zero | sakuraba ryota

04

Ah.

Ryota flinched in surprise as he bumped into you while he was on a personal errand. He politely bowed his head and greeted you.

You returned the gesture, "Good afternoon, Ryota-san." you greeted with a smile.

Ryota noticed the book you were holding and asked, "Is that..."

"Oh, it's a story that one of the shows in the troupe was based on." you showed him the cover, "I was reading it for reference."

Ryota smiled, "I see. Are you taking a break?"

You nodded.

"Would..." you started sheepishly, "Would you mind if we went to a café together?"

"Eh?" Ryota reacted in slight surprise.

"Ah, if you're busy then I understand." you added quickly.

Ryota suppressed a sigh, "Sure. I don't mind."

You were surprised he agreed, making you smile.

"Then... Let's go?" he said.

You nodded, "Yeah."

---

"So there's an audition going on?" Ryota asked, you looked at him as he pointed at your book, "You said that you were reading that book for reference."

You nodded, "Ah... Yeah."

"So it's going to be turned into a play, huh?"

"Ryota-san has read it?" you inquired.

Ryota drank from his coffee and nodded, "It was one of my mother's favorites."

" I see." you simply said, but Ryota saw that you wanted him to tell you more.

Ryota put down his cup and stated, "She loves theater and western books. Of course she's still a traditional Japanese woman, but her hobbies, from the books to the entertainment. I got it from her."

"You must be close with her, huh?" you simply said, as a fact.

Ryota nodded. "[Name]-san."

"Hm?"

Ryota glanced at his coffee before looking at you, "What... What do you think of soulmates?"

You stayed quiet, not knowing what to say. After all, you were his soulmate. "What... do you mean?"

Ryota shook his head, "No, sorry. Don't mind it. Sorry for bringing it up." he flashed a polite smile, "The story in that book. Isn't that the two characters weren't soulmates, yet they loved each other. Going against fate."

You were curious at what he was going on about as you slowly nodded. "Yeah... But the ending wasn't a happy ending. They still ended with their fated partner."

"Yet they weren't happy." Ryota stated, "Whether they went along with it or against it, they weren't happy."

You stayed silent as you looked at your coffee cup. "What would you choose? If you were in their position?"

"What?"

You flinched a bit but quickly made an excuse, "I'm asking for my audition! I have to put my own interpretation into the characters, right?" you sheepishly smiled, "I wanted to know your opinion." you added a sheepish laugh.

"It was more painful to them that they had to separate right? To go through all the trouble but ending up hurt. Wouldn't it be better if they went along with fate. It's what their family seem to have wanted." you added.

"Then do you believe that we should go along with what fate has in store?"

"...I don't know."

Ryota fell silent as you felt that you shouldn't probe into the topic any further. You were, however, curious if your soulmate even thinks of you as a soulmate... Or just someone he met at a theater house.

---

"Thank you for this afternoon, Ryota-san." you said with a bow.

He bowed his head politely, "Thank you as well."

You gave a small smile, "Well then--"

"Oh and..."

"Hm?"

"Good luck with your auditions."

You smiled at his encouragement, "Yeah. Thank you."