Chapter 31
The Hyotei Academy cultural festival ignited late autumn into a boiling sea. Golden ginkgo leaves carpeted the paths, yet they couldn't suppress the surging noise and enthusiasm in the air.
Colorful banners were hung between the teaching buildings, and the aroma from the various stalls, the laughter of the students, and the sound check drum beats from the distant stage intertwined into a vibrant symphony of youth.
The campus was crowded with people, and everyone's face was filled with excitement, completely dispelling the bleakness of autumn.
The highlight of today is undoubtedly "Romeo and Juliet" presented jointly by the Tennis Club and the Drama Club.
As the official photographer, I went to the backstage of the auditorium early in the morning with my full set of equipment.
Behind the massive stage, a battlefield, both chaotic and orderly, was already unfolding. The lighting team was adjusting the final spotlight angles, the props crew was meticulously attaching the last bionic rose to the "grave" set, and makeup artists, brushes in hand, like the most meticulous craftsmen, were applying the finishing touches to the actors' faces. The air was thick with the scent of hairspray, foundation, and excitement.
Atobe had already changed into Romeo's signature dark blue velvet tuxedo, his silver-gray hair still striking in the dim backstage light. He was whispering with the director about a certain positioning detail, his profile stern and his eyes focused, seemingly able to penetrate any obstacle.
He didn't look at me, or rather, his attention was completely focused on the performance that was about to begin.
The performance officially begins.
The heavy curtains slowly opened, and the light poured down like flowing water.
When Romeo played by Atobe and Juliet played by Yamamoto Misaki appeared under the moonlit balcony of Verona, the instant burst of exclamations and applause from the audience almost blew the roof off.
The gorgeous antique dresses shimmered under the carefully designed lighting, and the combination of handsome men and beautiful women was incredibly lethal.
Atobe perfectly blended Romeo's passion, impulsiveness, and aristocratic temperament, while Yamamoto perfectly portrayed Juliet's innocence, bravery, and despair. Every glance and every poignant line captured the audience's heart.
I could clearly feel the dedication and the charm of the stage. The sounds of shutters echoed in the corner backstage, faithfully recording every shining moment.
Taking advantage of the brief chaotic gap during the scene change, Rie Tanaka crouched down and found me hiding behind the prop box, and stuffed a warm rice ball into my hand.
"Wushan! Eat something quickly! I haven't seen you drink any water since morning!" She urged worriedly.
My stomach was indeed empty; the preparations before the stage play had almost drained all my time.
I took the rice ball with gratitude, quickly peeled off the wrapper, hid in the relatively quiet corner of the women's dressing room, and took a big bite in big mouthfuls.
The aroma of rice balls and the salty, fresh taste of seaweed soothed my rumbling stomach a little, but my ears were perked up, keenly listening to the sounds coming from the front desk.
Romeo was exiled, and Juliet was forced to agree to marry Count Paris...
The plot is rapidly moving towards the tragic climax: Juliet's fake death.
At this moment, a suppressed, panicked cry came from the independent changing area next to it, instantly breaking the busy rhythm backstage.
"No! Really! It's stuck!"
"Gentle! Gently! This is an antique! Don't pull it hard!"
"Ms. Yamamoto, could you please take another breath?"
My heart sank, and almost subconsciously, I squeezed in following the sound. I saw Yamamoto Misaki, surrounded by several frantic maids and makeup artists. The zipper on the back of her elaborate aristocratic dress from the previous scene was stuck in a certain position, unable to move up or down.
And the extremely gorgeous crimson velvet wedding dress that symbolized death and wedding and was to be worn in her next "fake death" was lying quietly beside her, emitting an ominous and seductive luster.
Yamamoto was so anxious that his face turned pale, beads of sweat oozed out of his forehead, and his exquisite makeup could not hide his embarrassment.
Her plump upper body became the biggest obstacle at this moment. No matter how hard she breathed or how careful others were, the damn zipper seemed to be welded and did not move at all.
Violent pulling? No one dared to touch that priceless antique!
