| Commentator | “Knockdown! Michael is down for the count!” |
| Audience | “Woooh!” |
| Commentator | “The undisputed king, Huey Brown, defends his title once more! His rule is absolute!” |
| Audience | “Huey! Huey!” |
| Huey | “Thanks. It’ll all thanks to you guys for cheering me on.” |
| Audience | “Eeep! Huey!” |
| |
| Izumi | (The scene changes from the brilliant hero standing in the spotlight amidst a crowd of passionate fans….) |
| (The light goes out; the dark, empty stands filled with the audience’s abandoned litter….) |
| Blood | “....” |
| Kid | “I hear Huey Brown’s matches sell for five times their original price, premium. Hey, Blood, you should give me a ticket too.” |
| Blood | “I don’t get in with tickets.” |
| Kid | “But you get to watch the matches, right? Lucky you.” |
| Blood | “I’m not interested.” |
| Kid | “Aw, you’re boring.” |
| Blood | “If you don’t have business with me, go home. I have work to do.” |
| Kid | “Work? Oh, you’re right, there’s heaps of garbage. It’s amazing how they manage to leave so much trash behind.” |
| Blood | “...Got it? Now stop getting in my way.” |
| Kid | “This is my newest invention. Tell me how it goes.” |
| Blood | “I keep telling you, stop shoving me all your—.” |
| Kid | “A janitor needs his cleaning equipment, right? See you.” |
| Blood | “...Sigh.” |
| Izumi | (Kid hands Blood a fishy weapon, and the scene changes once again to a splendid celebratory party…) |
| |
| Assembly member | “Congratulations. You really never lose--you’re the pride of this city.” |
| Huey | “Thank you very much.” |
| Luke | “Huey-niisan!” |
| Huey | “Oh, Luke, thanks for coming.” |
| Luke | “Of course! You were so cool today too! Nii-san, your matches are always the best!” |
| Waiter (?) | “...How carefree.” |
| Guest | “Waiter, bring me some champagne.” |
| Waiter (?) | “...Yes, sir.” |
| |
| Izumi | (From the party scene to the back alley… Light turns to dark once more….) |
| Suspicious person | “...Pant, pant. I need to hurry.” |
| Blood | “...Phew. It’s late.” |
| *Thump* |
| Suspicious person | “——.” |
| Blood | “——.” |
| Suspicious person | “Hey! Watch where you’re going!” |
| Blood | “...Hm?” |
| “Hey, hold on a sec.” |
| Suspicious person | “Huh, ah? The hell?” |
| Blood | “Show me what’s in that pocket.” |
| Suspicious person | “The fuck!? This has nothing to do with you!” |
| Blood | “Hand it over.” |
| Suspicious person | “Hell no! Fuck off!” |
| *Whoosh* |
| Blood | “—Tch.” |
| *Bang* |
| Suspicious person | “Dammit—.” |
| Blood | “—You should’ve shut up and listened to me.” |
| Suspicious person | “Ugh—.” |
| *Roll* |
| Blood | “What’s this…?” |
| “Hey, where were you taking this bomb—.” |
| Suspicious Person | “Tch.” |
| Blood | “Wait—!” |
| Max | “What are you doing there!?” |
| Blood | “—What a pain.” |
| Max | “Hey, wait!” |
| “Tch, he got away….” |
| “Geez, everyone barks like a dog the moment I show up. It’s not like I want to be doing this either.” |
| “...Hm?” |
| “This is an uncommon rifling mark….” |
| “....” |
| |
| Kid | “Welcome. How’s the new weapon?” |
| Blood | “I’m here to return it.” |
| Kid | “Come on now, keep it. What’s this other thing?” |
| Blood | “Found it on the ground.” |
| Kid | “Wow. Didn’t know trash could get so dangerous nowadays.” |
| “Huh, this has an interesting shape.” |
| “Oh, hey… remember the bomb crisis at the city center? This is the same type as that one.” |
| Blood | “So you’re saying it’s the same culprit?” |
| Kid | “Maybe. Want me to check for the source of the bomb?” |
| Blood | “I’m not interested.” |
| Kid | “Is that so.” |
| |
| Izumi | (The air remains ominous as Blood spars at the gym….) |
| Trainer | “All right, good. Time for break.” |
| Blood | “...Phew.” |
| Huey | “I’m barging in.” |
| Trainer | “Hey there, Huey! It’s been a while!” |
| Huey | “They’re renovating my home gym. Mind if I borrow this place for a while?” |
| Trainer | “Of course! It’s the triumphant return of the hero.” |
| Blood | “....” |
| Huey | “I want to practice some light sparring. Is anyone around?” |
| Trainer | “Hm… All our professionals are out today—oh, hey, Blood! Mind lending a hand?” |
| Blood | “...Me?” |
