Airi Wakahisa
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Post by Airi Wakahisa on Jun 3, 2015 7:02:05 GMT
It had started by complete chance.
Airi had rarely made her way over to the auditoriums - the gardens were her favorite place to be, considering her club commitments - but she had ended up at the drama club by chance one day, and decided to peek inside. The club had been hard at work that day, and no one had noticed her watching them - and then one of the club members stepped out in a beautiful costume, and Airi couldn't help but stare.
And since that day, she'd started a routine. At least once a week, she made her way towards the drama club after school. She never set a proper day to do so, and often, the erratic nature made it all the more fun. Time and time again, she witnessed wonderful costumes, and each different one seemed just as lovely, or even lovelier than the last.
Could you fall in love with someone's costuming skills? Airi didn't know for sure, but she did know whoever designed them must have put their passion and love for costuming into every stitch. She definitely admired that - they must have felt the way about costuming that she did about tending to flowers.
Today, the sun was shining bright overhead as she made her way to the large auditorium where the drama club practiced. She made a mental note to check the greenhouse after she was done here - she needed to check on how her lilacs were doing! - but as she got closer, she realized the distinct lack of noise going on.
Ah, was there no practice today?
Airi's shoulders slumped at the thought. No practice meant no seeing those lovely costumes...
But there was no such thing as giving up to Airi, and as she reached the double doors of the auditorium, she blinked. There wasn't anyone practicing - but the door was still open. Someone was inside?
"It wouldn't hurt to check..." she mused, absently opening the door. It was quiet inside, almost eerily so, and it was even more eerie to see the normally vibrant stage so empty and lifeless. But she could see a light on somewhere behind the stage, the light creeping under the curtains, and curiosity compelled her forward. She made her way to the stage, following in the direction of the light.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
Hopefully the auditorium wasn't haunted...
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Michiko Fujiwara
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 3, 2015 8:57:07 GMT
Ever since Michiko joined the Drama Club, it was far from unusual to find her holed up backstage, poring over an almost unreasonable amount of sketchbooks splayed out in front of her. As she explained once to Kage-chan and Kuri-chan, she had so many to store all of her ideas, and she could never remember which masterpiece was in which book, so she brought them all.
Today was different.
In all honesty, ever since they'd begun Wicked, Michiko found herself feeling... well, stuck. She couldn't come up with anything good anymore; it was like she was a sponge that was finally, fully wrung out after absorbing everything it was exposed to. Kuri-chan tried assuring her that she would be able to come up with good ideas in due time, but after days upon weeks spent sketching, sketching, sketching, flipping to new, blank pages because she couldn't bear to tear them out—it wasn't the book's fault her ideas were terrible!—she'd decided that she was in this new state. Her "stuck" state. Hopeless, depressing, and dull.
She really wanted to be out of it before costume rehearsals started.
Sighing, she turned away from her sketchbooks, spinning in her chair. She couldn't stare at them any longer. There was nothing in them worthwhile. What could she do now?
'Hello? Is anyone there?'
Michiko flinched, her shoulders hopping. When had someone come in? Since the Drama Club didn't meet today, she knew barely anyone would stop by, and while Kuri-chan sometimes brought her food when she stayed late, she usually messaged her first. She didn't recognize this voice.
Michiko frowned, more out of confusion than anything else. She lifted from her chair, stepping over to the backstage door to peer out of it. Should she have said something?
"U-um..." What was she supposed to say at a time like this? Maybe it would be better if she stepped out, revealed herself. This person -- this girl, she realized with a closer look -- may have needed help or something. Michiko did just that, shuffling out of the backstage area and shutting the door behind her. "Hello...? Um, are you... lost?"
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Airi Wakahisa
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Post by Airi Wakahisa on Jun 3, 2015 9:30:08 GMT
Airi's footsteps were light against the stage, and yet somehow they seemed to echo far too loudly for her liking. The acoustics in the auditorium were amazing, and as she made her way to the back stage, she had to stop and really look at the empty seats spread out. What did it feel like, performing on this stage, staring out at a full audience?
She imagined it had to be scary - she'd be way too nervous to do something like that! - but it had to be fun too, right?
The drama club wouldn't keep doing plays if it wasn't fun for them, at least on some level.
The sound of another voice jolted Airi out of her momentary reverie. She could hear someone moving and the taller girl froze for a moment, wondering if there really was a ghost haunting the theater. But soon enough she could see someone else - a much shorter girl, one in the new uniform. She seemed kind of nervous...
"Hello...? Um, are you... lost?"
