Chapter 181: A Fragrant Breath (Long Chapter)
Next, we finally enter the main storyline.
[The Little Prince] lands on Earth. He arrives in the desert, meeting a snake and a vast thicket of roses.
He discovers listlessly that the things he possesses are actually everywhere in this place, not special at all...
Under the specially adjusted dim lighting, Totsuka delivered his lines with a sorrowful tone. The sound of sobbing could be heard from the audience seats.
Totsuka's figure looked so pitiful that Hachiman, who had just returned from finishing his duties and was peeking through the doorway, wanted to rush onto the stage to hug him.
Shizuka also wiped away imaginary tears with a look of deep sadness.
At this moment, a character wearing a fox mask and a fur coat appeared.
The Little Prince said to the Fox: "Come and play with me, I am very sad right now..."
He lowered his head with an expression of loneliness.
The Fox shook its head and said: "I cannot play with you... because I have not been tamed yet."
Hachiman scoffed slightly. He used to be very fond of the word 'tamed.' Because 'tamed' was a concrete, clear, and very real equivalent to 'building a relationship.'
The so-called master and servant.
In Hachiman's view, building a relationship was like being tamed; telling oneself to follow the other party, having to get along well with everyone, not being allowed to trigger problems...
In the next step, one's heart and conviction shrink, fangs are hidden, sharp claws fade, and thorns fall off one by one.
Like a tiger that has lost its teeth and sharp claws.
Learning to be cautious toward others, like touching a swollen part of the body with extreme care so as not to hurt others, or cause oneself to be wounded.
Hachiman used to greatly admire this ironic representation of [Building a Relationship].
Without a doubt, this was a distorted way of thinking.
There was a part of it that was true, but it was too extreme, and too pessimistic. Between true friends, there is mutual understanding, mutual encouragement, the ability to accept the other's flaws, and reaching out a hand during difficult times...
Understanding does not mean compromise, and it certainly does not mean being tamed. Humans are social creatures; perhaps calling it mutual necessity sounds better.
Many things in this world are not absolute, especially in aspects of thought and emotion, like the boundary between black and white that no one can truly explain.
Don't be stubborn by overthinking trivial matters until you hit a dead end.
Of course, Hachiman had long since let go of such distorted thoughts. Akishin had told Hachiman a single word: 'Conscience (Honshin).'
It was the accumulation of a lifetime of tempered experiences.
A person often has something they hold onto, which is their conscience. Morals, basic boundaries, dreams, idealism, oaths, original intentions... for those who hold fast to their conscience, even in the deepest abyss, they remain a part of the light.
Back to the main topic.
While Hachiman was lost in thought, the plot continued.
"You must sit on the grass first like this, a little away from me. I will look at you out of the corner of my eye. Don't say anything; after all, words are the source of misunderstandings," the Little Prince said to the Fox.
—They tamed each other... ah! Wrong, they became friends, spending a very happy time together.
Finally, the time for parting arrived.
Before separating, the Fox told the Little Prince a secret: What is essential is invisible to the eye.
This is a classic quote from "The Little Prince."
It is a warning, yet very few people understand it.
Those involved are often confused; without truly experiencing it, one cannot understand. Like the youth of today who cannot feel the hardships of the older generation...
The Little Prince parted ways with the Fox. He continued his visit to many places, seeing many sights, and experiencing many things.
Finally, he returned to the desert once more.
The stage background changed back to the desert.
Hayama took the stage again, once more triggering mindless cheers.
[I] will go together with the Little Prince to search for a water well in the desert.
"The desert is beautiful because somewhere it hides a well," Totsuka said. The audience let out another sound of collective admiration.
This scene is very representative in "The Little Prince."
[I] played by Hayama and [The Little Prince] played by Totsuka continued their dialogue, accumulating time together, and the hearts of the two people gradually merged...
Finally, the moment for their parting arrived.
Hachiman original gritted his teeth. As he recalled in Ebina's initial draft of the script, at this moment, the lips and bodies of the two were supposed to merge as well...
What on earth was that woman thinking...