| Trainer | “He’s not a pro, but he’s pretty good. I think he’ll be a fine opponent.” |
| Huey | “Hey, thanks. I’m Huey.” |
| Blood | “...I know.” |
| Trainer | “Haha! You don’t need to introduce yourself—everyone knows who you are.” |
| |
| Huey | “It’s been a while since I’ve practiced like that. You have good instincts, too. Why don’t you go pro?” |
| Blood | “...I’m not interested.” |
| Huey | “What a waste. But it looks like I’ve found a sparring buddy. Let’s do this again.” |
| Blood | “....” |
| Izumi | (Juza-kun’s lonely and silent Blood is absolutely perfect for him.) |
| (Blood won’t let anyone get close to him, and you can imagine his dark past. Juza-kun expresses Blood’s gloomy personality really well.) |
| (Omi-kun, too—he plays great villains, but he can naturally perform the straightforward hero type, too.) |
| (Blood is bewildered by how cheerful and sociable Huey is; you get a good sense of their relationship because they’re played by Juza-kun and Omi-kun.) |
| Huey | “Blood! Let’s go eat together after this. I’ll treat you.” |
| Blood | “I have work.” |
| Huey | “Aw, too bad. Next time, then.” |
| Blood | “There are tons of people out there who would gladly pay money to eat with you, right?” |
| Huey | “Haha! I won’t deny it. But that’s about business. I’m interested in you as a friend.” |
| Blood | “...I’m not.” |
| Huey | “Rude!” |
| Trainer | “He’s really taken a liking to you, huh.” |
| Blood | “...What a pain.” |
| |
| Izumi | (As Blood and Huey get to know each other bit by bit, Huey’s next match is decided.) |
| (Blood watches from the shadows as Huey is covered by camera flashes....) |
| Reporter | “Huey! Tell us how you feel about the next match!” |
| Huey | “He’s a real challenger; I can’t let my guard down, so I’ll head into this match fully prepared.” |
| Reporter | “Last match, you showed us your absolute power—.” |
| *Boom* |
| Huey | “!?” |
| Reporter | “Woah!!” |
| “What’s that sound!?” |
| “An explosion!?” |
| Chairman | “Please remain calm! We’re checking in on the situation right now!” |
| |
| Blood | “——.” |
| Staff | “What’s going on?” |
| “They say it’s a bomb!” |
| “Again!?” |
| Luke | “—Uu.” |
| Dust | “...Don’t say a word.” |
| Luke | “Eek—.” |
| Blood | “Hey, wait—.” |
| Luke | “!!” |
| Dust | “Tch—.” |
| Blood | “Hah!” |
| *Thump* |
| Dust | “Hah!” |
| *Thump* |
| Luke | “Wah.” |
| Dust | “—Tch.” |
| Blood | “Wait!” |
| Dust | “That gun—you’re that guy from the other day… Why do you keep getting in our way? You belong on our side.” |
| Blood | “What are you—.” |
| Luke | “Oww….” |
| Blood | “...Are you okay?” |
| Max | “Hold up! It’s the police!” |
| Blood | “—-.” |
| Luke | “U-um, it’s not what it looks like!” |
| Blood | “—What a pain.” |
| Max | “I told you not to move!” |
| Luke | “Wait—!” |
| Huey | “Luke!?” |
| Luke | “Ah, nii-san—!” |
| Huey | “I’m so glad. Are you okay?” |
| Blood | “...Pant, pant.” |
| Huey | “...Blood?” |
| Max | “After him! Don’t let him get away!” |
| Izumi | (You can really feel Blood’s anger and frustration at being mistaken for the culprit, despite saving Luke….) |
| (At the same time, he doesn’t try to make a stand for himself; it’s as if he’s given up in sadness, knowing words are useless….) |
| (Blood is silent; he doesn’t have any lines here, but Juza-kun gets these emotions across nonetheless.) |
| (This is a performance that only Juza-kun is capable of.) |
| |
| Announcer | “All eyes are on our hero!” |
| “Breaking news! Huey Brown has saved his little brother from the serial terrorist.” |
| “Man, he’s a real hero.” |
| Blood | “....” |
| Izumi | (Blood gazes at the news on the street billboard….) |
| (He averts his eyes and disappears. He doesn’t expect anything from anyone.) |
| |
| Izumi | (Huey holds another press conference….) |
| Reporter | “Huey, please look this way!” |
| “This way, too!” |
| “Huh? What’s going on with the screen—.” |
| Screen | “During this title match, the hero’s gonna be the blood offering.” |
| Huey | “——.” |
| Reporter | “Is this a threat!? It’s a message from the terrorist!” |
| Chairman | “Stay calm! We’re ending the press conference now!” |
| Huey | “Just as I thought. We should cancel the title match.” |
