⊱ 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 ⊰

The cast list was put up two days after auditions, and all you did was stare at the paper, like looking at it constantly would make it read something else. Childe waved his hand in front of your face, causing you to flinch.

"Does that say what I think it says?" You asked immediately.

"Yes, it does," Gorou said, staring the paper down as well. He wasn't sure how to feel.

On one hand, he made it a tie and got the lead role, but on the other hand... That meant he had to act like he loved you, and he was not talented enough to do that. Childe sighed.

"I wasn't asking you," you snapped. "Since when were you a good actor!?"

"Since a week ago, I guess."

"I can't believe this," you muttered. "You've never even done a play without acting as a tree! How can you go from that to this!? It doesn't make sense!"

"Y/n, breathe," Childe said, placing a hand on your shoulder.

You took a deep breath and turned away from Gorou, refusing to look at him. He was really enjoying seeing you so furious. He decided to take the situation as a victory.

"See you at rehearsal," he called while you walked away, dragging Childe along with you.

"Whatever, mutt!"

━━━━⊱✿⊰━━━━

"So what were the results?" Ayaka asked.

"I got the female lead and Gorou got the male lead," you said with a deadpan expression.

"I'm Gorou's understudy," Childe added.

"So... You and Gorou have to pretend you love each other," Thoma blinked. "That's gonna go great."

"Yeah," you cried miserably, slamming your head down on the table. "I need another coffee."

Childe waved a waiter over and requested another order for you, which you promptly thanked him for. You really felt like your heart was being stomped all over, as if it were a bug. 

"It'll be alright, Y/n," Kazuha said with a smile. He was actually quite glad with the result, since he always wanted you and Gorou to get along. He wanted you to see the good in each other, so perhaps this was the chance to do that.

"No it won't..."

Or maybe it wasn't.

"It's only for one play," Ayaka mentioned, trying to look on the bright side. "It can't be that bad, right?"

"But there's a kissing scene in the script! I think I'll die!" You whined. "That's gonna be even worse than losing in the first place!"

"You tied," Thoma pointed out.

"Same thing!"

Childe patted your back awkwardly, not sure what he could say to make you feel better.

"Well, I'm sure you could ask Miss Yae to alter the script if you're uncomfortable with it. I don't think anyone would make two teenagers kiss in front of people without wanting to," Kazuha stated.

"...Have you met Miss Yae? I bet she'd do anything to make it happen!"

"...Really...?"

"Yes."

Your coffee refill was set on the table and you hastily sipped it, not caring about the temperature until it burned your lip.

"Ow!" 

"That's what you get," Thoma chuckled. "Just relax, it'll be fine. You should at least try to get along with him during practice. Before you know it, it'll be over."

"Or you could quit the play," Ayaka suggested.

"No," you declined quickly. "I got a lead role, and I worked really hard for the audition, I'm not quitting."

"Then you'll have to be professional about it," Kazuha said.

"Yeah... Professional..."

━━━━⊱✿⊰━━━━

"You're saying it wrong."

"What? What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you need more emotion! You sound like a cardboard box," you huffed.

"Well I'm sorry that the only emotion I can feel around you is anger, it's hard to sound happy when you're standing in front of me."

"God, I wish Kazuha were here," you groaned. "I can't deal with you. Can't you just quit the play?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I worked hard to get picked for the main role... And Kazuha told me not to."

You rolled your eyes and tapped your foot against the stage, "Miss Yae, this isn't working."

"Yes, I can see that. Thank you for your astute observations, Y/n," she replied, causing Gorou to laugh.

"Shut up," you hissed, stepping on his foot.

He yelped in pain, "Ow!"

"That's what you get for laughing at me. Next time, I'll get Scaramouche to beat you up."

"You wouldn't."

"Maybe I would."

He silenced himself and Yae observed the situation. You were only on the second scene with each other, and you couldn't keep it together. She obviously noticed how well you both looked as a couple, based on looks alone, but your personalities clashed completely. She hummed, deep in thought. You and Gorou awaited her criticism.

"If you don't pull it together, I'll get both your understudies to replace you," she said simply, standing up and walking to the door. "I'm getting something to eat. If I still see you arguing when I get back, you're cut."

You froze up and you noticed Gorou do the same. Yae exited the room and you groaned, tugging at your hair. Gorou's tail clearly showed how nervous he became because of the woman's judgement.

"Fine. Professional. Be professional," you whispered to yourself before turning back to the boy next to you. "Are you gonna try to cooperate?"

"You say that like you actually think I'm a dog."

"Well..."

"Don't even say anything else."

━━━━⊱✿⊰━━━━

"He's impossible to work with," you said, aggravated by your previous experience in the auditorium. 

You managed to get through the scene before Yae got back, satisfying her to a certain point, but it was undeniably difficult. Whenever he did anything wrong, you'd shoot him glares to let him know, and he'd do the same for you. You could not believe you had to work with him.

So you decided to vent to Childe while he drove you home.

"You could always break his leg or something so I could replace him," Childe chuckled.

"...Hm..."

"...Y/n? I was kidding, don't do that."

"I honestly think that would be a great idea," you sighed, leaning your head against the headrest of the passenger seat and looking over to Childe. "You're way better than him. I mean, at least I have more chemistry with you."

"Yeah..." Childe agreed, his grip on the steering wheel tightening significantly.

"What, did I say something wrong?" You queried, raising an eyebrow at him while you lifted your head. "You look tense."

"No, you didn't do anything, I was just... thinking. Sorry."

"Uh huh, sure. I bet you're bitter, being his understudy."

"Why would I be bitter?"

"...Right, I keep forgetting other people don't think like me," you said. "Oops."

You grinned at him, which he saw from the corner of his eye, and he had to suppress a smile of his own.

"I can tell you want to smile."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're obviously trying not to smile. C'mon, don't bottle up your emotions, it's not good for you."

He playfully rolled his eyes and smiled, "Fine, you win."

"As usual," you beamed. "There's that lovely smile of yours! Good job, I knew you could do it."

"Pfft, shut up, Y/n."

"You know you love me."