on stage and bow. Shortly after, curtain falls as audience clap and cheer.
Niji turns to Toya, “Uncle Toya! Was that father and dad onstage?” She looks at him with eyes shining in delight. Toya nods and smiles at Niji. An, Kohane and Anhane start talking about Keisuke, the role Akito is acting as.
“I didn’t know that loser could act!” An is amused.
“An! Hey!” Kohane looks a bit embarrassed.
A ginger and a purple-haired male approach them. Niji runs towards them. “Father! Dad!” She laughs.
Akito pats her hair and lifts her up from the ground. “Niji, did you enjoy the show?”
Niji nods energetically. “I’m glad Keisuke could enjoy Halloween now!”
Rui smirks, “Fufu, darling, I told you, there’s nothing to worry about~”
Akito blushes slightly. “…whatever. As long as Niji enjoyed the show, it doesn’t matter.”
“Can we go play now? Together?” Niji looks at the adults and Anhane.
“Yeah! I wanna ride the rollercoasters again!” Anhane joined in.
“Okay. Let’s go!” Akito smiles and the two children.
The seven walk off in bliss, as they enjoy the Halloween holiday. Rejoice, congratulations to the Kamishros.