*Thump!*
"Gah!?"
The judges were a bit spooked about what just happened. They looked at each other after realising that this performance was going to be a letdown.
Ike did an exasperated gasp however, he did not leave. He stayed there with the spotlight focusing on the fallen Rina.
Behind the curtains, everyone was getting worried.
"Wha-! Is she okay?" Hishimi was sweating as she asked Paro.
Paro silently stared at the situation. She knew that there would be some backlashes in letting a first-year participate in a major competition right off the bat.
But not this big of a problem.
Kagome clicked her tongue when her thoughts faded to negativity as she contemplated on Rina's mistake.
'Should I stop this?' Paro was frustrated.
Was all of that preparation all the members did all pointless? Was it all going to end at the start of their journey?
Amongst her rambling thoughts, Paro noticed that Seita was signalling at her.
With a reassuring smile, Seita beckoned Paro that the play will continue. He slipped through the curtain to enter the stage where Rina was. However, the judges did not see him yet as he wasn't in the spotlight.
Rina lifted her face from the floor and blood dropped. She smelled metal and touched her nose to check.
As expected, she had a nosebleed. Panic instilled in her because the judges disappointedly gaze in her direction.
It was all ruined.
Tears almost welled up in her eyes as she could not contain the amount of embarrassment and guilt she experienced.
All of a sudden, all of her anxiety vanished with a single touch.
Rina felt a hand grabbed her by her shoulder. She was turned around and saw Seita with an extremely worried look.
"Ariella! I told you to be careful! Now look at what have you done!"
In a hurry, Seita used his own raggedly clothes to wipe off the blood on her nose.
Seita's ghastly face increased the legitimacy of the act. Seeing that, the judges kept on observing.
'We are continuing?' Rina was shocked.
However, she understood that the play is not done yet. Or more specifically, it is not stopped by the judges.
They would dismiss an act upon detecting a single mistake but now, they were intrigued by something.
Rina did not know exactly what was that 'something'. However, this was a chance for Rina. An opportunity to redeem herself for the grave mistake.
So, she used all of her mind and body to get through this improvisation by Seita.
"Aros. It is fine..... It is just a small scratch."
"What are you saying? You are clearly bleeding!"
"Stop being a worrywart and help me up."
Ariella was a character who was only sociable to his brother Aros. To others, she was less talkative and demanded aid from her brother to escape the awkwardness.
Right now, Rina was portraying the interactive side of Ariella well. That was because all of her fear was at its minimal
Mainly due to Seita's presence that gave her comfort.
It was also she was determined to make up for her misstep.
After wiping most of the blood, Seita continued with his improvised play, hoping that Rina would respond decently.
"You should take care of yourself more."
"I have you so i don't have to worry about that. Anyway, let's go over there."
Ariella shrugged Aros' concern and went back on the track for the play. From then on, the play proceeded as planned.
The judges did not say anything so the club members behind the curtains could relax for a bit.
Paro sighed, "Good going, Seita-kun."
Kagome looked at the situation with a grim expression. She was not forgetting the mistake that Rina displayed.
"That's a relief." Hishimi also sighed but with exaggeration.
She recollected her calm and watched the act.
Hishimi and Harue would help even for a little towards miscellaneous tasks. A makeup artist and a tailor have not got much of a work to do during the act.
However, backstage, sitting still did not seem right to them. So any slight deviation that happens, they would help in fixing it.
"Ariella. Don't venture too far."
Aros voiced his concern at his little sister walking fast. There was a rolling background that the lighting crew prepared. The scenery was a serene green field that was moving.
In reality, Rina and Seita were doing a fake walk. They were not moving from one place to another, their place was fixed.
Only from a distance, it looked real. Rina was good at it. It was one of the few things she was good at. So she was comfortable right now.
Rina as Ariella was carrying her role out pretty well. But still, in her head, she was holding out.
This is the most concentrated she had been while acting.
Although Rina will only play for a small time, she is dedicated to go through it.
Aros and Ariella were happy with their lives even though their lifestyles were indulged alongside the poor environment. They were born into it.
That is what the story Paro wrote.
It was set in a fantasy world. The setting kind of reflects the world that they live in except for the bad things that happen.
Ariella and Aros were siblings living happily when suddenly Aros discovered his power when his sister was in danger.
Ariella would fall and cling onto the edge of a cliff because she was careless.
It was difficult to safely bring her up with only Aros' strength because they are teenagers. He would desperately call for help but they were in an unpopulated terrain.
After some time trying to get Ariella, all of Aros' attempts were in vain. When it seems that Ariella would really fall, Aros would subconsciously awaken his powers.
The power of the wind.
With the help of his power, he helped his sister escape death. Ariella was surprised. Moreover, Aros himself could not understand how he could have such a power.
Amongst commoners like them, they were not supposed to attain such divine powers. However that day, that fact was ignored by only one person. That was Aros.
He used his powers selflessly for his village.
Praised and treated like a saviour, he aided the people of his village whenever they were in trouble. All that benefited from Aros were elated.
Of course, it did not limit to only his village, he would help any passing civilians or travellers that were in difficult times.
Evidently, Kagome would use her telekinesis power during these scenes that Seita would portray his wind magic.
Anyway, it was through those few people that rumours spread about the flourishing village that changed overnight. Then the kingdom finally knew of the cause.
At first, they were not believing it but after sending some people to confirm that assertion, the kingdom was in an uproar.
The King of the kingdom could not believe it. Since the matter evolved around a commoner, he was cautious.
Nonetheless, the king took care of that situation with the normal method.
He recruited Aros to attend the school intended for nobles that have powers. Aros was assured that he would be guaranteed a job and be rewarded decently.
