| Tsumugi | ...Hey, Tasuku. I’ve always thought this, but Sakyo-san has nice handwriting. |
| Tasuku | Really? |
| Tsumugi | See. |
| Tasuku | ...Oh, yeah, you’re right. Actually, this is the first time I’ve seen Sakyo-san’s handwriting. |
| Tsumugi | Oh, really? |
| Tasuku | Anyway, have you decided what to write for your message? |
| Tsumugi | Yup. I pressed some flowers, so I was thinking of attaching them. |
| Tasuku | Must be nice to have that sort of trick. |
| Tsumugi | You haven’t decided yet, Tasuku? |
| Tasuku | I’m bad at this sort of thing. |
| Tsumugi | ...This brings back memories from elementary school, when we all had to submit messages for our yearbook. Tasuku, you were the only one who had so much trouble writing that the yearbook crew member had to keep visiting you to collect your message. |
| Tasuku | Look, I can’t help it. I can never decide what to write. |
| Tsumugi | In the end, you only wrote one word—”Thanks”—right? |
| Tasuku | Shut up. Stop talking about me, and just write your message. |
| Tsumugi | Sure, sure. |
| .... |
| (It’s already been a year since this troupe was established. Even though it feels like I only joined yesterday...) |
| (I joined this troupe because I wanted to act again. Tasuku and I reunited awkwardly, and...) |
| (I didn’t think we could stand on stage together like this again.) |
| (I remember being surprised at how we were challenged to a duel act with GOD-za during our first performance...) |
| (But thanks to that, I think I was able to find my resolve. My resolve to pursue theater, and only theater, once more...) |
| |
| Izumi | “Are you all right? Are you nervous?” |
| Tsumugi | “Well... yes, I am nervous.” |
| “But... I want to stand here. That’s the only thing on my mind right now.” |
| |
| Tsumugi | (When I told Director that, my feelings were determined.) |
| (I won’t hesitate anymore. I’ll never let go again. No matter what happens, I’ll continue standing on stage.) |
| “Thanks to Director, I could to come back to theater. Thank you.” |
| “I will continue standing on stage.” |
| ....Done. |
| Tasuku | You’re done already? |
| Tsumugi | Yup. Next is your turn, Tasuku. |
| Tasuku | ...I didn’t even have time to think of a message. |
| Tsumugi | (I can keep standing on stage with everyone from now on as well... With Tasuku, with everyone in the Winter Troupe....) |
| |
| Tasuku | .... |
| (A bleak page is going to look even more dull when it’s after Tsumugi’s message. What should I do.) |
| (A message to Director, huh. When I think about it, it’s hard.) |
| (Of course I’m grateful to Director. I also get a good sense of her own passion towards theater every day; it’s inspiring.) |
| (At first, I’d only joined because of a passive reason—I was rejected from all other troupes—but now, I’m glad I joined.) |
| (Compared to when I was in GOD-za, I can really say what I want, and I’m allowed to perform as I please.) |
| (GOD-za had a typical top-down decision-making system. Actors weren’t allowed to voice their opinions to Kamikizaka-san.) |
| (All I could do was perform the role of the prince as the troupe demanded.) |
| (Thanks to that, I gained lots of female fans, but it caused all sorts of ill effects, too.) |
| (I was never good at dealing with women, and it stressed me out.) |
| (When I think about it like that, Director is easy to talk to. Even if we clash over our opinions on theater, she doesn’t hold back, so I can relax.) |
| (She always faces us straightforwardly, too.) |
| |
| Tasuku | “When Tsumugi and I auditioned for GOD-za together, I realized that Tsumugi was acting strange, but I couldn’t say anything.” |
| “Because I was the only one who was accepted, it felt like anything I said would come off as gloating, and I ended up not saying anything.” |
| “Then Tsumugi quit theater, and I really regretted not talking to him.” |
| “But all I could do was avert my eyes from my regret, and blame Tsumugi for quitting theater...” |
| Izumi | “If you regretted it once, you can’t let it happen again.” |
| Tasuku | “——.” |
| Izumi | “Even if you couldn’t talk to Tsumugi-san back then, you can talk to Tsumugi-san now.” |
| “Please make sure you don’t regret it again.” |
| |
| Tasuku | (If Director hadn’t pushed me forward back then, I might have faced Tsumugi the wrong way again.) |
| (The Winter Troupe might have remained strained; we might have lost to GOD-za in our duel act.) |
| (So it’s thanks to Director, isn’t it...) |
| (It makes me think about how influential she is in this troupe—not just during practice.) |
| .... |
| “I’m counting on you for our second year, too. Takato Tasuku.” |
| Tsumugi | Are you done? |
| Tasuku | Yeah. |
| Tsumugi | Show me. |
| One sentence, written vertically... you wrote more than for our graduation yearbook. |
| Tasuku | Don’t laugh. |
| Tsumugi | It’s simple, and Tasuku-like. |
| Tasuku | Let’s get it to the next person quickly. |
| Tsumugi | Wait one second. |
Tsumugi Tsukioka Homare-san, Hisoka-kun, are you in your room right now? |
Hisoka Yup. Just woke up. Alice isn’t here. |
Tsumugi Tsukioka We’re done with our messages, so I’ll bring the notebook over now. |
|
| Tsumugi | Hisoka-kun says he’s in his room. Let’s go. |
| |
| Tetsuro | .... |
| Tsumugi | Huh? It’s Tetsuro-san. |
| Tasuku | That’s surprising. We still have time till our next performance. |
| Tsumugi | Hello. |
| Tetsuro | .... |
| Tasuku | Do you need to speak to Director or the manager? |
| Tetsuro | ——. |
| .... |
| Tasuku | Huh? |
| Tetsuro | .... |
| Tsumugi | Ah, there he goes.... |
| Tasuku | What was that about...? |
| Tsumugi | Hmm, I couldn’t hear him again. |
