Array
(
[text] =>
๐
Setups
ft. underpaid teachers
” ๊ทผ๋ฐ ๋จ ํ๊ฐ๋ ์๋ star, yeah “
–
Meanwhile ms. L/n was dying with her roommate degrading her poor choices on a Sunday afternoon….
“Hm… Move the cloud to the right! Hold up, I see the a patch of thinner layer of paint on the edge.” Childe groaned at the nitpick behind the painted piece of layered cardboard he had graciously worked on for the last hour. Most of the art students were in charge of making the painted or decorative props, which clearly wasn’t the most optimal choice considering half of art students took the class because it was generally easygoing compared to academic courses. “It’s barely noticeable, plus who’s going to stare at a single cloud on the top of the stage from their seats….?!”
“I will. Now chop chop, this is a show that will bring two star crossed lovers together!” At that comment, the he didn’t have further complains before sighing and grabbing the two metre sized prop and carefully backtracking on the ladder.
Fischl with her signature black eyepatch proudly made way over to the one overseeing the setup in the theatre performance room. Thanks to the district’s generous funding, Teyvat had its own performance auditorium space around the size of the main gym. “Why, I thoroughly appreciate the sedulous enthusiasm thou art putting into this performance. Regisseur Furina.”
“Please just call me Furina.” She looked away, mildly flushed at the title. “Not only is this the largest scaled theatre performance of the year, but it holds great significance. Of course I must be meticulous.” Oz soon followed behind Fischl. Furina glanced towards the hard working students setting up props and moving over large items. Feeling like she was judging and coaching without actually doing anything, she faltered. “ahem… Let’s have a snack break everyone!”
No one opposed to the idea and all gathered around in large gaggles, chatter beginning to rise. Teyvat had an annual tradition of holding the district’s largest theatre performance around this time, this year was no different. However, much suspicious doubt circled when the announcement that a student was directing the play rather than the drama teacher herself. People doubted the quality of the show yet to be performed, leading to the tickets that were usually all sold by now only being halfway distributed. Tucking a loose strand hair behind her ear, the said director pursed her lip.
Almost everyone in the school knew of the situation between the two teachers by now, the entire building practically acting like wingmen. No doubt sounded may dramatic considering the sheer amount of people, but that was just how much people were fed up with their antics.
Furina heard many chitters of excitement from a small circle of female students sharing snacks nearby. One of them squealed as another mentioned guesses what the infamous calculus teacher would do in a relationship. Despite being feared amongst all teenagers within the premises of the building, his beauty was praised ever since he was born. Not to mention some girls with… Slightly questionable taste in men that were attracted to his blunt and chapped way of speaking, fantasizing about what was under the hard shell. Don’t get it wrong, that didn’t save him from the fact many considered the teacher’s face to be one of his only saving grace.
“Do you think mr. Raiden is an acts of service or a gifts kind of person??”
“Nuh uh. People like him are usually clingy when alone with their partners, I bet he’s going to be all over ms. L/n once they’re finally dating.”
“Him chasing after someone…. Is a sight that would greet me when it starts raining in hell.”
“Anastasia, start studying for your finals instead of reading those sappy romance comics on your phone all day.”
A horrendous crash banged by the west side of the performance hall, echoing for a few seconds as the whole group fell to a pin dropping silence. After a moment, a brunette head with ponytails popped out between the fallen pieces of support bars for a large prop. “Sorry! I was trying to catch a spider on the bars…” The vice student council president shook her head with a small sigh. “Hu Tao, please be more careful.”
With the entire student body was evolved with the theatre in that, the whole school was done and fed up with their two teachers’ hopeless lovelife.
The chosen actors in theatre had been practicing for the performance since the beginning of the semester until now. However, turning the annual drama showoff into a stage for two rocks (ms. L/n and her rommate) was mr. Zhongli’s idea in the first place. Having seen her ever since she was in a signature bobcut and colourful hair clips, he knew many things she liked. And knowing her, when she took a liking to something, it never changed easily unlike a passing interest. The said professor still remembered watching her read a children’s storybook by the window at least twice a week during recess when he allowed her to stay inside. Far below her reading level, but she seemed to never grow bored of it. He never spoke of her abnormal liking towards the story to her parents because of the knowing that it wouldn’t end nicely for her once they knew that she was reading a kids’ light novel instead of dictionary-thick books.
