Aoshi Shikagawa/The Young Lady of April 1st

Escape! From the Conviction Event!

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Aoshi	On my 18th birthday, I… I suddenly recalled all the memories of my past life.
	In my past life, I was an actor in a troupe known as "Hyakka". That's when I realized…
	The story of this world comes from a scrapped story of one of Hyakka scripts— a shelved script that the troupe never performed.
	B3!: ~I have Been Reincarnated into a Villainess Whose House fell into Bankruptcy, and I Refuse to Have a Political Marriage with Some Audaciously Bad-mannered, Pompous Count!~
Aoshi	So this is the residence of House Heavenstand…
	(Here I am at my fiancé's parent's residence. Along with my 12 butlers of House Siegriver…)
Misumi	Woah~ This mansion is so huuuge~! They've even got beautiful triangular windows! That's so amazing!
Kazunari	This place is, like, so brilliantly lavish! Just what you'd expect from the residence of a Count!
Kumon	Woooow, they've got these cool arches for the garden! They even have ornaments on their fountain! Each one of them just draws you in!
Tsumugi	Gosh, the garden itself is absolutely divine as well… Look at all the different flowers that are blossoming here.
Azuma	Indeed. Throwing a little tea party in a garden like this must be a relaxing way to pass the time.
Hisoka	I can see they have a gazebo over there, too. It’d probably make for a nice napping spot…
Tasuku	Everyone, I understand you're all excited, but please calm down. I'm terribly sorry, Aoshi-sama.
Aoshi	Please, it's fine…
	(I, who just turned 18 years old yesterday, am the fiancée to the next head of this House— Kabuto Heavenstand)
	(A fiancé… who was decided upon by both families…)
Homare	Aoshi-sama, I believe you haven't seen Kabuto-sama all that much ever since you met him at a party when you were little, no?
Muku	I'm sure it must be bewildering for you to meet your older groom-to-be when you haven't seen him again in so long…
Yuki	Both families decided it was to be that way, after all… It couldn't really have been helped.
Aoshi	(My family, House Siegriver, used to have more glory to our name, but we've fallen into hard times now, and so an engagement— an arranged marriage was set.)
	(I've always thought that I had no choice but to follow what my parents asked of me; it didn't matter what I really thought of the matter.)
	(But now that I've recovered the memories of my past life, this bitterness that I feel has become a completely different thing now.)
	(All of the butlers that I have with me now were all members of this troupe called MANKAI Company, too. And if my hunch is correct… Once I get married, I'll be——)
Tenma	Aoshi-sama? Are you alright? You don't look all too well…
Guy	Perhaps it's a case of the marriage blues? …Please don't be too hard on yourself, my lady.
Tsumugi	I know it's quite the baffling situation to be in, but I know you'll do just fine, Aoshi-sama. We'll be here with you along the way.
Muku	That's right. I'm sure there'll be a lovely married life awaiting you after this! I know you'll be living happily ever after under the same roof as Kabuto-sama!
Aoshi	… Thank you, everyone.
	(But I already know that what awaits me will be quite the contrary.)
	(If I continue down this path, I'll become the villainess who will go against the true heroine of this story…)
	(And by the hands of my own fiancé, Kabuto, I'll be facing conviction for it.)
	(And then I'll be exiled into another country… Before I get ambushed by bandits along the way, that is. Only a grim fate awaits me after this.)
	(I need to find a way to avoid that conviction event. The marriage hasn't happened yet; I can still break off the engagement! Alright… I'll just have to try!)
Tenma	Now then, shall we go, Aoshi-sama?
Aoshi	Yes.
	*DOORS OPEN*
Banri	Aoshi-sama, everyone. Welcome to our abode. Allow me to see you all in.
Misumi	Good day~ How is everyone doing~?
Sakuya	We're doing alright! I hope you are all doing just as well.
Citron	Aoshi-sama, it's been so long since we've seen you. You've grown so much! We're truly happy to have you.
Guy	House Siegriver and House Heavenstand have long been in good relations with each other as fellow aristocratic families, after all.
	We're also happy to see that the butlers of Heavenstand are pleased with Aoshi-sama's growth.
Kumon	Juza-san! Long time no see!
Juza	Hey, Kumon. You look like you're doing well. I hope you've been doing your job well in your House.
Kumon	Of course! I've always looked up to you, Juza-san, so I'm doing my best to become a good butler just like you!
Chikage	… Hey, Mister Sleepyhead servant. Have you been doing your job, too? I bet you've been skipping all of your work just to laze around all the time.
