ReLive: The Unreasonable Routes To Redeeming The Villainess (ch9)

The play is being thrown off-course and drifting into unscripted, uncharted waters. Now that it's straying apart from the ending it should have, there's no telling what will surface...

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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							Chapter 9. Invitations

Similarly to the morning after the night Claudine had cried herself to sleep out in the gardens, she wakes the next day safely in her bed. And now, she understands it's because Maya had brought her here, which means it was likely also Maya who had brought her to bed the first time as well.

And she knows Maya must have cast some soothing magic on her, because unlike the first time, Claudine doesn't feel quite so awful - at least not on a physical level. Emotionally and spiritually, however, it's complete turmoil.

She lies there for a long time, not caring about classes or even knowing if she has any or if it's a weekend today. As she'd anticipated, the play's events have changed drastically.

By now, the Viscountess should have been offered her patrol duty so she could steal the stone, frame the Village Girl, and draw about her own doom.

But even if she did somehow find a way to steal the artifact and try to pin it on Karen now, it wouldn't work. Because in the play, all the characters had believed the Viscountess' accusations, for - due to her previous acts of bullying the Village Girl - everyone had agreed it must have been the recently-expelled commoner who committed the crime.

But Claudine had failed in her bullying of Karen, and rather than get her expelled and made to look guilty, she's now the last person anyone would ever expect of committing such a crime.

And it's not like she could just try to frame anyone; it has to be the Village Girl, the main character.

And then the Viscountess would be burnt, and the Duchess would marry the Village Girl to make for a satisfying ending…

But now, with that major plot point impossible, Claudine has no idea where to go from here.

/That's the only play I know… That's how 'Ashes of the Phoenix' is written. That's how it has to be! So if none of that happens… there's no more script to go by, so how can I fulfill the play…? Is it even possible anymore…?/

She isn't sure, but she hasn't been repulsed by the stage yet, so that tells her there must still be a way, somehow. She just can't fathom what or how…

From this point onward, she has no idea what might happen in this world, since they've deviated so far from the original script already. Can she really let her character fall in love with Maya's…?

Rather, it wouldn't be the Viscountess and the Duchess, nor would it be Saijou Claudine and Tendo Maya. But it would be Saijou Claudine and the Duchess. One actress from the real world, and one character from the world of the play. Without Maya's memories, she is just a character, and nothing more.

Claudine isn't sure if she can love her the way she wants to, or if she should even love her at all.

She isn't certain about anything anymore - not that she ever really was from the start of all this.

Even so, she makes it a point to be cautious today.

She continues with her tame acts of bullying, but by this point everyone hardly pays her harmless pranks any attention at all because they are so used to them.

Karen still calls her "Claudy" and chats with her like it's the first day of classes again, and all the others still smile at her like they used to before.

But more than all of the others combined, the Duchess Tendo smiles at Claudine and sends her the most longing and caring of looks.

And now, as things stand, Claudine doesn't snarl at her or yell at her.

Instead, she merely huffs, but eventually she starts to blush...

. . .

Another week passes, and nothing changes much or progresses the play forward during that time. Claudine is not expelled out of this world, even though no one is really seeing her as a villainess at all by this point.

She can only justify her being allowed to stay here because her heart truly is wicked in wanting to selfishly remain in limbo, where she is not choosing one life over the other. She values her own safety more than her friends returning to their proper world.

If only everyone else could despise Claudine half as much as she despises herself, then she would surely fulfill her role flawlessly.

The school days pass on without any major events - no loose dragons, no stolen artifacts, no public executions.

Claudine doesn't allow anything to happen between Maya and herself, but she does stop chasing her off at the very least. And when Maya catches her eye and smiles at her from across the room, sometimes Claudine smiles back.

And then, an announcement is made to signify an event; something that never happened in the original script.

"A ball?!" Karen squeals out loud at their lunch table, manifesting the same energy and thoughts every other student in the school is feeling right now. "Oh my gosh! That's gonna be so much fun! I can't wait!"

"It'll be so fancy!" Nana sighs dreamily.

"You've got that right," Junna says. "This school will spare no expense for lavish parties."

"We deserve it!" Futaba grunts, crossing her arms. "After all those tests and crap we've had for the past two weeks? I wouldn't even mind puttin' on a dress for a change."

"Oh~!" Kaoruko claps, very interested by that mental image. "Then let's try some on after school today! I know a spell or two~"

"A ball…" Mahiru murmurs. "I'm sure it will be lovely!"

"I've never been to one before," Hikari admits.

At this, Mahiru flashes her a bashful look.

"W-Well then… Miss Hikari… If you wouldn't mind… I could accompany you…"

"Wait, seriously?" Junna hisses. "You two are gonna do that here? In the lunchroom?"

"…Eh?" Mahiru tilts her head, still blushing.

Junna sighs. "For an event like this, you're supposed to make a big scene about asking the person you want to go with. It's sort of like an unspoken rule."

"She's right!" Nana beams. "Even if it's obvious who you're going with, you've gotta make a huge deal about it! You've gotta let the whole school know! It's so romantic!"

