It was Wednesday and the day the Drama Club would officially participate in the first Drama competition will take place tomorrow.
As to say, today was going to be the last day to practice for tomorrow's play.
Harue and Ike just finished packing their school belongings and were heading to the auditorium together.
They were met with the usual company as they entered. Except for one thing. The first years were nervous.
It was understandable as the next day would be a big start for their club. So ruining it was a big no.
The others were cool with this awareness as it was not the first time.
Nami, Rina and Fujita were not though. Especially Rina, who was working hard from the outside but still had some doubts loitered through her head.
Recently, it was Seita that broadened her nervousness. Although Seita did not do anything intentionally and was not at fault, it still affected Rina negatively.
His great acting skills pushes Rina to become at least to the level of that. Or else, the act would seem out of place. As a result, Rina worries secretly.
Paro clapped her hands three times as loud as she can. She did it after confirming that every member was present here.
"Everyone gather around me!"
The lighting crew, the sound management, Hishimi, Harue, the acting members, all assembled around Paro.
She was in the middle of the crowd as the club members surrounded the President of the club.
"As you all know, tomorrow will be the first step to being number one in the south region of Japan."
Right off the bat, she predicted their journey with an ambitious tone.
'Not bad for an opening speech.' Kagome chuckled as she spectated Paro.
She already set her goals high so she is not going to be satisfied with any mediocre performance from all the team members.
"Last year, our club almost grabbed the first place but we lacked in our play. However, we will not dwell on last year's result. We will prevail this year."
Paro picked her voice up and was determined to bring this Drama Club high up in positions.
"This year, we have some new additions to the club that will accompany us in paving a path to number one."
Paro veered to the three first years. All the members focused on Nami, Rina and Fujita.
Rina and Fujita had wry smiles as this was the first time that all attention centered on them in such a way.
Nami had a thankful face and bowed slightly to show her gratitude to Paro for giving them the chance. Seeing Nami do this, Fujita and Rina followed suit to escape the awkward silence.
In most clubs, hierarchy obstructs first-years to participate in any serious competition. Especially in fight-related clubs such as the Judo Club or Karate Club.
This is to reduce the number of mistakes when the clubs are in an intense tournament.
Often, first-year club members have it hard to adjust to their respective club. In the process, they start needing time to fully feel comfortable, that too around seniors.
It was necessary because the first years will not be able to practise at their maximum in a discomforting environment.
They are made to not be too involved during their first year and from then on, they would rack experience and be more at ease with everyone.
Sure, there will be few exceptions that defy this kind of concept.
Yet, the majority still follows this mindset. Overall, the seniors are doing it for the progress of their clubs. Fewer failures are indeed good for the members and the school's reputation.
In the Drama Club, however, the exception applied to the club itself.
Paro and the other supporting members agreed to let the first years participate right off the bat.
Even if they were not skilled or up to the level anticipated, they would develop more rapidly if they practised alongside the seniors and act with them.
This kind of mindset encourages fast development whereas the previous one indulges in collecting enough confidence to perform.
Paro was more than happy with this type of treatment because everyone had a chance to be part of this club activity.
In all, she wanted everyone to have fun in the years spent in the Drama Club. She continued her speech as she veered away from the 3 first years.
"I am counting on every individual to make this year our year. I need no more words to convince you because I have faith in you all."
Paro gently smiled and made the crowd around her mumble cheerfully and positive vibes flowed.
Seeing all of them having excited faces on, Paro sneered wider and struck a pose. She lifted her right arm straight up and pointed only her index finger to the ceiling.
She yelled,
"What are we going to be!!!?"
The members understood her actions as it was a routine before each tournament they would participate in.
All of them raised their hand in the same manner as Paro. Daisuke, Seita, Harue, Yuna, Hishimi, Ike, all of the sound management crew and the lightning crew were in unison.
Even Kagome lifted her arms in the air. Fujita was hyped as he joined them not knowing what to do next. Nami and Rina were going with the flow too.
Then all at once, all the individuals screamed with determination.
""""Number one!!""""
They looked at each other with smiles and soon they laughed joyfully. Paro was in the centre of the lively atmosphere.
"""""Hahahahah!!"""""
She felt it in her heart that this tournament will be finished with them on the top.
Though it is good to be confident, their act had to be handled masterfully. And the acting members have to give it their all in every performance.
It was going to be a long and thorny road but it was going to be worth it.
Pondering on that thought, Paro detected Kagome who was thinly smiling at the cheerful surrounding.
Deep in her mind, she requested secretly to Kagome.
'Kagome-san, I feel bad for saying this but I have to rely on your skills.'
Paro was both referring to her telekinesis power and her acting talent.
Probably, she envisioned that Kagome would lead the Drama Club further up. The others too think that Kagome would be a major factor.
So right now, most of the members contemplated that Kagome would be the spearhead of the club.
......
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
The short cry in equal intervals resounded the big room. The white attires occupied half of the room as they punched with discipline.
It was the Karate Club members practising.
With each punch they threw, it looked like they punctured through the air. It was accompanied with such force and precision.
The hard part was constantly exerting the same force in the same posture.
The sweats dribbled on every members' face however they continued without any hesitation or rest.
They were all facing in one direction. In front was a boy, a third-year that led the pack with his actions. From then on, from the front to the back, there were third years, then sophomores and finally freshmen that were positioned.
As expected, the back of the group was getting exhausted. The recruits that barely adapted to the intense training were starting to lose momentum.
This training was going on for about 30 minutes. Thoughts like, 'When is this going to end?' were starting to brew in the first years' mind.
Amongst them was Eiji Kisano who joined this club for his selfish reason of becoming strong.
It was not a bad thing though, however, at this moments, he was starting to regret his actions.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Eiji's voice was lacking in volume. He had reached the limits like every first year.
