Episode 7: Bunkasai

[Hayate]

Power of Love

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~ Episode 7: Bunkasai (Cultural Festival) ~[/u]

Act 1: Well-Laid Plans

On the morning of Sapporo South High’s Cultural Festival, Kyosuke Nanbara saunters into the school courtyard. Hundreds of banners and flyers hung from the school’s entire front wall, and a multitude of activities and games were constructed on the courtyard. All of this accompanied by the vast assortment of people gathered, Kyosuke could barely recognize the school. Thinking on it, he’s suddenly reminded of the class-wide discussion his class had several weeks prior…

“…LISTEN UP!!!”

On a bright and sunny Monday morning, Class 7-A representative Misuzu Akiyama is heard addressing her fellow classmates at the front of the classroom. “As you all know, Sapporo South High School’s annual Cultural Festival is only a month away. The entire school’s already undergoing transformation to show off to the public. Does anyone have any ideas for what Class 7-A should do?”

“Hmm… Oh!” Raising her hand, Osakan gal Chiaki beckons Misuzu’s attention. “How ‘bout a maid café? I’d just love to wear one of those cute uniforms!”

“Good idea, Chiaki!”, acknowledges Misuzu, turning to write ‘maid café’ on the board in katakana. “Anyone else?”

Taking from Chiaki’s example, several other students pose their ideas as well, ranging from selling stuffed animals to performing comedy skits in the auditorium. As this was going on, Kyosuke, in his usual aloofness, gazes blankly out the window to his right, although it wasn’t to say that the festival didn’t pique his interest even a little bit. “…Cultural Festival…”, the young Miyako-jiman is heard mumbling in his state of half-isolation…

…As he continues to look on towards the heavily decorated school, Kyosuke couldn’t help but tremble in anticipation at the thought of what the rest of his imaginative friends had cooked up for the festival. Taking in a deep breath, his feet begin to move.

Kyosuke’s first stop would be home central: Class 7-A, outside which a large group of students were lined up. Though he appeared to not pay attention, Kyosuke had recalled Chiaki’s suggestion to turn the classroom into a maid café. “Wow… Long line…”, he comments to himself as he approaches the classroom entrance. As Kyosuke draws closer, a certain girl dressed in a waitress’ uniform emerges from the room to meet with him. Upon seeing the girl step forth, Kyosuke’s face grows warm. “E-Emiri!?”

Indeed, the person who had stepped out of the temporary café was Emiri Sakurai. “Hey, Kyosuke! Glad you could make it!”, the bubbly redhead greets.

“W-Why are you wearing that get-up?”

“You like it? Misuzu and Chiaki were a little shorthanded with the café, so since I didn’t have anything to do, I offered my services for a couple hours. And I gotta admit: this uniform is kinda cute. Personally I think the bonnet’s a little over-the-top, but Chiaki insisted. What do you think? Does it look good on me?”

“U-Um… S-Sure, I guess so. …So, Misuzu and Chiaki are inside?”

“Yup!”

“Heh… This I gotta see.” Walking to the front of the line, Kyosuke glances inside the transformed classroom. As expected, the interior resembled that of an ordinary café. All those manning the café wore uniforms identical to the one Emiri was wearing. The treats that were being served consisted of yakisoba, sweet tea, and assorted pastries. “Hmm…” Just then, in the far corner of the room, Kyosuke spots Misuzu and Chiaki sashaying around the faux café with trays of food in their hands. Their waitress attires showed off their figure rather well. Cheerful exclamations of ‘Here you go!’ and ‘Enjoy your food!’ escaped their smiling mouths. “Huh… I don’t think I’ve ever seen Misuzu smile like that before…”, Kyosuke remarks.

“I know! It’s so…out-of-character, isn’t it? Hahaha! Well, I should probably get back to work now.” With that, Emiri moves past her black-haired friend, enters the café, and returns to her post. “Enjoy the rest of the festival, Kyo.”