Airi stepped closer, letting the light illuminate her form, and offered the other girl a kind, disarming smile. "Not exactly?" she admitted. "I guess you could say I'm a fan of the Drama Club? Ah, in a specific way though." she paused for a moment, debating on the best way to phrase it, before opting to just go for the obvious. "I'm a fan of the costume work! The costumes are always so wonderful and lovely, and I was hoping to see someone in costume today, but I guess I missed practice..."
It was now that Airi realized how strange she sounded, and immediately the girl turned pink. "I-I guess that's a bit weird though! Ah, I'm not interrupting something, am I? I'll get out of your way if I am! It's just, well, the door was open and I just couldn't help letting myself in and I saw there was a light on in here and I just couldn't help but check and - "
Airi trailed off and laughed nervously. "Sorry..." she said, cheeks still pink. Goodness, she needed to learn to control her rambling!
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Michiko Fujiwara
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 5, 2015 8:10:43 GMT
It took a moment for Michiko to speak again. The other girl had done so much of it that Michiko struggled to take all of it in. This girl snuck by to admire the costumes? Her costumes? She couldn't remember the last time someone had spoken about them so eagerly. Yes, the other Drama Club members praised her work; they always let her know when she did well, but...
This was different. She had a fan. Well, this girl didn't know that she was Michiko's fan, but she liked her work, so that counted, didn't it? The idea almost didn't seem tangible. That kind of admiration was usually reserved for the actors, not her. How had she first come across the Drama Club? How long had she admired the costumes and watched from afar? Why had no one told her about all of this?
"A-ah, no...! I wasn't that busy." Not anymore. She didn't want to let this girl leave. Moreover, she'd been just about to give up a few seconds ago. Michiko clasped her hands in front of her, offering a smile back to the other girl. "All of the costumes are back here. If you want, I could let you see them?"
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Airi Wakahisa
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Post by Airi Wakahisa on Jun 5, 2015 8:27:35 GMT
Now that she actually looked closer at Michi, Airi began to realize she'd seen her before - there was a hazy sort of familiarity to her, though it was one Airi couldn't quite put a finger to. She didn't look like a third year - Airi was sure she'd remember her otherwise, she remembered plenty of the third years at least on some level.
Hm. It would come to her, she was sure of it.
She paused briefly when the other girl assured she wasn't busy - it didn't seem that way to Airi, though she absently attributed that to the fact the other girl still seemed a bit nervous. Airi's entire face lit up, however, when the other girl offered to show her the costumes kept in back. The eager smile split over Airi's face before she could control herself. "You're sure? No one will get mad?"
Wait. No. That didn't make sense.
"Ah, goodness, what am I saying? You wouldn't have suggested if it wasn't okay. I'd love to! I've never seen them up close - I just know they're even more beautiful in person!" Oops. She was starting to gush again. Airi attempted to reign herself in, giving Michi another smile. "Lead the way."
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Michiko Fujiwara
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 6, 2015 7:21:26 GMT
Michiko turned away, if only to hide any sign of the heat spreading across her face. It spread all over, really. She wasn't sure how to handle it. Barely anyone had ever gotten this excited over her costumes, even the actors who got to wear them. Was it possible to become too happy? She felt so warm and fluttery she just might float away -- b-but she couldn't do that without showing the other girl all of the costumes she'd made! Oh, no, she had to calm down!
The two of them were already close to backstage, so it didn't take long for them to make it to the costume shop. It was just beyond a short corridor that led into an open doorway, still spilling over with light from Michiko's studies a few moments ago.
Michiko stopped in place, craning her head just enough to glance back at Airi. "I'm sorry for the mess. I've never had a-a... visitor before, so everything's thrown around." She'd still left all of her sketchbooks strewn around for one thing. It seemed fair to warn Airi before letting her in.
With that said, Michiko led Airi fully inside.
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Airi Wakahisa
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Post by Airi Wakahisa on Jun 6, 2015 7:44:35 GMT
To say Airi was excited was an understatement - her eyes were practically shining with excitement, and the eager smile on her face was only somewhat restrained. She'd followed along quietly, and the other girl's soft voice brought her back to the present. The girl nodded for a moment, but something stuck out to her. The phrasing of it - "I" versus "we" - seemed like a strange choice. Unless that meant -
- ah.
Airi stood at the entrance of the hallway, marveling at the sight before her. There were sketchbooks upon sketchbooks off to the side, yes, but costumes upon costumes hung on hangers, and some were on mannequins - was one of those unfinished? Oh, it looked beautiful just the same! For a long moment, Airi merely drank the sight of it all in, before letting out a noise of delight and hurrying over to the nearest rack.
