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Suzu stared at the script in his hands. "Hmm… Do this, then this, then this… Are we really supposed to be able to do this…?"
"Orimaki? What's wrong?"
He jumped, even though the voice that had surprised him was gentle and calm. "Huh? Whoa!!! Kai-san!"
"I'm sorry, did I startle you?"
Suzu shook his head. "Oh, no, it’s fine…"
Kai peered at the paper in Suzu's hands. "Ah, I see you're reading the script from last year's performance. Is it causing you trouble? If there's anything I can help with, please let me know."
"Actually, yeah, you're the perfect person to explain it to me!" said Suzu. He smiled at Kai hopefully. "Can you teach me how to kiss?"
Kai's eyes widened.
"Not real kissing haha! But the sort you did in this play. Neji-senpai showed me the basic technique but I'm not sure I have the positioning right. And based on this script, you and Fumi-san did lots of kissing, I bet you're really great at it."
Even though he surely must get praised like this all the time, Kai looked a little bashful. "I merely follow the directions I am given. But it does get easier with practice." He took a step closer. "Do you wish to practise on me, then, or have me demonstrate on you?"
Suzu felt his heart rate pick up. He reminded himself there was no need to be nervous. Kai was an incredibly patient teacher, and he would understand if it took Suzu a few tries to get things right.
"Hmm. It probably makes me sense for you to show me how you do it first, and then I try and follow your example. I think I understand the basic idea but I bet there's more I could learn from Quartz's Jack Ace."
"Alright," said Kai. "Do you want to use a kiss from the script?"
Suzu thought back to the dramatic love scenes he'd just been reading and laughed awkwardly. "I'm not sure I can pull off a sexy Jeanne like that, haha."
Kai put his hand on Suzu's shoulder. "That's part of a Jack Ace's role, to accentuate the Al Jeanne's beauty. Fumi makes that easy, of course. But you are beautiful in your own way." He smiled apologetically. "If you don't mind me saying so. You are very handsome too, of course."
"Oh..." said Suzu. "Oh, no, I don't mind. Though no one's called me beautiful before haha. But it feels nice."
Kai nodded. "Remember that feeling. Every action you take as a Jack Ace exists to nurture that sense of beauty, in the Al Jeanne and all who see him." He put his hand on Suzu's face, his long fingers cupping Suzu's jaw. For the first time since childhood, Suzu felt small and delicate, and he had to remind himself that he and Kai were around the same size. Kai's face got closer, and his voice softer. His eyes were soft, too, like there was nothing more in the world he wanted to do more than stare at Suzu forever. "A kiss is just another way of achieving that." He shifted his thumb on top of Suzu's lips, and moved closer.
Suzu jumped back. "Ahh!" he said. "Sorry! But... no way! I can't do this!"
Kai's face fell and Suzu felt like a jerk. "Ah, I'm sorry. I should have taken things more slowly. I know these things can be strange at first."
"No, I asked you to! It's just... it's like you said! It's strange! Like... you're a guy! And I'm a guy! But then you looked at me and it felt like I was..." He trailed off, unable to articulate what he was feeling. "...it felt strange." He flailed his arms about to try and shake off the feeling. "But I really appreciate you showing me! And I do have to get the hang of it to be a proper Jack Ace. I just... might take a little break first."
"Of course," said Kai. "And if you ever wish for my assistance in future, you need only ask."
"Right," said Suzu. "Thanks. And sorry again..." He shook his head, feeling embarassed. "So. Um. Did you feel weird at first too?"
"Yes," said Kai. "Although the circumstances were different. My main concern was a sense of inadequacy."
"You sure didn't seem inadequate to me," said Suzu. "I'm a Jack and I still felt, uh... but yeah I can imagine! It must have been intense, stepping into Tachibana Tsuki's shoes and having to try and keep up with Fumi-san. I don't know how you did it. You're amazing."
Kai got that bashful look again. It was weirdly... cute? It felt odd to think of a big guy like Kai as cute, but hey, if Suzu counted as beautiful then surely Kai did too. Suzu wondered if he could make Kai feel beautiful, if he looked at Kai the way Kai had looked at him. Maybe later, they could practice kissing again, and this time, Suzu could be the Jack...
Acting sure was something!