Until You Shine Like Deneb ch7: Before the Real Thing

Now then...
It's almost time for the main "Scars and Loneliness" performance!
The stage direction, costumes, sets and production is all going well.
Cycnus go go!!

We actors need to give it our all too.
Are you prepared?

Of course.

Give it their all.
In other words, those two really are gonna kiss...
Before that happens,

I have to take Atori's first kiss...!

Generalprobe?

What's that?
...It's effectively... something like a dress rehearsal.
We call the staff over, assume that guests are coming
and act out the whole thing from start to finish without stopping.
Complete with costumes and lighting.

Before that, there's warm-ups and stage rehearsals
where they prepare the stage and double-check the positions...
Heh~ They do that too?
That's just the start.

The performance is soon, right? Our schedule sure is packed, huh.
Yeah yeah.
Hah~ Things are gonna get busy...
Ooh, so busy.

...That's right. The main performance is almost upon us...

and when it gets to the day of the generalprobe,
Atori and Riona-san will really kiss.

Before that happens,
I need to...
What are the costumes like?

They're like... really... simple!
Hah
They don't look like they cost much...

Where was I looking?
They may be made with cheap material, but I think they're good.

It's perfect...
Ami-san and Riona-san made them with the costume maker
using Futaba-chan's designs as a base.
We should add more frills to make it more emotional!!

I painted in... the little animals... on the set!
You don't look like you'd be much help with the costume making, so go help with something else.

Oh~
Nice teamplay!
Yeah!

Are these the flyers? That's a pretty unique design...

I'll hand some to the wind instrument club too.

Thank you, Ecchan...!
This is me!
Oho~! Looking good!

Happy

But still... Things have been pretty amazing since the culture festival~

Actually, that petal shower back then
happened because I bumped into the girl holding the petals on the gymnasium's second floor.

Eh!? Is that so?
That's right.

What a coincidence, huh?

Yeah...

Come to think of it...

I feel like there was someone feverishly recording the play...

Well, I guess I don't need to tell them that.
I might be misremembering things.

Raika, let's go to the agency.

Isn't there no practice today?
Huh!?

You're right...

Sasori-san said
that rest is important since it's right before the main performance.
Let's go home.

...But I'm so antsy.
Fe-...Ferret said she'd come watch it too.
Felicette-chan, you mean.

I wanna at least move my body a little...

p10

Once this day of rest ends, it's a straight line towards the main performance...
In other words... if I'm going to act, it has to be now... right...?

Please, God.
Give me courage.

Ah...

That's right.
These "miracles" don't work on myself.

p11

That's why I chose this path of helping others.
...Huh? My wallet isn't there.
I dropped it!? Did I leave it back at the store...!?

Ah, it was at the bottom of my bag!
Thank goodness~
If it's for others... it's as easy as pie.

Something wrong, Raika?

...It's nothing.

I have to grant my own wishes with my own strength.
Hey, Atori.

p12

Wanna hit the hill?

Now then,
let's practice "Scars and Loneliness".
Eh...?
A rehearsal before the rehearsal.

I'll be Riona-san...
or rather, Nahane.

p13

But you've always been hesitant to join in on acting, Raika...
The performance is almost here,
so there's no time to be saying that, right?

Relax. I've memorised the entire script.

My acting skills may suck,
but I have a good memory.

Raika...

You want the play to succeed that badly, huh...!

...Of course I do.

p14

Hey, Atori...
Have you ever kissed before?

No.

Then you must be nervous about the kiss scene, right?
How about trying it with me first?

It's an important scene, so...
I'll accompany you.
What face am I making right now?

p15

What does Atori think?
...Alright.
Raika.
Please accompany me.

...

p16

"I am Shiara.
Are you... injured?"

I know that this is simply practice to Atori.

"Just the body isn't enough...
we need to heal the wound in her heart."

"In which case..."

Ah. At this rate,

p17

I'll never be like Atanabe-san.

Hitoha-san... Thank you for helping us in the midst of your own work too.
Don't worry about it. I was looking for a change of pace.

Fwah...

p18

Good work to you too, Sasori-sama.
I'll go fetch you some tea.
Mmm~...

Atanabe?

♪With these lips, I give to you

p19

♪overflowing warmth

My first miracle.

I pray this miracle

p20

will come to pass...

Warning