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Nene lays with her stomach facing up, back on her bed, her handheld console showing the 5th “GAME OVER” screen in the last 20 minutes. She’s never this bad at video games, even when she’s sick with the flu or hasn’t slept all night. Something is off.
She knows exactly what’s wrong but won’t acknowledge it, pressing the start button to simply retry the level. That’s another thing. She’s doing a replay right now, a game she’s beaten time and time again on all the difficulty levels. What she’s doing shouldn’t be a challenge, especially for her experienced hand, but her virtual character takes damage the second she starts walking.
Her mind isn’t exactly locked onto the game. She rethinks the play that they held at the Wonderstage today. It was undeniably a success, a great show that had the crowd roaring and clapping like they had never seen anything better than amateur stage acting in their lives.
Now that she’s in the reprieve of her home, Nene thinks it’s stupid that they were so impressed by their performance. When they were doing their final bows, though, the anxiety that flowed through her veins couldn’t have been more grateful for the unconditional praise. Even if that's not something she’d admit.
She groans as she watches her character take a significant amount of damage, her finger slipping and pressing the wrong button which renders her defenseless. That’s fine, she’s recovered from situations much more dire.
She continues thinking about their show. She had a more prominent role in today’s theater than she typically does, Tsukasa normally ruling the stage with his booming voice and nearly unbreakable spirit. It was a shock when Rui suggested it. It’s not like Nene consistently takes minor roles, there are only 4 of them (if you don’t count Robo-Nene) and each person is crucial to the development of the story. It simply surprised her when Rui handed her a script where her dialogue was much more extensive than anyone’s.
Honestly, it was probably a better idea that they followed this script and not the last one Rui suggested. Lots of mechanical work, some small explosives, and a grand amount of danger that Tsukasa didn’t seem keen on sacrificing his spinal cord for.
Her primary role wasn’t the only abnormality in Rui’s recent work, though. For lack of better words, the script just didn’t seem “Rui” like. There were nearly no interjections of wacky robots that are definitely a safety concern, no absurd plotline, no eccentric outfits designed by Mizuki; it was a sweet story of forbidden love. It followed the story of a princess and a commoner that were forbidden from interacting but love each other all the same. Main roles: Emu and Nene.
Nene suddenly drops her handheld from its position of hovering in front of her face, watching in slow motion as the device drops and lands square on her nose.
“Ow!” She whines, the faint sound of her character dying being overridden by the blood rushing to her ears. Her hand moves to cup her nose, her body rolling over on its side as she pushes the game to the back of her mind for the moment.
Stupid Rui, idiot Rui, casting Emu and Nene together in a romance story. Would Nene have wanted to romance Tsukasa or Rui? No. Would she have wanted to watch Emu romance them? Absolutely not. That still didn’t make her situation better, irritating Rui letting external factors influence his task as their playwright. If this were his real job then Nene would get him fired.
It had happened only a month ago, the secret slipping when Nene was operating with her guard down. Emu had to leave rehearsal unusually early because of a “super duper wonderhoy” dinner her sister needed help with. Whatever that means, Emu seemed excited and Nene couldn’t be mad at her shining happy smile.
Emu gave Nene a long and tight hug, swaying the two back and forth for a moment before shouting out.
“Bye Nene-chan! I’ll see you tomorrow at lunch!!” With that she was off. Nene watched longingly as she slowly brought a hand up to feel her cheek, her skin growing warmer as she finally allowed her body to drop its nonchalant act and fluster where Emu couldn't see her.
“Oho~? Nene is a little red, isn’t she?” An agitating voice called from behind her, her heart nearly plummeting down to her stomach as she scrambled to think of an excuse for her behavior. No matter what she said though, her fate was sealed. Rui had promised to keep his big mouth shut, to not interfere, but of course he would force Nene into an awkward situation under the guise of just acting.
Just acting, that’s all today was. Nene starts blushing, curling up and hiding her face in her hands.
Their practice rehearsals had gone fine, ending right before the final scene that Rui had just so happened to leave out of the script because he wanted the ending to “seem natural” when they actually performed. Tsukasa decided that meant he needed to put his whole heart into his role just in case his character died, Emu agreed quickly and said that the audience engagement would be so fun, leaving only Nene to be suspicious of Rui’s real motive.
