Chapter Sixty-Three: Can I Become Your Princess?
“……Beautiful princess, may I have this dance with you?”
The prince, played by Kanade, finally snapped out of his daze as he looked at the heavenly Nagi.
He stepped forward slowly and extended his hand to the princess in front of him.
“It would be my honor, my prince.”
Nagi gently placed her hand in his.
Kanade could feel how Nagi’s slightly trembling hand steadied the moment they made contact.
A radiant smile spread across her face, and the starlight in her eyes momentarily overshadowed everything around them.
The two began to dance.
Kanade’s dancing skills were mediocre, a product of last-minute practice.
But at that moment, he felt light and agile.
Every beat, every rhythm, was perfectly timed.
Not a single misstep.
“(The realm of angels…)”
An older man in the audience couldn’t help but murmur.
“(Senpai, could it be that this is…..)”
The audience below began to notice something unusual on stage.
They were clearly from the same batch of students just moments before.
But once Cinderella took the stage.
Their performances underwent a qualitative change.
Under the guidance of the girl named “Hoshimiya Nagi,” they exhibited actions and expressions that were entirely different from just before.
They were drawn into a stage that belonged solely to “Hoshimiya Nagi,” a world that belonged exclusively to “angels.”
Every move of the “angel” influenced everything on that stage.
Even clumsy lines and missed steps seamlessly integrated into the performance, as if everything was meant to be this way.
“Existence is justification.”
It transformed every person present into top-tier actors.
They didn’t need to act deliberately; even being themselves, an angel could rationalize their presence on stage.
This was the acting skill that Nagi had once been called the “realm of angels.”
A film critic once quoted a line to evaluate this acting skill as suited for horror movies.
“She can make me believe that water is poison.”
It was an acting style that struck deep within and could distort perception.
Centered on Nagi, the realm spread out like ripples.
——The genius that heralded a new era had returned.
The third act ended with the beautiful dance and heartfelt gazes of Nagi and Kanade.
The lights dimmed.
The starlight grew faint.
The fourth act—an open confrontation.
This was a completely free performance.
Nagi, in shades of sea blue.
Ryoko, in shades of fiery red.
Two stage lights shone on the two of them.
But contrary to everyone’s expectations.
Nagi and Ryoko did not speak; both chose Silent Etude, an improvisational performance without sound.
The two top actors made their judgement.
In this makeshift stage, the transmission effect of sound was not as direct as visual impact.
Using lines recklessly would only weaken their “momentum” on stage, while the opponent would overshadow them.
Centered on the prince on stage.
The red and blue figures danced like drawn swords crossing on the stage.
Spinning, moving.
The dance with the best visual effects became the main theme of this confrontation.
The light and shadow enhanced the atmosphere, causing everyone present to hold their breath and focus.
The invisible tension and ripples filled every corner of the stage.
The figures, thoughts, and souls of the two collided on this stage.
But in this evenly matched contest.
Ryoko gained the upper hand first.
Her performance centered everything around herself, utilizing Nagi’s acting that accentuated others, bolstering her own dominance.
She began to gradually overshadow Nagi in “momentum.”
At the same time, the starlight in Nagi’s eyes flickered weakly.
——If this continued, she would lose.
Everyone present seemed to read that message.
It had nothing to do with professional knowledge or perspective; it was a resonance from their hearts triggered by Nagi and Ryoko’s performances.
It transcended knowledge, language, and thought.
No!?
Ryoko, who also realized this, suddenly sensed something was off.
She was a character in the play.
Yet, she felt a resonance similar to the audience.
That meant she, too, was affected by Nagi’s acting.
In other words, the disadvantage she faced was premeditated.
Nagi was more aware than anyone that she would be suppressed by Ryoko in the third act.
Her starlight could not sustain a victory over Ryoko in the third act.
So she had originally planned to let the momentum shift in this round.
Although the third act was a direct confrontation with Ryoko, it didn’t mean she had to win in that act.
There was no need to follow the other’s steps and rhythm; if Nagi wanted to defeat herself by snatching Kanade away in this act.
