A week and a half had slipped by since rehearsals began, and only another week and a half remained before the final play would unfold.
Today was different—they had started wearing their designated costumes, each character now cloaked not just in script, but in fabric and color that seemed to breathe life into the roles.
"Okay, cut! That's good. We'll continue tomorrow!" the director called, her voice cutting across the stage.
A chorus of replies rose from the cast before everyone scattered, each drifting into their own corners to rest.
"Urgh…"
Rai groaned, letting her body collapse into the embrace of her chair, exhaustion pulling her shoulders low.
"Hime~ are you free later?" she asked, tilting her head toward her friend.
"Hm? Oh, Rai-san, sorry! I actually have plans with another friend later." Himeko smiled, undoing the neat tie in her blonde hair, letting it tumble freely.
"It's okay, no worries!" Rai replied, masking her slight disappointment with a bright smile.
'Hmm… I'm free for today, since Hachi won't be able to get me. He's busy with the company…'
she thought, eyes trailing upward until they landed on the ceiling beams of the rehearsal room.
'What should I do…?'
Her hand reached instinctively for her phone, screen lighting up her drowsy face as she scrolled.
'Oh? A café nearby sells Tiramisu cake'
"Rai-san~ I'll head out now! See you tomorrow!" Himeko waved playfully on her way out.
"Sure! Take care!" Rai waved back, her voice soft but warm.
When the door clicked shut, silence washed over the room. Rai leaned her head against the cool wall, eyelids heavy.
'Maybe I'll just nap a little… I'm so sleepy…'
Her phone slipped onto her lap as her breathing steadied, and soon, drowsiness carried her into slumber.
"Why don't you just work your ass off then!?" a familiar voice shouted.
Huh? Is this a dream? Am I dreaming?
The guy slapped the girl, sending her tumbling back.
"YOU BITCH! YOU THINK YOU'RE ALL THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU GOT A JOB!?" he roared.
How annoying, Rai thought.
'I just want to forget everything about my past life. I don't want anything to do with it anymore. If I'm being honest, I'd probably even thank the one who killed me.'
The dream dissolved into a black void.
Rai slowly opened her blurry eyes and stretched her arms.
"Hm? How long was I asleep..?" she mumbled, noticing that the rehearsal room was now empty of staff and fellow actors.
She grabbed her phone.
"Oh shit!? Two hours!?" She shot up, hastily gathering her things and her bag.
"Urgh, I'm hungry…" she muttered lazily, walking toward the door. But before she could open it, the handle twisted and the door creaked open.
A pair of mismatched eyes stared straight into her golden ones.
'Eh? What is she doing here this late?'
"Yeira?" Rai blurted unconsciously.
Yeira blinked, then parted her lips. "Yes?"
Rai jolted slightly, her lips pressing together in flustered panic.
"O-oh, nothing… did you leave something behind?" she asked, trying not to sound awkward.
Yeira tilted her head slightly, studying her.
"Not really…" she answered vaguely.
Huh? Rai thought, confused.
"Uhm… then why are you—"
Before she could finish, two voices echoed down the hall. Staff members, murmuring just loud enough for them to hear.
Yeira stepped inside the room, and Rai instinctively stepped back to give her space.
The voices grew clearer, speaking in Italian.
"Did you see that so-called Young Genius Actress?" one whispered.
"Yeah?"
"I heard a rumor she only got into the entertainment world because of her connections—and her parents paid off the auditions."
"What?! For real!?"
"Shhh! Keep your voice down, idiot."
"But where'd you hear that?"
"From another staff member at Mediaset."
"Woah… if that's true, isn't it funny how she acts all high and mighty when she just used her parents' money to earn that title?"
"Hahaha! I know, right?"
The footsteps faded, and the voices trailed off.
Uh… Rai's hands curled into fists at her sides. She felt awkward, but more than that, she felt angry—furious at the poisonous gossip.
'That's not true…'
She glanced at Yeira, only to find those mismatched eyes meeting hers again.
"Uh… Yeira…" Rai began softly.
"We should leave. The theater is already closing," Yeira said, her voice calm, as though she hadn't heard a single word.
The two walked quietly down the dim hallway, side by side.
"Aren't you… upset?" Rai finally asked.
"If you stay in this world long enough, you get used to it," Yeira replied gently, her expression unreadable.
'Get used to it? Does that mean… this wasn't the first time?'
Rai's eyes softened, a pang stirring in her chest.
But she knew there was nothing she could do.
When they stepped out of the theater, night had already fallen. The sky was dark, the streets hushed under the glow of scattered lamps.
"Where's your manager? The one who usually picks you up?" Yeira asked suddenly, her voice steady.
"Oh, uh—Hachi had something to do today. I'll be going home by myself," Rai answered casually.
Silence stretched between them.
This is a bit awkward… Rai thought, chewing on her lip.
"What a coincidence," Yeira said at last, pulling Rai's attention back to her.
Looking straight ahead, Yeira slipped one hand into her jacket pocket. "I'll be going home by myself tonight too."
"A-ah? Really?.." Rai's voice faltered, the awkwardness thick in her tone.
'What am I supposed to say? This feels so awkward…'
And before she could stop herself, Rai blurted, "Then uhm… would you like to get some dinner with me?"
