"Yay!! We got through the second round!"
"""YAAAAYY!!!"""
Everyone exclaimed alongside Hishimi's. cheer. The onlookers that passed the second round as well admired their enthusiasm
Some would laugh because they contemplated that soon, they will hit a wall and the brimming atmosphere around them would deplete exponentially.
Whereas other school drama clubs that did not qualify to go for the third round felt envious of their successful run.
Fujiidera High school Drama Club came out of the auditorium and left the premises.
The third round is due in 1 month.
Paro already has an idea for a plot, featuring Daisuke as the protagonist. A story that will be suitable for him.
However, Daisuke had mixed feelings about it.
Even though he was the one requested to be the main character himself, the way Paro was evilly smiling and saying that his face would be ideal was troubling him.
What was in store for him? He does not know. But soon, when they will discuss with everyone about the next performance, then they will be informed on Paro's new work.
Till then, Daisuke was nervous.
All of the club members boarded the minibus that transported them here in the first place.
The club advisor, Mrs Yoshida was last as she surveilled the students. When all of them were seated, she counted the number of students.
After having done that, she murmured, "Okay." before signalling the bus driver to take them back to school.
Paro was seated next to Kagome. She struck a conversation with a smug on her face.
"What do you think?"
"....About what?" Kagome was confused.
"About Rina."
Kagome sighed as she tried to search for her earphone in her bag.
"What to say about her. You kept her so I cannot do anything. If she is to fail then you will be the one kicking her out, not me."
She viewed this matter rationally. It has truth in it so Paro could rebuke her. But, that wasn't the answer she was asking for.
"I wasn't talking about that. I want you to evaluate her acting skills and point out her fault."
Paro kept smiling at her, not budging her expression for an instance. Kagome though was a bit upset.
"Point out her fault? What are you thinking about? Are you trying to make me her teacher or something like that?"
"Basically, yeah."
"....Hah!? No way I am helping."
"Oh come on. Just tell me. View it as a complaint that you want to vent."
"You.....are really sly."
"Hehe, thank you."
Paro leaned against Kagome's shoulder and pestered her constantly about a review of Rina's performance.
It was getting irritating for her and the only way to stop this annoying chatterbox from making her head explode is to fulfil her demands.
The option to refuse was already shot down so, for Kagome, she was coerced to do this way.
She sighed yet again.
"Are you sure you want to hear all of my 'complaints'?"
"What? Are there many?"
Kagome smirked and instilled worries in Paro's mind.
"You asked for it."
And so, the gatling gun of mistakes that Rina made was fired.
She started the gatling gun of mistakes that Rina did. Paro was baffled at how much Kagome had to point out. At this moment, Paro knew how observant Kagome was.
Paro laughed awkwardly at the number of complaints she has got. But Paro did not forget a single thing she said.
"...and then, sometimes she goes on her own pace which is really annoying..."
"Hmm..."
Although she was unpleasantly criticizing Rina, Paro took note of it, not minding her harsh words.
Kagome noticed Paro being vigilant and attentive but she shrugged it off and continued.
This went on for about an hour so it was a good distraction for the 2 girls in such a long journey.
Upon arriving at school, they all gathered in the auditorium, including Mrs Yoshida.
She assembled the club members and talked to them about the victory for the day.
"All of you. You did well. Keep it up and try your best. That way, the finals won't be so far away."
"""Yes, Sensei!"""
With that, she dismissed herself as she has to report to the principal about their progression. She went towards the school staff room and meet the person concerned.
As for the students, they were chatting with each other about the day that went well in their favour.
Paro clapped her hands together thrice and loud to attract every personnel present.
"All right everyone. The second round is also a pass. A round of applause for that!"
*Claps!**Claps!**Claps!**Claps!**Claps!*
""WOOOOO!!!""
Cheers came out from multiple directions. Until Paro was satisfied, she signalled them to stop.
"As you all know, we have 1 month left for the third round. And after that are the quarter-finals. But first, we have to tackle the next round with a banging performance as usual."
They smiled at each other and then they return their gaze to Paro.
"And so on that note. There will be a little change of plans."
Question marks above the club members appeared. They wondered what was Paro heading to with her words.
Paro glanced at Daisuke and he got startled when she suddenly darted her sight at him.
She jogged in his direction, grabbed his wrist and ran to the centre of the group.
"Woah!" Daisuke was caught by surprise.
The onlookers were still confused about the turn of events. Then with confidence, Paro declared.
"Daisuke-kun will be the protagonist of our next performance!"
""""YEEEAAAAAAHHH!!!"""""
The cheers got even louder than when they passed the second round of the tournament. Daisuke was shocked by his clubmates.
Hearing all of their reactions made him elated.
'They aren't objecting?' Daisuke pondered. It was unexpected for him.
"W-Wait! Why are you suddenly announcing that!?' Daisuke whispered into Paro's ear.
"What's the problem. Sooner or later, it will be revealed. The sooner we know, the better we are prepared."
He cannot refute her in any way. Besides, why would he?
"I just think that.....Seita-kun or Kagome-san would mind having me playing the main role."
"Huh? Is that so?"
"....."
Amidst the yell of joy for Daisuke's role, Paro put a finger in front of her mouth and grinned at her fellow club members. The cacophony gradually decreased until total silence fell on them.
The first years were impressed with how their upperclassman, Chiziwa Paro had so much control over this bunch of students.
Of course shee was the President of the Drama Club, but her actions contained an imposing and authoritative aura.
