"Yume, Yume!"
"Hm? What is it, Ai?"
Backstage, before the play began, Ai and I were waiting, having already finished our makeup.
"I just got a text! Miyako-san said she arrived with Ruby-chan!!"
"Yeah, I know. I got a text too."
Honestly... it wasn't a scene I wanted to show Ruby. Does the fact that she came to see it anyway mean she's prepared for it?
...Of course not. Aqua might be less shocked since he's already read the script, but Ruby is different.
But still, for Ruby, who has indirectly experienced our deaths—or rather, 'my' death—this shock might serve as a stepping stone for her next level of growth...
"Being a parent isn't easy, Ai."
"Hm? Ehehe~ Of course not!"
Seeing Ai shrug off my lament with a smile mixed with her usual charm, I decided to let it go with a light heart as well.
"That aside, I wonder if Aqua will be okay...?"
Ai asked me in a tone that suggested she was genuinely worried about Aqua, but to be honest, I wasn't concerned. Because...
"There's no need to worry about Aqua."
[Because I believe Director Gotanda will do everything in his power for him.]
Right. Even if he can't show his weak side to us, I chose to believe in the fact that he can at least lean on Director Gotanda.
"Still, just in case... shall we go check on the situation?"
"Hm?"
I patted Ai's head.
"I'll go check on Aqua for a bit. You wait here, Ai."
"Ehh~"
"Behavior!"
"Uuu~"
After gently peeling off the clinging Ai, I headed toward Aqua's dressing room.
On the way there, I spotted Akane-san and Kana-san talking.
I didn't try to make my presence known. Why? Because this was an issue those two rivals had to resolve themselves.
I had no intention of eavesdropping, but their conversation inevitably reached my ears.
"Between me, who was once hailed as a genius, and you, who is called a genius now... it's frustrating, but I can't help but be conscious of you.
I'm a bit reluctant to say this, but I was looking forward to acting with you again.
I'm going to beat you here and make sure no one can call me a [former genius child actor] ever again."
"I was looking forward to acting with you too, Kana-chan.
I've been looking forward to it for a long, long, long time."
"......Good grief. An old-timer like me can't keep up with the passion of the next generation of actors."
I had to admit it. No, maybe I had already acknowledged it.
That those girls.
That Arima Kana.
That Akane Kurokawa.
Would become the actors destined to succeed Hoshino Ai.
And that Himekawa Taishi.
And that Hoshino Aquamarine.
Would become the actors capable of succeeding me.
And that Hoshino Ruby.
Would become an idol who could surpass B-Komachi.
"Hahaha!"
Leaving the escaping laughter behind, I continued toward Aqua's dressing room.
Soon, I arrived in front of his room. Just as I was about to enter...
[Yume.......]
[Ai.......]
[Yume........]
[Ai...........]
"Ha... ha...!"
.......Hearing Aqua's voice from inside the room, I found myself unable to move.
There was only one thought in my head.
"You still haven't overcome it. Aqua..."
You were trying so hard to act strong in front of us....
Because I was such an inadequate parent... you were suffering this much...
"......Aqua. I will show you 'death' once more."
And through our 'death,' I will create an opportunity for you to grow once again.
"Forgive me for being a father who can only think of such foolish ideas. Aqua, Ruby."
Thanks to this, I had made up my mind to seize the spotlight of this play.
The leads of this performance are...
"Us, Ai."
"Yeah."
Ai, who had followed me at some point, also seemed to have realized Aqua's condition, and I didn't stop her.
Family secrets must be kept. However, if those secrets are causing pain.
I believe that resolving that pain is exactly the role of a parent.
"Now, let's go, Ai."
[Let's turn this stage upside down.]
"Now. Let's run wild."
"The young actors better be on their guard."
"Unless they want to be devoured!!"
The curtain began to rise.
[It begins with the protagonist grasping a single sword.]
Blade happened to take the sword in his hand.
"What is this? This light..."
The moment Blade grasped the sword, a female swordsman appeared from behind.
"I am one of the Sword Lords, the great 'Tsurugi'! Choose between throwing away that 'Meito' and running, or fighting me!!"
The swordsman who introduced herself as Tsurugi wanted the sword in Blade's hand.
[The twenty-one 'Meito' blades gathered in the Far East grant their owners various powers.]
Blade succeeded in overwhelming Tsurugi with the power of the Meito. Tsurugi, facing defeat, lost her bold expression and shouted through tears.
"Stop! I don't want to die yet!!"
"Then will you admit that I am stronger?"
"I'll admit it! I yield! You are stronger!!"
[And it is said that to the one recognized as the strongest by all 'Meito,' the power of 'Country Stealing'—a force great enough to seize a nation—will be granted.]
After learning this fact, Blade developed a single dream.
"Power enough to steal all of Japan, huh? Not bad. I've always wanted to try being a king. I'll become the strongest and become the king of this country!!"
[This is the framework that forms the setting of 'Tokyo Blade.']
[While those who lose in a duel may have their lives taken, many often become subordinates.]
Hearing Blade's determination, Tsurugi decided to join his side.
"When you become king, make me your minister!! Then I, 'Tsurugi,' will pave your royal road, Blade!!"
Thus, Blade's royal road began.
"Damn it... you guys are strong... Hey, let me be your comrade too! My position when you become king will be General!!"
Kizami, who had challenged Blade and Tsurugi, also acknowledged Blade's strength after being defeated and became an ally.
[Blade's group continues to defeat enemies and gain allies, but they weren't the only ones acting as a faction.]
[Act 2 focuses on the conflict between the Shinjuku Cluster, based in Shinjuku, and the Shibuya Cluster, which built its power based in Shibuya Ward.]
[Normally, the fight between Kizami and Monme would be the start, but the unique point of this production is—]
"...My name is Tsukino, a temporary mercenary for the Shibuya Cluster."
"Oh my, you're even introducing yourself? How kind... well, I suppose that makes it more interesting?"
Isn't that right, Husband?
"Fufu, well, since you've introduced yourself, I suppose I must do the same~"
"I'm Tsukiyo, a temporary mercenary for the Shinjuku Cluster. Now that the introductions are over..."
""Let us begin our battle to the death.""
[The battle where their lives were on the line began.]
"For the sake of my proud son, Toki... please die... Tsukiyo."
"For the sake of my beloved son, Toki... I wish for you to die... Tsukino."
[Their purpose was to act for their precious son, Toki.]
""I will hand this life over to Toki and follow you soon after.""
[Yet, they still loved one another.]
"".....Give me your life!!!!""
[As much as they loved each other, they chose to stake their lives for their child, Toki.]