Character Story 3: A Modern Interpretation of "Little Red Riding Hood"

Scene: A street in Landsol.

Yuuki was asked by Nozomi to meet her, and is at their meeting spot.

Nozomi
Sorry for the wait! You were early, huh? Were you here long?

Nozomi
... Also, why do you look so proud? Did something happen?

Nozomi
Huh? You mean, you've been reading about idols ever since that other time? And now you've become really familiar with them?

Nozomi
Then, you must know all kinds of things about me, huh? That kind of makes me happy. Thanks!

Nozomi
You know more about me than anyone? ... Isn't that exaggerating? You've got a lot of self-confidence, huh.

Nozomi
Then, try to guess what my next gig is going to be. If you know more about me than anyone, then you should know, right?

...

Nozomi
You don't know it, huh! And the answer is... Actress! I'm going to be in a stageplay.

Nozomi
And... About that last thing, there's something I want to ask you to do, okay?

Nozomi
I don't have much acting experience, so I'm not very confident. So would you mind being my practice partner?

Nozomi
You'll help me? Yay, thank you!

Scene: Inside the guild house.

Nozomi
Then, first, get familiar with the script. Here, this is your copy. I've only just gotten mine as well, so I'm not familiar with the contents...

Nozomi
The play we're putting on is "Little Red Riding Hood". ^[1] It's a famous story, so you must have heard of it before, right?

Nozomi
Eh? You don't know it? Is that right... But since you have the script, you should be fine.

Nozomi
I'm playing the part of Little Red Riding Hood, and you're playing the Big Bad Wolf. Let's get started right away.

Several minutes later...

Nozomi
For your first time acting, you're surprisingly good. Then, it's finally time for the climax.

Nozomi
Goodness, what big ears you have!

Yuuki
1. "The better to hear you with."

Nozomi
And what big eyes you have!

Yuuki
1. "The better to see you with."

Nozomi
And what a big mouth you have!

Yuuki
1. "The better to kiss you with."

Nozomi
I'm so happy... I also feel the same way about Mr. Wolf... W-Wait, whaaaat!

Nozomi
"Little Red Riding Hood" is a beast romance story now? This script is so weird! I was thinking that something was off about it while I was reading!

Nozomi
"The lost Little Red Riding Hood is rescued by the Big Bad Wolf, and then nurses the Wolf back to health after he is shot by the Huntsman..." This isn't "Little Red Riding Hood" at all!

Nozomi
Wh-What happens after this? "As friendship grows into love between the two, Little Red Riding Hood's kiss lifts the curse from the Big Bad Wolf, who regains his human form..."

Nozomi
K-Kiss!? There's a kiss scene at the end!?

Nozomi
(Which means that... for rehearsal, with him... B-But, that's... that's...!)

Nozomi
(Huh? Wait. During the real production, the wolf is going to be played by someone else, right?)

Nozomi
(So I'll have to do a kiss scene with another actor...? No way! Absolutely not!)

Nozomi
... Huh? What? This script has someone else's name on it? Which means... This isn't my script at all!?

Nozomi
I must have accidentally taken someone else's script. What a relief...

Nozomi
Sorry. That script isn't the right...

Nozomi
Huh...? H-Hey, why are you taking notes?

Nozomi
You're continuing your studying about idols...? Um... What are you writing down?

Nozomi
Uh... "Idols have to do kiss scenes at the end"?

Nozomi
That's not how it is! Don't take weird notes!

Nozomi
I wouldn't take a role like that! So stop worrying...

Nozomi
W-Wait, why did I say stop worrying!? You and I don't have that kind of relationship...!

Nozomi
Ah, um... It... It's not that I would dislike having that kind of thing, but...

Nozomi
... Ahhh, I said another extra thing!? I... I've gotta get a grip...

Unable to get a grip, Nozomi couldn't get the kiss scene out of her mind.