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“Alas, my dear. It seems that our time together has come to an end. It is time for us to part ways.”
“But-! My love, our time together does not have to end! I can come up with something to-”
“My dear. Please, do not fret. This was to happen from the very moment we met. Let us enjoy our time together now without worries, and may we meet again, in another life .”
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the curtains began to draw, signalling the end of the play. The sound of students screaming praises and some even sobbing profusely filled the school’s auditorium.
However, despite the situation, a certain ginger-haired boy could only stare in awe at the spot where the leading lady of the play, Lumine, stood before the curtains drew to a close.
“Yo, Ajax. You okay? You look… Um-”
“Who was that..?” Ajax, the ginger-haired boy, completely ignoring the question he was asked, turned to face his friend, Kaeya, who was looking at him as if he had grown a second head.
Kaeya, just stared for a few seconds, trying to make sure his friend didn’t need to be sent to the nurse’s office, before answering the question, “Oh, her? That was Lumine. She’s one of the best members in the theater club. So, it’s no surprise that she plays the lead role in the play.”
“Lumine…” Ajax whispered to himself, testing the name on his tongue before grinning like an idiot.
Kaeya squinted his eyes at his friend. Maybe he should bring Ajax to the nurse’s office…
Before Kaeya could do anything, Ajax grabbed onto Kaeya’s shoulder, causing the male to jump a little at the suddenness of the action.
“Kaeya… I’m going to join the theater club.”
“KAEYA! HOLY SHIT! I GOT IN! I FUCKING GOT-”
“Excuse me sir, this is the school library. Please keep your volume down or I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Ajax gasped, startled at the sudden voice.
Slowly, he turned to face where the voice had come from and was faced with a very irritated looking librarian, face stormy.
Ajax muttered a quiet apology before practically sprinting away off to Kaeya’s table, earning him another glare from the librarian.
When Ajax took a seat at the table, he heard muffled laughs. He looked up and saw none other than Kaeya, with his hand over his mouth looking as if he was about to cry as he tried to stop himself from laughing.
Ajax just squinted his eyes, glaring at Kaeya, debating on whether or not to punch the man. In the end, he decided against the idea, unless he wanted to get kicked out of the library.
Ignoring his friend’s laughs, Ajax placed a piece of paper in front of Kaeya. Kaeya took in a deep breath to calm himself down before picking up the paper, only to be surprised once more. “Holy shit! You actually got into the theater club?!”
Nodding vigorously, with a proud look on his face, Ajax responded, “Yeah, I did- Wait, fuck you mean, actually?!”
“I mean- ehe, I never doubted you for a second! Good for you!” Kaeya avoided Ajax’s gaze, clearly embarrassed about what he had said.
Rolling his eyes, Ajax brushed it off, not wanting to continue with this useless fight, “Anyways, I finally have the chance to hang out with Lumine more!”
Ajax smiled goofily to himself, imagining all the wonderful scenarios of himself with Lumine. Maybe he and her could be in a play where their characters are lovers! Or maybe, they could hang out after the club. Oh! Maybe, they could-
“Wait, you were serious?” The voice of Kaeya snapped him out of his many daydreams of Lumine. When he turned to look at Kaeya, he saw that Kaeya was looking at him with a look on his face that said, “seriously?”
Ajax made a noise of confusion at his friend, only causing Kaeya to be even more shocked. “Bro, I know you told me but I thought you were kidding! You seriously joined the theater club just so you could hang out with Lumine?” The blue-haired male exclaimed, eyes so wide that Ajax was starting to wonder if they would just roll out and fall onto the floor. That’d be an amusing sight.
“Bro, it’s literally just simple admiration, it’s not that weird.”
“Simple?! Seriously? Nah bro, that’s wild. You’re such a simp!”
“You wouldn’t understand. I mean, you’ve never dated someone before.” Ajax, remarked, scoffing
“Yeah, I have-”
“Albedo doesn’t count because he rejected you six times.”
Kaeya immediately went silent. Blinked a few times before throwing his pencil case straight at Ajax’s face, resulting in the ginger haired boy to yell out, “Ow!”
In the end, they both got kicked out of the library.
Breath Ajax. Breath. You’ll be fine.
It’ll be fine.