Then she must forcibly transition before that.
Not allowing Kanade the chance to interact with her.
Nagi utilized her position of disadvantage in this contest.
This provided her with a reasonable motive and justification for her subsequent escape.
It distorted the essence of the plot.
Without the need for narration or changing lights, Nagi actively distanced herself from the clash with Ryoko.
Seamlessly transitioning into the fourth act—Cinderella’s escape.
There was no dim stage for her to leave, and Ryoko was not the main character of this scene.
So she could only “exit” under the spotlight.
This action would undoubtedly severely damage her momentum.
Mastering methods within the rules while also manipulating the rules themselves.
This was the way of an unconventional player.
However, for Nagi, this was not a time for joy.
Because—
The magic was about to fade.
The starlight in her eyes had but one last glimmer.
At the same time, it was also Ryoko’s predetermined trump card in the script.
In the fourth act, Cinderella would break the magic, shedding her enchanting appearance.
But there was no time or opportunity for her to change clothes on stage.
The more glamorous her initial appearance, the more it showcased a princess granted by magic.
Therefore, the moment the magic faded, it became harder to convey the contrast of her falling from grace.
But for Nagi.
Perhaps she didn’t need acting.
Because she was standing here relying on magic—
She was never a princess.
The starlight was extinguished.
Nagi’s delicate body collapsed onto the stage, and her hair, pinned up, came undone due to the impact.
The cascade of her black hair flowed down, mingling with her gentle and elegant aura, transforming into a waterfall of darkness that streamed over her exposed skin, her bangs obscuring her face.
The dreamlike Cinderella had vanished, leaving behind an outcast that couldn’t blend with the ball.
Even the cursed crystal shoe had not been left behind.
Nagi was no longer the princess admired by the prince.
——
Epilogue—The Recognition of the Prince and Cinderella.
Everyone present was stunned by the change in aura from the girl before them.
Even the producer who had just belittled Nagi could not help but straighten his back.
Something had changed on stage.
Nagi’s fragile posture seemed to be shrouded in darkness.
Something was awakening.
The princess who had just dazzled the audience now emanated a bizarre and eerie aura.
Unease.
Oppression.
As if something was about to break free from the body before them.
The most primitive emotion of humanity—fear spread in everyone’s hearts.
Just as everyone was about to be overwhelmed by this emotion.
The focus light turned on.
Shining on the prince.
…..
Kanade’s mind went blank.
He had forgotten what he was supposed to do at this point in the script.
But his body began to move on its own.
He slowly walked towards that princess.
Towards the Cinderella who had shed all pretense.
The scene before Kanade felt strangely familiar, as if their identities had swapped.
Flashes of memory passed through his mind, of himself sitting alone on the kindergarten playground.
And the black-haired girl walking slowly toward him.
“Hello, my name is Hoshimiya Nagi, the teacher asked me if you want to come and play with everyone?”
“Go away, I don’t need you meddling in my business.”
“Oh, really? Then at least tell me your name, that way I can explain to the teachers.”
“Tsukimi Kanade.”
“Tsukimi….. Kanade?” The girl repeated his name.
This made the younger version of himself curiously look up.
Her jet-black eyes met his light yellow ones.
In Nagi’s eyes, the figure of Kanade slowly approached.
He knew better than anyone that the girl he liked was named “Hoshimiya Nagi.”
She was the pure, cheerful, gentle, and kind childhood friend.
Just like the Cinderella created by magic.
But magic will always fade one day.
He would eventually shed that layer of magical disguise.
Reality, just like now, wouldn’t leave behind a cursed crystal shoe.
Would not leave behind evidence of his existence.
“——Even if it’s this version of me, can I still become your princess?”
Kanade recalled the first time he met Nagi.
She had the same look in her eyes.
Not a sunny angel, not a beautiful princess.
Her dark eyes were so frail it seemed they would shatter at any moment, making it impossible for him to leave her alone.
What he truly cared about was her as she was then.
“It has to be you—”
——
Everyone stood up, and thunderous applause erupted.
The outcome was decided.
