| Izumi | (The Autumn Troupe's second play, 『Stranger』 is set in a ruined future. The protagonist is a man named Ward, a drifter and a lone wolf; this is Omi-kun's role.) |
| (It's a wild, cold-hearted role that makes the most of the company's best build. There's pressure in being the protagonist, but he's tackling it calmly.) |
| (More importantly, what seems likely to become the biggest challenge this time is......) |
| Taichi | 『My name's Zero. Hiya ♪ Ehe ♪』 |
| Izumi | ...... |
| Banri | Pfft! You're joking around too much, Taichi! Don't make me laugh! |
| Sakyo | Stop interrupting the practice over every little thing, Settsu......ha. |
| Banri | Sakyo-san, your shoulders are shaking too. |
| Sakyo | ......It's no good. I can't keep acting. |
| Taichi | It's my first time playing a girl, so it can't be helped! |
| Juza | Well, you do technically seem like a girl. |
| Taichi | Really!? |
| Juza | People who say 『so-and-so』 and 『such and such』 are girls. |
| Banri | Your categorisation's too random! You're the only one who'd accept that! |
| Izumi | (This time, Taichi-kun is in the supporting role. He plays Zero, a young girl with memory loss who journeys with Ward, but I wonder if he'll be alright.) |
| (When Tsuzuru-kun said he wanted to put in a female role no matter what, I thought it was impossible for the Autumn Troupe, but......) |
| (Taichi-kun can let out a pretty high voice. That's not the problem.) |
| Taichi | 『Ehehe ♪』 |
| Izumi | (I'm seriously concerned......) |
| What if you try not to place so much awareness on the fact that it's a female role? |
| The way things are now, Taichi-kun's image of girls is carrying through rather than character of Zero. |
| Banri | Say, it's too intentional. |
| There's no way there'd be such an airheaded girl in a ruined future world. |
| Omi | But his movements have gotten less stereotypically girlish than yesterday. |
| Taichi | I worked hard on that! |
| Omi | You can keep on fixing things bit by bit like that. |
| Taichi | Waaah, Omi-kun, you're so kind! You're the angel of the Autumn Troupe! A buff angel~! |
| Omi | Oi oi...... |
| Sakyo | ......Tch. |
| Izumi | (It's good that Omi-kun is covering for people like a leader, but......) |
| (It might be that his kindness will become a hindrance to his role this time.) |
| Yuzo | Ohh, you're hard at work. |
| Izumi | Yuzo-san!? |
| Yuzo | I had a bit of spare time, so I came to see how things were going. |
| Izumi | Eh!? But we've only just started rehearsing...... |
| (I'd been thinking of having him come once we'd got it mostly down.) |
| Yuzo | I already know your level, so there's no point putting on airs now. It's kind of me to instruct you early. |
| Well, it's partly to bully that boy Sakyo. |
| Sakyo | It's completely and utterly to bully me. |
| Yuzo | Haha. It's fine, so show me. |
| Izumi | Then, everyone, let's try running through it from the top. |
| |
| Yuzo | ...... |
| Hm. |
| Izumi | (Well, as things are now there's nothing to praise......) |
| Yuzo | Horrible. Even considering you've barely started practising, the level's too low. |
| What did you learn from your debut play? Have you gone right back to the start? What are you, chickens who take three steps and then forget everything? |
| The only one who looks like they've improved a bit is you, Banri. I can see that your stance towards acting has changed. |
| Banri | It's rare for you to praise people, old man...... |
| Yuzo | That said, it's just that in your case you were at a minus in the beginning. You've just gotten in line with the rest. Don't misunderstand. |
| Banri | Yes, yes. |
| Yuzo | Your role is what we call a mad scientist. Bring out a more personalised broken, deranged part of yourself. |
| The way you are now, you're just a regular thug. |
| Banri | ...... |
| Yuzo | Next, Juza. You're the assassin chasing Ward and Zero. A steadfast brute. It's a role that suits you perfectly. |
| But that's all it is. It's shallow. You're not a cyborg, but I can't see your thoughts. Delve into the character more. |
| Juza | ......Yep. |
| Yuzo | Next, the boy Sakyo. A seemingly inhuman male coming from the same circumstances as Zero. In some sense, a trickster. |
| If you don't perfectly bring out his atmosphere and sense of presence, you'll blend into the meaningless scenery, |
| Sakyo | ...... |
| Yuzo | Next, the supporting character, Zero. |
| Taichi | Y-Yes! |
| Yuzo | You must know this, but your acting is destroying the play. If the female character is shy and awkward, it'll instantly turn into a joke. |
| Don't try to act with imperfect understanding. It's painful to watch. |
| Taichi | ――. |
| Izumi | (As expected, they're being torn to pieces......I knew it, but I have to do something......) |
| Yuzo | Last is Omi. |
| Omi | ―― Yes. |
| Yuzo | ......Are you playing around? |
| Omi | Eh? |
| Yuzo | You're the one who's least improved since the debut play, idiot. Is that muscle for decoration? You don't have an ounce of force. |
| What happened to everything in that portrait? Are you completely brain-dead? You're faking. |
| Think again about what I said during the debut play. |
| Omi | ......Yes. |
| Yuzo | ......Even if you're not aware of it, it's not nice seeing you suppress yourself. |
| Omi | ...... |
| Yuzo | That's all. Next, bring it properly to completion. |
| Izumi | T-Thank you very much! |
| Banri | ......*sigh* |
| Sakyo | ......Phew. |
| Taichi | ...... |
| Omi | ...... |
| Izumi | Though it'll be good if the quality improves from now on, having had that much said to them, how should I speak to them...... |
| Omi | Sorry for being a shameful leader. |
| Izumi | Omi-kun...... |
| Omi | But you've all definitely been progressing every day since the joint reading. If we slowly continue to build things up until the real deal...... |
| Sakyo | ......Don't joke. |
| Those words of yours will render the Autumn Troupe useless. Think again about why I made you leader this time. |
| Omi | ――. |
| Sakyo | ......Tch. |
| Izumi | Ah, Sakyo-san ――! |
| Omi | ...... |
| Taichi | I-I think you're leading properly! |
| Juza | I think so too. |
| Banri | Still, there is a bit of truth in saying that nothing will come of progressing at this rate. |
| Omi | ......Sorry. I'll think hard about the meaning of Sakyo-san's words. |
