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Chapter 79: The Stage and the Serpent (II)
I inclined my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Sureee… If you say so."
Toma clapped his hands together, his enthusiasm undimmed. "Wonderful! Then let us discuss the details! I have so many ideas, Tsukune-kun. So many plans that I do not know where to begin. The Theatre Club has been stagnant for years, with a smaller audience, but with your help, we could finally break through. We could put on productions that the Academy has never seen before."
"We could become history inside the Academy and future generations will remember us for how great we were by making the Theatre Club Great Again."
He grabbed my arm, and stupid me did not even try to resist, and I can only blame my curious nature for going along. He pulled me toward a quiet corner of the backstage area where the noise of the other actors faded into a distant murmur. The space was cluttered with props and costumes, and the air smelled of dust and old fabric.
"What do you think about my proposal, Tsukune-kun?"
"I feel you are trying to use me, Toma-senpai," I said, keeping my voice flat. "I am not gaining much by being exploited by you."
Toma's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing his delicate features. Then he laughed again, a sound that was both delighted and impressed. "Non, non, you are entirely wrong, Tsukune-kun. If you continue playing for me, I will make you the biggest star of the Yokai Academy. And by extension, your popularity with the girls will give them another reason to read your Gazette."
"Am I wrong, everyone?"
He turned to the other Theatre Club members who instantly appeared around in proximity, as if they were stalking this moment to gang on me. Their faces were bright with excitement, nothing forced, as they nodded enthusiastically to the idea of having me around in their shows.
"He is right, Tsukune-san!"
"With you on stage, we could fill the amphitheater every time!"
"The girls would line up for blocks!"
"Think of the publicity for your Newspaper Club!"
I listened to their arguments, their enthusiasm washing over me like a wave. They were passionate, I had to give them that. And they were not wrong about the potential benefits. But weekly performances were a commitment I was not willing to make since I was a busy person myself, having too many other obligations, too many plates spinning on top of my head.
Still, I did not rush to shut it down, instead looked at things from other perspectives based on the arguments and the most compelling argument was the increased publicity for the Gazette.
'I am sure the girls would be overjoyed every time we were sold-out. Fine, let us get on with this Theater act, it does not hurt me to have some fun and de-stress at the same time, while also buttering up to my own narcissistic ego.'
"I am fine with doing shows once every three weeks," I said, my voice cutting through their chatter. "That gives me enough time to handle my other responsibilities without conflicting with this new 'hobby' of mine. However, I will be direct with you Toma-senpai, the acts I take part in you will have to run it back with me for approval. If I am playing along with you, it will be on my own terms."
Toma's enthusiasm faltered for a moment, his brow furrowing as he considered my counter-offer. The other club members fell silent, waiting for his decision. Then Toma smiled, a genuine, warm expression that seemed to transform his delicate features.
"Hmm, that is a long stretch, but since we need time to prepare the script along with the costumes, it is fair. We can make your presence a special event of the Theatre Club, and we can also collaborate furthermore with the other members of the Newspaper Club to integrate them."
"We have a deal, Tsukune-kun."
"Alright, let us do this."
He extended his hand, and I took it. He grabbed my hand with both of his, trying to pump it up and down, but he lacked the strength to budge me. I barely moved, and at the awkwardness of this situation, the shota simply brushed it off, laughing at how comical he might look to others.
"Oh, well, worth a try at least."
"Hehe, this is still marvelous! I cannot wait to start planning our next production. I already have ideas in mind."
Toma's eyes sparkled with a conspiratorial gleam. He glanced around the backstage area, checking that no one else was within earshot, then leaned in closer. His voice dropped to a theatrical whisper, the kind that was designed to make you lean in and listen.
"Speaking of ideas, Tsukune-kun, I have something that might interest you."
"Me, interested in your ideas? You got my attention on this one. Spill it out."
"A little bit of drama does not only work for my Club, but it could also be useful for your Gazette, perhaps. Some rumors are circling around the Art Club about how the girls who join this club all of a sudden simply vanish."
I raised an eyebrow, my interest piqued. "Never heard of them, but you can continue."
