The Unscripted Prince
The final act of the play was approaching its climax, the pivotal moment where the prince and princess would declare their love despite all odds. The audience was silent, completely engrossed. Backstage, however, chaos reigned.
“Where’s Daichi?!” the stage manager hissed, pacing frantically.
“He twisted his ankle!” a crew member whispered back. “He’s in the nurse’s office and can’t perform!”
“WHAT?! This is the most important scene!”
While the crew scrambled for a solution, Hiroshi stood off to the side, clutching his clipboard. He had written every word of this play. He knew the lines better than anyone. Yet the idea of stepping into Daichi’s role—especially opposite Hina—made his stomach churn.
“Hiroshi, you’re the writer!” someone shouted. “You know the script! Get in costume!”
Before Hiroshi could protest, two crew members grabbed him and shoved him toward the wardrobe team.
“W-Wait! I’m not an actor!” Hiroshi stammered, his face already red.
“Well, you are now!” one of them said, handing him the prince’s costume.
Moments later, Hiroshi found himself dressed in a regal white suit with gold embroidery and a crimson sash. His heart raced as he stepped into the wings, gripping the prop sword in his sweaty palms.
---
Hina was standing center stage, delivering her monologue as the princess. Her voice trembled with emotion, and the audience hung on her every word.
“I’ve lost everything,” she said, her back to the audience. “My family, my home… all I have left is hope. But even that feels so far away.”
She turned, expecting to see Daichi walking onto the stage. Instead, her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Hiroshi, dressed as the prince, approaching her.
“H-Hiroshi?” she whispered under her breath, barely moving her lips.
“Just go with it,” Hiroshi whispered back, trying to keep his voice steady.
Hina blinked, her mind racing. But the audience was watching, and she couldn’t break character. She took a deep breath and continued.
---
“You came back?” Hina’s character said, her voice filled with disbelief. “Even after everything that’s happened?”
Hiroshi stepped closer, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure the entire theater could hear it. “I would face any danger to be by your side,” he said, reciting the lines he had written so many nights ago.
Hina stared at him, her breath catching. His delivery was different—raw, genuine, and filled with emotion.
“But… what about your kingdom? Your people?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“They don’t matter,” Hiroshi replied, taking her hand in his. “You are my kingdom. Without you, I have nothing.”
The audience gasped, completely captivated by the scene. Backstage, the crew watched in stunned silence.
“This… feels a little too real,” one of them whispered.
---
As the scene built toward its emotional peak, Hiroshi found himself losing track of where the script ended and his own feelings began.
“Please, stay with me,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “I can’t imagine a life without you.”
Hina’s character hesitated, her eyes brimming with tears. She took a shaky step forward, her hand brushing against his cheek.
“I… I love you,” she said softly, her voice barely audible.
The script didn’t have a kiss written in, but in that moment, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Hiroshi leaned in, and before he realized what he was doing, their lips met.
---
The audience erupted into applause, clapping and cheering so loudly it shook the auditorium.
Backstage, the crew stared at the stage in shock.
“Was there a kiss in the script?” someone asked.
“Nope,” the director said, her jaw practically on the floor.
“But it was so good!”
On stage, Hiroshi and Hina slowly pulled apart, their faces equally red. For a moment, they just stared at each other, completely unaware of the roaring applause around them.
“I… I didn’t mean to—” Hiroshi started, but Hina cut him off with a small smile.
“You went with the flow,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling. “It worked.”
---
After the curtain fell and the cast gathered for their final bow, Hiroshi tried to avoid eye contact with Hina. But she wasn’t going to let him off that easily.
“Hiroshi!” she called, grabbing his arm as he tried to slip backstage.
“H-Hina!” he stammered, his face as red as a tomato.
She tilted her head, giving him a playful smirk. “So… was that part of your ‘writer’s vision’?”
“I-I—uh—” Hiroshi stuttered, his brain short-circuiting.
Hina laughed, her cheeks still pink. “Relax, I’m just teasing.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “But… you were pretty convincing.”
Before he could respond, she walked away, leaving him standing there, his heart pounding and his mind racing.
As the audience filed out of the auditorium, Hiroshi couldn’t help but glance at Hina one last time. The image of her smile, the sound of her laughter—it was all etched into his memory. For the first time, he felt like the lines he had written weren’t just a fantasy.
They were the beginning of his story with Hina.
YOU ARE READING
THE FIRST TIME DADDY
RomanceMax never imagined his life would turn out like this: a single father raising a lively two-year-old while working at a quiet bookstore. Far from the successful man his wealthy parents hoped he'd become, Max is still finding his footing after years o...
