Yukinoshita Yukino had a bad feeling. She immediately moved the props in her hands inside, then asked.
"There are two more pieces, then that's it." Chen Yao quickly salvaged the stage props.
The two went back and forth in the heavy rain, and their clothes were mostly soaked. As a result, the rain outside was pouring, with green hills surrounding them, and a mist of rain enveloped the small city. The two had no choice but to stand at the warehouse entrance, watching the heavy rain that prevented them from going out even with an umbrella.
"It's raining so hard, how terrible, Classmate Yukinoshita, you..."
Chen Yao wanted to ask Yukinoshita if she wanted to take his car back, but when he turned his face, he saw that Yukino's clothes, soaked by the summer rain, clung to her skin, revealing her healthy complexion. Raindrops continuously dripped from her hair, giving her a unique youthful beauty of summer.
"Mr. Chen Yao... I'm very grateful for your help with this stage play."
She seemed to have been lost in thought just now and didn't hear Chen Yao's words. After figuring it out, she turned to look at him, her face bearing a smile, as beautiful and serene as an old photograph in the dim warehouse, and said.
"Why the sudden thanks?"
Chen Yao asked in confusion.
Because this was the first time he had heard Yukinoshita Yukino express gratitude in the year he had known her.
Why... when she was at Koudo Ikusei High School, she had already sensed Horikita Manabu's intention to poach Chen Yao, and without a word, she immediately grabbed his arm. Chen Yao didn't say anything, which left a deep impression on her.
Counting it up, this 'culprit' whom she closely supervised always seemed to silently help her, and she was aware of it.
"So, do you want me to give my thanks back to you?"
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at him and asked.
"Why?"
Chen Yao asked in astonishment. How could this girl's mood change as quickly as the weather outside? He really felt that Yukinoshita Yukino's personality was a bit nasty.
Yukinoshita Yukino, on the other hand, looked at the rainy scenery. High school days... She suddenly felt that if it continued like this, with vexation, confusion, and hope... it didn't seem so bad... ~·~·~·~·~·
Finally, two days later, on Saturday morning, the International (Japan) High School Stage Play Performance held in Tokyo began at the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School's dedicated hall... Chapter 017 Suzune Horikita and the Eccentric.
On Saturday morning, the students of Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School woke up very early. Today was the school's open day and the International (Japan) High School Stage Play Performance day. The school was to welcome a large number of tourists and European and American school groups.
"Yosh."
A long-haired black-haired girl in a red suit school uniform, after dressing up, presented herself exquisitely with a beautiful face, fair skin, an alluring figure, and a self-disciplined demeanor.
"The points for Class D, we'll seize them today."
Her name is Horikita Suzune, a student of Class D in the first year, and her brother is Horikita Manabu, the president of the Student Council, renowned as the strongest in this high school.
No matter what, she had to keep up with her brother; no matter what, she had to earn her brother's respect; no matter what, she had to become strong. These were the beliefs that supported her in becoming a student of Koudo Ikusei High School.
It was just a pity that her class was a weak class, and today she could only serve as a volunteer. Although she was very unconvinced, she had to do this job well. She could not lose to Class A no matter what.
Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School covers a large area and has many school districts. Students in each district have to receive many foreign visitors. In fact, organizing and managing such a large flow of people is also a arduous task.
"What a beautiful girl."
"I wonder if I can add her as a friend..."
While Horikita Suzune was guiding tourists, there was always a group of flamboyant youths from other schools pestering her, asking for her contact information. But she would glare at them with murderous intent, and they would be scared away, retreating repeatedly.
"Hmph."
Horikita Suzune disdained such people, not even bothering to look at their faces.
—[I remember your name is Classmate Yukinoshita Yukino, you are very good, at least you are much more opinionated than my sister...]
Horikita Suzune recalled her brother's words from a few days ago. This sentence undoubtedly deeply stung her, leaving a faint ache in her chest even now.
"What did I do wrong, Brother, that you treat me this way..."
Her expression darkened, standing under the somewhat gloomy sky, letting the wind blow through her dejected figure.
"Classmate, if you don't know how to get to the Stage Hall, I can take you along this small path by the lake, and you'll get there quickly."
"Classmate Nagasawa, this is a Classmate from a friendly school I'm hosting, why are you suddenly trying to snatch him away?"
"Don't argue, you clearly aren't familiar with the situation in Area C. Leading the way would delay the friendly school Classmate's performance time..."
Suddenly, Horikita Suzune heard the sound of several girls arguing. She looked over in confusion, only to see four or five girls from her class fighting over an outside male student. The scene was as chaotic as when she had just been harassed by four or five flamboyant youths... "Uh... what happened?"
Horikita Suzune looked at this reversed phenomenon with some confusion and walked forward to observe.