'There's no way. I'm sure Yeira will decline. Hahaha…'
"Sure."
"I thought so," Rai mumbled with a small laugh, then froze.
"Wait… what?"
Yeira turned her head slightly, mismatched eyes catching hers. "Do you have a restaurant in mind?"
'DID SHE JUST CASUALLY AGREE!?'
"O-oh… I was thinking of going to a café that serves dessert," Rai admitted, scratching her cheek.
"Cafés are usually crowded this late. But if you really want dessert, I know a quieter place," Yeira replied softly.
"Oh, okay! Let's go there then." Rai smiled, her nerves loosening just a little.
They hailed a cab, and Yeira gave quiet instructions to the driver before they were carried off into the night.
When they arrived, the street was calm, the restaurant lit warmly from within. The atmosphere felt… different. Refined.
Inside, a staff member greeted them politely, while Rai's golden eyes wandered around the space.
'Isn't this… a high-end restaurant? The kind you can only get into with a reservation?' she thought, blinking at the elegant surroundings.
"Let's go, Raiquèn," Yeira called, her voice smooth.
"Huh? Oh—sure." Rai quickly followed behind, her steps a touch unsteady.
'Wait. Did Yeira just call me… by my name?'
They were guided to a table for two, set near the window where the glow of the city lights bled faintly through sheer curtains. A waitress approached with a polite smile, placing menus before them.
Rai skimmed through, her eyes catching the dessert section.
Everything looks so fancy… She cleared her throat softly.
"I'll have the Tiramisu and a glass of fresh orange juice, please," she said, handing her menu back.
The waitress turned to Yeira.
"I'll take the Risotto alla Milanese and an espresso," Yeira replied, her tone calm, measured, as though she'd done this a thousand times before.
Rai blinked. 'Of course. Elegant order, elegant voice… what did I expect?'
The waitress left with their menus, leaving the two of them in a silence that felt heavier than before—not uncomfortable, but charged, as if every small sound carried weight.
Rai fidgeted with her napkin.
'What do I even talk about? Do I ask her about the play? About acting? Or… maybe she doesn't want to talk at all…'
Then Yeira leaned back slightly in her chair, mismatched eyes resting on her.
"You have a sweet tooth, don't you?"
Rai almost choked on her own breath. "W-what? I—uh—maybe just a little…" She laughed nervously, cheeks warming.
"Uhm… Yeira? What made you have dinner with me tonight?" Rai couldn't help but ask.
Yeira rested her elbow on the table, her chin propped lightly on her palm.
"Hm? I was just hungry," she replied simply.
"Ah, I see…" Rai gave an awkward smile.
'Of course she was. Otherwise, would she even come with me?'
Soon, their food arrived.
'Woah… looks yummy…' Rai thought, her eyes lighting up as she picked up her fork. She scooped a mouthful of tiramisu and took a bite.
"Mhmm…" Rai puffed her cheeks happily, savoring the rich flavor.
Yeira's gaze lingered on her before she spoke casually. "What's your favorite sweet?"
Rai's eyes brightened. "I don't really have one, but I do love strawberry and chocolate flavors."
"That's nice. I can't really handle sweets that much," Yeira admitted softly.
"Hahaha… I know!" Rai blurted out before she realized what she had said.
The silence that followed was almost deafening.
"I-I mean… I saw your interview before! That's how I knew…" Rai stammered, panic flashing across her face.
'Crap… I hope she doesn't think I'm some kind of stalker or weirdo…'
Yeira's lips curved faintly as she let out a soft chuckle. "I see."
The tension melted, and they continued eating, eventually slipping into light conversation about random things—nothing too heavy, but enough to make the night feel less lonely.
When they finished, they walked out together but soon went their separate ways, each calling for a different cab.
Back at home, Rai collapsed onto her bed, hugging her pillow tightly.
"Woah… I really just had dinner with Yeira…" she whispered in disbelief.
Then she squealed, kicking her feet into the air.
"KYAAAHH! I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL HACHI ABOUT THIS!"
Meanwhile, inside the cab she had taken, Yeira pulled her phone out of her jacket and switched it on.
Immediately, the screen lit up with dozens of notifications—missed calls, unread messages.
Just as she scrolled through them, Éryan's name flashed across the screen. With a lazy sigh, she answered.
"YEIRAAA! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Éryan's voice thundered through the speaker.
"On my way home," Yeira replied flatly, her gaze fixed on the window, watching the blur of passing lights.
"You didn't even tell us you were going anywhere! The agency thought you went missing! We waited for you at the theater, but you never came back after saying you forgot something inside!" Éryan scolded furiously.
"Geez. Next time at least give us a heads-up! Do you know how panicked everyone was?"
Yeira leaned back against the seat, unbothered. "Are you done?" she asked lazily.
"Tch—! Just… at least tell me next time, alright?!" Éryan snapped, clearly frustrated.
Without another word, Yeira ended the call. She tossed the phone beside her, muttering under her breath.
"How annoying…"
Her eyes returned to the window, the city lights rushing past in a blur of gold and silver.
But then, the memory of Rai's bright eyes and flushed cheeks at the restaurant surfaced in her mind.
Yeira's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"And how… devastatingly bright…" she murmured softly, almost to herself.