Chapter 7: I Love You
Tuesday Morning – Classroom 8-1
(Students arrive. The atmosphere is busy. Today is the second day of cultural program preparation.)
Sōta: "Morning, lovebirds."
Hiroshi: "We're not—"
Yuki: "Good morning, Sōta!"
(She sits close to Hiroshi. Closer than usual.)
Hiroshi: "You're invading my personal space."
Yuki: "It's rehearsal day. We need to practice chemistry."
Hiroshi: "Chemistry is a subject. We practice it in the lab."
Yuki: "Same thing."
(She takes his hand under the desk. He doesn't pull away.)
Homeroom – Announcements
Teacher: "Good morning. Today is the second preparation day. The cultural program is in two days."
Class: "Yes, sensei."
Teacher: "The play needs more rehearsal. The costumes need finishing. The backdrop needs painting. Let's split into groups."
Sōta: "I'll work on the backdrop."
Rin: "I'll help with costumes."
Yuki: "I'll rehearse with Hiroshi."
Hiroshi: "I didn't agree to that."
Teacher: "Asagiri, you're the prince. You need the most practice."
Hiroshi: "..."
Yuki: "Don't worry. I'll take care of him."
(She pats his arm. He sighs.)
First Period – Rehearsal (The Love Scene)
(On stage. Yuki and Hiroshi stand face to face. The script is in their hands.)
Teacher: "Scene five. The prince and princess declare their love for each other."
Yuki: (reading) "My prince, I have something to tell you."
Hiroshi: (reading flatly) "What is it, my princess?"
Yuki: (looking up from the script) "I love you."
(The class goes silent. That's not the line.)
Teacher: "Hoshino, the line is 'I like you very much.'"
Yuki: "I know. But I wanted to say the real thing."
(She looks at Hiroshi. Her eyes are serious.)
Yuki: "I love you, Hiroshi."
(His hands freeze on the script.)
Hiroshi: "..."
Yuki: "You don't have to say it back. I just wanted you to know."
(The class whispers. Sōta's jaw drops. Rin covers her mouth.)
Teacher: "This is... unexpected. Asagiri, how do you respond?"
(Hiroshi stares at Yuki. His face is unreadable.)
Hiroshi: "I can't say it back."
Yuki: "I know."
Hiroshi: "I don't feel that way."
Yuki: "I know."
Hiroshi: "But I'm not saying never."
(Her eyes widen.)
Yuki: "What?"
Hiroshi: "I said I don't feel that way. I didn't say I never will."
(He looks away. His ears are red.)
Yuki: "That's... that's more than I hoped for."
Teacher: "Can we continue the rehearsal?"
Yuki: "Yes, sensei. Sorry."
(She picks up the script. But she's smiling. Her eyes are bright.)
Second Period – Costume Fitting (Continued)
(Yuki and Hiroshi are in the costume room. Other students are nearby.)
Rin: "Your dress needs adjusting. The hem is too long."
Yuki: "Can you fix it?"
Rin: "Give me five minutes."
(Rin takes the dress to a sewing machine. Yuki is in her normal clothes. Hiroshi is nearby, adjusting his prince shirt.)
Yuki: "Hiroshi."
Hiroshi: "What."
Yuki: "Thank you."
Hiroshi: "For what?"
Yuki: "For not saying 'never.'"
Hiroshi: "I don't lie."
Yuki: "That's why I trust you."
(She steps closer. He steps back. His back hits a rack of costumes.)
Yuki: "You keep running into things."
Hiroshi: "You keep cornering me."
Yuki: "Maybe I want to be alone with you."
Hiroshi: "We're not alone. There are twenty people here."
Yuki: "Then pretend they're not here."
(She reaches up and fixes his collar. Her fingers brush his neck. He shivers.)
Hiroshi: "I can fix my own collar."
Yuki: "I know. But I wanted to touch you."
(His breath catches.)
Hiroshi: "You're very forward."
Yuki: "You're very slow. Someone has to make the first move."
Hiroshi: "You've made about fifty first moves."
Yuki: "Then make the second move."
Hiroshi: "I don't know how."
Yuki: "Then let me keep making the first moves. Eventually you'll catch up."
(She smiles. He stares at her. His heart is pounding.)
Lunch Break – Rooftop (Private Conversation)
(Yuki and Hiroshi are alone. Sōta and Rin are downstairs getting food.)
Yuki: "I meant what I said. I love you."
Hiroshi: "You've only known me for a few weeks."
Yuki: "Time doesn't matter."
Hiroshi: "It does. Love is supposed to grow over time."
Yuki: "Sometimes it grows fast."
Hiroshi: "That's infatuation. Not love."
Yuki: "Then let me prove it. Give me time."
Hiroshi: "I'm not stopping you."
Yuki: "Then you're giving me a chance?"
Hiroshi: "I'm not giving you anything. I'm just not saying no."
Yuki: "That's enough."
(She sits beside him. Their shoulders touch.)
Yuki: "Can I ask you something?"
Hiroshi: "You're going to ask anyway."
Yuki: "Have you ever thought about me? At night? Before you sleep?"
(He is silent for a long moment.)
Hiroshi: "...Yes."
Yuki: "What do you think about?"
Hiroshi: "I think about why you won't leave me alone."
Yuki: "That's not an answer."
Hiroshi: "It's the only answer you're getting."
(She leans her head on his shoulder.)
Yuki: "I think about you too. Every night."
Hiroshi: "That's unhealthy."