“FUCK!”
It was not fine.
Leaning himself against one of the walls in the dressing room he was allocated to, Ajax could feel his breathing increase each second that went by.
Currently, Ajax was in one of the dressing rooms meant for theater club members. He was just minutes away from his audition for the lead role of Romeo, in the play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
At first, Ajax didn’t want to participate in the play. Considering this was his first official play as he had just joined the theater club, he thought he’d be better off as a backstage member or background actor. However, when he found out that Lumine was playing the role of Juliet and there were a few scenes where the actor of Romeo and Juliet had to kiss, he almost immediately signed up for the audition for the role of Romeo.
Ajax doesn’t think he’s ever opened up a Google Form so fast in his life.
Luckily for Ajax, out of the many people who signed up for the audition, he managed to be part of the ten who actually got the chance to go for tryouts.
Ever since he got the news that he was selected, Ajax has been practicing day and night in order to perfect his lines for the scene the teachers in charge of the play provided.
Hell, Ajax has probably read that script so many times that he’s been reciting his lines in his sleep!
Finally, the day of his tryouts had come, and he could not be more nervous.
He had practiced so hard for so many days.
Perfected his lines to a tee.
Yet, now, leaning against the wall, he couldn’t recite any of his lines before he stuttered or forgot the next word.
Why now did he have to be nervous?!
Taking in a deep breath, Ajax attempted to calm himself down. In only two minutes he’d have to go onto the main stage and act in front of the teachers.
Calm down Ajax.
If you’re panicking this bad for the audition, you’ll suck when actually performing for the school.
Taking in one last deep breath, Ajax pushed himself off the wall and slammed the door to the dressing room open.
He could do this.
Panting softly, Ajax looked up to the teachers, showing that he was done with his act.
Clapping slowly, the teachers showed no emotion on their faces as they wrote down their notes.
After a few moments of awkward silence, the teacher seated in the middle finally spoke, “Thank you Ajax. We will inform you and the others on who got the role of Romeo during the next club gathering.”
Ajax nodded his head slowly, still regaining his energy from his previous actions.
“You may leave the stage now,” Ajax wasn’t sure which of the teachers said that, his head spinning from the thought of not getting the role.
Ajax gave a weak smile as he bowed down as a sign of respect to the teachers before finally leaving the stage.
Was he seriously doing all of this just so he could be the pretend lover of the girl he liked?
Maybe Kaeya was right… He is a simp.
As the bell rang, members of the theater club began to pour in.
Many of the members ran over to their respective friend groups, crowding certain spots of the auditorium stage.
Ajax, unfortunately, did not have a friend group in the club. This being because he had just joined the club only a few weeks ago.
Usually, for a person, they’d be upset if they didn’t have anyone to talk to. However, not Ajax. The man was ecstatic. This was his chance to get closer to Lumine. He could approach her, saying that he was new here and wanted to make friends! It was the perfect plan!
Looking around for a blonde head of hair, Ajax almost instantly spotted Lumine. She was currently in the left corner of the auditorium stage, talking with a few of her good friends. Their names, if Ajax remembered correctly, are Amber and Ayaka.
How did Ajax know this? Well, it wasn’t like he stayed up all night for the past few days trying to figure out what Lumine liked or did not like, or finding out who she was friends with to see if he could get on their good side so he could ask if they could set him up with Lumine.
Aha, of course not.
Smiling to himself, Ajax began to walk over to the group of girls, trying to think of a few conversation starters.
However, as Ajax began to get closer to the group, he could help but get more and more nervous.
What if Lumine thought he was weird? What if he says something which she doesn’t like? What if he panics and suddenly starts to speak in a weird accent?!
Coming to a halt, Ajax quickly turned around and walked back to the wall he was standing at before.
Ahh! Why did he have to be so nervous? Just get over there and talk to her!
Taking in a deep breath, Ajax calmed himself.
It’ll be fine. Lumine won’t judge him. She isn’t like that. He won’t mess up.
Letting out one final breath, Ajax once again began to walk over to Lumine and her friends.
Ajax was just about to call out to Lumine when suddenly, “All right, students! Gather round! Me and the other teachers have finally come up with a cast for the play!” The voice of the teacher echoed throughout the auditorium.
