Chapter 1

Amazing! Well done, everyone ☆

Thanks to you, our performance today went just swimmingly!

To all of the stagehands and performers who braved this battle, I salute you! And then I salute you again!

Drinks are on me today! Dine to your hearts content, and restore your spirits for tomorrow’s stage! Cheers!

Cheers~ ♪ But seriously, you guys worked real hard for this!

Good job out there, Tomo-chin, Mitsuru-chin! Usually when I know the people performing, I just laugh because I know what they’re like on a regular basis ♪

But I was so absorbed in the story I couldn’t stop watching ‘til the end~ ♪ It was awesome!

Tomo-chin I expected, but I had no idea Mitsuru-chin had such a knack for acting.

Ahaha, thank you. Personally, I feel like I have a lot to think about…

Especially my last big exclamation—it was my biggest moment, but I think I missed a pause somewhere. It’s so embarrassing.

But you were so exhausted by that point that you could barely get anything out.

It was hardly an explanation. But on the other hand, your voice ended up sounding so grief-stricken that it might disappear, so I actually think you pulled it off.

Indeed. It was a blessing in disguise. As the scene progressed, you seemed to be getting more and more into your role. Good for you, Tomoya-kun~

You worked hard enough, so I suppose you pass.

Fufufu. And here I’d believed you when you said so pathetically that you might not remember all your lines.

But in the end, you said every single one on your own, without relying on me as your understudy.

I underestimated you. That said, there were still plenty of scenes where you weren’t actually acting and merely speaking your lines.

Urgh, just when I thought you were praising me, but it went straight into criticism.

You shouldn’t get too comfortable here. Besides, while it may be a celebration for the crew, for us it is a review session.

Our performance continues tomorrow. We ought not be satisfied with our current output, but rather strive for even greater heights by amending the areas in need of improvement.

Speaking of that, how long does this performance run?

Ten days, I think? I remember writing something like that when I was making the fliers…

If It’s gonna last more than a week, we’ll probably be really going through it by the time we get to the last show.

However, our friends in the theater course who called out sick are sure to return as early as tomorrow…

So the burden on each of us should lessen.

I must say, though, I was in quite the frenzy… I nearly did an whole acrobatic pirouette off the handle learning about the no-shows this morning.

But it’s also my mistake for being so busy up to now that I didn’t even keep in contact with them.

A pity~ It’s been so long since I’ve planted my feet firmly on the stage, I’ve lost my touch.

Last year, and especially toward the end, I was cut off from the theater course and had to put on my performances alone.

I suppose I was so used to solitude that I was too slow to realize the holes that had opened up in my partnerships with the others of my ilk.

I had no reason to keep in touch with Hokuto-kun because he tails along behind me even if I ignore him… It seems I had forgotten the most elementary fact: that theater is a group effort.

Don’t forget something like that. And try to let me know what you’re doing. I have a life, too.

Now, now… But you really are amazing, Hibiki-senpai. I can’t believe you could play so many roles at once, all by yourself. And you did it so naturally, too—

If Itsuki-senpai hadn’t pointed it out, I never would have noticed.

Oh? Then Shu did end up catching on?

Hmph… Just who do you think I am?

I think you are my kindred spirit and my equal, old friend.

Fufufu. Of course, it’s nothing impossible for me to play countless roles on my own—but it isn’t much fun…

I wasn’t able to get into any of the roles other than the one I was cast in, so I’m quite dissatisfied with the results.

Ah, perhaps we should solicit help from actors outside the theater course and the drama club for our next performance?

Just like how we used the “bad kid” this time… Oh! I mean Tenma-kun.

We’re idols, so I’m sure there are many people who want to try their hand at acting.

It’s harder to support that type than to stick to a one-man show, but I’d be happy to do it.

We could even include the right hand man~ and Eichi too, of course ♪

I’m sure you already noticed, but Tenshouin was among those in the audience.

I did, yes. I was so nervous that he would scold me for neglecting my idol work to absorb myself in theater.

Ah, he looked sooo discontent the whole time.

Hmph. Tenshouin just wants you to be an idol.

I have no desire to get into that head of his, but if he’s discontent, I have half a mind to tell him to eat shit.

“Oh, Shu-kun, where are your manners? If you use such dirty words, you’ll dirty your soul.”

Zzz, snzz… ♪

Huh? I thought it was weirdly quiet. Mitsuru fell asleep on us.

Fufu, he must be tired after all that… He’s cute, though, sleeping with his stomach bared.

Oh, the transfer student just gave me a towel. You want me to use this like a blanket?

It is true that we have another show tomorrow. It would be bad if Tenma got sick.

Fufu, your eyes are red, transfer student. Were you crying?

Nah, I think it’s more that she’s been too busy to get enough sleep. Her hair’s a mess, too… It’s good that you’re working so hard, but you should take care of yourself, too, got it?

Yes. Idols, producers, and actors alike—we’re all in a business where our bodies are the product ♪

Hehe, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up crying. Even I had tears in my eyes by the end… It’s not that I was particularly moved, but I did really feel sorry for them.

I guess I was surprised to see that the tragedy was more hopeless than I ever thought?

I feel like I actually understand the author’s desire to make them find happiness, and to “reverse” the tragedy.