Yuki: "That's love."
Hiroshi: "It's obsession."
Yuki: "Same thing."
Hiroshi: "It's not."
Yuki: "It is when you're in love."
(He doesn't push her away. His hand moves slightly. Almost touching hers. Almost.)
Third Period – Rehearsal (The Kiss Scene?)
(Back on stage. The teacher is reviewing the script.)
Teacher: "At the end of the play, the prince and princess kiss."
Hiroshi: "No."
Yuki: "Yes."
Teacher: "It's in the script."
Hiroshi: "Then change the script."
Teacher: "We can't change it now. The program is in two days."
Yuki: "I don't mind."
Hiroshi: "I do."
Yuki: "It's just acting."
Hiroshi: "It's still kissing."
(The class laughs. Yuki grins.)
Yuki: "Are you scared?"
Hiroshi: "I'm not scared. I'm opposed."
Yuki: "Same thing."
Hiroshi: "It's not."
Yuki: "Then kiss me. If you're not scared."
(He stares at her. His ears are bright red.)
Hiroshi: "You're trying to trap me."
Yuki: "Is it working?"
(He says nothing. The teacher clears her throat.)
Teacher: "We'll rehearse the kiss on Thursday. For now, just practice the lines leading up to it."
Hiroshi: "Thank you."
Yuki: (whispering) "Thursday. I'll be ready."
Hiroshi: (whispering) "I won't."
Yuki: "You will. Your heart will be ready even if your brain isn't."
(He doesn't argue. Because somewhere inside, he knows she might be right.)
Fourth Period – Set Decoration (Alone Time)
(Most students are painting backdrops. Yuki and Hiroshi are assigned to paint the castle tower together. In a corner. Away from others.)
Yuki: "They did this on purpose."
Hiroshi: "Probably."
Yuki: "Are you going to complain?"
Hiroshi: "It would be inefficient. We're already here."
Yuki: "Then let's enjoy it."
(She dips her brush in paint. She paints a window on the castle wall.)
Hiroshi: "The perspective is wrong."
Yuki: "Then fix it."
(He takes her brush. His hand covers hers. He adjusts the angle.)
Hiroshi: "Like this."
Yuki: "You're touching my hand."
Hiroshi: "I'm fixing the perspective."
Yuki: "Same thing."
(He doesn't let go immediately. She doesn't pull away.)
Yuki: "Your hands are warm today."
Hiroshi: "The room is warm."
Yuki: "The window is open. It's cold outside."
Hiroshi: "Then close the window."
Yuki: "Then you'll be cold."
Hiroshi: "I don't get cold."
Yuki: "You're shivering."
(He looks at his hand. It's steady.)
Hiroshi: "I'm not."
Yuki: "Your heart is shivering."
Hiroshi: "Hearts don't shiver."
Yuki: "Mine does. When I'm near you."
(He finally lets go of her hand. He steps back.)
Hiroshi: "You say things like that too easily."
Yuki: "Because I mean them."
Hiroshi: "That makes it worse."
Yuki: "Why?"
Hiroshi: "Because I don't know how to respond."
Yuki: "You don't have to respond. Just listen."
(She paints another window. He watches her. She's not looking at him, but she's smiling.)
Fifth Period – Free Practice (Almost Alone)
(The day is ending. Most students have left to clean up.)
Sōta: "I'm heading home. You two coming?"
Yuki: "We need to practice the confession scene again."
Hiroshi: "We practiced it five times."
Yuki: "Six times is the charm."
Sōta: "I'll leave you to it. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Hiroshi: "That leaves a lot of options."
Sōta: "Exactly."
(Sōta leaves. Rin follows. The stage is empty except for them.)
Yuki: "Now we're alone."
Hiroshi: "I noticed."
Yuki: "Are you nervous?"
Hiroshi: "No."
Yuki: "Your ears are red."
Hiroshi: "The lights are hot."
Yuki: "The lights aren't on."
Hiroshi: "Then I'm getting sick."
Yuki: "You're not sick. You're feeling something."
(She steps closer. He steps back. The edge of the stage stops him.)
Yuki: "Nowhere to run."
Hiroshi: "I'm not running."
Yuki: "Good."
(She takes both his hands. She holds them against her chest. He can feel her heartbeat.)
Yuki: "My heart is racing. Is yours?"
Hiroshi: "..."
Yuki: "You don't have to answer. I can feel it."
(She presses his hands harder against her chest. His fingers curl slightly.)
Hiroshi: "This is inappropriate."
Yuki: "This is honest."
(He doesn't pull away. His face is crimson. His breathing is shallow.)
Yuki: "I love you, Hiroshi."
Hiroshi: "You already said that."
Yuki: "I'll say it every day until you believe it."
Hiroshi: "I believe that you believe it."
Yuki: "That's a start."
(She lets go of his hands. She steps back. She smiles.)
Yuki: "Same time tomorrow?"
Hiroshi: "School starts at the same time."
Yuki: "I meant the heart-holding."
Hiroshi: "There is no heart-holding in the play."
Yuki: "There is now."
Hiroshi: "There is not."
Yuki: "There will be."
(She waves. She walks toward the door.)
Yuki: "Goodnight, my prince. I love you."
Hiroshi: "Goodnight."
(She leaves. He stands alone on the stage. His hands are still warm. His heart is still racing.)
(He looks at his palms. He can still feel her heartbeat.)
(He doesn't know why he's smiling.)
End of Chapter 7