| Assembly member | “You stand as the hero of this city—-no, of the world.” |
| “If you bend to the threats of a terrorist, the whole world will feel anxious.” |
| Huey | “Are you saying you’re fine with risking the safety of the staff and the audience?” |
| Assembly member | “It might be difficult to protect the whole audience.” |
| “But we can request police support for the staff and competitors; the terrorist won’t be able to make his way through tight police security.” |
| Huey | “But—.” |
| Assembly member | “I’ll guarantee your safety.” |
| Huey | “....” |
| |
| Izumi | (The police begin their search for Blood as an important witness…) |
| Max | “We need to catch the terrorists’ tail before the day of the title match.” |
| “If they continue to make a fool of us, people will question the police’s authority.” |
| Cop | “Yessir!” |
| |
| Max | “I’m coming in.” |
| Kid | “...Welcome.” |
| Max | “I’m looking for this man as an important witness to the bomb incident the other day.” |
| Kid | “...I don’t know him.” |
| Max | “Hasn’t he visited this place before?” |
| Kid | “I don’t remember. I’m just here to help dad out with the store.” |
| Max | “If you’re lying, you’ll be considered a partner in crime.” |
| Kid | “So you totally see him as a criminal….” |
| Max | “What?” |
| Kid | “I think there are more important things to look for.” |
| *Thump* |
| Max | “--What’s this?” |
| Kid | “It was discovered on the ground on the day of Huey’s last title defense match. I’ll give it to you.” |
| Max | “——.” |
| |
| Izumi | (After baffling the police, Kid approaches Blood….) |
| Kid | “Looks like you’ve become pretty famous.” |
| Blood | “...What are you talking about.” |
| Kid | “The police came looking for you.” |
| Blood | “Then stop getting involved with me.” |
| Kid | “Yeah, that was the plan. But here’s my goodbye gift.” |
| “It’s my newest and best invention. You decide how to use it—it’s completely up to you.” |
| Blood | “....” |
| Kid | “Why don’t you quit your job as the clean-up man? You’re not obliged to save a city that’s cast its doubts on you.” |
| Izumi | (Blood doesn’t say a word, but you can see that he’s wavering—because he’s probably faced this situation many times before.) |
| (Nobody understands him. Even if he tries to help people, it ends up for worse. That’s why it’s better for him to live quietly in the shadows….) |
| (Juza-kun understands that; that’s why he decided to show Blood wavering here.) |
| |
| Commentator | “Huey enters the ring!” |
| Audience | “Whoo!” |
| “Eeep, Huey~!” |
| Commentator | “The stadium is empty due to safety precautions, but the crowd in front of the giant screen is enthusiastic as ever!” |
| Izumi | (Meanwhile, Blood is looking for the terrorist….) |
| Blood | “....” |
| Dust | “——.” |
| Blood | “Wait!” |
| *Thump* *Thump* *Thwack* |
| Dust | “Tch—.” |
| Blood | “Now I just have to hand you over to the police—.” |
| *Stab* *Stab* |
| Dust | “—kuh.” |
| Blood | “Are you trying to commit suicide…?” |
| Izumi | (Blood is bewildered by Dust stabbing his own arm; at that moment, the police step in….) |
| Max | “Both of you, stop right there!” |
| Blood | “—kuh.” |
| Max | “Don’t move! Throw aside your gun!” |
| Blood | “...Fine. Fine.” |
| Dust | “—uugh.” |
| Police | “Hey, are you all right?! Someone get back-up! Someone’s injured!” |
| Max | “Wait, he’s—.” |
| Blood | “——.” |
| Police | “Arms up! Don’t move!” |
| Dust | “...U, uu.” |
| Police | “Hey, are you all right?” |
| Blood | “—Don’t let him go.” |
| Police | “I told you not to move!” |
| Blood | “——.” |
| Izumi | (The police are convinced that Blood is the terrorist and Dust is the victim….) |
| *Boom* |
| Police | “A bomb!? Where!?” |
| Dust | “—Hmph.” |
| Blood | “—Dammit!” |
| Max | “Wait! Stop!” |
| |
| Commentator | “It’s Huey’s win! The hero is indomitable! The legend continues!” |
| Audience | “Whoo!” |
| “Huey! Huey!” |
| Huey | “——.” |
| Assembly member | “Congratulations, Huey! You really are spectacular!” |
| Huey | “Where’s the terrorist?” |
| Assembly member | “Oh—looks like there was a bit of a commotion, but no worries. The police got him.” |
| Blood | “—Pant, pant.” |
| Huey | “That’s—.” |
| Assembly member | “Huey? Where are you—.” |
