Just as I was slowly making my way to the rooftop, I began to hear voices coming from above. I decided to hide my presence in front of the door for a moment and listen in.
Since I knew there were only two smokers among us, I was able to recognize them immediately.
They were Director Kaburagi Masaya and Staging Director Kindaichi Toshiro.
"I heard, Kin-chan. You revised the staging plan right before the performance? I know you like letting the actors do as they please, Kin-chan, but it's not good to trouble the staff on-site."
"It couldn't be helped. Himekawa was practicing while filming a movie. Kamoshida was squeezing it in between other stage plays. Even Mita was practicing while filming two separate dramas."
"And thanks to the two people in the newly created roles—I mean, Hoshino Yume-kun and Ai—there was even less of a chance to coordinate schedules. There was no timing to adjust the overall composition."
"Plus, there are particularly many teenagers in this play. A lot of them grew during the practice period. Of course, that transformation started after they saw Yume and Ai's acting."
"But I didn't expect some would grow enough to completely transform in the middle of a play."
It sounds like he's talking about Kana-chan.
"Are you talking about Arima-kun?"
It seems Director Masaya and I were thinking the same thing.
"To be honest, I didn't have high expectations for her... but that's why kids are great; you never know what's going to happen with them."
"I wonder if her idol activities gave her a different perspective, or maybe she got a boyfriend? If not that, perhaps it's because she joined an agency where she can see the seniors she admired so much right in front of her eyes."
Director Masaya's words made sense.
Kana-chan asked Ai and me a tremendous number of questions. Ai eventually gave half-hearted answers and declined, but in my case, I explained everything to her one by one until the end.
It was because I knew that if she made the advice I gave her own, she would surely grow even more.
"I often think... why is it that in an industry with so many cute girls, there's always one who is called 'exceptionally cute'?"
"And why is that?"
...To be honest, I also became interested in Director Masaya's words. Therefore...
"I'm curious as well. Would it be alright if I join you?"
I couldn't miss a conversation like this.
I spoke up while showing them the cigarette-shaped nutritional supplement I had in my pocket.
"Haha! Look who it is, it's Yume-kun. Besides, did you smoke?"
"Ah! This is a cigarette-shaped nutritional supplement my company is currently developing. It's a product I'd recommend to those trying to quit smoking."
"Ho... now that's interesting."
"I'll send some samples to Director Masaya and Director Toshiro later."
"My, my, how can I thank you!"
"I'll gratefully accept."
I joined them naturally and steered the topic back to the previous conversation.
"So, what is your opinion, Director Masaya?"
"Ah... right. It's the 'persuasiveness' of cuteness. For example, if someone belongs to a famous idol group or has won some award, they look cuter than they actually are in person, right? It's just like that."
"....Ah, I see. Is that what you mean?"
"Haha! I knew Yume-kun would get it immediately. After all, you're the one in a relationship with the protagonist I'm talking about."
"Indeed... if it's a similar feeling to Ai, then I also agree with Director Masaya's opinion."
As Director Masaya and I continued the conversation...
"Hey, hey, don't leave me out of the conversation. I haven't even heard the explanation yet."
"Ah... sorry, sorry. Right, to put it simply, it's the persuasiveness to make people believe the lie: 'I am exceptionally cute.' I call that 'stardom'."
"Of course, it's a completely different kind of stardom from Ai-kun's or Yume-kun's, but I saw a unique stardom in Arima-kun back then. If Arima Kana is the real deal... fufufu..."
"Don't laugh so creepily."
"Yes, honestly, I was about to call the police just now."
"It wasn't that bad, was it!?"
"I was just joking."
I didn't dare say that it actually was quite creepy though.
"Anyway, let's move past that. A pretty interesting thought occurred to me. Kin-chan, Yume-kun, which kid do you think is a rising prospect?"
"Hmm...."
"A rising prospect... huh...."
Honestly, I didn't expect to be asked this kind of question...
"Well, if I go first, Kurokawa showed some pretty interesting acting at the very end. For better or worse, Kurokawa, who was already 'complete,' might have found a spark for growth."
"Hoo."
"That could certainly be the case."
"Then, what's Yume-kun's choice?"
"Me?..."
If it's a matter of Kana-chan versus Akane-chan...
"Well, I'd tell them they need to work a little harder if they want to catch my eye."
Both of them still have a long way to go.
"Hahahat!!! Indeed, that's true too!!"
"Well, coming from you, that's persuasive."
"But well... if I had to choose, I would choose Aqua-kun."
"He was the kid you're supporting, right?"
"Yes. Part of it is because his last name is the same as mine and Ai's... but I've seen it. The talent that only that child possesses."
