Niji {Mahiro×Reader}

Chapter 15- Should we try again?

Looking through the script once more, make up artist adjusting my hair and outfit. I was the most nervous for this performance, it was the first time performing at such a huge theatre, in a musical which had sold out immediately.

I looked into the mirror, taking a deep breath. Rehearsal showed that I could handle it. There was no need to worry. But I was freaking out inside, all the same. I did lip trails, vocal warm ups, practiced a few lines. This was also the first main role I had. Eponine was such a detailed, emotional character.( Thumbs up if you know the musical)

The musical had already started, and as my turn to follow the cast up on stage slowly arrived, my increasing fear was more and more evident. The more senior actors and actresses taught me a few tricks to calm down. It was really helpful.

The stage directors had beckoned for us to come closer to the edge of the stage, signalling our time to burst in. As a mass of colour, we skipped in tune to the beat of the orchestra, singing our parts. Afterward I had a solo song, "On My Own". I could feel the spotlight on me as my voice quivered into what seemed like the darkness, erupting with the heartbreak of my character, falling to my knees as my voice tapered off at the end, and I felt my vision blur as a few tears fell onto the wooden stage.

The curtains closed with a rush of applause from the audience, and I rushed backstage, passing by the crowd getting on stage for the next scene. I dabbed at my tears to not mess up my make up, then prepared to join in for another scene.

I had a few more smaller(not really) parts before my final scene, in the middle of a war. It's a rehearsed chaos, the booms of cannons, the screaming of the dying, the discord of the flashing colours. And amidst that chaos- I scramble between the rubble gathering supplies, stealing bullets and on my way back to base, I notice my 'crush' nearly getting hit by a bullet and a rehearsed slow motion is carried out. I rush forward, taking the bullet, and fall limply into my crush's arms.

A sad duet breaks out, and the battle seems to fade into nonexistence. The set was so detailed, that they even paid attention to the falling rain, small droplets of water falling onto my dirtied face, blending into the tears I was crying. And our melodious voices began to melt into 2- my dying one, his crying one, and I had turned to a cold corpse in his warm embrace. I was carried off stage by the ensemble. I would wait till the very end to make my apearance once more.

*time skip to the end of the show*

We were called on stage, the ensemble first in lines, then the main cast individually. I ran to the centre and gave a deep bow, smiling and waving before joining the line behind me. The stars of the show were well received, and we were given a standing ovation as one whole cast.

*After the show*

I met the Kiryu members a slight distance away from the theatre, at a well-known coffee shop. Everyone was praising me, complimenting me, and it felt just a slight bit awkward. Meanwhile, the raven haired individual sat at the window seat, watching the people passing by with a hint of sadness in his eyes.

They suggested going out to a bar somewhere nearby, to which I happily agreed to. They were going with their crew to celebrate the end of their tour, and wanted me to follow since it was my first major role.

To be honest, that was any first time drinking alcohol. I don't think they knew. Needless to say, I tried to hide that fact, and tried not to drink if possible. Junji had somehow still coerced me into it, and before I knew it, I was shouting along for more.

[Mahiro's POV]

From her reluctance to drink, I could only deduce that either she didn't like to, or she hadn't drunk before.

I didn't want to bother her, enjoying my own wine at the side. But somehow, despite drinking less than a glass, she had already gotten rather tipsy. She was laughing at anything and everything, words were slurred to a huge degree, and the tips of her ears were turning redder than the roses adorning the room.

Frankly, I was bedazzled by her performance, trapped in how deeply she connected with her character. But for no reason at all, I had felt slightly put off each time she sang about her character's longing over another character, and when her character had taken the shot for her lover, and been embraced by her fellow actor, I felt rather frustrated. I knew that she was just acting, but something was stirring inside of me. To make matters worse, she was flirting with the men around the bar, and it was beginning to strike a nerve.

The party ended with several drunkards around the place, including [Y/N] herself. The only sober people decided to bring the drunk ones back to their homes. For the fact that [Y/N] was pretty clingy, I could only bring her with me.

Problem being,

I couldn't seem to remember where she stayed.

The only thing could think of at the moment was that she definitely needed to stay somewhere overnight before heading home on her own.

And I found myself carrying her over my back, struggling to open the door to my own apartment. She had a surprisingly tight grip,  which I took quite a while to pry myself off, before setting her on the bed in the guest room. I stayed apart from my family, after all, and they often visited, using the guest room. I suppose I was lucky. I turned to leave, but she gripped onto my arm once more.

I would have pried her off again, but she seemed to be suffering. Her expression was scrunched up into one of pain, and she was muttering what I could barely make out as "I'm sorry",  over and over again.

With that, I couldn't possibly leave her alone. I couldn't wake her up, and I wasn't going to sleep with her. I reached out for a chair, not disturbing her rest, and sat down, deciding to watch over for the night. I used my social media, looked through text messages, read up on the news. As soon as her grip had loosened, I pulled my hand free, and left for my own bedroom.

Before turning off the lights, I looked over once more. She looked beautiful sleeping peacefully. I turned away, flicking the light switch off and heading to bed on my own.

I wonder what the morning would bring.