The Delinquent Shimizu-san Sitting Next to Me Has Dyed Her Hair Black-Chapter 6Volume 4 .1 - Shimizu-san and the After School Before the Cultural Festival
Shimizu-san and the After School Before the Cultural Festival 1
After school, with the cultural festival’s main event just about a week away, I was practicing for the play with Shimizu-san and Seto-san.
Thanks to our practice, Shimizu-san’s acting and Seto-san’s narration had improved considerably compared to the beginning.
“Hikoboshi, about you... I...”
We were currently practicing the final scene, where Orihime and Hikoboshi meet and convey their feelings to each other.
“Cut, the continuation is too slow.”
“...Sorry.”
“Let’s take a break. Are you two okay with that?”
I turned towards Seto-san along with Shimizu-san and nodded.
“The other scenes have gotten better, but the final scene still feels awkward.”
As Seto-san said, no matter how many times we practiced, the final scene where Orihime and Hikoboshi express their feelings to each other still wasn’t coming together well.
“I know that, but...”
“I understand it’s embarrassing, but you have to get over it.”
“I-I’m not embarrassed!”
“Really? It didn’t look that way to me.”
“Grr...”
Shimizu-san glared at Seto-san, but it didn’t seem to have any effect.
As I thought about this, Seto-san’s gaze turned towards me.
“Hondō-kun, you too. You seem more tense in the final scene than in the others.”
“...Maybe.”
I couldn’t deny it.
No matter how many times we practiced, my heart would always start racing when we got to the final scene.
“It’s natural to be nervous, but it’s affecting your performance too much. We have to find a way to be less nervous before the actual performance.”
“What should we do specifically?”
“I think the only way is to get used to it. And to get used to it, we have to practice over and over.”
“I guess that’s the only way.”
“Yeah, so after the break, let’s practice again.”
“Can’t be helped, huh?”
Despite her words, Shimizu-san’s expression seemed to be filled with enthusiasm.
“What’s the matter, Hondō-kun? You look like you’re having fun.”
Startled by Seto-san’s question, I realized I had been smiling while looking at Shimizu-san’s expression.
“N-no, it’s nothing.”
“If you say so. Shall we start practicing again in five minutes?”
“That’s fine.”
“Alright.”
The three of us continued practicing for the play until the sun set.
***
“Why did it come to this...”
“Wasn’t it Shimizu-san who suggested we take a break for dinner?”
“Y-yeah, but...”
Shimizu-san and I were heading to the convenience store to buy a late dinner.
This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.
Seto-san wasn’t with us because she said she wanted to practice alone.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been at school this late, not since the stargazing.”
“Is it okay for you to practice this late?”
“It’s right before the cultural festival, so as long as the cultural clubs file for extended activity time, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“That’s not what I mean. Isn’t Teruno going to be lonely?”
Under the streetlights, Shimizu-san’s eyes were serious.
“I see, that’s what you meant. Don’t worry, I’ve told Teruno beforehand that I’ll be late, and until the cultural festival, my dad and mom are taking turns coming home earlier than usual to make dinner for Teruno.”
“Is Teruno okay with that?”
“Yeah, she said she’ll be patient until the cultural festival.”
“...Then that’s good.”
Shimizu-san’s expression softened with relief.
“Shimizu-san, you really are kind.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Because you always worry about Teruno, even though you’ve only met her a few times. I think you have to be kind to do that.”
“I-I just thought it would be troublesome if Teruno went wild again!”
“I’ll be careful so that doesn’t happen.”
Teruno is really looking forward to seeing Shimizu-san at the cultural festival, so I think it’ll be fine.
“Still, the final scene of the play is difficult.”
“...true.”
“How can we do it well?”
“Like Seto said, the only thing we can do is practice.”
“Is that how it’s going to be?”
I suppose we just have to keep practicing diligently until we get used to it and don’t feel nervous.
“But it is surprising.”
“What is?”
“That you were nervous during the final scene.”
“I get quite nervous too.”
“I thought you would be able to say the lines of confession in the play without getting nervous.”
“That’s...”
“Well, I can’t really speak much about others either.”
Indeed, a real confession is one thing, but a confession in a play is just a part of acting.
Why do I get so nervous every time?
After some thought, I arrived at one conclusion.
“...Maybe everyone gets nervous when they have to convey their feelings to someone.”
“What brought this on?”
“I was reminded of Yousuke-san during the training camp. Even Yousuke-san, who’s always so confident, was that nervous, so I guess it’s really hard to tell someone you like them.”
I’ve never seen Yousuke-san as nervous as he was then, not before or since.
“The confession in the play is just acting, right?”
“It was definitely acting, but I think both Shimizu-san and I put our feelings into it. That’s probably why it’s natural to feel nervous during the final scene.”
“So you’re saying that you’re acting with the intention of really confessing, and that’s why both of us are nervous in the last scene?”
“That might be the case.”
“Y-you...”
I wonder why Shimizu-san is so flustered?
“If it were a real confession, it’s only natural to be nervous. I feel relieved knowing why I always get tense now.”
“I’m not relieved at all!”
As we were talking, we arrived at the convenience store.
Time always seems to fly when I’m talking with Shimizu-san.
We bought dinner for three and left the convenience store.