“Yeah… Sure…”

Departing from the Class 7-A café, Kyosuke’s wandering takes him across the majority of the school, passing by some of the school’s other classes’ concoctions, such as collage displays in the photography clubroom and cosplay shows. Nothing really stood out much to Kyosuke, but the sights were somewhat pleasing to the eye. “…” Reaching into his pocket, boredom-struck Kyosuke pulls out his mp3 player and is about to lose himself in his playlist of J-rock…

…when he’s suddenly approached from the opposite end of the hallway by a content Rudy. In the silver-haired exchange student’s left hand were some skewered dango, and in his right was a half-eaten piece of curry bread. “Mmm… Hmm? Ah! Nanbara! How’s it going?”, Rudy greets with a wide grin.

“Hey, Rudy. …Wow. You sure are pigging out, aren’t you?”

“Mochiron! The home-ec department’s serving food in the courtyard, and the science club’s holding a barbeque! I’m having the time of my life!”

“Uh-huh… Try not to go overboard though.”

“Hey, I was just about to head back to 7-A. You wanna come along?”

“No thanks. I was just there. I’m gonna wander around a little more.”

“Suit yourself! More yakisoba and sexy waitresses for me! Hehehe!” Having said his part, Rudy bites into his curry bread again and walks off.

“…” Shrugging his shoulders, Kyosuke puts his earphones on and continues his aimless stroll.

Some time later, Kyosuke enters the gymnasium. Upon entering, the first thing his eyes are treated to is a vast display of stars on the gym ceiling. Had Kyosuke not been aware that he was entering a building and not exiting, he’d have immediately assumed he was walking outside during the late evening. “Whoa… W-What is this?”, Kyosuke stutters, taken aback by the exhibition of starry lights.

Throughout the gym, dozens of students and individuals from the outside had assembled to watch the exhibit. Accompanied by the extravagant display of constellations, a girl’s sweet voice echoes throughout the building. “Orion… Cepheus… Andromeda… Ursa Major… These countless collections of celestial bodies constantly hover over us…”

“That voice…”, Kyosuke mutters in the silence. “Yuzu-chan? …So this was her idea…” Looking up at Yuzu’s constellational display, Kyosuke admittedly felt a sense of inner calm.

“…But that’s not all that hovers above us!”, Yuzu’s voice echoes, suddenly increasing in volume. “Every minute of every hour of every day, we are being watched! Aliens! They monitor us from the stars themselves!”

And with that outburst of extraterrestrial hysteria, all of Kyosuke’s inner calm is instantly replaced by nausea. “…Should’ve seen that coming…”

“Do they watch over us like guardians, or are they biding their time and poised to strike when our defenses are down!? Only time will--”

Just then, in the booth where Yuzu was managing her constellation show, she’s joined by fellow astronomy club members, whose voices echo into the microphone as well. “Yuzu-chan, what are you doing!?”

“Can’t you let up on your alien complex for one day!?”

“I am sharing my knowledge with the unsuspecting masses!”

“Get away from that microphone!”

“THE TRUTH MUST BE REVEALED!!!”

As the gymnasium ceiling returns to normal, almost every person inside the building would contract Kyosuke’s nausea. “Oh, Yuzu-chan…”, Kyosuke whispers as he shakes his head. All of a sudden, the young Miyako-jiman would feel a pair of hands cover his eyes from behind. “!!!”

“Guess who!”

“…” Kyosuke knew full well who it was standing behind him, and pegged the little stunt as somewhat childish. “…Come on, Emiri. What are you, five?”

Moving her hands off of Kyosuke’s face, Emiri puffs up her cheeks. “Aw, you’re no fun! You could’ve at least played along!”

“Yeah, but then I’d be spoiling you.”

“Hmm… I guess you got me there!”, the playful redhead says with a hearty laugh.

Even Kyosuke found himself joining in the laughter. In the time he had gotten to know Emiri, he had grown accustomed to her company. “So what brings you here? I thought you were still helping the others at 7-A.”

“Yeah, but some extra hands showed up, so they said I could go if I wanted to. …Plus, I was getting tired of Rudy staring at me with his perverted eyes. So! I got some extra time on my hands now. You wanna go somewhere?”

“Hmm… The music department’s putting on a concert in the auditorium. And I hear the drama club’s gonna perform in a few hours. How about we check that out?”

“Sure!”