Only on today, the actual show date, had Rui revealed to them what the final scene was. Nene was supposed to run from the building she was in during the previous scene, find Emu, the two of them wrapping the story together with the beautiful bow of a kiss.
20 minutes before the curtains open and Rui dropped such a horrific bombshell on them. Tsukasa decided it was the time to be philosophical and start talking about how lovely the ending is, Emu squealed with delight, again leaving only Nene to stand there with her jaw dropped low and face rapidly burning red.
“Nene-chan, are you okay?” A hand placed on her shoulder makes her jolt. Of course Emu picked up on how she was feeling, ever attentive and a little bit of a worrywart. Nene’s gaze made its way to a devilishly smirking Rui.
“O-oh, yeah. Everything’s fine.” Nene fought the urge to exhale rudely. She had no choice but to perform, she couldn’t kill everyone’s spirits and ruin the opportunity. She was put between a rock and a hard place all because Rui couldn’t mind his business. Well, the show must go on.
Nene grabs the pillow from under her head and pushes her face into it harshly. Why is she getting worked up? The kiss was acting, the feelings of butterflies flying around and her heartbeat doubling in speed was just her.
Her mood dims a little. Nene shuts down her game console and flicks the lights off. Acting acting acting. Everything was acting. Emu doesn’t think like that.
–
Despite promising to herself that she’d stop thinking about it, the thought of Emu’s lips on her hasn’t left her mind for more than a second since she’s woken up. They were so soft, and Emu was so gentle, and she could feel the everpresent smile– and she’s doing it again! Nene’s attention snaps to the English assignment in front of her, the only thing filled out being her name and the date.
Overhead, the bell rings to indicate the beginning of lunch.
“Whatever you didn’t finish on your papers is homework. Have it in by tomorrow at the latest,” her teacher calls in English that Nene can barely decipher. Ugh, just what she needs. She’s making her life needlessly harder with her inability to concentrate. Whatever, now that it’s lunch she can eat and play games on her phone to clear her head.
She leaves the classroom and makes her way to the rooftop, expertly avoiding anyone she doesn’t have the energy to interact with. Sorry Mizuki, sorry An, right now just isn’t the time.
Pushing the door open, her usual bench is completely unoccupied. As much as she enjoys Tsukasa’s and Rui’s company, today calls for just a moment between Nene and her thoughts. She walks over and sits down, popping open her bento and raising a bite to her mouth before chaos strikes.
“WAHAHA!!” A voice that’s so clearly Emu’s accompanies the slamming of a door and a startled yell.
“Emu! Where did you get that?! Put it down!” Now Tsukasa is shouting and being chased around the open space by Emu who’s wielding who knows what. It looks vaguely like a weapon and if Nene had to guess she’d say it’s one of Rui’s new inventions based on how he stands in the corner with a smug smirk on his face.
“This is my super amazing wand! Rui-kun gave it to me to use on you!” Yup, there it is. As quickly as Emu charges at him with it, Tsukasa snatches the item from Emu’s hand and holds it far above her head.
“No! We’re not doing this right now! A star will not accept this treatment at his own school that you don’t even go to! Rui! Stop enabling her.” Emu jumps and reaches as high as she can, struggling to grab her tool from his hand before eventually stopping and laughing. She giggles and laughs with abandon as she walks over and plops herself down next to Nene.
“Rui-kun will make me something new to get you with, just you wait and see.” Nene feels as Emu’s weight leans slightly onto her, her wide smile causing the sun to reflect off of her teeth as if she were the sunshine herself.
“Ah, I may have a few drafts I could clean up if you’d like Emu-kun.” Nene tunes them out as Tsukasa starts his rebuttal, instead subconsciously focusing on everything Emu. Her pink hair sways in and out of Nene’s field of vision, her laughs floating right into Nene’s ears from their close proximity, the joy and warmth that’s always practically radiating off of Emu transferring through their uniforms and hitting Nene deep in her heart.
Wait, what’s she even doing? Nene drops her head back down and continues eating her lunch. She’s getting too absorbed in yesterday’s show and getting her hopes up over nothing. Nene is just yearning hopelessly, the chances of her and Emu getting together being equivalent to the chances of a day being normal at this school. In fact, it wasn’t her and Emu who kissed, it was simply a princess and a commoner, nothing less and nothing more than their roles.
