"Hehe~ She's putting on a pretty good performance, isn't she?"
"Yeah, the acting is definitely solid."
Ai and I had finished our turns, so we were watching the play from the waiting room. It happened to be Kana-chan's turn.
[You've got some nerve picking on my kid! I'll pay you back ten trillion times over!]
[If you plan on attacking any further, our Shibuya Cluster won't just—]
Vroom...
"Ah! It overlapped with the sound effect!"
"Well, normally it would be wise to redo the line, but unfortunately for them..."
There's a master of adaptability standing over there.
[Yapping and yapping, so noisy! Will that mouth shut up once you're turned into a slab of meat?!]
[I don't give a damn about the Shibuya Cluster! We're taking them all down and stealing this country! With this sword!]
"See? When it comes to supporting others, there's no talent quite like Kana-chan."
"Heeeh~? You knew that, Yume?"
"Hmm... Rather than saying I knew... it was just obvious to me."
"Hmm..."
"You don't seem to quite get it, do you? Well... to explain, the sound overlapped with the dialogue, but Kana-chan restructured the lines into something the original Tsurugi would say while still mentioning the Shibuya Cluster for the first time.
Even the timing of her pauses had a depth that made it seem like it was planned from the start.
In short, it means Kana-chan can handle whatever reckless things are thrown her way."
"Heeeeeeee~? You're praising her that much?"
"To put it simply, Kana-chan's acting makes it so that anyone who acts with her becomes an 'easy to act with' partner."
"You did act together quite a bit back then, didn't you, Yume?"
"She was very young then, but the seeds were already visible."
"As expected of Yume!"
Leaving aside Ai, who was clinging to me every chance she got, I continued to watch the play. I was looking forward to seeing just how much they could show us.
"It's Aqua!!"
"You're right, it's Aqua."
And then, it was Aqua's turn.
[The Shinjuku Cluster seem like troublesome folks, don't they?]
[They're just fools with no thoughts. They think it all ends once they take everyone down.
What will you do? Those guys are definitely going to invade.]
[I am the Princess's blade. I only follow my master's instructions.]
[It was my mistake to ask for your opinion. I wish you'd show at least a little bit of humanity...]
[Sayahime, your decision.]
[If the sword is drawn... blood will spill.]
"Now, how are you going to resolve this? Akane-san."
This part was the most heavily altered in the script retakes. Sayahime's originally long-winded dialogue was cut, making it a scene where the conflict had to be expressed through movement alone.
But it's quite a decent performance.
Despite just sitting still, every single action made her feel like a 'boss.'
Acting where emotions of conflict overflow and humanity seeps through, yet it remains clean and unpretentious.
[But there are things we cannot protect if we do not fight.]
Although the scenes revealing Sayahime's philosophy were cut, anyone watching this acting would roughly be able to grasp it.
"Akane-san's acting is persuasive."
"To be able to show off her acting that much just through her actions... isn't she pretty good~?"
"It's rare for you to be the first one to offer praise."
"Well... for one, she is Aqua's girlfriend? And I think highly of that girl's ability!"
"Fufu, is that so?"
[In that case, let us draw our blades. It is war.]
"Now, shall we enjoy it? The result of our juniors' hard work!"
[Draw your sword!]
[For you... this is enough.]
[You're... underestimating me!!!!]
Even sitting here, I can feel it.
The acting of two people who, more than anyone else, do not want to lose to one another, has begun.
One is Akane-san, who started acting because she admired a child actress and wanted to catch up to her.
And the other is Kana-chan, who was once hailed as a genius but eventually faced reality.
"This is getting interesting."
"Eh? Sometimes I just don't get you, Yume..."
Seeing my smile, Ai pulled away from me slightly.
Why?!
"Still... somehow, that girl Kana... I can't help but pity her."
"Pity? You, Ai?"
I was purely, sincerely surprised. This was the first time in my life I'd heard the word 'pity' come out of Ai's mouth.
"Yeah. I can tell by looking at her. While you see her good points, Yume, I see the bad ones.
I think that girl was simply scared.
Her work was gradually decreasing, and things like singing were more profitable.
Adults praised her for it.
Maybe... she just wanted someone to look at her. Maybe she just wanted someone to need her.
She keeps pace with those around her, breathes with them, and reliably does exactly what everyone else wants.
Maybe she was just trying to survive together with everyone else."
".....You're definitely right, Ai. However."
It shouldn't be like that.
"Huh?"
"To those children right now, that past doesn't matter.
From Akane-san's perspective, Kana-chan must have been an overwhelming actress, even while acting selfishly.
She wasn't something that reflected the stars; she was an existence that performed like a sun, shining brightly on her own.
That's why Akane-san has no choice but to hate the current Kana-chan."