Perking up, Lumine said something to her friends before walking toward the teacher along with many other students.
Reaching his hand out pathetically, Ajax sighed. Well, there goes that plan,
Wait. Did the teacher just say-
HOLY SHIT.
Rushing over to where all the other students were, he waited patiently ( not really ) for the teacher to announce the roles.
“Okay, so as you all know, the role of Juliet was already decided weeks ago. If you were unaware, it’ll be played by Lumine. However, all the other roles were available to anyone in the club, you just had to submit your application on the google forms and if you were picked, you could go for the audition. So, from those auditions, we have decided on the cast of the play! So, please pay attention, or else you won’t know your role!” The teacher spoke, looking at the list of the roles in her hand.
Ajax groaned softly. Why was the teacher talking so much? Hurry up!
As the teacher began announcing the roles, Ajax waited impatiently for the teacher to finally announce who got the role for Romeo, fidgeting with his fingers nervously
“-The person playing the role of Lady Montague will be, Amber!”
A few soft claps could be heard from students congratulating Amber on getting the role she wanted, as well as a few sobs from those who didn’t.
“And finally, the person playing the role of Romeo is…”
FINALLY! Come on! Please! Please! Please! Please-
“Lyney!”
I want to die.
Loud cheers erupted from the students. Many crowding around the man named Lyney, to extend their congratulations. Ajax, however, only sent death glares in Lyney’s direction, imagining the man suffering in every way possible.
I hope you get skinned alive. I hope your skull gets split open. I hope-
“Uh miss?” Lyney’s voice suddenly cut through all the cheers, snapping Ajax out of his angry daze.
“Yes Lyney? Did you need to confirm something?” The teacher turned to face an awkward looking Lyney, her face twisted in confusion.
“Well, you see… After the auditions, I realised that the day before the play, I have to attend an event hosted by my ‘father’. So I would prefer if I had a role that doesn’t require me to be on stage much or a being member who helps backstage, as I may be tired from the day before. I apologise for not informing you earlier,” Lyney said, bowing in apology after he completed speaking.
The teacher seemed to look disappointed, thinking for a moment before sighing out aloud. “It’s alright, I understand. I guess you can help Chiori in designing the costumes, and on the day of the performance, you can be part of the backstage crew. Is that better for you?”
Lyney perked up at that, liking those roles much better. “Yes! Thank you miss!”
The teacher just smiled back at Lyney before looking back down to the list, “Hm, since Lyney will no longer be playing the role of Romeo, someone else will have to take that role.”
Now, it was Ajax’s turn to perk up, his eyes immediately widening. He still had a chance!
Thank you Lyney! I definitely didn’t wish for your downfall five seconds ago! Ajax thought to himself, no longer hating the man, grateful that Lyney was willing to give up the chance to kiss Lumine.
“Well, I guess we’ll have to pick the second best auditionee. Since that’s the case, the person playing Romeo will be Ajax.”
…
AHHHHHHH! OH MY GOD, I GOT THE ROLE.
Ajax felt like he was going to cry from joy.
He actually got the role!
All those sleepless nights he spent practicing his lines did not go in vain!
He got to play the role of Romeo!
He gets to kiss Lumine!
…
The realisation hit Ajax like a ton of bricks.
Holy shit.
HE GETS TO KISS LUMINE.
Ajax felt like he was going to faint from excitement and nervousness. His first kiss will be with the girl he likes!
Shaking his head, Ajax calmed himself, not wanting to seem so excited in front of everyone, especially Lumine, lest she realise his feelings for her. Ajax took a deep breath and gave a curt nod towards the teacher, hiding his true feelings.
“Alright then, the roles are settled!” Loud cheers erupted from the students, interrupting the teacher. However, the teacher didn’t seem to mind, enjoying the excitement the students exuded.
Waiting for the cheers to die down, only then did the teacher continue talking, “We don’t have time to waste, so I suggest we start rehearsals now. I’m sure you should know at least most of your lines considering you needed them for your auditions, am I right?”
The students all hummed and spoke the word, “yes” in agreement.
“Good, since we already have that, I’ll start to teach all the actors their positions and actions! Background characters, we’ll start with your lot first! All other actors, please go backstage and revise your lines if you have forgotten any!”
