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]

Asahina-san... Thank you. Your kindness is truly limitless.

[He finally feels like there's a chance to succeed at this!]

For now, I think keeping you hidden from the ghosts would be best. I don't know how they would react. You can be my audience and I will give the most convincing of performances!

[depressured]

But a performance for an audience of one won't satisfy them, will it? I can try to draw in a bigger crowd.

[ ... She is not going to comment on her kindness, only smiles politely with a rueful shake of her head. She can already hear Ena groaning in disbelief at anyone praising her to that extent. ]

[showbaka]

Perhaps you would be able to convince enough people that this place isn't haunted or cursed? It's...merely old and dilapidated!

[But that brings up another issue.] I've been trying to return it to some of its former glory in my spare time and make it more inviting, but it's quite the undertaking.

[depressured]

Return it to...?

[ She glances around them. ]

Do you mean like cleaning it up?

... Helping you with that much shouldn't be suspicious, should it?

[ She's going to have to make adjustments to her entire daily schedule, though. ]

[showbaka]

[Tsukasa waves his hands in concern.]

I couldn't ask that of you, it's a lot of work! I'm sure you have a lot of other responsibilities.

[Classes, friends...he misses those things. He puffs out his chest proudly before he can dwell on that.]

And I conveniently don't get tired now! ...But if it's not too much trouble, perhaps we could work on the performance together?

[depressured]

[ ... This look of surprise is genuine, not that he'll know that. ]

I... if you think that would be helpful, but I don't really have much experience with actual performances.

[ Beyond, like. Grade school plays. ]

[showbaka]

You need not worry about that! A future star can work with any level of experience!

[Some of his bravado dims and he looks down sheepishly.]

…And I would be grateful to perform with you.

[He might not know Mafuyu well, but he still is acquainted with her.]

[depressured]

[ ... Oh.

He's been putting up something like a front, hasn't he? Not entirely, but he must be stressed. He's not able to go home. He's stuck here with a bunch of spirits. She must be the first person he's been able to talk to in a while. ]

Mm... all right. If you're really fine with that, then I'll lend a hand.

[ He's Shizuku's childhood friend and Mizuki's senpai. She might as well put more effort into this. ]

[showbaka]

Asahina-san...

[Tsukasa forgets all about the ghosts. Overcome with emotion, he shouts at the top of his lungs.]

THANK YOU!!! YOU HAVE MY ETERNAL GRATITUDE! Ah, would you like a tour?

[depressured]

[ ... He's so loud... ]

I think that would be wise.

... But, perhaps a little more quietly, if we don't want the ghosts to take notice?

[showbaka]

The ghosts...! I forgot about them!

[Glancing over his shoulder.]

A...Anyway, this is the lobby! You used to get your tickets over there, at that desk.

[depressured]

[ ... How has he made it this far on his own... ]

Have you been here before?

... As in, not counting recent events?

[showbaka]

I have in fact!

[There’s a nostalgic smile as he talks about it.]

This is the very theatre Saki and I saw the show that inspired me to become the world’s greatest star!!! It is a place dear to many!

[depressured]

A place dear to many fell into this much disrepair?

[ It is, perhaps, a little bluntly worded, but she is lightly puzzled how this could have happened. ]

[showbaka]

...Mn.

[As much as it hurts to see the place in shambles, Mafuyu's right.]

I was surprised too when Akiyama told me about the curse and state of everything. I had to see it for myself. I don't know all of the details, but I wonder if the increase in ghosts resulted from its abandonment and neglect.

[depressured]

It's possible. If it's only been ten years or so, though, that seems too recent to have so many ghosts. It could be that they're from much older times and only reappear when this place is neglected.

[ This is just a guess, though. ]

[showbaka]

You bring up a good point. I've tried to keep my distance, but some of them do look like they belong in a historical play. We could ask them--

Wait, no! We should keep avoiding them!

[depressured]

... I don't see a problem with asking them. At the very least, they should be fine with you, shouldn't they?

[ But is Tsukasa fine with them... should probably be the question here. ]

[showbaka]

That’s true, but…

[He somehow manages to pale despite his transparency.

Mafuyu is right. The very least he can do is be a reliable not!ghost and ask them a few questions.]

Very well! You can count on me to ask them until we get all the answers we need. [Proud laughter as he walks down one of the large corridors. It has a plush, old looking carpet and decorative molding, but it looks similarly neglected and the lights flicker off and on. Whispers float down the hall.] We are trying to help them, after all!

[depressured]

I appreciate it, Tenma-san.

[ Since, you know, he won't let Mafuyu just handle it herself. It's true enough that he's probably a little better suited to it right now, given his current state, and she ponders this as she gently touches a bit of gilded wall. ]

... This place seems... lonely.

[showbaka]

You can count on me! [He looks pleased and gestures to himself, but his eyes fall on the wall.]

It does, doesn't it? [It's not the same without an audience, even as the voices grow louder in the background.] Oh. Over to the side is an equipment room. There's still some props and instruments in there!

[depressured]

Instruments?

[ She's quiet for a moment, thoughtful. ]

... Does this theatre have a piano?

[showbaka]

It does!

[He beams.]

It's in the auditorium. Would you like to stop there next?

[depressured]

Yes, please. I think it's important to see what we can work with.

[ She at least has familiarity with a piano. ]

[showbaka]

Yes, and it would be a shame not to play it.

[That's right. Mafuyu played the piano wonderfully. He thinks about mentioning it, but that looked like a personal moment between her and Kanade.

They could go through the backstage area to get there, but where's the theatrical suspense in that? Instead he'll go down a sweeping staircase that leads to the auditorium. Rows upon rows of red chairs descend to a grand stage, where a piano sits. The walls and ceiling are even more guilded than the corridors. Some of the ghosts are performing a show, while others sit at the front rows to watch.

Tsukasa is so caught up in staying in character as the enthusiastic guide, his eagerness to show the theatre genuine, that he forgets about the ghosts and gestures at the piano dramatically.]

There's the piano! It's still in quite good condition!!!