"........"
"Yeah... it's all the adults' fault. She was crushed by the adults around her. They told her to match everyone else.
But that's exactly why Akane-san pulled it off. The kind of acting that consumes the surroundings, the kind that Kana-chan used to do most often.
The kind of acting the past Kana-chan was best at. Not matching the surroundings. No, not even just making others match her..."
The kind of acting that devours everything nearby.
"Now, it begins. Who will give the performance that shines the most?
Now, now, dance, you unhatched talents. You chicks who have just reached the starting line. Walk forward with pride."
Grow enough to realize that beyond one wall, there is always another.
"...Even with many actors present, that girl is the protagonist right now."
"You're right, Ai. She isn't even showing off new acting, yet she's moving so vividly. But this is different. This is a duel."
"A duel?"
"Yes. Akane-san is currently throwing down a gauntlet to Kana-chan. Whether it turns into a showdown or a dance, I don't know if Kana-chan will accept it, though.
Normally, Kana-chan would accept it as an exciting proposal and settle the score, but..."
Traumas of the past... the pain children suffer due to the mistakes of adults does not peel away easily.
"...Eh?"
Looking at Kana-chan's acting for a moment, Ai's face was full of doubt. I suppose that's expected...
"Kana-chan is playing a good supportive role."
"Why bother now?"
"Exactly, 'why bother.' Since Akane-san pushed forward and Kana-chan took a step back, Akane-san's presence will grow even larger.
Erasing her presence like a Kuroko and thoroughly becoming part of the stage machinery.
I mean, for the sake of the work, this would be the correct answer. From a director's perspective, there's no actor easier to handle than Kana-chan."
But that is Kana-chan's own compromise.
She probably thinks that if Akane-san is giving a good performance, she should just act to elevate her.
She's a kind child who thinks that making the work better is the path to everyone's happiness.
She probably thinks her own ego isn't necessary.
She probably believes that this role of supporting others is her true path.
"That girl..."
"It's meaningless for us to keep talking amongst ourselves, Ai. We should let them... settle it themselves."
"But is there any point to this anymore?"
Ai's question is valid, but...
"Ah, of course there is. We have our precious son there, after all."
Go ahead, Aqua, save that girl who is trapped in her past. And I'll pray that at the end of that path, your happiness awaits.
Aqua.
[Now, let us speak... with our blades.]
Himekawa Taiki. He was the star actor of the Lalalai Theatrical Company. Every single motion is certainly packed with emotion. It's no wonder people say he's the next generation after me.
"How!! Aqua is being pushed back!!!!"
"Calm down, Ai."
It seems like Aqua doesn't even intend to fight on the same battlefield as someone who is further ahead as an actor than him.
"Aqua's current acting is like a contrasting structure."
"Contrasting structure?"
"Yeah. Compared to Himekawa, who acts with raw emotion, Aqua acts by suppressing his emotions. It makes it impossible to even compare which is better or worse.
Simply put, the more Himekawa-kun acts with an intense flame, the more Aqua's ice-like acting stands out. In other words, a perfect counter."
But Himekawa-kun's acting won't be dealt with by just that much, Aqua.
"...Hm?"
[Dodge, Tsurugi!]
Wait, did that bastard just naturally shove Kana-chan toward Aqua?!
"Is he just dumping the whole ad-lib on him!?"
"Yume!?"
Whoops... I got excited without realizing... no, wait, maybe this situation... isn't all that bad?
[Is this any time for a girl to be playing around?
Putting one's life on the line... is for men alone.
If you can't stand on the battlefield without being protected by a man, then leave this place at once.]
Aqua's ad-lib, huh? I wonder what kind of change your choice will bring, Aqua.
[I... I can fight!!]
[With such a soft body? You should train a bit more.]
Aqua! You shouldn't just touch the body of a grown girl like that!!!!
[Hey, you! What are you doing to a maiden's charming body!]
[You're a woman. A man is supposed to protect a woman with his life. I absolutely cannot lose.]
"A fairly clean return to the script after that ad-lib. Aqua has grown a lot, too."
"Has he?"
"How about you look at the script a bit more instead?"
"No way~!"
"Sigh..."
But for Kana-chan, it must be flustering. She probably didn't expect Aqua to respond so well. Then again, maybe it's because this kind of reckless acting is a first for her.
"Hmm?"
Ai also seemed surprised by Aqua's acting, but I was different.
"Like father, like son."
More than anyone, he's moving to make it easy for Kana-chan to act—positioning himself and guiding things centered around her so that everyone's eyes naturally fall on her.
Kana-chan's current acting must be easier than ever.
"In other words, Aqua is saying this to Kana-chan... through his actions."
"Actions?"
