The Clockwork Heartbeat/Episode 1

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The Clockwork Heartbeat
Episode 1

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Dear sir, The sudden arrival of a letter like this must come as quite the surprise to you. Even now, I wonder whether it was right to contact you like this. But I so wanted to apologise that I was unable to set aside my pen. I have always, always, regretted that time. It may be that despite my apology, it cannot be forgiven. Yet there is something I have to tell you at any cost. ―― Until now, and from now on, I am your number one fan. Mizuno ......So, will you allow our company to support you in this fashion? Izumi In this fashion......!? Sakyo ...... Mizuno There are plenty of areas to improve upon, so I'd like to flesh out the details as we hold discussions. Izumi Areas to improve upon......this is more than adequate. With this, we can reform the theatre and increase the budget for the plays. Mizuno That's good. Sakyo ......Mizuno, was it. Mizuno Yes. Sakyo MIZUNO Enterprises is the biggest name in the entertainment industry. It owns talent agencies as well as theatres and music labels. Why would such a large company invest in a small theatre troupe like ours? Does your father, the president, really agree to support us? Mizuno Of course. This decision has gone through all the proper channels. Investing in troupes that shoulder the hope of the future is necessary to liven up the world of theatre. This will also serve to improve our company image. I myself may be difficult to believe in, as a student still, but this time I truly pressed my case hard. Sakyo ......Why is that? Mizuno In truth, I am personally a fan of MANKAI Company. Ever since I saw the Winter Troupe's Showdown ACT against GOD-za, I've come to see every play. Izumi I see. Then ――. Mizuno Yes. If you would like, I can bring another person along. Sakyo ...... Mizuno Incidentally, do you have a writing office for your playwright? Izumi Eh? Sakyo A writing office? Mizuno What makes MANKAI Company's charm even more charming is undeniably the strength of the scripts! In order to further showcase the playwright's strengths, is it not vital to give them the greatest environment? Izumi In terms of environment, Tsuzuru-kun always writes on his PC in his own room in the dorms...... Mizuno In the dormitory!? Not an office? Izumi That's right. They're two-person rooms, and we don't have any more to spare, so...... Mizuno On top of that, a two-person room!? That's no good! A playwright can't focus on writing in that sort of environment! If you accept our offer of support, let's make a splendid, completely soundproof studio just for your playwright in the dormitories! We'll have to prepare a high-spec machine, a top-grade desk and chair, and a sofa for naps. Izumi Ah, an office......It's true that it might be a help to Tsuzuru-kun. Mizuno Then I hope that you will look favourably upon our offer ――. Sakyo No. Mizuno Eh? Izumi Why, Sakyo-san? It's an extremely good proposal. Sakyo By accepting their support, it gives them the right to meddle in our affairs. Mizuno That won't happen! In terms of the plays and your operations, we won't interfere at all. We're happy for your troupe to continue freely as you have until now. Sakyo You might not have that intention, but you don't know what the other bigwigs are thinking. Nor how things will change in the future. Mizuno We can include a clause that prohibits interference in the contract. Please, consider it. Sakyo ...... Tsuzuru Director, are you there? Izumi ? Tsuzuru-kun? Mizuno ――. Izumi Excuse me, may I leave for a moment ――. Mizuno Ah, no, I'll take my leave here. Thank you for giving me your time. Izumi Eh? Really......? Mizuno Then ――. Sakyo He left rather easily. Izumi He did...... Tsuzuru Ah, there you are. Izumi What is it? Tsuzuru I've come up with the plot for the Spring Troupe's third play. Izumi Really? I want to read it! Tsuzuru Here you go too, Sakyo-san. Sakyo ...... This time, it's about the friendship between an alchemist and a homunculus, is it. Tsuzuru Yes. Izumi (A socially awkward alchemist, and a slightly odd homunculus who knows nothing about common courtesy......) Citron-kun would suit the second-lead role, the homunculus. Tsuzuru Honestly, I wrote it with him in mind. Izumi Ah, so it was like that. Tsuzuru I thought if Citron-san acted it, he'd give off a nice, slightly alien aura. Izumi Yeah yeah, that's nice! Citron-kun's Japanese has improved recently too, so giving him a big role might make for a good opportunity! Sakyo ...... Tsuzuru How is it, Sakyo-san? Sakyo It's refreshing, like the Spring Troupe. Good. Tsuzuru Thanks! Sakyo So, friendship again, huh. Tsuzuru Does it overlap with the plays we've done so far? Sakyo Well, when it's a male-only troupe performing, friendship is the easiest to work with. It's well received by the audience, and it's easy for the actors to carry their own emotions across. It fits with the atmosphere of the Spring Troupe too, so there's no problem. Tsuzuru But I'm worried about keeping on with the same theme. They won't get tired off it? Izumi Even if the theme is the same, the motifs are completely different, and I like the friendships you write. Tsuzuru ......Then that's fine, but. When I compile it into a book, I'll try to figure something out so it doesn't overlap with what we've done so far. Izumi Will you? If you're troubled, chat to me about it, okay. Tsuzuru Yep. Izumi ...... (It seems Tsuzuru-kun is unusually worried about a lot of things.) (This makes the ninth play in total, so I guess he's started to worry about having variation.)
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