Tsukasa and Rui go back and forth, Emu laughs and jumps into their conversation when possible, the scene is everything normal. Even Nene’s unusual silence could be considered normal. It’s not outlandish to assume she didn’t sleep enough the night before like she so often does. Nene knows that’s not the truth, far too flustered and heartbroken at the same time to even try uttering a word around Emu.
The best, or maybe worst part, is that no one questions it. Lunch moves at an agonizingly slow pace as Nene tries her best to keep her eyes low and mouth full of food so she at least has an excuse to not talk.
The same bell from earlier rings again, the indicator of lunch’s end and the arrival of dispersal time for the 4 of them. Nene is equal parts relieved as she is bummed. Secretly cherishing Emu’s warmth and giggles in her ear but chiding herself for acting so stupidly every time she catches herself too caught up in it.
“Ah, I told Saki I would buy her the new treat they started serving today! I have to go!” Tsukasa runs towards the stairwell they had all climbed up from and thuds down each stair hastily. Rui walks to the door too, not flinging himself down the stairs as Tsukasa had.
“I’ll take my leave too. Don’t be late to Miya girls’.” Nene starts to stand too, setting her bento down on the bench and dusting herself off as Emu responds to Rui.
“Don’t worry about me, I run really fast and even if I’m late I know how to sneak around.” Rui only laughs before turning and closing the door behind him. Nene bends down to pick up her bento only to be caught off guard.
“Nene-chan.” The same hand on her shoulder from yesterday makes her jump for the second time. Taking a deep breath to steel herself, she turns to Emu and sees puppy dog eyes that she’s sure anyone would give into. “What’s wrong Nene-chan? You barely even talked today.” Emu’s hand moves from her shoulder and traces all the way down her arm to hold her hands.
To say Nene is flustered would be an absolute understatement. Her blood feels like it’s screaming and desperately racing between her blushing face and pumping heart. If she gets any more overwhelmed then she’s not sure if she’ll make it out alive.
“I-it’s nothing. I just played too many games last night.” Nene hopes to be let off the hook, her hands starting to become clammy under Emu's grasp. Of course Emu doesn’t give up that easily though, shaking her head in disagreement.
“No, you were like this last night too. You wouldn’t even talk to me after the show.” Emu stares insistently at her with her big pink eyes, Nene fighting the urge to squirm around to try and relieve her nervousness. This is quite literally the worst possible way this could have happened, not a Tsukasa or Rui in sight to save her from the embarrassment.
“I just.. I had never done a stage kiss before.” Nene admits sheepishly, her eyes fixed on the ground. Emu doesn’t respond instantly, silence stretching out for far too long and making Nene’s heart ache.
“Me neither.” Emu’s voice is unusually quiet and sincere, the calmness being enough to drag Nene’s eyes back up to Emu’s. “I had a lot of fun though, didn’t you? I like it when our shows have happy endings instead of sad ones.” The words die in Nene’s throat. That’s right, this is all just a matter of acting to Emu.
“I don’t really care. We were just playing a part.” Nene tries to force it down, to bite back the confession that sits on her tongue. She’s out of her mind to even think this is more than what it is at surface level.
“I guess so, but I liked playing around with you Nene-chan. You always get so sparkly and serious when you’re on stage, it made me feel even more in character. It was almost like I actually was the little commoner girl.” Emu’s smiling bright again but Nene can’t force the same expression on her face.
“But you’re not. We’re nothing like those roles.” Nene sounds painfully pessimistic but it’s an honest reflection of her inner turmoil. She almost feels sick having to admit all of this to the very girl that’s been plaguing her mind for who knows how long. That maybe just for a second she had inserted herself into the princess part a little too much and pretended that Emu would kiss her of her own volition.
“We aren’t? I thought that was why Rui-kun designed it that way, they were pretty similar to us.” Nene doesn’t let her heart jump. She knows Emu is just trying to make her feel better the way she always does. It’s not worth it to get excited only to be let down slowly again.
