Itaru Chigasaki/MANKAI Encore

Encore: Lancelot

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Staff Member	Good work on the dress rehearsal. We'll be counting on you during the real show, as well.
Izumi	Yes, we'll be in your care.
Sakuya	... The atmosphere about the staff for KniRoun plays is always different from what I'm used to, so I get nervous.
Izumi	That's true. But this is a good experience for us, too.
	Now then, we'll get in the way of the staff members, so let's all head back to the dressing room——
Itaru	Shit, another dupe.
Tsuzuru	You're so quick to open a game after everything's finished...
Masumi	No matter where we go, you're rolling in a gacha.
Itaru	No matter what you say, I'm definitely rolling in this gacha until I pull what I want. Now that I'm done paying for more rolls——time for another 10 roll.
Chikage	... Well, the way I see it, he's also hiding the fact that he's nervous about acting as Lancelot again after so long.
Citron	That's right. Itaru, you're totally oblivious.
Itaru	Obvious, I'm assuming. And that's not really what this is about.
	More importantly, wanna have a gacha match with me, Senpai?
Chikage	No, thanks.
Itaru	Instant response. What about even if I said that the featured characters this time are Lancelot and Gawain?
Citron	Oh, that's right, the mobile game version of KniRoun is running a limited-time gacha of IV right now!
Itaru	Right, right. That's why the winner will be decided by seeing who rolls SSR Lancelot or SSR Gawain first.
Tsuzuru	I don't really think Itaru-san, who always gets caught by the desire sensor, can win against Chikage-san, though...
Sakuya	But if they're characters from IV, then I can understand wanting them! I want to pull Mordred!
Masumi	Director, go for Gareth... aim for me and roll.
Izumi	First I'd have to start from downloading the game.
Citron	What are you going to do, Chikage? Itaru never has any gacha luck, so I think you'll win against him!
Chikage	*sigh*... Continuing to turn him down is more of a pain. I'll give up here and go along with what you want.
Tsuzuru	I can't imagine anything other than a future where Itaru-san loses...
Itaru	He he he. This time will be fine.
	Right now, I'm not the usual Chigasaki Itaru. After all, I'm Lancelot.
Tonooka	Good work.
Itaru	Ugh.
Tonooka	Don't make such an obviously displeased face.
Izumi	I had previously asked if you wouldn't be able to make it to the regional shows, but...
Tonooka	The truth is that there's something I want to discuss with all of you.
	Well, I'm sure you're all hungry, so for now, let's talk while you eat these bentos.
Sakuya	This bento has Hoshii Yoichi written on it!
Citron	Oh, it's a gift from god himself!
Itaru	For real?
Masumi	I've seen the name for this shop.
Chikage	The finest yakiniku bento of an incredibly famous shop, huh. As you'd expect.
Izumi	Thank you so much!
Tonooka	I'm happy that you like it.
	... Oh, right, about Hoshii-san, he's planning on coming to see the next show.
Itaru	...
Citron	Itaru froze.
Sakuya	If Hoshii-san is coming, it's natural to feel nervous...
Izumi	Itaru-san, are you okay?
Itaru	Ah, yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine. Ah~ this meat is nice and chewy and delicious~.
Chikage	That's not meat, that's a cucumber.
Tsuzuru	He's definitely not fine.
Izumi	By the way, you mentioned earlier that there was something you wanted to discuss, but was it about Hoshii-san coming to see the show?
Tonooka	No... The truth is, I wanted to ask for some help with PR for the play.
Itaru	Don't tell me...
Tonooka	This time for sure, I would really like to have "taruchi" help with publicity——.
Izumi	We decline.
Masumi	We told you before that that wasn't happening. Don't trouble the Director.
Tonooka	Is that so?
Chikage	In the first place, I don't believe that there was an article stating that we would assist you with promotions in the contract?
Tonooka	... I'm just joking.
	——Right now, there's an official KniRoun event happening nearby. I was hoping that everyone would be able to make an appearance there for a little while.
