The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 144~♫

Putting down her clothes, Ueno jerked. The floor under her squeaked, but she would swear somebody moved behind her. Was he stealing glances of her? He was a boy, after all. Who wouldn't want to see her nude?

'Would he?' She still needed to doubt it. Tiptoeing to the door, she found the hall empty. Not a single sound reached her. However, she was positive somebody was near her.

'Must be my imagination. I'm tired.' She closed the door, putting a small vase in front of it to alert her of opening.

Returning to putting on the costume, she found minor details all around her. Notes from students to give it their all and to not give up to lines from the plays engraved into the wooden walls and around the mirrors.

Under one table, she glimpsed a dusty ribbon and one shoe with cobwebs all over it. Who lost it there? How long it was there? Was anybody missing the shoe?

The puzzling questions swirled inside her mind. But those weren't the ones that resonated the most—Why should she care? What those people were for her? What use she had for them? What could they give to her?

Shadows in the room deepened. Their icy claws dug closer inch by inch to wrap around her entire body. Her breath turned into a vapor as she hugged her body. The world darkened.

"Ueno-san?"

The knock on the door erased everything.

"W-What?" she yelped.

"Are you alright? I don't know how long girls change clothes, but you are inside almost half an hour. Do you need help?"

Ueno looked around herself. How come she took so long? Did anything distract her?

"N-No, I'm fine."

"Can I enter?"

Almost stammering yes, her eyes glanced around the small vase by the door. "A second!" She lifted it, put it back, and creaked the door.

Kagetsu still took small steps inside. His eyes trailed her body, but she didn't shudder. There was no lust or greed, just happiness.

"You look great."

Realizing that she completed the change, she turned around. Whether that one mirror was in a better condition eluded her, but it reflected her figure in radiant colors. Always wearing her uniform or revealing clothes, she had never tried anything like this.

Her hands traced her hips, going through the steam flowers. Even her legs remained hidden under the half-transparent skirt. She turned around, pivoting, and the skirt followed, waving like a field of grass in the wind. A light smile appeared on her face.

Adjusting the clip with the big lotus, she perfected the visage. "Perhaps a bit of make-up could do good," she pondered aloud.

"Well, not sure about that. But if you say so." He gave her a wide smile. "I think there is still something here..." His voice trailed off as he dived into the wardrobe and opened the drawers under the mirrors.