One and Only | Osamu Miya

Chapter 4

A Moment of Truth

Arishira's POV:

After what happened at the mall, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Who was that girl singing with Osamu? What was their relationship? My mind kept replaying the scene, the laughter they shared, and it gnawed at me.

"Drama club members, please come to the auditorium. We will have an announcement."

That voice was familiar; it was the director of the drama club. I stood up from my seat and made my way to the auditorium. I was the only member from my class; most of my classmates preferred cooking or sports. Kira was busy with the swimming club.

As I entered the auditorium, I spotted some other members waiting on stage. The director arrived shortly after, and we gathered around, eager for the announcement.

"We will be performing a tragic-romance drama tomorrow," the director announced. "It's not a long play; we will just showcase some scenes that are sure to make the audience cry." Everyone nodded in agreement, excitement bubbling in the air.

"We need two main characters, a couple. Any volunteers?" The director looked around, and before I knew it, several members pointed at me.

I raised my hand, feeling a mix of eagerness and apprehension. "I volunteer, Director!"

Typically, I found myself in the lead role whenever a drama unfolded in the auditorium. However, I didn't want to be the primary character every time; I wanted to give others a chance as well. But this time, everyone seemed to agree, and I felt happy to take on the role.

My partner for this drama was Hiiro, one of the most talented drama kings in the club. The drama club had 35 members: 23 girls and 12 boys, each passionate about performing.

The director handed us the script, and we headed backstage to practice while the others worked on the props.

"So basically," Hiiro began, "it's a kingdom-type drama. There’s a deadly war, and both characters die. The girl confesses her love just as she's dying in the boy's arms."

“That’s really sad,” I replied, feeling a knot form in my stomach. The weight of the script's emotional depth hit me. The audience would likely cry during our performance; the story was heart-wrenching.

Hiiro and I practiced our lines diligently. The script wasn't long, so we memorized it quickly. After a few run-throughs, the director instructed us to head back to our respective classrooms, as our next subject was about to start.

4 PM

After school, the other members finished setting up the props on stage. There was a castle backdrop, bushes, trees, and fluffy clouds painted in the background.

Hiiro and I had memorized our lines and even practiced the dying scene. Once we were done, we all gathered backstage for a quick water break. I was relieved that the props were ready, and we knew our lines.

As we drank water, Hiiro broke the silence. "So, what do you think of the drama?" he asked, leaning against the wall.

"It's really tragic, to be honest," I replied, my mind still wandering back to the emotional weight of the story.

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Would you let that happen? You know, if it were the end of the world, and you or your love confessed but it was too late?"

I shook my head vehemently. "Absolutely not. I might die, but it won't be in peace!" I mumbled, my mind racing.

Hiiro chuckled softly. "Well, do you have a 'lovey-dovey'?" he asked casually, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I hesitated, my heart racing. Hiiro had become a good friend through the drama club, and I didn’t want to keep secrets from him. "Um, yeah, but I haven't confessed to him yet," I admitted, my voice tinged with nervousness.

Hiiro looked at me thoughtfully. "I think you should," he advised, and my eyes widened in surprise.

"I'm not sure, Hiiro," I protested. "That's really easy for you to say, but it's hard to actually do. I never have the courage."

His voice softened. "Confessing depends on you. Just follow your heart, okay? No pressure here."

Follow my heart? The words echoed in my mind as I left the auditorium.

The director called out to us. "You guys can go home now. Please be here by 12:30 PM tomorrow; the drama starts at 1 PM."

"Arigatou gozaimasu!" I replied, waving goodbye to my fellow club members as I stepped outside. Hiiro waved back and dashed down the hallway.

Suddenly, I remembered Hiiro's advice. Should I confess to Osamu?

Without a second thought, I ran toward the gymnasium. As I entered, I found Osamu practicing tosses alone. Where were his teammates?

He looked surprised to see me. "Ari-san..." he mumbled, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Osamu-kun..." I replied, my heart pounding.

"Why are you here? Need anything?" he asked, his tone serious but with a hint of concern.

I gathered all my courage, feeling the weight of my emotions. "Osamu-kun... I like you!" I blurted out, surprised by my own boldness.

The silence that followed felt deafening. I couldn't bear to look him in the eye, fearing the worst. Then, unexpectedly, he grabbed my arm and led me to the stock room in the gym.

He locked the door behind us and turned on the light. Holding my hand gently, he looked into my eyes and said, "I... I like you too, since elementary school."

His confession sent shivers down my spine. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "What? Really? Why didn't you say anything before? I saw you at karaoke with a girl at the mall!"

His expression softened, and he spoke earnestly. "I barely talk to anyone, remember? I'm shy, especially around my elementary crush, who is now standing in front of me. And that girl at karaoke? She's my cousin who just got back from abroad."

His words filled me with warmth. He was so genuine, and I found myself leaning closer to him. Our faces were inches apart, and without thinking, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.

Our lips moved gently, then passionately, savoring every moment. This was my first kiss, and I was ecstatic that it was with Osamu.

He pulled away slightly, his breath warm against my skin. "I love you," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I love you too!" I replied, my heart soaring. "Now let's get outside—"

"I'm not done yet," he interrupted, a teasing smile playing on his lips.