The blinding stage lights hit me like a second sunrise.
A hush fell over the packed auditorium, students, parents, even teachers leaning forward in their seats. The colorful chaos of the festival outside dissolved into silence here. All eyes on us.
"Begin."
The stage manager's whisper disappeared behind the drawn curtains. Then, with a mechanical rumble, the velvet parted.
I was no longer myself.
I was the character.
At least, I was supposed to be.
"...I-"
My voice cracked on the first line. A ripple of awkward laughter trickled from the crowd.
Alya, standing beside me in her radiant costume, didn't miss a beat. She cut me the smallest glance, ice-cold, then delivered her lines with flawless poise, as if to remind me: This is the stage. No room for weakness.
Kana followed, her voice sharp, every word perfectly timed to outshine Alya. Sparks practically flew between them, though only the audience thought it was just "good acting."
I clenched my script inside my mind. Focus. This isn't your old world. This is theirs.
I took a breath. And on my second line...
"…I will not yield. Not now. Not ever."
My voice rang clear. Strong.
The silence broke into applause.
The play itself was a tragedy, a tale of betrayal, rivalry, and love across factions. Which was fitting, considering the cast.
Alya's every gesture was regal, commanding. Kana's passion burned so hot it threatened to scorch her co-stars. Akane? She was frightening. Every subtle tilt of her head, every pause between words was calculated perfection. The audience hung on her presence like she was a queen among mortals.
And then there was Nagatoro.
She had been cast as a mischievous supporting character and she played it with wicked glee. Every smirk, every poke of her prop spear was aimed more at me than the script demanded. The crowd loved her. I sweated bullets.
Halfway through, I felt it, the shift.
I wasn't clinging to the script anymore. I wasn't fumbling to imitate an actor. I was inhabiting the role. The stage was no longer alien.
I met Alya's gaze in one scene and, instead of freezing, fired back with a line so sharp the crowd gasped. I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kana, our duel dialogue crackling like real lightning.I even improvised against Nagatoro's playful jabs, turning them into laughs without breaking character.
By the time Akane stepped into the climax scene, her eyes searching mine with terrifying intensity, I didn't falter.
The final act built to a crescendo, betrayal revealed, hearts laid bare, rivals turned tragic allies.
I raised my voice, loud enough to echo across the packed gym.
"If fate demands we clash, then let us clash! But know this, I will carve my own path, even if the world itself denies me!"
The spotlight burned hot on my skin.
The crowd roared.
Alya's expression shifted, just for a heartbeat, from regal disdain to something almost, proud. Kana's lips curled into a grudging smirk. Akane's perfect mask cracked into a dangerous smile. Even Nagatoro, breaking character, let out a little snort of laughter.
The curtains closed to thunderous applause.
I staggered backstage, heart hammering.
"Senpai, that was so cool!" Yui bounded over, practically shaking with excitement.
"Che… don't let it go to your head," Kana muttered, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her.
"You passed," Alya whispered as she brushed past me, her silver hair glinting in the dim backstage light.
And Akane… she leaned in close enough that I could feel her breath on my ear."Don't think this means you're finished. This is only the beginning."
Applause roared from the audience like a tidal wave crashing through the hall. Shouts of "That was amazing!" and "Did you see the way he carried that scene with Alya-senpai?!" cut through the chaos. Phones lit up, already posting, already gossiping.
I exhaled, sweat still on my forehead. My script pages were trembling in my hand, though I wasn't sure whether it was from nerves or adrenaline.
"You did great," Alya whispered next to me, smiling faintly. "Though don't let it go to your head, da?"
Kana Arima snorted from the other side. "Hah. He only got it right after stumbling a dozen times in rehearsal. Don't go praising him like he's a genius."
"Even stumbling," Akane Kurokawa said softly, arms folded, "he drew the crowd's sympathy. That's called method acting."
"More like dumb luck," Nagatoro chimed in, grinning as she jabbed my ribs with her elbow. "Still, not bad, Senpai. I mean, MC-kun."
I tried to laugh it off, but my chest was pounding. I'd gotten through it. Not just gotten through, I'd actually acted.