Sakuya	Close to here?
Tonooka	It's a theme park that recreates the feeling of an overseas palace, but when IV was being created, it was used as a location model.
	It's a place that holds a lot of memories for Hoshii-san as well, and it's an event that our company has put a lot of effort into, so that's why I'm asking you face-to-face like this.
Tsuzuru	When you say making an appearance, exactly what would we be doing?
Tonooka	Just having you all dress in costume and walk around the park would be plenty.
Izumi	... What do you all think?
Itaru	Well, it'll help with building our roles, so it might be a good idea.
Chikage	That's what you're saying, but really, your otaku heart is just excited to go.
Masumi	He's just an otaku.
Citron	But that's what makes him Itaru.
Sakuya	If the leader, Itaru-san, is okay with it, then I agree!
Izumi	Okay, then we'll accept.
Tonooka	Thank you so much. Hoshii will be grateful, too.
Itaru	...
Tsuzuru	Itaru-san, I thought you'd be happier, but you're surprisingly normal...
Citron	He's not very excited.
Chikage	...

Customer A	Whoa, it's some KniRoun cosplay. The quality is so good.
Customer B	No, that's not cosplay, those are the people who acted in the stage adaption of KniRoun!
Customer C	No way, they're the real deal!? Amazing, it's like we've really transported to the world of KniRoun!
Masumi	"I-It's a beautiful town, but I wonder if there are monsters around..."
Chikage	"Even if there are, we're here, so it'll be fine. Right, Lancelot?"
Itaru	Huh? R-Right...
Chikage	...?
Izumi	(Itaru-san usually flows through these etudes skillfully, but today he seems a bit stiff. I wonder what's wrong...)
Staff Member	... Then, that's all for today. Thank you for all your hard work!
Citron	Phew~ lala shochikubai~!
Masumi	King Arthur is ruined.
Staff Member	If everyone feels up to it, would you all like to have a look around the park? It'll just be during the time we're closing up, but...
Izumi	Is it alright if we look around on our own?
Staff Member	Of course. All the event booths are closed already, but it's no problem.
Sakuya	It feels special to be able to walk around a closed theme park!
Tsuzuru	I was thinking I wanted to get a better look at all the buildings.
Citron	Then let's all... Wait, Itaru's already gone!?
Chikage	He's faster than everyone else only at times like this.
Sakuya	... Itaru-san wasn't doing so well today.
Masumi	His pauses were so weird. The tempo sucked and it was hard to converse with him.
Citron	You're as merciless to Itaru as ever.
Izumi	The customers were happy, and for an etude that basically had no script, I thought it wasn't bad, but...
	Chikage-san, what did you think? I think you were the one who was with him the most.
Chikage	It's true that he might not have been his usual self. It's just like Masumi said——.
Masumi	Then you do something about him.
Citron	It's the co-lead's turn to shine!
Tsuzuru	Yep.
Sakuya	Chikage-san, we're counting on you!
Chikage	... *sigh*. Jeez.
Itaru	...
Chikage	I knew this was where you were. ... We'll worry, so at least say something before you leave.
Itaru	By "we," you mean Sakuya and Director-san, right.
Chikage	Well, yeah. It seems that I've been stuck with the position of your dad, so I had no choice but to come get you.
Itaru	That's harsh. Still, you knew exactly where I was, huh.
Chikage	This place looks like the background, after all. ——The background of Lancelot's limited SSR.
Itaru	I thought that, too, so I came here to get a little bit of power... for the gacha.
Chikage	For the gacha, hmm...
	...
	In that case, want to build up your good karma even more?
Itaru	Huh?
Chikage	"I was looking for you——Lancelot."
Itaru	...
	"Sorry. I was talking to Gwen."
Chikage	"Hmm..."
	*slash*
Itaru	"——gh! Gawain!?"
Chikage	"Are you nervous just 'cuz we're going out to take down a big one? That ain't like you at all."
Itaru	"That's not——"
Chikage	"No matter what happens, you aren't alone. Relax and have fun."
