| Omi | “Blood! Let’s go eat together after this. I’ll treat you.” |
| Juza | “I have work.” |
| Omi | “Aw, too bad. Next time, then.” |
| Juza | “There are tons of people out there who would gladly pay money to eat with you, right?” |
| Omi | “Haha! I won’t deny it. But that’s about business. I’m interested in you as a friend.” |
| Juza | “...I’m not.” |
| Omi | “Rude!” |
| Izumi | (The main character, Blood, who just barely scrapes by working as a janitor in the event hall, and Huey, a successful boxer....) |
| (Juza-kun and Omi-kun really embody the contrast between the dark hero and the classic hero—both in name and in substance.) |
| Banri | “—Tch.” |
| Juza | “Wait!” |
| Banri | “That gun—you’re that guy from the other day... Why do you keep getting in our way? You belong on our side.” |
| Juza | “What are you—.” |
| Izumi | (Banri-kun plays Blood’s enemy—the role of the terrorist, Dust....) |
| (Now that I think about it, this is the first time Banri-kun and Juza-kun have been assigned roles on opposing sides.) |
| (No wonder they’re more fired up than usual.) |
| Banri | You should pull back Blood’s animosity here. That’ll make the last scene more impactful. |
| Juza | It’s an important scene where Dust draws out Blood’s emotions. It would be weird to hold back. |
| Banri | But you should think about the overall balance—. |
| Juza | Blood wouldn’t think about that. |
| Banri | —You blockhead! |
| Izumi | (They’re not fired up just in role. This really feels like Autumn Troupe!) |
| Time’s almost up. Let’s end here for today. |
| Juza | Yeah. |
| Izumi | Juza-kun and Banri-kun, you guys have workshop tomorrow? |
| Banri | Yeah, it’s the last day. |
| Juza | I’m looking forward to seeing what kind assignment he gives us. |
| Banri | That old man usually asks us to do the impossible. |
| Juza | He’s really good at attacking your weaknesses. |
| Banri | He’s nitpicky and annoying. |
| Juza | Our last assignment was rough, too. |
| Banri | Agreed. |
| Izumi | (These two are still rivals, just as they’ve been since joining the troupe, but now they’re also reliable teammates....) |
| (This is making me emotional....) |
| |
| Makino | So that’s the end of this workshop. Nice work, guys. |
| Juza | Can I speak to you for a sec? |
| Makino | Hm? |
| Banri | ...I’ll head back first. |
| Juza | Yeah. |
| Thank you for taking care of me during this workshop; it really helped me realize where I’m lacking right now. |
| Makino | ...You don’t have many weapons; that’s why you shouldn’t fight with small tricks. |
| Rather than acting techniques, you should value your sincere way of acting upon the stage. That’s the kind of actor you are. |
| You’re not the kind of guy who can use his brain to change things. |
| Because you can’t ignore the fact that you’re a terrible actor. |
| So long as you keep running alongside Settsu, this fact will always follow you. |
| Juza | ...Yeah. |
| Performing someone else’s life doesn’t mean running away from your true self. |
| It means you’re expressing yourself through that role. |
| I think I finally understand why Yuzo-san made us do those “portraits.” |
| Makino | Huh, so he made you guys do that too. |
| Juza | To face yourself, and perform the role with what’s within you; to express yourself.... |
| That might be why you can live a unique life and performance upon the stage. |
| Makino | ...Looks like you already have the answer. |
| Let me say it once more: you have a strength that Settsu lacks as an actor. That’s the one weapon you can confront him with. |
| Juza | ——. |
| Makino | Why are you surprised? Did you think your weapon was inferior to Settsu’s? |
| You can lose yourself in role when you stand on stage because the passion in your heart sets fire to your character’s emotions. |
| You can mindlessly live your role without calculation. |
| That’s your strength as an actor: you respect the character you’re playing from the bottom of your heart. |
| Juza | A strength that Settsu doesn’t have; a strength that belongs just to me——. |
| Makino | You’re rivals, right? |
| Juza | Yeah. |
| |
| Juza | .... |
| (—I know Blood’s pain. I know his suffering.) |
| (It’s a pain I felt long ago.... Frustration, resignation, despair; and yet, unable to throw away hope....) |
| (Perform as if you’re mourning your past self. This is something only the “actor: Hyodo Juza” can do.) |
| (I’m a daikon actor with no skill; the reason I’m standing proud on stage must be for this role.) |
| (This role, which Tsuzuru-san wrote for me....) |
| (Back then, I hated myself. I loathed myself, even. But now—.) |
| (Because I began acting—because of the words Director and my teammates gave me—I can accept myself a little more than I used to.) |
| .... |
| Taichi | I-it’s kinda hard to speak to him right now. |
| Azami | His brows are so furrowed that he’s gonna ruin his makeup. |
| Sakyo | We’re about to start. |
| Banri | Oi Hyodo, you’re the lead, so at least come up with a cheer of some sort, will you? |
| Juza | —Gather round. |
| Sorry for being stubborn and making trouble for you guys when we were deciding on the script for this play. |
| I couldn’t acknowledge myself; I’d lost sight of myself. |
| After watching the interview video, I could feel a little more confident in myself as an actor. I’m grateful for that. |
| Also, one last word.... |
| ...Settsu. You’re the one guy I won’t lose to, even if it kills me. |
| Banri | Bring it on, you daikon. |
| Juza | —Let’s go, you lot! Act as if your lives depend on it! |
| Omi | Yeah! |
| Taichi | Yeah~! |
| Banri | Yeah! |
| *Beep* |
