~ 3rd Person's Perspective ~
"T-That was..." Crowley slumped his shoulders in defeat.
"You two weren't in sync at all! Deuce was so bad at the point I couldn't watch him! Trey and Deuce look like they were trying to swat a fly or something." Grim continued for the Headmaster. "(Name), too! Her tune wasn't even matching the Headmaster's clapping!"
"It's true... What Grim said is also what I want to say..." Crowley uttered.
"I'm just following the given orchestra note..." (Name) murmured, feeling down as she sulked on the corner.
"That's fine, (Name)..." Lector and Happy soothed the sulking Princess.
"You two didn't need to be that straightforward..." Trey sweatdropped at the Headmaster's proclamation.
"I underestimated dancing... It's harder than I think..." Deuce whispered.
Trey gave Deuce a pat on his shoulder, "Don't worry about it. I also did some embarrassing dance when I was a kid, so I've got experience." The senior calmed Deuce. "My parents run their own business, so I got dragged into helping with all sorts of events like this. Well... Boys especially would get embarrassed because dance and performing in front of the school, don't provoke us to not do it, right?"
"... What's wrong, (Name)?" Carla nudged her fellow Princess in disguise.
"... Nothing..." The Fiore Princess replied, silencing herself because of her sulking moment. "I was just following the orchestra note!"
"The difference between you is even enormous than I anticipated..." Crowley announced. "Mister Clover, I am leaving the guidance of Mister Spade entirely in your hands. And, Miss Heartfilia, you're quite good at using the flute... Just catch up with the tempo."
"Yes, Headmaster." Trey and (Name) replied in unison.
"I'm sorry, Trey-senpai." Deuce apologized.
"Well, we have some time before the event, so it'll be alright," Trey assured.
"Yes. You'll have the taiko drums next time too," the Headmaster lightened the mood. "It'll be easier if you four synchronized and put on the best performance! Right, Mister Idia Shroud?"
That's when Idia cried behind the tablet, Pantherlily was surprised at the sudden crying of the dorm leader, "What the?"
"Nii-san?" Ortho called his brother.
"I... I can't do this!" Idia yelled in despair and agony.
"All of the sudden, he says something unthinkable..." Grim whispered.
"I mean, beating taiko in front of the entire school… Won’t they just laugh at me?" Idia explained his trauma and wild fantasies. "I got through the wishing stars with your help somehow but... Presenting a super beginner like me on the taiko will just be an event huge of uncovering all of my humiliating errors! Can’t you see that this will send me to humiliation?! I'm also carrying the Shroud's family last name! Ugh! Please do the ceremony without me!" He begged.
"He's so dramatic..." Lector scoffed.
"Nii-san..." Ortho made a sad face.
"WHAT?! Oh... Ortho! Don't make that face... I only said that I'd help gather the wishing stars, that's our deal, right? I don't remember saying that I will participate in rehearsal or the actual ceremony!"
"I know you don't like being in the limelight... But... You were chosen as a Star Gazer. If we do it together as siblings, as family, we might get a fun time! I promise!" Ortho tried to convince his brother.
"W-Wait..."
"This is an important tradition. I won't make an exception to any personal pleas to stop this event," the Headmaster interfered. "For the dance to go together properly, we need you, Mister Idia Shroud, on playing the taiko drums!"
"Like little brothers, like big brother..." Carla sighed, running her forehead. "They are both dramatic."
"You're so mean, Carla," (Name) pinched Carla's arm, earning a wince from the human-cat.
"Yes! Please!" Deuce pleaded.
"But, all you need in having an exact rhythm, right? So, relatively having me at the actual exhibition, wouldn't a recording of us doing the things. Isn't that a better explanation for 'four of us synchronizing' as you wanted?" Idia suggested.
"Uh... I suppose that's true."
"... Idia-senpai, of all people... I would rather call this a kid throwing a tantrum..." (Name) huffed.
"Well, you're not wrong about that sentence even one bit..." Trey agreed.
"How about you, Mister Ortho Shroud? Don't you wanna see your brother shining in front of the entire school? Please convince him!" The Headmaster begged.
