10 years had passed since I started playing the game of sekkusu with my childhood friend. - Chapter 34. That's why I told you so many times to stop having those silver squall dumplings.

Chapter 34. That’s why I told you so many times to stop having those silver squall dumplings.

“Fukuo, are you all right?”

I shook the body of Fukuo, who was lying down offstage. He looked sick and held onto his mouth.

“Ummu, I must have beein those 20 packs of grated ponzu scallion octopus dumplings that I ate before the show, that I did not do well, degozaru.”

“Yeap, that’s exactly the reason, absolutely that.”

“……,Ku, I’m feel terrible.”

“Inawashiro, do you have any water?”

“Uh, yes.”

Fukuo gulped down the bottled water that Inawashiro had given him, but his complexion was still not good.

“At this rate, you won’t be able to make it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not something for Fukuo to apologize for, everyone get sick at some point in their lives.”

“But, what about the play …..”

The words of Fukuo caused an awkward silence among those of us who were offstage.

It was not as if we had prepared a substitute in for him. The only one who knows the lines of the main character, the Beast, was Fukuo.

There was no choice but to cancel the play for now. As this thought crossed my mind, Fukuo grabbed my arm.

“Tetsu-dono.”

“What’s the matter, you need to hit the bathroom?”

“Will you stand on the stage in my place?”

Fukuo sounded impatient and hasty as he said that.

“Tetsu-dono will play the role of the beast, from here one.”

What Fukuo said was something unexpected.

I will take the place of Fukuo, in place of him, on the stage?

Which means that I will be standing in front of …… Haruhime. When the climax of the show takes place.

Nope, that’s pushing it.

“There’s no way I can do it. What are you talking about?”

“No, Tetsu-dono, don’t you have all the Haruhime’s lines and even mine in your head? ……”

“That is …… true, but…”

It is true that my head is filled with the lines of 『 Beauty and the Beast 』 as I had to go along with Fukuo with his practice.

“It’s still not something I can do.”

For the problem is not that.

Right now, I don’t have the confidence to face Haruhime. Even if I were on stage, I doubt I would be able to remain composed.

I was scared of the emotions that will overflow when I face her.

“I can’t do it.”

“It’s all right, you can definitely do it.”

“On what basis do you even……?”

“Hime is waiting for you on the stage. I’m sure she will do something about this issue all in all.”

When I looked at the stage, I found that the story, even though it had entered the climax, had not progressed at all. The reason being that the main character, who was supposed to be the star of the play, had not yet appeared on the stage yet.

『 Where is that person? Where did that person go off to? 』

Haruhime continued the play, improvising all on her own.

If I should go, it has to be now.

Otherwise, the play would be canceled. Yet, my legs just wouldn’t move.

“……Sagara.”

Inawashiro called my name.

For Haru-cchi, please.”

I close my eyes at those words.

I can’t …… do it. But if it continues like this, I’m going to regret it irrevocably.

“She’s your childhood friend, isn’t she.”

I look at the stage yet again. The silence felt too long, and in the eyes of the crowd, Haruhime stood there helplessly.

“…… degozaru.”

Let’s stop messing around and think about it.

In front of me, my childhood friend is in trouble. And I’m the only one who can help her now.

That’s plenty of a reason for me to do it.

“I get it, I’ll do it.”

After all, it is certain that Haruhime is someone who is very dear to me.