As a result, in the vast crowd, she saw a familiar figure. He had a decent appearance, bright eyes, and gave off an otherworldly feeling. It was Chen Yao, the top student from Sobu High School, and the foreign exchange student her brother had expressed great interest in that day.
"Ugh..."
Horikita Suzune's eyebrow twitched. It was the first time she had seen a group of girls harassing a boy. This phenomenon was simply unbelievable. Was he a popular Male Dancer?
However, when she saw this boy, an inexplicable sense of jealousy arose in her heart. She had never been praised so highly by her excellent brother since she was little. She was really curious about what was so special about this Chinese person that made her brother pay attention to him... "Please stop."
Just then, a pleasant yet cold female voice stopped the girls from losing control. Everyone looked over and saw the aloof and intimidating Horikita Suzune approaching, causing the few bottom-ranked girls to show expressions of fear.
In the gentle breeze, with her clothes and hair fluttering, Horikita Suzune finally met Chen Yao, the top student of Sobu High School whose strength was a mystery... "You all shouldn't cause disputes over certain matters, otherwise, if a teacher sees it and class points are deducted, it will be troublesome. I'll be responsible for taking this Classmate there, is that alright?"
Horikita Suzune asked the other girls.
—[Beep beep beep...]
Chen Yao was looking at the girl when information suddenly appeared in his mind. He was a little surprised; this girl also seemed to be a character from an anime.
"Okay, thank you, Classmate Horikita."
The girls exchanged glances and agreed.
Chen Yao looked at this imposing girl and finally felt relieved. Although he wasn't sure what those girls were suddenly arguing about, he was running late. To find a parking spot, he had to drive to the north gate, but then he couldn't find the location of the stage play hall.
However, at a glance, he felt that this girl's demeanor and face were somewhat similar to Yukinoshita Yukino's. She was a beauty whose looks could rival Yukino's, but her bust was more excellent than Yukino's by no small margin... "Classmate, you're going to the Stage Hall, right? Just follow me."
Just then, the beauty turned her head and swept a glance at him, like a cold wind, making him shiver.
Chen Yao felt that this girl's aura was even colder than Yukino's, but this coldness was not Yukino's simple vigilance and indifference, but an empty, lifeless, lonely coldness.
"Okay, thank you for your trouble." Chen Yao nodded, not saying much.
The two walked one after another inside this seemingly "bottomless" Koudo Ikusei High School. Chen Yao looked left and right, and couldn't help but feel that their school was luxurious and spacious, and there was even a large lake in the school, giving him the impression of a "first-rate" prestigious school.
"You seem quite curious, Classmate Chen Yao."
Horikita Suzune, walking ahead, asked.
"Uh, I guess so. Although I've been here a few times, I haven't taken a good look at the scenery of this school."
Chen Yao was stunned for a moment before replying.
Wait, how did she know his name?
"Hmph. This is a strict and cruel high school that emphasizes elimination. No matter how beautiful the scenery is, what it contains is competition where the fittest survive and the weak are eliminated." Horikita Suzune glanced sideways at the lake scenery as she spoke.
The girl's expression always carried a hint of gloom, and looking at the reflective lake surface, it seemed unable to brighten her.
Chen Yao felt confused. She seemed to know him, but her words revealed a certain negativity and pessimism. The girl's silhouette was very graceful and upright, yet she didn't seem energetic.
"Class A... have you thought about how you're going to deal with them?"
Horikita Suzune asked again, turning back to look at him. Her fair, beautiful face held a hint of skepticism in her gaze.
Chen Yao paused, then replied with his usual smile, "We don't have any plans. We came here just for exchange and cooperation with your school. Performing well in this stage play is enough."
"..."
Horikita Suzune silently watched the boy's relaxed face. She was suspicious that this person might be hiding something, but she couldn't find any flaws.
She truly couldn't see what merits her brother appreciated in this exchange student, even if the other party might be deeply hidden.
"I advise you not to underestimate Katsuragi Kohei and Yanagisaka Arisu from Class A. If you, the top student of Sobu High School, don't want to make a fool of yourself in front of the many teachers and guests, you must use the fiercest methods to crush them."
The girl's pretty face showed a gloomy smile as she turned back and offered him a very sincere suggestion.
Chen Yao looked at Horikita Suzune's demeanor, remained silent for a moment, and asked, "Classmate, why do you always want to defeat the opposition?"
"Don't you think that's a strange question? Class A invited you specifically to defeat you in front of everyone and gain honor and recognition. That is the entire meaning of this joint stage play. Don't tell me no one from Sobu High School realized this?"
Horikita Suzune frowned deeply upon hearing this, turning around to challenge Chen Yao.
"Even if that's the case, what does it matter? That's their thought process. Why should we care about their attention? Why care about meaningless victories or defeats? Isn't the point of holding a stage play to showcase our talents and give the audience an interesting story? As long as we performers enjoy ourselves and the audience is happy, isn't that the true pleasure of this stage play?"
