Episode 9 “So, I’ve sworn love with my stepsister… (Kanon Festival Day 2 – Middle)”

The gymnasium buzzed with frantic energy as preparations for the performance kicked into high gear. Music clubs and volunteer participants were taking the stage for live shows, while we hauled props from the wings, setting everything in place with practiced efficiency.

It was a little past ten-thirty when I found myself rehearsing with Akira and the others behind the gym, our voices carrying across the empty space as we ran through our lines one more time.

“Aniki, when you deliver that line, try to—”

“Got it. I’ll make the gesture bigger—”

Following Akira’s direction, I practiced my movements as Romeo, feeling the weight of the role settling on my shoulders. Even Akira, script clutched in her hands as she worked through Juliet’s lines, couldn’t completely hide the nervous energy radiating from her petite frame.

“Yeah, you’re nervous after all, huh?” I observed, watching the way she fidgeted with the script’s edges.

“Well, yeah… I mean, getting told to take over a role out of nowhere like this.” Her voice carried a slight tremor, but there was determination underneath. “But I’m managing, right?”

“You’re doing amazing, actually.”

“Not as good as Hinata-chan would have been…” Akira’s expression grew serious, her voice taking on that resolved tone I’d come to recognize. “But for Hinata-chan’s sake, and for everyone counting on us, I have to give this everything I’ve got!”

Before we’d started rehearsal, I’d made the decision to tell Akira about the drama club’s precarious situation—how the future of the entire club rode on this performance’s success. Nishiyama and the others had deliberately kept this pressure from both Akira and Hinata, worried it might add unnecessary stress. But they must have sensed something from the atmosphere earlier, the way everyone moved with just a little too much urgency.

When Akira had quietly approached me with her suspicions, I’d told her straight up. Her response had been immediate and positive: “Then I have to try even harder!” That kind of attitude… I couldn’t let myself be outdone by her determination.

Still, there’s an enormous gap between watching from the sidelines and actually doing it yourself. The image in my head of how Romeo should move and speak was completely different from the reality of coordinating movement with dialogue, and I found myself struggling to bridge that disconnect.

I was still stunned at myself for even suggesting this whole arrangement, but having Akira as my co-star brought an unexpected sense of calm. Being with her made the anxiety fade into the background, replaced by a fierce desire to succeed—not just for myself, but for her.

“Aniki, your line delivery is pretty much perfect now, right?”

“Is that supposed to be sarcasm? Coming from someone who’s memorized practically every line in the play except Romeo’s, that doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.”

Despite my words, we caught each other’s eyes and laughed, the sound echoing off the gym’s exterior walls. Akira seemed to be handling the pressure well. We might actually pull this off.

“Nishiyama, what time do we need to head back to change?”

“An hour before showtime. I’d like to get some makeup done too…” Nishiyama gestured ruefully at her own face, pointing to the area around her eyes.

Including Akira, everyone’s eyes were still puffy and red-rimmed from the earlier tears. It probably wouldn’t be noticeable from the audience seats, but it bothered them nonetheless—a visible reminder of the morning’s crisis.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve called in some amazing help.”

“Help? Who do you mean?”

“Our mom—Miyuki-san. She’s a professional makeup artist.”

Before starting our final preparations, I’d called Miyuki-san at home. She’d been just about to leave for work when I explained the situation, and without hesitation, she promised to bring her professional tools and expertise.

After finishing our last rehearsal run-through, we decided to take a well-deserved breather.

By noon, Dad and Miyuki-san had arrived at the academy, their familiar faces a welcome sight amid the controlled chaos.

“Ryouta-kun, has Hinata-chan contacted you since this morning?” Miyuki-san’s first words carried immediate concern, her maternal instincts clearly in overdrive.

“I got a message from Kousei through LIME—sounds like it’s going to take a bit longer than expected.”

“I see… I’m so worried about her. I hope she’s not too devastated by all this…”

“Well, Kousei’s with her, so she’s in good hands. Anyway, sorry for springing this on you at the last minute.”

“Don’t even think about it—leave everything to me!” Miyuki-san’s confident smile was exactly what we needed.

While Miyuki-san and I talked, Dad had wandered over to where Akira stood, his expression mixing concern with that particular brand of paternal worry I’d seen him wear whenever one of us was facing something challenging.

“Akira, are you absolutely sure you’re okay taking on Juliet’s role with such short notice?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Since I’m doing it with Aniki, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Honestly, that’s what worries me the most…” Dad’s tone carried just enough teasing to make Akira blink in confusion.

