Beyond the Horizon

Episode 2: Cherry Blossoms and Peaches

"Niko, I think it's fair to let them have a break. We have two more scenes to go over before we finish for the day too. I think everyone is starting to get tired of this scene."

Hayashi looked at her assistant and back to the stage in thought. "Kenta, switch with me," she then said and climbed up on the stage. Ken jumped off, and noticed Tomo as he did. He waved to him with a bright smile. Hayashi noticed and turned to see what caught Ken's attention.

"My, it's Momo-chan. Why don't you come up front?"

"I'm an outsider, so I'm fine back here," Tomo said.

He was just waiting for Ken and Sakura anyway.

"Nonsense! Come here!"

Tomo nervously walked up to where the troupe members and bowed his head to them as a greeting before sitting down in an empty seat. He hadn't felt like he had a choice, even though he knew Hayashi's demanding voice wasn't meant that way. He had heard she had to stand up against men to get funding for the acting troupe with high school students and it had turned her seemingly unyielding nature worse. But she was a very good leader, and she was more flexible than she seemed and cared a lot for the students' opinions.

Tomo wished she had been one leading his elementary school group when he was still a part of the theatre's student groups.

"Hanakawa, we're starting now."

"Eh?"

The first swing was supposed to be made by Ken. Without the line before it, Sakura wasn't prepared. She took a few steps back and stumbled.

"We're done, Hanakawa." Sakura looked surprised at Hayashi, who helped her up. Hayashi turned to look at Ken who had gotten some rest while she demonstrated Sakura's issue. "Kenta, your turn!"

"Yes!"

Ken heaved himself up on the stage without much effort, despite how tired he must have been. Sakura opted to walk down the stairs after handing Ken the sword.

"Don't lose, Yama-senpai!" she mocked him.

Tomo could see Hayashi shaking her head. Sakura sat down beside him grinning. "Let's see how badly Yama-senpai falls."

Tomo turned to look back at the stage. "I rather not see that. You didn't hurt your butt did you?"

"My ass is just fine!"

Tomo saw when it all began, but Sakura was turned away to talk to Tomo like she had no cares in the world.

There was no cue to start at all, unlike when Hayashi had told Sakura they'd start. Ken and Hayashi had put themselves in the position like Ken was demanding to know who killed Mirande. Without a word, he had pulled the sword to swing at Hayashi. When the clang of the swords touching could be heard, Sakura turned to the stage.

Because she was overconfident she hadn't noticed her mistakes. That was why she still hadn't had a main role when the troupe put up a play, despite being one of the most experienced.

It was common for children from elementary school to lose interest before middle school, or that they stopped during middle school because of the pressure to study. There were those who joined in middle school or high school, which usually were the ones who stayed at the theatre. Either as an actor - like Hayashi - or in the hobby acting troupes lead by one of the actors or a senpai, if there was one who volunteered.

They went through the battle choreography, ending it when Hayashi pointed her sword at Ken's chest.

"That, Hanakawa, is how it's done. Momo-chan, can you tell Hanakawa what she does wrong?"