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Drama lesson. How Rui Kamishiro used to adore it. Getting up and acting with Tsukasa in front of a class. It was fun, especially since it was just the two of them. What more could he ask for? It was a reasonable request. Time alone with his friend without anyone else. Rui got that with all his other friends so he should get it with Tsukasa.
Then this school year changed everything! A time when Rui was happy soon became a time when Rui felt left out, almost as if he were in middle school. Emu and Nene had joined the drama class. It sounded good, didn’t it? All of Wonderland X Showtime in a class together. How wrong he was.
Eventually, by February, it had devolved into Tsukasa and Nene giggling at how Rui gave his lines. He did it like he always did though. What changed? Did he do something? If he did, god, he wanted to know. He didn’t wanna lose Tsukasa! Tsukasa was his best friend!!
Now it was May, nearing Summer break. Monday first two periods was an… annoying time to have drama. Nonetheless, for the first part of the year, he participated and gave his absolute all. Their teacher had just finished going over their assessment for Summer.
Usually, the drama assessment was a monologue or a big piece in a team. This time it was… a trailer..? That didn’t seem quite right to Rui. While, yes, trailers are an important part of advertising a film, why is that their whole grade? Its a drama class. For acting. Should they not be judged on that? This confused him.
Like always, Emu was the first one in apart from Rui. Her hair was done and a small smile on her face. Rui gave her a smile back. Clearly, it was fake. Last night he had been up until 4am, wondering what he had done to deserve the unfair hand the universe was giving him yet again.
He didn’t sleep well at all.
At least he could blame his lack of energy on that instead of the truth, his jealousy. That respect and care he once felt for Tsukasa had shifted into something far more horrid. It was envy. How Rui would kill to have that confidence. The loud over the top persona Tsukasa has. How he always hides his sadness well to those who don’t know him. How he carries to himself. How people like him so easily. Now this jealousy was making him resent Tsukasa.
After watching the clip they would have to make the trailer for, Tsukasa and Nene wandered in, fashionably late as always. That annoyed him. Why did they think they could just come in whenever and no one notice? That tone Tsukasa used with teachers. Did he have no respect? And the way Nene would talk back. Oh he hated it. He hated it with a passion.
Once Nene and Tsukasa walked in, Rui braced himself. Whilst Emu had heard all about Rui’s problem with how Tsukasa was treating him, she didn’t have any annoyance at them for it. To Rui, it felt like she only cared when it affected her. That annoyed Rui.
Was he always this easily irritable..? Why was everyone and everything annoying him.
What an annoying thought.
Tsukasa and Nene took their seats. Even though Rui sat beside Tsukasa, he only said hi to Emu. When even was the last time him and Tsukasa talked one-on-one willingly? Was it.. December? Half a year ago. He was losing him. This made his stomach drop.
Everything suddenly piled on Rui and he zoned out, staring at the carpet. So many thoughts were running through his head. About 95% were about him and Tsukasa. He thought back to March last year. Rui had a bad eating disorder and Tsukasa literally made him food so as he would eat. What happened..? Was it because he was friends with Mizuki..? Him and Mizuki had been friends longer than he was friends with Tsukasa though. Why did Tsukasa suddenly get to leave because he’s friends with someone he doesn’t like. Tsukasa has done this so often yet Rui stayed.
Before he registered how much time had passed, drama had ended. The whole period Emu had been softly rubbing Rui’s arm. Did he only now just realise? Oh god. He didn’t deserve a friend as sweet as Emu. It almost made him tear up. She could tell he was upset and just gave him some form of physical touch. The worst part is, she was talking to Tsukasa but she still did this. He was distracting her and being a hassle.
Why didn’t his attempt in Middle school work? He wouldn’t ever need to worry anyone again. Being a hassle and burden was something he hated.
Emu, Nene, and Tsukasa all walked on as Rui stayed behind to clean their desks up. Tsukasa and Nene had a bad habit of messing about in class. Rui was always left to tidy it up ad he was the ‘responsible’ and ‘fun killer’. All he wanted was to obey rules. Is that that bad?
Once he finally cleaned, he left the room and saw Mizuki. She looked at him with a knowing gaze.
“You okay?”
The words were so simple. When Rui fully clocked it as her, he wrapped her arms around her tightly. She knew all too well he wasn’t doing good. He denied it for a second but she saw right through it.
“I know you aren’t. Talk to me on the train home, kay?” She said and Rui nodded, walking away to his next class.
Maybe drama did have some good things about it.