Chen Yao, seemingly unable to understand Horikita Suzune's perspective, asked with a slight frown.
Horikita Suzune looked at Chen Yao doubtfully. Was this the person her brother valued so highly? Not only were the reasons he stated too childish, but his level of eccentricity was even higher than Ayanokouji Kiyotaka in her class. She was even more unable to comprehend her brother's judgment.
Just then, the two of them reached an area where the building was visible. Horikita Suzune pointed at the distant structure and said, "That is the Stage Hall. Mr. Chen Yao, I will see you off here."
"Thank you very much, Classmate Horikita."
Chen Yao smiled upon seeing it and thanked her.
Just then, Chen Yao's phone rang. He answered the call and started walking forward, but he hadn't gone far when a beautiful and delicate-looking Sobu High School girl emerged from the wooded path. She seemed extremely angry and grabbed his wrist. Judging by Chen Yao's bitter expression, he had likely been severely scolded by this snow-white, beautiful, and refined girl.
However, as Yukino pulled Chen Yao away, she also noticed the black-haired girl from Koudo Ikusei High School. She looked at the other girl with a suspicious and complex gaze, and the black-haired girl returned the look with silent scrutiny.
"Fine, let me see how the exchange student my brother values performs. I'll be waiting, Mr. Chen Yao..."
The gloomy yet beautiful black-haired girl watched the two Sobu High School students leave, thinking silently.
Chapter 018: My Silly Disciple~~~~
Behind the stage was a spacious backstage preparation area. In the front were rows of complex electronic equipment used to control the stage lighting, shadows, and music. In the back were numerous makeup and changing areas, displaying props and costumes for different grades and classes. The dressing tables were professional setups with mirrors surrounded by light bulbs.
"The young masters and young ladies of Koudo Ikusei High School are so rich..."
Chen Yao, whose hand was being pulled by Yukinoshita Yukino, looked at the professional equipment in astonishment after entering the backstage area.
"Mr. Chen Yao, do you know how nervous Teacher Hiratsuka and everyone else were because you were almost late? You destabilizing factor, why do you cause trouble the moment we loosen your leash even slightly?"
Yukinoshita Yukino turned her head and gave him a look of disgust, clearly suffering from an extreme headache.
"There were uncontrollable factors involved. I actually arrived quite early, but the East Gate and South Gate were both inaccessible for parking, which delayed me. Thanks to the Koudo Ikusei Classmate, I managed to find this place. But I shouldn't be late, right?"
Chen Yao asked doubtfully.
"There was a change in the schedule for the other classes. The first stage play has already finished, ten minutes earlier than expected, so our performance time has also been moved up by ten minutes."
Yukinoshita Yukino explained the sudden situation, which was why she absolutely had to come and fetch him.
In reality, the results of the stage plays collaborated on by other grades of Koudo Ikusei High School with other schools were not outstanding. For example, Second Year Class A collaborated with Motosu High School. Although the stage and performance were magnificent, the observing European teachers reacted lukewarmly, which is why the atmosphere backstage became so tense.
I see. That's why Yukino was so nervous. She must truly care about this stage play deep down.
After the two arrived at the Sobu High School group's makeup area, everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Chen Yao arrive.
"Seriously, Mr. Chen Yao, you were almost late. You always give me such a headache. Don't let it happen next time, okay?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka leaned against the ventilation duct by the wall, lecturing him while smoking.
"The teacher secretly smoking in a non-smoking area should be the first to self-reflect."
Yukinoshita Yukino frowned slightly and chastised her.
"That's not important, Chen Yao. Come over and change your costume. You're the only one left."
Shizuka Hiratsuka, who was in charge of costume design, waved him over expectantly.
Very European music and songs drifted from the front for the second stage play. It seemed the second-year students were starting to perform a Waltz. Hearing such a commotion, Chen Yao felt a little nervous himself. Looking at Hachiman Hikigaya and Kagaribi no Kiriue in front of him, they also had expressions that were nervous, timid, slightly excited... no, perhaps a little apprehensive, just like him.
Hachiman Hikigaya had now been made up as a classic villain, playing the subordinate of an Evil Sorcerer. His face was painted blue, giving him a rotten and wicked look in his eyes. Kagaribi no Kiriue, on the other hand, was playing the Loli Vampire Elizabeth. She looked like a stunning female Vampire, essentially playing herself.
"What kind of costume do I have..."
Chen Yao thought the two villain costumes in front of him were already hideous enough. Since his character was the most ferocious, what bizarre outfit would they design for him?
"Chen Yao, you are really lucky! Look, the teacher designed this super cool, super passionate character set for you: Black Vengeful Fiend Knight Armor. I think it has great flavor. Also, this set of armor was borrowed from Classmate Kagami's family, so you must thank Classmate Kagami properly."
Shizuka Hiratsuka took out a black, blood-stained set of armor and introduced it with a wide smile.