Itaru	——!
Chikage	"It's almost time. Let's go. ——On a new journey."
Itaru	"Yeah..."
	...
Chikage	I suppose that's passable.
Itaru	Suddenly starting up an etude like that... Senpai, when did you come to like theater so much?
Chikage	Who knows. But I think I lose to a theater nerd like you.
Itaru	... That's right. I've been acting a little bit longer, so I won't stand for losing so easily.
	——And with that, can I point out all the things you did wrong in that performance just now?
Chikage	Alright, alright.
Itaru	——So I'd like to ask for something like that.
Chikage	Jeez, are you finally done?
	That being said... I should have caught you off-guard with how sudden it was, but it's not surprising that you didn't break character at all.
Itaru	Well, I mean, I've had this convoluted love for KniRoun for years.
Chikage	If you have such a passionate and weighty love for KniRoun, Hoshii-san will probably see that, too.
	Like that time with the preview plays.
Itaru	...
	Thank you.
Chikage	... What are you thanking me for?
Itaru	No~pe, it's nothing really.
Citron	Oh, they're back!
Sakuya	Itaru-san, Chikage-san, welcome back!
Masumi	You're late.
Chikage	Sorry, sorry. But as you can see, I found Chigasaki. ... It appears that he went off to receive some power.
Tsuzuru	Is that so. This is a holy place, after all.
Izumi	Itaru-san, did you receive some power?
Itaru	Yep. Look forward to the first day of performances.
Izumi	(Thank goodness, he's back to the usual Itaru-san. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.)

Izumi	(The stage is medieval Brittania. The story begins with Lancelot and a fairy, Gwen, conversing.)
Lancelot	"Do you like it, Gwen?"
Izumi	(Itaru-san is the only one on the stage. The presence of Gwen, which is actually not there in reality, can only be expressed through the lighting and Itaru-san's acting...)
Lancelot	"I know. I won't talk to you in front of other people. They'll just think I'm weird."
Audience Member A	Whoa...
Izumi	(The audience members are all captivated by his gentle expression aimed at Gwen. With this, everyone can be swept into KniRoun's world without feeling like anything's off.)
	(Lancelot, who's traveling to the castle where King Arthur lives, discovers Gawain, who's being attacked by a monster.)
Lancelot	"I'll give you a hand!"
Gawain	"I dunno who you are, but you have my thanks——!"
Izumi	(Chikage-san's physical abilities have always been good, and his action scenes were great from before, but——)
Gawain	"Haaa!"
Izumi	(He's gotten better at showing the charm of stage blocking like this. The smoothness of his movement stands out, and it feels good just watching it.)
	(The two of them end up traveling together. Lancelot begins to open up his heart to Gawain, who accepts Gwen's existence without question——)
Gawain	"Can you see something?"
Lancelot	"——"
Lancelot	"If I said that I can... that would be unpleasant, wouldn't it?"
Gawain	"Haha, you're just like my pet cat. Now that I think about it, you kinda look like it."
Lancelot	"A cat?"
Izumi	(The process of the two of them slowly getting closer has to be shown in only a short amount of time on stage, but——)
Gawain	"Well, I'm sure there are a lot of things I can't see. I don't really mind."
Lancelot	"You're strange."
Izumi	(By utilizing movement and atmosphere, the way the distance between the two changes steadily comes through.)
	(In order to heal the king's illness, Lancelot and Gawain depart on a journey to search for the Holy Chalice.)
	(During their journey, they discover that a young man they met on the way, Gareth, is Gawain's younger brother that he never met.)
Gawain	"Hey, the crest on that sword is——"
Gareth	"T-This is... This is supposedly the household crest of my father, who I haven't seen since I was a child. My mother entrusted me with this sword when I left on my journey..."
Gawain	"This is the crest of my house."
Gareth	"Huh!?"
Lancelot	"What does this mean?"
Gareth	"Then, my father is..."
Gawain	"Who would have thought that I would meet my half-brother out here."
