An Unheard Voice - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

"WHAT?!" Everyone shouts, startling me. Is she serious?!
"You know the lines, right? Go ahead!" Otori grins. How could she know for sure I practiced these too...
"WH- Huh?! For real?!" An exclaims, running up to my area. "I've been waiting for this moment my entire life." She takes my hand, and I try keeping my feet on the ground while holding onto the wall, flustered. She grunts, but overpowers me.
An then pushes me to the stage, while I'm literally a statue. My face is probably super red right now... She shoves a script in my hand, and runs off. Akito is frozen in shock as well. How- I'm not going to talk in front of so many people--!
"Well? We don't have all day!" Hinomori claps, and I begin trembling. Otori goes up to me, telling me to lean down.
"You okay..?" Akito asks, worried. I shake my head, trying to keep my hands from shaking visibly. I try taking deep breaths but I'm breathing way too fast. I haven't seen an audience like this in years. What the hell.
Forgive my language, but I am panicking.
"I have an idea." Akito says, and everyone looks at him. "How about we just perform in front of Kamishiro, Otori and Hinomori? It'll be easier to relax that way."
"You embarrassed?!" An taunts him, and he glares at her. She goes silent, and leaves with Azusawa.
"Um.. Sure, why not? Toya doesn't look so good, someone get him water real quick and leave." Hinomori asks for me. Akito..
He turns to me, and smiles.
"You've got this, Toya!" Tsukasa pats my back, giving me a thumbs up. After everyone leaves, I should be more calmed down, but now it's three people staring.
"Let's start from where Emu left off!"
Ena helps me get in the position, reassuring me that it'll be fine. Akiyama got kicked out to a classroom before they could hide any microphones or cameras.
"A- A- A-.."  I barely manage to say anything, I just feel like dying right now. I don't even want to look him in the eyes.
"Look, as embarrassing as it is, just be natural. Act like you're only saying this to me, okay? Like Ena said, you'll do fine. You got this." Akito whispers, smiling. I nod, and gulp.
"Are you.. okay?" I say, after I've calmed down a bit. I'm seriously- wait, don't focus on the crowd, Toya! There's nobody there.
Akito continues his rehearsal, and then reminds me it's just me and him. There's nobody else. That doesn't entirely calm the flustered problem, but my anxiety a bit.
"No..! Don't say that!" I raise my voice a bit. I couldn't yell if I wanted to. "You're worth something to me.. and I don't want to just have you by my side as a friend, I want you to be more than that to me.." I still blush, knowing what I'm saying. I see his face go red, but he acts natural.
"Wh-What- do you mean..?" He stutters, and his voice trails off a bit. Hinomori refrains from getting him focused again by snapping.
"I.. like you." I managed to mutter, but now we're both flustered messes. I wonder how Otori does this..
"Princess, I- I've adored you for years, I always have.." His voice sounds shaky, but I understand why. This is too corny.
"Then do- do me one last favor before you go.. I beg of you.. a-as your princess," I inch closer to his face, gripping onto his shoulder trying to distract me from my embarrassment. "Prove to me that you truly adore me by accepting my kiss.." I blush hard, as I see his ears red.
We're so close!! I have butterflies in my stomach, I can't even say anything anymore! I shut my eyes, flustered.
"CUT! Wow, good job! That was so beautiful! I love the actual emotion, see Otori, this is how you do it!" Hinomori claps, as well as the others. They were peeking through the door-?!
"THEY SHOULD HAVE KISSE--" An shouts, and Azusawa covers her mouth. Ena cheers, wiping her eyes. Kusanagi and Tsukasa look shocked. Akiyama barged back in, and immediately broke into tears. I looked down at Akito, excited that everyone liked it, but he's too red to say anything. Something then hits the wall that barely misses Akito's face. Is that Akiyama's pin.
"LET ME AT HIM!!" They yell, as Ena and Azusawa restrain them.
".. Well, let's call it a day! Good job, Toya! I have some news for our rehearsals today, and a few roles may change." Kamishiro says, and everyone gets their stuff. "Our meet-ups have moved to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday! But the theater club is always here after school or at lunch time, so you can speak to us about this any time! Have a good weekend! Wow, we sound so lonely." Kamishiro turns to Tsukasa, laughing.
I really hope I didn't end up getting a role here. My hands haven't stopped trembling.
"I- I'm going to go get our stuff.." Akito finally gets up, and walks off the stage. I sit there, still very awkward. Kusanagi approaches me, clears her throat.
"That was really good, Toya. I didn't know you had that in you!" She says, and sits next to me. I nod, that surprised me, too. "And that's the first time I heard you. You have a really nice voice."
"Thank you."
She blushes, and nods. We sat for a while, and she shyly tugs my sleeve.
"S-So, uh.. I wanted to ask you if.. you wanted to come to the arcade with me sometime..? Th-That's only if you like games! I just.. wanted to go with you- Don't get the wrong idea, it's not like I'm asking you on a date!" Kusanagi lightly shouts, and I nod.
"Yeah, I like going to arcades. Should I invite anyone else?" I tilt my head, and she shakes her head.
"I-I just wanted it to be the two of us.. you did your best to make me happy on the field trip. I wanted to repay you." She smiles, looking at me.
She wants to hang out with me? She is a really good friend, and that's very nice of her. But I will feel pretty lonely without Akito. I nod, smiling back at her. But I notice Otori, staring in distraught. She turns away, and walks out.
