| Guy | .... |
| Tasuku | ...All right. |
| Guy | .... |
| Tasuku | Woah!? |
| Guy | .... |
| Tasuku | —What are you doing, standing there like that? You didn’t decide to lodge at the entrance for real, right? |
| Guy | I was waiting for you. |
| Tasuku | What? |
| Guy | Yukishiro told me that you would come to the entrance at 5 AM. That if I wanted to know more about you, I should wait for you here. |
| Tasuku | Uh... Well, sure. Do you want to come running with me then? |
| Guy | Cunning...? |
| Tasuku | No, running. |
| Guy | I’ll join you. |
| |
| Tasuku | .... |
| Guy | .... |
| Tasuku | We’re going pretty fast. Can you keep up? |
| Guy | ...This is fine. |
| Tasuku | You must work out a lot. |
| Guy | ...I must protect Citronia in times of need, after all. I don’t neglect my training. |
| Tasuku | ...I see. |
| Guy | .... |
| Tasuku | ...So why do you want to know more about me? |
| Guy | I analyzed Winter Troupe’s members on my own. But when I talked to them, I learned that there were errors in my analyses. |
| I would like to fix those. |
| Tasuku | ...I get it now. |
| Guy | I would like to hear your story, Takato. |
| Tasuku | ...I’m not very good at explaining myself, or talking in general. |
| ...Let’s take the long way round. |
| |
| Tasuku | Before joining this troupe, I was part of a troupe called GOD-za. But its policies didn’t suit me; that’s why I quit. |
| Tsumugi is my childhood friend—we were student actors together for many many years, but we grew apart after GOD-za’s entrance audition. |
| I couldn’t forgive Tsumugi for quitting theater when he didn’t pass GOD-za’s entrance audition.... We finally made up after joining this troupe together. |
| Guy | ...I see. |
| Tasuku | Theater was always the only thing on our minds; we performed all sorts of street acts here on Veludo Way. |
| ——. |
| Guy | What is it? |
| Tasuku | ...Why don’t we do that. |
| Guy | Do what? |
| Tasuku | A street act. If you want to know more about me, that’s the best way. |
| Guy | ...I don’t know how. |
| Tasuku | There aren’t many passers-by at this hour. Don’t worry about it; observe my acting, and respond however you want. |
| Guy | ...All right. |
| |
| Tasuku | “I did it! I’m free! I can do anything I want; I can become anyone I want. Goodbye to that suffocating prison!” |
| “Hey, brother, what do you want to do now?” |
| Guy | “...What I want to do?” |
| Tasuku | “That’s right! We’re finally part of the free world now! We can eat and enjoy whatever we want!” |
| |
| Tasuku | “Let’s go, brother! Our new lives are just beginning!” |
| Guy | ——. |
| Tasuku | ...That’s how you do it. |
| *Applause* |
| Guy | ? |
| Tasuku | Seems like quite a few people gathered before we knew it. |
| Passerby A | That was good! |
| Passerby B | What a nice way to start off my morning! |
| Guy | .... |
| Tasuku | That was fun, right? |
| Guy | ...I don’t know. But I do feel strange. |
| Tasuku | Strange? |
| Guy | It’s strange how this many people are watching me and smiling. |
| Tasuku | That’s “acting.” |
| |
| Guy | <<Why a theater troupe?>> |
| Citron | <<...There is nothing more fun than standing on stage with everyone in this troupe.>> |
| Guy | <<...Fun?>> |
| Citron | <<...You wouldn’t understand, huh.>> |
| |
| Guy | .... |
| Tasuku | I’m getting hungry. We should head back to the dorms soon. |
| |
| Tasuku | Do you know me a little better now? |
| Guy | I wasn’t mistaken to think you’re blindly devoted when it comes to theater. |
| Tasuku | Well, I won’t deny that. |
| Guy | But I feel like that’s not everything. If you have trouble talking about yourself, Takato, I’ll ask Tsukioka instead. |
| Tasuku | I feel like he’ll give you unnecessary information, so please don’t. |
| Guy | ...All right. |
| Then I’d like you to tell me about Tsukioka. |
| Tasuku | ...You’re the one who has the most exchanges with Tsumugi in the upcoming play. I think you’ll start seeing the real him as you act together. |
| Guy | .... |
| Tsumugi | Good morning. |
| Tasuku | Speak of the devil. |
| Tsumugi | What are you talking about? |
| Tasuku | We just went running and did a street act. |
| Tsumugi | Eh? Just the two of you? |
| Tasuku | Yeah. |
| Tsumugi | You should’ve invited me too. |
| Tasuku | It’s your own fault for not waking up. |
| Guy | .... |
| Tasuku | I’ll be eating first. |
| Guy | .... |
| Tsumugi | Is something wrong? |
| Guy | You asked me about my impression of the Winter Troupe members, right? Everyone turned out to be different from my initial analyses. |
| Tsumugi | I see. You were able to learn more about everyone. |
| Guy | ...You’re the only one left, Tsukioka. |
| Tsumugi | ——. |
| ...Please get a sense of me on the stage. |
