fragaria (ycsh)

Being in Edels also came to the responsibility to showcase a stage play often. While it is not as often as every week or every month, they ought to show something to the outsiders—to the members of Music Acting Department or to the other departments in Siegfeld and board directors as whole. The scale of preparation will be smaller than their grand Elysion performance, but it couldn’t be said as unimportant. There could only be a script reading, or a short play consisted of a few act without a full costume use.

Like for example, this time, the Edels are doing a cold read of ‘Swan Lake’. Shiori happened to get the role of Odile, wearing a simple black dress to symbolize herself, and Michiru, who’s posing as Odette, wearing a simple white dress. Mei Fan, who took the role as a prince, is starting her monologue of her meeting with the Swan at the moment. Akira is doing the role of Queen, coming right up after Mei Fan’s monologue ended.

“—Then, I’m leaving Shiori’s make-up to you, Yachiyo. I’m going to watch Mei Fan!”

“O~kay.”

Both of them watched as the yellow-haired girl walked away to the direction of the stage, leaving the two.

Shiori is sitting on one of the vacant chair, combing her hair again. Yachiyo approached the make-up kit, looking at Shiori’s reflection on the mirror as she tapped on the blonde girl’s shoulder to seek her attention.

“Well then, is pale pink okay, Shiori?”

Yachiyo brandished a lipstick from the make-up kit. It is Yachiyo’s favorite brand – it’s cheap, allergen-free, and smells sweet like berries.

Shiori nodded on the offer right away. “Okay.”

“Then, turn this way.”

Yachiyo knelt beside the chair, Shiori adjusted herself as she turned. Actually, Shiori could apply it herself, but as Michiru always say for Yachiyo to make sure everything is perfect, Yachiyo applied the make-ups as well. The pink shouldn’t stand out to Shiori’s dress and to Shiori’s overall pale complexion, though the pink should be enough to give Shiori a brighter, lively vibe.

The pinkette eventually paused as Shiori faced her way on intent. The usual composed, calm Shiori. Her emerald eyes twinkled, waiting in anticipation. They were close because Yachiyo needed to apply this lipstick to that small lips. Yachiyo needed to make her presentable, even prettier than how she already is with the swipe of pink magic.

Yes, it should be what she is doing, but why Yachiyo couldn’t help but to stare on Shiori’s face?

“… Oh. Umm. Should I close my eyes?” Shiori asked. A bit anxious.

The question served Yachiyo dumbfounded rather than prompting her to order, to do something. Yachiyo held her breath.

“Ah, yes. Please. Close your eyes.” Yachiyo wanted to slap herself. Why the sudden polite wording? She shouldn’t be fidgety, she’s not even the one with many lines of script onstage.

When Shiori closed her eyes, however, the pinkette’s heart just continue to flutter. They are close. Shiori has her eyes closed. Yachiyo is about to do a simple act of applying lipstick to the younger girl. This is not the first time she’s doing it, too. The time to Odette’s performance is closing in.

[Why everything seems to be different as they already a step forward with their relationship?]

Holding her breath, Yachiyo did the lipstick work meticulously. No smear. No rough edges. No thick streak. No strange color pressure.

Though, as if the gravity pulled Yachiyo close to the ground, she placed a last touch to that colored lips.

Shiori opened her eyes when the chaste press ended, looking to the pink-haired girl in a soft, delighted look

“You shouldn’t steal a kiss like that, Senpai.”

The blonde’s cheeks were rosy red. A curve of gentle smile shouldn’t be there, or Yachiyo would find it hard to hold back. The turn of events take to be worse as Shiori replied the kiss with equal, or maybe more fervor than hers – imitating the duration of the peck, but leaving a curious breath tickling on her skin.

A fresh scent of berries.

“… You will be up on the stage soon, you know.”

“Mm.”

“And … why do you keep on kissing me?”

“I … don’t know. I, I just want to.”

Yet with the alert, they continued to latch on each other—until the exact sentence is spoken on the stage.

[“I love her.”]