"I do like seeing him go out of his room... But, if he doesn't want to, then I won't force him to do it..." Ortho shook his head.
Idia felt bad for his brother, "Ortho..." He knows what his brother feels. Ortho is looking forward to this event, so as his brother he would do anything for him, "Well, how about I use a music app and stream the taiko through this tablet. It's still counted as a performance real-time from my room, right?"
"This guy sure is sly and cunning like Azul..." Happy whispered.
Idia pretended he didn't hear that "I wouldn't mind participating like that, but..."
"... That's still remote, isn't it?" Trey continued for Idia.
"Ah... For a Star Gazer to be lacking from the Star Sending is unheard of..." The Headmaster sighed. "In traditional events like this, rules are the most important."
"But, I won't be counted as missing or absent. I'll be participating? We're just far with each other because of the physical form," Idia added. But, it causes the exceeds to be more confused, "My physical form may be far away, but I'm still beside you guys, makes sense?"
"Oh~... We still don't get it!" The exceeds, except Carla and Frosh, exclaimed.
"You guys are too cute to get mad on..." Idia faintly sobbed as he watched the cats. His favorite animal is a cat and (Name) is his ideal waifu, but that's a secret... Well, not anymore. "It's just a new way to be a Star Gazer."
"I won't agree to this pointless nonsense. We must agree where our ancestors had done, not too modern ones!" Crowley chided. "The other Star Gazers! Say something, please!"
"Uh... What should we do, Trey-senpai, Dorm Leader (Name)?" Deuce asked.
"I don't feel like either one of us is going to crack..."
"Yep, Trey-senpai's right. From what you've witnessed, Idia-senpai is being stubborn."
"... My brother is really difficult to convince toward physical events! So, I won't guarantee that we can convince him via talk," Ortho affirmed.
"Even you?" The human Carla questioned.
"My brother is stubborn to the bone. If he doesn't like something, he'll be explaining for eternity until one gives up. So, it feels like a different opinion," Ortho retorted.
"This year's entrance ceremony... Idia didn't attend a single dorm head meeting," Trey shared. "When we went to Ignihyde dorm, specifically to see him, he wouldn't come out of his room. I know Riddle enrage over that one."
"E-Even Riddle-senpai?!"
"E-Even our scary dorm leader?!"
"I didn't expect to imagine that... He even went all the way to tell at Idia, too..."
"In short, neither threats nor sayings will work on him. Once he's decided, he'll make sure he'll win the argument... At our rate, persuading Idia may be difficult," Trey asserted.
"But..."
"Deuce, nothing will be done if we're to keep arguing right now, we'll just lose our practice time..." (Name) added. "Alright. Headmaster, let Idia-senpai participate remotely... For now."
"Eh? What about the actual event?"
"I've got to work on Deuce's dance, but before the main event we'll figure out some way to convince Idia," Trey told the Headmaster. "As you can see, if we push him too much, we might as well is asking him to abandon his role as a Star Gazer."
Crowley huffed before nodding, "... You may be right. I allow Mister Idia Shroud to attend remotely." Then he looked at the other Star Gazers, "However, Mister Deuce Spade, Mister Trey Clover, and Miss (Name) Heartfilia must pull Mister Idia Shroud to the main event, am I clear? Can I count on you?"
"You can count on us!"
"Yes... Yes!"
"We'll take care of it."
"Good," the Headmaster gave them a thumbs up. "I must get back to work. Continue gathering wishing stars and be sure to practice for the event as well!" He bid goodbye before leaving.
"Hey, can you even pull him to get into the main event?" Carla asked (Name).
"I don't know, but I'll try."
"Will we... Be able to pull Idia-senpai to the main event?" Deuce asked his upperclassmen.
"I don't know... But, we need to try."
Behind the tablet, Idia couldn't help but snicker, "Hehe... I got them to let me participate remotely! I'm such a brilliant tactician," he praised himself. "I should be able to clear the Star Sending without anyone having to see me play the taiko drums!"
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