By the time we filed out of the hall, the corridors were already buzzing.
"Did you see him? He carried that scene with Yukino!"
"No, no, the real chemistry was with Alya, didn't you see their duet?"
"Forget that, Nagatoro practically stole the show from the side!"
By lunch, people were still buzzing, groups of girls darting between classrooms to whisper their own theories. My desk had become ground zero; I could barely take a step without someone shoving questions at me.
"MC-kun, was that kiss at the end scripted?" one girl from the Newspaper Club demanded, shoving a recorder at me.
"I... uh, it was acting," I said, waving my hands. "Acting!"
She nodded gravely as though I'd confirmed an affair.
When the final bell rang, it was almost a relief when a pair of Council officers appeared at my door.
"Student Council summons you. Immediately."
I sighed. "Of course they do."
The Council room felt heavier than usual, the weight of the festival hanging in the air. Touya Kenzaki sat at the head of the table, her expression cool, unreadable. Maria Kujou scribbled notes beside her, and Chisaki Sarashina was tapping a pen against the desk like a judge preparing to pass sentence.
"Quite a performance today," Touya said at last, voice smooth but sharp. "You exceeded expectations."
"…Thanks?"
"That wasn't a compliment," Maria said without looking up. "It was an observation."
Yuki Suou folded her hands. "What we must decide is simple: was today a fluke, or proof you can adapt to this world's demands?"
Alya, sitting in the Treasurer's seat, smirked and leaned forward. "I vote proof. He's already stirring the entire school."
Chisaki grinned. "And isn't that exactly what we need? Someone to shake things up?"
Touya raised her hand, silencing them. Her eyes fixed on me. "Your trial isn't over. The Drama Club was only stage one."
I felt my stomach drop. "Stage… one?"
Touya's lips curled, the faintest hint of a smile. "We'll see if you can handle stage two."
The room went quiet after Touya's declaration of "stage two."I shifted in my chair, letting the weight of their gazes sink in. Finally, I exhaled and leaned forward.
"…Why?"
Maria stopped writing. Alya tilted her head, curious. Touya's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"Why should I follow your orders anymore?" I said, forcing the words out steadily. "I'm not your soldier, and this isn't a military tribunal. Let's not pretend the dynamic here is equal. In this world, guys are a rarity. If I wanted to, I could walk out of here, find a dozen 'sugar mommies,' and spend the rest of my days lounging on silk sheets. So why jump through your hoops?"
The silence grew heavier.
Chisaki's pen snapped between her fingers. "You! You think this is a game?"
"Not a game," I shot back. "Reality. The kind you've all been ignoring. You want me to dance on stage, join clubs, act like some shining mascot for your Council projects. But what do I get out of it? Why not just cash in the winning lottery ticket I've been handed and live comfortably while the world bends over backward?"
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then Touya chuckled. A low, amused laugh, like she'd been waiting for me to finally snap.
"There it is," she said, resting her chin on one hand. "The arrogance of scarcity. The truth every boy carries like a blade in his pocket. And yes, you're right. You could walk away, and the world would still fawn over you."
Her eyes sharpened.
"But is that all you came to this world for? To be kept? To be a pet?"
Her words cut, sharper than I expected.
"You talk about sugar mommies," Yuki Suou added, her tone calm but piercing, "but what happens when you're forgotten? When the novelty fades? Do you plan to leave nothing of yourself behind except gossip columns and tabloid scandals?"
Maria finally looked up from her notes. "The Council doesn't need another trophy boy. We're testing whether you're something more. Whether you can stand on your own, not just be carried."
I clenched my fists under the table. Their words stung because they weren't entirely wrong.
Touya leaned forward, her presence filling the room. "So, decide. Will you prove yourself here, with us, or will you throw away that chance and settle for the shallow life you just described?"
I swallowed, pulse hammering in my ears. For the first time, it didn't feel like they were ordering me. It felt like they were… challenging me.
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Thanks for reading. You can also give me ideas for the future or pinpoint plot holes that I may have forgotten, if you want.
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