“Well I was the commoner girl who was always sneaking where she wasn’t supposed to, right? I’m not really supposed to even be here right now, hehe.” That’s true but definitely not a purposeful writing point. Rui probably just got lazy on finding reasons for this commoner to be at the princess’s house.
“And you were the princess who is way too quiet until she gets really brave in the end. That sounds a lot like Nene-chan if you ask me.” Another fluke, just something silly that Rui added for suspense.
“And of course they had their happy ending with the kiss because they love each other. Does that not sound like us to you?” Woah, what? Nene makes confused eye contact with Emu who doesn’t even falter.
“What are you talking about?” Emu pushes a little closer to Nene, their faces only inches apart but Nene can’t force herself to separate them.
“They’re just like us and got their happy ending with a kiss. We were playing their roles and we kissed. Doesn’t that mean Nene-chan and I have kissed?” Emu almost sounds innocent in her questioning, no malice or purposeful teasing on her face for Nene to use as some sort of distractor. Her face is completely lit ablaze despite not wanting it to be.
“But that was just for the show. We would never kiss for real.” Nene hates how pathetic and upset she sounds, accidentally showing off just how badly she has it for Emu.
“Why not?” Nene’s body tenses and completely freezes. Has Emu lost it?
“W-why not? Because you kiss people that you like romantically. You don’t like me like that.” Nene is almost angry with herself. If she had just been able to act normally around Emu, her co-star, then she would be in class right now instead of humiliating herself under the gentle wind that hits the rooftop.
“Does Nene-chan like me like that?” The assertive nature of the question is enough to make Nene gasp and take a step back, a step that Emu immediately reclaims by walking forwards to fill the space.
“T-that doesn’t matter.” It does matter, it means absolutely everything to Nene but she won’t say it. She can’t ruin the friendship Emu and her already have.
“I know that I kissed the princess as the ordinary citizen, but I didn’t want to.” Emu’s grip tightens on Nene’s hands, eyes staring into each other and not letting them break for even a moment. “I loved doing the play and seeing the smiles it brought to everyone’s faces. I wanted a little more though. I wanted to kiss Nene-chan, as me.”
Nene can’t even find the words to respond, she simply stares at Emu. Even Emu’s face is starting to turn pink to match her hair, the embarrassment seemingly having transferred to Emu and instead leaving Nene in simple shock.
“If you thought that it didn’t count when we were acting, would you let me kiss you now?” Emu inches closer and closer, their exhales of air gently caressing the other’s face. Nene’s mind is completely blank, her body only allowing her to slowly nod her head and lean forward to make up for their small height gap.
Their lips touch and Nene feels like the weight of the world is being lifted from her shoulders. The sparks that flew when they kissed while they were playing a part double, triple, quadruple until they turn into fireworks that blow up in the sky and declare their love. Nene’s stomach twists and flips upside down, not from the gruesome anxiety that she had been harboring earlier but instead intense feelings of excitement and adrenaline.
Her body feels like it’s performing CPR on itself, her heart restarting and pulling her out of her half-dead state to replace it with pure bliss. Emu’s chapstick tastes like strawberries and Nene can’t help but melt under the gentle pressure of their lips being pushed together. She squints one eye open to attempt to peer at Emu, making eye contact with pink half-lidded eyes instead of being able to see the cute squinting she was expecting.
Unfortunately, air inevitably runs out. Emu pulls back slowly, creating a space between them that’s only filled with their shared heavy breathing. They stare adoringly into each other’s eyes for a moment before Emu startles and separates hers and Nene’s hands.
“I have to get back to my school!” She looks less worried and more plotting, probably thinking up an excuse or idea on how to sneak herself back in seamlessly. She quickly turns her head left and right before zoning back in on Nene. She puts her hands on one of Nene’s shoulders to support herself, rising on her tip-toes just a bit to peck Nene on the cheek.
“Bye Nene-chan, I’ll see you later at the Wonderstage!” Emu waves happily and waits for Nene to wave back before she rushes down the stairs.
Nene stands there in shock for a moment, her face still utterly hot and body tingly. There are a lot of things she has to think about like how she’s going to get to her own class and how her and Emu will interact after this, but all of those take the back burner for now. Right now she relishes in the returned affection, her heart swelling up like a birthday balloon and helping her float impossibly high. She can’t wait for rehearsal today.