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Romeo and Juliet. That was the play they were doing. Misaki had landed the part of Romeo, and now it was just a matter of who would be playing her Juliet. She imagined that Nisaka would likely get the part. Most of the girls wanted him to get the part. She was certain that he would do well in the role as well.

“Misaki! Did you hear the news?” called a classmate of hers. Misaki shook her head.

“No. What is it?” asked Misaki.

“They finally cast Juliet for the school play! Yukari is going to play your Juliet!” the girl exclaimed. Misaki froze.

“But what about Nisaka? Did he not audition? I could have sworn he had auditioned,” asked Misaki. She was sure that her face was bright red by now. The girl gave her a confused look that was mixed with worry but nodded slowly.

“Nisaka auditioned, but then he backed out of doing the play. Everyone was pretty upset about that, to be honest. But then Yukari offered to cover for him. He stepped up and did the audition. He was amazing! I wish you could have seen it!” the girl told Misaki. She was clearly very excited, and Misaki wished she could share in that excitement.

“Oh… that is nice,” replied Misaki in a monotone voice. She had hoped the girl would not notice this, however, she had been out of luck twice now.

“Misaki? Is everything alright? Did something happen between you and Yukari? If so, I mean, we can always look for another Juliet. I don’t want things to be weird for you,” the girl told her. Misaki shook her head, forcing a smile.

“No. It is fine. Really,” Misaki lied.

“Hey. If you are worried about the whole romance thing and the kiss scene… don’t worry. His assigned wife doesn’t mind. She is ok with the whole play, actually,” the girl informed her.

“Ririna?” Misaki questioned, confused as to how the girl would know this. Misaki barely knew this girl herself, but why did this girl know Ririna? Ririna didn’t even go to their school. The girl nodded once more.

“Yeah. I think that was her name. She told me to tell you it is fine if you and him are in the play together. Oh! She also mentioned that she wanted to meet with you after school today. Said to meet at the normal spot? But she didn’t tell me where, so I hope you know what she is talking about. She seemed pretty shy when she was chatting with me. She was super quick about the whole thing, and then raced off,” relayed the girl. Misaki sighed a little.

“Thank you. I have to go, but thank you again,” Misaki mumbled.

“I wonder why she did not just come to me directly. It is unlike her to speak with random people in the hallways like that. I wonder if she really was in some sort of rush. Or maybe she was avoiding someone. Did she and Yukari fight again? I hope not,” Misaki thought to herself. She shook her head. She was sure that Ririna had her reasons for behaving as she did, and if Yukari and her did fight, then she was sure she would hear about it when they met up.

School was alright for the rest of the day. Her classes were ordinary and for the most part, she was focused on the play. She could not stop thinking about it. Mostly, she could not stop herself from thinking about Yukari. Thinking about him as Juliet. About her as Romeo. Would she have to try and charm him? Would they dance together as Juliet and Romeo had? Would they… would they really have to do the kiss scene? She hoped not.

Misaki had banned herself from seeing Yukari. Talking was not allowed either. Meetings were strictly forbidden. She had made a whole plan as to how to avoid him. Which routes to take and which places to avoid going to. Her plan was going quite well, actually. But this… this would throw a wrench in that plan. They would have to go to practice. They would have to meet and talk about the play. They would have to discuss settings, costumes, and lines. That was dangerous. They might have had to meet alone, and that was dangerous. It was dangerous for her because she could not afford to see him. Because she was scared she might fall back in love with him. That was something she could never allow to happen. No matter how much she wanted to, she could never allow it.

Ririna was waiting for her at their favorite café. She had a little cake and was playing with the strawberry on top of it.

“Ririna?” called Misaki. Ririna turned to see where the voice had come from, and her face lit up happily.

“Misaki!” exclaimed Ririna. She got up from her chair, made sure not to knock over anything, rushed over, and hugged Misaki tightly.

“I heard you were at the school today. Why didn’t you come to see me?” Misaki asked. She felt like she was being a little rude, but she was anxious to see what had happened. Ririna blushed.

“I… I was going to. I meant to. But… but… I didn’t know where you were. Or if you were busy. So I asked this girl who said she knew Yukari to ask you. She was putting up posters for the play, so I thought she must have known you,” Ririna replied.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. Just have me called down to the office next time,’ Misaki told her.

“Ok,” replied Ririna.

“So… did you have something you wanted to talk about?” Misaki asked. Ririna hesitated before she spoke.

“Kiss him,” she mumbled. Misaki blinked a few times.