Hisoka	Of course not. I do my work as I'm told… While having my fair share of sleep when I'm able.
Kazunari	Tsuzuroon, how're you doing~! This place is looking superbly gorgeous!! Hey hey, spill some interesting stories about your House, will you?
Tsuzuru	Interesting stories? Well, our next head, Kabuto-sama, has been sort of….. You know what, actually, he hasn't really changed all that much either.
Taichi	Hey, what about you guys? I'm sure House Siegriver has all sorts of interesting stories as well, right?! I'm curious to hear about them!
Yuki	Well, I suppose House Siegriver has quite the rowdy crowd, so no day feels like a boring one. No quiet days either, though.
Azami	Aoshi-sama's hair must be well kept by you and Azuma-san, right? Actually, your hair's looking pretty good as well, Yuki-san.
Itaru	The butlers of both Houses have already been familiar with each other for quite a while now, so it's no surprise that everyone's raring to chat it up with each other after so long.
Sakyo	Everyone, silence in the room. The masters of our House have arrived.
Everyone	!!
Keiju	Welcome, Aoshi-san. Everyone from the House Siegriver as well. It's good to see you've arrived safe and well.
Kabuto	……
Keiju	It's been too long, Aoshi-san. And my, have you grown. I thank you again for accepting the engagement to my foolish son.
Aoshi	… Pleased to meet you again. It's been quite a long time.
	(He seems cheerful now, but as I thought, he's THAT "Amadate Keiju"...)
	(And there's the fiancé in question, Kabuto …. The one and only "Amadate Kabuto.")
Kabuto	…….
Aoshi	(... We're to be a wedded couple soon, and yet it doesn't seem like my fiancé has even a sliver of interest towards me. He's literally just staring blankly into space.)
	(I wonder if these two have also been reincarnated into this world…?)
	(But I didn't notice any reactions from them when they saw my face. Though, it's also possible they haven't gotten their memories back.)
Omi	The reception dinner is ready and has been served. Everyone, if you could please make your way to this room.
Masumi	Let me lead you, Aoshi-sama.
Aoshi	O-Oh. Of course…

Masumi	Please have a seat.
Aoshi	Thank you very much.
Itaru	The chef in charge of tonight's supper was House Heavenstand's very own Omi. He put in quite the effort to prepare all of the food for tonight.
Omi	I do hope you all enjoy the feast. Now, please take your time with your meal.
Keiju	Well then. While we enjoy our food, let me explain once again the purpose of your stay with us, Aoshi-san.
	Firstly, it is in celebration of you reaching the birthday milestone of 18 years. Because of that, we'll be able to proceed with the standard preparations for the wedding from this point on.
	Now, for the sake of familiarizing yourselves with each other as the engaged couple, we will be having you stay over here at House Heavenstand's residence for a few days.
	Of course, the servants of Siegriver may be allowed to accompany you, so I believe your personal needs will be taken care of just fine.
	On the final day of your stay, we will be hosting a social party and inviting our neighboring aristocratic families to it. It is at this party where we will be publicly announcing your marriage.
Aoshi	(... Then the social party on the last day will the most crucial point in all of this.)
	(It's at that party where Kabuto-san's fated one will appear… It's where he'll meet a certain aristocratic lady—the REAL heroine of the story.)
	(And then I, the villainess who will grow envious upon realizing the love those two have for each other, will start showing complete spite towards this heroine.)
	(After which, Kabuto-san will break off our engagement, and then I will be convicted… While he'll find his true love with the heroine.)
	(— At least, that's how it goes in the script.)
	(So, if I can get Kabuto-san to be so disenchanted with me during my stay and somehow break off the engagement before the party…)
	(Not only does the party get cancelled, but I'll be able to stop my fate from getting convicted as well.)
	(Alright, it's now or never. I have to really compel him! Make him detest me!)
Kabuto	…..
Aoshi	—!!
	(Is… Is he staring this way…? It's… It's not like he has any memories of me, right?)
	(I mean. Whether he has remembered or not, I wouldn't want to be married to someone like Kabuto-san anyway.)
Tenma	As expected from House Heavenstand. Even their guestroom is beautifully arranged. It'll be easy for even Aoshi-sama to feel relaxed in a room like this.
Tsumugi	Now then, I believe it's time to prepare the young lady for bed.
Azuma	I've also asked Azami to help us out with fixing Aoshi-sama's hair as well as her skincare needs tonight.
Azami	Sorry for the intrusion… Wow, your hair and skin are both as beautiful as I expected.
