Furukawa Airi was keeping the door open for Momoi Tomoki and Hanakawa Akira. The two of them had taken the afternoon off from work, bringing Airi with them, to watch Hanakawa Sakura and Yamada Kenta in their play.
Fujita Kouta, Ken's brother, hadn't been able to come because he had to manage the floor. The only full-time server, Fujiki Arata, had called in sick; something that rarely ever happened.
He had sent a camcorder with Tomo to film Ken's performance though.
"Momo-chan, welcome back! I'm so glad you're here on the last day. You'll get to see that scene you saw to death perfected."
Hayashi Niko had her short hair in a ponytail that stuck out awkwardly, while more than a few strands had found their way out of the hair tie.
"Are you really sure it's perfected?" Tomo asked jokingly and Hayashi laughed.
"I promise, the choreography is perfect. Hanakawa worked really hard after your brutal critique last time." Before Tomo had time to answer, she turned to Aki. "Akira-kun, it's been years since I last saw you!"
Aki smiled in return. "It certainly has been a while Hayashi-san. I've been busy. Like my younger sister, I need to study hard to do well. Guess the brains had to go to the oldest three."
Hayashi Niko laughed.
"Should I take that as a hint to kick her out to make sure she gets into a good school?"
"Just make her study during her breaks," Akira smiled. "Either way, it's been long since I saw any plays at a theatre so I'm excited."
"I'm glad to see Ken act again. It's been a while since the last time," Tomo said with poorly hidden excitement.
He couldn't hide that he was looking forward to seeing Ken on stage no matter how much he tried. He wasn't fond of coming, but he still came there. He loved seeing Ken on stage. He shined when he did. It was nothing like watching TV or films.
What he didn't like were the people gathering nor the memories it all brought back.
"Oh, and Saku-chan too."
Hayashi grinned. "So it's like that? That explains why he was so peculiar when he got here. Kenta was somewhat absent-minded, you see. Walked into a couple of chairs, stumbled over his feet... Things I'd expect from you if you still were with us on stage. Very unlike him."
"Is he alright? He didn't get hurt, did he?"
She grinned. "Aside from his hurt pride, there's not a single scratch on him. Well, he's just focused. He tends to perform the best when you watch him, so I guess he wants to look cool in front of you. Maybe you should watch him every time he's in a play. I'm sure you wouldn't mind, right?"
Tomo blushed. It did make him happy to know Ken tried his best, but it was also really embarrassing if he was doing it for him; even more so if Ken was nervous enough not to know where his own feet were.
He noticed Hayashi's gaze move from him. It landed on Airi.
"Eh... This is a classmate in my and Saku-chan's class, Furukawa Airi. Airi, this is the mentor for the high school troupe, Hayashi Niko. She remembers when Ken joined 12 years ago when she was in the middle school troupe."
"He wasn't very good back then; I can tell you that much. Bit his tongue when he said his line. Assuming he even remembered them. He caught on quickly, though. I don't know if he's talented or just hardworking."
"I think being hardworking is a talent, Hayashi-san," Akira pointed out.
"Maybe, maybe not. It's absolutely your sister's talent. Hard work got her where she is today, and few manage to match Kenta in presence on stage. I'd love to keep chatting, but I have work to do. After this, I need to perform too as part of the professional plays as well. So much work for just one lady." She grinned. "You know the way from here to the seats and where you're allowed to set up the recorder. And remember to make sure no one else does. You got special permission since you know the rules regarding cameras and whatnot. It did need convincing though, so don't make a scene, or else I'll get in trouble."
"Got it, senpai! And thanks! Have someone give one to Ken for me. One's for Saku-chan, and the last one's for you." Tomo gave Hayashi three flowers. "I can't stay for their after-party. Aki-chan and I need to get back to work after this."
"Thank you and you can consider it done!"
***
"I'm surprised you could just walk through the backdoor and only get greeted," Airi mumbled.
"I've only been here once since I started high school, but I used to come now and then in middle school. I've also been here on every single one of Ken's and Saku-chan's plays since I quit, so most staff that have volunteer troops know me." He fell quiet and despite the closed door he could hear the voices of people outside it. "I don't really like this festival though."
He got a look from Airi that told him she tried to understand why he didn't like it, but focused on the task at hand instead. Tomo and Aki were setting up the tripod while Airi looked around the place.
He couldn't help but make a mental note that the two who looked like boys, but weren't, ended up doing the work. Though he had been prepared for it, he couldn't help but find it... funny, perhaps.
Aki was, like her brothers, about average height for men and had black hair and very dark eyes. Much like Sakura, although Sakura was short.
Tomo would probably have described her looks as average. Or, rather, she was an 'anyone'. There wasn't anything special about her. She wasn't exactly slender, like Tomo was, but not bulky or chubby. She didn't leave much of an impression.
Maybe she just didn't want to stand out when she looked like any young man, hiding her gender.
Tomo couldn't ignore that possibility.
"This is going to be too low." Aki held the camcorder against the tripod, looking past it, over the seats and towards the stage.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Maybe check with someone among the staff if they can help out?"
"I'll do that. Wait here."
"Don't take too long."
He hadn't been backstage for a while and he looked around until he saw the door he vaguely remembered as a place for the staff to sit down in. He had gone there a few times, but he couldn't remember why.
He knocked before he slowly opened the door, careful just in case he was wrong.
"Excuse me..."
"Come in!"
He opened the door and to his relief, he had remembered correctly.
"If it isn't Tomo-kun! Is it already time for the play? Did that woman send you to tell us we're late?" asked a woman.
Tomo couldn't remember her name. He couldn't even remember when or how they met. Was she in costuming? No, that didn't feel right...
"No, not yet. Hayashi-sensei didn't send me. I need help. We got permission to film for Yamada Kenta's older brother since he can't come, but the tripod's too low."
"That's a problem, alright. I'll help you out. The rest of you better start preparing for opening up. Break time's over."
Tomo hurried back with the staff member.
Aki had been talked to Airi, but waved to them when noticing the staff member was coming.
The member looked at it for a while.
"Hmmm... This is definitely way too low. Let me get a few things backstage. We should have boxes we don't need, but I'll make sure we have a couple of people who direct people away from it."
