Play Starts! The Legend Of The Wishing Rose.

Asami nods, agreeing with Takanou's statement. Sugawara sticks his head out of the curtains a bit and looks at the crowd. He begins to sweat as he pulls his head back in.

Sugawara "That's a lot of people…"

Suiyoubi "You're getting nervous now?"

Sugawara "Yeah hehe… I was fine all day but now it's setting in. How are you guys so calm?"

Shiori "I'm not. I'm with you, I'm still freaking out."

Chizuru "I'm just super excited! I've never performed a play before!"

Haru "Yeah! Just another adventure for us to have together!"

Ryuji just shrugs his shoulders as he adjusts his chef's hat. Alice looks at Touma who is standing stiff in his position.

Alice "What about you big guy? You excited or nervous?"

Touma nervously gives a thumbs up as he shakes. The others laugh amongst themselves as Alice pats his back.

Alice "Don't sweat it! You were made for this!"

Suddenly, a low hum of music plays across the speakers as the crowd begins to hush.

Samuel "It's go time guys! Places!"

She says quietly but urgently as she makes her way to the front of the stage. She steps through the curtains with a big smile on her face.

Samuel "Welcome everyone to this year's Iris High performance. We have a very special play planned for you all tonight. You may be used to the normal programs we do here but this year is different. This year's performance was written by our own second year here in class 2-1, Shiori Inabi. Let's give her a round of applause for her hard work and dedication!"

The crowd then claps loudly, cheering for Shiori with excitement. In the back, Hikigaya elbows Shiori as she blushes in embarrassment with a smile on her face.

Samuel "Now, without further ado, let us get to the main event. Iris High Class 2-1 presents: The Traveler, The Beast And The Wishing Rose!"

She says as she steps off stage and as the curtains pull back.

In a dark winter's storm, snow falls heavily and the wind whips around like small slashes in the cold. A Traveler can be seen marching through the storm holding something close to her chest as she looks through the storm. Shiori "So.. cold.."

She says as her eyes widen. She sees a faint glow in the darkness. She rushes to it to find a modest cabin in the woods with lights on inside. She makes her way to the door and knocks on it. She waits for a moment before a large man answers the door. He looks confused at the woman standing before him.

Shiori "Please… May I find refuge here with you? Even if for only a night?"

The woodsman nods assuringly and steps aside, welcoming her in. She rushes inside as he closes the door behind him.

Touma "H-here.. Take a seat by the fire."

He pulls a chair close to the fire place.

Shiori "Thank you…"

She says as she takes a seat. The woodsman grabs a log and places it into the fireplace before poking at it with his firerod.

Touma "If you don't mind me asking, what is a Traveler like yourself doing out in a storm like that? It is certainly no weather for a walk."

Shiori "I'm… on a quest."

The woodsman looks intrigued.

Shiori "I was given an item by an old seer. She said to follow my heart for it is pure and soon I would find the… the Wishing Rose."

His eyes widen as she says this. The traveler looks a bit embarrassed for admitting that.

Shiori "The magical artifact that supposedly can grant any wish to anyone who finds it. I know has only been mentioned in legend and no one has seen it or come back if gone looking for it but… if what the seer said is true then perhaps I can actually find it. She gaves me this."

The traveler then pulls out an empty sheet of wrapping paper with a gold trim along the edges. She shows it to the woodsman before putting it back into her bag.

Shiori "The seer said this is a map of somekind but there's nothing on it. Yet, despite that, I feel as if it is leading me somewhere. I know it is."

The woodsman steps back from the fire and takes a seat in a chair across from the traveler. He looks her in the eyes before speaking.

Touma "I have heard of the Wishing Rose. My late wife believed in the legend. She believed that one day we would find it and use it to bring our home village back to its glory. Cure the sick, feed the hungry, fix the broken. When she passed away many years ago, she promised me that one day, our wish would come true. She died believing in the Wishing Rose."

He says as he looks down. The traveler gives a sad look but then the woodsman lifts his head again and gives her a serious look.

Touma "But I warn you. I have heard many stories of those who seek the Rose. I have seen many come through these mountains in search of it and have heard much worse. Tales of death and danger. Of a beast who lurks in the woods and of bandits who seek the Rose for themselves. It is certainly a perilous journey so I beg you to be safe on your way."

The traveler gives the woodsman a confident nod when suddenly there is a knocking on his door. They both look at the door confused as the woodsman gets up. He approaches the door and opens it to find two cloaked individuals standing before him. One tall and the other short.