Hearing that, Aros took the King's words seriously and headed to the kingdom. He wanted to support his family more so that in the future, they will live more comfortably.
Arriving there, he attended school, learn everything new that was outside the commoner's field of knowledge.
As expected, Aros faced discrimination throughout the story but he ignored them and continued growing stronger.
Few years passed and he had a job as a magician which is considered to be a well-paid job. He aided in battlefields mostly.
It was an unusual occupation for students from the noble school to get into. However, Aros was a special case due to his commoner blood.
The time he spent on the battlefield accumulated experience and he became a decorated magician. Rising through ranks and become famous.
The King that surveilled the successful Aros was genuinely happy with his lifestyle.
But later, there was one thing that he did not accept.
Aros grew in love with her only daughter, Mikela and vice versa.
The King was not having it because he could not bear that a commoner would be part of his family. He strongly believed that their lineage would be tainted.
So, he started to break their love relation non-violently. Instead, Mikela and Aros became closer and their love became stronger.
That infuriated the King. He was compelled to resort to cruel means so that Aros would give up.
With the aid of his sons, he threatened Aros, fought with him, threw him in dangerous circumstances and finally, his village was burned.
Ariella was killed in the process. Enraged, Aros would then go on and take revenge.
"Who are you?"
Kagome's voice was so soft and serene that the judges' were taken aback. Then she appeared slowly under a spotlight.
This was the point in time where Mikela and Aros would meet for the first time.
"....Beautiful..."
"Pardon?"
"S-Sorry. My name is Aros."
Seita bashfully replied displaying his inability to stay focused around Mikela's stunning beauty.
She was adorned like a real princess. Kagome already had the noble aura to match the character Mikela so she hasn't had a real problem adjusting to it.
"My name is Mikela. Princess of the kingdom. I am intrigued with you personally, Aros."
'Aros' was taken aback by Princess Mikela. She was interested in Aros because of his powers that manifested.
He was the centre of a hot topic so she could not contain her curiosity.
From then on, they would meet and be inseparable.
The curtains closed on Kagome and Seita who were staring at each other. As soon as they were blocked from the judges' sight, Seita and Kagome took off their acting mask and ran backstage.
Quickly, Daisuke, Yuna and Fujita ran to the centre of the stage, but still blinded by the curtains.
"You ready, Fujita-kun, Yuna-san?"
"Yes, Daisuke-senpai."
"Yes, Daisuke-kun."
Backstage, Hishimi was sitting next to Harue. Unbeknownst to why Fujita went with Yuna and Daisuke, she inquired.
"Wasn't Fujita-kun supposed to play as a merchant or something?"
"Yes."
"Then why is he there? I don't recall them rehearsing the scene of the merchant and the King and Queen."
Harue sighed, "Fujita-kun is not playing the merchant. He is acting as one of the King's sons."
"Then what about the merchant?"
"Fujita is doing that too."
"Oh, is that so? 2 roles and 1 person."
"Yeah, you seriously have not forgotten about what Paro said?"
"...Yea...."
Harue dejectedly looked at Hishimi. He was not going to waste his energy on her so he cut off the conversation.
"You are the one that will make that happen."
She was the make up artist. She had to make Fujita's face somewhat different. That too in a small space of time.
The curtain reopened and the preparation was done. What was shown was Daisuke and Yuna sitting beside each other on a decorated chair.
They were wearing expensive-looking clothes but they are actually seen that way.
The judges were impressed by the speed of the intervals, the costumes and the acting so far.
Fujita was standing in front of his 2 seniors with a serious face. Daisuke does not need to force an expression as his normal face itself was intimidating.
Daisuke asked.
"My son, Mak. I need you to do something for me."
"What is it, Father?" Fujita's acting was good and it remained that way.
"I want you to use however means you have to but in the end, I do not want to see that Aros near Mikela again. But do not kill him. Do you understand me?"
Yuna, meaning the Queen exclaimed at the King.
"Dear!-"
"Did you understand Mak!?" The King ignored the Queen and yelled at Mak.
"Yes, Father."
Mak bowed and walked out onto the backstage whilst still having his serious face. The moment he stepped out the stage, he gasped exasperatedly.
"Aaaa...That was close. I almost laughed."
Paro with a smile patted Fujita on the back.
"That was good."
"...Thanks, Paro-senpai."
He celebrated in his mind but kept it simple in his expression.
"Now go and get changed."
"Yes."
Hishimi was waiting for Fujita behind where they would change costume. Fujita had to replace his noble costume with a merchant one.
Paro sends him off and gazed back at Daisuke and Yuna.
"Dear. Why are you doing this?"
"Aros is getting too close to Mikela. She too is getting affectionate with her. We must stop it right there, right now."
"Why?" The Queen inquired about the reason for his threatening order.
"Just because he is a commoner, you are considering him to be an obstacle. That's prejudice!"
"Prejudice?"
The King squinted his eyes and stared at Yuna with anger. He raised his coarse voice and terrified the Queen.
"This is a matter concerning our daughter and family! I honour the traditions handed down by our ancestors! I won't let a single commoner tarnish our reputation!!!"
The Queen had mixed reactions about the King's mindset.
The Royal Family's heritage was highly maintained for many years. The King would not let it be broken by anyone.
"As long as I am here, no one will defile our noble bloodline. My son, my grandson, my great-grandson and so on will protect this family's tradition."
Daisuke then turned his eyes to the judges and declared in a fearful tone.
"I will protect my daughter, no matter what!"
One of the judges felt that Daisuke's anger was real for a moment. His furiousness did not dissipate.
Yuna worriedly patted him on the shoulder and continued while waiting for the curtain to close for the next scene.