Shortly after leaving the gymnasium, Kyosuke and Emiri head over to the auditorium. During their walk together, Emiri unexpectedly interlocks her right arm with Kyosuke’s left. This act causes Kyosuke’s face to redden a little, but for some reason, he didn’t mind it too greatly. He was in a strangely good mood today.

As the two approach the auditorium, they could overhear the sounds of the school band’s orchestra. Probably Beethoven or Mozart, they thought. It didn’t really matter to them. Just outside the auditorium entrance, a group of students were gathered, and judging from their facial expressions, they were none too happy. “Oh, man… What do we do now?”, one of the students whines.

“What else can we do…?”, another states melancholically.

“Hey! Is something wrong?”, Emiri calls out to the depressed group.

As the group of students turns to face Kyosuke and Emiri, they are revealed to be wearing drama club pins on their seifuku. “Well…we were gonna put on a play in a few hours, but our leading man came down with a case of laryngitis, and our leading lady sprained her ankle.”

“Oh, wow… Talk about rotten luck…”

“Tell me about it! This is the worst thing that could ever happen!”

“And after Jun-chan worked so hard on the script…”

“We’ll have to cancel the play…”

It pained Emiri to see the drama club members so despaired. And while it was only the spur of the moment, she was kind of looking forward to watching the play. “…!!!” Just then, an idea comes to her, and she turns to face Kyosuke.

“Emiri… You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you…?”, Kyosuke asks her, his stomach becoming uneasy again.

To Kyosuke’s question, Emiri doesn’t give a reply. All she does is grin and giggle balefully.

…Inside the auditorium, various branches of Sapporo South High’s music department perform their own musical pieces, ranging from the aforementioned classical concerto to original J-pop pieces to heavy rock ballads. It made the audience laugh, cry, and scream their heads off all at the same time. Needless to say, the energy was through the roof…

…The situation backstage, however, would be quite different. As he sat in a metal chair, Kyosuke, wearing clothes similar to that of a regal prince, skims through a copy of the play’s script, provided to him by the drama club. He nonchalantly flips through the pages and lets out his third sigh of exasperation in seven minutes. “…What the hell am I doing here…?”

“…Say that again!?”

“You heard me! You and I are gonna fill in for the missing leads in the play!”

“Have you totally lost it, Emiri?!? First off, you and I don’t have any acting experience! We’re complete nobodies to these people! You think they’re gonna let a couple outsiders to take over the lead roles!? Secondly, even if they said yes, the play’s just a few hours away! Imagine the numbers of lines we’d have to memorize! Thirdly, there’s no way I’m gonna be caught dead standing on a stage in front of people wearing tights!”

“Oh, quit being so negative all the time! It’d be fun! Besides, you wanna see the play go on too, don’t you?”

“Not enough to actually be IN it! Sorry, but you can forget it! There’s no way in hell I’m going through with this!”

“…Alright, Kyosuke… If that’s the way you feel…I’m gonna let everyone in class know you tried to peek at my panties back at the café!”

“W-WHAT?!? I didn’t do anything like that, and you know it!!!”

“Of course I know it…but do they?”

“…You wouldn’t dare…”

“Oh? What’s this? All of a sudden, you have an image to uphold? I thought ‘Kyosuke the loner’ didn’t care what other people thought of him.”

“Well, I’d rather they think nothing of me at all than think I’m a pervert!”

“Ahhh… How existential of you… So do we have a deal?”

“…”

Rolling up the script in his hands into a tube, Kyosuke begins to grit his teeth. “Grrrr… Damn you, Emiri…! I’m gonna get you back for this…!”

At that moment, a female member of the drama club walks into the backstage room and confronts Kyosuke. “Hey. I just wanted to say thanks again for filling in for Taro-kun.”

“Whatever. It’s not as though I had a choice in the matter.”

“I-I see. Well, luckily, your friend was able to fit into Misa-chan’s costume. It looks really good on her! …Come on out, Sakurai-san!”

From the next room over, Emiri enters wearing a glamorous light-green dress with white lace. Complementing the dress were light-green elbow-length gloves and a tiara. Upon entering, she makes a quick 360-degree spin to show off the rest of the dress. “Well, Kyosuke? How do I look?”

