Still Stuck

The next day, Arata was expecting his secret to be the talk of the school. However, when he entered, it was like any other day. He was feeling nervous last night, not able to sleep. Yet, she hadn't done it yet.

Was her blackmail a bluff? No, he though. She probably was waiting for the right time to get him. He couldn't just let his guard down, not that he could do anything about it.

"You and Erina had a fight, didn't you." Those were Yogi's first words to him, as he sat at his desk.

"What? How do you already know about that?" Yogi explained to him that after their fight. Erina went running straight for his place. It was quite a fright for him when he saw her crying while hanging onto his window.

"She wouldn't tell me why you were so mad. That it was a secret." He continued. "I don't know what it is that you're upset about, but you can forgive her for it, right?"

"I think it's on the unforgivable side." Arata replied. Knowing that if he knew the truth, then he'd agree. "And if you're wondering about lunch. I think I'll just eat on my own." He didn't want to be in the same room as her, let alone eat with her. Since she was the real friend with them, it made sense that he be the one to leave.

"Are you-"

"Yes, I'm sure." Normally, Yogi would've been more persistent in trying. However, he knew that whatever this was, it was pretty serious.

As he was eating his lunch, this was an odd feeling for Arata. For the first time in a while, he was felt that he was free. Not having to worry about helping that girl, it wasn't bad.

Except, something still felt wrong to him. Taking a bite, this food, it didn't taste that good. Except this was what he always ate everyday, same as always. Maybe it was because he was still pretty angry?

No, that couldn't be it. He was nowhere near how he felt yesterday. In fact, he was rather calm. Then, what was wrong? Was it that he wanted to eat lunch with them?

Arata shook his head. That was crazy, there was no way he could miss those quips Yuriko made, Misei's attempts to downplay her shortcomings, or even Erina's…

"No!" He yelled, gathering some attention from the other students in the classroom. "I mean… No, I can't believe this tastes so good." he laughed nervously, as the others stared.

Soon, everyone went back to minding their own business, leaving him to eat in isolation. Even though he was doing this because he wanted to avoid her. That wasn't going to be the case forever. Especially since he had obligations to take care of.

"All right everyone. We all know our parts now, so let's get some practice in." Ichiri commanded everyone on the stage to do. Arata was still stuck being an understudy, so he had to be present for these practices, even if it was inconvenient.

"Arata..." Erina was sitting beside him, which made sense because of their roles.

"I'm only here because I have to be." He responded coldly. "Let's just get this over with." He grabbed out his script and begun. This part, it was when Demetrius is looking for the woman he is promised to. Helena is attempting to stop him, Trying to show her love towards him.

Reading those words, it didn't feel like acting for him. Being able to say mean things in front of everyone, without them knowing the feelings behind them. It was a little cathartic to him.

Hearing her say her lines. It almost felt like she was a much better actress than what he saw yesterday. He was kind of impressed with how much improvement she made in such a short time.

Except, if he was more aware of her. He would've realized that there was truth in those words that she was saying. That this was not just mere acting.

"Director." Arata stopped what he was about to say. It was Yogi asking a question. "Is it allowed if I swap partners with Arata?"

"You want to trade with the understudy?" Ichiri looked at him in confusion.

"I think that it might be a good idea. You know, in case either of them have to take over for one of us. Then we can have some practice together."

"I guess it's fine then." She allowed it. "Hayama! Get over here. Shinshiro, go join Kashimura." She commanded the girls to trade places. When Akiba got to him, they both already knew the true reason for this.

"I guess even when I'm not helping her, I'm still helping her." He noted in a sarcastic tone.

"It's funny how things work out." She replied. Even if one wasn't aware of her feelings, anyone could tell from her tone that she was disappointed.

They tried picking up where he had been left off with Erina, but it just wasn't working with her. Ironically, despite the tension between him and Erina, their acting job was much better to him. He just caulked it up to her feeling not okay with this situation.

"Hey." He stopped their session. "I'm sorry about taking you from Yogi. That really wasn't my intention."

"Oh, it's fine." She rubbed her fingers. "I'm not mad about it."

"You're lying." He confronted her.

