A Story About a Girl Who Took Life for Granted and Fell in Love With a Kind and Introverted Boy - Chapter 21

“…Will my mother, um, forgive me, I wonder?”

My lines, even before I could act properly, echoed loudly on stage.

Our class was currently rehearsing a play in the gym during lunch break. I was sitting on a set of chairs that resembled a train and playing the role of Campanella.

It had only been two hours since I was asked to take over the role. Of course, I hadn’t memorized any lines, so I kept the script open on my lap and tried to recite the lines awkwardly while glancing at it.

Across from me sat Giovanni…or rather, Kenji, who was also seated the same way.

“Campanella? What happened?”

Kenji seemed to have already memorized his lines. He had no script and was performing smoothly on stage, speaking without hesitation.

(Amazing…as expected of Kenji.)

Even though I’ve always liked Night on the Galactic Railroad, I guess it’s because Kenji is so smart that he can memorize his lines so quickly.

“I…no, I mean, I will do anything if it will make my mother truly happy…um, but what could be the thing that would make her happiest, I wonder?”

“Campanella, did something bad happen to your mother?”

“I don’t know. But…if anyone does something truly good, they must…be the happiest. So, I think my mother will forgive me, um, I think.”

Hmm, the lines are still difficult.

As Kenji said, Night on the Galactic Railroad has a unique way of phrasing things. I think it’s because it’s an old novel, but the lines are really hard to say. Words like “keredomo” (but), I’ve never used in my life.

Apparently, the lines have been modified so they’re easier for the actors, but they still feel hard to say.

(I wonder if I’ll be able to do this in three days…)

Even though I volunteered for this, I couldn’t help but feel anxious about how difficult it was to perform as Campanella.

Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

During the rehearsal, the bell signaling the end of lunch rang.

We all started cleaning up the props and headed back to the classroom. On the way, Kenji was being asked for advice by many of our classmates.

“Hey, Saito, do you think we need more lights for that scene?”

“Well, yeah, maybe. Actually, it might be better to have fewer lights. By focusing the light on certain areas, we could direct the audience’s attention there.”

“Hey Saito, was the timing of the background music okay?”

“Yeah, it was fine. But if you could turn the volume up a little, that would be great.”

Since Kenji had become the lead role and knew the most about Night on the Galactic Railroad, he was being asked to help with many aspects of the play.

Even though he was already in charge of the set design, it was nothing compared to this.

“Saito, what should we do with this?”

“Ah, um…what should we do with that…?”

“Hey Saito, I need to ask you something…”

“Ah, uh, yeah. Just a second.”

Kenji didn’t seem very used to “leading a large group,” but he was still doing his best to make our class’s play better.

—

After returning to the classroom with everyone, I sat down at my desk and opened the script. I marked the lines for Campanella.

(“I really love watching swans. Even if they are flying far away over the river, I can see them…”)

As I read through Campanella’s lines slowly, I began to memorize them little by little.

All I could do right now was focus on getting Campanella’s performance right.

At the very least, I wanted to memorize the lines. Even if I had to read them like a robot, I wanted to be able to say them without holding the script.

“…Okay.”

After reading through a page of lines, I closed the script and tried to imagine the lines in my head.

(Ah, I messed up. I…um, forgot to bring my water bottle. And…what else? Oh! I also forgot my sketchbook. But it’s fine. Soon…um, the Swan Station is coming up. I really love watching swans. Even if they are flying far away over the river, I can see them…)

After recalling the lines for a while, I opened the script again to check that page.

(Yes! I got it right! I’ve memorized this page!)

I gave myself a small fist pump and then marked the next set of lines, reading them over and over, closing the script, and repeating the lines in my head. I did this many times.

“Shirota-san.”

At that moment, Kenji called out to me.

“This afternoon, I’m thinking of keeping the actors behind to practice. Will you be able to stay after school, Shirota-san?”

“Yeah, I really need to practice too, so I’ll definitely stay.”

“Great. See you after school then.”

“Yeah!”

After I answered, Kenji said “Thanks” and returned to his seat.

(After school, huh…Okay, I’ll try to memorize as much as I can by then!)

I opened the script again and continued to memorize the next lines.

—

“…Campanella, what is that? The red star shining over there?”

It was around 4 p.m. after school. The actors were staying in the classroom, rehearsing their lines.

We actually wanted to practice in the gym to get the feel for the stage, but it seemed another group had already reserved it, so we couldn’t use it.