Hachiman shuddered in horror, staring deeply at the girl sitting next to Hiratsuka-sensei, who was staring at the stage with a flushed face full of passion.
"Little Prince... I really love the sound of your laughter..."
Hayama delivered the soulful dialogue with a thick face.
The female audience members who heard this sentence could not help but grow hysterical. Ebina almost jumped out of her seat.
"I don't want to leave you..."
One really didn't know how Hayama could say such a line. Perhaps this is what they call a professional actor.
Finally came the scene of their parting.
[The Little Prince] played by Totsuka was bitten by a snake and fell quietly—the Little Prince played by Totsuka truly looked so fragile, as if he would disappear at any moment. The majority of the audience was so focused they almost forgot to breathe.
Shizuka was one of them.
Finally, the stage went dark...
A single beam of light shone on Hayama.
The final monologue of [I] served as the conclusion for the entire musical.
At the moment it ended, the applause below the stage roared like thunder. This memorable premiere of "The Little Prince" ended in a packed hall.
The classroom lights were turned on. Only then did everyone realize that this small classroom had been as crowded as a can of sardines, filled with the 'aroma' of humans, with the temperature at least one degree higher than outside.
Akishin stretched his body, while Shizuka was still reminiscing about the performance.
Ebina, with a flushed face, turned and asked enthusiastically: "Chishima-sensei, what do you think?"
"It was truly wonderful, far exceeding my initial expectations. It's clear you've worked hard for a long time; keep it up." Akishin nodded in affirmation.
Akishin and Shizuka left the place. There were still many other spots to visit and play.
...
The two days of the School Anniversary reached their final stage smoothly without any accidents during the period.
The final activity before the closing ceremony was a group performance from various parties. The band formed by Hayama was responsible for the Grand Finale.
At this time, Akishin, Shizuka, and the others were backstage making preparations for the closing, very busy.
"Ugh~, this is bad, I'm starting to get nervous."
Miura Yumiko lowered her head, her face a bit pale. She was very tense because she had to face thousands of spectators.
Hayama plucked an electric guitar that hadn't been plugged in yet, Tobe swung drumsticks in the air with both hands as if he were hitting drums, Yamato hugged a bass without moving an inch, while Ooka stared intently at the keyboard player on stage...
As the time to take the stage approached, they were all very tense; only Hayama appeared quite calm and composed.
Tobe kept shaking his head to dispel the tension in his heart.
Aside from the performers who were about to go on stage, other people were wandering around in various places.
"How do we get them to drink the beverages on stage... ah, maybe it's easier to drink if we provide straws..."
"Yui, actually at a time like this, you can use scissors to poke a hole in the bottle cap, then wiggle it around to make the hole bigger, then insert the straw..."
"Wow, Hina, you're amazing..."
"Haha, not really, it's just common everyday knowledge..."
No, those who weren't going on stage weren't tense at all.
Hachiman stared at them in silence, the corner of his lip curling slightly. Good, he wasn't someone who would be going on stage either; he only needed to enjoy himself from here on.
Akishin saw that the basic preparations were finished and said: "Shizuka, let's go out to watch the show."
Hayama and the others' program here was only the finale; there were still many other extraordinary programs that would be a waste not to watch.
"Sure, sure!"
Shizuka took Akishin's arm and walked out from backstage under the gaze of others.
Seats had been prepared for them in the audience.
Suzuki Tsuyoshi and Yukinoshita Ryuichi and their group had already gone home yesterday.
The somewhat dark audience seats felt a bit quiet and heavy, likely due to the realization that the performance was about to begin, or seeing the classical musical instruments on stage radiating a high-class atmosphere.
The current program on the list was a performance by the Classical Music Club.
"Oh oh oh~"
A commotion was heard in the corner. A group of women carrying various beautiful equipment and wearing luxurious gowns appeared. Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Walking at the very back of the line was Yukinoshita Haruno.
Under the spotlight, she wore a slim-fit long purple gown that perfectly accentuated her curves. Every time she stepped, the dark-colored fabric fluttered along, like a goddess descending from the heavens...
