| Taichi | (The center of the stage, starting position No. 0... The number of the lead... I can stand there...?) |
| Reni | You think you have any right to stand at No. 0...? How presumptuous. |
| Taichi | —hh. |
| Reni | You have no charm. Nobody will look at you even if you stand on stage. You’re an actor fit to stand in the corner. |
| A worthless actor—part of a crowd of nobodies—has no right to stand center stage. |
| There’s only one way you can get a role... Nanao Taichi, make yourself useful as my pawn. |
| |
| Taichi | .... |
| (That’s right, this is the only way I can stand on stage. I have to destroy these costumes—.) |
| |
| Taichi | !!! |
| Pant, pant, pant.... |
| (A-a dream...?) |
| (No, that was....) |
| .... |
| (That’s right. I’m not the sort of actor who can stand center stage. Someone like me has no right to....) |
| ——. |
| Omi | Nn.... |
| ...Taichi? What’s wrong? |
| Taichi | —Ah, um, I’m a little thirsty. I’m going to the kitchen. |
| Omi | .... |
| |
| Taichi | Hah! Yaaah! |
| Haaah! |
| Banri | .... |
| Taichi | !? |
| Banri | Looking good. |
| Taichi | Ban-chan!? Why are you up so late.... |
| Banri | Hyodo’s grinding his teeth so loud I can’t sleep.... Ah, the same kinda thing happened during “Stranger.” |
| Taichi | “Stranger”? |
| Banri | Yeah. I found Omi out on the balcony because he couldn’t sleep. |
| Taichi | Huh~. |
| Banri | ...Everyone playing the lead ends up anxious about something, huh. |
| Taichi | Eh? |
| Banri | Nah, it’s nothing. Your kung-fu is in good shape. |
| Taichi | No, I still have a long way to go. I’m the lead, I have to do better.... |
| You know, cuz I’m not naturally on the same level as you or Ten-chan, Ban-chan! |
| Banri | .... |
| Hey, Taichi. |
| Taichi | Hm? |
| Banri | I’ve stood on stage with you many many times up till now. I know how capable you are. |
| I’ve seen your ingenuity, your responsiveness, and your talent of hard work—from right by your side. |
| Hey, you know that—something-yo-yo? |
| Taichi | Something-yo-yo? Are you talking about the Ultra yo-yo? |
| Banri | Yeah, that. I could handle it perfectly on the first shot, but some guys can’t get there no matter how much they practice. |
| Most people can’t even put in the effort it takes in the first place. |
| But you’re different. Even if it takes you time, you work hard, and you end up reaching my level. |
| Isn’t that a real kind of talent too? |
| Taichi | Ban-chan.... |
| Banri | If you think you’re not on our level yet, that’s fine. |
| Because you’re going to catch up to us in the end, right? |
| I know that you’re good enough to stand by my side. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been acting next to you all this time. |
| Taichi | ——. |
| Banri | So don’t practice so recklessly that you might collapse. If you run out of steam mid-way, it ruins everything. |
| Taichi | ...Got it. |
| Banri | Well then, later. |
| Sigh, what should I shove in Hyodo’s mouth to make him shut up.... |
| Taichi | (What’s Ban-chan planning on doing to Juza-san...?) |
| ...Thanks, Ban-chan. |
| (But all I can do is practice recklessly—I don’t know how else I can feel confident in myself.) |
| (How can someone like me stand proud at center stage, next to Ban-chan and everyone else....) |
| .... |
| |
| Taichi | .... |
| (Chan takes a step back here, and then Yun over here....) |
| Male student A | I’m hungry~. |
| Male student B | Let’s go get lunch. |
| Taichi | .... |
| Male student A | Woah, it’s Sumeragi Tenma. |
| Male student B | You can really tell he has an aura up close. |
| Taichi | .... |
| (I should pause a bit longer before this line, and for this move over here....) |
| Tenma | Hey, class is already over. |
| Taichi | !? |
| Eh? Ah? Ten-chan? Why are you here?? |
| Tenma | You’re really into this. |
| Taichi | Ah, ahaha. There was a part that was bothering me, so. I was secretly reading the script during class. |
| Tenma | Let’s go get lunch. |
| Taichi | Ah, yeah! |