| Izumi | (Huey chases after Blood, who is on the run from the police….) |
| (Meanwhile, Blood goes after Dust, but he ends up cornered…) |
| Dust | “Sorry, but I can’t get caught now.” |
| Blood | “Kuh—.” |
| Dust | “If you’d just let me go, you wouldn’t have died like a dog, you know? Did you have fun playing the hero?” |
| Blood | “...Shut up.” |
| Huey | “Blood!” |
| Blood | “——.” |
| Huey | “Why are you here—.” |
| Blood | “No time for chit-chat. You should go to your party.” |
| Huey | “...Is that the terrorist?” |
| Dust | “——.” |
| Huey | “I’ll help. Thank you for saving my brother.” |
| Dust | “Wow, the hero knows exactly when to appear. Where’s the camera?” |
| Blood | “Hah!” |
| *Thump* *Thump* *Thwack* |
| Huey | “Hah!!” |
| *Thwack* |
| Dust | “——.” |
| Blood | “Hah!” |
| *Thump* |
| Huey | “Blood, he went your way!” |
| Dust | “—kuh.” |
| Blood | “Don’t move!” |
| Dust | “Pant, pant, pant….” |
| Huey | “Blood, you should really become a pro. We could do a tag match.” |
| Blood | “...I’m not interested.” |
| Huey | “Haha, I thought you’d say that. But I’m pretty persistent, you know?” |
| Blood | “...What a pain.” |
| Police | “Found him!” |
| Huey | “This way! We caught the terrorist!” |
| Police | “Hold the two of them down!” |
| Blood | “—tch.” |
| Huey | “? No, Blood is—.” |
| *Bam* |
| Blood | “——.” |
| Huey | “Blood!” |
| Police | “One of them got away!” |
| |
| Izumi | (Blood and Huey work together to capture Dust, but the police still suspect Blood, who flees the scene.) |
| (He returns to the dark alley….) |
| Blood | “—hh, pant, pant.” |
| “Tch… They got my side….” |
| “Phew….” |
| Max | “....” |
| Blood | “—Kuh, you’re so persistent.” |
| Max | “...Take it.” |
| Blood | “A cigarette? Why are you—.” |
| Max | “This is a quiet exit for a hero.” |
| Blood | “....” |
| “Phew….” |
| Newsman | “Breaking news! A special issue! The hero, Huey Brown, has captured the terrorist!” |
| Passerby | “Give me a copy!” |
| “Me too!” |
| Newsman | “Here you go! Breaking news! A special issue!” |
| Blood | “....” |
| Izumi | (Blood takes Max’s token and disappears into the darkness….) |
| (On his lips… a smile.) |
| (As if sneering at his own life, which never takes a turn for the better, or as if unable to contain his happiness that there are people out there who believe in him….) |
| Blood | “Phew….” |
| Izumi | (He takes a deep drag, as if to console himself, and drops the cigarette from his fingertips.) |
| (A quiet ending, all alone….) |
| |
| *Applause* |
| |
| Juza | ——. |
| Banri | What are you spacing out for? |
| Omi | You pulled through. |
| Taichi | You really showed us his life! |
| Azami | Nice work. |
| Juza | …. |
| Sakyo | Come on, pull yourself out of role already. |
| Izumi | It’s time for the curtain call! |
| Juza | Yeah. |
| |
| Juza | Thank you! |
| Omi | Thanks! |
| Banri | Thanks, guys. |
| |
| Muku | Ju-chan, good job…! |
| Kumon | You were so, so cool….! |
| Juza | T-thanks. |
| Banri | You’re both bawling your eyes out. |
| Muku | Because, it was so good…. |
| Kumon | —This is nii-chan’s story, right? Tsuzuru-san really is incredible! |
| Juza | You told him all about me, right? I heard from Tsuzuru-san. |
| Kumon | Hehehe. It’s my way of saying thanks for “First Crush Baseball.” |
| Juza | Thanks. |
| Kumon | Nii-chan—you’ve always been misunderstood you since we were little, but I knew that you had a pure and strong heart. |
| But nobody around us noticed that, and it made me so frustrated. |
| That’s why I wanted everyone to notice the real you, nii-chan—through your acting. |
| Because in this world, you’ve always been my one and only hero, nii-chan. |
| I just communicated that to Tsuzuru-san. But I’m afraid you’ll have way too many fans after this play~! |
| Juza | You don’t need to worry about stuff like that. |
| Banri | Geez, you’re too much of a brocon. No worries; daikon actors don’t have that many fans. |
| Kumon | What did you say!? Nii-chan has a million fans, you know! |
| Banri | You mean ten? |
| Kumon | Ten million! |
| Banri | So five. |
| Kumon | Why’d you make it less! |
| Sakyo | Stop fighting like grade schoolers! |
| *Thwack* |
| Banri & Kumon | —Ow! |
| Izumi | Ahaha! |