Yuki	Of course they would be. Both Azuma-san and I have given it a lot of care every single day, after all.
Aoshi	(I wonder how I'm supposed to make Kabuto-san detest me… Maybe I should ask the others for some ideas.)
	(But I can't just plainly reveal that I want to break off the engagement. I have to cleverly conceal my intentions…)
	Everyone, can I ask you something? …What do you think are the qualities of a likeable person?
	(If I do the opposite of what a likeable person does, it should get him to dislike me.)
Kumon	Hmm, let's see… I guess an obvious thought would be someone who's kind and loves to smile! They'd seem like a nice person!
Homare	I also find that beautiful movements and behaviors on a person are quite appealing.
Aoshi	(Those are valid points. Now the next step is to, as much as I can, try to speak peevishly and coldly about Kabuto-san…)
	(As for my movements and behaviors… Hm, it'll be difficult for me to go against the manners I've grown accustomed to, but I suppose I have to force myself to behave more crudely for this.)
	(And crude behavior would be… Something like spreading bad rumors about the heroine and feigning innocence. Just like how the villainess did so in the original script.)
	… It's been a long time since I last met Kabuto-san, but to think that he turned out to be quite the deadpan and troublesome man who just spaces out.
	He's boorish, insensitive… I even heard about a rumor how he had broken an expensive artwork in the last party he went to— on purpose.
	(And now that I've planted a bad rumor and pretend I've got nothing to do with it, I'm sure they'll assume that these awful impressions MUST have a source somewhere.)
Banri	Well. If I gotta be frank, he is exactly as you said.
Sakuya	Banri-kun…!!
Banri	When we see him spaced out like that, we've got no idea what he's thinking. And his callousness and crudeness have been a real problem for us, lemme tell ya… (sigh)...
Sakyo	As for the incident about him breaking a piece of artwork… While it did happen, it wasn't on purpose.
	He was on the brink of drifting off to sleep in the middle of the party, and when he tried to lean on a wall, he bumped into said piece, and it broke because of it… Unbelievable, I'll say.
Sakuya	B-But he's got plenty of good points about him, too! Like being an avid reader!
Tasuku	By the sounds of it, the butlers of Heavenstand must be constantly exhausted by him…
Aoshi	(My plan to badmouth him just resulted in everyone agreeing to it… I didn't even expect the artwork incident to be a real thing either, even though I completely made it up…)
Misumi	Aoshi-sama seems to be pretty interested in learning a lot about Kabuto-sama~
Masumi	Well, I suppose it's natural to be curious about one's fiancé.
Taichi	Even when there are cases when first impressions are reaaaal iffy, you still can't help but learn more about your partner once you see their unexpected sides!
Muku	Oh, that sounds so romantic and exciting! If you wish to learn more about Kabuto-sama, we'll happily give you a hand with it, Aoshi-sama!
Aoshi	(Hold on— they were supposed to start thinking badly about this engagement. How is it that they started cheering for me instead…!?)
	*KNOCK KNOCK*
Hisoka	Who could it be at this hour…
	I'll answer the door.
	*DOOR OPENS*
Hisoka	Yes?
Juza	I apologize for disturbing you this late. Kabuto-sama wishes to speak with Aoshi-sama.
Aoshi	——!!
Kabuto	I just felt like having a little talk with my future wife.
Guy	Kabuto-sama. If I may remind you, the two of you have not made your vows yet.
Tsumugi	Besides, to pay a visit to our lady's room at this late hour…
Azami	K-K-KABUTO-SAMA! Just what sort of intentions do you have!? Actually, whatever it is, that goes for every single moment we even try to understand you, you crazy lord!!
Sakyo	Omi, Juza, Tsuzuru. How come you did not try to stop him?
Omi	I sincerely apologize, but no matter what we tried to tell him, he just wouldn't listen to us….
Tsuzuru	You should know as well as we do what kind of person Kabuto-sama is, Sakyo-san…
Kazunari	Hoooh boy… Seems like the butlers of House Heavenstand don’t have any sort of authority over Kabuto-sama, huh.
Aoshi	(But thinking about it, this might be another good chance for me to make Kabuto-san detest me.)
	I see no problem. You've come all this way to visit me after all, so please, go ahead, Kabuto-sama.
Yuki	Aoshi-sama, are you sure?
Kabuto	Clear the room first.
Tenma	Even asking us to leave? But…
Aoshi	… If they must. Everyone, you are dismissed.
Azuma	… As you wish, my lady.