"What should we do?! It's almost time for Juliet to fake her death by taking poison!" The anxious voice of the stage manager came through the intercom, like a death warrant, "Three minutes left! Is Miss Yamamoto ready?!"
Panic flooded the small dressing corner like an icy tide. Yamamoto's eyes turned red with anxiety, and his voice was filled with tears: "No... I really can't open it..."
At this critical moment, the calm and composed head maid of the Atobe family, who had been standing silently on the periphery, swept her eyes across the chaotic crowd like lightning, and finally, her eyes landed precisely on me.
She took a few steps forward and grabbed my wrist with surprising strength.
"Miss Kiriyama!" Her voice was low, but it carried an unquestionable decisiveness that clearly drowned out the surrounding noise. "Do you remember? The young master asked me to prepare some clothes for you before. I have all the measurements here!"
"Your body shape is similar to Miss Yamamoto's, but your upper body is slimmer. You will definitely fit into this red wedding dress!"
My head buzzed and half of the rice ball in my hand almost fell to the ground.
"No! No way!" I almost jumped up and refused, my voice changing tone. "I can't act, how can this be possible?"
Yamamoto Misaki also raised her head suddenly, and after being shocked, she was strongly resisted. She screamed, "What a joke! She doesn't even know her lines! How can she take my place?!"
The head maid's eyes were sharp as an eagle's. She stared directly at Yamamoto and spoke rapidly but with remarkable clarity, "Ms. Kiriyama knows the lines! Young Master has gone over Juliet's lines with Miss Kiriyama many times before, for the sake of stage effect, especially the crucial part in the second half! She knows Juliet's current state of mind better than anyone else!"
Her words were powerful and could not be refuted.
Indeed, in order to understand the shooting angles and emotional capture, Atobe did pull me over to rehearse the lines several times. Those desperate monologues and farewell vows are almost engraved in my mind.
"As for the acting," the head maid turned her gaze towards me with an almost cold comfort, "for the 'faked death' scene, Juliet only needs to lie quietly in the coffin covered with flowers. The audience will only see the back and profile of you in your red wedding dress."
"The light will focus on Romeo, and after Romeo drinks the poison, Juliet will need to wake up and pick up the dagger..."
She spoke very quickly but clearly, "Ms. Kiriyama, you just need to lie down and then, as you remember, commit suicide at the last moment. No one will see your face! This is the only way to save the situation!"
"But..." I still wanted to struggle.
"Ms. Yamamoto!" The controller's voice, almost tearful, boomed again, "One minute left! You have to go on stage! If you don't, you'll be completely exposed!"
Misaki Yamamoto's face was as pale as paper. She bit her lips tightly, looked at the skirt that was still stuck on her body, then looked at the red wedding dress that symbolized a chance to save the situation, and finally her eyes fell on my face with a complicated look, which showed reluctance, humiliation, and a hint of despair of having no other way out.
There is really no time left.
"Hurry!" Yamamoto almost gritted his teeth and squeezed out a word. He suddenly closed his eyes and turned his head away resignedly.
The head maid didn't hesitate any longer. Her eyes became fierce, and she almost half-dragged and half-pulled me, who was still in a daze, into the locker room. Her strength was astonishing!
The door slammed shut, blocking out all the screams and chaos outside.
"Excuse me, Miss Kiriyama." The head maid whispered, but her movements were as fast as lightning.
Without waiting for my reaction, she and the other two maids started to strip off my casual clothes.
The cool, crimson velvet wedding gown with heavy embroidery was quickly put on, and the silky satin lining touched the skin, bringing a shiver.
The corset was cinched so tightly that I could barely breathe, and the intricate pearl and gemstone embellishments felt cold and heavy.
Their movements were rough and efficient. I was manipulated by them like a soulless puppet. My mind was blank, and only my heart was beating wildly in my chest.
"Okay!" The head maid gave an order and the door of the dressing room was suddenly opened.
Before I even had time to take a clear look at myself in the mirror, wearing a luxurious red wedding dress and with a face as pale as a ghost, I was pushed and shoved to the side of the stage by several people.
The coffin, adorned with white lilies and roses, rested quietly on the platform. At the front of the stage, Atobe's Romeo's despairing and heartfelt monologue, resonating clearly through the microphone, sounded like a final wail.