“…Like Cinderella on her way to the ball.”

“Hee-hee! Thanks!”

“…I was being sarcastic.”

Roughly 3 and a half hours later, the final performance of the music department had come to a close, inviting the audience’s applause. As the thunderous sound of clapping hands blankets the auditorium, Misuzu and Chiaki enter the building in their regular school attire. “Whew! What an afternoon!”, Chiaki exhales. “But it sure was fun! We make a good team, Misuzu!”

“I agree.”, Misuzu replies with a smile. “I’m surprised by how well your café idea went over, Chiaki.”

“Hehehe!”

As the two search for a place to sit, they happen upon a certain bundle of silver hair sitting by himself. “Hmm? Rudy?”

“Ah! Ladies! Have you come to enjoy the play as well? I saved you a seat. Care to join me?”

Taking a swift glance around the auditorium, Misuzu notices that almost all of the other seats were taken. “…Ugh… Fine. But no funny business!”

“Aw, that hurts, Misuzu-chan…”

Shortly after the two latecomers take their seats, the lights illuminating the auditorium begin to dim and a single spotlight shines brightly on the curtains. The president of the drama club is seen walking into said spotlight. Holding up a microphone to his mouth, he addresses the audience. “Irasshai mase! And welcome to Sapporo South High’s Cultural Festival Theater! Today we’ll be presenting a drama club original -- written by our very own Jun Sakuraba -- entitled ‘Suikazura no Naka Yakusoku’ (‘Promise Among the Honeysuckles’). This is the story of Kanae, princess of Sagara Kingdom, who is to marry Seto, prince of the neighboring Akatsuki Kingdom, as part of an arrangement between both kingdoms to enter an alliance. However, before the two even meet face to face for the first time, Kanae meets and falls in love with Prince Yuji of the faraway Tsuga Kingdom. When the king of Sagara discovers this fact, he, as well as the king of Akatsuki, are determined to keep the two apart. Will Kanae and Yuji be able to find happiness together? Or do the wheels of destiny turn in a single, predetermined direction? …Unfortunately, both Ryotaro Amagi, who plays Prince Yuji, and Misaki Ichinose, who plays Princess Kanae, are unable to act in today’s production…”

Hearing this shocking piece of news, many members of the audience let out groans of disappointment. “Aw, man! What a rip-off!”, Chiaki gripes.

“W-Wait, let me finish!”, the drama club president onstage calls out. “Luckily, we were able to find some last-minute replacements for Taro-kun and Misa-chan. The role of Princess Kanae, formerly played by Misaki Ichinose, will instead be played by Emiri Sakurai of Class 7-A!”

Hearing this even more shocking piece of news, Misuzu, Chiaki, and Rudy all blurt out “NANI?!?” in unison.

“And Prince Yuji, formerly played by Ryotaro Amagi, will instead be played by Kyosuke Nanbara, also from Class 7-A!”

The three 7-A classmates in the audience were flabbergasted beyond words. “Uso… Kyosuke and Emi-chan are in the play?”

While Chiaki and Rudy were still somewhat speechless, Misuzu was having fun at the two’s expense. “And they play two people who are in love! Hahaha! This ought to be good!”

“Now then…”, the drama club president continues. “…Without further ado, we present to you ‘Suikazura no Naka Yakusoku’! Enjoy!” As the president steps off of the stage, the audience applauds, and the curtains slowly rise.

~Bunkasai: End of Act 1~

Act 2: The Curtain Call

Scene 1 of the play would take place in Princess Kanae’s grand bedroom, where Emiri, addressed as ‘Kanae’ from here on, is seen pacing back and forth. “Oh, dear… Dou shimashou? Dou shimashou?”, the princess asked herself uneasy and repeatedly.

Chiaki couldn’t believe her eyes. “Wow… Emiri looks so beautiful…”

Neither could Misuzu, who wasn’t even as easily impressed as her Osakan friend was. “Yeah…”

As the troubled princess wears a hole in the floor with her pacing, she’s shortly joined by one of her many caring attendants. “Doushita no, Kanae-sama?”

