Chapter Text
Tenma Tsukasa, a star created. Shining brighter than anything else in the sky. Bringing smiles. Inspiring minds. Reviving dead dreams. He may be hotheaded, but he has a big heart. Enough to give love to everyone he meets. Even a certain director that he nearly pushed away. It took him a while, but he eventually realized that he fell in love with this director. He kept shining despite the many troubles his poor sister went through, the many bumps on the road with his troupe, and the reality that he’s going to be an adult soon.
It’s laughable how easy it is for that shine to go away from a single red ribbon.
During lunch | Kamiyama High School
Tenma Tsukasa was walking around looking for a certain purple-haired director. They had planned on meeting up to discuss their new project. The blonde couldn’t find the other. Strange. What else could Rui be doing at this moment?
He searched on each of the floors where the director might be wandering. Rui wasn’t there. He searched closets in case the other was tinkering away. No sign there. He searched all across the campus before he realized he forgot to check the rooftop. Oh, Rui must be up there. I remember he mentioned liking being on the rooftop. I’m so forgetful!
Tsukasa quickly ran up the stairs and pushed the door up onto the roof. Ah hah! There he is! Tsukasa’s heart raced when he found that the director was indeed on the roof, but he wasn’t alone. He was talking to Mizuki Akiyama about something. Tsukasa figured he could wait until Rui was finished talking to Akiyama before asking about the script. It did seem like they were talking about something private.
From the angle Tsukasa was at he could only see the side of Rui’s head. He couldn’t hear any words spoken, but he could see Akiyama’s face. I didn’t know Rui and Akiyama-san were this close.Tsukasa felt like he was intruding. This moment felt too private, too romantic, to Tsukasa. Akiyama is looking at Rui with those eyes. That look she’s giving him. It’s the look of pure understanding. Like Rui completes Akiyama.
It can’t be. They’re just close friends. Is what Tsukasa thought before he saw Rui hand over a small gift.
A little red ribbon.
He tied it in her hair.
Akiyama leaned in. Close.
Too close.
Tsukasa left before he saw anything else.
Strange. I don’t think crying stings this much.
He didn’t notice the crystals that fell from his eyes.
Evening | Nonogi Park
Akiyama and Rui. I just realized my feelings about Rui. It’s already too late. I can’t believe I didn’t notice this earlier.
“Tsukasa? You haven’t said a word. Is everything okay?” Nene asked the blonde.
Since the meeting to discuss this new project, he hadn’t said a word. How could he? His heart just got shattered into oblivion.
“Yeah, I just had a long day today.” He lied through his teeth.
Nene squinted her eyes at him, clearly doubtful of his words. Before she could pry any further, she was interrupted by their junior walking with the director
“Nene!!! Tsukasa!!!” Emu’s voice pierced through the silence.
She skipped over to the two, abandoning Rui in favor of nearly tackling Nene as a greeting. Rui chuckled at the younger’s antics before walking over to talk to the troupe altogether.
“Tsukasa, I thought we would be discussing props today at lunch. Did something come up?”
Just the nuke that you and Akiyama are together. “Oh, something came up! Sorry, I couldn’t tell you earlier.” He lied. Again.
The director noticed something amiss but continued on anyway.
“Our newest project is going along well. We’ve got a network wanting to work with us. The only thing we have to do is to go pitch it to them this Friday. I’ve asked Akiyama-san to help us out with a sample costume for Kiryuin. We’ll need to get Tsukasa measured by her and some convincing fake gems and… .. .. “ Rui continued on and on, but Tsukasa couldn’t focus on a word.
Something was burning in his eyes. It felt sharp. Glass-like. He wiped his eyes. In his hands lay a small star-shaped crystal.
Oh. I’m screwed.