| Tasuku | ... |
| Tsumugi | Oh, you’re still awake. |
| Tasuku | Yeah. The leaders meeting took a while today, huh. |
| Tsumugi | We got a little too excited talking about the troupe’s next event. |
| Were you reading something? |
| Tasuku | Just a bit. |
| Tsumugi | It’s finally the first day tomorrow. The final catch-up practice sessions were a little too hard. |
| Tasuku | You also agreed to do it. |
| Tsumugi | I guess so. |
| Tasuku | ... |
| Tsumugi | Where are you going? |
| Tasuku | I’m going to run for a bit. |
| Tsumugi | See you later. Tomorrow is the real performance so take it easy. |
| Tasuku | I know. |
| Tsumugi | (...I wonder if he really does. Well, he’s probably just restless he can’t sit still.) |
| —— |
| (This was the letter Tasuku was reading... A questionnaire?) |
| (Come to think of it, it looks like the questionnaire that was inserted between the pages of the script when he got those stuff from his family.) |
| (Geez, won’t he lose it again if he just carelessly leaves it on the floor like that?) |
| (I’ll go leave it on the desk.) |
| ——Huh? This is... |
| |
| Guy | ... |
| Tasuku | ...Guy-san? |
| Guy | Takato. Those clothes–– Are you going for a run? |
| Tasuku | I could ask you the same thing, Guy-san. |
| Guy | I couldn’t settle down. |
| Tasuku | Me too. Do you want to run together? |
| Guy | I’ll go with you. |
| |
| Tasuku | ... |
| Guy | ... |
| Tasuku | This pace seems easy enough. |
| Guy | We can run at your usual pace. |
| Tasuku | In that case, I won’t hold back. |
| Guy | ... |
| Tasuku | Come to think of it, right after you joined the troupe, we went running together. |
| Guy | Yeah... In order to get to know you. |
| Tasuku | So, what did you think? |
| Guy | I concluded that you were a theater nerd. |
| Tasuku | Well, I won’t deny that. |
| Guy | But my impression of you has changed a little. That part of you that’s obsessed with theater hasn’t changed, but I thought you were more the type of person who wasn’t interested in others. |
| It seems that you surprisingly love your comrades... you surprisingly love the Winter Troupe. |
| Tasuku | —— |
| I won’t deny that either. |
| Guy | My acting is still inferior compared to yours and the others’. But I will act out a Kojiro that I can do, to the best of my ability. |
| Since I’ve decided to do that, I will come at Musashi as if I’m really about to kill him. |
| Tasuku | That’s just what I’m hoping for. |
| ...My impression of you has changed too, Guy-san. |
| Guy | ? |
| Tasuku | You love acting more than I thought, and you’re pretty competitive. |
| Guy | I won’t deny that. |
| Tasuku | Heh. |
| |
| Tasuku | ... |
| Izumi | (Tasuku-san feels different from the usual.) |
| (Is he nervous...? No, that’s not it. He’s concentrating. This aura makes it hard to interact with him... He’s getting into Musashi’s character.) |
| Homare | Are we not forming a huddle? |
| Azuma | It doesn’t seem like it. |
| Homare | Even though I took the trouble to come up with a splendid huddle. Tasuku-kun, have a look at this magnificent pose—— |
| Tasuku | ——Don’t stand behind me. |
| Homare | —— |
| I-I was nearly killed by that gaze alone...! |
| Hisoka | ...Because you were doing something unnecessary. |
| Tsumugi | Haha. |
| Guy | Let’s go, Musashi. It’s almost time. |
| Tasuku | ...Yeah. |
| |
| Musashi | “It’s pouring...” |
| “...*sigh*” |
| Orin | “Who’s there?” |
| Musashi | “Sorry, but I want to borrow the front of your house for a little while.” |
| Orin | “You will get wet if you stay there. Please, come inside.” |
| Musashi | “But...” |
| Orin | “Come in.” |
| Musashi | “Thank you.” |
| |
| Orin | “Come by the fire.” |
| Musashi | “No, I’m fine here.” |
| Orin | “Please don’t worry. My shamisen students visit me frequently, so no one would think of it as strange.” |
| Musashi | “...You shouldn’t trust strangers too much.” |
| Orin | “I have confidence in my judge of character. Here is a towel.” |
| Musashi | “...Thank you.” |
| “...You’re a shamisen teacher?” |
| Orin | “Yes. My name is Orin.” |
| Musashi | “You live alone in this house?” |
| Orin | “Yes. Ever since my husband died.” |
| Musashi | “I see.” |
| Orin | “Are you on a journey?” |
| Musashi | “Yeah. For a long time... I’ve been searching for a place to die.” |
| |
| Orin | “It seems like the rain will let up soon.” |
| Musashi | “Yeah. Thanks for having me over for the night.” |
| Orin | “Um... I have just one request.” |
| Musashi | “If it’s within my capabilities.” |
| Orin | “The truth is, a certain person has been treating me with kindness and it always brings me pain, but I find it difficult to refuse him...” |
| “Can I ask you to relay a message to him in my place?” |
| Musashi | “In other words, his romantic advances have been troubling you so you want me to drive him away.” |
| Orin | “They are no romantic advances... They’re just acts of kindness.” |
| Musashi | “...Got it. I’ll repay you for giving me a meal and a place to spend the night. I’m Musashi. Miyamoto Musashi.” |
| Izumi | (Azuma-san playing a female role seems so natural that you wouldn’t think it’s his first time. His gestures are perfect too.) |