"I do not blame you, since you are busy all day long with Club activities and training that body of yours." Toma said while looking at my arms, his eyes tracing the lines of muscle visible beneath my rolled-up sleeves. His gaze lingered a moment too long, and I felt a slight discomfort creep up my spine.
Snapping back to focus, Toma's voice dipped a bit lower, glancing over my shoulder than his own, then shooing away the other Club members but they didn't quite get the memo and it stirred a reaction out of the flamboyant club president.
"Leave. This is something between me and Tsukune-kun."
"HIII"
"Yes, President. Right away, we'll clean around the backstage and also the seats."
"Right away, come everyone, let's not disturb the President."
His face morphed into the mask of a malicious demon with horns and white facepaint, red eyes visible on his face. The transformation was sudden, theatrical, and deeply unsettling. His Yokai form flickered into existence for just a moment before receding once the club members scattered around, getting themselves useful.
While this was happening, I got my system instantly alerting me when it picked onto Toma-chan's Yokai form, and there was an update to Toma Sakura's information window.
[Name: Tōma Sakura]
[Threat Level: S (Onnagata - Akarui no Kage)]
[Status: Playful / Protective – No hostile intent detected.]
'So the stronger Yokai know how to hide away their strength and the system can be fooled this way as it can only perceive the threat level based on the yoki it reads.'
The demon mask vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by Toma's human face, the usually beautiful, girlish, and that theatrical grin of his after managing to scare away his club members. He let out a nervous chuckle, running a hand through his silky hair.
"Ah, my apologies, Tsukune-kun. I got a bit too carried away. But you understand, yes? A delicate maiden such as myself must protect herself from the monsters lurking in the shadows."
"Who knows what would happen if that creature came after me?"
He shuddered dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. His eyes widened with exaggerated fear, but I could see the genuine unease lurking beneath the performance.
"You know, I doubt you will be the main priority. You are a guy to begin with." I said, keeping my voice dry.
"Non, a maiden at heart stuck in the husk of a dead tree." Toma sighed, a dramatic, theatrical exhale that seemed to come from somewhere deep in his soul. His hand fluttered to his chest, and he looked at me with those wide, expressive eyes. "Can you imagine the tragedy, Tsukune-kun? To have the soul of a delicate flower trapped in this... this vessel of coarse masculinity?"
"It is a torment beyond words. Every day I look in the mirror and see a stranger staring back at me."
I stared at him, unsure whether to laugh or walk away from this pervert. "You know, there are methods of turning a guy into a female if you search longer. The Gods will certainly entertain you just for the laughs but for you it would be a blessing, I guess."
Toma's eyes widened, and for a moment, the theatrical mask slipped entirely. A flicker of genuine curiosity crossed his face, followed by something that looked almost like hope. "Do you truly think so, Tsukune-kun? That such a transformation is possible?"
"I would not be surprised. In this world, anything seems possible. I have seen enough madness to believe that if you want something badly enough, you can find a way to make it happen."
Toma was quiet for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he laughed, a warm, genuine sound that seemed to surprise even him. "Maybe in the future I can fulfill my desires. But for now, let us focus on the present. Back to the drama I wanted to share with you."
He leaned in again, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The rumors have begun since last year, where girls began disappearing randomly. Of course, it was not to the extent that it would become alarming, but some bored groups of students started whispering and coming up with theories about what was actually happening."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. His eyes darted around the backstage area, checking for eavesdroppers, before he continued.
"All the disappearances share something in common. Every single girl who disappeared wanted to join the Art Club or worked some odd jobs for that Club, and after a short time they simply vanished. No one saw them leave or even heard from them again. It is as if their existence never was taken into account. Truly dramatic if you ask me."
I kept my expression neutral, but my mind was already racing back to the plot of the Rosario series and I can already guess who is the culprit. "How long has this been going on?"
Toma shrugged, a theatrical gesture that seemed to convey both ignorance and significance. "The rumors started around the time Ishigami-sensei joined the Academy. That was last year, when I enrolled. However, they died down for a while only to resurface when some girls stopped attending their classes and missing their exams, just like it began this session of exams."