Akito had revenge on An already, and came back with his knife. What the?! He notices Otori, and grows confused.
"Wow, that's rare. Toya, you ready to go?" Akito says, and I nod, getting up. I should check on Otori, did something happen? "Bye, Nene."
They wave at each other, and I follow Akito.
"Um.. what were you two talking about?" Akito turns his head the other way, scratching the back of his neck.
"Kusanagi invited me to the arcade. It would be rude to turn her down since it's a 'repayment' for the field trip, she said she'll pick the day she's free. She also said I couldn't invite anyone, which I'm sorry about. I would really like to go with you." I sigh, and he ruffles my hair.
"That's fine. Please text me every now and then when you're there, like when you get there, in between games, I can pick you up, too.." He mutters, and I tilt my head.
"Will something bad happen to me?" I grow afraid. Is Kusanagi capable of murder..? Probably.
"No, It's not that- .. As much as I'm embarrassed to admit it, I'll get worried or.. jealous.. since it'll be just the two of you, someone is always tagging along when we go out.. Sorry if I'm too overprotective." He mumbles, and I blush.
"Okay." AHHHHH--
"Wow. Do I have to pay you to hang out with you guys now?" An says, behind us. I jolted, immediately jumping back. That scared me..!
"Wh- What are you doing here?!" Akito says, flushed.
"Haha! Your face is so red it's hilarious."
"Goodnight, Toya!" My mother shouts.
As I get ready for bed, I get a message.
"We can go on the week after Valentine's day. But are you free that time? Emu seems gloomy, so I'm going to try to do something for her to cheer her up since she loves chocolate." Kusanagi texts. I reply that I will be free as well, and it's fine. Honestly, when am I busy..
What happened to Otori, though? Why did she look like that? I wonder. I put the necklace on the desk next to my bed, and lay down.
"Valentine's day is almost in a month. What are you going to do for AkItOoOOOOoo ♡⁠~~??" An messages me, and I blush. What's with the heart..?
"I don't know. I was thinking about taking him to the place we went to when we were skating, there's going to be these 'limited edition pancakes.', they look good."
"You're taking Akito on a date?!"
"I.. wouldn't call it that."
"Loser. Why don't you come over to my place? Saki, Haruka, Mafuyu and I are making chocolates! Saki is making it for her girlfriends, Haruka is making some for Minori, Mafuyu for Kanade, and I'm surprising Kohane! You can make some for AKitoOOoOooO"
I laugh at the way she spells it, and accept her offer.
"Why not. But I'll only go for a bit, I want to spend some time with my mother on Valentine's, too."
I think she gets lonely in the house without me here. Especially since she doesn't really like father, and he's not even going to be here. She'd still get him something to show that we still love him. I'll make some for my mother and Akito. I hope she just doesn't go overboard with gifts...
As I keep staring at the phone, Smudge lays down right in my face. I move my phone up, but don't see any notifications. Time for bed, then.
I put my phone down, and put it on the desk besides my bed, then stare at the ceiling. Sometimes I can't help but wonder, who was that pink haired girl, anyway? She did mention she went to another school, so that's kind of a relief.. I hope I don't have to see her again.
I immediately jolt when I hear my ringtone and Smudge jolts up, almost scratching me. I pick it up quickly, while my heart is racing.
Oh, it's Akito?
I answer, but stay silent. He usually says hi the moment we call.
" Dumb alarm- Huh..? What's going- Is this Toya?? What am I.. ohh.." What sounds like Akito is mumbling. Did he just wake up? It's like, 9, though. "I must have called you.. because... .. haha, why did I call you..?"
Is he.. okay?
"U-Uh.. are you.. alright..?" I mutter, concerned.
"No, yeah- I- I woke up from a nap.." He mumbles, and it sounds like he dropped his phone. "Oh.. damn it.."
I smile, trying to hold back my laughter.
"Dont laugh.. at me!" He says in between a yawn. "Wait, did i- have I ever told you that your voice is prettyyy??"
My face grows red, and I stay silent. Kusanagi literally said my voice was nice, but why is my heart racing just because he said it?
"I'm so tired.. Toya, I reeeeaaallllyyy.. reeeaalllyyy like y--" He gets cut off by someone slapping his head.
"What have I told you about sleeping on the couch?!" Ena shouts at him. "Tch, go brush your teeth and go to your bed! Might as well sleep now, you have school in the morning tomorrow."
"Who are you calling? Oh, Toya? Hello!"
.. Huh..?
".. right. Haha, sorry about him, this moron is in damn la la land whenever he's half asleep. I can't even tell if most of the stuff he says is true. He probably came back exhausted from work 30 minutes ago, and I usually come by at his bedtime to check if he's sleeping, but I heard a thud. I'll talk to you- Er, I'll see you later, bye, Toya! Night!"
She hangs up for me, I blink, and slowly place my phone down, leaving it on silent. That was an experience. I wonder what Akito was going to say he liked, though. I'll ask tomorrow.
Also, when he complimented my voice.. it's making me feel really happy and flustered at the same time. I can't stop smiling..
I pull my blanket over my face, kind of screaming into smudge as I kick my feet.
Then again, Ena mentioned stuff he says might not be true. Was that true..? I really hope it was. Even if it wasn't, I appreciate the compliment. I think I'll go to bed now. I pick up my phone one last time, just to message him.
"Goodnight, Akito. Sleep well. (⁠ʘ⁠ᴗ⁠ʘ⁠✿⁠)"
.. Was the face too much? Yeah, it was too much.