Kumon	But if anything happens, please call us right away!! —Please excuse us.
	*DOOR CLOSES*
Aoshi	(Now then… What could he possibly want to talk about with me?)
Kabuto	……
Aoshi	(—He comes to my room, says he wants to chat, and now he doesn't even plan on saying a word? Good lord…)
	Uhm. What did you want to speak to me about?
Kabuto	The one who should start speaking is you. Doesn’t matter what; just tell me anything about yourself.
Aoshi	(Wow. The audacity of this man. It's like he barely changed at all from his past life.)
	(Whatever. This is my chance. Just try to say anything that can put him off.)
	I… like to spend my days off by climbing trees and running around the fields barefooted until I'm all smeared by mud.
	And then I also do… Judo. That's right. It's a martial art where you hold your opponent down, grab them, and send them flying. I'm pretty good at it.
	I practice it plenty with my servants. They often get thrown around because of me.
Kabuto	That so.
Aoshi	(... At least make SOME reaction. An aristocratic lady that climbs trees and hurls around her servants is a completely bizarre idea, surely!)
Kabuto	And what about your hobbies?
Aoshi	Huh?
	… Theatre, I guess.
Kabuto	Hoh.
Aoshi	(Ah crap. I slipped…)
Kabuto	Then? What's your favorite programme?
Aoshi	(... Let me try laying down some bait.)
	It's "Macbeth", by Shakespeare.
Kabuto	…...
Aoshi	(In our past life, Kabuto-san had played "Macbeth" before. If his memory has truly returned, perhaps I can find out with this.)
Kabuto	So you like the brutal kind of tragedies, do you? You're quite surprising, young miss.
Aoshi	(... So he has no memory of it after all…?)
Kabuto	Macbeth is a story of a man who assassinated his lord by the temptation of his ambitious wife— It's a performance that I quite like.
Kabuto	…Indeed, I'd love to become King Macbeth himself. You'll support me in my endeavor, won't you? My future wife.
Aoshi	(…So even in this reincarnated life, I'll still get pulled into this person's schemes…? This is madness…)

Aoshi	(SIGHS… What am I going to do; it's already the day of the party… I never got our engagement to cut off in the end.）
	(On my first night here, Kabuto-san told me of a plan—)
	(A plan to swiftly take the title of the Head of the House from the current Head, Keiju-san.)
	(Furthermore, he asked me to cooperate with him for said plan.)
Aoshi	(And on top of all that, Kabuto-san started becoming even more interested in me for some reason, to the point that every move he makes has everyone around us assuming we're actually some lovey-dovey engaged couple.)
	(Doesn't matter if it was in front of Keiju-san, or our servants, or whether it's day or night— he's been so clingy from the beginning until the end…)
	(Kabuto-san says he's merely acting as a way to deceive Keiju-san in the meantime, but I refuse to follow along.)
	(Besides, he's in the position where he'll naturally become the Head of the House anyway. Why is he going through all of this trouble? Don't tell me that the feelings of their father-son feud followed them in this lifetime too…)
	Ahh, I can't take this…
Homare	Aoshi-sama, what is the matter? Do you have something on your mind?
Tsumugi	Are you perhaps feeling unwell? Would you like to have a little rest?
Aoshi	No, I'm fine..
Tenma	I'm certain you'll have your spirits lifted once we go meet up with Kabuto-sama.
Muku	I think so, too. We can see how much the two of you have gotten familiar with each other throughout the duration of our stay here.
Aoshi	(We have NOT! Not in the least bit! In fact, what I really wanted was for him to hate me. Argh, it's all thanks to Kabuto-san's clinginess that everyone's misunderstanding the whole thing.)
	(Fine; it's time for a change of plans.)
	(The original story of the script mentioned that this social party will be the day when Kabuto-san will meet with his fated partner.)
	(So I gotta see to it that he follows that script as intended and make him fall for the heroine.)
	(I have to somehow convince my parents that I am proof of Kabuto-san's change of heart, and then confide to them—)
	(That House Siegriver can offer to break off the engagement. Then, we can demand a large amount of consolation money from House Heavenstand… Alright. I'll go with that.)
	Shall we head over now?
Misumi	Okaaay~! Looks like Aoshi-sama is in a good mood again. Thank goodness~
Taichi	This way, please, Aoshi-sama!
Tasuku	Many of our guests have arrived already as well.
Kabuto	There you are.
Aoshi	(sigh) …
Aristocrat A	Oh, Kabuto-sama. Could this young lady be…
Kabuto	Yes. This is my fiancée, Lady Aoshi.
