| Sakyo | The whole point of the cooking ban was to let you work less, and now look at how late it is! |
| Omi | I didn't think we'd end up cooking for so many people. |
| |
| *flashback* |
| |
| Omi | We're off, now. Thanks for having us. |
| Zen | You still meet up with the guys from your gang? |
| Omi | Yes, occasionally. |
| Zen | Bring them here sometime. |
| Omi | Are you sure you don't mind having a bunch of ex-biker gang members here? |
| Zen | My past isn't exactly sparkling clean. I'll close the place for you guys. |
| Hold onto them. They sound like a good bunch. The older you get, the more you'll appreciate them. |
| Omi | ...Yep. |
| Zen | Make some of the stew for Yukio's daughter, too. |
| Omi | Sure. |
| |
| *flashback end* |
| |
| Omi | You've had that stew before, right, Sakyo-san? |
| Sakyo | Yeah, but it was years ago, back when I hung out in the Mankai dorm. |
| They used to let me join their etude practises, and Yukio-san would always worry that they were keeping me for too long. |
| I told him it was fine since my mother always worked late anyway, so he'd let me stay and had Zen-san cook for me as well. |
| I felt bad making them feed me too on top of everything else, but if I refused, they'd force me to stay and eat anyway. The stew from today tasted the way it did back then. |
| It was when they started cooking for me that I felt that it was okay for me to stay with them at Mankai. |
| I began to visit them even more, now that I felt that I belonged there. |
| ...Now that I think about it, it was the same when I was inducted into the Ginsenkai. The moment the boss and I had our sake exchange was when I felt that I belonged there. |
| Same with the newborn Mankai Company. |
| It's kind of embarrassing to admit, but the way you and the Director try so hard to remember what I like makes me really happy. And of course, when you make my favorite dishes, too. |
| I've always treated eating as something to get over and done with so I could focus on my work, but... |
| ...Now it's something I find myself wanting to return to the dorm as soon as possible for, even when work gets really busy. |
| Omi | ...... |
| Sakyo | I really like your cooking, Fushimi. |
| When my work gets too much to bear, or when it doesn't go the way it should... |
| ...Or when there's something troubling me, your food never fails to cheer me up. |
| Even on the worst of days, I always feel that everything will be okay when I'm eating your food. |
| Every plate you serve up is a reminder that I belong. |
| Your cooking is one of the biggest joys of my life. Thank you for everything you do, Fushimi. |
| Omi | ...... |
| Sakyo | ...What? |
| Omi | Nothing, it's just... That means a lot, coming from you. |
| Sakyo | Told you that I'm not all stick and no carrot. |
| Omi | Haha, true. |
| Sakyo | You worry too much about the people you cook for. That's not a bad thing, but I think it also stresses you out more than it should. |
| Omi | You're probably not wrong... When I'm cooking, the one thing I'm most concerned about is the person I'm cooking for, more than anything else. |
| I'm always trying to work out what people like, or trying to cheer them up, or helping them celebrate something, or trying to help them relax... |
| (Oh... Cooking isn't a hobby or something to pursue professionally, because it's my way of letting someone know that I care about them...) |
| (Of course, the food I make is for the one who's eating it, but... I think, more than anything, it's also so I can tell them how much I love them.) |
| (It's one of the biggest and most important links between my loved ones and me.) |
| Sakyo-san... Could you lift the ban, please? |
| What I love most about cooking is being able to provide a table everyone can feel at home sitting at, and feeding them meals filled with love. It's not just something that they need, but something I need, too. |
| You weren't wrong about me being obsessed with cooking, but... |
| ...I can only be the best version of myself when I can cheer someone up with my food. |
| I'd also like everyone in Autumn to think of my cooking when they're acting in this play. |
| Sakyo | ...Yeah, I think you'll be all right. |
| Omi | Sorry for making you worry. |
| Sakyo | Don't worry about it. You can pay me back through your acting. |
| Omi | (Cooking is a way for me to connect to others... I'm sure Riku's the same, too.) |
| ...At the end, when Riku turns the Akebono Inn into the Akebono Eatery, he must've done it for those looking for a warm meal, and so he could have his very own place of belonging. |
| |
| *flashback* |
| |
| Zen | "Those who make their own place of belonging are often the most lonely." |
| |
| *flashback ends* |
| |
| Sakyo | I think Klaus also wanted a place he could feel safe in, away from all the conflict. |
| Omi | ...... |
