| Guy | .... |
| Azuma | Perfect timing. Do you like Japanese sake, Android-san? |
| Guy | I don’t know. |
| Azuma | I have some delicious sake. Won’t you join me for a bit? |
| Guy | I’ll have some. I hear it’s this country’s common courtesy to avoid refusing drinks as much as possible. |
| Azuma | You’re so serious. |
| Guy | .... |
| Azuma | How is it? It’s a bit dry, but it’s refreshing, right? |
| Guy | ...You’re right. |
| Azuma | If you prefer wine, I have that too. |
| Guy | Either is fine. |
| Azuma | Fufu, you welcome everything with open arms, Android-san. |
| Guy | .... |
| Azuma | ...Is there something you want to say to me? |
| Guy | ...Are you weak, Yukishiro? |
| Azuma | Hm? I think I have fairly high tolerance for alcohol. |
| Guy | No. Mikage said that sometimes he feels like he needs to protect you, Yukishiro |
| Azuma | Hisoka said that...? Fufu, that makes me happy. |
| Guy | In my opinion, you’re a grown man, Yukishiro. You don’t look like you need to be protected. |
| Azuma | ...That’s right. I should probably tell you too, Android-san. |
| I lost my family in an accident when I was young. I lived alone for many, many years. |
| I thought I would go on to die alone, just like that. |
| ...I was always so lonely. Everyone had their families; that was normal for them. But there was nobody next to me. |
| Every time I fell asleep, I hoped morning would never come. |
| But... After joining this troupe, for the first time, I stopped being afraid of the morning that I feared for all those years. |
| I might be one person, but I am not alone[1]. Because everyone in the troupe is always next to me. |
| Guy | ...I see. |
| Azuma | Though it doesn’t change that I lost my family in the past.... |
| Guy | .... |
| Azuma | ——. |
| Guy | —I’m sorry. |
| Azuma | Fufu. I wonder how long it’s been since someone last patted my head. |
| Nii-san did it all the time. He would always praise my hair, saying it was beautiful. |
| Guy | I see. |
| Azuma | Do you have any siblings, Android-san? |
| Guy | I’m sure there are other androids of the same model, but I have never met one. |
| Azuma | So you don’t have any memories of brotherhood, or anything of the sort? |
| Guy | Well... The only brothers I know are Citronia’s younger brothers, the princes. They’re a little different from you and your brother, Yukishiro. |
| Azuma | Huh? How so? |
| Guy | Citronia and the three younger princes all have different mothers. He gets along well with the fourth prince, but he’s on bad terms with the second and third. |
| Citronia was always concerned about his relationships with his younger brothers. |
| Azuma | I didn’t know that. |
| |
| Citron | <<Guy, I don’t want to fight my younger brothers. I would gladly give them the throne if I could.>> |
| Guy | <<You are the one who will inherit the throne, Citronia.>> |
| Citron | <<I know. But sometimes it feels so troublesome. If only this crown did not exist....>> |
| Guy | <<You cannot abandon your responsibility.>> |
| Citron | <<...I forgot it would be useless to tell you, Guy.>> |
| |
| Guy | I wonder if Citronia wanted a relationship like yours with your brother, Yukishiro.... |
| Azuma | ...I’m sure. Though it must be difficult when you’re royalty. |
| Guy | .... |
| Azuma | Android-san, next time, let’s all go drinking together. |
| Quietly drinking with just the two of us is lovely, but drinking with everyone is lots of fun. |
| Guy | Fun? |
| Azuma | Have you never drank with someone and thought, “this is fun”? |
| Guy | ...No. |
| Azuma | It doesn’t have to involve alcohol. Haven’t you ever had fun being with someone? |
| Guy | I can’t think of anything. |
| |
| Citron | <<Guy, riding horses like this is so much fun! Don’t you agree, Guy?>> |
| Guy | <<...It is fun.>> |
| Citron | <<Do you really think it’s fun?>> |
| Guy | <<I inferred that it was fun because you said so, Citronia.>> |
| Citron | <<Goodness, you really are useless.>> |
| |
| Guy | .... |
| Azuma | Tsumugi and Tasuku will go on endlessly about play theory when they get drunk. If you give them the slightest response, they’ll easily keep going for two or three hours. |
| Homare is a sentimental drunk, and Hisoka drinks one after another in silence. He can really hold his drink. Everyone goes at their own pace, so watching them is really entertaining. |
| Guy | Takato doesn’t sound too different from his sober self. |
| Azuma | It’s true, it’s hard to tell when Tasuku is drunk, but sometimes he’ll make these sudden airheaded comments. Fufu. |
| Guy | Takato seems stoic, so I’m surprised that he drinks until he gets drunk. |
| Azuma | You’re right. Acting is the only thing on his mind; he doesn’t care about anything else. He’s inconsiderate and cold. |
| ...That’s what I used to think, too. |
| Guy | Do you think differently now? |
| Azuma | —I’m surprised that you’re interested in people, Android-san. |
| Guy | After listening to the members of Winter Troupe, I learned that everyone here has a side to them that’s different from my first impression. |
| That’s why I thought the same might go for Takato. |
| Azuma | ...I see. |
| Tasuku is skillful—he can do anything on the stage; he’s also very observant. He’s attentive about his fanservice, and he knows how to win over the fans’ hearts. |
| But when he returns to his usual self, he’s a poor talker and hopelessly clumsy. |
| Guy | That, I kind of see. |
| Azuma | But he’s actually kind and caring. He fixed Homare’s precious pocket watch, and he’ll pick up Hisoka and carry him whenever he’s lying on the ground.... |
| I’d been afraid of returning home on my own. But Tasuku found out, and took the trouble to come with me. |
| Guy | ...I didn’t know that. |
| Azuma | I think it’s best for you to see for yourself. Try waiting for him at the entrance around 5 AM tomorrow. |
| Guy | 5 AM... All right. |