"Oh, this was Glynda's costume from Wicked, right? The colors are so lovely! And the choice to use all the round shapes to tie back to her bubble design - such a great idea! Ah, and that's Elphaba's witch costume over there, right?" she hurried over, taking a moment to examine it all the closer. "It is! It's so intricate! It's a perfect visual representation for her complex character! The use of lace and hints of other colors woven in - it's perfect!"
The girl made her way to another rack. Were those fairytale costumes?! Oh, those were lovely too! And that one over there! Wasn't that from the Romeo and Juliet production? Oh, the style was so great - a lot of research had to be put in to make it period accurate! Airi kept commenting as she went from rack to rack, endlessly awed by all the intricate details and how so much thought had been placed into them.
Finally, she looked over at Michi, gaze filled with awe. "These are your designs, right? You put so much love into all your designs - you're so passionate about your work and it shows! You're amazing!"
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Michiko Fujiwara
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 7, 2015 2:48:16 GMT
Oh, no...
More compliments...?! Michiko felt heat flaring across her face again, but she couldn't turn away to hide it. Helplessly, she worried her hands together, trying to will away the burning in her cheeks. Airi's compliments just seemed to make it grow. When would she be done looking at everything? Michiko could only take so much before she really floated away! She wasn't sure what made her happier - that Airi loved every costume, or that she paid as much loving, painstaking attention to every detail as she looked them over as Michiko did when she designed them. She'd never met someone like this before.
It felt... good.
It didn't occur to Michiko that Airi had asked her anything until she caught Airi's gaze. "A-ah!" She flinched, her heart skipping a beat. "Yes! I... mean..." Her face felt even hotter! "Thank you." Oh, no... This girl wasn't just nice, but pretty. Such long, smooth hair and large eyes. A dainty face. She was like a doll.
Michiko felt a twinge of... something. Her hands itched to draw. Unable to will the feeling away, she clasped her hands tighter together.
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Airi Wakahisa
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Post by Airi Wakahisa on Jun 7, 2015 4:36:35 GMT
Airi smiled for another moment, merely soaking in the atmosphere, and took a moment to look over the other girl again. She really did look familiar! Michi was cute too, now that she really looked at her, but Airi was sure she seemed familiar for an entirely different reason. The girl stopped to think for a moment. Let's see, it had to be in class...
...and she sat in the back corner closest to the door of 2-C for easy access in and out of the classroom...
...and she'd definitely seen her outside of the hallways...
But in order to have seen her before, especially since they didn't share any clubs...
"Oh! We're in the same class!"
Airi blurted it out inadvertently, and it echoed in the large room. She blushed, mumbling an apology, but as she looked over Michi once more, she was absolutely sure of it now. "I-I'm Wakahisa Airi!" she bowed in greeting. "I thought I knew you from somewhere!"
And now a bright smile spread on her face. "How amazing! The person I was a fan of was nearby the whole time!"
She hoped they could become friends. But she wasn't sure she could voice that aloud - after all, she'd imposed on this other girl, and there was no telling what the other girl would think of that. Still, Airi felt warm at the thought of it.
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Michiko Fujiwara
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 8, 2015 4:27:06 GMT
"Eh?"
Classmate? This girl was Michiko's classmate? But she didn't remember seeing her! Oh, but she wasn't the best at noticing people, either. Moreover, it didn't seem like the other girl remembered her until this moment.
Michiko found herself flushing just as brightly as ever all the same. Before she could mutter an apology of her own, the other girl spoke again, and -- had she just said 'fan?' Michiko's voice fizzled out. Her mind fumbled with the word, turning it over, thinking of every possible definition. Cooling apparatus. Enthusiast. She could have only meant the former, right? No, wait, but then...
The heat in her face was spreading to the rest of her now, like flooding lava.
She'd never had a fan before.
What was she supposed to do? She should have been saying something, shouldn't she? Ah, but what -- She knew.
"Your name!" The realization flew off her tongue before she could catch it. She cleared her throat, trying in vain to will the heat from her body. "A-ah... what's your name?"
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Airi Wakahisa
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Post by Airi Wakahisa on Jun 8, 2015 4:40:04 GMT
Oh. Oh dear.
It sort of looked like she had broken the other girl by accident.
Airi thought back to everything she had gushed about, and how quiet the other girl was. She seemed to blush at the drop of a hat, and was nervous and looked a bit uncomfortable and was extremely red and - oh. Oh. She - she had said so many embarrassing things! Airi felt herself flushing in embarrassment herself - o-oh, she'd only meant to gush a little, but instead she had just talked and talked and talked - no wonder this girl looked so overwhelmed and embarrassed! Anyone would be!
...how humiliating...
Airi hung her head in shame, not willing to look over at the other girl - not until she spoke up, anyways, asking for her name. In her panic, Airi forgot that she had just introduced herself - though, honestly, she didn't really blame the other girl for not noticing either.
