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"Yui-chan, is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
"Um... I guess I want to see a play by the drama club."
He turned his gaze to the school festival bookmark that was open so that Yui could easily see it.
"Romeo and Juliet. A classic."
It's a title that everyone has heard at least once in their lives. Most people probably know the plot to some extent. However, there are surprisingly few people who have actually read the whole story from beginning to end.
In today's world, there is a lot of entertainment available, such as anime, manga, light novels, and games, and new things are constantly being created. In this environment, only a few people see the classic works of the past, and this number is almost nonexistent among students.
"No?"
"No, not at all. But why? Did I look displeased?"
"Ah, no... well, it's not that..."
Yui seems somewhat hesitant to say anything.
"Well, you see. I invited him when I was touring with Takkun too..."
"Ah... I was turned down."
Yui nodded. The drama club's plays were performed once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Yui had probably invited Takuya in the morning.
(Well, I guess Takuya doesn't like plays or anything like that.)
Takuya had probably planned out the places and order he would go in advance to show his manliness, but a play has a set start time and the time he is held captive is long.
In the end, if they were to see a play, all of Takuya's plans would be meaningless.
"The places Takkun picked out weren't bad either.... I thought it might be more fun for boys to look around at different things rather than just sit and watch a play."
"That's not true. You know, I watch all the dramas that Yui-chan is in. I don't know if her acting is good or bad, but I don't dislike watching them. At least, I don't."
Honestly, I wonder if Takuya invited her too, but I don't think Yui had any other motives. She was just an actress and was interested in the play being performed by high school students her age at the same school. That's all there is to it.
"I see... That's good."
Apparently, she was worried that after being rejected by Takuya, Yu would also reject her. Yui let out a sigh of relief.
"Besides... I think we could hold hands while watching the play."
Just as the flow of people coming and going around them died down, Yuu quietly told Yui.
The drama club's play is held in the gymnasium. The audience members who come to watch it probably don't check on the other people.
"If you're worried, we can just disguise ourselves... or do you want to hold hands?"
If she had changed her appearance even a little, the students at the school she was with would have noticed, even though she spent most of her time there. However, the play was taking place in dim light and there was a prominent performance right in front of her.
"No, I want to hold hands. Honestly, I want to hold hands with you and go around the school festival all day long..."
If you go to the same school all the time, the feeling of specialness fades. You might think so, but that only applies to students in the same class and a limited number of others. In fact, the third-year and first-year students in different grades don't have much opportunity to interact with Yui, even though they are the same students, and when they pass by her, they are captivated by her gaze.
"Even beautiful girls have a hard time standing out in a bad light at times like this."
Even if she wants to live quietly, the people around her won't allow it. As a woman, it's a source of pride to attract attention with your beauty, but that only happens at certain times.
"Come on, Yu-kun, say that."
"Sorry sorry. Yui-chan has it the hardest."
It's fine if it's the gaze of the same sex or the opposite sex who is entranced by your beauty, but jealous or sexual gazes will never change from being unpleasant, no matter how you interpret them in a positive way.
"Hm... But Yu-kun will protect me today, right? Like before?"
"If that's what you really want, Yui-chan. And I'll protect you not just today, but always."
Like when I was a producer, like during the quiz competition.
Yui's cheeks flushed at Yu's reply and she smiled happily, yet with a hint of pain.
"...Hey, Yu-kun. Let's walk."
Choosing a route with as few people as possible, Yu and Yui head to the gymnasium to watch a play.
Then, in a particularly deserted place, Yui speaks in a low voice.
"Right, Yu-kun. You know, you said before that it would be better if you didn't break up with Takkun."
"Hmm? Yeah, that's right."
"But this morning, I was walking around with Takkun and watching the quiz competition and I realized that I really want to break up with Takkun and date Yuu-kun."
"......Seriously?"
"I'm serious. I'm not joking when I say this... I mean, even now, I want to hold hands with Yu-kun, I want to get cozy with him, but I can't... and it's painful..."
"I see..."
Yu thinks.
It would be better for Yui to stay with Takuya. That's for Yui's sake, and for his own sake too. But when Yui shows so much affection for him, is it really worth ignoring her feelings?
"Yui-chan, if something were to happen, will you be okay?"
"Having to pretend to be just a childhood friend with Yu-kun is more painful."
"Hmm... let me think about it for a moment."
Yui's proposal made Yu happy, but it wasn't an easy question for Yu to answer right away.