Gawain	"You have my thanks, Lancelot. You're always helping me out."
Arthur	"With the assitance of Merlin's magic, he says that he can turn Gwen into a human. If that happens, then she can become my wife."
Lancelot	"Gwen will be the king's wife...!?"
Lancelot	"If you go against Gwen's will, you will anger her mother, the Lady of the Lake."
Arthur	"This is something that has already been decided."
Lancelot	"Your Majesty...!"
Izumi	(His dignity as a king is amazing. Thanks to that, Lancelot's anguish over opposing the king, who he pledged his loyalty to, is given new layers, and the depth of the story is even deeper.)
	(Lancelot, who's trying to help Gwen escape, ends up in opposition to Gawain, who's faithful to the king, and the other knights.)
	(The battle begins in the place where the ritual to turn Gwen into a half-human is happening. In all of the chaos, Gareth, who had sided with Lancelot, loses his life.)
Gareth	"I-I'm fine! H-Hurry and escape with Gwen... I'm alright!"
Lancelot	"——I'm sorry. You're a true knight."
Gareth	"T-Thank you so much..."
Gawain	"Gareth! Gareth, hang on!"
Gareth	"Brother... I was so happy to become a knight..."
Audience Member B	*sniffle*...
Izumi	(Gareth dies without begrudging Lancelot or Gawain. All of the audience members are pained by Gareth's final smile.)
	(The fleeting expression and atmosphere on his face is different from the usual Masumi-kun, but it is exactly Gareth himself.)
Arthur	"What are your intentions, Mordred?"
Mordred	"Uncle, I've always been aiming to dethrone you."
Gawain	"How did he achieve a revolt in such a short time...?"
Merlin	"With my magic, something like this is simple."
Arthur	"Merlin!?"
Gawain	"Don't tell me you're betraying us, too——"
Merlin	"I thought this one would be more useful than King Arthur."
Izumi	(Sakuya-kun and Tsuzuru-kun played out their difficult roles as antagonists well during the preview plays, but this time, they have enough breathing room to have fun, too. That makes me really relieved.)
	(When peace is returning to the castle, Gawain attacks Lancelot as the last scene between the two begins...)
Gawain	"——Haa!"
	*slash*
Lancelot	"——gh."
Arthur	"What are you doing, Gawain?"
Gawain	"I told you that I hadn't forgiven you yet."
Lancelot	"..."
Gawain	"But the fact that you're my friend won't change."
Lancelot	"Gawain..."
Gawain	"Go see Gareth. I'm sure he'll be happy, too."
Lancelot	"..."
Izumi	(All of their interactions and fight scenes up until now have been perfectly in sync. With the influence of their usual relationship, it's become a lot better than before!)
	*applause*
Tonooka	Good work, everyone. Hoshii-san is busy, so he's already gone home, but he seemed very satisfied.
	"It's because of this that there's meaning in having a play adaption; I once again feel like I went on a journey with all of you; thank you"——is what he said.
Sakuya	We did it, Itaru-san!
Itaru	——Heck yeah, I feel like I might be able to get what I want from the gacha right now.
Tsuzuru	Huh, you're going to pull the gacha while you're still Lancelot?
Masumi	A hopeless gaming addict.
Citron	That reminds me, you still haven't gotten anything, Itaru?
Itaru	You didn't have to add that "still." ——Alright then.
	It's an SSR...!
	*shing*
	Hell yeah! Let's go! SSR Lancelot!
Sakuya	That's great, Itaru-san!
Itaru	And with that, I win the gacha match, Senpai.
Chikage	Oh, I didn't mention that yet. ——Look.
Itaru	Huh, Gawain——and Lancelot!?
Chikage	I tried doing a 10-pull once, and I got both of them.
	I think I win this one.
Citron	Oh~ Itaru celebrated his victory too early!
Tsuzuru	I knew Itaru-san was gonna lose.
Itaru	And I stacked up all that good karma, too... I don't get it.

Kou