The Romeo To Her Juliet

"Okay, Takanashi Tsumugi will play the role of Juliet and Yaotome Gaku will play the role of Romeo. With our lead roles finally decided we can ajurn." The class president declared, clacking his stack of papers on the desk to arrange them neatly.

The class began to get louder as they discussed the upcoming school festival play. The roles were decided unanimously, everyone thought that the childhood friend duo made the perfect pair for this play, much to Tsumugi's chagrin.

"What's wrong, Tsumugi?"

The voice from behind her shoulder was being ignored as she was too preoccupied with the thought of playing a romantic partner to her friend she had known for so long. Wasn't this awkward? I've known him since she was five, and now they were both seventeen. Did he mind? Maybe he thought it was a bother to be paired with her. The class liked to joke around and putting the two of them together was just for their amusement she was sure. Wouldn't they be bad together and ruin the play? This was too much.

"Tsu-mu-gi," he enunciated, trying to get her attention a second time.

"Ahh, Gaku-san! Sorry about that I seem to have been distracted."

"I could see that. Is something the matter?" he slumped over the front of his desk and took hold of some of her hair flowing over the back of her chair, causing her to freeze. He let go. "You're so tense."

"Isn't this play kind of weird?" she asked. Beating around the bush would get them nowhere, so she went straight to the point.

"Weird? How? Isn't Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet kind of a normal play for highschoolers?" Albeit a little angsty, it wasn't out of the ordinary for their age, he thought.

"Not that... I didn't mean the play itself... The love interests... you... and me..." at this point her face was burning, she could barely comprehend the concept of them being in that sort of situation. She had never thought much of anything with him outside of friendship.

"Is it?" he pondered. It's obvious she had never thought of him as a romantic partner.

"I mean... we've been friends for so long. Wouldn't it feel awkward? Besides, we would have to..." she hesitated, "k-kiss..."

He hadn't thought of that. Kissing that is. It's no use, his face turned a bit red and he turned his head away, even if she wasn't looking at him he wasn't risking it. "It can't be that bad. I don't mind if it's for the sake of the play."

He doesn't seems to mind. Maybe she had been worried over nothing. It is still nervewracking to think about, but the fact he isn't upset over the casting brings her relief. "That so..."

"Hey, let's go ahead and get a headstart on practicing." Of their classmates suggested. "If we wanna be the best attraction we can be for the festival we should start right now and blow them away!" Shouta, the ever enthusiastic boy he was, was ready to go, script in hand.

Tsumugi wasn't prepared. She had just gotten the role and still wasn't sure she could handle it. She was about to speak up and voice her opinion but before she could she got cut off.

"Sure, why not."

Of course it was Gaku, but why was he so into it? Did he really want to practice that much or did he just really like Shakespeare or something?

"Then it's decided!" Shouta exclaimed. Not even giving anyone else any say since he had the approval of one of the stars.

Perhaps getting a start right off the bat will give her more time to get used to this role. So maybe her classmate is right. She'll give it a shot.

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"Cut!" The classmate acting as the director yelled, scaring Tsumugi half to death.