tears of mercury | beastars

chapter 10. PRIVACY OFFSTAGE

𖤣𖥧.𖤣𖥧𓆏𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
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The day of the long-awaited event had arrived. (Name) stood outside the assembly hall alongside the other members of the Drama Club. Her back was against the wall, arms crossed beneath her chest as she waited next to the two glass doors leading inside the auditorium.

Louis, as ever, took the lead, addressing them with a short but impactful pep talk. His words were polished, each sentence carefully constructed to inspire confidence and ignite the passion of the club.

(Name)'s thoughts wandered, her gaze briefly flickering toward Louis. The red deer's popularity was undeniable, reaching far beyond the walls of Cherryton Academy. Sure, she'd tasted a hint of that limelight herself at times, but her refusal to take on acting roles after that happened meant that Louis had consistently shone brighter.

Over the past few years, his star had only risen higher in the sky, carving himself with the others. Now, as third years, the stakes were at their highest. This year would mark the culmination of their efforts—especially Louis'.

For everyone gathered, today wasn't just another representation of the club nor their upcoming performance. It felt like this wasn't about them as a whole—it was simply their time to witness Louis' brilliance in action once more.

"The Drama Club may now enter the auditorium." the host, a male deer, announced from the stage inside.

As the glass doors slowly swung open, Louis turned his head slightly, his piercing gaze falling on (Name) before shifting to the spot behind him. The silent instruction was clear: she was to follow directly in line behind him as they made their grand entrance.

"They've achieved countless accolades for their performances that transcend the species barrier," the announcer's voice echoed as the club members stepped inside in a line showcasing their forms for all students to see.

The red carpet stretched before them, leading the way to the stage. Every step they took was deliberate, each movement choreographed to perfection. (Name) walked with unwavering confidence, for once, her school uniform was neatly pressed and pristine. Though she despised the attention, she knew her role as an esteemed member of the Drama Club.

"They've made extraordinary contributions to Cherryton Academy," the announcer continued.

They stopped in formation onstage where they stood at the back near the wooden podium. The headmaster, a male tiger, approached Louis with a certificate in hand.

"We would like to acknowledge the Drama Club's achievements with the Cherryton Academy Honor Award." the headmaster said solemnly, presenting the award.

"I expect great things from this year's performance." he added, his eyes turning into a slightly crescent moon—a gesture of encouragement.

"Thank you, sir." Louis replied, his voice steady and composed. He took the microphone, and stepping behind the wooden podium to address the sea of 3,000 students before him.

"Co-existence and co-prosperity," Louis began, his tone firm yet inviting. "These are the precious values we will showcase in our performance. I encourage everyone here to join us in the next two days to witness Adler take on the stage."

The auditorium erupted into applause. Whispers of excitement rippled through the crowd as the anticipation grew.

The crowd's on fire. . .

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Back in the rehearsal space, the atmosphere was electric. Each member of the Drama Club poured their energy into final preparations. Shiira led the dance team in a synchronized routine, while the acting team practiced mock combat with bamboo sticks. The crew adjusted lighting rigs and fine-tuned the sound system.

(Name) sat cross-legged in a corner of the stage, surrounded by scattered papers. Her task was quieter but no less vital—finalizing the script and ensuring it was perfect for Louis. Her focus was so intense that she remained oblivious to the two carnivores conversing above her on the catwalk.

Kai's voice carried down as he engaged Legoshi in a discussion about the Drama Club's peculiar recruitment methods.

"Huh, so everyone here was recruited. . . But how did they meet the standards?" Legoshi asked, his deep voice tinged with curiosity.

Kai scoffed. "Have you seriously been in this club without knowing anything? You need to socialize more! You're a second year already!"

He continued, listing examples of the club's eclectic membership. From Shiira's surprising backstory as a dominatrix to Mina the giraffe's unique phobia and Moro the rhino's eccentric beliefs, each member had their own quirks and struggles.

"By the way, I was abandoned by my parents when I was born. I was adopted by a hyena family even though I'm a mongoose," Kai added. "See what I mean? This club's standard is having. . . unusual circumstances. If you strip that away, it all seems pretty dark, huh?"

Kai leaned in closer to Legoshi, his tone suddenly serious. "Hey, are you hiding something from us?"

But Legoshi didn't answer, instead he also asked the question back to Kai in a sudden close proximity, then his scream echoed from above at the other's unpredicted action before scolding at the gray wolf about it.

Startled, (Name) looked up, her sharp eyes locking onto the two figures perched on the catwalk. For a brief moment, she assessed the situation before deciding to leave it in the capable hands of the other members.

Picking up the neatly organized script, she headed toward the auditorium, where she assumed Louis was rehearsing. The familiarity of his presence drew her in, like a tether anchoring her amidst the chaos.

Walking through the quiet corridors, (Name)'s mind drifted to memories of her first year. Back then, she'd became a shadow of herself—a withdrawn figure teetering on the edge of quitting the club altogether—the weight of her past, the accident, had isolated her. She had pushed away everyone who tried to reach out, retreating into her pain instead.

But then there was Louis.

She remembered that day vividly, the moment he extended his paw to her when she was at her lowest. His unwavering determination and belief in her potential had been a turning point to salvage what she had after that.

That paw, steady and strong, had pulled her out of the abyss.

Now, as she approached the auditorium, her grip on the script tightened. No matter how far Louis soared or how brightly he shone, (Name) knew one thing for certain: she would always be there supporting him like how he did with her long ago.

Pushing open the double doors, she stepped inside. The faint echoes of his rehearsal filled the space, and her eyes immediately found Louis at center stage, rehearsing with his usual intensity.

In that moment, she allowed herself a small, fleeting smile. No matter how chaotic things got, the stage was their sanctuary—a place where everything else melted away.

✅ EDITED