A3! - A Director's Life (Fanfiction)

Log 7: A Quiet Love

.Mankai Company

Date: 11 December 2020

Day: Friday

Time: 12:27pm 

Entry: 

When purple roses bloom, what does it mean? As I watched the Winter Troupe practice for one last time before the big day tomorrow, I couldn't believe that I had almost forgotten to ask Tsumugi about it, guess I got a little carried away. They had decided to perform The Phantom of the Opera for their 4th show so I was definitely excited to see how it'll turn out, also with the fact that we have a newbie in the team now. I loved how the Winter Troupe would always go for dark and mysterious vibes for their plays, Sympathy for the Angel was our saddest play ever done and also with a dark storyline. I have to say, the Winter Troupe had always been my favorite and I've come to like it ever since it was formed, with an assortment of eccentric people who each have their own unique personalities and different interests. Despite all that the members seemed to always get along well, besides helping the newbie out with difficult parts. They sure have grown a lot, huh? 

Half an hour later, we decided to take a little break. I gave a little advice and tips about their acting, noting on the newbie's progress and motivating everyone to give it their all for tomorrow's opening night for the Winter Troupe. We had a five minute meeting before resuming practice again. Today might turn out like one of those slow, calm days so I decided not to worry my mind too much. 

I then got a text message from Itaru who's asking me out for lunch with him later. I smiled and replied back to him that I'll join him after I was done with practice for the Winter Troupe. Was he planning to discuss the Christmas event with me? Maybe he was on a lunch break from work? Whatever it is, I can't wait to see him again. 

~

Omi called out to us and we headed to the kitchen. I told them how I won't be joining as I got dressed and headed out with Itaru. Masumi wanted to tag along but Itaru told him how he wanted to talk to me privately and he had already planned to have lunch with me way before Omi had started to cook. With a glare, Masumi gave Itaru a warning and the gamer just chuckled in agreement before we walked out together. I was a little confused as to why he had asked me out as we walked in silence to a restaurant that looked kinda fancy. We found a spot beside the window and made our orders before Itaru actually began to talk to me. 

"I'm here to help out some friends of mine, " He said. "It's about Tsumugi and Masumi. "

I blinked. "Are they alright though? They've been acting strange lately, you noticed too?" 

He nodded. "So I thought but I hope it's alright if I ask for your help? If Tsumugi keeps spacing out like this, it might affect his performance in the show. " 

"Woah, how do you know all this? Aren't you busy with work and games? I thought I was the only one here but you're right. So what can I do to help?" I asked him. 

We then spent the entire lunch break discussing about how we're going to help Tsumugi come back to his usual self and for Masumi to stop being overprotective over me that's making the Winter Troupe leader being so dejected and spaced out sometimes. I had no idea Itaru had managed to realize what the other two were feeling when I was too busy to even take notice of it. Itaru explained everything to me; how Tsumugi had been harboring unrequited feelings for me without telling anyone and how he was unsure of how to express his feelings to me without sparking a challenge with the other boys. He was shy, yes and thought it would be unlike him to suddenly start flirting with you or be brave and confident like Kazunari is. He had been overthinking so much that it's affecting his practice and he task as a leader which concerns him once he noticed he's strange behavior lately. He then went to talk to Azuma and the adult told him about it so he decided to help Tsumugi resolve his current 'love' problems.