“Huh? If it’s Aniki, everything will work out fine, right? He knows all his lines and movements—”

That’s when Dad turned to me with that insufferably knowing grin that meant trouble.

“Nah, this guy’s pretty dense when it comes to certain things.”

“What?! That has absolutely nothing to do with what we’re talking about right now!” My protest came out louder than intended, probably because part of me knew he wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Do you even understand Romeo’s emotional state? He’s desperately in love with Juliet, you know.”

“I-I get that much… It’s just acting, right?”

“Oh, really? Well, good luck with that. I’m rooting for Akira.”

“Thanks, Taichi-san.” Akira beamed at him, completely missing the subtext of their exchange.

“Hey, root for me too…”

Despite the embarrassment, Dad’s awkward but caring way of showing concern helped ease the tension in my shoulders. It was just like him to offer support wrapped in gentle teasing.

After the four of us chatted for a while longer, Akira took Miyuki-san away to work on makeup and hair.

“Don’t you need to go get ready too, Ryouta?”

“Nah, I just need to change into my costume.”

“What about the costume itself?”

“We’re using the ones from yesterday’s cosplay cafe.”

I’d already cleared this arrangement with Hoshino. Technically, they were rental costumes, but as long as we didn’t damage or soil them, using them for the performance was perfectly acceptable.

“Man, Akira’s really changed…” Dad’s voice carried a distant, reflective quality.

“Mm? Yeah, she really has.”

His eyes held that faraway look that meant he was thinking back to earlier times—probably to that first day when he’d met Akira, when she’d been so different from the confident girl who’d just walked away with Miyuki-san.

“Back then, I was honestly worried about whether leaving everything to you was the right choice, but it really turned out well.”

“What the heck, Dad? That’s kind of a creepy thing to say…”

“I’m just happy, that’s all!” He punctuated this declaration by giving my shoulder a couple of solid pats.

“Well, it’s really thanks to Akira’s own efforts. She’s been working incredibly hard this whole time…”

“Even so, seeing you there desperately supporting her every step of the way… It’s because you worked so hard for Akira’s sake that she’s become who she is now.”

The same goes for you, Dad.

Dad might have been clumsy about it sometimes, but he made the effort to talk with Akira every single day. Whether it was about work, school, or just casual conversation, he tried to act like a proper father without forcing the relationship or overstepping boundaries.

Dad understood that Takeru-san still held a place in Akira’s heart. I’d told him about Takeru-san—explained that he wasn’t some absent deadbeat, but someone Akira had truly loved as a father. In the end, Dad had become the most considerate person in our household when it came to Akira’s feelings.

“Hey, Dad…”

“What is it?”

“I’m definitely going to make this performance a success. For Akira, and for everyone counting on us.”

“…Yeah. Go for it.”

He patted my shoulder again, harder this time. It hurt more than before, but somehow that extra force fired me up even more.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

Ten minutes before curtain call, we gathered in a tight circle at center stage, hidden behind the heavy curtain that separated us from our waiting audience.

Akira looked absolutely stunning in her period dress. Even with her shorter haircut, the elegant lines of her slender neck and prominent collarbones highlighted her natural grace in ways that took my breath away. Miyuki-san’s makeup work was nothing short of miraculous—she’d even styled Akira’s hair differently, transforming her from her usual casual appearance into something genuinely ethereal and feminine.

The other club members were equally transformed in their costumes, and thanks to Miyuki-san’s professional touch, they’d been elevated from their usual quiet, studious selves into genuine theatrical performers ready to command the stage.

We were as prepared as we’d ever be, but the tension was palpable as everyone huddled together, shoulders touching in our makeshift circle of support.

“The crowd looks pretty substantial out there—maybe a hundred people or so,” Ito reported nervously, having just peeked through a gap in the curtain.

Nishiyama forced a bright smile in response to his announcement, and the rest of us followed suit, though I could see everyone trying to hide their nerves behind those determined expressions.

“The curtain’s about to rise. Is everyone feeling nervous?” Nishiyama’s voice was steady, but her hands betrayed the slight tremor she was fighting.

The exaggerated nodding that answered her question told its own story—we were all scared, but we were in this together.

Akira was no exception, and she was probably feeling the pressure more than any of us, stepping into a role that wasn’t originally hers.

“First, I want to thank everyone for sticking with me through all of this.” Nishiyama bowed her head formally, her gratitude genuine and heartfelt.

“Today, for Hinata-chan who can’t be here with us, and for everyone who’s cheering us on, I want to make this performance a success no matter what it takes. Will you all lend me your strength?”

