Haruya’s eyes widened as he recognized Rin.
Perhaps because she had already applied light, natural makeup, her features looked more mature than usual.
She was still wearing the class T-shirt, but she’d probably change into her performance outfit when it was nearly their turn.
“Were you perhaps captivated by me? Well~ You can’t hide cuteness, can you?”
Her tone was calm, but her manner of speaking was typical Rin.
It seemed she had overcome her mental anxiety, which made Haruya feel relieved.
“If you’re in that mood, you should be fine.”
“…Oh, um, yeah.”
Rin nodded slightly, making a small fist on her knee.
“Oh, Akasaki-kun. You’ll be surprised when you hear the live performance. I was shocked at how well they practiced.”
Kogure Yudai, the leader, must be referring to when Haruya was given free time.
He shared this with a refreshing smile, having seen them practice their final adjustments.
“…Was it really that good?”
“Yeah! It felt like what you’d expect from a vice-leader. The performance was top-notch even during practice.”
“Hey, Yudai. You haven’t forgotten about us instrument players, right!?”
Sayuki interjected, followed by a sharp glare from the gyaru in charge of instruments directed at the leader.
“Ah, of course not. Of course…”
Kawada Sayuki’s intimidating presence was indeed impressive.
Despite their interactions in class, the leader’s face was strained.
When Haruya glanced at Rin, he noticed her shoulders seemed a bit tense.
It was easy to tell she was nervous.
However, many spectators had gathered around the stage.
While the number of guests had decreased compared to noon, it was still considerable.
It would be unreasonable to expect her not to be nervous.
[Ohhh! Hahahaha, hahahaha]
[They’re really brave to do a comedy routine~ Haha]
The audience’s cheers and laughter at the second-years’ comedy routine could be heard.
This sound also seemed to contribute to the nervous atmosphere.
(This must be incredibly pressuring…)
As he was thinking this, Rin timidly stood up and was about to prepare to change.
“Not yet, Rin-chan. I think it’s too early to start preparing.”
Sayuki voiced her genuine doubt.
“…I’m feeling a bit restless. I want to use the restroom before the performance too.”
Rin said this and quickly left her post.
“Akasaki-kun. About the work…”
Seizing the opportunity, someone from the record-keeping team came to confirm some work details.
(Even if you ask me…)
He wanted to say this, but as the leader of the record-keeping team, he couldn’t be so irresponsible.
While listening to the story, Haruya conveyed his thoughts to the inquiring record keeper.
During this time… the second-years’ comedy event proceeded smoothly.
The season had already turned to summer.
As the Eika Festival was nearing its end, a glance at the sky revealed a mix of crimson and dark purple.
If you listened closely, you could still hear the chirping of insects.
The fact that you wouldn’t notice the insect sounds unless you consciously paid attention was because the students, including the guests, were so caught up in the excitement of the Eika Festival.
While it was clear that there were fewer people compared to the peak hours, there were still more than expected.
(Even though I’ve made up my mind… I can’t help but feel nervous.)
Kohinata Rin was checking her appearance in the mirror after changing in the dressing room.
From the slightly playful class T-shirt to an idol costume.
The costume department seemed to have gone to great lengths because this was the festival’s finale.
Both the top and skirt had decorations attached.
She wore a hat lightly and saw her life-sized reflection in the mirror.
(I have to be number one. I have to stand alongside those two. I got Akasaki-kun’s approval, so it’ll be fine. At least for today… I’ve decided to be Kohinata Rin.)
She made a small fist in front of her chest and took several deep breaths.
Alright, Rin gave herself one last pep talk before leaving the dressing room.
As she stepped outside, a wave of humid heat hit her.
[…Alright, alright~ Hello, hello~ So, let’s get started~]
Suddenly, an energetic voice reached her ears.
It seemed the second-years’ comedy event was still ongoing.
There was still time before the main performance.
After this, the third-years had a dance performance, if she remembered correctly, and then it would be the first-years’ live performance.
She could see the first-year committee group from a distance.
Each team seemed to be having discussions.
Some might be praising each other for their hard work so far, sharing how their class events went, while others might be discussing the final tasks or clean-up.
Feeling too nervous to approach the stage area, she felt like taking a walk somewhere out of sight.
The dressing room would be hidden from view, but she felt restless if she wasn’t moving, so she wanted to walk outside and breathe some fresh air.