"Lie down! Quickly!" The head maid whispered in my ear with an unquestionable order.
My mind was blank, but my body seemed to be pulled by an invisible string. Under the gazes of countless anxious, astonished and unbelievable people, I was almost stuffed into the cold coffin that exuded a strong floral fragrance.
The heavy coffin lid closed with a click, and the last ray of light was completely swallowed up.
Boundless darkness, mixed with the rich fragrance of lilies and the unique scent of velvet, instantly swallowed me. I lay stiffly, feeling the cold, hard bottom of the coffin beneath me, and hearing my own thundering heartbeat pounding wildly in the cramped space, pounding my eardrums.
The lift started silently, and a slight feeling of weightlessness came over me.
I know that I was pushed onto the stage, into the spotlight that everyone is paying attention to, and into the Romeo who was about to face my "death" - Keigo Atobe.
Icy fear gripped my heart. Unable to even think, I could only close my eyes tightly, like a corpse, in this suffocating darkness and floral fragrance, awaiting my fate.
The cold darkness was suddenly torn apart.
The glaring spotlight, like a blazing sword, pierced through the gap in the screen deliberately left in front of the coffin and pierced my tightly closed eyelids. Even through my eyelids, I could feel the dizzying brightness.
I closed my eyes tightly, my body was as stiff as a real stone statue, and I even held my breath. The only sound left was the crazy pounding of my heart in my chest, deafening in the small space.
Heavy footsteps, accompanied by desperate cries, approached from afar, and someone stumbled and fell to the edge of the coffin. It was Romeo, it was Keigo Atobe. I could even feel the subtle vibration of the coffin from the pressure of his palm.
Then, there was a brief, almost breathless pause.
A sharp, astonished gaze pierced through the gauze and fell upon my face. Even with my eyes closed, I could clearly sense the weight of that gaze and the momentary freeze.
He knew it was me.
A huge panic gripped me, and the blood seemed to rush to my head.
I opened my eyes abruptly, and in the glaring light, I met his eyes, which were so close to me. Those eyes, always filled with control and composure, were now surging with a turbulent wave of confusion and disbelief.
What happened backstage? Where's Yamamoto?
Why are you lying here? Countless questions exploded in his eyes.
Please, don't let it get you out of here!
I used all my strength, concentrated all my pleading and despair in my eyes, and conveyed it to him silently.
Atobe's pupils suddenly contracted. The great sorrow that belonged to Romeo on his face seemed to crack open, revealing the astonishment that belonged to Atobe Keigo underneath.
But it was only for a moment. His shock, like a stone dropped into a deep pond, caused only a fleeting ripple before being suppressed by a powerful will. The ripples in his eyes quickly subsided, replaced by grief once again, so quickly that it seemed as if the shock had been only an illusion.
He threw himself back into the role of Romeo, as if the momentary pause just now was just a respite from the character's excessive grief.
He held my hand at my side, his palm was burning hot, and with an irresistible force, he tightly wrapped around my cold and trembling fingers.
Romeo's dying confession, filled with blood and tears, flowed from his mouth, every word soaked in deep despair and endless love, echoing in the auditorium, easily capturing the hearts of all the audience and causing low sobs.
His other hand touched my cheek.
There were thin calluses on his fingertips, but his movements were unexpectedly gentle. His fingertips slowly traced along my cheekbones, as if he was touching a fragile and rare treasure.
The strange, electric touch instantly swept through my body, and my blood seemed to freeze, but also seemed to be boiling.
I can't bear such a close gaze and touch, and I can't tell whether this tenderness is Romeo's farewell or the warmth from Atobe Keigo's fingertips.
The immense embarrassment and confusion made me close my eyes suddenly. My long eyelashes trembled violently and uncontrollably, casting tiny shadows on my cheeks.
"...Oh, my dear Juliet, why are you still so beautiful..."
His deep, gorgeous voice, choked with sobs, echoed in my ears like the most lingering cello music, each breath brushing against my auricle. The voice grew closer, carrying his unique, clear, and steady aura, like a pine forest after the first snow, mixed with the faint, indescribable scent of his cologne, enveloping me completely.