Of course—the response was immediate and unanimous, expressed through emphatic nods rather than words that might carry to the audience beyond the curtain.

Hinata still hadn’t arrived, but I had faith that Kousei would bring her in time. When she did get here, she wouldn’t have any regrets about missing this—we’d give the best performance this stage had ever seen.

“Okay, everyone, well… actually, the pre-show cheer should come from Majima-senpai!”

“What?! Me?! That’s totally the club president’s job—which would be yours!”

“No way. It’s because Majima-senpai didn’t give up back then that we’re all standing here now. So please, Majima-senpai!”

The whole situation felt incredibly embarrassing, but when I looked around at everyone’s faces, they were all smiling at me with genuine warmth and expectation.

Seriously embarrassing.

Even Akira was looking at me with that bright, encouraging smile, clearly waiting for whatever words of encouragement I might offer.

“I mean, this is my first time doing anything like this—what kind of cheer am I even supposed to give…”

“Anything’s fine, as long as it comes from Majima-senpai’s heart.”

Anything, huh…

With the performance looming just minutes away, only one phrase managed to surface through my nervous thoughts.

“Got it… Then—”

I took a deep, steadying breath.

“For everyone’s sake──────!!”

Following my lead, voices rose up around me echoing, “For everyone’s sake!” in a chorus of determination and unity.

And with that rallying cry still echoing in our hearts, the curtain finally began to rise—

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

“This is Verona, a city where anger and sorrow intersect… Two noble houses, Montague and Capulet, have harbored deep hatred for each other through generations of bloodshed—”

The performance opened with Ito’s clear narration, his voice carrying the weight of the story’s tragic premise as he set the scene for our audience.

My first scene brought some awkward moments—nerves and insufficient practice showing in ways that made me cringe internally—but I managed to stay focused on the acting itself, pushing through the uncertainty.

At least I didn’t flub any lines completely, which gave me a small boost of confidence as I settled into the rhythm of the performance. All those hours practicing with Akira and watching Takeru-san’s DVD performances over and over again were finally paying off.

As I gradually found my footing, we reached the scene where Romeo confides in his friend about falling in love.

“Actually… I met the most beautiful woman there. When I asked her to dance, she agreed without hesitation. Her face was hidden behind an elegant mask… but she had the most enchanting, lovely voice—truly a wonderful woman.”

Come to think of it, Akira had always stumbled over the lines in this particular section during practice, struggling to memorize them properly. Describing someone as having an enchanting voice, calling them a wonderful woman—it felt uncomfortably like I was praising Akira directly, which made the whole thing rather embarrassing.

“We exchanged handkerchiefs without revealing our names to each other. Look—it has the letter ‘J’ embroidered on it. I couldn’t sleep at all last night thinking about her. This is completely new territory for me—”

I managed to get through the scene somehow, staggering back into the wings afterward like someone who’d just run out of oxygen.

But there was no time to rest and recover. Between scenes, we had to switch out background pieces and props, so I immediately joined the other members in the frantic rush to prepare for the next segment.

Finally, it was time for Akira’s entrance, and I found myself watching with bated breath from the wings. The worry that her voice might fail her at the crucial moment gnawed at me as the lights shifted to illuminate Juliet’s chamber—the scene where Juliet and her servant Franca would have their intimate conversation.

“Lady Juliet, what is this matter you wish to discuss with me? Could it perhaps be troubles of the heart? Please, tell your dear Franca all about it.”

Takamura, playing the servant role, addressed Akira—now fully transformed into Juliet—with a slightly mischievous, teasing tone that perfectly captured the relationship between mistress and longtime confidante.

And then came Akira’s first line as Juliet—

“Franca, you’re being mean! You can’t just pry into a lady’s private thoughts like that!”

Akira’s voice cut right through my tension like a blade, clear and strong and absolutely perfect. Her delivery rang out boldly across the entire stage, making me clench my fist unconsciously as I whispered “Yes!” under my breath.

She was so completely immersed in the role that all my worries evaporated instantly. There was no need for concern at all—she had this completely under control.

“If my words have offended you, my lady, please forgive this humble servant. But Franca worries about you so very much.”

When Franca delivered this line with just the right amount of contrition, Juliet’s expression immediately softened with guilt.

“Oh, I’m sorry—you don’t need to apologize, Franca. …Actually, the truth is…”

“Actually… what might that be~?” The playful probing in Franca’s voice was perfectly pitched.

Juliet grew flustered again at her servant’s teasing persistence, her expression shifting to that adorable pout that was so distinctly Akira.

“There you go prying again! I’m not telling you anything!”