“Please let me have misheard that. Please let my mind being playing tricks on me,” Misaki thought to herself.

“P… pardon?” she exclaimed.

“When the scene in the play with the kiss happens, I want you to promise me that you will kiss him. A real kiss though. One filled with passion, love, and fire. Like on the shows and movies,” Ririna repeated. Misaki sighed as she took a seat.

“Ririna. You cannot just ask me to do something like that,” Misaki told her softly. Ririna sat across from Misaki.

“Why not? People kiss all the time when they are in love. Don’t you still love him?” Ririna asked. Misaki gave her a sad smile.

“Yes. I love him with all of my heart. I think part of me will always love him. He made me feel special. He made me feel happy. He made my heart flutter whenever we were close, and sometimes when I am with him, my heart still flutters. But… but that does not matter. What I feel… it can never matter again. It only puts those I love in danger, and it is selfish,” Misaki mumbled.

“But isn’t a hurtful lie more dangerous than a risky truth?” Ririna questioned. There was a buzz, and Ririna checked her watch. “Well, I have to go. But it was nice to talk. Best of luck with the play! I know you will choose right!” Ririna told her. Misaki waved to Ririna, who grabbed the cake from the table, smiled, and ran off.

“Choose right? But what if I don’t know what the right choice is? What do I do then?” Misaki thought to herself. She sighed. She supposed that she would just have to figure it out.

She practiced her lines over and over on her own, and when the time came for the first day of group practice, she felt ready. She was fitted for her costume and the girls fawned over her. It was then she heard a squeal.

“He looks so cute!” a girl exclaimed.

“That dress looks so good on him! Just like a real-life princess!” another shouted. Misaki peeked out of the dressing room to see what all the fuss was about, and she blushed.

Yukari was standing in a stunning purple gown that rivaled her blue suit. His hair was curled more and he had a little makeup on. He looked cute. His boyish charms were brought out more in the outfit. His face was red and he looked nervous. He saw Misaki, though, and smiled when he caught her staring at him. His smile was soft and sweet. She forced herself to smile back at him. She stepped out of the dressing room and he did too.

“You look amazing!” Yukari told her.

“I look alright,” she replied to him. He shook his head frantically.

“No! You look great! You look like a prince from a fairy-tale! It is like they were saying, only you look like a real-life prince!” he insisted. She blushed more.

“You look nice,” she said. It was all she could say. She wanted to cry. Why did he have to make her feel so special? Why did he have to make her smile? It was because of him she was hurting, yet she still cared. Why did she let him do this to her? Why did she still want to have him in her life? He said he loved her. Told her he cared, and then her heart was broken because of him. But… at the same time… it was not his fault. It was outside pressures that caused them to break apart. She wished that was not the case, but that was just the truth of their lives.

 “Ready everyone?” called another student. Yukari looked like he was about to speak, but Misaki cut him off.

“Let’s do our best, ok?” she said t him. Yukari smiled a little at this.

“Yeah!” he told her. Misaki smiled, but this time it was not forced.

The day of the performance. Misaki was ready and in costume. Across from her stood Yukari. He looked how she felt. Scared. Nervous. Worried. But he smiled when he looked at her, and that made her feel alright. They went through all of the play without any trouble at all.

Well… most of it.

There was still the kiss scene. When the scene came, both of them froze in their places. Did she do as they practiced and fake it? Or did she kiss him for real? A thousand thoughts ran through her mind at that moment, but one stood out to her.

“Isn’t a hurtful lie more dangerous than a risky truth?” she remembered Ririna telling her. She looked at Yukari. Yukari, who was smiling that sweet, shy smile at her. Yukari, who made her feel like the rest of the world was not there. Yukari, who was smiling that perfect smile that made everyone else disappear.

Suddenly, it was only the two of them in that theatre. They were the only ones who mattered, in her eyes. And when it was only them, she could be honest. And the honest truth was that she loved him. Loved him with all of her heart. It was forbidden. It was deemed wrong. But so was Romeo’s love for Juliet. Yet he followed his heart and his heart alone. Romeo had loved Juliet with everything in him, and he died for that love. Died for her. He gave his heart, body, and soul to the person he loved. They had impossible odds and beat them.

So why should she wait? Why did she have to deprive them both of their love? She loved him. She had loved him for so long. So why waste another moment? And even if this was their only moment of love. Their last moment of love… then they had one more moment to share in their memories.

She had tried to lie for so long, but now, in that theatre, she leaned close and told her truth to him.

“I love you,” she whispered to him…

And then they kissed.