With this in mind, Rin decided to take a walk behind the school building for a while.
Gradually, the noise faded, and she became more aware of the insect sounds.
However, being out of sight turned out to be a disadvantage.
“—Eh, what’s with that outfit, Kohinata?”
“Wow, amazing… You’re going to perform in that outfit~?”
She encountered two female students with lewd smiles, who seemed to have just finished using the restroom.
“…!”
Rin’s feet froze involuntarily.
She thought she had already steeled herself, that she could be Kohinata Rin at least for today…
But faced with these two, her heart rate accelerated.
Her body instinctively tried to shrink in defense.
“Haha. We’re not even doing anything. But your legs are shaking, it’s funny~”
“Oh no. Don’t make that face. If you make that face, it just makes us want to see more.”
As the two approached, Rin retreated step by step.
She might have been able to run away, but her body wouldn’t move as she wanted due to fear.
However, she struggled to force her voice out of her throat.
“…I’m… different from back then!”
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In a small act of resistance, she glared sharply at the two.
“Ah~ Sure, I guess. You’ve changed to be cuter with makeup and more eager to please men~”
“But you know what? Your core hasn’t changed at all. Even if you’re on the organizing committee, even if you’re protected by boys, a person’s essence doesn’t change so easily. It can’t be changed. No matter how much you struggle to change. You might have an established position in high school, but that’s just an illusion. You’re still far below us, that hasn’t changed.”
“That’s right. Shall we teach you since you don’t seem to understand? It’s just you here now, everyone else is watching the stage, so no one else is around.”
Two sets of footsteps approached, step by step.
“Haa, haa, haa, haa—–“
Rin froze on the spot, holding her head.
“Haha. See? You haven’t changed at all, have you? Without a man, without someone to protect you, you immediately show your weakness.”
The bully leaned in close to Rin’s ear and whispered.
“I could tell everyone about how you were bullied. Everyone here is smart, so it might not lead to more bullying if I exposed you. But there might be some people who secretly hate you for flirting with boys. I wonder if little Kohinata can still act strong after I tell everyone? Can you stay the same as you are now?”
Hahaha. Hahaha. Hahahaha.
The ugly laughter she had heard so many times back then assaulted her ears.
Unable to even raise her voice, Rin felt her hair being gently tugged.
“……..!”
Rin’s entire body froze in fear, unable to make a sound.
It wasn’t a hard pull on her hair.
Just a light tug with weak force.
But that was enough to trigger her past trauma.
Rin’s body shrank into itself. A defensive reaction… her instincts taking over.
The numerous ordeals she had endured in middle school.
Having her hair pulled was one of them.
(Ah… the mask comes off so easily)
People’s true nature doesn’t change.
Those words echoed heavily in her chest.
A bullying victim at her core.
No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t escape from bullies.
That was her essence, and it was presumptuous to think she could stand up to them.
The only right thing to do was to avoid standing out.
Her resolute determination crumbled.
“See, Kohinata… this is your true nature, isn’t it?”
The bully smiled, turning their phone camera towards Rin.
What it captured was me, curled up in despair and looking dazed. Me, with a deathly pale face. The expression I had seen countless times in middle school. A familiar face.
The two slowly stood up and called out in an exaggeratedly cheerful voice.
“The first-year executive committee’s event is a live performance, and since Kohinata is in charge of the costume, you must be the center, right? We’re looking forward to it. Good luck!”
With those parting words, they left.
The lukewarm heat disappeared, and Rin’s body was chilled to the core.
The pair, leaving Rin behind, continued their conversation.
“…If we left her alone, the live show might have been a success, and that wouldn’t have been fun. Breaking her spirit was a success. We were really lucky to run into her in a place where no one could see us.”
“Geez, we’re way too mean, aren’t we?”
“Hahaha. That’s nothing new. But things are getting interesting now, aren’t they?”
It seemed they had interfered because they didn’t like the idea of Rin succeeding with the live performance.
Their tactics had been extremely effective, completely breaking Rin’s spirit.
After the two disappeared, Rin sent a message.
In stark contrast to the festive mood of the others, Rin’s heart had gone cold.
[I’m sorry. I won’t be able to perform in the live show. I’m truly sorry.]
All she could do was apologize.
But she had been made painfully aware of her place.
Surely, if she saw those two in the audience while on stage, she wouldn’t be able to sing.
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