"It's true that we have to give emotions to everyone through our acting, but sometimes..."
Relationships that can be understood through actions alone are bound to be created.
"'You don't need to be the adjuster. Leave the adjusting to me. I'll accept whatever ad-lib you throw.' Is that what it feels like?"
In the end, it's something like, 'Arima Kana, perform the acting you want to do,' I guess?
At that moment, Kana-chan's expression changed, and I felt myself breaking into a bright smile.
"...This is it!"
"....Hahaha!!"
Both Ai and I stood up from our seats at the same time. No, we had no choice but to stand up.
That's because... Kana-chan's acting...
"It looks fun."
"Yeah, Aqua really is the ultimate supporter. Thanks to him, Kana-chan's acting is..."
It's back. Not the Kana-chan who was sullied by dirty adults, but the Arima Kana who runs while looking forward!
Yes! Though she might have been eclipsed because of me and Ai! Arima Kana's acting once took the world by storm with that very style!
Acting like a sun-like star, so dazzling it burns the eyes!!
The Arima Kana style that was always full of confidence even when acting with me!
Now! Look on, world! The path of the 'convenient actor' that you all thought was so useful is not the end, but the beginning!!
But...... Aqua, you're the only one who doesn't change.
Both Akane-san and Kana-chan are acting with looks of pure joy, but you, Aqua...
No, not yet. The play isn't over. It will definitely change.
Aqua, you might not have the same star power as Akane-san or Kana-chan, but...
You are the son of Hoshino Yume and Hoshino Ai.
You inherited the thing that Ai lacks, but that I possess.
Please, at least realize that.
[Blade! Now!!]
How will you accept the death before your eyes, Aqua?
Even if it's not real, Ai and I have already sown the seeds.
All that's left is whether Aqua can sprout those seeds, or... if he'll be swallowed by them.
That is all.
[Draw your sword. A woman has been cut; do you plan to just back away meekly?]
[It's enough. I fought for Sayahime's sake. Now that I've failed to protect her, I have no reason to fight.]
[Is that all? Isn't there something... within you as well...]
SIDE: Hoshino Aqua.
It was back when I was practicing acting at Director Gotanda's house as usual.
"Acting is fun, isn't it?"
"..........."
Can I even enjoy acting?
"But the more fun you have, the more pained your expression looks."
What are you acting all happy for?
Director Gotanda had said that to me even then.
"Panic disorder isn't such a rare condition. I have a few friends with it too.
The solution is understanding the triggers. There are kids who panic on trains but are fine if they're with someone.
Not knowing when or where it will happen makes it worse."
Akane had said there would be a trigger.
"....Trigger."
My trigger...
And that trigger is...
"It's guilt, isn't it?"
........He was right.
"I could tell after watching you for a few days. I have experience acting myself, so I know there's a moment when you get completely absorbed and think it's fun.
That's exactly when you panic. Guilt over enjoying acting. No, going even further..."
Guilt toward your father.
"That's what makes you act strange, isn't it?"
"You knew......"
I had a feeling he might know.
"Well, yeah.
I've known you for quite a long time now. I can just tell by looking at you.
The obsession you twins have with Ai—no, even more so with Yume—and the fact that the first time we met was on a set where Ai was, and Yume was her manager.
Moreover, I could see that Yume cares about you more than anything. Once I noticed that, a lot of things made sense.
I can roughly imagine why you're clinging to the entertainment industry, too.
It must be hard. Not even being able to enjoy acting. It's almost as if you're acting for the sake of revenge.
Stepping away from acting for a bit and focusing on treatment is also an option.
In fact, have you thought about how those two would feel if they saw you suffering like this?"
"......It's fine this way. It doesn't matter what happens to me. Yeah, Yume didn't die, but he almost did. If he had, Ai would have been next.
Seeking revenge as quickly as possible on the person who tried to kill the man who almost died for them... that is my reason for living right now."
If Yume (my father) knew I was thinking like this, he would surely try to stop me. But my heart hasn't changed.
I will... I will definitely get revenge on that guy.
".....I see. In that case, there is only one choice. It will be a painful and difficult choice. Yume would never allow it, but you should now..."
Abandon any thought of ever enjoying acting.
SIDE: Hoshino Yume
"..........."
"Yume?"
"N..no, it's nothing, Ai."
I thought about it while watching Aqua's acting.
Most people who are good at acting love it, and enjoying it is said to be their greatest talent.
But Aqua is the opposite.
He is acting while in pain.
It felt like acting was always supposed to be a painful and difficult thing for you, Aqua.
"Ah..."
I suppressed the emotions that felt like they were about to burst out. I stroked Ai's head with one hand and covered my eyes with the other.
I didn't want Ai to see me like this.
That acting, to Aqua... is revenge.
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