Dancing Butterflies Beneath the Spotlight

Her Dedication

I was unsure at first if I could do it.

But even it means to be with her.. I should not cower anymore..

This is important for me, and for her too. So I should be working twice as hard than before to grasp the stars with her..

――――――――――――――――――

The blinding light seeped through the curtains on the bedside where Rui slept, and when she opened her eyes there was a small ray of sunshine peeking from it.

"It's already morning.. huh."

Her eyesight wasn't prepared to be greeted with the light when she opened the curtains, so she shielded her eyes with one hand, before having to see the morning scenery outside from the dorm window where she lives. Soon after she woke up, a yawning voice walked into the door and Rui was quick to recognize the long yawn.

"Yukko? Did you just woke up?"

"Ah.. Rui.. Nah, everyone's left early for training, y'know..? I gotta watch you until you wake up so I'm here."

The brunette arched her eyebrows, how strange. How much time did she slept? It's strange to see the girl with the drowsy-looking eyes woke up earlier before her, and it's a day off too..

"Yukko, what time is it now..?"

"Ah.. hnn, 9?"

9? In the morning? Rui never remembered anything about―

...Oh, right. Now that she thought about it again, she DID stayed up late to practice alone all over, since it was said that she'll be taking quite a big and important role in their next play, but being that exhausted the point of her late rise wasn't something she'd expect.

"Tamao-senpai left you some donuts in the table.. She said, "Please take care of Rui-chan for me, and have her eat these for breakfast before she left for practice," and yeah."

Rui can feel her cheeks warming and her smile lifted up, along with butterflies in her stomach.. When she heard the name "Tamao" and the mention of donuts, the two things she loves the most, she is as bright as the daytime sky. Rui got up from her bed and walked to the bathroom to clean herself first, then she dressed in casual and took some donuts on the way.

"Let's go now, Yukko! I don't want to make Tamao-senpai wait for too long!"

The other girl with red hood only chuckled observed her friend's behavior. "Oh, Rui.. There you go again~"

――――――――――――――――――

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting!" Rui slid the practice room open, having to change into her outfit beforehand, and following her is the yawning Yuyuko.

"Sorry to keep you all waaaitiiing..~"

"Rui! Yuyuko! You two are late!"

"My apologies, Fumi-senpai~ But the sleepyhead won't just wake up right away~"

"Well you didn't wake me up, Yukko! That's why!"

"Now, now, girls. Why don't we start the practice right away, now that that everyone is here?"

"Okay!"

――――――――――――――――――

After the girls finished with the training, they changed back into their casual. Yuyuko was the first to leave, she said she has to immerse herself in rakugo storytelling back at dorm, while Ichie nagging Fumi for taking her along with her on their way out, and the only ones staying are Rui and Tamao. Tamao looked at Rui, whom hasn't changed her attire even after the rest left.