Tacktacktacktack...

You sat on one of many benches in front of the Wonder Stage as its representative troupe, Wonderlands x Showtime, rehearses. While they do that, you work on an assignment that you've pushed onto the back burner in favor of other classwork you prioritized more. With the way your eyes are laser-focused in on your screen and the pure aggravation you hit the laptop keys with that even the troupe members performing in front of you could sense, it feels more like you're playing whack-a-mole with your keyboard. Though occasionally, you do take a moment to look up at the performers (per audience etiquette, since it'd be rude to be invited to watch and not watch); whether you're met with a scene of Nene singing, Emu bouncing around the stage, the troupe testing one of Rui's inventions, or Tsukasa crying his heart out for his part. 

Now that you think about it, why were you here? You were on the roof at lunch, minding your own business...

You reached the platform at the end of the stairs leading up to the rooftop, your left leg trailing behind your right as you pushed off from the last step. Once the soles of your shoes laid flat and level, you took a moment to steady your breathing by leaning on the wall to rest. Climbing up stairs was always so energy-consuming... you shook your head, done with your mini-break, and set your sights on the door, grasping the cool stainless metal of the handle and pushing forward.

When you do, you get immediately hit with a wonderful afternoon wind breezing through the rooftop as well as the comfortably warm sunshine. It's perfect weather for a good lunch! ...But.. you have work to be catching up on. You physically droop at the sad reality you're faced with, having to pass up enjoying a wonderful day due to your own irresponsibility. No use complaining about it now, you suppose... trudging over to a bench and plopping down, you take out your laptop to begin.

A little away from your spot, the aspiring troupe is going over the drafted script and suggesting revisions for their current performance.

"...!" But the pinkette of the bunch suddenly scrunches her face up, practically cringing at the new and uncomfortably exhausting energy now present.
Naturally, Tsukasa takes offense to Emu's reaction, as she happened to react after he finished his reading of the script. "O-Oi! What's with that face?! Is the plot that bad or something...?!!" He clenches his fist with wide eyes.
"My, I'd never thought I'd see the day where Emu-kun has such a strong frown on her face." Rui interjects, curious on what could've caused the girl to stop smiling.
Nene quips, "Maybe this one in particular especially sucks, if Emu's reacting so poorly."
As her fellow troupe member's comment, Emu jumps on the defensive, eager to clear up the misunderstanding. "Oh... no, no Tsukasa-kun! It's not like that! It's just... I felt something.. like- like a bweeuuuhh bwommmpp feeling just now!" She looks around. Then behind her. And she spots you! A little hard not to, especially when its just you and the group up here. "It's coming.. from that boy over there!" Before anyone can say or do anything, the girl skips over to you, bouncing every time her feet launch off the floor.

Out of the corner of your eye, you can see pink approaching. Awfully quickly. Startled not only by the realization that there's someone up here (not only that, but a group, if you were to guess by the conversation you heard earlier) but also the intimidatingly fast speed at which they're moving, you tense up to brace for an impact. Surely,  at that speed, it could only result in someone getting hurt...!

Yet it never comes. You slowly open your eyes to see, what you assume to be, the girl's friends. The blond, which you recognize as your classmate Tsukasa Tenma, is holding her by the back of her school uniform collar. You note that it isn't the Kamiyama school uniform that the girl is wearing, but rather Miyamasuzaka's light grey seifuku. And you don't let yourself think about why or how a Miya Girl got in here, subconsciously adhering by the 'curiosity killed the cat' moral.

"Won-Won...! Wonderho~yyy" The unfamiliar girl gestures her arms in an 'opening' motion.
"Wh... huh..?" Disoriented, confused, frazzled, discombobulated, and afraid. Those are few of many feelings racing through your mind. 'What do they want from me? Is she threatening me? Am I about to be jumped? Maybe then I could have an excuse for turning in my work super late...'

"Say it with mee~! Won-won!! Wooonderhoyyyy!" She does it again... Her over-the-top friendly demeanor only helps to strike the fear of God in you. In fact, you get the feeling you will be seeing God after she's done with you. 
Out of fear, you comply. "Er..... ah... ww.. wonder...ho~y..?"
"Yaaa~y! Are you feeling better?! Doing wonderhoy instantly chee-" The pinkette gets cut off hen Tsukasa clamps her mouth shut with his free hand, resulting in her high-pitched whining becoming muffled.

