CH 29

Chapter 29: Bounce Off And Jump Up And Down

TL: Akabane

***

Me and Milan went back to the waiting room before my wife came back from the counter. Milan was clearly depressed. She sat with her back against the wall in the corner, holding her knees.

"I'm sorry, Tokiwa. That man had me long ago. It was all for nothing. Everything I did with you guys... it was so much fun, but it was all for nothing..."

It seems that the director, Tenketsu, is such a fearsome being. The fact that he was brought here means that he was sure to be screwed from the start. Hagiri ordered Tenketsu to dry up Milan in the entertainment industry, and that was the end of it. The reason he brought him here is surely to break Milan's heart. At the same time, it's a mount for me. He is flaunting his power. In my previous world, Milan must not have been successful in the entertainment industry. At least, I haven't seen her since I was a working adult when I started watching TV more often, and the fact that my wife, who I know, doesn't even talk about her probably means that. But after the summer, Hagiri will be active in TV shows. Perhaps Milan was among them. Frankly speaking, I dread to imagine what I would like to do with Milan. I don't even want to think about it. Milan will be used up by Hagiri. That is surely the end of the previous world and the horror I see before me in this world now.

"It was really fun! Really! It was the first time that we were all together like that, making noise and playing together and being saved! And yet...and yet...and yet...ugh..."

Milan is in tears. They are not overflowing yet, but they will spill out sooner or later. I don't want that. I absolutely don't want that. The reason Milan is crying now is because of me. I had been avoiding Hagiri. I couldn't beat him in the previous world. My wife chose him, not me. But now. Miran, who is in front of me now, chose me, not Hagiri, and relied on me. But I can't give her anything? Yes, I can't. That's not true. I won't let that happen. I squat down in front of Milan and pat her head.

"Milan, listen to me. This time he beat me to it. It's true, your dreams were crushed by him earlier."

"Yes, but I don't want to. But I don't want to. I don't want to go back to him. He's going to take everything away from me, even the dreams. I'll be empty like the boring women who are by his side. I don't want that..."

"Milan, it's okay. I've made up my mind now. Milan, I will protect you and your dream from him."

"No, you won't. No matter how much you want to. You can't do it."

"I can do it. Because you chose me. I was chosen by you. Me and Hagiri. You saw both of them and you chose me. I am the man you chose. So I can do anything. Anything!"

I pull on Milan's hand and we stand up together.

"Yes, you're right. If he tries to interfere, I'll beat him head on. That's right. Even if he plays me out of show business, I'll make a stage for you. I'll give you a theater, a troupe, and everything else you need. I'll take care of your dreams. I'll make it all come true."

The chosen man can do anything. I was chosen by Milan. Yuzuriha chose me, too, and both of them shook off Hagiri's hand and jumped into my bosom. Then I would protect and nurture them and make their dreams come true. That's what I thought.

"But...I...Kya! Oh...ah."

I kissed Milan on the cheek. Ayashiro-sensei taught me to change a girl's mind like this. Milan looks up at me, her cheeks flushed red. Her eyes are moist. But it's not the fear I saw earlier. It was something else. I look into her red eyes.

"Milan. You're looking very good right now. But I'm not going to do a continuation of what we did the other Sunday."

"...How...? If you do that, I'll..."

"If you want me to do it, get on stage. I'll show you. Let's show Hagiri and the big teachers what we're made of. And make them regret why they are only watching us from the audience."

This stage. In a political sense, I guess we've already lost. No matter what she does now, she can't beat Hagiri, who even holds down a strong and influential figure in the entertainment world. That guy's bottom is shallow, but the darkness of the tragedy he creates is too deep. But Milan's current play must have the power to shine even in that darkness. We will win in the future. This is the stage for that pledge.

"Milan, get on stage. Join me."

Milan rolls her eyes. Her lips are pursed, her fists are shaking as if she's holding something back, and she leans into my chest. Then she looks up. There was a light of firm determination in her eyes.

"Yeah! I'll stand up. With you! I'm going to show him! I'm going to show him! I'm going to show Hagiri that I'm not so cheap that I'll give myself up to him!"

I laugh at Milan's words. It's all right now.

[Ririse's POV]

I waited for Milan's turn. The play wasn't as interesting as I thought it would be. Besides, it was terribly boring to repeat the same script over and over again. The guy next to me, Chusho, sometimes nodded his head and sometimes tried to offer some kind of knowledge, but I couldn't really understand him. All I could tell was whether or not whoever was standing there had a beautiful face or not, or something like that.

--- "Next up was number 13. The University of the Imperial Capital, performed by Milan Izumi"

An announcement was made and applause rang out. The stage was lit, and there stood Milan and him.

"So Tokiwa is really going to be on stage. Do he has any experience in acting?"

"I don't know. But it's no use either way. He can't do anything anymore."