"Wakahisa Airi." her voice was quiet, and abruptly the taller girl bowed. "I-I'm sorry for being so embarrassing! I didn't mean to overwhelm you!"
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Michiko Fujiwara
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 11, 2015 8:54:30 GMT
Oh... Oh, no.
Michiko swallowed. She wasn't sure which was more embarrassing: that she'd gotten so flustered, or that the other girl—no, Wakahisa-san!—was embarrassed now over it. Michiko couldn't help how she reacted, but she felt bad. Wakahisa-san was her first (and probably only) fan! How could she make Wakahisa-san feel better? What could she say, do?
"No! Pl-please, don't worry about it." Finally, she was able to will away some of the redness clustered at her cheeks. "It made me... I mean, I'm... I've never had a... fan before, um..."
Oh, that was right. Fans generally knew the names of the people they liked, didn't they?
Michiko bowed, trying to keep her tongue from fumbling too much as she spoke. "I'm Fujiwara Michiko. Thank you for visiting me, Wakahisa-san."
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Airi Wakahisa
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Post by Airi Wakahisa on Jun 15, 2015 21:46:58 GMT
The other girl's insistence it was okay helped ease Airi's own nervousness, and very timidly, Airi stood back up, fumbling with her hands and torn between keeping her gaze on the shorter girl, and avoiding her gaze entirely. She wanted to apologize more - she really had put her on the spot! - but the more she spoke, the more Airi felt she suddenly had to apologize on someone else's behalf first.
Had this girl never had a fan before? That was - that was ludicrous! Did no one in the Drama Club appreciate her?! This girl was a genius! She was amazing, brilliant, stupendous! How could no one else see that?! Honestly!
And then she spoke again.
Oh.
Her name sounded pretty. A pretty name for a pretty girl...
Airi smiled and it lit up her face like a sunrise spreading over the horizon. "I'm glad we met, Fujiwara-san. It really is an honor!" A-ah, wait. "I probably shouldn't take up any more of your time, I'm sure you're very busy." The sketchbooks on the table were proof of that!
Though...
"Although, and forgive me if this sounds out of line but - will you be all right by yourself, Fujiwara-san?"
It was a big stage and if Airi hadn't come by, no one would have even known Fujiwara-san was here! That seemed really dangerous, what if Fujiwara-san got locked here overnight or something?!
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Michiko Fujiwara
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 23, 2015 20:35:06 GMT
Oh, no… Wakahisa-san was really pretty… Michiko deliberately kept from staring too long at Airi's smile, afraid of her cheeks burning all over again, and cast her gaze at the floor. Until…
"Eh?" She snapped her head up.
She clapped a hand over her lips. She hadn't meant to say that out loud, but… well… that was sudden. Everyone else simply left her back here, to her own devices - though sometimes Kuri-chan and another boy (Sang-min, she thought) brought her food or invited her to things. She stayed back here alone most days, and went home alone. Now here was Wakahisa-san, so concerned, and Michiko couldn't figure out why and, for a moment, forgot to answer Wakahisa-san properly.
"Ah… Yes. I'm always back here like this."
But part of her didn't want Wakahisa-san to leave. She knew she'd see Wakahisa-san in class the next day, but this was… different, Michiko decided. She just wasn't sure how. The thought of Airi leaving left her feeling something in her begin to sink.
"You could stay here… if you want." she offered, her voice fizzling to a mumble by the last few words. What if Wakahisa-san really wanted to leave? What if she was only being polite?
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Airi Wakahisa
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Post by Airi Wakahisa on Jul 14, 2015 2:51:22 GMT
She was always here like this? But there were no other people around! So...so even on days with no club, Fujiwara-san still...?
Airi paused for a moment, quiet. The stage was beautiful and grandiose, a place proper for the grandiose Ouran Academy. It was even more grandiose when filled with people. But now...
...it was empty.
And yet Fujiwara-san came anyways.
Aren't you lonely? she wanted to ask, but it refused to leave the tip of her tongue. That - she barely knew this girl. She admired her yes, but - she still barely knew her. And yet, the sudden feeling of loneliness wouldn't dissipate. It just seemed...sad. It was too lonely here, holed up in a back room all by ones self. She didn't know how Fujiwara-san could take it.
But then Fujiwara-san spoke up again, and the suggestion caught Airi off-guard.
Maybe...
...maybe Fujiwara-san couldn't take it.
But it wasn't her place to decide that. There could have been other reasons she suggested it. A spring board. The chance to speak with a fan.
Airi paused for a moment, then offered her a warm, gentle smile. "If I'm not imposing on you, I'd love to stay."
The greenhouses could wait until tomorrow.
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