Chapter 8

I’m so sorry I’m late!

…Well, you made it just in time for rehearsal, so I won’t say anything about it.

Are you getting discouraged, Tomoya-kun? You do realize that punctuality is of the utmost importance in the world of actors, yes?

Urgh… I’m just frustrated because every single day you give me the third degree during practice.

So I thought I’d try to get a little better act acting before I showed my face in the club room.

But then I ended up being late thanks to that. I’m really sorry!

Yes, well, it’s fine so long as you understand that. However, if I allow these mishaps all the time, you’ll let your guard down. Let’s make a penalty, shall we?

Whenever you make a mistake of some kind from now on, I’ll dole out a certain number of “Tomoya-kun Disappointment Points” at my sole discretion.

If you earn one hundred DisapPoints, we’ll get to play a penalty game from hell… ☆

Just now, you’ve earned about seventy-eight DisapPoints, so tread carefully ♪

Gyeh—! I barely get what you’re saying, but that sounds terrifying! Stop playing weird games with me!

Wait. Usually, when the masked pervert is messing around with me, Hokuto-senpai comes to my rescue… Is he not here today?

Oh, Hokuto-kun is just behind the costume rack.

……

Oh, I couldn’t see him from here… What’s he doing?

He’s sitting around a laptop with Yuuki-senpai from Trickstar and that new girl.

Fufufu, our only outlet is over there, so they’ve disappeared from view.

Apparently, they’re all researching some virtual something-or-other that’s all the rage these days.

That boy with glasses seems to know a lot about that sort of thing.

I was positively brimming with curiosity, so I asked him to teach me everything he knows. It’s quite a deep and profound world! Our planet is teeming with such fascinating things.

Theater, for example, may have become an old and outdated part of our culture.

However, nothing ever disappears completely—It always leaves a seed behind.

But it’s always sad for something to be forgotten, don’t you think?

That’s unexpected… Do you have some kinda emotional attachment to theater?

But of course. It is the paradise I found when I didn’t belong anywhere, when I couldn’t couldn’t connect with anyone.

Atop this stage is the promised land where I must live.

I don’t intend to mold you into this mindset, of course; it’s best if you can be part of that mundane world of the living.

…? Well anyway, I wanted to ask you about something, Buchou.

Fufufu, you only call me Buchou when you want to ask a favor of me. And yet you’re usually so merciless with me, shouting as me as if I were nothing but scum of the earth~ ♪

Why do you look kinda happy when you say that…?

Whatever, I feel like what I’m about to say is more pathetic than that anyway.

But about my role—do you think you can cut down on the dialogue a bit more?

I just can’t remember it all… I get that the role of chorus is like a narrator or like, someone who helps the story along, so it’s fine if you can’t—

But I feel like I’m the only one droning on and on and on…

I can always give the SparkNotes version when I’m reciting the Prologue at the beginning.

But after that, I have to memorize every single line… I think that’s just too much for my brain to handle.

Hmm. Originally, the chorus is a very simple role that anyone can perform.

But since this story is special, the level of difficulty has increased a bit.

Perhaps we should have one more person to act as the chorus, to help ease the burden on you…?

Mm, but even still, it’s still quite a lot of work.

I suppose all I can say is to do your best in the role you’ve been given. Now chin up, no complaints.

You are the one who said you wanted to try something, even if it was just a supporting role, correct?

Don’t go back on your word. This is no game, tomoya-kun.

Urgh, you’re so strict… I only asked because I thought I had nothing to lose, but it really is hard…

I’ve even been having nightmares lately where I forget my lines and just stand there frozen in place.

Hmm. If it comes down to it, I can always fill in for you at times. How about that?

Fill in for me? Uh, no. That’s impossible; we look completely different…? There’s no way, no matter how much of a genius you are at acting.

Well, were I to contort my body in a certain way, it wouldn’t be impossible to do that…

But the issue at hand is that you are having a difficult time memorizing so many lines.

Therefore, I would be speaking your lines for you by using vocal mimicry.

It could only be when I’m not standing on stage as Juliet, but I would be willing to hide in the wings and secretly speak on your behalf.

Of course, if worse comes to worst, I can always make my voice echo to give off the illusion that it’s coming from the correct mouth.

When I am playing Juliet, though, I would rather give my full attention to the play.

So if absolutely necessary, please give me a signal.

The plan, then, is that in the event that you can’t recall your lines, I will step in and say them.

Well, if at all possible I’d like you to do your best to remember your lines. I don’t expect perfection as you are now, Tomoya-kun, so please just do what you can with what you’ve got.

Urgh… Sorry I’m so pathetic.

Don’t say that. No one is born a genius. They become one through hard work and constant effort.

There are no exceptions to this. Even your very own Hibiki Wataru is the same way.

Just keep at it. The fact that I gave you a difficult role with so many lines is a sign of my expectations for you.

Show me you can live up to them—that is, if you really are an actor.

…All right. I’ll give it my best shot.

… ♪

Hey, Mitsuru, what’s with that? Can you not look so… smiley when I’m being scolded?

Ehehe~ You just look so fired up, Tomo-chan! I’m jealous you’re having so much fun!

It’s cool seeing you act so different when you’re at your club compared to when we’re doing stuff for Ra*bits~ ♪

Huh? But I’m always like this.

Tenma. I’ve gotten everything I need, so let’s head to the auditorium.

Oh, gotcha!

Then I’ll smell ya later, Tomo-chan. Good luck with rehearsal!

Oh, yeah… Right, and sorry for having you help us out with all this.

No way! We gotta be there for each other when times are tough! You’re always helping me out too, Tomo-chan ♪

And I’m having a blast over here, so don’t sweat it!

Welp, buh-bye~! Dash dash~ ☆

Ahaha. Mitsuru always has so much energy, huh. I could learn a thing or two from him.

Yes. He really is charming, isn’t he? This contradicts what I said earlier, but I do believe he’s a natural at it.

I feel like he’d have much more stage presence than you, Tomoya-kun.

Urghh, it’s ‘cause I’m so plain, isn’t it…?

…Fufu ♪

Wh–what’s that for? That’s pretty mean, you know. Don’t laugh at me!

No, forgive me. I just thought it was fun, gathering so many people together and clamoring around to prepare for something…

This is the feeling of youth. I just love things like this.

…?

Fufufu. Tomoya-kun, let’s work hard to make our performance a success, hm?

In order for that, the first thing you’ll need is practice, the second is discipline, and skipping over third and fourth—the fifth is Amazing… ☆

I have no idea what that means. But whatever, I’ll push myself to the very edge of my limits… Buchou.