Today marks exactly one month since you all first joined us. The time we initially spoke about has finally arrived.

I'm looking forward to seeing the results of all your hard work, Wonderlands×Showtime!

So, feel free to start whenever you're ready!

Okay!

We're doing our play from start to finish this time! Let's put on the best performance we possibly can!

Your scene is first, right, Nene?
Break a leg!

Thanks...!

“Your determination is admirable!
Unfortunately, the Minamoto clan must end here! Prepare yourself!”

(Good. My training's coming in handy...!)

(I feel stronger compared to before.
Even when I'm bumped around, I'm easily able to maintain my balance.)

(I'm honor-bound as the wife of a Minamoto, and have a duty to protect my children...)

(I need to send that message loud and clear!)

“Drop your katana and leave this place!
Only then shall I spare your life!”

This is it. Our play's climax.

I hope Mr. Kijima approves of Emu's portrayal...

There are no right answers when it comes to acting, but...

Emu put an enormous amount of thought into this role, so let's trust her judgment.

“What nonsense do you speak?!
If you refuse to surrender, then it is my naginata you shall face...!”

*Roar*

(First, I dodge Benkei's attack...)

“Hey, now.”

(Yes, all that practice I did is paying off! I'm moving a lot more like Mr. Kijima did that time. I feel really relaxed!)

(By dodging like he's dancing, I can show everyone just how much fun Ushiwakamaru's having right now.)

(But...)

(This isn't enough...!)

(What I think Ushiwakamaru's feeling in this moment...)

(I need to make that really clear to everyone!)

“Quit fooling around!
You are a mere child... But if you are going to call yourself a warrior, then unsheathe your katana and fight me!”

“Saying that only makes me want to take you even less seriously. Oh, missed me... Missed again...”

(I have to take what everyone else saw and felt more into consideration. And then...!)

(After I dodge his naginata, I'll put some space between us.)

(And Benkei will take another big swing at me with it.)

“You insolent little...!”

(Mr. Kijima looked really relaxed during this part. Like nothing bothered him at all.)

(But I'm gonna...)

(Hm...? She's smiling...)

“Hiyah!!!”

(She dodged it...!
Just barely too...!)

(A few centimeters in the other direction and she would've gotten hit. Why is she cutting things so close...?)

“Grr...!”

Now I see...

(I'm gonna keep dodging at the last second while maintaining eye contact with Benkei.)

(As Benkei realizes that Ushiwakamaru isn't taking him seriously, he starts swinging faster and faster.)

(But Ushiwakamaru's just gonna keep drawing him closer and then dodging with ease. That's because...)

(It's way too fun to see Benkei swing his naginata around after getting so angry!)

“Argh...! Enough with the dodging...!”

(Teasing Benkei just becomes more and more fun. And all that's left for Ushiwakamaru to do is...)

“Hup.”

(Slip behind Benkei's back and say...!)

“Well, that was a bit of an ordeal...
But teasing a ruffian such as yourself has been far too much fun.”

“Which means teasing an even bigger buffoon would be just that much more fun, no...?”

“Wh-What are you saying?”

“I have no interest in restoring the Minamoto clan to its former glory, but making a plaything of brutes such as yourself is all too enticing.”

“So, shall we go stir things up in this world a little?”

“Your name is Benkei, correct...?
Come with me. You will surely enjoy what we are going to see together.”

(Interesting...)

(So this is the answer Otori arrived upon...)

Alright, great performance!

You've all made significant progress compared to when you first started. Your hard work has definitely paid off!

Thank you very much!

U-Umm...!

How did I do...?
Were you able to see what my Ushiwakamaru was thinking and feeling?

About that...

Yeah, I heard you loud and clear!

You really put your Ushiwakamaru's mischievousness on full display!

Oh, thank you so much...!

That's great, Emu...

Thanks!

(I was able to get my message across.)

(He understood what my Ushiwakamaru was thinking and feeling...!)

(Also, compared to before, I feel like I can see what other people are thinking as they watch a lot better now...)

(What it's like to be a member of the audience going to see a show. When they smile, when they cry, when they laugh...)

Alright, so... That concludes this rendition of Ushiwakamaru, Wonderlands×Showtime!

Let's all do our best as we work on our next production together!

Does that mean...?

Yeah, I have no complaints regarding your acting skills! And you all put in an incredible amount of effort this past month!

We did it, Emu!

Y-Yeah! Thank goodness too...!

Hehe. We probably wouldn't have been able to achieve this result if it weren't for all your hard work, Emu.

Sorry, have you already decided what your next production is going to be about...?

No, not yet.
But we do have a venue lined up...

Hah hah hah! I hope you're all ready for this.

Mikazukigumi and Wonderlands×Showtime will be performing at the one and only...

Jidaigeki Studio Park!

Th-Th-The...

THE Jidaigeki Studio Park?!?!?!