The Ballerina and the Wooden Soldier. A short yet heartfelt romance story written many years ago and still treated as a classic up to date. Although the version she read back then was a pictured novel meant to catch the poor attention span of young children with colourful drawings and thick words, there was still actual printed copies of it. Which he had seen in her bookshelf when he last visited her home. It just so happened to be the story the performance was based off. Perhaps, the unfamiliar shades of blended pastel colours and shining eyes of characters fascinated her as a child who had barely seen such images. Her little fingers once brushed over the cheeks of a page showing the tin soldiers shedding tears while gazing at the ballerina, while his body began to char and burn in the flames. As though she wished to reach into the surface of paper and wipe the teal-striken droplets.
Miko (who no one knew had entered) fished the script from the ground that one of the students had dropped. “Ah, I remember when Scaramouche collected all the volumes of this classic. I bet he still has them tucked away somewhere in his closet.” She hummed. Everyone paused.
“Mr. Raiden liked this..?!”
She squinted, placing a hand next to her ear to muffle the sudden unified shout. “My poor ears.” Yae outstretched the script to a nervous student who came to claim it back and yawned leisurely. “Did you guys not know? Don’t even get me started with his obsession back when he was young. He can probably still recite line from line by heart.” Her violet eyes softened ever so slightly at the old times’ memories. Everyone shared a glance with each other.
…If those two still couldn’t escape the river of denial after all of this, someone would probably slam their faces together into a makeout session.
That marked the end of the eventful weekend. With an art teacher withering away on her bed and a roommate who had nothing to do that particular day, (cancelled two meetups and plans) and just so happened to be on his way back from the store to buy soup.
Monday arrived and the entire building was still busy with the play setup. Students running around collecting materials from different classrooms, clusters of groups often seen carrying around ginormous props and navigating through the hallways. Fine arts classes such as arts and woodworking was majorly collaborative with the project as a part of their own grades. The band room was blaring with instrumental sounds being glued down together piece by piece in preparation for the music used in the play. In short, Teyvat’s anual performance was never considered a small short term presentation for show.
Opening the performance auditorium, e/c eyes immediately sparkled. “Oh my goodness… It looks just like I saw in books.” She gushed while carefully entering to not disturb the students hard at work even afterschool. Today was supposed to be another session with Fischl, but the two agreed to check out the setup as the blonde’s request. The said girl proudly rested her hands on her hips. Face melted into a soft expression, Y/n was busy moving her neck around to take in the sight. Even the audience’s seating area didn’t escape decorations. She saw many decorations made in both hers and other visual arts classes.
“Oh, do you see that fireplace by upstage left being measured right now?? I helped paint it, do you remember?” Fischl excitedly pointed at the large prop that was probably taller than a regular person. It was meant to be used in one of the final scenes as the wooden soldier was thrown into the flames of the fireplace. The prop was made by one of the woodwork classes and painted in Y/n’s class, so she recognized it immediately. “Mhm, it looks so realistic! You guys did an amazing job.” She smiled enthusiastically. Luckily, Fischl didn’t realize that she was forgetting to speak in her usual way, eyes brimming with pride.
The art teacher noticed the short glance almost everyone in the auditorium flashed towards her for a millisecond despite deciding on not to comment or even pretend to notice.
A white haired student began to make her way toward them. Feeling the presence, Y/n blinked and turned around. “Hello. You must be ms. L/n?” She nodded and turned fully to face the new addition. “I am. You’re Furina, the director of the play?”
Furina nearly flinched once the teacher recognized her without even meeting once. With a quick clearing of her throat, she placed on a usual grin. “You’re correct! Although, I’m closer to an acting director.. ahem, Anyways, how does the setup look so far?” She swiftly brushed the second last comment off and gestured to the stadium. The teacher smiled and nodded. “It looks so wonderful. I came to the school pretty late, so I only heard of the annual play’s concept recently. You don’t know how excited I was when I heard that the story is based on the Ballerina and the Wooden Solider.” Since the masses of people in the space was well over a few dozens, all shouting across the stadium to communicate, they naturally also had to raise their voice slightly.
“Hm, I take it that you must enjoy the original story?”ย “Absolutely! It was my favourite childhood storybook of all times. I even have the author signed copy I got from oversears in my bedroom bookshelf.” Y/n clasped her hands together, coughing slightly at the memory of the.. Questionable looking covered books lined with the century looking classic copy in the same row.
