Act V

Haha, that’s kinda… insane. Well, this is Wataru-chin, so I guess he figured he could handle it so the show could go on.

But hearing all of this, I can’t help but get worried. Are they gonna be okay?

Hmph. Your concern is entirely unnecessary. Even Homer sometimes nods, but I can’t fathom Wataru, of all people, making a mistake on stage.

Truthfully, I find it more engaging to have Wataru stand in than to have some philistine play the role.

I can’t imagine that any of you realized it, but during during the prologue, many of that adorable, energetic child’s lines were actually spoken by Wataru.

He hid himself from sight and recited the lines in his stead.

Wait, really? I mean, I did think it was weird—I heard they were just letting MItsuru-chin say whatever he wanted.

But there had to be a plot of some kind, and it’d be impossible for him to memorize all of it…

Well, it puts my heart at ease knowing Wataru-chin’s got his back.

Hmph. That cute boy is one of your own, and yet you can’t even distinguish his voice from a mimicry? Have you no brain?

I could tell right away. The lines being spoken were far too eloquent for him.

It was perfect for the performance in question, but it did undermine some of his youthful innocence.

Yeah, the fact that you can tell just by hearing it? A little creepy.

Fufu, but I really feel like I’m getting something out of knowing they’re using all those tricks to put on this performance.

I’d thought it would be kinda boring if they just waxed poetic about romance the whole time, since I’m a guy.

I like romances; I find them nice and calming.

I wonder… It’s true they’re not always going out and killing people with swords and stuff, but love stories can still be pretty brutal.

Take Romeo and Juliet, for instance. There’s nothing “calming” about this in the slightest.

“Eeeep! Help meeee!”

Huh? What’s going on? This is exactly what I was talking about!

“This way, Romeo! We can take shelter here and hide!”

“Nay. Even should I flee, I shall not hide.
This starry sky alone can judge my sin,
So what have I to be ashamed of?”

“I get it, but—! Come on, there’s a bunch of guys with bows and arrows and swords chasing us!”

“O cursed fetters! Chains burden mine heart
And keep me lock’d in jail without a meal
As I am whipped with no pause. O God!
Wherefore dost Thou raise Thy hand against me?”

“Shh, quiet! If you make too much noise, they’re going to find us!”

“Why did you even say all that at the ball?! Obviously you’d get kicked out and hunted down!”

“And what means you? I said that which I must!
For they disgrace the heavens, so shall I
Denounce the evils of the Capulets!
It was for justice that I deign’d to set
Foot at such a worthless révélerade!
That was my reason; mine only purpose!
Foh! I came not to flutter wings of love
As did those other fools! The wings upon
My back shall herald justice, and thus bring
Me ‘pon the winds to rest at heaven’s gate!”

“I said to be quiet! I get how you feel, but anyone would get mad if you criticized them to their face, y’know!”

“So of course they’re angry! And on top of that, you did it at the ball they were hosting!”

“You’re basically writing your own death sentence there!”

“It’s seriously lucky that they didn’t kill you on the spot!”

“But I can’t have you dying here, so we have to get out of here…”

“Eh?”

“Forgive me, sir. I did drag thee into
A strange affair in which thou didst have no
Involvement… Should I say anything true
About this night, ‘tis that this shameful deed
Is one such I have committed. Good now,
The enemy doth target me, and so
Shall I be who lures them away from thee.
And thus, you flee and save thyself from death.
Hm? Sir, thou lookest yonder; what seest thou?
Who rests upon the balcony of the
Most odious Capulet manor?”

“……”

“I—That is…? Sir, have I been pierced by
An arrow and kill’d without my knowing?
I have seen an angel!”

“No, that’s not an angel… Oh! That’s Juliet! What’s she doing on the balcony still?”

“She was supposed to go to the ball a long time ago.”

“It’s where the star-crossed lovers—where Romeo and Juliet meet.”

“The star-cross’d lovers? Who is Juliet…?
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear;
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,
As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.
Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne’er saw true beauty ‘til this night.”¹

“…And who comes here, bringing this noise to me?
The mask of night doth hide thy face in shade.
Ah! what heat is’t that blooms within my breast?
O mother!—O nurse! I beg you pardon!
It seems I fell asleep and miss’d the ball!
The sun doth rise! Look yon, she shines so bright
And bathes the earth in her warm glow! Who, who?
Who makest the night and day merge to one?
I am Juliet!”

“And I, Romeo!
I, who must have been born for to meet thee—
My name is Romeo!”

“…Oh wow, something must be forcing the plot back on track.”

“They scene where they meet happened in a different place, but it looks like they did fall in love at first sight?”

“But if that’s the case, then what about that stuff we saw of them in the future?”

“Especially Juliet—Why was she so aggressive?”

“Does that mean there’s going to be another Reversi after this point to make that happen…?”