A man in his late 20s noticed the peculiarity. It was the club's advisor. He had a good built and his gaze was observing every part of the group.
"Freshmen! I cannot hear you all!"
Hearing the scary voice, all of the first years raised their voice even if it meant having a sore throat.
The advisor added,
"Eiji! Your form is crumbling! Fix that quickly!"
Eiji forgot his fatigue for a moment and obediently followed what the advisor ordered.
"Kuk!"
He endured it well until the advisor's sight was out of his way.
He wondered why he got here at the moment, he was stuck in a painful loop of extreme training.
He glanced at his left and saw Kana who had no hint of fatigue and unwillingness. The opposite of Eiji.
It was through her that Eiji gained the courage to take a step forward in his life. Something that everyone wants to reign in but only a minuscule number stays on that path.
'What did she do to reach this stage?'
Eiji was in awe of Kana's strength and endurance. The concentration on that girl's gaze was unwavering. No trace of doubt of being here.
'Does she has some kind of motive?'
It can be a possibility. Strength fueled by motive or just for fun, the former would be more understandable considering Kana's level.
A clear motive. That is what Eiji needed.
Upon that thought, he grinned and decided to devote all his strength to his selfish motive.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Kana noticed the difference on Eiji but ignored it.
After some time, this routine finished and they were allowed some rest.
Kana was leaning against the wall as well as the other members. There were some third years and the club's advisor that were discussing something. Apart from that, everyone was resting.
An exhausted Eiji slowly approached Kana and sat beside her. This happened too many times that she is not left alone by him.
Now it was like a daily thing. She only complained in her head about being with such a clingy guy.
"...I am...so tired."
Kana raised her eyebrows and asked.
"Do you want to quit?"
Eiji lightly chuckled at Kana's question. She was expecting him to say yes so that he won't be able to see his face again.
"No."
Well her hope was short-lived. It was not unusual for someone to quit a club if they had a valid or personal reason. It can be that the reason consists of not wanting to continue because it was too hard.
The Karate Club had some examples.
At the start of the school term, around 25 freshmen enrolled into this club. Right now, 7 remained because of the extreme training.
Unfortunately for Kana, she was the only girl amongst the first years. So she had no girl companions.
It diminished greatly but the seniors did not care. They only see the recruits that stayed and put up with the difficulties. Such individuals do not lack resolve.
It was a different kind of strength, nonetheless, it was what kept them here. That showed how much they want to be strong.
"If I leave right now, wouldn't I be lame? Even though I was the one who declared that I want to be strong?"
"Yes, that would be lame and irresponsible," Kana stated brutally.
Eiji wryly smiled at her direct response. Partly, he was pondering that he was glad to not think about quitting.
"Fukuyama-san. What drives you to be strong?"
"What is this so suddenly?"
"I am curious."
Kana paused. She stared at the seniors that looked that they have finished discussing.
"Personal gains."
"Uh?"
Kana turned to Eiji with an indifference expression and inquired.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
Eiji's confused face shook and denied her.
"No that is not it. I...had a different image of you."
"....."
Kana's expression changed into confusion. She did not have the chance to ask why because they were interrupted by the club's advisor.
"Every freshman, listen to me carefully."
The 7 first years, including Eiji and Kana, stood up in line. They faced the advisor with a straight face.
"There is going to be a tournament in a week for first years like you. You have all stayed here despite the harsh training."
The Captain of the club, a third-year named Jirou Takumi, approached beside the advisor and added.
"We are thinking about making you all participate and gain some experience. It is not necessary to win but if you all stay in that tournament longer, you will make our school proud."
The advisor took it from here and pressed for an answer.
"Any objections?"
""No sir!""
"Good."
The advisor left and the Captain took the rein. He ordered the whole club.
"Rest is over. I am going to pair everyone to do some sparring."
He looked over at Kana and sneered mischievously. She braced for the worst.
"Kana with Eiji."
A vein popped on her forehead. Kana cursed Jirou countless times in her head. The misunderstanding kept getting bigger.
Jirou continued to pair the rest of the members randomly.
Eiji looks disconcerted as he could not be asked how many times he was paired with Kana.
Kana held Eiji to be responsible.
Eiji would always stay close to Kana during club activities since she was the only one with whom he was familiar. As a result, the Captain misinterpreted their relationship.
What is Jirou to be blamed? Eiji acts that way and someone was bound to look at it otherwise. He just wants to support them in any way possible.
However, both Eiji and Kana do not think of each other as a couple. So the Captain who attempted to bring those two closer is just a dud in the end.
In Kana's perspective, Jirou is an annoying pest, just like Eiji.
All of the members got into position and started to face off each of their partners.
"I am so nervous about the tournament."
Before the spar, Eiji anxiously rambled to Kana. She sighed seeing him like this and calmed him down.
"What are you so nervous about?"
"I-I mean there are going to be many people watching so I guess losing in the first round will be a letdown."
".....Are you stupid or what?"
"Stu...pid?"
Kana put both her hands on her waist and put on an irritated air.
"Why are you paying attention to other people while in a fight? Focus on your opponent."
She lifted one of her hands and pointed at Eiji's two eyes. Then she pointed at her own two eyes.
"Look at me. I am your opponent."
Eiji's surrounding slowly became white. It enveloped all of the other club members except Kana. In his point of view, it was only him and her that stood on the wooden floor.
She slowly got into a typical fighting stance.
"Ready?"
".....Yes.."
Eiji too got into a stance slowly as if hypnotised. The two stared at each other for a while.
As soon as Eiji blinked, Kana dashed forward to strike. But Eiji, who was adapted to her movements over the past weeks, reacted accordingly.
In just seconds, they clashed whilst ignoring everyone else. They practise in their world and see only themselves.