Despite already having heard of it, the confirmation that the old tale was indeed something of great value to her unknowingly added another weight to the young director’s chest. The perked corners of her lips twitched for a very brief moment that no one else noticed. Furina cleared her throat again and placed a hand by her back to cover it from eyes to fidget with it for some form of comfort. “What a wonderful coincidence! I will make sure this is a performance no one will be able to forget.” She declared with bloated confidence, surface as thin and fragile balloon.ย
Fischl had already ran off to some of her friends in drama to help them out, wavering to them in the distance. After a brief eye contact with her teacher, Oz also quickly padded after her.
Y/n gave a reassuring look. She placed a gentle hand on the girl’s head, fixing the small locks of bluish white back in place. Furina froze in place. “I’m sure of it. You’re so young, overseeing this entire thing must be tough. Balancing all that with schoolwork? I can’t imagine doing it myself.” She shook her head. The snowy haired girl blinked frantically, feeling the warm fingertips occasionally brushing her scalp. “Oh, does it bother you? My bad, fixing kids’ hair became a habit after working with kindergarteners for a few years.” With a chortle, Y/n retracted her hand.
But another hand nearly scrambled to gently hold it back. “Wโwait..” Her heterochromia dyed azure pupils shook upon realization of her actions. The teacher calmly watched as Furina hurriedly dropped her hand back with a failed steady breath. “Um….”
Y/n held the girl’s hand firmly with both of her own. “You’re doing something that would make anyone’s mouth fall to the opposite side of our planet, Furina. But you guys are all just kids with endless chances upcoming.” They failed to miss another pair of eyes intently gazing at them from a short distance away.
The director’s eyes unknowingly became glossy. Her face lowered, eyes averted to the side. Those words she wanted to hear more than anything else sounded so, so alien actually coming from someone’s lips. Y/n only pat her shoulder encouragingly. “Have some fun with it, you know you’re trying your hardest.” Somewhere inside, she also gave a genuine grin back. But for now, Furina once again regained her composure. “Of course. This will be my first and best work yet! I’ll make this especially special for you, ms.”
“I’m flattered, and still not used to being called ms. I got called a mrs back in the elementary at the beginning of every single year before I told the kids..” Upon noticing that her company did not wish to talk about the matter anymore, Y/n smoothly changed the subject with a dramatic sigh. “Do I really look that old?” Poor Furina frantically shook her hands and head. “Nononoโ that’s not what I meant,” “Kidding. I was playing with you, Regisseur.”
“…!”
“Haha, I heard Fischl calling you that when she mentioned you. Suits you well.”
Their conversation had the potential to stretch on a little longer, but the ever so slightly shorter female student took notice of another figure approaching them from the main entrance. She sweatdropped upon recognizing the infamous form of Inazuma’s demon teacher.
…And the second true star of this soon to be performance.
“L/n.” She snapped behind at the familiar voice, ignorantly smiling. “Hmm?”
“….Care to explain the mysterious disappearance of a once full case of my pens?”
“I ate them.”
“Get back here, I’m making them you vomit them back out since you didn’t yesterdayโ”
“AHHGGH, I’M A MINOR-“
“No you’re not.”
“Oh. Waitwaitwait, I’ll buy you new ones THIS IS A SCHOOL GET AWAY FROM ME…!”
Despite not making it obvious, the entire stadium gazed at the two with an exasperated look as Scaramouche speed walked calmly after his coworker who was scrambling away from him, trying to reach for the entrance that was busy with constant students spilling in and out. Memories of her first day’s game of hide and seek spilling back.
โ
It was just past six, time for the art teacher to go home and feed Kabuki that would immediately pounce on her leg and start purring that she could feel the vibrations through her skin. That is, if he wasn’t still pissed from the somehow still lingering smell from the cat cafe.
Y/n tilted her head, gazing at the piece of paper just offered into her hand a moment ago. “Play the final scene..?” She repeated after what was just asked of her. The very director of the performance nodded with a big smile. “Yes! Upon our meeting, I have came to conclusion that there will be no better candidate. That is, if you’re alright with it yourself.” It was darkening out the window due to the fact it was still early February, but the days were slowly getting longer with her approaching birthday. The art teacher hummed thoughtfully. “But you guys all practiced for months.. And I only have a week and a half at most left to memorize the lines and put it together.” She pointed out.