The teacher continued to shout instructions to all the students, only once she was done, did she dismiss everyone, signaling for the background actors to follow her.
Ajax began to walk backstage with the rest of the members, staring at Lumine the whole way.
Once he was backstage, he located himself in one of the less crowded areas, preferring to be left in solitude. Pulling out his phone, Ajax began to revise his lines, practically not even needing the script, having remembered it almost fully by heart, only messing up a few times on his lines.
Ajax was halfway through reading his lines of Act one, scene five, when he heard a voice speak, “Hi Ajax! Wanna practice together?”
Ajax’s heart skipped a beat. He could recognise that voice anywhere. Turning around in one quick motion, Ajax was now face to face with none other than the Lumine.
Ajax felt the breath leave his lungs. He stood rooted to the ground in awe, his mouth opened to form an ‘O’ shape. “Uh, Ajax? Are you okay?” Lumine’s voice suddenly cut through the air, snapping Ajax from his trance.
Ajax’s eyes widened. He just made a fool of himself in front of the girl he likes!
“O-oh! Yeah, nah, I’m good. Aha, what were you saying earlier? Aha…” Ajax instantly tried to change the subject, not wanting to further embarrass himself. Lumine blinked a few times, surprised by the sudden change, but quickly regained her usual bright smile.
“Well, I was just wondering, considering that you're playing Romeo and I’m playing Juliet, maybe we could practice our lines together!”
Damn, I thought she was gonna say that she wants to practice the kissing scene. Well, a man can dream.
Trying to keep his composure, lest he’d embarrass himself further, Ajax gave a simple, “sure!” and waited for Lumine to say something.
“Yay!” Lumine cheered in a soft voice, not wanting to be too loud, and clapping her hands together. “Okayyy… Where are you in the script now?” Lumine said as she pressed up against Ajax’s side, trying to peek at Ajax’s phone.
Ajax gasped slightly, surprised at how bold Lumine was.
Ajax! Stop thinking like that! She just wants to see your phone!
Tilting his phone to the side to allow Lumine to see his script, Ajax also turned his head to face away from Lumine, not wanting her to see his blushing face.
“Ah okay! I’ll pull up the script on my phone and we can start!” Lumine pulled herself off Ajax, causing him to let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding in. Lumine typed a few things onto her phone, moving her fingers at lighting speed, before she turned the phone to face Ajax. “You're here, right?” Lumine asked, tilting her head to the side in a cute manner.
“Right,” Ajax smiled when he saw Lumine giggle as she read the lines. God she was so pretty.
Lumine’s eyes scanned the script for a moment before she started to speak, “Alright then! I’ll start us off!”
Taking a breath, Lumine’s demeanor changed to fit the role of Juliet, as she began to speak, “Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much. Which mannerly devotion shows in this; for saints have hands that pilgrim’s hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.”
Listening to how Lumine spoke, Ajax couldn’t help but be impressed. Lumine isn’t the lead for nothing.
“Have not saints' lips, and holy palmers too?”
Lumine giggled softly, enjoying this practice season between the two of them. “Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.”
Ajax opened his mouth, about to read his next line when suddenly the loud voice of the teacher was heard, “Can I have all the main and side characters to come to me? Chiori and Lyney have to take measurements for the outfits!”
Ajax seemed to deflate like a balloon, clearly disappointed at the fact that he couldn’t continue practicing with Lumine. “Awe, it seems like our time is cut short… If we still have time after this, how about we continue practicing!” Ajax immediately perked up at the idea, he turned to face Lumine and nodded, disappointment no longer evident on his face.
Lumine smiled, “Okay then! Let’s get going! We shouldn’t make Lyney and Chiori wait too long!” After finishing talking, Lumine turned away from him and rushed off to the line forming where Chiori and Lyney were.
Following after Lumine, Ajax stood behind Lumine in line, waiting for his turn to get measured.
Just like that, the day of the performance arrived. The past few weeks the theater club has spent practicing seemed to go by in a flash.
Ajax was currently in his assigned dressing room, reciting his lines in his head, praying to god that he didn’t mess up.
Ajax was reciting his lines for the last few scenes when he heard a knock on the door, “You’re up in five! Get out here!” The voice of the teacher in charge echoed through his room despite the teacher having spoken from the other side of the door.