He paused, his expression darkening. "You know how students are around here. Some even tried to investigate and dig deeper into the rumors but it got shut down by the Disciplinary Committee, Student Council, and the Teaching Faculty. They said it was just trying to stir up trouble and disturb the stability of the Academy."
'I guess it is a cover up and she is one of the corrupt teachers thinking this Academy is their playground or holiday.'
"And the Art Club advisor?" I asked, keeping my voice casual. "What do you know about her? Or better worded, what is your impression of her?"
Toma's expression soured, a rare moment of genuine distaste breaking through his theatrical demeanor. "Hitomi Ishigami-sensei… If you ask me, she has always been strange. I do not mean that as a casual insult, either. She is obsessive about her study subject, but maybe she is just overdoing it too much by being fixed on those minute details. In her first classes, she was so fixated on the exact proportions of a body that she even brought a sculpture of a naked girl to the class once."
He shuddered, wrapping his arms around his petite frame. "She called it 'anatomical study' to improve our strokes when drawing. Oh, and she gives you this diligent and professional teacher but she is also a psycho at times. Some of my colleagues back then were uncomfortable around her."
"As for me, I do not like being around her, it feels like a snake is looking at me."
I filed the information away, my mind already turning over the possibilities. "And the missing girls? Any patterns? Anything else you noticed about them?"
Toma paused, his brow furrowing as he thought. "They were all loners, from what I heard. No close friends, no one who would notice if they vanished. That made it easier for people to overlook them, you understand? They could have disappeared for days before anyone even thought to look for them."
He looked at me, his eyes serious for once. "Do you think there is something to the rumors, Tsukune-kun? Or is it just the usual Academy gossip?"
"I think where there is smoke, there is usually fire," I said, my voice low and measured. "And I think it is worth investigating."
I nodded slowly, letting the information settle. "Thank you for the tip, partner. This could be something worth investigating."
Toma's face lit up with delight at the word "partner." He clasped his hands together, practically vibrating with excitement. "Huhuhu, glad to be of any help. Ahh, and about that thing you said you formed with Ichinose-san, what was it called? The grand alliance of the clubs to fight against the SS folks and the corrupt Student Council, right?"
"Anti-Thesis," I corrected him, and also got worried that something might be up for him to mention it again. "Those thugs from the Committee have not harassed or bothered you?"
"No way, I think they are afraid of upsetting my patron."
I tilted my head. "Your patron?"
Toma's eyes widened, and he immediately clapped a hand over his mouth. The theatrical mask slipped, revealing a flash of genuine panic beneath. "Chizuru-san, obviously. Ehh, you do not know? Oops, I was not supposed to tell you that, forget it or I will be in big trouble."
I let the silence stretch for a moment, watching him squirm. "I will pretend I heard nothing."
Toma let out a visible sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging. "Phew, that was close. She would skin me alive if she learned that I ratted her out. Thank you, Tsukune-kun. You are a true gentleman."
I waved a hand dismissively, already planning my next move.
"Honestly, I give your invitation to this Alliance some thought, and it does not sound bad. Besides, if we become partners, I might as well embrace your ideals too, right? I can also get closer to you and get to know you better."
"This means, you are in?"
"Ehh, not yet. I cannot give you a concrete answer without consulting with my friends. If I was some tyrant I would willingly embrace you. But since we of the Theatre Club are a bunch of people believing in the spirit of freedom of democracy we have to put it to the vote."
I chuckled, a low, warm sound. "There is no rush, but I would love if it you also joined my ANTI-THESIS. The merrier we are, the stronger we will appear in front of the enemy. Once we push those tyrants from their high thrones, this school we will appreciate us for giving them their freedom back."
Toma's grin widened. "Well said, Tsukune-kun. This will be another selling point when I give my friends the speech before voting."
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We learn once again that the System Tsukune posses can be unreliable when it comes to accurately estimate the target's threat level, especially if the said target hides their power.
Image is for the referrence I crossed for Toma-chan's Yokai Form.