Chapter 31: The Cultural Festival Rehearsals

With summer break over, our school shifted its focus toward the upcoming cultural festival. Naturally, our class had decided on a play, and somehow, Mahiru and I ended up with the leading roles.

"I still don't understand why they voted us in," I groaned, flipping through the script.

Mahiru giggled. "Maybe they think we make a good pair."

I sighed, knowing she wasn't wrong. The rehearsals were intense, but spending more time with Mahiru in a new setting felt exciting. One particular scene required us to hold hands under a stage moonlight, and I could feel my pulse quicken each time we practiced it.

"You're trembling," she whispered one evening during rehearsal.

I chuckled nervously. "Maybe because it feels a little too real."

Mahiru didn't respond, just squeezed my hand slightly, and in that moment, I knew—this wasn't just acting.