Yes, like a conductor for an orchestra.
She scanned for Seita and called out to him.
"Seita-kun!"
"Yes, Paro-senpai?"
"Do you mind if Daisuke-kun played the role of the protagonist?"
Seita simply smiled at both Daisuke and Paro and did not get in their way.
"Mind? Of course not. Instead, I would be more willing to give Daisuke-kun that role."
Moreover, he encouraged that idea. Daisuke had his mouth agape from Seita's response.
Paro watch this unfold and moved on to the next target.
"Kagome-san? Any objection from you?"
She looked as indifferent as ever. So Daisuke gulped his mouth, expecting a rejection from her part.
However, her answer was different.
"It does not matter as long as Daisuke-kun plays his part perfectly."
Slowly, Daisuke's lips curved upward.
"Everyone! Do you all object to my decision?"
All of them had grins on their cheerful face. At once, they answered with certainty.
""""No!!""""
A chill of joy ran through Daisuke. That feeling, that moment was special Never has he been in a situation where he was surrounded by people that needed him.
So radiant towards him. Before, he wouldn't get approached because of his scary face.
Not even a glance at him.
But they were so focused on his eyes rather than his face.
That is why he could not control his emotions.
"Everyone...."
The widest grin that had ever uncontrollably appeared on his face, happened. Everyone's eyes broadened with surprise.
"...Thank you!"
Such a genuine smile that instead of scaring anyone, attracted everyone with his positive vibe.
Harue muttered, "How cute." whilst giggling at his reaction.
They did not know how to react. After a few seconds did they only snap out of their thoughts.
Then, the auditorium was filled with murmurs of appreciation.
"It's nothing."
"We are counting on you."
"Daisuke-kun, your face is cute."
"Congratulations, Daisuke-kun."
He was overwhelmed by the crowd. Paro was also surprised by Daisuke's rare expression.
She felt more motivated to make him the protagonist. If this is going to make Daisuke show that expression more occasionally, then this is a good move.
"Alright everyone, I am going to explain everything about the plot so stay seated guys."
They all obeyed her and sat on the auditorium red seats. Paro was on stage alone, facing her audience.
The acting members were in front while the rest was at the back.
Paro loudly stated.
"The story is set yet again in modern time. More precisely, it is a high school drama. However, it is going to be more tragic than the previous one we have done."
Daisuke tensed his heart and prepared his ears.
Paro smirked.
"This story is about....."
........
"What is this room?"
"Just a personal workstation for me."
Papers were lying around in a room with only a desk. Several boards were placed on the walls. On it were pieces of information about a certain criminal.
Haze, the water silver ranked Hero, approached the boards and took in the information displayed in his head.
"Wow Senpai, you have gathered quite some valuable info."
It was properly examined and pieced together so that anyone could understand them.
Trista beckoned Aka and Haze to sit down on the office chairs.
Aka, the red-suited female Hero, passed a comment, "You really should pass a broom here and take care of this mess."
"I am not playing house. We are here to catch criminals."
"It doesn't hurt to be discussing this in a clean space."
"Then clean it yourself."
Trista leaned her back against the wall, nonchalant about the hygiene of this room. Cobwebs were in every corner of this.
"Wah!!?" Haze suddenly jumped out of his seats.
"What happened?" Aka inquired
Haze realized that it was a false alarm so he sat back in his seat embarrassingly.
"I thought that was a spider."
"Hahahahahha!! You are scared of spiders!?! So hilarious!"
"S-Shut up!"
Trista looked at those two silently with a death stare. The bloodlust she emanated put those two arguing Heroes into their place.
They were now disciplined and listened to what Trista had to say. She pointed at one paper on the board.
"Gello. Gender: Unknown. Age: Unknown. Magic Powers: Unknown. Everything about him is unknown. Has been presumably active for 8 years. There have been signs of him or her on surveillance cameras but Gello always conceals himself well."
"So he is the cautious type of guy," Aka added.
"Yes. His killings are what is unique. He tortures them in various gruesome ways. Moreover, his victims do have something in common."
"They are all boys and the date of the crime are the same?" Haze tried to enter her explanation.
"Yes, but there is also one peculiar thing about the victims."
""....."" Both Aka and Haze stayed silent.
"In 2060, his first year of the killings, he targeted 6-years-old boys. He continued to kill his specific targets on the 15th of each month. Until September, he changed his targets changed to 7 years old. Then next year on September again, he changed to 8 years old and so on."
This was interesting and it implied something about the killer, Gello. Maybe he was...
"...preparing for revenge or something like that?" Haze again added.
"Yes, I have a hunch like that too." Aka agreed alongside Haze.
"We don't know his exact motive but we can use this fact to capture him."
Haze and Aka agreed on Trista's suggestion.
"Also, I believe that he is a Magic-User."
"Why do you say so?" Aka investigated her claims.
"Because I saw the surveillance footage of the times when he would abduct his victims. The way Gello approach his victims was strange. The fact that his victims seems to not hate his company is disturbing to me. Don't they all know that they should stay away from strangers? Or maybe.....they could not."
"".....""
"I assume that he has some kind of powers that will easily let him kidnap those kids. Like hypnosis."
"It is quite convenient for a criminal like Gello. Yes, I agree with you Senpai." Haze was impressed by her deductions.
Aka contemplated on an important issue.
"But how do we capture this slippery bastard? When will we know about his next move?"
Trista, with a voice of reassurance, aimed at both Haze and Aka.
"Well, what we are going to do is..."