There was a small stall by the door. Two desks covered with red cloth and cardboard decorations, highlighting a large text.
'Attend the 3-C homeroom play, "The Sorrow of Flowers," our original work!'
The announcement was accompanied by another cardboard sign with the times at which the play would be held; ten thirty and twelve thirty; each lasting half an hour.
That's outrageous... And it's original, too?
Through the window in the door, you could see the prepared stage, which was going to be just the place where the teacher normally gives classes.
It's a shame it couldn't be held in the gym. Although I didn't know why. And I really wanted to poke my nose into that.
"Couldn't they do the play in the gymnasium? Or I suppose another club will use it."
"Yes, the boys from the basketball club are going to use it, but that's not why. If I remember correctly, the school wanted to replace the stage wood because it was so old. I'm not entirely sure, I just overheard it one day."
Hina, who was in the class across from me, answered me. Otsuki still had a blank stare, yet one filled with disdain.
Some lines have certainly been crossed.
Death threats are allowed, but not this nonsense?
Since we're best friends in my head, her anger will soon pass.
Tsukiyomi was also in this class, but knowing who she is, she wasn't going to answer anything. I doubt she wants to see the play.
As I predicted, Otsuki's mood recovered seconds later. Why? Because she was looking at the students inside the classroom, getting spoilers about the costumes they would be wearing.
We unconsciously moved a little further away from her, and this time she didn't follow us. At least, Hina and I didn't. Tsukiyomi joined her, her eyes widening and shining brighter than usual. I couldn't see any more of her reaction.
I hesitated in vain.
I couldn't care less about whatever was going on in there, and it may sound cheeky, but I wasn't interested in the play either.
If it were an interpretation of an established story, I'd watch it even less, so I have to give it some credit. That said, achievement matters little when the story is about a fifteen-year-old. I'd bet my life it'll be boring.
Therefore, my interest was not inside, but outside.
The artwork on the cardboard box consisted of a string of black roses next to the title, written in fine, clean script. It even had lighting and a background, both decent. It looks like the work of an older artist.
Someone who is fifteen can't be that good at painting.
I quickly dismissed that idea when I remembered that the potential artist was just a few meters away from me.
"Did you make the poster?"
I looked at Hina sideways, facing the stall and the cardboard boxes.
"Yes. What do you think?"
"…"
If I said I liked her, I'd seem too comfortable with her; if we go too far, it might even give the impression that I like her. If I said no, I predict it would dampen her spirits, and then Otsuki would scold me.
I saw finding a balance as the only way out.
"Not bad."
"I figured as much. It could be better, couldn't it?"
Her voice didn't waver, her mood remained unchanged. Her demeanor was calm and serene, though her personality peeked through the cracks. Mischievous, if I had to describe her. It was especially noticeable when she spoke with Otsuki.
She speaks to everyone else almost without any cracks in her communication. And if there are any, she displays much more innocent emotions.
I regretted not saying it was okay; now it seemed I didn't like it very much. In the end, I didn't manage to settle for a middle ground.
"It's fine like this. Much better than what others would have done."
"I can't deny it."
You have to take some pride in what you do.
Having wrapped up this little conversation, we didn't have much else to do here at this hour. Judging by the look in their eyes, Otsuki, and especially Tsukiyomi, were going to continue gossiping and harassing the actors. Thankfully, they didn't notice. And let's hope it stays that way.
"We'll have to wait until they get tired."
"I guess."
" It's strange to see Tsukiyomi like this," I thought I commented in my head.
"Natsuki is more open than she seems. At least, when she's with us."
We both turned our heads to see the pair crouching in front of the door, who were also talking. I couldn't hear them. It must have been about whatever they were looking at.
From time to time I noticed the people walking by, and some of them glanced at the women. Others didn't care. Sometimes I had to look at the ground.
We looked at them, but each of us saw something different. We even paid more or less attention to whomever our eyes were fixed on.
Deprived of other options, I was forced to believe what Hina said. I barely know Tsukiyomi. It would take me at least a year to find out who he really is.
When she's with us , 'and only with us,' she almost added. No matter how much she's with them, she'll avoid being open if I'm around.
This is even assuming that he had no external reasons to do so.
My gaze shifted to the wall, occasionally glancing down at the floor. I'd already finished chasing the reactions of the people walking down the hallway.
"She used to act like that with me. I already told you she's very shy, although it was unnecessary."
I could discern the meaning of her smile, which, despite having worn it almost the entire time I'd been with her, had grown stronger. I was unable to do the same with her eyes.
Hina was about to add something else, but she remained silent, observing her friends. She chose to suggest something different from what she had in mind.
"You can tell they're best friends."
Like Tsukiyomi's before, my eyes opened, fixed on his for a moment, which were still looking straight ahead.
I was wrong in my assumption again.
"I thought you and Otsuki were best friends."
"It seems you look down on Natsuki," she said, covering her mouth with her hand, finally giving me her full attention with her signature habit.
"That's not it…" My face would have turned blue if I hadn't controlled myself. I knew Hina couldn't be serious, and yet I still got the fright of my life.
"I know," she clarified after noticing my tense expression.
"I don't know how much Otsuki has told you about us."
Hina kept her gaze on me, and I could now see something in her eyes. Curiosity.
He'll want to know if she's crossed the line so he can then make fun of her.
"Ehhh, he hasn't told me anything beyond the basics."
I refrained from asking why. The context wasn't that unclear.
Now she was going to talk to me about the past.
In the same way that Otsuki did that day.
We hadn't known each other for even a week.
A familiar feeling, which is still unfamiliar to me.
But I can do nothing but accept it.
"Then I'll tell you. We-"
"I still can't believe those costumes belong to high school students. I doubt they made them."
"…But they look handmade. All except the princess's dress, at least."
Hina, about to start revealing her story, was interrupted by Otsuki and Tsukiyomi, satisfied with having gossiped about that class for so long, the latter more so than the former.
As Hina said, before joining us, or rather me, the way Tsukiyomi spoke to Otsuki at that moment, and only at that moment that I managed to hear, was different.
"If you had stayed any longer, someone would have brought in a teacher under the premise of a student harassing people."
She turned and spoke to Otsuki, changing his gentleness into malice.
"Sorry. Although we stayed longer than expected because Tsukiyomi wanted to wait until the person who was missing had put on their dress."
"Then there's nothing that can be done. I forgive you."
"Aren't you going to say anything to her?!"
"He hasn't done anything wrong."
"I've done the same thing!"
"Everything you do is bad, regardless of what it is."
"You called me a good girl earlier…"
"Atsumi, being resentful is very bad. As expected of Atsumi."
Hina managed to provoke a reaction from Otsuki, forcing her to raise the white flag.