Cloaked Person "May we come in?"

Touma "What for?"

Suddenly, a gun is drawn on the woodsman. He puts his hands up as the cloaked people remove their hoods.

Haru "Wrong answer."

He says with an evil smirk. They push the woodsman inside as they close the door behind them. The other bandit points a gun at the traveler who also puts her hands up.

Shiori "Who are you people?"

Touma "Just a married couple of bandits who have been going around causing all kinds of havoc for the kingdom's people. Especially my home village every since that Prince up and disappeared."

Sugawara"That's right."

Touma "What do you two want with me? I don't have anything of value here."

He says angrily.

Haru "We've been following this trail from not too far ago. We caught some spicy news about the Wishing Rose around here. Heard there was a map of some kind floating around these parts, so we're simply checking to see if the rumors were true."

The traveler shakes nervously as she lowers her hand to the map on the verge of giving it up when the woodsman speaks.

Touma "There is nothing having to do with the Wishing Rose here. You know I've given up on that dream long ago."

He says with an angry look at the bandits. They smirk at each other before speaking.

Sugawara "They you wouldn't mind if I had a look around, would you?"

The bandit then goes around trashing the place. Flipping the table and destroying any kitchenware as the other bandit keeps the gun pointed at them. After a few minutes of the woodsman's home getting destroyed and the traveler tearing up a bit, the smaller bandit comes back.

Sugawara "The places really does seem clean. I can't find any kind of maps anywhere."

Haru "Well it looks like this was a whole waste of time."

They turn away when the taller bandit notices the map sticking out of the traveler's bag.

Haru "Hey, what you got there?"

The traveler is frightened as the taller bandit walks closer to her.

Haru "Give that to me."

He reaches forward to grab the map when the woodsman grabs the bandit's arm.

Touma "Leave her alone."

Suddenly, the gun goes off, shooting the woodsman in the side. He falls back and holds himself as the traveler is shocked. The bandit then turns the gun on the traveler.

Haru "Hand over the map, now or you'll be next."

Shiori "Take it! Just let me help him!"

She quickly hands the map to the bandits then rushes to the woodsman's side. The bandits look at the map and laugh.

Sugawara "Looks like our luck has finally come around!"

Haru "Let's get out of here."

He says as they leave the cabin. The woodsman props himself up as the traveler puts a bandage on his side.

Shiori "Are you okay? How bad does it hurt?"

Touma "This… is nothing. Living out here in the woods alone, animals tend to take a bite at you every now and then. I'll be fine, I'm not worried. But they got your map."

Shiori "Who cares about the stupid map?"

The woodsman then grabs her by the collar and pulls her closer a bit.

Touma "No, you have to get that map back. You cannot let those bandits get that wish! If they do… who knows what might happen next."

The traveler is confused at first but then gets an understanding look. The woodsman lets her go and leans back.

Touma "They'll probably head to the nearby village, my home village, for supplies and the like. Give them some time and distance so they don't get wise to what you're doing then tail them. Get the map back, they cannot have that wish!"

He says as the traveler nods. She does just that, after some time, she heads back out into the now light storm and heads for the village. There, her stomach growls a bit. She looks up to see a sign with a bowl of soup on it. She heads inside into the small and worn down inn. There are only two other people sitting at a table and the cook himself behind the bar. She takes a seat at the bar as the cook approaches her.

Ryuji "What would you like to eat?"

He asks with a smile. She digs in her pockets and pulls out a few small coins and offers them to the cook.

Shiori "Whatever this can get me…"

The cook gives her a soft look before pushing her hand back towards her. She looks at him confused as he smiles a bit.

Ryuji "Wait here. I'll get you some of the house special today. Free of charge."

She smiles and nods at him as he walks away towards his large pot over the fire. The traveler then turns and looks around the small inn when she notices the two people at a table. They look young, almost children. One is wrapped in a blanket and coughing while the other rubs her back and encourages her to drink a warm drink. The sick girl then starts coughing aggressively and struggles to breath a little. The traveler then comes over and gently pats her back and also encourages her to drink so she does, temporarily causing the coughing to stop.

Shiori "Is she okay?"

The boy shakes his head with a worried look on his face.

Daiki "She hasn't gotten any better. I'm trying all I can but she won't get any less sick. I don't know what else to do…"

The kids look worried and sad as the traveler gets an upset look. She thinks of something to do as she gets an idea.

Shiori "How about I tell you guys a story? Just to ease your minds?"

The kids both get slightly excited looks as they look at the traveler.