| Mizuno | Even now, I can't forget that I was allowed to read the outlines of the plays he wrote in his notebook first. |
| I was extremely moved. I had never before seen stories being born in that way. |
| I thought that Tsuzuru-kun was amazing. |
| What made me happier than anything was that I was able to become the first reader of his works. |
| Since then, I have always been a fan of Tsuzuru-kun. |
| Izumi | ......I see. |
| Why won't you meet him directly? |
| Mizuno | ......I couldn't protect our promise. |
| The day there was the birthday part at Tsuzuru-kun's house, I went home and told my mother about it. |
| I wanted my mother to know about those feelings too. |
| But when my mother heard the details of Tsuzuru-kun's family situation, her expression rapidly stiffened. |
| I was told not to play with him again and made to change schools without waiting for graduation. |
| Originally, the topic of transferring schools had come up because I had been unable to acclimatise to the school, but it was so sudden...... |
| In the end, I wasn't able to keep my promise to do another play for Tsuzuru-kun's younger brother's birthday. |
| Izumi | And you haven't contacted him since? |
| Mizuno | Yes. I'm too ashamed to face him. ......I thought I'd never see him again in my life. |
| But when I happened to go see the Showdown ACT against GOD-za, I spotted him. I saw the resemblance and I knew him immediately. |
| Seeing the pamphlet, I learnt that he had become the playwright for MANKAI Company and went to a play. |
| When I watched the play, I was as excited as when he had let me read his stories in the past. |
| I know I don't have the right to approach him again when I couldn't keep our promise back then. |
| But even so, I at least wanted to support his creative work. It's the only way I can connect with him. |
| I'm proud that I'm his number one fan. Those warm feelings from then are a precious treasure to me. |
| Izumi | ......What if you try seeing him once to talk? |
| Mizuno | Eh? |
| Izumi | I definitely don't think Tsuzuru-kun is angry. If you talk with him, he'll understand. |
| (When Tsuzuru-kun wrote Romeo and Julius, he said there was a friend he was separated from due to their family circumstances.) |
| (Romeo and Julius was created thanks to Mizuno-san. Tsuzuru-kun, too, is unable to forget his memories with Mizuno-san.) |
| (So if he reunites with Mizuno-san, he might make a breakthrough with the friendship play this time.) |
| Mizuno | Such a selfish thing......I can't meet him after all this time. |
| Izumi | It's an old story from when you were children, isn't it? And you were told to by your mother, so it can't be helped. |
| Mizuno | Thank you for your concern. But I've already made my decision. |
| When I transferred schools and broke off contact as my mother told me to, I decided I wouldn't meet with Tsuzuru-kun again. |
| That's my way of holding to what's proper with respect to the my precious first friend. |
| Izumi | ......You don't intend to see him, no matter what? |
| Mizuno | I don't. |
| Izumi | Then what about a letter? If it's an anonymous fanletter, he won't know it's you. |
| Mizuno | ――. |
| Izumi | The truth is, Tsuzuru-kun is currently in a slump. |
| Mizuno | Eh? |
| Izumi | He's troubled over the ending to his new work, and has reached a point where he can't write. Nothing like this has ever happened before, so he's struggling. |
| As his first fan, won't you lend him your support? |
| Mizuno | ――. |
| I understand. I don't know whether I can be of any assistance, but...... |
| Izumi | It will be fine. If you put your heart into the letter, then surely ――. |
| Mizuno | If I put my heart into it ―― that's right. |