He starts to talk instead. "Ahem.. Please, excuse her. She is quite the spontaneous one, we never know what crazy stunt she'll pull next! Once again, we apologize for the inconveni-"
"Ooh! Ooh! I have a suuuuper wonderhoy idea! To say we're sorry, we can offer him tickets to Phoenix Wonderland!" Somehow, the girl has broken free of Tsukasa's grasp and continues her high energy.
You take this chance to meekly speak up. "Oh! Uhm.. don't think I can do that for a pretty long time... I've got a lot of work to be doing, so..."
Tsukasa jumps in, seemingly scolding the girl. "Yes, Emu, he's busy! We best not bother him for the sake o-"
"Then you can be at our practice today while you do your work!" 'Emu'  exclaims.

Huh?

...So now you're here.

Sighing, you crack your fingers and gently remove the computer from your lap, placing it to your left side as you stand up to take a break. Shaking your legs out, cracking your fingers. As soon as you do, a certain blonde trots over to you.

"Ah, taking a break? How coincidental! We also happen to be taking a quick breather!"
You look at the boy, acknowledging his powerful presence. "Oh, Tsukasa-kun! Yea, 'm just taking some time away from the screen. How's the rehearsal coming along?"
"It's going well, thank you very much! The scenes are running smoothly, as well as the singing segments. Of course, this is only possible because of my star prowess, haha!" Tsukasa puffs out his chest and proudly grins. You only smile at his pride. He shines so bright... so bright in fact, that you feel yourself slip out of consciousness. And as you are met with darkness, you hear the distant echo of your name in the void.

You wake up, profusely sweating. You would've sat up, but the hand on your chest austerely forcing you back down prevents you from doing so.
"Hey! You stay down," Tsukasa, who the hand belonged to, yells at you. Once he sees you wince however, he quickly mutters a 'sorry', instead opting to whisper-yell, "you are in no position to do anything!"

Ignoring the boy, you look around to take note of your surroundings. You are still at Phoenix Wonderland, but seemingly in the backstage area. The sky is turning a little orange, signifying sundown. You then look a little to the right of Tsukasa's head and see the unmistakable bright screen of your laptop on a desk behind him. Remembering all the assignments that need to be done, you whisper out, "Tsukasa... lap...top..."

"Laptop...? Oh, you want your laptop? Well, unfortunately for you, you will not be getting it! If I'm not mistaken, you fainted because you were overworking, were you not? So, I will be keeping it away from you!" He proudly smirks. You loudly groan in response, to which that smug smile of his just grows.
"My grade's...... so gonna... t-tank...." You mumble out.
"Perhaps you should've thought of that before working yourself to exhaustion, eh? Ha-ha-ha!" Tsukasa pokes fun at you again, heartily laughing at you as the cherry on top of the disrespect ice cream. You roll your eyes and grumble, clearly discontent with your situation.

"You know, maybe if you get to sleep faster, you'll get better quicker, and thus you can get to your work sooner. How does that sound? Genius idea, right? You don't need to tell me, I already know!" 
"Sounds... dumb..... Y-You... sou.... sound dumb.." You reciprocate the disrespect, teasing him back and snickering lightly. The blonde takes great offense to this; as shown in his raised eyebrows, wide eyes, and prominent frown, but before he can open his mouth to make a retort back, you close your eyes. His idea isn't half bad, you suppose.

As Tsukasa watches you drift off and finally rest, his previously bewildered expression drops. It's replaced with a soft look, as his eyes rake over your peaceful resting figure. It's a dumb thought, he's aware, but... he feels like a knight, saving his fellow knight from peril danger. And now, you are safe and out of harm's way, with him by your side.

Tsukasa knows he screws up a lot. He knows he can be abrasive and brash, hurting the people around him while on his journey to perfection and fame. But moments like these let him feel connected to you; you too strive for something that pains, not other people like in Tsukasa's case, but yourself. 

And it makes Tsukasa think of a thorned rose. The rose is beautiful and enrapturing, the object of desire, but the thorns are obstacles on the way up the stem to the rose flower. 

They prick you, they hurt you, but they never sway you from the rose.