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✎ it was after school, and all of WxS was at Wonder Stage.
"for our next show, how about we get this really big cannon..." Emu began, as Rui nodded intriguingly. "to shoot me out of it!? I don't think so!" Tsukasa interrupted, though him trying to be bossy never really worked out. the two goofballs of the group wouldn't listen to him anyway.
"nope!" Emu giggled. "I was gonna say we put a bunch of confetti in the cannon and it'll be all like 'BOOM! BOOM! POW! POW!' and send confetti all over the place!" Emu waved her hands in the air enthusiastically.
"that's not a bad idea, though... I was looking forward to getting to shoot Tsukasa-kun out of a cannon..." Rui moped, his tone mockingly sad. "I don't think that'd be a good idea..." Nene butted in nervously.
Tsukasa stared at Nene for a few seconds, feeling a shiver go down his spine. it wasn't in fear or anything like that, though. it was something... else?
"ah, I get it! our diva doesn't want to see her beloved leader get hurt!" Tsukasa teased, trying to ignore the troublesome feeling he was having, and the small skip of his heart's beat.
"no, I actually do want to see an egotistical idiot like you get abused by these two, I just think there's better ways to do so than shooting you out of a cannon," Nene said coldly, and, to Tsukasa, hearing her saying that felt like someone had impaled his heart with a sword. "ouch..." Tsukasa replied.
....
"I think I have a better idea!" Tsukasa claimed. "ooh! what is it, Tsukasa-kun!?" Emu squealed, bringing her hands up to her cheeks in excitement.
"I think we should have a grand finale with a themed light show and music synchronized to the bursts of confetti!" Tsukasa declared, standing a bit taller in confidence.
"that sounds interesting. we could use different colors for different parts of the song," Rui suggested, his mind already whirring with ideas for the technical setup.
"ooh, ooh! and we could have a dance routine that matches the lights and confetti bursts!" Emu added, jumping up and down with excitement. "it'll be like a big rainbow explosion on stage! like 'BOOM! BOOM! FWOOOSH!!'"
Nene, who had been quiet, watched Tsukasa, appreciating his enthusiasm more than usual. despite how loud he was, it was obvious he was determined to make the people that visit the Wonder Stage as happy and intrigued as possible. he truly cared for the troupe and their shows. it was really... admirable? was there really something admirable about Tsukasa?
could that be a reason she could actually be in love with Tsukasa Tenma? was it totally out of the question like she originally thought?
"that does sound like a pretty decent idea... we can use the new lighting software we got last week. it allows for precise timing and effects," she stated, as she couldn't help but hide a small smile behind her hand.
"exactly! and I'll take care of the choreography to make sure it aligns perfectly with the lights and confetti. it'll be our best performance yet!" Tsukasa nodded, feeling the energy of the group lift.
as the team began to brainstorm and plan out the details, Tsukasa couldn't shake the odd feeling he had earlier. he glanced at Nene, who was now in a discussion about the technical aspects with Rui, in which, his heart skipped a beat again.
"I must be coming down with something," Tsukasa thought, dismissing the feeling. he turned his focus back to the team's excited planning, determined to make this the most spectacular show WxS had ever put on.
Emu was sketching out rough ideas for the stage design on a large piece of paper, while Rui and Nene talked about how to integrate the new lighting software with the stage equipment.
Tsukasa, the ever so charismatic leader, kept the group's momentum going with his enthusiastic affirmations and occasional suggestions.
"alright, team, let's summarize what we have so far," Tsukasa commanded, gathering everyone's attention. "we'll have a themed light show synchronized with bursts of confetti, an exciting dance routine that matches the lighting, and of course, our usual flair for the dramatic!"
Emu nodded vigorously. "yes, yes! and don't forget the big rainbow explosion on stage! It's going to be so fun and colorful!" Emu said enthusiastically.
Rui added, "we can incorporate some pyrotechnics as well, as long as we ensure it's safe and within the venue's regulations. we have to make sure the combination of lights, confetti, and fireworks will make the grand finale unforgettable."
"we should also consider the flow of the performance. we don't want any awkward pauses, the transitions need to be seamless to keep the audience engaged from start to finish," Nene spoke up.
Tsukasa agreed, his eyes shining with excitement. "that's our songstress for you!" Tsukasa cheered. "we'll work on making everything flow smoothly. maybe we can use some pre-recorded voiceovers or background music to fill any gaps."
as the discussion wrapped up, and practice ended, Tsukasa felt a sense of pride in their teamwork. the Wonder Stage was more than just a performance venue, it was a place where their dreams and creativity came to life.
"yayyy!!!" Emu screeched.
later, as they began to pack up their materials and prepare to head home, Tsukasa found himself glancing at Nene again. the feelings he had dismissed earlier returned, stronger than before.
he noticed the way her eyes lit up when she was deep in thought, and the slight smile that played on her lips as she talked about getting to sing in front of everyone, something she was so passionate about. that's why she was the troupe's songstress, well, that's what Tsukasa called her.
"hey, Nene," Tsukasa called out, his voice softer than usual. "thanks for your input today. your ideas really helped out with ideas for the show," Tsukasa complimented.
Nene looked at him, slightly surprised by the genuine tone in his voice. "uhh..." she hummed, her cheeks heating up a bit. "of course, Tsukasa. it's all about making the best show possible, right?"
"yeah," Tsukasa plainly replied, his heart racing so hard it seemed as if it could burst out of his chest. "and with you on the team, I know we can make it happen. you're our diva after all!" he laughed bashfully, trying to distract himself away from the pounding in his chest.
"thanks. let's make sure we give the audience a show they'll never forget," Nene thanked, her cheeks heated slightly more.
as they all left the Wonder Stage, Tsukasa couldn't help but smile. the planning for their next performance had not only brought out the best in each of them but had also made him realize something important.
perhaps, those feelings he had... just, maybe, there was something real there. was that wrong? or was it wrong to have a troupe leader thinking like that? didn't he have more important things to worry about?
the future performances of WxS promised to be spectacular, but for Tsukasa, they also held the promise of something more personal, a relationship with a certain troupe mate that might just be the start of a new chapter in his life. and he didn't even know it yet.
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✦ - 5/20/2024