Juliet stomped across the stage with impressive dramatic flair, putting deliberate distance between herself and the overly curious Franca. As her servant approached with determined steps, clearly not willing to let the matter drop—

“Now that would be truly troubling for me. Please, my lady, won’t you share what’s weighing on your heart?”

“What should I do about this? —Franca, can you promise to keep what I’m about to tell you an absolute secret? You cannot breathe a word of this to my father or anyone else, do you understand?”

Suddenly, Juliet’s entire demeanor transformed, energy and excitement radiating from every movement as she prepared to share her secret.

Huh… it suits her perfectly.

Watching Akira shift between expressions and gestures in an instant, embodying the innocent and carefree aspects of Juliet’s character, I realized something important. Initially, I’d thought this role would be the perfect fit for Hinata-chan, but seeing it performed like this…

It was practically identical to the Akira I witnessed at home every single day.

Getting excited about something, pouting when things didn’t go her way, lighting up with pure joy, and sometimes wearing that heartbreakingly sad expression when she thought no one was looking… For Akira, who could display a completely different emotion from one moment to the next, the role of Juliet fit her like it had been custom-tailored.

So far in these early scenes, Akira and I—Romeo and Juliet—hadn’t shared any direct stage time yet, existing in separate narrative spaces.

But Romeo and Juliet’s reunion was coming up in the very next scene, and my heart began to race with anticipation.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

The balcony scene represented the biggest highlight of the entire first act—the moment when Juliet, devastated upon learning that the man she’s fallen for is Romeo from the enemy Montague family, encounters Romeo himself, and the two pledge their eternal love to each other.

I steeled myself once more and leaped onto the stage from the wings—

“Beyond here lies the Capulet family garden. Could Juliet be somewhere among these shadows…?”

I moved carefully across the stage, staying hidden while searching, letting my movements convey Romeo’s desperate hope and growing anticipation.

Then a spotlight illuminated the balcony above, and my breath caught.

“Oh! Illuminated by the moonlight up there… It’s Juliet! —But wait, what’s wrong? Why does she look so terribly sad?”

I rushed closer to the base of the balcony structure, and Juliet’s soliloquy began, her voice carrying clearly through the hushed theater—

“Romeo… —

Why did you have to come before me?

Why do you surround me with such impossible warmth?

Why do you torment me with such devastating coldness?

Why must you be Romeo of the Montagues?

There are so many questions I want to ask you…

If I had wings, I would fly straight to your side without hesitation.

And then I would cry until I had no tears left and trouble you with my sorrow.

…But I cannot.

I am Juliet of the Capulets. The daughter of your family’s greatest enemy.

I can never go to your side.

Oh, Romeo, why must you be Romeo…?

If only I could hear your dear voice just one more time… —”

It’s unbearable.

If she was drowning in that much sadness and longing, then Romeo—then I—had to go to her immediately. There was no other choice.

“Juliet!”

When I called out clearly enough to be heard throughout the theater, Akira’s head turned toward my voice with perfect timing.

“That voice… could it be… Romeo!”

That was the moment when Akira and I truly locked eyes for the first time as our characters. Her gaze, overflowing with affection and desperate hope, met mine directly.

I gazed back into Akira’s eyes with everything I had, though something about the intensity of that connection made my chest tighten with an emotion I couldn’t quite name.

“I wanted to see you so desperately, Juliet…”

“Romeo…”

“Juliet, won’t you come down to the garden? I need to be closer to you—we need to talk.”

“No, I cannot descend to the garden from here.”

“Then I’ll come up to you.”

I began climbing the wall structure, making my way up to the balcony with movements that felt surprisingly natural. Now, Akira and I stood right next to each other, separated only by the decorative railing that represented the barrier between our feuding families.

Whether from the physical exertion of moving around the stage or from pure nervous energy, my heart was pounding so hard I was certain the audience could hear it.

“Juliet, my beloved has called out my name.”

“Even so, that’s far too bold of you! Were you hiding down there eavesdropping, on my private thoughts?”

To her adorable pouting, I responded with what I hoped was a charming, slightly guilty smile.

After exchanging several more lines in this vein, we reached the part that Hinata-chan had said was her absolute favorite—

“If you truly love me, then live with me forever. Until the most distant future we can imagine.”

“I understand completely. I swear by that moon above us.”