Aoshi	… I'm Aoshi Siegriver.
Aristocrat B	My! She is certainly a lovely maiden.
	*GRAB*
Kabuto	Indeed, she is the best fiancée I could ask for.
Aoshi	Wha——
	(What's the big idea, nonchalantly grabbing me by the hip like that!)
Aristocrat C	Well, well, it certainly seems like you two are madly in love.
Aristocrat D	You two were made for each other!
	*APPLAUSE*
Kabuto	Thank you very much for your blessings.
Keiju	It's good to see that the two of you have completely hit it off.
Kabuto	Naturally.
Kabuto	Now then, everyone. Before we start the party, please gather around and enjoy the performance that our House's butlers have prepared for you all.
Chikage	Music, please!
Masumi	Please draw your attention over here. As you can see, this pure white cloth here has no tricks to it.
	Now, if I fold and unfold it like so…
	*SNAP*
Aristocrat A	Wow! It turned into a beautiful rose color!
Aristocrat B	Amazing! How did he do that?
Chikage	Now I'll take this rose-colored cloth, give it a wave, and gently unfold it… One, two, three!
	*PUFF*
Aristocrat C	A real rose has appeared! And the cloth turned back to being white!
Aristocrat D	It's like real magic…! How wonderful!
Citron	Next up is our turn! Here I have a wand in my hand, which I will now… There!
	*WHOOSH*
Aristocrat E	I-It floated away!? And it's flying towards——
	*CATCH*
Tsuzuru	So! The wand that floated in the air has now found its way to my hand. Now, if I wave and spin it like so…!
	*WHOOSH*
	It has disappeared!
Aristocrats	Woaaah…!!
Sakuya	Uh-uh! It didn't disappear completely. May I ask for your attention… Here!
	*SNAP*
Aristocrat F	The wand appeared in that butler's hand instead!?
Itaru	And now I'll take the same wand into my hands and… 1, 2, 3!
	*WHOOSH*
	We've got three of the exact same wands now! Seems like I've found a duplication bug.
Aristocrat B	That's amazing!
Homare	That was such an artistically fun performance! The butlers of Heavenstand are rather skilled in the art of magic, aren't they?
Kazunari	That was totally amazing! It looks like it's a huge hit with all of the guests, too. Man~ You think they could teach me some of the easier magic tricks if I ask?!
Kabuto	Now then, how about a more violent kind of performance? Banri! Juza!
Banri	Haa…!! Hup, ha! And that!
Juza	Hmph… Kh! Haa!
Aristocrat C	Ooh!! It's a brawling performance from the butlers! Such energy!
Aristocrat A	Kyaah! It's a little scary to watch, but I can't just look away…!
Taichi	Here! And there! Yah—!!
Omi	Take this!! Hup!!
Azami	Hmph!! Yah!
Sakyo	Fuh— Hahh!!
Kumon	Wooaahh, this is so cool!! Like super duper cool!! Oh man, I wanna be able to do something like that someday!
Tasuku	The butlers of Heavenstand are excellent bodyguards on their own, after all. I gotta strive to train better and not lose to them, too.
Aoshi	(This is so uncivilized… I can't deny their techniques and intensity of it all, but still…)
	*RUNNING FOOTSTEPS*
???	I apologize for being so late! My carriage got into an accident and——
Aoshi	(... Hm?)
Izumi	Please excuse me.
Aoshi	(That person is…)
Kabuto	….
Aoshi	(Kabuto-san's eyes are locked onto this woman… Has he been captivated by her?)
	(It looks like even Kabuto-san can't go against the fate of the story.)
???	That woman there is my fated person!
Aoshi	(I knew it——)
Masumi	It's her! It's her for sure…!!
Sakuya	Ma–Masumi-kun!?
Aoshi	Ha…?
	*GRAB*
Tsuzuru	What are you blabbering about!? Calm down, will you!?
	*SHOVE*
Sakuya	W-Wait!! Masumi-kun, you can't just dash off like that! Our head master, Kabuto-sama, and Aoshi-sama are all watching us!
	*SHOVE*
Masumi	Let me go! I know it's absolutely no mistake!
	Such beauty, such cuteness……. Aahh, my heart.
Itaru	LOL. So he's fallen into the "On That Day We've Met" route, huh?
Citron	Without even needing a walkthrough guide!?
Chikage	Who would have expected this kind of development?
Masumi	Just let me go already! —Aah, I love you so much…!
