| Azami | “Mark! When did you get released!?” |
| "No, I should apologize since I couldn't be of any help. It was a disaster." |
| *door opens* |
| Sakyo | How was the first day of rehearsal? |
| Azami | Nothing special… same old. |
| Sakyo | What do you mean, “same old”? |
| Azami | It’s the same as usual. |
| Sakyo | The heck? Glad you didn’t have any issues, though. |
| Azami | "I see. They should have turned themselves in sooner--. Putting that aside, I'm glad your innocence has been proven." |
| Sakyo | Shall I help you practice? |
| Azami | Nah, I’m fine. |
| *door knocking sound* |
| Omi | Sorry for interrupting. |
| Sakyo | What’s the matter? |
| Omi | I can’t cook rice since the rice cooker is acting up today. So can you prepare dinner by yourself? |
| Sakyo | Are you goin’ to buy a new one? |
| Omi | I have the repairing club, Tasuku-san and Chikage-san, taking a look at it right now, but if it doesn’t work, I’m gonna buy a new one. |
| Sakyo | OK, got it. |
| Get ready to go out, you two. |
| Omi | Eh? |
| Sakyo | I’ll treat you to some meals for a change. |
| Azami | Hah!? |
| Omi | You, Sakyo-san? |
| Azami | I can’t believe he’s gonna treat us to meals… |
| Sakyo | What do you mean? Get ready! Quick! |
| |
| Waiter | Thanks for waiting. Here’s your gingko and green pepper. |
| Azami | Be a lil bit more generous and take us to some sushi. |
| Sakyo | Haah? |
| Azami | I’m just sayin’ the older members of Spring Troupe treated them to sushi. |
| Omi | Now that you mention it, they wrote a blog post about that too. |
| Sakyo | Don’t complain when you’re the one bein’ treated. |
| Omi | Haha, yakitori is also delicious, you know. |
| Sakyo | This is a nice thing to do every once in a while, right, Fushimi? You always cook us meals, after all. |
| Omi | I just do it because I love it, but still… Thank you. |
| Sakyo | How was your first day of rehearsal? |
| Azami | That again? You worry too much. |
| Omi | We’re doing good. We’re all getting more heated than usual, just as I expected. |
| Sakyo | With our play being a Showdown Act, that makes sense. Besides, we have a lot of people who feel strongly about that event. |
| Omi | Yeah. |
| Sakyo | I’m sure GOD-za will also put up a much better play than last time to beat us completely. |
| Azami | … |
| Omi | Do you have any close friends in GOD-za, Azami? |
| Azami | Yeah. |
| Omi | I was surprised when I heard about it the other day. Do you know about this too, Sakyo-san? |
| Sakyo | I didn’t know he’s in GOD-za… |
| I don’t know a thing about that guy, but among Bou’s classmates, Shifuto is pretty much the only one that has come to play at the Izumida household. |
| He’s not intimidated by our boss’ fierce look and is doted on by the Ginsenkai members. |
| Even before I joined Ginsenkai, him and Bou have been hangin’ out together. He’s been with him for a long time. |
| Azami | I mentioned him in my portrait, the one who ran away from home with me. |
| Omi | Oh, I see... So you two are like childhood friends. |
| Azami | Yeah. We first met at pre-school—. |
| |
| Child A | Let’s play. |
| Azami | Okay. |
| Child B | Ah, you can’t. |
| Mom told me not to get close to Azami-kun. |
| Child A | Really? |
| Child C | I’ve been told the same! |
| Child B | Let’s go there. |
| Child A | Yeah. |
| Azami | … |
| Shifuto | Say, say, are you yakuza? |
| Azami | Haaah? |
| Shifuto | What’s yakuza!? |
| Azami | … |
| Shifuto | I wanna see yakuza! Can I go to your home? |
| Azami | Haaah…? |
| |
| He really came to my home after that. Even after he knew what yakuza is, he still stayed by my side through grade school and junior high as a close friend. |
| Since then, he’s always told me he wanted to be an actor. I’ve also told him my dream to be a hair and makeup artist. |
| But when he said he was jealous of me during junior high graduation… I regretted talkin’ about plays and acting without considering his feelings. |
| I’ve always known he wanted to be an actor, and yet… |
| Omi | ...I knew someone who was like that too. |
| I get your feelings; it must be hard to suddenly lose someone who has always stayed by your side like it was the most normal thing to do. |
| Being able to meet such a person is like the luckiest and most precious thing in our lives. |
| Azami | Yeah, right. I believe I won’t ever have a partner like him. |
| Sakyo | Don’t give up. |
| I’ve always thought we’re similar, Bou. Ever since childhood, people have also distanced themselves from me. |
| But what makes us different is the fact that you have a close friend you can talk with about anything. Moreover, that close friend is now your rival. |
| He’ll become a companion that will help you grow, both as yourself and as an actor. That’s why, you must never cut off your friendship. |
| Azami | ...Kumon said the same thing. |
| I will never give up… the bond I have with him. I’ll express my feelings to him through my acting on the stage. |
| Sakyo | That’s the spirit. |
| Omi | Good luck. |
| Sakyo | Did Shifuto know you’re goin’ to participate in the Showdown Act? |
| Azami | Dunno. I tried sendin’ him a message through LIME once, but he left me on read. |
| Sakyo | Either way, he’ll probably learn of it when we announce the cast information. |
| When are we gonna shoot for the flyers? |
| Omi | Around next week, as soon as Yuki finishes the costumes while Azami comes up with the makeup plan. |
| Sakyo | Have you made any progress? |
| Azami | Well yeah. Since the theme for this play is a specific one, both me and Yuki-san are totally pumped up to elaborate on that. |
| Omi | I’m going to make you look cool in the photos, Azami, so that you won’t lose to your rival. |
| Azami | Thanks. |