“Don’t swear by the moon! I’m afraid your feelings might change as easily as its phases, since you can be so terribly fickle…”

I found myself remembering that day when I’d first received the script, when Hinata-chan had shown me this very scene by the roadside near our school. Back then, both my sister and I had ended up staring at Hinata-chan in complete fascination as she performed these lines. But watching Akira now—

“Wait just a little while longer. Our budding love, nurtured by summer’s gentle breath, will surely bloom into something beautiful the next time we meet. Until then, please just wait a little…”

Perfect. Her acting was absolutely enchanting, every bit as captivating as Hinata-chan’s interpretation had been…

Probably not just me, but everyone in the audience watching Akira perform was feeling completely entranced by her presence.

“I understand, and I’ll hold back on making any hasty vows. But I still haven’t heard your answer to my question.”

“But you asked me that earlier already. Saying it a second time would be far too embarrassing…”

“Please, just once more. I need to hear it from your lips.”

Akira’s eyes welled up with tears that caught the stage lights like diamonds, and she clasped her hands against her chest in a gesture of pure anguish that made my throat tight.

“What a fool you are, Romeo… But love me. If you truly care for me, then… believe in me…”

In the next moment, tears began to spill from Akira’s eyes, trailing down her cheeks like liquid starlight—

“Oh no! Someone’s coming! You must hide over there. I’ll be right back, so please don’t make a sound—”

“…………”

Before I realized what was happening, Akira’s expression shifted to one of confusion, her eyebrows drawing together slightly.

Crap! I’d completely blanked on my line for a crucial moment!

I hurriedly recovered with “Understood, I’ll wait for you,” but it came out awkward and stilted, clearly late.

After a few more exchanges to wrap up the scene, Akira and I exited to opposite wings, the magic of the moment broken by my mistake.

Without time to properly reflect on that missed line, the final scene of the first act was already beginning, and I had to immediately return to the stage. It was the scene where Romeo seeks counsel from Friar Lawrence about his desire to marry Juliet, but my mind was still stuck on that moment when I’d failed to respond, dwelling on the mistake instead of focusing on the present scene.

Somehow, I managed to get through it, and with Ito’s transitional narration, the first act finally came to its conclusion.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

A fifteen-minute intermission was scheduled between the first and second acts, giving us a brief chance to regroup and refocus.

During that break, I found myself lost in self-reflection, analyzing what had gone wrong in that crucial balcony scene. I’d been seeing Akira completely as herself—not as the character of Juliet—and that confusion had thrown off my timing and concentration.

I needed to create a clearer separation between Akira-the-person and Juliet-the-character, focusing more intently on my own performance and Romeo’s emotional journey…

As I worked to shift my mindset in preparation for the second act, the backstage entrance suddenly opened with a creak.

“Ryouta, are you back here?”

“Kousei?! And… Hinata-chan!”

It was Kousei supporting a tearful Hinata-chan, who looked like she was barely holding herself together.

“Ryouta-senpai… I’m so, so sorry… senpai…”

Hinata-chan was leaning heavily on her crutches, her entire body seeming on the verge of collapse as tears streamed down her face.

“Sorry, we’re so late getting here.”

“No, what matters is that you came at all. Thank you, Kousei. And Hinata-chan too—”

“I’m so sorry, I’m incredibly sorry… I ruined everything—”

“It’s completely okay. Akira’s doing an amazing job in your place, so please don’t worry about anything.”

“But I… I really… this is all my fault…”

When her crutches clattered to the floor, Kousei immediately moved to support her before she could fall.

“Idiot, you’re putting way too much pressure on yourself.”

“Kousei’s absolutely right. You don’t need to carry this responsibility all alone—”

That said, knowing Hinata-chan’s personality, she was probably drowning under the weight of guilt and responsibility she’d placed on her own shoulders. Just making the effort to come here tonight, injured as she was, must have taken incredible courage and determination.

Not just me, but Nishiyama and all the other club members seemed to understand this instinctively. They gathered around Hinata-chan with words of encouragement: “You did so well to come,” and “Thank you for being here,” trying to ease some of the burden she was carrying.

Before long, we had to hurriedly return to our preparations for the upcoming scenes.

“Kousei, sorry to rush off like this. We have setup work for the next part—Hinata-chan, please watch from the wings where you’ll be comfortable—”

Leaving that instruction hanging in the air, we scattered to handle our various preparation duties—

But things don’t always proceed smoothly, especially in live theater.

For me in particular, something was about to happen in the second act that was so spectacularly unlucky, you’d have to wonder what terrible deeds I’d committed in a previous life to deserve it.

Completely unaware that such a catastrophic event was about to unfold, I threw myself into the frantic work of preparing the stage for our next scene.

Actually, during this time, there were various important exchanges happening between Akira, Hinata-chan, and Kousei that I would only learn about much later…