“A-alright!” Ajax said back, his voice a little shaky from nervousness.
Hesitantly, Ajax pushed the door to the dressing room open, pulling at his collar awkwardly. When he reached the entrance of the stage, he felt himself start to get dizzy.
It was now or never.
Ajax had spent all that time rehearsing and he was not going to mess up now.
If Ajax manages to not mess up, Lumine will be impressed and maybe then they could get closer! And then maybe… Just maybe, she’ll start to fall for him!
Ajax blushed at the thought. Not now Ajax! Focus on the play!
Hearing the actor of the character Montague start to say his line, “Both myself and many other friends.” And whatever the rest was, Ajax prepared himself to step on stage. The second the actor finished saying his line, Ajax stepped onto the stage. The crowd erupted into cheers the second they saw Ajax, or well, in this case, Romeo.
Ajax ignored them and got into position, waiting for the rest of the actors on stage to continue with their lines.
‘See where he comes. So please you, step aside. I’ll know his grievance or be much denied.” The actor of Benvolio continued to speak.
Ajax had a feeling this play would go well.
Ajax lied.
This play was not going well.
Well, it was, for now, but now, as Ajax stood, hand in hand with Lumine, on stage in front of hundreds of students, Ajax felt himself getting more nervous by the second.
It wasn’t because he was in front of the entire school. No, he really didn’t care about that, he’s used to being the center of attention so that didn’t really bother him. What actually was causing Ajax’s distress was the fact that, in only a few more lines, he and Lumine would have to kiss! He’d have to have his first kiss with the girl he likes, in front of the entire fucking school!
They’d both obviously talked about it with each other during rehearsals but decided to only pretend to kiss during the rehearsals and only actually kiss each other during the play.
As Lumine spoke her lines, she spoke with a tone that focused all attention on her. Hell, if it weren’t for the fact that Ajax was currently panicking over the kiss with Lumine, he’d probably be thinking about how pretty Lumine looked in the Juliet outfit. Well, not that he wasn’t doing so, but, you know what he means.
Once Lumine finished, Ajax hastily started to speak his lines as well, the ones that he’d practiced a thousand times before. “O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do. They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.”
“Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.”
Ajax swore he could hear his heartbeat from how fast his heart was beating. Only one more line before he and Lumine had to kiss. Ajax’s entire world seemed to slow down. His head spinning, yet at the same time, he felt that his head was clear from worries.
This was it.
All he had to do was say this one line.
Ajax took a deep breath.
“Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.” As if a curse was lifted, the second those breathless words left his mouth, Ajax slammed his lips against Lumine’s soft ones.
Maybe he had slammed his lips against Lumines a little too hard, but neither Lumine nor Ajax seemed to care. While the kiss seemed to last for only a few seconds, to Ajax, it felt like an eternity. The way their lips seemed to fit together perfectly. The way Lumine tasted was nothing like he has ever had before. She tasted sweet yet at the same time, had a flavour of something Ajax couldn’t describe. All he knows is that she's addicting.
Ajax was just about to move deeper into the kiss when Lumine pulled away. The pair was panting heavily, breathless from the intense kiss. Lumine was blushing heavily but seemed to keep her composure, Ajax on the other hand looked like he was in a trance, blinking blankly. Dazed, Ajax blinked a few times, confused on why Lumine had suddenly stopped the kiss.
Ajax only seemed to realise what was going on when Lumine whacked him softly on his arm. Ajax’s eyes widened, ‘ Shit! He has to say his lines!’
“I-uh, Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.”
SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. FUCK! HE MESSED UP. HE FUCKING MESSED UP.
Despite the calm look on Ajax’s face, his inner self was panicking like crazy! Ajax could barely even remember his lines! His mind dazed from the kiss.
“Then have my lips the sin that they took.” Lumine was flawless, despite her having been embarrassed from the kiss, she showed almost no sign of messing up. It truly impressed Ajax.
Just one more kiss.
That was all Ajax needed to do to complete the scene. (And a few more lines but that’s not important right now.)
“Sin from my lips?” Ajax started, his mind barely being able to process anything other than Lumine’s figure.