"....Well, I can understand that. That last bit of acting was quite good."
"Hahat! In the end, all three of us chose different kids!"
The conversation between the adults went on for quite a while.
However, though I hadn't realized it yet, the stage for the next story had already begun.
As always, the waiting room after the performance was different from usual. Why? Because Ai and I were there with the other members.
"Whew~"
"I'm so tired.... the calorie consumption of this stage is insane...."
To think these young kids would lack stamina like that... Wait, maybe I shouldn't think by my own standards? I looked at Ai with that thought.
"Hmm? What is it, Yume☆"
"No, it's nothing."
I decided to consider Ai an outlier as well.
"Now, now, today was good too. Shall we go for a drink!!"
"Uh? Today too!?"
"Stage actors really love drinking parties...."
As always, once the performance ended, Funato-kun suggested going for drinks, and I, of course...
"Funato-kun, I assume you've found a place?"
"Aha! Yume, you're going today too?"
I, who could be called quite the drinker, wouldn't miss it. To begin with, since I had a constitution that didn't get drunk easily, I just enjoyed the act of drinking itself.
"Leave the reservation to me! Yume-senpai! I have data on quite a few shops nearby that are OK with large groups on the same day."
Well, I knew it from the moment she figured out my past, but Akane-chan is really something. How does she have all that data!?
"Surprisingly, the participation rate of the quiet ones is quite high."
"Great! If it's confirmed that Yume-senpai is going, then Ai-senpai is naturally coming too, right?"
"Yeah, yeah! Of course!"
""Yay~!!""
"They get along surprisingly well, those two."
"Exactly."
A short remark escaped from both Aqua and me.
"Then Himekawa is going too, right?"
"Well, I should. When seniors are going, a junior shouldn't be left out. More importantly, pops, do you want to come too?"
Himekawa-kun naturally invited Toshiro-san as well.
"If an old man is there, won't it be uncomfortable? You kids go have fun among yourselves."
"We don't mind! Let's go together!"
"Hmm...."
"If you put it that way, Ai and I are in our 30s as well, you know? Let's go and drink among the adults."
"Well... if Yume says so, I suppose I'll go."
"Waa!!!"
Besides, will Aqua go? I looked at Aqua as I wondered.
"I hate these kinds of drinking parties, they're too noisy. What will you do, Aqua? I'm going back to res—"
"I'm going."
Ah, then naturally...
"I think I'll go too after all."
It goes like this, I see~
And so, after arriving at the company dinner in a large group...
"That's why I'm saying, right!? An actor must also be a creator!!!! You shouldn't just act to avoid making mistakes at that moment; you have to participate in building the theatrical atmosphere!!"
Wait, isn't that just ginger ale she's drinking....?
"But that's the job of the staging director."
"True, but!! If the acting isn't working for that, then I have to speak up!"
"Challenging acting is necessary."
Well, it seems everyone is enjoying themselves reasonably well. For the record, the seats for Ai and me were right in front of Aqua and Akane-chan.
"Here, eat more, Aqua."
"Right, thanks."
Thanks to that, I could witness such a good scene firsthand.... well, that was one thing, but there was no way I wouldn't notice that Aqua's gaze was fixed on Toshiro-san. I figured the reason Aqua attended was probably related to Toshiro-san, but I didn't feel like stopping him. I had no intention of interfering in Aqua's revenge. I only wished for the process not to be too painful for him.
Noticing my gaze, Aqua eventually moved seats and...
"Is this seat okay?"
...He headed for the seat next to Toshiro-san. There was nothing more I could do. I would just leave the rest to Aqua.
"Hoshino. Your acting is getting better little by little. You're certainly worth Yume's attention. Keep working hard like this until the end."
"Thank you. Kindaichi-san, how long have you been with Lalalai?"
I knew it was from the very beginning.
"From the start. Lalalai originally began when a bunch of guys who were studying acting at a drama school founded a theatrical circle. I was one of the founding members."
That was also information I already knew.
"Yume-senpai and Ai-senpai, please have some too!"
"Ah, thank you, Akane-chan."
"Mhm, you're good at grilling meat!!"
"Ehehe... thank you!!"
Well, let's not worry too much and just focus on looking after my juniors in front of me.
While answering the questions of the children who would eventually follow in the footsteps of Ai and me, the moment I noticed that Aqua, Himekawa, and Toshiro-san were gone, I fell into thought.
I remembered only the important parts of the knowledge I had from the original work, and among them was that Aqua and Himekawa were half-brothers. However, in this world, I was the father of Aqua and Ruby, not 'that guy'.
I realized that once again, the knowledge I possessed had been twisted... but I had no interest in things that had already left my hands.
I would simply trust in Aqua.