THE FIRST TIME DADDY

THE STAGE OF EMOTIONS

The Stage of Emotions

The preparation for the play was in full swing. The classroom-turned-workshop was alive with activity: students hammering nails into wooden backdrops, painting props, and practicing lines in every corner. The smell of fresh paint and sawdust filled the air, accompanied by the occasional laughter or groan of frustration. 

Hiroshi was in the corner, hunched over a small table as he meticulously cut out pieces of cardboard to assemble a decorative prop for the play's climactic scene. His hands trembled slightly as he held the cutter, and his tongue poked out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. 

“Need any help?” 

The familiar, teasing voice startled him, and the cutter slipped, leaving a jagged line on the cardboard. Hiroshi looked up to see Hina standing over him, holding a can of soda and wearing a playful grin. 

“Hina! You scared me!” Hiroshi exclaimed, quickly hiding the ruined piece of cardboard behind him. 

Hina tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Scared you? I just said hi! Are you that easily startled, Hiroshi?” 

Hiroshi groaned, his face already turning red. “I was focused, that’s all. What are you doing here? Don’t you have lines to practice?” 

“I’m on a break,” Hina said, pulling up a chair and sitting beside him. She placed the soda can on the table and leaned forward, inspecting the prop he was working on. “Wow, you’re really putting effort into this.” 

“Well, someone has to,” Hiroshi muttered, trying to ignore how close she was. He could feel her presence, her warmth, and even the faint scent of her perfume—something light and floral, like cherry blossoms. 

Hina smirked, noticing his awkwardness. “You know, Hiroshi, you should take a break too. You’ve been at this for hours.” 

“I’m fine,” he said quickly, keeping his eyes on the cardboard. 

Hina didn’t let up. She leaned closer, her chin almost touching his shoulder. “Come on, Hiroshi. You’ll burn yourself out. Besides, isn’t it more fun to spend your break with me?” 

Hiroshi froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He tried to focus on the task at hand, but her teasing voice and proximity made it nearly impossible. 

“I-I’m busy,” he stammered. 

Hina pouted, leaning back in her chair dramatically. “You’re no fun. Fine, I’ll just sit here and enjoy my soda while you slave away.” 

She opened the can with a hiss and took a sip, watching him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Hiroshi tried to ignore her, but he could feel her gaze on him, making him even more self-conscious. 

After a few moments of silence, Hina suddenly leaned forward again, her face just inches from his. “You know, you’ve got some paint on your face.” 

“W-What? Where?” Hiroshi asked, panicking. 

Hina reached out and lightly touched his cheek with her finger. “Right here,” she said, her voice softer now. 

Hiroshi froze as her finger lingered for a moment before pulling away. His face turned bright red, and he looked away, fumbling with the cutter in his hand. “I-It’s fine. I’ll clean it later.” 

Hina giggled, clearly enjoying his reaction. “You’re so easy to tease, Hiroshi. It’s adorable.” 

“I’m not adorable!” he protested, finally turning to face her. 

Hina just smiled, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him. “You kind of are, though.” 

Hiroshi didn’t know how to respond. His heart was racing, and he felt like he was going to melt under her gaze. To distract himself, he picked up another piece of cardboard and started cutting it, even though his hands were shaking. 

Hina watched him for a moment before standing up. “Alright, Mr. Busy, I’ll leave you to it. But don’t work too hard, okay?” 

She started to walk away, but then she paused and turned back, a sly smile on her lips. “Oh, and Hiroshi?” 

“Y-Yeah?” he asked, looking up at her nervously. 

“You’re doing great,” she said softly. Then, without another word, she walked off, leaving Hiroshi sitting there with his heart pounding in his chest. 

For the rest of the afternoon, Hiroshi couldn’t stop thinking about her words—or the way she’d looked at him. He didn’t know how he was going to get through the rest of the play preparations, but one thing was clear: Hina had completely turned his world upside down.