"Let's make it better!"
The man dressed as a prince shouted just like a spartan ordering its troops for the incoming war, but in my view, he was just a rightful prince that will do for it's princess.
"Yeah!"
The war cry of the few soldiers has emanated through the whole stadium.
One by one, the props were placed on its respective position to the stage. Our time is limited, we were given a thirty minute break to get all of our prop okay. All of our classmates that will not be playing in the presentation had helped us to get all of it right.
My hand trembled as time passes, I've been in this school for not less than a month but I was already given the chance to be part of our class presentation. Everything in my sight has slowly lost it's color.
"Iroha!"
His voice made me get back in touch.
"Don't be nervous, okay?"
He smiled gracefully as he clenched my hand that was in his hand this whole time. The thought of him having a girlfriend has passed my mind so I immediately shook my hand after that.
"Thank you…"
Just right after the props were put into its place, a voice in the background has echoed on the whole stadium, informing that the play will start soon. The nervousness that was building up in me has also disappeared as I looked into his eyes.
"Let's go!"
I waited in the backstage, until all of the casts were in place. Strangely, he didn't move an inch from where he was standing, seemingly waiting for someone.
"Hey, let's go."
I nodded, and he guided me into the stage that seemed like from another world. Though I could feel my heart and body shiver as the thought of me having a role in a play that many people would watch passed my mind. I somehow managed to stand firm and walked over the props that was lined up.
Just as the red, thick curtains of the stage opened up, I laid down on the bed along with the blue, long gown I was asked to wear. The only thing I'm gonna do is just lay down on this not-that comfortable bed, just like how I do things at home.
As soon as the curtains opened up completely, a rather strange, deep but calming voice has emanated along with the random cheer on the crowds.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and to all whoever is in this stadium."
The opening was quite sketchy.
"like many stories, this one begins with words- once upon a time, but this time, we'll skip it."
The whole stadium was filled with laughter of any kinds.
"Just as the princess turned 16 years old, the witch casted a powerful spell to the princess that caused her to be in this condition!"
Blinding light has hit my eyes that was completely shut by its lids.
"Cursed you, princess!"
This voice…
Having prompted to do so, I opened my eyes slightly to look at what's happening. Just by a little glance, I saw Mizuha, who was in a dark dress and a headdress with horns on it.
"We won't let you!"
I heard a mixture of voices of multiple girls saying the same lines.
"The fairies managed to stop the evil witch from doing what she originally planned, to kill her. The princess didn't wake up after that…"
With that pause, I thought that the story would end like this. I looked once again to the surroundings, thorns and roses are on my side, and the once lively atmosphere has dissipated, leaving a post-apocalyptic looking place.
"A hundred years later, the princess still hasn't wake up. The fairies has also tried to break off the spell of the evil witch to the extent where all of their magic had been used up and died."
I heard the cranking of the wooden floor of the stadium, as if there was someone walking on it.
"BUT!"
The random noises from the audience has silenced in that just one word.
"Princess, where are you?"
"The reincarnation of the princess' fiance a hundred years ago had come to save his love!"
I heard the awe of the audience as the prince went out just to find his love.
"I've come here for you, I will never let go of you once again. I'll never let you go just like before!"
The words he said between those serious lines must have been part of the script, but for some reason, it reminded me of how we parted ways and met again.
"I'll never let the evil take you again to me."
That was a quite long monologue for a school play.
"Oh, you sure about that?"
"You damned witch!"
"I have a name too you know, Prince Edward or should I say Prince Hiiro."
A menacingly laugh came out of her lips right after saying those things.
The exchange of lines between them were so powerful that you wouldn't think that they are just acting.
"Please…. Please give her back to me….she already suffered more than enough…. Bring back my Iro- Princess to me!"
I was pretty sure he was about to say my name right there. My heart had been filled with him.
"What if I say no?"
"Then, I will have no choice but to kill you!"
"Oh, you're approaching me? Instead of running away from me, even though those dumb fairies told you what I really am like an exam student scrambling to finish the last problems on an exam until the last moments before the chime?"