“Oh, Kiri…”, Kanae starts, her voice caked in disquiet. “It’s this arranged marriage… It’s…so sudden. My heart is racing at 100 beats a minute…! Why couldn’t Father have consulted me about it first?”

“I understand your plight, your Highness.”, Kiri answers. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t think of putting you in such a position. …Sadly, it is not up to me. And it disheartens me to see you so distressed, Kanae-sama.”

As Kanae cups Kiri’s hands in her own, a smile appears on her face. “Your concern for my welfare touches me deeply, Kiri… Ohhh… I suppose there’s no way around it. I will have to meet with this…this…uh…”

“Prince Seto.”

“Ah, yes. Well, I can only hope that he’s a charming man. …And it’ll be even better if he’s good-looking! Hee-hee!”

This comment of Kanae’s invites the audience’s laughter. “Hah! Ad-libbing! I love it!”, the director of the play exclaims from off to the side of the stage.

The next scene would relocate the action to the Sagara Kingdom throne room. Moments following the scene transition, two tall male students dressed as Ginza, the king of Sagara, and Tasuke, king of Akatsuki, enter. “It honors me that you could come on such short notice, your Majesty Tasuke.”, Ginza says gruffly through his fake moustache and beard.

“Not at all, Ginza.”, Tasuke replies with a similar level of hoarseness. “After all, if my son is to marry your daughter, it’s only natural that I see your humble kingdom firsthand. And judging from what I’ve seen so far, I must say I’m impressed! Hohoho!”

“You honor me with your kind words, Tasuke… And leave us not forget the alliance our two kingdoms shall enter once the wedding is over.”

“Yes, yes, of course. You needn’t worry yourself. …Hmm? Seto! What are you doing over there!? Get over here!”

“…Hai, hai.” At that moment, the drama club member playing Prince Seto steps out onto the stage for the first time. Female audience members who recognized him from past drama club productions would swoon over his appearance.

“So, Seto! What do you think of my good friend Ginza’s kingdom?”

“…It’s drab and unsightly.”, the overly honest Seto bluntly states.

“Seto! Mind your manners! …Gomen nasai, Ginza. Seto’s interests are a little…different than other lads his age.”

“Hahaha! It’s fine, no harm done! Once he gets a look at my Kanae, I’m sure his opinion will turn around! …Hmm… Where is Kanae anyway? Tomomi should’ve brought her here by now…” At that moment, Tomomi, another of Princess Kanae’s attendants, barges in. “Ah! There you are, Tomomi! Where’s Kanae?”

“Ginza-sama!”, Tomomi calls out hysterically. “I apologize deeply, your Majesty! I’ve searched everywhere, but…Kanae-sama is nowhere to be found!”

“WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?”

As King Ginza and the rest of the castle attempts to locate Kanae, the stage’s platform begins to rotate, revealing Kanae sitting in a field of honeysuckles. The anxious princess looks up at the artificial moon and looks to the stars themselves for guidance. “Please tell me… What should I do?”

“…Something bothering you?”, a voice suddenly asks offstage.

“Huh? Who’s there?”

In response to Kanae’s call, Kyosuke, dressed as Prince Yuji, enters. “…You’re Princess Kanae, are you not?”

“WHOA!!!”, Chiaki couldn’t help but cry out in surprise. “Get a load o’ Kyosuke! He’s, like…handsome!”

For the next 20 to 30 minutes, Yuji and Kanae converse, sharing with each other their interests, their likes and dislikes, their hopes and dreams. And during the course of the conversation, each grows to be greatly fascinated by the other. Kanae even shares with Yuji her current situation: how she’s become part of an arranged marriage between two neighboring kingdoms about to enter into an alliance. “…Tell me, Yuji…what do you think I should do? I’m not sure I’m ready to get married…but I don’t wish to upset my father.”

“…No matter what should come to pass, I think you should follow your heart.”

“Huh?”

“If you ever find yourself in a situation where you must make a difficult decision, look to your own heart, and the answer will come to you.”

Looking up at Kyosuke’s serious expression, Emiri was unable to tell whether he was simply reading off the script in his head or if his words were genuine. “…Kyosuke…”

Rising to his feet, Yuji continues to gaze up at the moon. “Well…I should be going now, or else they’ll worry about me. It was a pleasure to meet you, Princess Kanae.”