“O trespass sweetly urged!”
Ajax prepared himself.
“Give me my sin again.”
Once again, Ajax slammed his lips against Lumines, their breaths mixing. This kiss was not supposed to last as long as the previous one, however, when Ajax was about to pull away, he felt Lumine begin to deepen the kiss, her delicate arms wrapped around his neck to pull him closer.
Holy fucking shit. This is really happening.
After a few seconds, the both pulled away rather aggressively, avoiding eye contact with the other. Lumine’s face was now even more red. Her cheeks dusted a bright pink. Ajax was no better, his face could rival the colour of a tomato.
Silence filled the auditorium for a few seconds before Lumine’s eyes widened as she began to frantically recite her line. “You kiss by th’ book.”
Ajax and Lumine made eye contact for a split second before they both averted their eyes.
The rest of the play went off without a hitch and received a standing ovation from the audience.
Back in the dressing room, Ajax was seated on a chair on a call with Kaeya. “Bro, I think I’m going to faint.”
“No but like, you both kissed so passionately, I literally was going to scream.” Kaeya replied to his very nervous friend.
“NO, but like, If i weren’t on stage, I think I would’ve fainted. Like, genuinely. I’m so glad for the next parts of the scene, I wasn’t on stage.” Ajax put the call on speaker mode before he stuffed his face into his hands, groaning softly.
“Come on. It wasn’t that bad! You did well!” Kaeya attempted to comfort his friend, sadly, to no avail. His attempts at comforting his friend in fact only seemed to make the situation worse!
As Kaeya continued to talk, Ajax suddenly heard a loud knock on the door to the dressing room he was in. Lifting his face up from his hands, Ajax contemplated for a moment, before shouting, “Come in!”
“Is something wrong?” Ajax heard Kaeya’s voice crackling from the phone speaker. “Hey- uh, can you stay quiet for a moment, someone just knocked on the door.” Ajax replied, not waiting for Kaeya to respond before he stopped talking to the man.
Slowly, the door began to push open, and Ajax was left dumbfounded when he saw the person who entered the room.
“I’m not interrupting you, am I?” Lumine’s sweet voice filled his ears.
Ajax couldn’t believe his eyes. Lumine was here. Standing in front of him.
Frantically, Ajax shook his head and responded, “Ah! No, no! Not at all, aha!” Ajax laughed awkwardly, only making the situation worse.
Lumine giggled softly, smiling at Ajax. “I’m glad I didn’t disrupt you,” Her voice was like music to Ajax’s ears. This must be what Angel’s sound like.
Lumine opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it close, fidgeting with her fingers. Ajax squinted his eyes, finding her actions weird. He was going to speak when Lumine suddenly blurted out, “Can I have your number!?”
…
WHAT!?
LUMINE IS ASKING FOR HIS NUMBER???
OH MY GOD.
“I- uh, I, sure! Sure! Aha, here- oh shit,” As Ajax picked his phone up to pass it to Lumine, he almost dropped it. Twice.
Eventually, he managed to pass the phone to Lumine, allowing her to add her contact to his phone.
“Done!” Lumine smiled and paused. Lumine felt her blood run cold and she stumbled over her words as she added on to her previous sentence, “I just need your number because we’re part of the same club of course! Haha! Definitely that! Mhm! Yep!” Now, Lumine’s smile turned into an awkward looking one. ( still pretty looking obviously )
Lumine now spun around to face the door, looking away from Ajax. “I’m going now! See you!” Lumine grabbed the door handle and yanked the door open. She took a step, ready to leave the room when she paused.
Ajax tilted his head, confused on why she stopped.
“You know, you were really great on stage today, considering this is your first performance… Maybe we should go out for coffee or something some time… Just me and you. You don’t have to answer yet though! Aha, I’ll text you the details! Bye!” And with that, Lumine ran off, slamming the door behind her.
The room was now pin drop silent, only the sound of Ajax’s breathing could be heard.
Finally, “Bro,” Ajax heard Kaeya speak.
“Did Lumine just ask you out?” Kaeya’s voice held a hint of amusement and shock.
However, Ajax didn’t reply.
“Ajax?”
WHAM!
“BRO?? HELLO, ARE YOU OKAY?”
Ajax fainted.