"I can't get her back without getting closer."
"Oh ho, then come as close as you like. Even without this fairy power I have in me, my power and strength far exceed that of yours."
I heard the cranking of the wooden floors on both sides.
"So it's almost the same type of my fighting style, only using melee weapons but has immense power upon impact."
"I wanted to try a little test to find out just how powerful I still am after having a hundred years of deep slumber."
The cranking has stopped as well as their dialogues. I have idea of what's happening now.
"The prince approached the evil witch without stopping, his heart was filled with rage along with his fiery love for his loved one. As well as the witch, who also possesses a deep feelings for the princess."
"HAAAH!"
"The prince rushed with his sword pointed onto the witch, but the witch dodged it! It seemed like the prince was the one who took the damage. Who will win this intense battle between two people fighting for someone they adore?"
"Too slow, too slow! It appears that the test was quite unnecessary."
"Test? Is that what you call just patting me and not even to hurt? Well, I guess you just ripped my 200 gold armor, though."
"Why are you royal bloods so stubborn about admitting defeat? Hmph, I suppose I shall rise to your silly provocation, and test you more,"
The crowd cheered as the wooden floor continued on cranking.
"HAAAH!"
He screamed deep down to his lungs, loud enough to make his voice crack.
"With that thrust of his mighty sword, he finally defeated the wicked witch, or so he thought. The witch rose again as if she weren't injured from that attack. The shocked prince swung his sword mercilessly hoping that will be enough to kill the witch."
"I thought pure power will be enough but I was mistaken… now take this! Take the power of my fairy powers!"
"Everything has stopped, even the unstoppable swinging of the prince had stopped. It's like the time itself was slowed down to subatomic levels."
"Now, DIE, PRINCE!"
"Just right before the witch deal the final blow, the prince, in the stopped world, had regained his movement."
"How?!"
"Didn't I tell you? I'd definitely take her back!"
"The tables have turned!!!"
Just from hearing their dialogues, the story seems pretty catchy.
"Hey, witch, have you heard this lines before? Go beyond, sacred sword Excalibur!"
"Just from that one specific thrust, the witch has vanished completely from this world. After fighting to the verge of death, the prince finally defeated the wicked witch. He immediately went to the princess' place and saw the princess with thorny roses, but it didn't stopped him. He walked through it even if it give him countless scratches, and finally, the princess is now in his reach."
"Princess, I've always longed for this moment. Since the time we parted ways and until now, I've always loved you. Even if I am now different from my body fiv- a hundred years ago, my soul still longed for your existence."
I heard his voice right next to my ear, my heart is beating like a drum.
I felt an incredibly comfortable warm touch wrapped my body and felt a warm air pressure hitting my skin.
"You can open your eyes now. You should wake up now."
He whispered into my ears.
"The prince gave a loving kiss to the princess, lifting the curse up. The princess finally woke up after spending a whole century in a deep slumber. After the curse has lifted, both of them lived happily, ever after."
"The end"
All of the casts gathered in front of the stage, and me, who doesn't know anything about it has only just followed what they're doing.
The whole crowd roared with cheers from all directions, filling up the whole stadium with cheers for us.
"Feels greaaaat!"
He had shouted aloud, arms stretched outwards. The scenery of people cheering for us were certainly a delight. As I felt my nervousness coming out with the wind, I looked to him once more, reinvigorating my spirits.
The story was quite sketchy, it doesn't feel like it was the real one, but I loved it.
The cold wind of the AC caressed our faces, wet as they were with sweat. Hiiro and I faced each other, and looked affirmatively into each other's eyes, before giving off a beautifully drawn smile into his face at the same time.
All of us went to the backstage with a refreshed look having able to pull that out perfectly. Hiiro, who was looking at his phone, smiled as if he was looking at something funny.
"Well then, let's get going. Let's enjoy your very first cultural festival since you came here."
I nodded, not because I don't want to look into his face, but I couldn't the courage to do so. I'm slowly falling for him from time to time.
End