I felt his breath approaching, his warm breath almost spraying on the corners of my lips and cheeks, bringing a shuddering numbness.
What is he going to do? In the play... Romeo is going to kiss Juliet goodbye!
This realization struck me like a thunderbolt. My body tensed to the limit, even my toes curled up. My heart pounded in my chest, threatening to burst through my throat.
However, the expected touch did not take place.
Just a fraction of a second from my lips, the approaching heat stopped. Time seemed to freeze. I could clearly feel his warm breath on my skin, his gaze on my closed eyes.
The air was so thick it was suffocating.
He seemed to struggle for a moment, and finally, after an extremely forbearing pause, the approaching breath slowly retreated.
An unfinished kiss.
A throbbing that exists only within a short distance and is forcibly stopped by reason.
Then, there was the slight sound of the cork of the poison bottle being pulled out, and the sound of swallowing the liquid as it was finished.
His tall figure collapsed beside me, with a heavy, martyr-like determination. His warm, heavy head rested gently on my shoulder, the weight and warmth clearly transmitted through the thin fabric of my wedding dress.
Then he spoke, his voice low and hoarse, yet with a firmness that penetrated the soul. It resounded clearly in the silent stage and struck my heart heavily:
"Love knows no bounds, it transcends life and death, and even death cannot separate us."
My heart sank suddenly, as if it was being tightly grasped by an invisible hand.
No! That's not the original line!
This sentence is not in Shakespeare's original work!
He...why did he add this sentence?
This sentence was like an abrupt oath, branded with scorching heat, making me feel frightened and confused in the huge atmosphere of sadness.
However, time did not allow me to think. The sad music gradually became louder, sweeping across the stage like a sobbing wind.
It's time for me to "wake up".
I tried hard to suppress the turmoil in my heart. Following the head maid's instructions, I moved slightly, pretending to slowly wake up. My long wig fell, obscuring my profile as much as possible.
I looked around blankly - Romeo, Keigo Atobe, had fallen there silently.
A huge sadness suddenly surged in my heart. This sadness was so real that I couldn't tell whether it was for Romeo and Juliet or for this absurd and thrilling situation.
Uncontrollably, tears welled up in my eyes, sliding down the corners of my eyes, soaking the wig at my temples. I reached out, trembling, and grasped the prop sword at his waist. The cold touch made me shudder slightly.
"Oh, Romeo! Romeo!" I used all my strength to imitate the tone of voice that Yamamoto Misaki had rehearsed and let out a desperate cry.
Then, amid the audience's suppressed sobs, I raised the symbolic sword and stabbed it hard into my chest.
His body collapsed and fell on Keigo Atobe's chest.
The cold wedding gown pressed against his warm body, and through the fabric I could feel his steady, powerful heartbeat. My cheek pressed against the lapel of his velvet dress, tears silently leaving a small, dark mark.
The tragic music reaches its climax, like a wave sweeping over everything.
At this peak of extreme sadness, the lights on the stage suddenly went out.
The boundless darkness swallowed everything in an instant.
In the final moment before the light faded, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around my waist. The force was astonishing, and carried an unquestionable determination.
Before I could even scream, I was lifted up from the cold coffin by a huge force, and my feet were off the ground.
Atobe held my waist tightly with one hand, holding me firmly to his side, and with the other hand he had supported his body without me noticing.
He moved as swiftly as a cheetah ready to pounce. Taking advantage of the perfect darkness, he hugged me, turned around without hesitation, and rushed down the steps of the coffin in a few steps. He retreated steadily and quickly into the deeper shadows of the backstage wing.
The glaring lights backstage suddenly came on, making it impossible for me to open my eyes.
I could feel the muscles in his arms around my waist tense, hard as steel. His chest rose and fell slightly from the intense movement, and his warm breath brushed against my head.
The two of us suddenly appeared in the backstage in an extremely intimate posture, facing countless pairs of astonished, inquiring, and even complex emotional eyes.
The air seemed to freeze.
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