He's saying something that I don't understand again. I'm sure he's trying to say that he was asked to do a few things. Chuso said that a great man from the world of entertainment came to see her today. The great man and Chusho were chatting, but to me, he just looked like a regular old man with a bald, scattered face. I heard that Chusho's dream is very big. I don't know much about him. So he is always flying around from place to place, doing kaishoku with bald men and old ladies with heavy makeup. Sometimes they take me along too. I forgive them because I get to enjoy good food and drink, but to be honest, it's a pain in the ass. It takes up a lot of calories to smile while listening to a conversation I don't understand. I don't think Chusho understands that. I feel bad for reminding Milan of such an unpleasant thing. But. My silly thoughts were blown away by a man's voice echoing from the stage.

--- "I love you!"

For a moment I felt as if my heart tightened. Tokiwa's voice caressed my ear in a very provocative yet pleasant way.

--- "I'm sorry. I can't fall in love again right now."

Milan refused Tokiwa's confession. Why did she refuse? It was so comfortable. I usually thought so when I talked with Tokiwa. He is blunt, not at all kind, and looks up to me as if he thinks I'm an idiot. But his voice was kind and caring. Whenever I talk to boys other than Chusho, he's always shakes his voice, or makes it hard, or sounds like he's petting me, which is gross, but he's the only one who is always kind. I think I probably got angry at Milan for refusing his confession. I was annoyed. But when I thought about it, I realized that we were talking about a play, and that is the role Milan playing.

--- "I don't know about your past. But from now on, we will be together forever!"

Tokiwa holds Milan's hand, and the two look at each other. At first, Milan is confused, but then her face gradually turns into a smile. It's a very, very beautiful smile. It is so beautiful that even I, a woman, could fall in love with it. I could see that everyone in the audience was also enamored with the charm that Milan exudes.

"Milan is an amazing talent after all. Everyone in the hall is mesmerized. You think so too, don't you Riri?"

Chusho next to me called out to me. I told him to mind his own business. Chusho is always nagging me. I know Chusho knows he's doing it for me, so I keep my mouth shut, but this is different. I don't want to talk about Milan right now.

"Shut up. I'm watching. I'm still looking at it."

Tokiwa, who had been holding her hand, lets go of Milan's hand. I found myself feeling a little happy about that. I knew he shouldn't hold the hand of a girl who refuses to confess her feelings to him. It's not right. It's a story about a play, but I can't help but mix it up with reality. I don't know...what's wrong with that? Why can't I mix it up? Is there something wrong with Tokiwa holding someone else's girl hand? Another reason? Separate from what? I don't like it. It's not good to confuse me like this. I'm sure Tokiwa is a rad actor. That's why I don't understand the story.

--- "Stay with me."

--- "Oh, I love you. I'll always be with you."

The next thing I knew, the two of them were hugging each other. Tokiwa is holding Milan. That's why that kind of thing is not good. I don't know why. I guess he's not a good actor. That's why I felt so bad. I'll have to complain to him at campus next time. I got up from my seat.

"Hey, Riri. Why are you standing there? We haven't finished yet."

"I'm grossed out by his bad acting, Tokiwa. I'm going to go have a smoke."

Not a cigarette, of course. It's coffee, which Tokiwa always does. He made me feel sick, so it wouldn't add up if I didn't change my mind in his way. I walk out of the theater. I walk down the hallway to the outside. I couldn't wait to breathe the air without Tokiwa. My face was hot. My breath was labored, and most of all, my chest ached. Then I heard loud applause and cheers from behind me. I was glad. If I had stayed until the end, the air would have carried me away and I would have praised Tokiwa. I walked out of the building where the theater was located and breathed in as much as I could. But I couldn't get it out of my chest for a while after that.

With loud cheers and applause, Milan and I bowed to the audience. The performance was a great success. Ayashiro in the audience gave a thumbs up. Yuzuriha was crying and laughing, biting her handkerchief.

"Tokiwa. Thank you. Thank you so much...! I don't care what the outcome is! I'm really glad to be here with you!"

Milan was smiling even though she was half crying. That smile was very beautiful. I won't let Hagiri have this smile. I turn my gaze toward him. Hagiri was talking with his bald uncle about something. He was not looking at us at all. But he looked very unhappy. And my wife was not around. Did she go to the bathroom or something? But my wife is not the kind of person who would leave in the middle of a party when her friends are out. I was worried about my wife's reaction, but Hagiri looked unhappy, so I agreed that it was okay and Milan and I went backstage.

On the way to the waiting room, we met Hagiri and a mysterious bald man. Hagiri stared at me grimly.

"You're Izumi Milan, aren't you? I've heard a lot about you from Hagiri."

"Eh? What? Oh, yes! I'm, no, I'm Izumi! Tenketsu-sensei!