“M-Matte!” Kanae frantically rises to her feet as well. “I don’t wish to say goodbye just yet. Please, may I see you again?”

Yuji was quite surprised by Kanae’s request. Truthfully, he had wished to see her again as well. “Hmm… Well, I won’t be returning to Tsuga for a few more days. Meet me here in the honeysuckle field tomorrow night, when the stars have formed a ring around the moon.”

“Tomorrow night it is!”

“Then, until next we meet, Princess…” With that, Yuji takes Kanae by the hand and gently kisses the back of her glove. “…Farewell.”

As Yuji takes his leave and exits stage left, Kanae clasps her hands together and watches him walk away. “…When next we meet…dear Yuji…”, the lovestruck princess finally mutters as the curtains begin to fall, signaling the end of the first act and inviting the audience’s applause once more.

As the crowd scatters temporarily for the 15-minute intermission, Misuzu, Chiaki, and Rudy are left utterly awestruck. “Kyosuke makes a good prince, doesn’t he?”

“Yes… If only he could act in real life the way he acts onstage! Hahaha!”

“…Hmm…”

“Doushita, Rudy? What’s with the serious face?”

“I was just thinking. If this play follows the traditional romantic drama formula, imagine what might happen in the end. Kyosuke and Emiri may have to…you know…kiss…”

“…” Hearing this little piece of insight, Misuzu and Chiaki grow unsettled at the thought of Kyosuke and Emiri sharing a kiss.

A short 15 minutes later, the audience returns to their seats, and the curtains rise on Princess Kanae’s bedroom again, where Kanae herself is seen sitting in front of a mirror brushing her hair, all the while humming a happy tune. As she does so, her attendant Kiri walks in carrying a bundle of freshly cleaned bed sheets. “Konbanwa, Kanae-sama! …Hmm? Oh, Kanae-sama, you’re smiling! I’m glad to see you’re feeling better!”

“Oh, Kiri!” Seeing her favorite attendant enter, Kanae leaps to her feet. “I have the most wonderful news!”

“What is it?”

“Well…promise me you won’t tell anyone, but…I think I’m in love!”

“Hontou!? That IS wonderful! So, I take it your meeting with Prince Seto went well?”

“…Well, yes, but…he’s not the one I’m in love with.”

“…He’s not?.” Over the course of the next few minutes, Kanae tells Kiri about Prince Yuji of Tsuga, and how, after meeting with him every night for the past five nights, she had fallen in love with him. Naturally, after hearing Kanae’s story, Kiri was left feeling confused. “…I don’t understand, Kanae-sama. If you’re in love with this Yuji, what of Prince Seto? What of the wedding? If your father finds out about this, he’ll…”

“I know, I know… I’m fully aware of my position, but…you haven’t met Yuji, Kiri. My heart is at ease whenever he’s near. He’s sweet…kind…and sensitive… Everything that Prince Seto is not. I’ve…never known anyone like him…”

“…So what will you do?”

“I… I don’t know, Kiri… I just don’t know…”

With another rotation of the stage platform, the scene transitions back to the throne room, King Ginza, sitting in his cushiony throne, converses with another of Kanae’s attendants. “…Is this true, Ayase?”

Ayase, the attendant, kneels to the ground as she addresses her king. “Yes, King Ginza. I heard Kanae-sama clearly. …She’s in love with Prince Yuji of Tsuga Kingdom.”

“…I see… Very well. Then there is no other alternative.”

“Your Majesty?”

“I pray that my daughter will forgive me for this, but nothing must stand in the way of this alliance… Notify his Majesty King Tasuke! We shall hold the wedding…tomorrow evening!”

“Ooh…! I wish I had some popcorn…!”, Chiaki whispers aloud, as she was on pins and needles.

Following yet another scene transition, Kanae rises to her feet upon hearing the shocking news from Kiri. “W-What!? The wedding’s been moved to tomorrow evening!?”

“Yes! I heard it straight from Tomomi!”

“…No…”

“Please forgive me, your Highness, but per his Majesty King Ginza’s orders, I am to prepare you for the wedding.”