“The unhighlighted lines aren’t your lines, which makes it only one page long. I know it’s quite sudden.. Unfortunately, I have to visit a family member in the hospital just before the final scene.” Furina clasped her hands together in a dramatic plea. The teacher’s eyes softened at the mention. She did feel guilty for outwardly lying to such a nice person, but prayed that this would be for the best as everyone else convinced her of. Y/n thoughtfully gazed at the rather sad last few lines. This part wasn’t originally a scene in the story, but an added bonus by the drama department. When the two characters were reincarnated into the modern world, a short final interaction to trim the edges and cleanly draw the curtains. However, just reading the lines made her feel the sheer emotion and intimacy between the characters. Even the greatest actors had their weaknesses.
She sighed. “I’m really not sure…. These last few lines look very emotional, and I don’t know if I will be able to portray everything to satisfaction.” The confession wasn’t completely a lie, but she had slightly different reasons than what she revealed. “Could you not find a replacement in the drama classes?”
Furina visibly drooped down, adding to the young teacher’s guilt. She placed her hands behind her back, shifting the weight between her feet. Although it continuously jabbing at her conscience, she was the director of the play for a reason. “I know I should have. I’ve been looking for one ever since the news of my absence during that time was confirmed with my family. But….” Her eyes drifted elsewhere. “I have very high standards when it comes to live performances such as these. Its- it’s not that everyone are bad actors. But I just couldn’t find the perfect actor who had the image I searched for.”
Y/n’s eyes widened as the girl quietly looked behind to make sure the door was closed before dropping to a 180 degree bow. “I know I’m greedy with my goals. However, I do not want everyone’s hard effort and time to go to waste because of my pickiness. Ms. L/n, I am so sorry for the burdenโ but please, could you think about it for everyone who put in their hearts and thoughts into this show…?”
An actor always senses another actor’s script memorized words. However, the teacher heard the desperate sincerity behind those words likely practiced in the mirror multiple times.
In the end, she willingly allowed herself to fall for the nearly impossible to detect lie.
However….
She shook her head to herself, scrubbing whatever memory that trickled itself in left over like the wafts of a stubborn smell in the air after cooking. Instead, she tried to focus on the sheer time and hearts all of her students poured into the preparations. Her heart immediately softened into a shapeless mush.
“….” With a squeeze of her eyes, Y/n exhaled a breath that probably weighed two tons. “Alright. I’ll play the Ballerina for the final scene.”
Furina snapped her head up with round eyes. “Really..?” A giddy grin immediately spread across her face. “Thank youโ thank you so much..!”
Being a teacher is a multiperson job. A therapist on one day, a gossip columnist at lunch, and an actor the day after. Maybe this could somehow be an excuse to ask for a higher pay..? She sighed and shook her head. Furina immediately started gushing about details on the last Act. “โAh, ms. L/n…. Could I ask you to keep this a secret until the performance?”ย “Of course. But shouldn’t the student playing the Wooden Soldier know about this..?”
“He already knows, so don’t fret!”
Meanwhile, in the Inazuma teacher’s lounge……
“I don’t believe it’s April fools day quite yet. Check the calendar for me again?”
The blonde laughed lightheartedly at his companion’s expected response. “Come on Scaramouche. It’ll be fun.” Met with a scoff, the indigo haired teacher loosely tossed the page onto the table.
“Squabbling some picturesque lines written on paper of a ridiculously deformed story that looks like a fever dream? I’m not paid enough to do this.” Kazuha cocked his head to the side. “Since when did you do this job willingly for money despite grumbling about your students all day?”
“My students are different.” He immediately snapped back, crossing his arms defensively. His companion only gave a playfully smug look and took the word covered sheet up from the other side of the coffee table. The moment it was known that the Ballerina and the Wooden Soldier was the theme of the theatre play, a certain teacher had been practically stalking every crumb of information like a lurking shadow. Once he found out that the original tale had been altered quite a bit to fit the duration and tone, Scaramouche complained about it nonstop to the same teacher across from him at the moment. Something along the lines of future part time clowns ruining a perfectly written classic, and never mentioned it since like a disappointed child.
Vermillion irises gazed over the script presumably rejected. But anyone knowing Kunikuzushi wouldn’t come prepared to have whatever they wanted accepted by him in one go. “The student originally playing the role unfortunately cannot attend the final scene anymore. It’s only a page worth of lines, and you’re close in height with the original actor.” Scaramouche threw a halfhearted glare to the blonde at the suggestion regarding his height. “If I’m close to whoever playing the role, you must be identical. Why don’t you play instead?”ย Kazuha shrugged ignorantly. “Apparently I’m not the vibe they’re looking for.”