"R-Really?" Mahiru pipes. "I-I had no idea! Miss Hikari, I'm sorry! I'll come up with a much better way to ask you!"

Hikari blushes and dips her head.

"It's all right. I'll wait, Mahiru."

"That should be good," Futaba says with a grin. "I can't wait to see it!"

"Ahem-" Kaoruko coughs, giving Futaba a pointed nudge with her elbow. "I also look forward to how you're planning on asking me, Futaba, dear. Please make my heart flutter, okay?"

"Oh, don't you worry," Futaba says, taking her hand and kissing it charmingly. "Your heart will flutter plenty, Kaoruko."

As Nana dives in to catch Kaoruko so she doesn't sway out of her seat, and Junna chides them all not to make a scene in the cafeteria, Claudine remains quiet all the while.

She has no knowledge of a ball in this play. She has no idea how this world wants such an event to turn out.

/Should the Viscountess continue being her wretched self? Or perhaps... will she be able to turn over a new leaf somehow…?/

She isn't sure, but she does know for certain that she's absolutely not asking Maya to go with her. In fact, Claudine might not go at all, because she doesn't know if she should.

She looks up now at the sound of Karen's humming.

"Hmm… then if Hikari and Mahiru are going as a couple, who should I go with…?"

Claudine takes her chance now.

"Why not the Duchess?" she suggests. "She has no date to speak of, wouldn't you say? Pity her, Village Girl."

Even if the play is branching from its script, the Duchess and the Village Girl are supposed to fall in love and get married at some point. Maybe this way it can still happen somehow, even if not exactly as intended.

/So long as the ending is the same, perhaps the events leading up to it don't matter quite as much…/

Claudine watches now as Karen looks to Maya, and Maya looks back in surprise. But before either of them can say anything, the warning bell rings to signify the end of lunch.

"All right, everyone," Junna says. "The ball is this Friday, so make sure to get an outfit decided as soon as possible. And most importantly, if you're going to ask someone to go with you, be sure you make a big deal about it! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, after all!"

With this, everyone excitedly heads off to their next class.

Claudine hardly pays attention for the rest of the day in her lectures. She's too busy debating with herself whether she should attend the dance or not.

Part of her wants to go just so she can be aware of the events taking place there, in case they do become relevant to the plot in some way.

But the other part of her doesn't want to go, not only because she doesn't think she deserves to be having any fun right now, but also too because she doesn't want to go alone.

But it's only Monday, so she still has all week to think it through.

At the end of classes today, as everyone is filing out and getting ready to enjoy their afternoon, Junna makes the first move and casts a spell of colorful flower petals that fall like confetti and grab everyone's attention. Dozens of students stop and gasp and squeal as they watch her offer her hand to Nana and dip herself low into a deep bow.

"Marchioness Daiba," she says. "Would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Ball?"

Nana yelps joyously and throws her arms around Junna in a big tight hug, then kisses her full on the lips.

"Yes! Of course I'll go with you, Junna!" Her lack of formalities in contrast to Junna's excess of them is charming and adorable, to say the least.

Everyone cheers for them and offers words of congratulations. When the kiss has ended, Junna waves her hand and gathers up all the flower petals spiraling in the air to turn them into a colorful bouquet, which she gives to Nana. It earns her another tearful kiss.

The next day, Mahiru gets up without warning at their outdoor lunch block and lifts her arms. And out of the trees of the surrounding forest, dozens of beautiful white doves appear. They all flutter and fly around Hikari, surrounding her in a beautiful dance of white feathers.

"Miss Hikari!" Mahiru squeaks. "I-It's fine if you don't want to, but I just needed to ask! W-Would you… like to go to the Ball with me…?"

And though everyone else around them is trying to hold down cries of excitement and anticipation for her answer, Hikari is absolutely baffled by the display and remains quiet for a long moment. She gazes up at the birds in wonder, but eventually her shining eyes come to rest on the nervous, blushing Mahiru.

Hikari stands from her seat and accepts both of Mahiru's hands before pulling her into a sweet and gentle hug.

"Yes," she murmurs. "I would love to go with you, Mahiru."

She even leaves a small kiss on Mahiru's cheek.

Mahiru squeals, picking Hikari clean up off her feet and twirling her.

And once again, cheers erupt - particularly from Karen, who needs to keep casting a spell to create tissues so she can blow her nose.

Mahiru cancels her spell and the birds all fly off back into the forests, save for one who perches on Hikari's shoulder and seems content to stay. Hikari names him Mr. White.

By Wednesday, everyone in the school knows that Kaoruko is getting impatient in waiting for her formal invitation to the Ball. Many other couples have asked each other as well by now, but none quite so extravagantly as the members of this group of friends had.

At the end of the day, Futaba suddenly leaves their final class early, and the teacher excuses her, so it's clear she'd asked permission beforehand. Kaoruko is anxious being without her, but when the final bell rings to release everyone, it isn't long before she is reunited with Futaba.

As per the knight's request, Nana and Junna encourage Kaoruko to wait outside the building, and half the school tails along behind her to watch. Futaba arrives on a gorgeous white stallion, clad in her most charming of outfits with her sword at her hip, glinting in the sunlight. Kaoruko fans herself as her knight brings the horse to a stop right in front of her.

