Chapter 63
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Volume 1: First Performance: A Tragic Love Story Of A Young Lady And Spring Cherry Blossoms
Chapter 63: The Cross-Dressing Boy Loses Consciousness
[From Misaki Arisaka’s Point Of View]
“…Good… bye… Ro… meo…”
Juliet plunged the sword she was holding into her abdomen, collapsing in front of Romeo.
Then, the lights went out, and the curtain fell on the play.
“…”
I was speechless.
In all my years as an entertainment reporter, I had never felt anything like this.
What I had just witnessed was true “death”. It was “despair”.
That actress, Kaede Kisaragi, flawlessly portrayed the life of a girl tossed by fate, and in her final moments… she had masterfully killed the Juliet she was playing.
…A genius-level performance that makes illusions seem real.
The initial performance was full of joy.
Her radiant, mischievous Juliet seemed to be inviting the audience into her world, as if toying with their hearts.
She was a heroine so charming that you might fall in love with her just by watching.
Her acting was so captivating that it overshadowed even the lead actor, Romeo.
But then… as the play progressed towards its conclusion, that brightness faded away as if it had been a lie.
By the end, Juliet had transformed into a demonic figure, spreading disaster and instilling fear of death into the audience—an embodiment of despair.
This stark contrast left an indelible pain in the hearts of the viewers.
The first thought that crossed my mind was that her performance was… dangerously intense.
Her acting conveyed such profound despair that it could plunge the audience into a deep melancholy.
That’s why, even after the play ended, everyone remained frozen, overwhelmed by the malevolence of her performance.
The audience was silent, and a deep hush fell over the theater.
Clap, clap, clap…
Suddenly, the sound of clapping echoed through the hall.
Turning towards the source of the sound—next to me—I saw a girl trying hard to hold back her tears.
“You did great, Onii… Kaede-chan…”
She furrowed her brows in pain, but sniffled, determined not to let her tears fall.
Her applause started a ripple effect, and soon the rest of the audience joined in, clapping their hands.
The small applause grew into loud cheers, and the audience erupted with joyful shouts.
Of course, those cheers were directed at Juliet, still holding Romeo on stage.
I too, with trembling hands, clapped, showering the golden-haired girl with all the praise I could.
“…To think, such a prodigy was hiding here… Kaede Kisaragi. Without a doubt, you’re destined to become a legendary actress, leading a new generation.”
I was truly glad I came to see this play.
The world, which had seemed black and white before, now appeared colorful after witnessing her performance.
I don’t know why, but my heart felt lighter.
“What a terrifyingly adorable girl… I wonder if they’re still selling Kaede Kisaragi’s merchandise?”
Murmuring to myself, I continued to clap even louder.
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[From ???’s Point Of View]
“What… what on earth is that Kaede Kisaragi girl…!?”
The bob-haired girl seated in the audience gasped, her mouth agape in astonishment.
Then, with a sharp expression, she shook her head vigorously and turned her gaze back to the platinum-haired girl on stage.
“I only came to see what kind of level the acting department of Hananomiya Girls’ Academy, where my rival Akane Tsukishiro attends, was at… but… no way! You’re telling me an actress at that level would go to that declining school!?”
She shouted, her shoulders trembling with rage, her purple hair quivering.
The man with glasses seated beside her spoke quietly.
“Indeed, even someone like me who isn’t well-versed in the arts can tell she’s a remarkable actress… but I’m fairly sure that golden-haired beauty is an unknown. I don’t recall seeing any mention of a Kaede Kisaragi in any agency.”
“Of course! A monster like that wouldn’t go unnoticed in the entertainment industry! As much as I hate to admit it, she’s on a completely different level from me or Akane Tsukishiro!! That girl!!”
After her hysterical outburst, the bob-haired girl shot a fierce glare at Kaede.
“Kaede Kisaragi… I’ll engrave that name deep into my genius brain…!!”
Little did anyone know, Kaede had just been recognized by a popular young actress, Risa Sakuraoka in an unexpected place.
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[From Kyoichiro Yanagisawa’s Point Of View]
“…Decorating the stage with blood, huh… That’s something I could never pull off.”
I muttered to myself—Kyoichiro Yanagisawa—as I kept my gaze fixed on Kaede Kisaragi on stage, cigarette in mouth.
Her appearance was uncanny, a spitting image of my late wife, Yuki Yanagisawa.
It was as if my wife had been resurrected and was standing right before my eyes—a strange phenomenon indeed.
That girl had previously claimed she had no connection to the Hananomiya family, but… I’m beginning to think that was a lie.
No, I had suspected she was hiding something ever since we first met.
A natural-born liar. There was something too perfect, too artificial, about her flawless beauty.
My employer, Itsuki Hananomiya, had insisted there were no other Hananomiya family members at this school aside from his sister… but maybe Kisaragi is a hidden child, kept secret even from her own family, by Karen Hananomiya?
Come to think of it, I once saw Kisaragi and Karen together in the staff boys’ restroom.
That resemblance to my late wife, that closeness with Karen… Hmm… highly suspicious.
Could she be the secret child of that old bastard, the current head of the Hananomiya family?
…It might be wise to investigate Kisaragi’s identity in advance, to achieve my goal…
As I stared at Kaede Kisaragi, she suddenly wobbled and collapsed forward, still holding Tsukishiro, who was playing Romeo.
Startled, Tsukishiro, who had been playing dead, jumped up to support her.
“Hey… Kaede!?”
Right after the play ended, Kisaragi lost consciousness.
The audience began to buzz with concern at the sight.
“…Tch!”
I climbed onto the stage from the wings and quickly picked up Kisaragi, cradling her in a so-called princess carry.
“P-Professor Y-Yanagisawa!?”
“Tsukishiro, carry on with the curtain call without Kisaragi. Got it?”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
After instructing Tsukishiro, I hurriedly carried her offstage—rushing down the corridor to take her to the dressing room.
“Collapsing after a performance… you’re out of your mind, aren’t you? But… that was a brilliant performance. The Juliet you created with your spilled blood was undoubtedly unparalleled. It reminded me of the words of my mentor, ‘Art always comes with pain’———it was a stage that brought those words to life.”
“……”
“You’re truly an incredible actress.”
“‥‥‥‥Yeah‥‥”
Kisaragi shifted seductively in my arms, and the sight of her brought back memories of my wife from our school days.
“…What am I blushing for? Idiot, she’s just a kid…”
After muttering to myself and clearing my throat, I ran down the hallway with Kisaragi still in my arms.