haunted theatre au psl

[showbaka]

Truly, this challenge could have only been trusted with a future star such as myself! No wonder I got dragged into this. Even this theatre and the ghosts residing in it recognize my talent!

[Is how Tsukasa chooses to make himself feel better about his predicament. Not that he hasn't done his fair share of panicking and would continue to do so, but panicking wouldn't solve this. Yes, this is but a stepping stone in his career!

One he isn't too thrilled about and never could have predicted, but a still a stepping stone. The only thing that would get him out of this mess would be his skills as an actor. But there is the whole issue of getting visitors to stick around long enough to act. The place is creepy. Signs of abandonment are showing as its popularity declined over the years with no one wanting or able to take care of it. Even Tsukasa has to admit it looks different from how he remembers. To make matters worse, his attempts to draw in visitors have been doing the opposite. He can reach people with his voice, he can interact with the props and theatre, but no one has managed to see him. All of his rehearsals end up backfiring with visitors panicking about the theatre being haunted and leaving as fast as possible.

His shoulders fall as he watches a group of people do just that. They whisper to eachother about how the ghosts here are a lot louder than they imagined and...kind of annoying for a ghost? No one sees Tsukasa stagger back at the insult as if injured.]

I'm not a ghost!

[Even if he is transparent, and can't get hurt, he's definitely not a ghost! But his shouting does the opposite and the visitors leave the theatre empty again other than of Tsukasa and the actual ghosts.

The stage lights turn on, flooding the auditorium and stage in a dazzling light. In that moment, Tsukasa can almost see the same sparkle it had when he and Saki visited. There's laughter as some of the residents of the theatre emerge to perform one of their favorite shows. Scrambling off the stage, Tsukasa meanders and starts tidying up where he can--dusting the shelves, rearranging items, bringing belongings to the lost and found that no one ever visits. He still tries to avoid the ghosts when possible. They're the reason he's in this mess.]

A welcoming and neat appearance will attract more of an audience!

[And no one in their right mind would visit a haunted theatre at this hour!]

Comments

[showbaka]

You have been. You've been very level-headed and calm.

[...] It doesn't bother you at all? This place and the ghosts?

[depressured]

Not really, no. I admit, I was a little surprised the first time I encountered a ghost, but...

... In the end, they just want to be heard. It's never been difficult to do that much.

[showbaka]

I suppose—

What?! Wait a minute, you’ve encountered other ghosts?! [That makes him more concerned!]

[depressured]

[ A nod, as she takes a forkful of pancake. ]

She just needed help getting her shoes out of a tree.

[showbaka]

What?!

[He cowers back…and then looks sad.] Oh. Did you get them out?

[depressured]

[ Really, his face is... so interesting. He's like an open book. ]

I did. I think... the ghosts here might go a little overboard, but it might just be that they don't know what to do anymore.

[showbaka]

...I think you're right. [Frowning at his pancakes.] Anyone would feel lost if they were invisible and feared for as long as they have.

[depressured]

Exactly. So I find it difficult to be afraid of them.

[ Mafuyu, of course, is not built like other girls. ]

[showbaka]

[He stares at her thoughtfully while taking another bite.]

Hmmmm. Have you ever thought of acting, Asahina-san?

[depressured]

Acting?

[ She does it on the daily-- ]

I haven't really done it outside of school requirements...

[showbaka]

You’re very empathetic and brave. I’m not sure if you would enjoy it but if you ever decided to I think you could be good at it.

[depressured]

Brave?

[ Empathetic? ]

... I may not be afraid of ghosts, Tenma-san, but I'm not sure I could ever call myself a brave person.

[showbaka]

[...

He smiles sheepishly.] I'm sorry. I suppose I find you brave, not flinching at the sight of ghosts or insects. But I shouldn't jump to conclusions!

[depressured]

May I ask what scares you the most about ghosts?

[ Maybe that's something they can remedy. ]

[showbaka]

[He frowns deep in thought.] To tell you the truth, I never gave them much thought before here. It's startling when they appear out of nowhere and I worry that they could curse someone else or torment people with their antics...

But I think it's knowing that they have unfinished business that's made them so sad that it's trapped them and they cannot move on. I think if I were to be trapped here, I would end up the same way. It's more upsetting than it is scary.

[depressured]

...

[ With a trace of a smile-- ]

So in other words, you're also capable of empathizing with them.

[showbaka]

[His eyes widen but he ends up smiling.]

When I start thinking about them as actors instead of ghosts, I suppose I can't help it.

[depressured]

It's technically all about perspective, isn't it?

[ She doesn't think anything will help in regards to bugs, though... ]

I can't say I agree with them in terms of trapping you here, of course, so if the performance doesn't go well, I'll try to figure out a way to reason with them.

[showbaka]

Indeed it is. I’ve not been a very ideal audience member, but you’ve helped me see otherwise.

[He laughs, almost looking smug for some reason.] You needn’t worry about that. Our performance is guaranteed to be a starworthy success that shall be talked about for years to come!

[depressured]

For years...?

[ ... ]

Your confidence truly is admirable, Tenma-san...

[showbaka]

It's only natural. I'm confident all our hard work will pay off! Even the ghosts will want an encore!

...That said, if they do I hope they keep their end of the agreement. [He pales.]

[depressured]

I'm sure they will.

[ With the world's sweetest smile.

They will. Or she'll haul him out here herself. ]

[showbaka]

[He finds himself smiling too.]

When you say it, I can't help but feel confident!

[depressured]

Well, it was your confidence that inspired me to believe it in the first place.

So, let's get to work, Tenma-san. We've got a lot of ground to cover in a few weeks.

[ So much ground. ]

[showbaka]

As expected of a future star.

Yes! [He sets his fork down decisively.] Let us cover hundreds of kilometers today while the day is still young!