-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE — THEATRE ARTS CLUBROOM HALLWAY, SAPPORO, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN-
-4:02 PM, NOVEMBER 10, 2017-
The audition room slowly emptied, voices fading into the hallways as students gathered their things.
Ichika Komori lingered near the doorway, fingers twisting around the strap of her bag.
Her heart hadn't calmed yet.
She hadn't planned to perform like that. The words had come on their own—spilling from a place she rarely touched.
"Komori."
She froze.
The voice was low. Familiar.
She turned.
Rikuu Arakawa stood a few steps away, arms loosely crossed, red eyes unreadable.
"…Arakawa," Ichika replied softly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The hallway felt too narrow.
Too quiet.
"…Why?" Rikuu asked suddenly.
Ichika blinked. "W-why… what?"
He took a step closer. "Why are you here?"
Her grip tightened.
"I…" She hesitated. "I wanted to try."
"That's not an answer."
Ichika swallowed. "I saw you. In the club. Before."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You followed me?"
"No—! I mean, yes—but not like that," she rushed, cheeks warming. "I just… I heard you acting. And I thought—"
"That you could do it too?" His tone wasn't sharp. Just guarded.
"That I wanted to understand," she said quietly. "Why it mattered to you."
Rikuu looked away.
"…It doesn't," he muttered.
Ichika took a step closer instead of backing away.
"But it does," she said. "I could hear it in your voice."
Silence stretched.
Rikuu exhaled slowly, fingers curling at his sides.
"…You shouldn't have been watching."
"I'm sorry," Ichika said immediately. "I didn't mean to intrude."
He looked back at her then.
Really looked.
"You stood on that stage like you belonged there," he said. "That wasn't curiosity."
Ichika's eyes softened. "Neither was yours."
His breath hitched.
"…Don't say things like that."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know me."
She nodded. "Then let me."
Rikuu laughed under his breath—short, humorless.
"You're terrible at giving up."
"I don't think this is something I want to give up."
Her words were gentle.
But firm.
Rikuu studied her for a long moment.
Then—
"…Your monologue," he said. "It wasn't acting."
Ichika's fingers stilled. "…Was that bad?"
"No." He shook his head once. "That's what scares me."
She looked at him, confused.
"You don't hide," he continued. "Not when it matters."
"I was scared," she admitted. "I just… spoke anyway."
Rikuu looked away again.
"…That's reckless."
Ichika smiled faintly. "You're one to talk."
A beat passed.
Then—
"…Don't do it for me," Rikuu said quietly.
Ichika tilted her head. "I'm not."
He blinked.
"I joined because I wanted to step forward," she said. "You just showed me where."
The hallway lights hummed softly.
Rikuu's shoulders relaxed just a fraction.
"…Then don't quit," he said. "If you're going to stand there—stand properly."
Ichika's eyes widened slightly.
"…Is that advice?"
"Don't read into it."
She smiled anyway.
"I won't."
They stood there, unsure what to say next.
Then Masayoshi's voice echoed from down the hall.
"Rikuu! You alive in there?"
Rikuu clicked his tongue. "I'm leaving."
Ichika bowed her head lightly. "Thank you… Arakawa."
He paused.
"…Komori."
It wasn't warm.
But it wasn't distant either.
And as Rikuu walked away, he realized something unsettling.
For the first time—
someone had stepped into his world…
and he hadn't pushed them out.