“No! I…I can’t!”, Kanae yelps, fleeing from her bedroom in desperation.

“K-Kanae-sama! Where are you going!?”

From her bedroom to the honeysuckle field, Kanae tries to locate Yuji. She desperately wished to see him again. “Yuji! Yuji, where are you!? Yuji!” However, as the manmade breeze gently blows, poor Kanae would not receive a reply. Prince Yuji was nowhere to be seen. “…YUJI!!!”

Mere seconds later, the despondent princess would be joined by several of her attendants who begin to drag her back to the castle. “Please, your Highness, we must prepare you for tomorrow evening!”

“No!”, Kanae adamantly protests in vain. “Let me go! I want to see Yuji! YUJI!!!”, she cries through her tears.

“…Oh, my…” Even Misuzu herself was moved by the sad scene. Pulling a handkerchief out of her pocket, she gently dabs her budding tears away.

One final scene transition would once again move the action to the Sagara throne room. King Ginza, King Tasuke, Prince Seto, and an appointed justice of the peace stood in wait near the throne, and a multitude of Princess Kanae’s attendants were gathered. As expected, the guest of honor herself appears, entering stage right in an all-white variation of her previous dress. The audience marvels at her lavishness and beauty as she made her way across the stage. She held in her hands a bouquet of synthetic flowers, and her face was covered by a thin transparent veil, though her devoid-of-life gaze could still be seen. The decorated princess stops walking and plants her feet next to her husband to be Seto. Even as the confident prince flashes her a suave smile, the princess’ lifeless gaze would not change. Throwing his hands up, the justice of the peace starts to speak in a great, booming voice. “Ladies and gentlemen! Honorable kings! We are gathered here, on this momentous occasion, to join Prince Seto and Princess Kanae in the rapturous bonds of holy matrimony, and with it, seal the partnership of two great kingdoms! If there be anyone here who feel that this union should not come to pass, may they speak now or forever hold their peace!” An awkward yet anticipated silence blankets the throne room.

…Just then… “KANAE!!!!!” …a single spotlight shines brightly down on the rear of the auditorium. As the audience turns, Prince Yuji reveals himself, inviting the audience’s excited cheers.

“Yeah! Go, Kyosuke!”

“…Yuji?”, Kanae whispers, some life returning to her eyes. Turning to face her rear, she spots her beloved Yuji in the distance. “…Yuji! You’re here!”, she shouts, her eyes welling up with joy.

As Yuji dashes towards the stage, King Ginza expresses his anger. “Who are you!? How dare you ruin this ceremony!”, the angry king roars.

“Forgive me, your Majesties, but I must come forward!”, Yuji says climbing onto the stage. “Your Majesty King Ginza…you have a wonderful daughter, and in the time I have come to know her, I have fallen deeply in love with her. That’s why…as a member of the royal Tsuga family…I ask you for her hand in marriage!”

“Preposterous!”, Ginza snaps back. “I will not grant some outside my beloved daughter’s hand! Guards!!! Dispose of this intruder--!”

“…Wait.”, interjects Prince Seto, stepping forward. “…Allow me the privilege of casting out this gatecrasher, your Majesty.” Brushing his elegant cloak aside, Seto reveals to be carrying a rapier at his hip…!

“…I bear no grudge against you, Prince Seto. I do not wish to fight you.”

“Oh? …That just makes things easier for me!”, Seto exclaims, drawing his blade from its sheath. As he swings the blade down towards Yuji…

…Yuji fends off the attack with a sword of his own. “I detest meaningless fights! But if you draw your sword against me, you leave me with no choice than to retaliate!” The attendants back away from the battlefield, and the two princes meet in a furious clash of swords. As the two dance their way up and down the stage, the audience could barely contain its excitement.

The incensed battle consumes all of seven minutes until Seto, proving to be the superior fencer, coerces Yuji to his knees. “Now then…my opponent…this is where it ends!”, Seto boasts, raising his blade to deal the final strike.

Yuji, weaponless, honorably accepts defeat and closes his eyes. “…Kanae…”

“…STOP!!!”, Kanae shouts out, jumping in front of Yuji with her arms outstretched.

