| Izumi | (This group is the one with the best actors in it, I think? I wonder how their improv will go.) |
| Actor A | Um, are we doing the improvs in order, too? |
| Reni | No. Anyone who wishes to give it a go, may. |
| Shifuto | Ooh, me, me! Shifuto Arakawa reporting in! I've got a line for when Cain's going against the dragon. |
| "I can't afford to lose here! I must defeat the dragon, for the sake of my people!" |
| Thank you. |
| Izumi | (A very classic, majestic take on Prince Cain. Shifuto-kun's inner confidence really shines here.) |
| Reni | Anyone else? |
| Haruto | ... |
| Izumi | (Haruto-kun looks like he's deep in thought... Is he having trouble coming up with something? |
| Reni | Right, well, no matter. We're moving on to the selection, then— |
| Haruto | Please, wait! |
| Haruto Asuka. I have a line directed towards Gilbert, as Cain. |
| "You will never understand how I feel." |
| "You were blessed with everything you need to be king. You'll never know what it's like for me." |
| Reni | ...! |
| Haruto | ...Thank you. |
| Izumi | (He's given Cain a darker spin, quite unlike what Shifuto-kun did. But boy, did it make me stop breathing for a second.) |
| Reni | Anyone else? |
| Actor A | Ah, me! I'd like to have a go! |
| Actor B | Me, too! |
| |
| Reni | So, that's everyone. Anyone have any final remarks? |
| Izumi | (He said he wanted to give those who really wanted it a chance to stand center-stage, so I guess this is the actors' chance to make a statement.) |
| Shifuto | If I am chosen for the lead, I promise to take GOD-za to newer heights with Mankai Company through this play! |
| I'll do my very best! Thank you. |
| Haruto | ...This might not be the best time and place to say it, but... |
| Izumi | ? |
| Haruto | I'd like Tasuku Takato to be part of the cast. |
| Izumi | Huh? |
| Reni | And why is that? |
| Haruto | When Tasuku was still in GOD-za, he was the one rival I would rather have died than lost to. However, I was never able to beat him during our time together. |
| I ended up losing to him twice in our act-offs as well, and that left me with a lot of regret. |
| That's why I really want to pass this audition and have another head-to-head with him up on stage. |
| Izumi | ... |
| (You can really feel his desperation... It's almost scary how serious he is, actually.) |
| Shifuto | Ooh, ooh! I want Azami to be in the cast as well, then! |
| Haruto | Hey— Butt out! |
| Shifuto | Real talk though, I was really happy that I was able to go against Azami in our last act-off and all... |
| ...but a bunch of other stuff happened and I'm kinda annoyed that I lost, so I wanna go against Azami again on stage, too! |
| Reni | Hm... Who Mankai Company picks is not up to me, though. |
| Izumi | ... |
| (Tasuku-san and Azami-kun, huh...) |
| |
| *the scene changes to Reni's office* |
| |
| Reni | Right, are we ready to pick our cast? |
| Izumi | Your improv task turned out to be very interesting. |
| Tsuzuru | Yeah. We were all very surprised by how sudden it was, but it was very eye-opening to see how everyone interpreted the characters. |
| Madoka | Even with the lines we had provided, I felt like we could see a lot of the actors' personalities. |
| Reni | We never really improvise during our practise sessions, so they were all pretty rough around the edges, but there was also some great potential. |
| As a writer, who do you think stood out the most? |
| Tsuzuru | Asuka-san, I think. I was really surprised by how well he grasped Cain's hidden side through his improvised line. |
| Madoka | I had a more noble image in mind for Cain, but if you think about how Cain was born, Asuka-san's interpretation makes perfect sense. |
| Tsuzuru | I think it would be great if we could explore more of that side, going forward. |
| Madoka | Yeah. I think making Cain more personable is a great idea. |
| Reni | I see... |
| Izumi | So that means... |
| (Both the writers prefer Haruto-kun over top actor Shifuto-kun, huh.) |
| Reni | What about for Lutz? |
| Izumi | I think Shifuto-kun's the best fit. I know he improvised for Cain, but his bright personality made a big impression on me. |
| Tsuzuru | Yeah, I was thinking that he'd be good for Lutz when he did that line. |
