HtH103 – A Special Photo To Remember
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The girls take a photo before opening day.
"Alright everyone, you need to sit closer together! Closer~~~!"
The purple-haired guest, House, waves from the front of the miko shrine, holding her phone horizontal across her face.
Today is the day.
The long-awaited day that the theatre house opens up its doors. Lumi had suggested at dinner last night to visit the miko shrine in the morning to pray for good luck. It was a rare moment for the entire house, guests, actresses, dramaturg and all gathered in one place at the same time.
"Hurry up, House! Jule's legs are probably sore from holding that pose for so long!"
"Ehehehe! you sure you are speaking for Chef instead of yourself, Ablam?!?!"
The girls are seated on the low stone steps that lead up the shrine. Behind them, messy, ancient, calligraphy is printed on the shrine donation box, white paper streamers falling down from the ceiling like little strands of good luck. The girls seated on the stone steps have only just begun awkwardly edging closer together on House’s request.
".... ... Eh! That's not gonna work!"
(a concerned chime sounds out from the middle row)
"What is... wrong, House? Is there anything specifically we can do to help?" Lumi calls out from the middle row.
The photographer-girl with the Frxnch hat waves her arms in the air like a wacky inflatable tubeman, jumping up and down to make her point,
"You guys!! You guys are seated way too 'right'! In even rows and arranged by height too! What is this, a funeral photo?! Come on, don't be stingy with your AP, move a little!"
Our photographer's prompt-request only seems to confuse the girls further, unsure of what to do. During this momentary lapse, Piaccta turned her attention to the stone fox statue nearby, declaring with twinkling eyes, "This must be Pip's ancestor!"
Hikari gently pivots Piaccta back from her newfound interest to the matter at hand.
"Specifically, is there anything on your mind for that, House?" Jules asks from the second row, seated besides Lumi.
"I dunno, I guess, just beee yourselves?! >You! The Lxcina-cosplayer in the back!"
When photographer-House points straight at the back of stone steps, Minara gaze sweeps from left to right, befuddled by the sudden pointing. The other blue-haired girl at our house leans close to her ear, whispering something to Minara, which causes the local Lxcina-lookalike to point to herself with spinny, auric eyes!
"Me??? How come???"
"Yes, you're the one! Strike a pose! Whatever is most naturalé and comes to mind first!!"
"L-like this?"
Minara strikes a pose with her hands out, fingers in claw-like position; she also arches her back a little, like she is ready to scare someone!
"Nxntendies are gonna throw a fit over this!!" Nevertheless, a soft flash from the obnoxiously red phone camera still goes off. "Okay! It still works! Do it like the local spooky girl! Come on everyone, imma set a timer for FIVE! Make it a really, really special photo!"
Five...
The girls move about, House scrambling up to the top flight of the stairs past Jules, who has steadfastly remained in her position, crossing her leg with palms on her knee. The purple-haired mischief-maker plops herself down kneeling on the group, whispering in Ablam's ear to bend a bit so people can see the 'donation' lettering!
Four...
At the center of the stairs, Lumi and Eclair lean on each other other, Hikari is seated serenely with her legs in a w-shape, hands clasped with big-sisterly charm before her.
Three...
Piaccta has scrambled up the stone pedestal where 'Pip's ancestor' is...!
Seeing this sudden movement, Mistrál's eyes light up with inspiration, and she crosses to the other side of the stairs from where she was!
Two...
"H-hey House...? How long do I have to hold this pose for...?" Minara sweats, her spine hurting a little!
"Do you think we should shout something together?"
One...
"JUMP!!!"
"Happy Opening Day!"
"Cheese!"
"... Yay??!!"
"Wait, now?"
[[Shutter Clicking, A flash going off!]]
At the very last moment, the camera catches Piaccta leaping off the stone pedestal in mid-flight, a fist pumped energetically in the air, one knee up! Mistrál was up to mischief on the other side of the photo frame too, jumping off the top flight of stairs. The photo caught her mid-frame, a finger to her lips in a cheeky smile!
This photo marks a milestone in our theatre house's history.
A very special moment preserved in time;
a boisterous wish for many, many more days like this.
Happy Opening Day, everyone.
We are trying something different! This is a simul-posting at the same time as the Scribblehub release! Go check out the entire series at this link!