Every spectator was stunned, losing their senses.
Seen from a distance, the handmade black rose decorations on her chest and hair looked luxurious. Pearls and sequins also made her even more glittering and eye-catching.
This was a personnel that shouldn't have appeared on a high school stage. To high school students, it was like a beggar entering a financial center building.
Haruno lifted her skirt slightly, bowed gracefully to the audience, and then stepped with high heels toward the conductor's podium. She raised the conductor's baton gently and stopped in mid-air.
The other performers one by one took their respective positions.
Such an elegant demeanor made the audience unwilling to even move their bodies slightly.
Finally, like holding a rapier, Yukinoshita Haruno swung her conductor's baton with force.
Instantly, the melody flowed out in a torrent.
Under the spotlight, the gleaming brass instruments seemed to give shape to the air blown from their bells; the vibrating strings pulled sharp notes like arrows; the melody of the woodwind instruments entered the ears like a soft, vibrating night wind.
Haruno used the baton in her hand to split the darkness before her eyes. The violinists stood up together, playing the strings with deep emotion.
Immediately after, the flute, piccolo, oboe, as well as the people in the back, joined in to stand and merge into the cheerful melodic line.
Then it was the clarinet and bassoon players' turn to stand, raising their instruments high and blowing. The trumpets and trombones were not to be outdone, tilting their heads back to use their tones to add to the grandeur of the song.
The double bass players spun their instruments like tops without stopping, followed by the timpani players who spun luxuriously once.
The overture alone was so grand it didn't resemble orthodox classical music at all. They broke the old framework, inserting elements that made eyes go wide.
The entire audience was stunned, as if they had received a slap to the face.
Even Akishin couldn't help but feel a slight jolt.
The body naturally became excited. The extra performances from the players gave a sense of closeness. Every listener leaned forward, listening intently...
Unconsciously, everyone began to tap their thighs following the rhythm.
At that exact moment, Haruno suddenly raised her hands high and swung them forcefully to both sides.
That movement seemed very unusual in the middle of a harmonious orchestral play. She used her slender fingers to count a few beats. The audience's attention was fully focused on her hands.
Haruno bowed her body again, one hand pointing the conductor's baton toward the players, the other hand pointing toward the audience, and then swung down forcefully at the same time.
As soon as she gave the signal, everyone on and off stage jumped and shouted with excitement: "Mambo!"
—Mambo, a very popular type of dance born in the Caribbean island nation of Cuba. The name Mambo is a title for the sorcerers of the indigenous South American tribes, describing the condition of people who fall into a hypnotized, fanatical state. Here, it showed the audience becoming fanatical because of the music.
Continuing the enthusiasm that exploded on-site, the music accelerated gradually.
Then, a second giant wave of "Mambo!" came crashing in.
Looking at the standard of playing on stage, it was truly hard to imagine that they had left the orchestra for quite a long time. They were all former seniors, most already in university, who had been called back by Haruno to participate in the School Anniversary.
Haruno was the same. Under her command, the alumni who had retreated from their respective front lines brought out their signature skills, presenting the most vivid performance for the audience.
The heat at the location was already no less than a disco or a concert.
This was the madness of the current moment carried out behind closed doors. Everyone present was infected by the extremely festive atmosphere and became fans of the players almost by force.
The factor capable of making the location go crazy to this degree came, for one, from the solid power of the band itself; the other factor came from Yukinoshita Haruno, who was responsible as the conductor.
The sound of the orchestra had not stopped, continuing to race toward the final part of the musical composition...
After that was Hayama and the others' performance...
Then the School Anniversary program ended, entering the stage of closing speeches and award presentations.
Yukino went up on stage, receiving the microphone from the hands of the energetic Shiromeguri Meguri, delivering the closing ceremony speech, the general jury's evaluation, and the announcement of the winners' list...
When the last winner had also stepped down from the stage, everyone rose to their feet. The board of directors, the principal, the director... everyone clapped sincerely.
This year's School Anniversary was unexpectedly perfect.
...