| Madoka | I think Shifuto would do Lutz justice. |
| Izumi | What do you think, Kamikizaka-san? |
| Reni | I do agree that Haruto's line was excellent. |
| He's lead an act-off before too, and I think his experience would be very useful. |
| The only problem is with the request he made. What did you think about that? |
| Tsuzuru | I think Takato-san fits Gilbert, the prince of the kingdom of fire, very well. I have no problems with casting him. |
| Madoka | Me, neither. As for Shifuto's request, I think Azami would be fine. Their age difference fits the characters. |
| Reni | I see. I have no objections, then. The final call is yours, however, Director. |
| Izumi | Right. I'll have a chat with everyone first. |
| |
| *the scene changes to the Mankai living room* |
| |
| Banri | Where are Tasuku-san and Azami? |
| Sakuya | Azami-kun went to take a bath, but he should be out soon. |
| Tsumugi | I think Tasuku should be back soon, too. |
| Tenma | Oh, here they come. |
| Azami | So, what is it? |
| Tasuku | Sorry I'm late. |
| Izumi | Hey, guys. |
| Sakuya | Welcome back, Tasuku-san! |
| Izumi | So to catch you up to speed, GOD-za had their auditions for the play yesterday, and... |
| |
| Tasuku | Haruto said that? |
| Azami | Geez, Shifuto's still as shameless as always. |
| Izumi | This play is very important to us in the way that the Fleur Award committee will be watching. We need to make a good impression on them. |
| I'd feel more confident having an experienced actor like Tasuku-san be part of the cast, but... |
| Would you be okay working with GOD-za again, Tasuku-san? |
| Tasuku | Yeah. I know I left GOD-za in a huff and all, but I do have a few regrets. |
| This would be a good chance for me to give back to the GOD-za fans and staff that supported me. There were a lot of staff members that I never got to know, too. |
| Banri | But you'll be working for Reni-san again, you know? |
| Tenma | You guys don't get along very well, right? |
| Tasuku | Fair enough, but judging from how GOD-za is being run now, I feel like Reni-san has changed a lot since. |
| I'd be working for an all-new GOD-za that's nothing like the one I left. |
| Plus, we need this play to be perfect, right? I already have a good feel for the GOD Theater, so there's that as well. |
| Izumi | Thank you, Tasuku-san. That's very reassuring. |
| Azami | Same with me, then, 'coz I acted in the GOD Theater for our last act-off. |
| Shifuto said he was happy with the final results, but he did also have to deal with all the fuss that made them change their play last minute. I think he felt kind of bad losing, too. |
| If I can help him clear those regrets, then I'd be happy to join the cast. |
| I'm hoping I can kill two birds with one stone by stealing some of the GOD-za makeup artists' techniques, too. Heh. |
| Sakuya | You go, Azami-kun! |
| Tsumugi | All right, so we're going with these two for our half of the cast? |
| Banri | Sounds good to me. A bit of healthy rivalry's good for both companies, too. |
| Tenma | It'd be easier for them to act with someone they already know than with complete strangers, too. |
| Sakuya | I'm so excited to see the best of Mankai Company and GOD-za come together in one play! |
| Izumi | We'll be counting on you two! |
| Tasuku | No worries. |
| Azami | We've got this. |
| |
| *the scene changes to Haruto's apartment* |
| |
| Haruto | (Some tomatoes, and a pickled plum for my rice... Nice.) |
| I think that's— |
| Oops, I left the script by my pillow. |
| ("Cain: Haruto Asuka"...) |
| (I swear I will make this play a success.) |
| |
| *the scene changes to GOD-za's backstage area* |
| |
| Haruto | ? |
| The door's unlocked... |
| (Don't tell me...) |
| |
| *the scene changes to GOD-za's practise space* |
| |
| Haruto | ...! |
| Shifuto | Mornin'! |
| Haruto | Oh, it's just you. |
| Shifuto | I win! I beat you to the practise room! |
| Haruto | Oh, shut up. I'm the lead this time, not you, so don't get too ahead of yourself. |
| Shifuto | Looking forward to learning lots from you! |
| Haruto | Stop smiling. Can't you feel at least a little annoyed? |
| Shifuto | Ehh, why? I'm always playing the lead, anyway. I don't mind playing a different part. |
| Haruto | Don't get too ahead of yourself! Ugh, I can't stand you. |