Citron	Masumi, I know that love conquers all, but you must first calm down!!
	*SHOVE*
Sakuya	Hang on, Masumi-kun —W-Woah!?!
	*CRASH*
Tsuzuru	Sakuya!? Ohhh no no no!!
Itaru	T-The artwork!? This is just like what happened with Kabuto-sama all over again!
Chikage	Oh dear, oh dear. Looks like we really have to do something about Masumi's rampaging, don't we?
Aoshi	What in the……?
Yuki	What is up with those guys… Confessing out loud, even breaking a piece of artwork... I feel embarrassed just watching them.
Hisoka	Everything feels all over the place, but it seems like all of the guests think this is just a part of the performance…
Azuma	And it appears like Masumi has encountered his destined person. Fufu, a love with social differences in their way, huh… Even my heart flutters at the thought.
Guy	It seems like House Heavenstand will be going through some lively days from here on out.
Sakyo	Good grief, just what the hell has that guy been goin’ on about…
	Are you alright, Izumi?
Izumi	Y-Yes. Just a little shocked.
Sakyo	You said that your carriage got into an accident? Are you injured in any way? Perhaps you should take some rest first. Come, I'll guide you to a room.
Taichi	EEEEH?! Why did Sakyo-san go up to talk with that lady like that!?
Omi	Now that I think about it, I vaguely recall him mentioning how he has a childhood friend who's the daughter of an aristocrat. Was he talking about that lady then?
Azami	Isn't it going over the line for a butler like him to talk so casually to a lady, though?
Juza	It did seem like the lady gave Sakyo-san a smile, though, so I think it'll be fine.
Banri	So he had a cute childhood friend like that? Not to mention he even called out to her and diverted her away from the mess of the party. Talk about cunning.
Aoshi	(Those were... Some unprecedented things that just happened. And Kabuto-san is…)
Kabuto	…
Aoshi	(—!! Wh-Why is he looking over this way?!)
Kabuto	It's almost time for the dance. May I have your hand, my future wife?
Aoshi	(Urk… It doesn't seem like I'll be able to pull away either. I suppose there's no other choice but to dance.)
Kabuto	By the way, about that plan I mentioned…
Aoshi	(We're in the middle of dancing at the party, and he's going to calmly talk about his plan to overthrow Keiju-san NOW of all times —Ahh, my head's spinning.)
	Good grief… Aren't you aware that by helping you out with your schemes, I'll be endangering my own position as well? I will not participate in this.
Kabuto	Are you still on about that? You know very well what position you're in right now…
Aoshi	(—!! H-He's so close…)
Kabuto	You are my possession. You have no right to reject me.
Aoshi	(This… This abhorrently arrogant Count…!!)
	You have such a rotten character, dear husband… Looks like it's up to me to beat you into shape!
Kabuto	——Hahaha!!
	That's not a line you'd say in real life… You surprise me, my subordinate actor.
Aoshi	Eh?
	(He just called me… Subordinate actor… Does that mean——)
Kabuto	—inate… Oi, subordinate!
Aoshi	——!!
Aoshi	Eh… Kabuto…Sama?
Kabuto	Haa?
Aoshi	(No, wait… This isn't Kabuto Heavenstand… It's Kabuto-san himself……)
	(I'm… In Hyakka's rehearsal room… Right, we were supposed to have a meeting today about our next performance.)
Kabuto	You've got some guts to make me wait while you were busy dozing off.
Aoshi	Uhm. You're the one who hadn't showed up for 30 minutes, you know.
	(I figured I'd take a little nap in the meantime… But then I had this weird dream…)
Kabuto	Then let's get right to it. Here are the candidate scripts. We'll pick a plot for our Fleur Award performance from these.
Aoshi	I see. How many do we have?
	*PAPER SHUFFLING*
Aoshi	(—!? Th-This one is about a young lady aristocrat?)
	Say, this script with the weird title on it…
Kabuto	You're the one who said that we need to try going for more eye-catching plots for the Fleur Award, right?
	'Course, there's a limit to the scripts that I can write.
	I know of an acquaintance who writes light novels, so I had them write out a plot that's a dramatic shift from Hyakka's usual atmosphere.
Aoshi	(But this outline… "The young lady of House Siegriver"... There's a bunch of stuff written on here that overlaps with the dream—)
Kabuto	Your role as Macbeth's wife was well-received. So I figured I'd have you play another female role again.
	You're good with that, right? "Young Miss."
Aoshi	—I absolutely refuse!!

Dita