Kumon | That pork bun was sooo good. Ah, I'm starving. I wonder what's for dinner. |
Azami | Who knows… |
Kumon | By the way, I'm thinking of doing a temporary part-time job! |
| I wanna earn some money to get a motorbike license and go touring with nii-chan! |
| Yamaguchi also told me he wanted to get one after retiring from the baseball club. Say, Azami, do you wanna give it a try once you turn 16? |
Azami | Hmm… |
Kumon | … |
| I've been wondering about this for a while. Azami, you seem kinda weird lately. |
Azami | Huh? Not really--. |
Kumon | If I recall, you've started acting weird ever since your graduation. |
Azami | --. |
Kumon | Did something happen? |
Azami | … |
| Actually--. |
| |
| You don't have any lessons today? |
Shifuto | Yeah, today's my rare day off! |
Azami | It's been a while since we last ate ramen together. |
Shifuto | That can't be helped. I've been busy with lessons ever since I joined GOD-za. |
Azami | Well, we have some free time until graduation. Perfect timing, right? |
Shifuto | You've got a point. |
| Reni-san, our chairman, has been kind to me, you see. He stayed late to coach me. I've learned a lot from him. |
| My gestures and expression completely changed merely with a few pieces of advice he gave me. It truly was like magic. |
| He's a scary person though, so his coaching could be harsh at times. Still, I wanted to absorb all the things he taught me and improve. |
Azami | Oooh. |
Shifuto | And you see, he told me he'd promote me as a regular and cast me in a play as long as I work hard. |
Azami | That's awesome. |
Shifuto | He also said it's such an exceptional feat given that no one has ever advanced this fast before. |
| Becoming an actor has always been my dream, but I never think I could accomplish it this soon. |
| I feel so indebted to Reni-san. He's been taking great care of me. I need to return the favor. |
Azami | … |
Shifuto | Azami? |
Azami | I've kept quiet about this for a while, but… there are ex-members of GOD-za in the theater troupe I'm affiliated with. |
Shifuto | Oh, really? |
Azami | There are two of them, but one was a spy that this Reni guy sent to our troupe. |
Shifuto | Eh…? |
Azami | Looks like this Reni guy told him to make a mess of our troupe in exchange for a major role in their upcoming play. |
Shifuto | You're kidding right… |
Azami | Can you really trust that kind of person? He's not trying to deceive--. |
Shifuto | There's no way he'd do such a thing! |
Azami | But don't you think it's suspicious of him to promote someone this fast? Maybe he has some ulterior motives. |
Shifuto | So are you saying I have no talent? |
Azami | I never said that! |
Shifuto | To begin with, can you even trust what that spy person said? |
| Maybe he just wanted to put the blame on Reni-san. |
Azami | He's not that kind of person! |
Shifuto | Besides, Reni-san is very earnest about theater. It's hard to imagine he'd do such a thing. |
Azami | --. |
Shifuto | I'm going home. Sorry. |
Azami | … |
| |
| … |
Shifuto | What do you wanna talk about? |
Azami | Today is our graduation, so I feel like I have to talk things out. |
| Sorry, I said too much the other day. I’m just worried about you, Shifuto. |
Shifuto | ...Me too. |
Azami | The theater troupe I belong in, MANKAI Company, is a really nice place. Would you like to go have a look? |
| We’re not recruiting new members right now, but I’ll try talking it out with the director--. |
Shifuto | ...No, it’s fine. |
Azami | --. |
Shifuto | ...Remember back when you just started theater, you gave me a ticket to your show? |
Azami | Yeah. You said you were busy and couldn’t come. |
Shifuto | To tell you the truth, I’d canceled on you at the last minute on purpose. Do you know why? |
Azami | Eh... |
Shifuto | I’m jealous that you got to start acting before me. That’s why I never went to see your shows. |
| I’ve told you, right? It’s always been my dream to be an actor. |
| But you, Azami, who wasn’t really interested in acting, got to stand on stage and even had your wish to be a makeup artist come true. |
| Just seeing you act made me annoyed, and I really couldn’t go to watch your shows. I was like, “I’m the one who really wants to pursue acting, and yet...” |
Azami | --. |
| So that’s how you feel. I didn’t realize it at all--. |
Shifuto | It’s not like you’re doing something wrong. But still, sorry. |
Azami | Eh? |
Shifuto | I’m not qualified to be your friend. |
Azami | --. |
| |
| … |
Kumon | ...I see. It must have been rough for you. |
Azami | I could relate to him, so I can't really bring myself to contact him. |
Kumon | I get it… It must have been shocking to learn that your friend is in GOD-za. |
Azami | I was surprised when I heard about it. |
Kumon | I get you. I've been in that position before, feuding with Yamaguchi. |
| It's truly depressing to know that we can't do anything about it, right? |
Azami | … |
Kumon | But you see, I feel like Yamaguchi and I have gotten closer ever since. |
| The end of a friendship is something that will happen when both of you give up. But if either of you are not giving up, there's a chance you will reconcile. |
| I'm sure Shifuto-kun needs some time to sort out his feelings right now. |
| And since you two are doing theater, I'm sure you will have another chance to talk, especially if you, at the very least, decide not to give up, Azami. |
| That's why, you absolutely can't give up! |
Azami | --Yeah, you may be right. |
Kumon | Yup! |
Azami | This is the first time I feel like you're older than me. |
Kumon | For real!? Did I look like nii-chan!? On a scale of 1-10, how much of a big bro do you think I am!? |
Azami | It just went down to the negatives real quick. |
Kumon | EEH!? That's fast! |
Azami | But well, thanks. |
Kumon | Hehe! |
| |
| We're back. |
Azami | We're back. |
Kazunari | This is totes bad! What are we gonna do!? |
Misumi | What should we do~? |
Banri | Those guys are hella persistent. |
Kumon | …? |
Azami | Looks like there's quite a bit of commotion. |
Kumon | Did something happen? |