The teacher's voice rang through the building as if the theatre were Tengu city and her words were a spatial quake.

  "Last up, Souta and… Yuki!"

  The room went silent.

  "…."

  "…."

  Wait what?

  I blinked.

  My head snapped up, turned to the backstage curtain as it'd suddenly birthed a ghost.

  Yuki?

  Is Yuki auditioning?

  Arisa let out a shocked little gasp beside me. Nao's jaw dropped like someone unplugged her soul. Reina stared at the stage, frozen, as if her spirit was buffering.

  "She... Actually signed up?" Nao whispered.

  "I thought she said this whole thing was dumb? That sneaky cow!" Arisa hissed.

  "She did," Reina muttered, still locked in stunned silence. "And she must have done it after we all went to bed..."

  The bulb in my head lit up when Reina mentioned that, the flashback to me hearing something during the night... Must have been her, surely... And even though I was thinking of the next theory as to why Yuki might want to participate in the same thing called stupid, the curtains to the other side of the stage parted, and all breath in the room collectively stopped.

  There stood Yuki. Wearing a white dress that showed all her heavenly curves. In every way imaginable, it was the definition of overkill, but then it was Yuki after all, and she's the type to go big or go home. Her long, soft, satin-like gown that shimmered under the stage lights like it'd been plucked from a fairy tale. Her jet black hair was tied neatly in a low bun, with two strands softly falling at the sides of her cheeks. Her bangs cast a delicate shadow over her light brown eyes.

  And her face?

  Calm.

  Controlled.

  Unreadable.

  Like a queen descending the mountain to slay a dragon. Even Shiori, sitting to the side, muttered, "Huh…"

  Yeah... That's how you know it was serious.

  The audience murmured, boys elbowing each other, some girls gasping quietly. My legs moved before my brain did, walking on instinct like I was Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion, reluctantly getting into that damn EVA Unit-01, even though I knew nothing good would come of it. I stepped into the light beside her. Holy shit, Yuki is actually doing this? Like it's only just starting to hit me as I nervously glance at her. And of course, she didn't even look at me, not even a glance; she was clearly just in her zone.

  But instead of giving me the silent treatment, she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear-

  "Can't let you get stolen by Miss l'll-Kiss-Anyone-for-Fame."

  …

  "What?"

  "And I definitely don't trust my sisters to play it cool either. So I'm here. To make sure it's done properly."

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "That's… Not exactly the spirit of theatre."

  "Shut up, Maid-chan."

  "Now you're calling me that."

  She didn't reply, just turned to face me. That same cold, unreadable Yuki expression, but now I noticed it, the blush creeping across her ears. So even cold-hearted girls like her get flustered, kekeke, foolish woman trying to show that she's superior to me, that could never happe-

  The curtains to the main stage opened up this time, allowing the whole crowd to see my smug grin and Yuki's ever-so elegant presence.

  "Why's that creep smiling"? One of the girls muttered.

  Yuki glanced over to me before narrowing her eyes.

  Welp, off to a great start.

  And well, just like that, the scene began.

  I held my script with slightly shaking hands. My brain wanted to focus; it needed to focus. But everything in me was screaming. Yuki. Dress. Stage. The sisters stared. A creepy stalker is probably out there plotting my demise.

  Don't mess up.

  I took a breath.

  "Oh, princess, what sorrow weighs upon your heart? You lie upon the forest floor, but heaven weeps for your silence."

  Yuki stepped forward, slow and graceful, as if she were born for the stage. She was focused, not like Arisa's flair or Reina's hesitation, but like someone who'd read the lines a hundred times in secret, waiting for the right moment to strike.

  "My prince, I… I feared I'd never see you again." Her voice was soft, yet it carried a distinct tone. Her eyes sparkled, and the audience leaned forward.

  "I-I-"

  Crap... Really, Souta, out of all the times, you chose this time to mess up. I froze; none of the words were coming to me.