So, using the chairs in the classroom, we made a set that resembled train seats and continued with the play there.

“Giovanni, that’s the fire of the scorpion.”

I spoke the lines I had just learned, sitting across from Kenji.

In this scene, four actors appeared. Along with Giovanni and Campanella, there were also siblings named Tadashi and Kaoru.

Tadashi, the younger brother, sat next to Giovanni, and his older sister Kaoru sat next to me.

Some of our classmates, who weren’t performing or just wanted to watch, were observing our practice.

“I know the fire of the scorpion,” said the actress playing Kaoru, speaking in a calm tone.

“What’s the fire of the scorpion?”

When Giovanni asked that, Kaoru answered.

“The scorpion burned and died. That fire is still burning now.”

Then, Tadashi, who was sitting next to Giovanni, raised his voice loudly.

“A scorpion is an insect, right?!”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“A scorpion isn’t a good insect! It has a stinger with a hook on its tail, and if you’re stung, you die, that’s what the teacher said!”

Everyone was practicing a lot, so their delivery of the lines, their tone, and how they showed emotion made it seem very theatrical.

(That’s amazing…Everyone is so good…)

I was the only one who still messed up lines and ended up reading flatly.

But, there’s nothing I can do right now. I just have to do my best to get it right before the actual performance…

“Oh, I hear the sound of a festival from somewhere.”

Ah, after Giovanni’s line, it’s my line.

“Yes, this is the village of Centaurus. I…I mean, I can hear it too.”

Ah…! I made a mistake again. I’m not used to saying “I” as “Boku,” so I end up making mistakes like this sometimes.

“Kana-chan, do your best!”

I received encouragement from my classmates who were watching. I felt embarrassed and promised to make sure I wouldn’t mess up next time.

…After that, the practice for the play went smoothly.

I did make a few mistakes in the lines, but I was remembering more of them than I expected.

“Well then, goodbye.”

Tadashi and Kaoru, who were passengers on the Galactic Railway, were getting off, and now it was the scene where only Giovanni and Campanella remained.

“Campanella, finally, we’re alone, just the two of us.”

Giovanni…no, Kenji said this to me directly, and I felt a bit startled.

Because my classmates were watching, my heart was pounding louder than usual.

“Ah, yeah, that’s right, Giovanni.”

Because of that, I stuttered a bit. Oh no, I have to calm down…

“Where do you think we will go from here?”

“I don’t know. I…I mean, I don’t know either.”

That was close! I almost said “Atashi” instead of “Boku,” but I managed to change it just in time. Good, maybe I’m getting used to it a bit.

Once this part is over, there won’t be any more scenes for Campanella. I want to do my best until the end.

“Hey, Campanella.”

“What is it, Giovanni?”

“…………”

“…?”

Huh? This is strange.

After this, Kenji was supposed to say the next line, but for some reason, he didn’t open his mouth.

Kenji has never been at a loss for words before. What happened?

Maybe he forgot the line…But if it were Kenji, he would honestly say “I forgot” and check the script.

It might just be my imagination, but he seemed a little sad. His eyes, which had been looking straight at me, were now lowered.

“…………”

His gaze slowly started to turn back toward me.

“…From now on, let’s…”

Then, with a strained, almost painful voice, he said:

“From now on, let’s always be together.”

“…………”

“Ah, yes, Campanella. I will always be with you.”

“…………”

…I…I never had to hold back tears more than at that moment.

Because.

Because Kenji said he would be with me.

Even if it was just a line from the play. Even if it was just words written in the script.

Kenji looked at me and said we would always be together…it was too much to bear.

“…………”

All kinds of feelings rose up from deep inside me.

The many memories I’ve had with Kenji rushed through my mind like the wind.

Every time I remember your kind and soothing smile, my heart burns from deep within.

“…………”

I clenched my hands that were resting on my knees.

Then, with trembling lips, I replied:

“…I want to stay together forever too…”

“…………”

When I saw Kenji’s quietly surprised face, I finally came back to my senses.

I only then realized that the words I had said were strange.

“Kana-chan, you said ‘Atashi’ again!”

A classmate pointed out the usual mistake, and to cover it up, I forced a smile.

“Ah, you’re right! Sorry, sorry, I made a mistake again!”

“Kana-chan, why don’t you just play Campanella as a girl?”

Hahahahaha!!

…The classroom was filled with the laughter of my classmates.

I also forced a small smile, but Kenji, he just continued to stare at me quietly.