"Kaoruko," Futaba grins. "Sorry if this isn't flashy enough. But would you go to the Ball with me on Friday?"

And Kaoruko all but scrambles up the horse and leaps into her lap, throwing her arms around Futaba and kissing her instantly.

"What are you saying? Of course I'm going with you! I'll forgive you for making me wait so long to hear you ask, because this is quite the statement."

"Sounds good!"

Futaba rides off with her as everyone applauds, lapping the campus with Kaoruko before she ultimately has to return the horse.

Kaoruko is so happy she does nothing but smile and cling to Futaba's arm the whole rest of the evening.

Claudine watches them all unfold from the sidelines, and it takes her a lot of self-control not to clap for them all as well. Because she knows she should still keep trying to play the villainess' role to some degree.

By Thursday, she, Maya, and Karen must be the only three people left in the school who haven't been on either the asking or receiving end of a date invitation for the Ball.

Claudine has been making sure to act coldly toward Maya again. Though she'd actually started smiling back at her recently, she ultimately decides she shouldn't be trying to insert her character into the Duchess' love life anymore.

/She really needs to be with the Village Girl, after all…/

And after school on Thursday, as much as it pains Claudine in her heart, she finally gets her wish.

Maya doesn't do anything quite as lavish as any of the others had for Karen, but she does wait until the day before the Ball and make them the last official couple, which has certainly drawn quite the crowd. She simply offers her hand to Karen and presents her with a charming smile.

"Miss Aijou?" she says. "Would you do me the great honor of accompanying me to the Ball tomorrow evening?"

Everyone had been waiting to see who the Duchess would ask, and though there may have been some people who had actually expected her to ask the Viscountess, it seems to be the general consensus that it's more preferable and sensible for her to ask the Village Girl instead.

Karen bounces up and down in glee and accepts Maya's hand with a giggle.

"Sure! I would love to, Duchess Tendo!"

Unlike the other couples, they don't kiss or twirl each other or hug. All the two of them do is squeeze hands and smile at one another as the whole school cheers.

All but one person.

Claudine watches it all unfold as a sharp pang shoots straight through her heart.

/But this is for the best. They need to be together. And besides, this is just a play. The real Tendo Maya doesn't have such feelings for Aijou Karen…/

She tells herself as much.

But… is that really the case…?

Claudine has started to wonder as of late if this really is just a play anymore. After all, this is the world of 'Ashes of the Phoenix.' It is its own world in its own right, with its own events and characters. Here, this is considered the 'real world,' and the life Claudine once knew at Seishou is just a fictional place.

So her thoughts travel back to the question... as long as she can remain here with them… why not just stay, then? They are all together. Everyone is happy. And they're even in love.

All but Claudine.

/But that makes sense. After all, I'm the villainess./

When the cheers and applause begin to die off, Claudine takes a step back and turns away. She's decided. She won't be going to the Ball tomorrow evening. She doesn't have a date anyway, so she should just stay in her room and let everyone else have fun without the rude and bossy Viscountess to ruin things.

Her heart hurts. It's been hurting so much as of late that Claudine doesn't even think she can remember what it felt like when it was happy.

But just before she can slip out of the crowds, she feels a tug on her wrist.

"Claudy."

She stops and turns slowly. Karen is smiling back at her, so happily and innocently…

A sudden flash of rage surges within Claudine.

This girl. She'd taken Maya from her. She'd ruined everything-

With a gasp, Claudine shakes herself off, staggering back a step, and if not for Karen holding onto her, she probably would've fallen.

/What… What was that…? That sudden hatred…?/

That hadn't just been Claudine putting on an act. That had been real. She'd really felt that. She'd really and truly hated Karen for a second there-

"Claudy?" Karen's voice comes again, and Claudine blinks before looking up at her. Karen's eyes are apologetic, but not pitying. "Claudy…? Please come to the Ball tomorrow. I want you to have fun with the rest of us! You don't need to have a date to have a good time! We'll all be there together as friends, too! So please? Please come tomorrow night."

And Claudine herself really doesn't feel up for it.

But she supposes she has a responsibility as an actress to have her character attend such a significant event, if only to be on the sidelines. She should be keeping track of things and making sure Karen and Maya get together to give the play its rightful ending. Even though they've both made it pretty clear just now how they feel about each other, Claudine still feels compelled to see things through.

And besides, what better punishment for a no-good villainess like herself than to watch all of her friends having fun and dancing together at the Ball while Claudine herself stands all alone? She deserves it.

So with a sigh, she nods.

"Fine."

That's all she says as she yanks her hand out of Karen's and hurries away.

And this time, as she throws herself onto her bed that night, she doesn't cry anymore.

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A/N: Listen, I didn't even think about the ways to have them all ask each other out beforehand, I just wrote them and then I was like "oh my god wait, Hikari is going to keep a dove and name it Mr. White" and I was so proud of that. Also, Futaba gets a horse here cuz it's the equivalent to her motorcycle.

Meanwhile, Claudine struggles even further with her choices, or lack thereof...