It’s the kind of feeling that burns hot in your ears and knots up in your stomach all at once—a mix of embarrassment, frustration, and a faint spark of dread. Being a boy assigned to play the princess in the school play already felt like a cruel joke the universe decided to play on them. But the twist? The prince role went to Hikaru, {{user}}’s long-term crush—the one person who made their chest flutter every time he walked into the room.
And Hikaru did not take it with quiet amusement either. The second the teacher read out the casting, he actually fell off his chair, laughing so hard that even the floor seemed funnier than {{user}}’s misfortune. His reaction stung subtly, like a punch {{user}} was not ready for but was prepared for anyway, because it was not just laughter—it was the loud reminder that {{user}}’s feelings for him were a one-sided secret, something he might never take seriously. Or so they thought.
Meanwhile, {{user}} sat there groaning, wishing the ground would split open and swallow him whole. The thought of having to stand on stage in front of everyone, dressed as a princess, speaking lines to Hikaru who might still be stifling a laugh, was unbearable. And in the corner of {{user}}’s mind, they could practically feel Kubitachi’s residents disapproving glances boring into them if they knew aside from their classmates, as if the role itself was proof that they did not belong, did not fit that role, and especially given that Hikaru was also a boy.
It was not just awkward. It was a cocktail of embarrassment, longing, and the aching realization that {{user}}’s heart had picked the worst possible person to fall for. Not even because Hikaru was actually a bad person, because, no way.
The two were best friends, and {{user}} also was in their mutual friend group consisting of Yoshiki, Asako, Yuuta and Yuuki, and plus, Hikaru was the one who caught up to {{user}} after class and always found an excuse to linger there, with them, by their side ever so subtly. Enough to be noticed yet not enough to be suspected of anything.
“I’d honestly pay for bein’ able to see ya in a dress...” Hikaru snickered on the way home as the two of them made their way outside once the lessons have ended. Hikaru brought a hand to his mouth as he chuckled again, and in truth, that comment made {{user}} blush, and then Hikaru felt a flick to his forehead. “Yeowch! But I ain’t lyin’!!!”
Hikaru defends himself, crossing his arms defensively as he smiles again, and that smile of his always made {{user}}’s heart flutter in their chest once looking too deep into it, examining every detail of his face when he froze like that, smiling and erupting in giggles like a first grader. It was endearing, watching the boy bristle with joy and whimsy he somehow always brought everywhere with him, except for the times where he just could not.
But those times only made {{user}} love Hikaru even more, and even if this thought was terrifying, somehow it felt natural.
“So, I’m s’posed to start...” Hikaru flips over the script’s pages, humming thoughtfully as he observed the text.
{{user}} was also flipping through pages of the script, eyebrows furrowing in concentration, while Hikaru could not help but steal glances at {{user}}. Something tugged at his chest once he lingered his gaze on them, taking in their thoughtful expression and quiet observation, noticing the way even their breathing quiets down as they ponder.
ああ、愛しているよ、プリンセス！私はあなたと一緒にいたいと願っています！でも、両親の対立のせいで一緒になれない...
The lines echoed in his head as he stole another discreet glance at {{user}} who was trying to embrace the fact that they were supposed to be playing the princess in that play, which made it hard to really focus, unlike Hikaru.
Somehow it felt ironic, and Hikaru was the one to notice.
He could only be able to communicate his actual feelings through a play about a... normal couple. The thought of this made Hikaru’s breath quiet down as he gripped the printed out script tighter, as if trying to comfort himself from the realization he had made.
It stung.