  Shit shit shit!. I forgot my line.

  I actually forgot my line.

  The silence was deafening; the crowd began their casual murmurs, as if they could do a better job than me. In fact, I'm calling it now that most of them couldn't! But thankfully, Yuki clocked on straight away. She stepped closer, and under her breath, where the mic couldn't catch it, she muttered, "Line 3, dumbass."

  Without any hesitation, I quickly glanced at line 3 and figured out my lines. "Right, uh, ahem. Fear not, for I'd brave the ends of the earth to hold you once more."

  …I think that was okay?

  And I guess Yuki did too, as she took another step closer to me, she looked up slightly as our eyes met, and though she clearly was doing her best to look confident and act like this didn't bother her.

  But her cheeks were pink.

  And so were mine.

  I glanced over at the backstage crew and saw Arisa biting her lip, Reina fidgeting, Nao squeezing her script like it owed her money, and Shiori sitting still, lips pursed.

  Yuki spoke again.

  "Then hold me. And awaken me…" She paused ever so slightly, breaking eye contact with me for a split second, "With a kiss."

  …

  Oh.

  Oh no.

  Was the part here already?

  I glanced at the script quickly.

  "The prince gently kisses the princess."

  Oh god.

  Okay. Okay. But this is pretend, right? Just like everyone else.

  It's all pretend.

  I leaned in slowly.

  Yuki didn't move.

  Eyes locked. Steady breath.

  Closer.

  Closer.

  I could see the blush blooming across her face now.

  I whispered, just before reaching her, "Pretend on the cheek or lips?"

  She blinked, barely audible, "Wha-?"

  She turned her head, just slightly.

  And in that split second.

  I panicked.

  I thought she meant cheek.

  I leaned right.

  She turned left.

  And.

  SMMMMACK.

  …

  I kissed her.

  Right on the cheek.

  In front of the entire school.

  Still an accident.

  I think?

  It was loud enough to sound like a firework exploding on stage.

  Her eyes widened.

  So did mine.

  We both stood there, frozen, cheek to lips, unmoving like two statues caught in a moment neither of us expected to feel so real.

  Then.

  Someone in the audience dropped a pen.

  Clack.

  It hit the wooden floor with nuclear precision. I didn't want to move, but sticking this close to Yuki's face after giving her a smooch wasn't the best idea for either me or the gossip squad. And in the dead silence, I moved my lips away from her face, before finally...

  The curtains slammed shut.

  The moment the two big red sheets of fabric closed over, we both stared at each other. I could tell that Yuki was also taking in the situation that had just unfolded, her lips parted like she wanted to say something, or most likely insult my entire bloodline. But though her lips parted, no sound came out. And before we knew it. Chaos ensued.

  And somewhere backstage, I swear I heard Arisa's muffled scream:

  "YUKI STOLE THE CHEEK?!"

  Nao had both hands on her face. Arisa looked like she was going to pass out. Reina was... Expressionless, but her eyes flicked between me and Yuki, like she was building her next diary entry with a dagger. And finally, after registering the situation, Yuki finally spoke, but her face was as if she'd just come out of the hot springs...

  Her Face. Turned beet red.

  "L-listen, Yuki, before doing or saying anything", I started panicking. If I let her speak first, I just knew it, I was a dead man. But instead of insulting me, she lifted her hand up.

  "Here it comes! The grand punch to my demise!" I thought to myself, closing my eyes, waiting for the inevitable. But instead of a finishing move that would make even Goku impressed, she'd just... Slapped my chest softly.

  Not playfully.

  Just enough to make her feel better.

  Then she turned and walked off.

  "Dumbass…" She whispered just loud enough for me to hear.

  "What the... I'm alive?" I muttered before just standing there alone.

  But not without.

  My heart is racing.

  Sweat pouring.

  Knees weak.

  Arms spaghetti.

  And yet…

  That was the best performance of the day.

  And every single person in the crowd knew it.

  DeadEndYuto!