| (It’s always been his forte, but to think that he’s polished his performance to this extent despite the short practice period; it’s the result of his self-training.) |
| |
| Heiroku | “Good morning, Orin-san.” |
| Orin | “Ah, Heiroku-san. Good morning.” |
| Heiroku | “It was raining heavily yesterday.” |
| Orin | “It was.” |
| Musashi | “...” |
| Heiroku | “Is he a new student?” |
| Orin | “Yes, well——” |
| Musashi | “See you.” |
| Orin | “I’m in your care.” |
| Heiroku | “...” |
| Izumi | (As expected of Tsumugi-san. He managed to effectively express his love for Orin as well as his complex feelings of jealousy in such a short scene; it really left an impression.) |
| |
| Musashi | “Excuse me.” |
| Kojiro | “What business do you have here?” |
| Musashi | “Is the man called Tojiro here? I’m acting as Orin’s proxy.” |
| Kojiro | “Orin-dono’s...? Wait one moment.” |
| Tojiro | “I am Tojiro.” |
| Musashi | “Orin asked me to relay that she will no longer impose upon you.” |
| Tojiro | “What?” |
| Musashi | “That’s all I had to say.” |
| Tojiro | “Wait. Did Orin-san say that?” |
| Musashi | “Yeah. You’ll stop following Orin around from now on.” |
| Tojiro | “——I do not intend to part with Orin-san.” |
| Musashi | “By no means at all?” |
| Tojiro | “No.” |
| Musashi | “Then let’s settle this with a duel.” |
| Tojiro | “A duel?” |
| Musashi | “I don’t mind if someone takes your place. Let’s see –– your guard over there. He looks skilled.” |
| Kojiro | “...” |
| Tojiro | “Kojiro, do you think you can you do it?” |
| Kojiro | “Please leave it to me.” |
| Musashi | “Then, five days from now, on the sixth hour of the morning at Ganryuu Island.” |
| Kojiro | “Understood.” |
| Izumi | (Homare-san is also perfect for Tojiro. His likeness to a young master and his strong will together give him a favourable impression. He studied his character well and has good grasp of it.) |
| |
| Musashi | “As it’s turned out, Tojiro and I will settle things with a duel.” |
| Orin | “A duel...!?” |
| Musashi | “His bodyguard is going to duel me in his place.” |
| Orin | “I see...” |
| “But I cannot ask you to do something so dangerous...” |
| Musashi | “I was the one who suggested it. I can no longer take it back.” |
| “More importantly, Orin, do you really want to part with Tojiro?” |
| Orin | “...” |
| Musashi | “Just now, weren’t you relieved when you learned that I won’t duel him?” |
| Orin | “That’s...” |
| Musashi | “If I don’t know your true intentions, then I can’t fight.” |
| Orin | “Tojiro-sama is... the eldest son to a large business. He is to inherit the shop sooner or later.” |
| “I cannot allow someone like myself to ruin the life of a person who has a future.” |
| Musashi | “So you’re stepping aside.” |
| Orin | “Yes.” |
| Musashi | “Got it. Once again, I’ll assume responsibility.” |
| Orin | “Please, do be careful.” |
| |
| Izumi | (And then, several days before the duel——) |
| Kojiro | “The right to strike——!” |
| Musashi | “——gh.” |
| Kojiro | “Hah!” |
| Musashi | “*exhale*——” |
| “You’re Tojiro’s—— What do you think you’re doing? Are surprise attacks Tojiro’s way of doing things?” |
| Kojiro | “That should be my line.” |
| Musashi | “What?” |
| Kojiro | “Last night, my master was attacked by someone. It couldn’t have been anyone else but you.” |
| Musashi | “You belittle me. I don’t need to do such a thing; I just have to win the duel.” |
| Kojiro | “——” |
| Musashi | “Did you see what the offender looked like?” |
| Kojiro | “No——” |
| Musashi | “It appears that you’re a scatterbrain, contrary to your looks.” |
| Kojiro | “What——!” |
| Musashi | “I’m sure you’re aware of my skill. I have no need for surprise attacks.” |
| Kojiro | “...” |
| Musashi | “What’s your name?” |
| Kojiro | “Sasaki Kojiro.” |
| Musashi | “Sasaki Kojiro... I’m looking forward to the day of the duel.” |
| Kojiro | “——Wait. Have you any idea who the offender might be?” |
| Musashi | “Sorry but, I’m just someone who drifted here. It’s not that I’m not particularly close to Orin either.” |
| Kojiro | “I see...” |
| Musashi | “See you.” |
| Kojiro | “Wait.” |
| Musashi | “...What.” |
| Kojiro | “You are suspected to be the offender. If this is not cleared up, you will be arrested.” |
| Musashi | “I’m used to that kind of ruckus.” |
| Kojiro | “Do you not care about the dishonour it will cause your name?” |
| Musashi | “What are you trying to say?” |
| Kojiro | “...Do you not want to clear away suspicion?” |
| Musashi | “So you’re saying that you want me to help you find the offender?” |
| Kojiro | “It should benefit you as well.” |
| Musashi | “If only you just asked honestly.” |
| Kojiro | “Urk——” |
| Musashi | “Tonight is your treat. Then we have a deal.” |
| Kojiro | “Got it.” |
| Izumi | (Yup, Guy-san’s Kojiro has also gotten increasingly better. He’s bold and confident, and his loyalty towards Tojiro looks well on him.) |
| (Guy-san’s acting abilities have really improved in this performance. Plus it seems like his awareness has changed a lot...) |
| (If we can keep this up until the climax, it’ll be a huge success...!) |