Oh so conveniently, the student playing the Wooden Soldier happened to have to attend his grandmother’s funeral right before the last scene of the performance. And the director decided that mr. Raiden would suit the final appearance of the two main characters perfectly. In the classic story, the Wooden Soldier was depicted as a lonely but loyal character who tried to defend his love until the very end from the Jack-in-a-box Goblin. Even at the result of his burning body alongside the Ballerina he longed to once protect. But in director Furina’s slightly modified version, the soldier is presented to be a sharp witted and often snappy, only revealing a softened side to his beloved Ballerina.
Scaramouche could almost no longer distinguish the tale. Rather than missing a leg, the Soldier was devoid of a heart in this version. Therefore believing that he could not feel love towards anything or anyone, growing colder and colder with each passing day. The childhood tale he once took comfort in was muddled beyond recognition by some teenagers that didn’t understand the value of classics. “Plus.. This is a romance based play. The Ballerina actor is a student. I won’t have some bottomless and puerile rumours sifting around.” He concluded sharply, taking a bothered sip from the paper cup. If this wasn’t Kazuha speaking to him, whoever that was would have already been long kicked out.
“Hm, what a shame. The students must be quite disappointed to hear the news. But I guess we can’t help it since you don’t feel comfortable with it.” His playfully concealing smile that swooped many ladies off their feet provided his company with slight iffiness. Scaramouche grew an irk mark. Then a second one as Kazuha continued. “Oh, I heard that Y/n is also an enthusiastic enjoyer of the story. She told me she’s looking forward to the performance.”
“..What does this have to do with her.”
Of course he responded less than half a second after the sentence regarding Y/n was mentioned.
Suppressing a chuckle, he was forced to continue on. “Did you not know?” Was the language teacher risking his life, trying to rise up his friend’s jealousy that he himself probably would until he turned gray and bent spined? Absolutely. “She just so happens to be an enthusiastic to the point she has a signed copy of the original tale. I never thought I’d meet someone who likes such an old classic as much as you.” At that, Kunikuzushi’s attention was captured. An invisible ear perked on his head while feigning on an uninterested attitude. However, his silence that invited Kazuha to continue on made his poorly hidden interest even more blatant. “That reminds me, we saw a cat that looked like yours the other day at the cat cafe downtown.”
A screen with the image of a bluish black kitty nuzzling on a very familiar pair of pants was shortly pushed into his face. The person’s upper half of their face was cut out but it was obvious on who it was from that cheeky grin. “Doesn’t he look just like Kabuki? He was on Y/n’s lap the entire time.” A third irk mark made itself known on the math teacher’s forehead, a vein threatening to burst. So that’s the reason Kabuki was still hissing at the clothes she wore to the cafe after it was washed.
The cat cafe that she spent an unnecessary amount of time with a person who she just met. Alone with them. Alone with him. When she said she would be back by a certain time.
“Oh, and alsoโ”
“Give me the paper.”
“Hmm~ couldn’t hear you.”
“I said give the paper, damn it. I’ll do this childish thing.”
Scaramouche noticed his coworker’s smile to be oddly smug that particular day as he snatched the paper out of his fingers. Kazuha nonchalantly checked the time, figuring it was about time the young director made contact with the teacher down a few hallways. The lack of notifications from his phone informed that it was a success.
โโ
A/n brainrot
im gonna sob and dig into a hole everyone was so ooc and cheesy ๐ซ anyways the school play thing is based off my friends school that does an annual drama performance with the entire school collaborating for props costumes everything, its actually rlly nice quality
once my friends brother was in the musical that year and the people bringing in the chair for a classroom scene forgot his chair so he had to do a wallsit for 10 mins straight bc he was a background character just sitting there
this part feels so rushed but just bear with me for this one chap๐ฆถ๐ฆถ๐ฆถ how to do transitions smoothly no borax no glue
Its almost been 30 chaps and theyre still not togetherย im sorry guys (i just read the full thing as a reader last night and felt sorry for yall so finally decided to start progress on them) WHY ARE MY AUTHORNOTES SO LONG THEYRE LIKE A THIRD OF THE STORY
4535 words
[text_hash] => f031d51c
)