| Yukio Tachibana, the chairman of MANKAI Company, disappeared from Veludo Way. |
| There were all kinds of false rumors about the truth behind his disappearance. Before long though, they stopped talking about him. I also wouldn’t say I never thought about his disappearance. |
| However, I’m sure that devilish man would return all of a sudden even while disturbing people’s hearts. |
| That man is as stubborn as a mule. Once he makes a decision, he would not change his mind. He doesn’t even think whether he will cause everyone trouble. It’s pointless to even be worried. |
| Instead of him, I was more worried about Hakkaku Ikaruga’s new work that was announced at the same time as Tachibana's disappearance. |
| At the time, Hakkaku called me to come to a certain hospital. It surprised me to learn of him lying in the hospital bed. Still, I was hoping that the reason why he called me all the way there was because he agreed to create new works for my theater troupe. |
| However, that carefree wish disappeared right away in front of Hakkaku's skinny self. |
| The words that came out of Hakkaku's mouth were beyond my imagination. He told me his disease had progressed quite rapidly, and that he would not live for long. He also told me he had written a scenario to serve as his posthumous work. |
| "Does this mean you're allowing me to perform this piece at GOD-za?" |
| "No, you're wrong. I already had the main cast in mind when I wrote this script. I'll only give you permission to perform this if both the main cast and the director I appointed have all gathered." |
| I was shocked the moment I heard who the main cast and the director he appointed were. |
| "Performing this piece is impossible. I can't accept this." |
| "I want you to keep this script no matter what." |
| "Why--." |
| "If I die, Kusumi--my son will most likely announce this manuscript as his own." |
| "It can't be--!" |
| "His heart has already been completely broken. He already sold his soul to the devils." |
| "...But there's a chance that I'll also break my promise and perform this piece at GOD-za." |
| "Do whatever you want. I don't think you will feel like doing so once you read the script." |
| I couldn't refuse when he said that he trusted me both as a reader and a director. |
| "After I die, you can do whatever you like with the script. However, in exchange, I have a favor to ask of you." |
| "What is it?" |
| "I want to leave Kusumi to you." |
| "...Do you mean, that scriptwriter who looks like he's going to commit plagiarism?" |
| "He had made a big mistake. However, what caused him to make that mistake was the fact that he was born as my son. He's still my son no matter what. As someone who chose the same path as him, I ardently hope that someday, he will be able to write an honest piece. So what's your answer? Will you give me another chance?" |
| "So what should I do if that man makes another mistake?" |
| "In that case, I want you to give him the final notice." |
| "...Understood." |
| Looking back at the time when he was still full of vigor, I got sad seeing him lying weakly on the bed with a relieved look on his face. I was sure Syu, who was always rejoicing every time Hakkaku finished a script, would be in deep grief. He's a bigger fan of Hakkaku than me. |
| "Do the MANKAI Company members know about your illness…?" |
| "I don't feel like telling them. I've also told my family not to make my death public. Can you do something about the mass media for me?" |
| "Did you say that knowing I can't turn down your request?" |
| "It'll be disappointing if you all gather at my funeral, right? My deepest apologies." |
| "..." |
| "I want you all to gather on your own. Then, perform this piece." |
| Seeing Hakkaku close his eyelids looking like he was relieved to finally get rid of the burden on his shoulders, I couldn’t tell him there’s no way such a future would come. |
| I heard members of MANKAI Company gradually left the troupe after Tachibana disappeared, and with the troupe not being able to perform the same quality plays as before, the audience also decreased in number. |
| It was impossible to perform Hakkaku's script at such a theater. I didn't want Hakkaku's posthumous work to be buried without being able to see the light of day. However, I couldn't bring myself to go against his will. |
| But if MANKAI Company were to completely collapse… it'd be impossible to meet his requirements. When that time came, I was sure Hakkaku wouldn't be able to complain. |
| Ever since that time, I unconsciously hoped that MANKAI Company, whose existence had become that of a ghost, would disappear completely. |
| Following Hakkaku's death, I called Kusumi. He was at a loss at first when I told him I'd like to hire him as a scriptwriter of GOD-za. He accepted the offer in the end, but he never came up with a plot even after I waited for a long time. |
| "What's going on with the plot?" |
| "Eep! Uhh, that… I have some ideas for the plot. I'm currently reviewing it…" |
| "Do you not feel well? You're sweating bullets." |
| "N-No! I'll put it together soon, no, tomorrow…" |
| "Anything will do. Just give me your plot." |
| "Y-Yes! I'll show you a plot that will be to your satisfaction!" |
| However, even after waiting for a month, he didn't contact me at all. When I investigated, it appeared that he was relying on Hakkaku's unpublished works. Hakkaku's apprehension was just. |
| Since then, I'd always decide on the theme and let Kusumi write the piece. But the scripts that Kusumi took an unimaginably long time to complete did not show his passion and potential in the slightest bit, let alone Hakkaku's talent. |
| Talent is cruel. Eventually, he didn't have any words to write, nor any stories to tell. |
| I didn't know whether it was because of fate, or because of what he was born with. In front of this empty man, I had to rack my brain over how I could keep my promise to Hakkaku. |
| GOD-za continued to grow well in the next few years, to the point that the Fleur Award was within our reach. But no matter how many plays I produced, it couldn't reach the quality of Tachibana's performance on that day. And perhaps, my mentality had been affected adversely before I even knew it. |
| Hakkaku's script could be performed if MANKAI Company, which couldn't deliver a decent performance, was to completely collapse. If that time came, I might be able to reach God's realm for the first time ever. |
| While waiting for that time to come, Tachibana's daughter appeared before my eyes. She had grown a lot without me realizing it. |
| "Not again." Those words goaded me. |
| Talent is too cruel. No matter how much we crave and work hard for it, we can't ever reach it. What was once a desire that felt like pining had turned into desperation over time. |
| During our showdown act with MANKAI Company, they delivered a play that seemed as if it could see through my feelings. |
| I came to my senses. I was reminded of the feelings I had during the play at the cultural festival, being intensely impressed as I felt the sign of the godlike talent. I was so impressed that the feeling hit me right in the chest. |
| Even though I knew that it would not reach, I still held out my yearning hand and kept making desperate efforts. Eventually, I had no choice but to continue doing theater all while groveling on the ground. |