In the evening after finishing up at the Izakaya, dropping off Yuika and the others who were exhausted from the day, tidying the kitchen, and finishing his bath, Akishin as usual dried Shizuka's hair with a hairdryer.
"Shizuka, if I suddenly disappeared, would you be sad?" Akishin asked suddenly.
"What stupid things are you talking about? Didn't you say you would never leave me? Besides, what does 'suddenly disappearing' even mean! If that really happened, I would search for you even if I had to go to the ends of the earth." Shizuka turned to look at him suspiciously, a flash of anxiety appearing in her eyes, as she scolded softly: "Are you planning on leaving!"
"No, no, just asking randomly to find a topic of conversation." Akishin laughed awkwardly and immediately apologized.
The beautiful hair in his hands felt damp and cool, becoming smooth under the gust of hot air. He felt a bit reluctant to let go.
Shizuka turned her head back so Akishin could dry her hair better, she mused and said: "Good then. For me, there is no word 'if.' If you go, I will not look for another man for the rest of my life."
"I was wrong. That was really just idle talk; from now on, I absolutely won't say things like that anymore. Shizuka, cheer up a little." Akishin apologized once more. He heard the fear in Shizuka's sentence and felt very regretful in his heart.
Shizuka nodded without answering.
After finishing drying her hair, Akishin got up to leave. Shizuka hugged him from behind and whispered in his ear: "Sleep with me today. No, from now on, for one week, sleep alone (not in separate rooms)."
"How..."
Before his sentence was finished, Shizuka hugged him and pulled him down onto the bed, simultaneously hitting the light switch on the wall.
The room fell into darkness, with only a little dim light coming in from the window. It felt quiet and vast.
Inside the fragrant blanket, Shizuka lay prone on Akishin's chest—feeling a softness that was difficult to express in words, Shizuka was not wearing a bra at night—Akishin smiled bitterly: "Shizuka, I really just wanted to find a topic of conversation, you're being a bit excessive."
He deeply regretted it, understanding that the reason Shizuka was so panicked was likely because of the wild boar incident.
"...You've never joked like that before. I'm scared; you have to make me not scared anymore."
Shizuka exhaled a breath as fragrant as a flower. Her eyes, which were slowly adapting to the darkness, stared intently at the man facing her, as if afraid he would run away.
Then, she kissed him...
Two minutes later, Shizuka broke the kiss while panting. Her damp lips pressed against Akishin's ear, she said in a trembling voice: "Have me~"
!!!
Akishin flinched, snapping out of the lingering sensation of the hot kiss just now, and said: "Shizuka, didn't we agree to wait until after marriage?"
Shizuka's body trembled violently.
"...You have to make me not scared anymore, and you too... have already reacted~"
Shizuka's right hand moved inside the blanket...
Akishin caught that hand, laughing bitterly: "I was wrong, truly wrong. This is a normal physiological reaction; I won't be controlled by lust..."
Finally, Akishin exhaled, stroking Shizuka's hair, his hands hugging her gently. While inhaling the pleasant fragrance, he said softly: "I won't leave. I am Chishima Akishin; what I promise, I will absolutely fulfill. Don't overthink things; I'll just sleep here, we still have school tomorrow..."
Precisely because he truly liked her, he wouldn't let lust take over. If it weren't for the consequences triggered by that sentence earlier, Akishin would have accepted with great pleasure after Shizuka said that.
However, right now in his heart, there was only regret.
Listening to that familiar heartbeat, Shizuka's hot and trembling body slowly calmed down. She also hugged Akishin tightly and slowly fell asleep.
Akishin opened his eyes in the middle of the darkness. He had said those words because he was preparing to perform his Kendo Master Training tonight. According to Patch, if he wasn't strong enough to endure and his mind broke, he would be left in the Training Space forever...
He had absolute confidence he would pass, and Patch's assessment was also fine, but of course, his heart couldn't be completely at peace. If he were alone, maybe he wouldn't think too much... that's why he asked.
Only, he didn't expect Shizuka's reaction to be so big!
Sigh!
This week, he'd better just be obedient.
...We'll talk about it again next week.
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