“K-Kanae…!”

Reopening his eyes, Yuji is shocked to see Kanae standing before him. “Kanae…! What are you doing!?”

“…I’m following my heart… Please, Father… I beg of you… Don’t kill Yuji… I… I love him…”

In response to Kanae’s words, Seto’s and the two kings’ eyes go wide, while the audience shares an “Aww…” in perfect unison.

“…Seto, stay your sword.”, says King Tasuke, suddenly speaking up.

“But Father…!”

“Stop. I’ll hear no argument. The princess’ mind is made up. And I’d be no king at all if I let an alliance stand in the way of true love.”

“…” Defeated, Prince Seto does as his father instructed and sheathes his blade.

Prince Yuji, having bore witness to the king’s compassion, rises to his feet and gazes into the eyes of his beloved Kanae. “…You defended me. …Thank you.”

“…Yuji…”

Removing the veil from Kanae’s face, Yuji runs his fingers along her soft skin. “…” Swallowing the lump in his throat, he starts to move in.

The entire audience was on the edge of its seats. “Oh, man… Here it comes…”, Rudy comments aloud.

As Emiri watches Kyosuke’s face move closer, her heartbeat practically doubles in tempo. She slowly closes her eyes…and parts her lips…

The two’s faces were a mere four inches apart…

…Three inches…

…Two inches…

…Just then, the ground beneath everyone’s feet begins to shake. The audience was ill at rest, and the drama club members offstage were perplexed. “…What’s going on? Is this supposed to happen?” All of a sudden, an explosion shakes the earth violently, and the crowd frantically evacuates the building.

Once outside, the crowd grows uneasy as they see smoke emanating from the gym. “What the hell just happened!?”

A short few moments later, a soot-covered Yuzu Haruhara emerges from the clouds of smoke, dizzied. “Ohhh…”

“Yuzu-chan, what happened to you!?”

Struggling to keep from falling over onto the ground, Yuzu explains, “I…may have overloaded the projector in the gym… Guess I went a little overboard… Hehehe…”

As the rest of the crowd calms down, Kyosuke and his friends were plagued with upset stomachs yet again.

…Several hours later, the sun begins to go down, and Sapporo South High’s Cultural Festival had at last come to a close. Kyosuke and his friends work together to clean the 7-A café and restore it to its original classroom state. Wiping away her sweat, Chiaki lets out a sigh of relief. “There! That’s the last of it! Job well done, minna-san!”

Heavily exhausted, Emiri leans on her broom. “Ohhh… Thank God that’s over…”

A short while later, the circle of friends exits the school and heads home together. “Ahhh… That was sooooo much fun!”

“Yeah… Too bad we couldn’t see the end of the play…”, Rudy says in a teasing tone.

Noticing this tone, Kyosuke and Emiri stop in their tracks.

“It’s kinda too bad, huh, Kyosuke? You were THIS close to planting the big one on Emiri! Hehehe!”

“S-Shut up, Chiaki!”

“Oh, don’t be embarrassed! And I saw that look on your face, Emiri! You wanted him to kiss you!”

“S-Stop it, Misuzu! W-We were just…performing!”

“Hey! You guys should act in the drama club’s play next year! Who knows? Maybe you’ll get your chance again! Hahaha!”

Kyosuke’s and Emiri’s faces were flushed with the color of beets. “SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!!! IT WAS JUST A STUPID PLAY!!!”

~Bunkasai: End of Act 2~

~Power of Love: End of Episode 7~

~ Power of Love: Next Episode ~

Ayumu: …Ohhh…

Emiri: …Hey, Ayu-chan, what’s up with you? You’ve been acting weird lately.

Ayumu: W-Weird!? What makes you think that!? Hehehe! …Ohhh…

Emiri: Hmm… Hey, who’s that boy you keep looking at?

Ayumu: !!!

Emiri: …Wait… Don’t tell me you’re…!

Ayumu: I-It’s not what you think, Emi-nee!

Kyosuke: Next time on Power of Love! Episode 8, “Hatsukoi (First Love)”!

Emiri: YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON HIM, DON’T YOU?!?

Ayumu: …Ohhh…[/font][/size][/color]