This bald, disheveled man is apparently the rumored power-harassing uncle. There is nothing special about his face or clothes. But his eyes are different. They are very sharp and piercing.

"The play you just saw. What was that? What did you mean to act like that?"

"Eh...no...that! I did that because I wanted to honestly express how I'm feeling right now!"

The play you just did, when I think about it, I feel like we were on a pretty good roll. We kept our lines from the script, but we were going to fall because of Hagiri anyway, so we said to each other that we were going to do whatever we wanted with our regrets and put all our energy into the content. Wasn't that a good idea? But even from the stage, the audience seemed to respond well, and Milan looked terribly beautiful.

"That's so honest. You young guys are so quick to get on this bandwagon. You need someone to discipline you soon. You're no good at all. I can't talk about it."

The bald old man spat that out. He turns away. Unfortunately, it looks like I didn't meet his expectations. But it doesn't matter. Neither Milan nor I have any regrets. But Hagiri smiles, as if he has regained some of his composure after hearing Tenketsu's words.

"Tenketsu-sensei, please tell the two of them clearly. It's for their future! You have to make use of your reflection properly!"

I want to punch Hagiri as hard as I can as he declares happily. But I can't. It sounds like an annoying stunt to that extent.

"Hm? You can see that now, can't you? Izumi must be disciplined. Otherwise, she'll cause trouble for other performers in the future. That play is no good! It's not good at all! She was born with beautiful looks and a body that can express them well, but her emotions are too real! That's not good enough! She's on stage! It's too real! Otherwise, such a play would run out of breath after a long performance! You're like a nuclear reactor! You're too dangerous! So you must learn to tame yourself quickly! There's nothing wrong with relying on your co-stars to bring out your talent! But you have to look at taking it to greater heights on your own! Damn it! What a useless actor! I can't even talk about it! I don't need a play that's too real! Next time, try to tell a more beautiful lie! Try it!"

...What is this old man? This is really testing my language skills. Is this what people call tsundere? Even though he can't wear twin-tail hair because he's bald and messy?

"Well, Tenketsu-sensei... ...You think Izumi has a talent?"

"...I didn't say that much! This girl needs to be disciplined as an actor anyway! She needs to be carefully redone from the ground up! Otherwise, I won't be able to put her on stage!"

I knew he was praising her, right? It's like he's acknowledging her talent. Hagiri must know that, since he has the language ability too. His smile quickly fades, and he no longer hides his grumpiness.

"Tenketsu-sensei. Didn't I ask you to be stern with me today?"

"Oh, I told you to be stern! You ruined Izumi's play! I'm keeping my promise!"

"That's a crock. Did you forget what I said?"

"I know, but I've decided not to lie about the theater! If you want to run that fool's scandal, run it! It was his fault to begin with! As his teacher, I've done my due diligence in defending him! I don't know anything more about it! Hmph!"

It seems that Tenketsu is not on Hagiri's side. From the conversation, it seems that he is protecting his apprentice from the scandal leaking out. But that doesn't seem to supersede his own pride as a workman.

"Haha. I understand. Well, that's fine. You are irreplaceable. I hope you'll continue to treasure your friendship with me. This time is fine. But if you do something too glaring..."

"Hmph. Do as you please. I have no hair, no family. I've already accumulated enough fame and satisfactory works. I have no regrets about my life, no matter when it ends!"

"I don't understand artists at all... now if you'll excuse me."

Hagiri, who had probably been bitten on the hand by his own dog, looked displeased. He didn't even swear at us and walked away right then and there. And then Tsundere guy, me, and Milan were left there.

"Hmph. Don't get me wrong. It's not for you personally. I have a duty to nurture the next generation for the sake of the industry. Your play is still not good enough. At the very least, you should continue to practice and pursue the joy of expression. Understand?"

Tsundere Bald Scatterbrain uncle said just that, and then he gallantly left. What a cool thing to do, I thought. Milan and I giggled at each other and then curtsied to his back. It continued until he was out of sight.

**Author's musings***

I'm about to finish something like the Season 1 Encounter Arc, so I hope you'll stick with me until then.

I'm hoping to do a lot of silly stories soon.

Yuzuriha-chan's first part-time job

The strongest mahjong game of Tokiwa-kun.

Milan-chan's cosplay debut.

Kekai-senpai's strongest take-home class.

Kirin-chan's Minato-ku girl's style.

Ayashiro's Gutsy and Conscious Circle Activity.

Yuzuriha-chan's Otaseru Crash Story

Yuzuriha-chan's Akiba Date.

Tokiwa-kun's Exploration of Summer Manga.

Night Pool Motte Motte event.

And so on.

This is a college student story, so we're going to have a lot of fun! We are looking forward to seeing you all!

Next time they will have a launch party with the four of them! It will probably take place in Shibuya area. Please look forward to it.