"What? What makes you-"

"I just do, don't ask why." He stayed firm with this. Knowing that she'd have to admit it.

"Fine." She gave up. "I'm really, really angry about this." She said to him in a hush tone. Making sure that no one else could hear them. "But I only have myself to be mad at."

"I don't think you did anything wrong."

"You got mad at her, because of what I said, right?" He couldn't deny that. Hearing what she had to say to him. That was enough to get him riled up. Even then, it was still his choice, his words, and more importantly, the truth.

"So what? You're probably just upset that she's running to Yogi because of me." He thought that he had gotten to know this girl, until she revealed that side of her. Now this was the point he was confident in knowing the reality of this person. "And I bet you only said what you said, so I'd turn against Erina."

"That's only partially true." She answered. He didn't think that there would be more to what she felt. "I am jealous that she gets to run into his arms because of it." She paused for a moment, to make sure she said the right thing this time. "But, I'm sorry that I caused a rift between you two."

"Why should you be sorry? You only told me the truth. Even if it was for selfish reasons."

"That's the problem, I was selfish." Said Akiba. "But more importantly, I didn't tell you the truth."

"For some reason I doubt that you were trying to lie to me earlier."

"I wasn't lying then. Or at least, that's what I honestly believed." She was now seeing the results of what she caused. Arata didn't know it, because he didn't eat lunch with them. But when she saw what happened to Erina, her friend, she instantly knew she was wrong.

That girl… She hardly spoke any words to them. She didn't even make lunch, for herself or Yogi. She never meant to cause her friend any pain, just wanted to knock her down a peg in this race.

But the biggest moment that showed her how wrong she was about Erina. When a boy opened the door to their lunchroom, he sounded just like Arata. Erina… She turned around, with so much glee. Only to be utterly destroyed when it just turned out to be a different person.

"I was wrong about her. She doesn't consider you like trash, and she's not just using you either. You're the most important person to her."

"I really doubt I'm more important than Yogi, or even any of you guys."

"Maybe not Yogi, but I know that you have a special place in her heart." She argued.

"Why are you telling me all this?" He asked. "Wouldn't it be better for you if I wasn't a part of this?"

"Because I don't want to be like that side of me." She explained. "I guess I've gotten worse lately." She regretted losing her cool in front of him that day. That feeling she felt when she did that to him… It felt like her mind just wanted to do it more and more now that it was out.

"Well I'm partially to blame for that. Which is probably why I should just stay out of all of your businesses."

"Please, I want to be able to fix this… Because that's not who I am, or who I want to be. I hate that side of me." He stayed silent for a while. Contemplating her words, the wait was making her anxious.

"Are you telling the truth?" Those were the first things he said to break his silence.

"Ye-"

"About Erina. I mean, does she really care about me?"

"Yes. She won't say it, but I know for a fact that's what she feels." He held onto that for a moment, wanting to make sure he wasn't about to regret his next action.

"Okay, do you still have my number?"

"Um… No, when you gave it to me after the hospital. I deleted it immediately." he was a little upset, even if he understood why. But he did that for emergency purposes, so that felt a bit petty to him.

"Here…" He took her phone and entered his contact info again. "How about a deal? Anytime you're feeling angry or jealous about Yogi, just give me a text or call. You know, to vent to me."

"Really?" He nodded in affirmation. Arata believed that if she just let off some steam, then maybe she wouldn't be so angry anymore. At least, he hoped that was the case.

"Yeah, and don't worry. I'll keep everything a secret." She agreed to it. After all, if he wanted to expose her. He'd already would've done so.

"So then you'll forgive Erina?"

"No."

"But-"

"Not until she apologizes to me first. For everything that she's ever done to me."

"If she does, then you'll forgive her?"

"I'll forgive her if she's being genuine." He explained. "I want her to be honest to me, and I want her to prove to me that this will never happen again." He was referring to the blackmail. It wasn't going to be much good to him if he just let that continue.

"That's good then." Akiba believed that this was going to be easy.

"But don't tell her what I just said. Or even help her." She looked at him, confused. "If she's going to apologize, then she has to do it on her own. It's pointless otherwise."