| Taichi | I’m... the lead? Are you sure you’re okay with someone like me playing the lead? Is that okay? |
| Omi | You did a great job playing the second lead during Stranger. |
| Azami | I think you’re perfect for this theme. |
| Banri | Taichi, your easy-going nature definitely suits for the role more, since Hyodo is such a drag. |
| Juza | You’re the last person I want to hear that from, you shady fucker. |
| Banri | Aah? |
| Taichi | .... |
| |
| Izumi | (Taichi-kun seemed strangely insecure; I wonder if he’s okay. Is something bothering him about playing the lead...?) |
| Tsuzuru | U... uuu.... |
| Izumi | T-Tsuzuru-kun!? |
| Tsuzuru | Lamian... dandanmian... dao xiao mian.... |
| Izumi | Are you okay!? |
| Masumi | If you’re going to collapse, do it over there. |
| Tsuzuru | Faints.... |
| Izumi | (Thank goodness. Masumi-kun helped him land on the sofa....) |
| Tsuzuru | Zzzz.... |
| Izumi | I guess the script is done? |
| Masumi | Looks like it. |
| Izumi | But why was he muttering noodles...? |
| Masumi | Because I was feeding him instant ramen while he was writing so he wouldn’t die. |
| Izumi | Eh!? Masumi-kun, you were feeding Tsuzuru-kun!? |
| Banri | Feeding someone who’s facing the PC takes a lot of skill.... |
| Taichi | His diligence is levelling up.... |
| Izumi | It was a jelly drink last time, after all. |
| Masumi | I just fed him the dry noodles, though. |
| Izumi | Dry noodles...!? |
| Masumi | I’ll leave the script here. |
| Izumi | Th-thanks. |
| Juza | I can’t tell if he’s diligent or not. |
| Omi | Well, regardless, it’s definitely Masumi’s form of kindness. |
| Izumi | We can let Tsuzuru-kun rest while we read the script. I want to decide roles, too. |
| Umm, so the lead, Chan, is Taichi-kun, and the co-lead, Yun, is.... |
| Azami | Me? |
| Sakyo | Looks like he wrote the role with you in mind. |
| Izumi | Playing the lead and co-lead in consecutive performances will help you get used to standing on stage; I think that’s good. |
| Azami | Hmm... Alright then, Taichi-san. Let’s get along. |
| Taichi | .... |
| Azami | Taichi-san? |
| Taichi | Ah, s-sorry! |
| Omi | Is something bothering you? |
| Taichi | No, I just still can’t believe that I’m the lead... I’m wondering if it’s really okay.... |
| Izumi | Taichi-kun.... |
| Taichi | Ah, but, of course I’m happy that I get to be the leader for the first time! I’ll do my best! |
| Izumi | (It’s not that he doesn’t want to play the lead. Maybe his anxiety just outweighs his other feelings....) |
| Sakyo | The remaining roles are the enemy’s boss, “Chilong,” Chan and Yun’s master, the “sage,” their senior pupil, “Han,” and the mafia’s bouncer, “Shin.” |
| Juza | I think Omi-san suits “Han,” the senior pupil. |
| Izumi | Good point. He’s selling ramen after he quits the dojo—it’s perfect. |
| Banri | Agreed. |
| Omi | Really? |
| Izumi | I think you could play the enemy boss “Chilong,” too, but you’ve been playing villains back-to-back, so. I think this is good! |
| Omi | Got it. |
| Banri | The “sage” has to be played by an older person, so he’s Sakyo-san. |
| Azami | He needs to be elderly. |
| Sakyo | Bon, you’ve got some guts.... |
| Izumi | Th-then Sakyo-san is the “sage”! The roles we have left are “Chilong” and “Shin.” |
| Juza | Settsu, you play the small fry. |
| Banri | Aah!? You’re the small fry, fucker. |
| Juza | You look like the kinda guy who gets killed off first in a horror movie. So you’re a better fit for a small fry. |
| Banri | You’ve got the face of a mob character in a group of delinquents. You’re the small fry! |
| Omi | Hey now, calm down. |
| Sakyo | Settsu, you played the second lead in our last performance. Let Hyodo have this one. |
| Banri | ...Tch. Fine. |
| Juza | Hmph. |
| Izumi | Then it’s decided—Juza-kun is “Chilong” and Banri-kun is “Shin”! Let’s start reading the script aloud tomorrow! |
| |
| Taichi | .... |
| (We’re going to be reading the script to each other tomorrow. I should memorize as much as I can....) |
| *Flips page* |
| Omi | Nn.... |
| Taichi | .... |
| Omi | ...Taichi, should I turn on the light? |
| Taichi | !? |
| S-sorry, did I wake you up!? |
| Omi | No, it was a coincidence. You can turn on the light, you know? |
| Taichi | N-no, I’m good! I’m going to sleep now! Good night! |
| Omi | ...Are you sure? Good night. |
| Taichi | .... |
| .... |
| .... |
| *Flips page* |
| (I’ll just read a little more....) |
| Omi | ...Don’t push yourself too hard. |
| Taichi | !! |
| (Did he figure out from the sound....) |
| .... |
| (Lead: Nanao Taichi, huh....) |
| |
| Reni | You have no charm. Nobody will look at you even if you stand on stage. You’re an actor fit to stand in the corner. |
| You think you have any right to stand at No. 0...? How presumptuous. |
| |
| Taichi | ——. |
| |
| Izumi | (Practice for Autumn Troupe’s Fifth Performance starts today—.) |
| Taichi | Tsuzuru-kun! Director-sensei! |
| Izumi | Hm? |
| Tsuzuru | What’s wrong? |
| Taichi | Um, I have a question about this scene—. |
| Izumi | ——. |
| (Taichi-kun’s script is full of notes and sticky notes.... He did this much in one night....) |
| Taichi | Did I interpret this line right? |
| Tsuzuru | Yeah. But you got this in-depth already? |
| Taichi | Hehe, I just couldn’t stop once I started.... |
| |
| Izumi | Okay, let’s take a short break now. |
| (Taichi-kun’s read-through was perfect. I guess playing the lead for the first time really makes this performance more meaningful to him.) |
| Taichi | .... |
| Izumi | Taichi-kun, you’re amazing. You read the script so smoothly—. |
| Taichi | .... |
| Izumi | Taichi-kun? |
| Taichi | Huh!? Ah, wh-what is it!? |
| Izumi | Are you okay? |
| Taichi | I-I’m fine! I was just out of it—. |
| Azami | Taichi-san, your eyebags are awful. |
| Taichi | ——. |
| Azami | I’ll make you pay if you ruin your skin before the performance. Taking care of yourself is part of your job as the lead. |
| Taichi | G-got it! Please instruct me on skincare this time too! |
| Izumi | (Was he up all night reading the script? I hope his enthusiasm doesn’t make him push himself too hard....) |