| I think we could turn this play into something even better with our new revelations. |
| Sakyo | Of course. |
| |
| Izumi | So this was what my dad liked to eat, huh. |
| Omi | Apparently, he acquired such a taste for it that if Zen-san changed even one gram of any seasoning, he'd notice. |
| Izumi | Geez, dad, you're way to particular about your food... |
| The stew's delicious, though! |
| Omi | I think it'll taste even better if we let it sit for a night. |
| Izumi | Ooh, I'm looking forward to it. I think everyone would love it, too. We all love your cooking, after all! |
| Omi | Sorry I made you worry too, Director. At least now I won't be spacing out as much anymore. |
| Izumi | It wasn't because of work, was it? |
| Omi | No... |
| ...In Nachi's notebook, he had written "disband the Wolves", and I couldn't work out why he would have wanted to. That's what I was thinking about. |
| Even after he passed, I felt like he was always watching over me, so I felt connected to him in that way. |
| But when I saw that line, I started to question if I ever knew Nachi at all. It felt like he was getting further and further away with each passing day, like I was losing him again. It really scared me. |
| Izumi | So, is he back now? |
| Omi | Yeah. I spoke with Zen-san about Nachi, and now I feel like I know why he wrote that. |
| Of course, there's no way of knowing if I'm right, because I can't just go and ask him... |
| But I trust the Nachi I know, the one in my heart. |
| Izumi | That's great! I'm happy for you. |
| I'm sure Nachi would be glad to hear that he's always got a place in your heart. I think if he wanted anyone to understand him it would've been you, since you were closer to him than anyone else. You were his one and only partner. |
| He really liked you, so I think you can be confident in your judgment. |
| Omi | Maybe I just made it up because it's what I wanted to hear, but, well, blessed are the living. |
| Izumi | Yeah. |
| Omi | I know he'll be watching over our upcoming play, so I need to make sure I put on a performance he can be proud of. |
| (This one's for you too, Nachi. It always has been.) |
| (Watch over me, Nachi.) |
| |
| Izumi | (It's finally opening night... Omi-kun's been doing even better since the ban lifted, too. I'm excited!) |
| Sakoda | You guys sure looked pumped! |
| Ryo | Hell yeah! We're here to see our awesome Omi-san do his thing on stage! |
| Sakoda | And I'm here to see my Aniki as a gallant knight! I've even trained myself to blink less so I can look at him more! |
| Ryo | Dude. Awesome. |
| Izumi | (They look like they're having fun.) |
| Nachi's Dad | ...... |
| Izumi | Oh, you're Nachi's— |
| Nachi's Dad | Oh, hello, Director-san. |
| Nachi's Mom | Long time no see. |
| Izumi | I hope you enjoy yourselves today! |
| Nachi's Mom | We will! Thank you. |
| Nachi's Dad | Good luck out there. |
| Izumi | (Nachi-san's here too, I'm sure of it.) |
| |
| Omi | ...... |
| (I just had to add Nachi's bracelet to the costume... Sorry for making last minute changes again, guys.) |
| (This is like when I had Ward's name changed to Wolf... Am I making you help me out too much, Nachi? Haha.) |
| Taichi | Omi-kun! |
| Omi | ...! |
| (He smiles, and Taichi takes a photo) |
| Taichi | This is going into the album to commemorate this play! |
| Omi | Hey, you should've told me so I could prepare myself! |
| Taichi | Man, you're really good at smiling! |
| Omi | I've gotten more used to being in front of the camera instead of behind it. |
| Staff | Five more minutes! |
| Banri | Hey, leading man! Speech! |
| Omi | It's been a while since I was lead so I'm a little nervous, but I'm glad we could open without any hitches. |
| I play a former delinquent this time, so I've been thinking back on my past a lot. |
| I felt lost at times, but I was also reminded of just how grateful I am to have everyone in the Autumn Troupe supporting me. |
| I've also come to truly understand my relationship with cooking, and how much it means to me to be able to spend my time with everyone here. |
| When we were shooting the interviews for our last play, I noticed that Autumn, as a whole, are a bit shy about their feelings, so I'm just going to say this upfront. I'm sure we're all thinking the same thing, after all. |
| You're the best troupe mates and friends I could have ever asked for. I'm going to treasure every second we have together, both on and off the stage. |
| I'm going to carry these feelings, along with the bonds I forged with the Wolves and Nachi, with me into this play as Riku. |
| Sakyo | All right, you can do your group huddle thing if you want, Fushimi. I'll let it slide this time. |
| Omi | Haha. Sure. |
| Autumn Troupe, assemble! |
| Banri! Juza! Taichi! Sakyo! Azami! Full speed ahead into opening night! |
| Banri | Whoo! |
| Juza | Yeah! |
| Taichi | Let's do this! |
| Azami | Right. |
| Sakyo | We've got this. |
