Choices for the Future - 2: Solving the Mystery

A few days later

Phoenix Wonderland

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1

Tsukasa

Oh, Rui, it looks like we're the first ones here!

2

Rui

Yes. It's not quite the time we agreed upon yet, so let's...

3

Emu's Voice

Wheeeeeeee!!

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4

Emu

Thanks for waiting, Tsukasa, Rui☆

5

Rui

Ah, Emu. Hello.

6

Tsukasa

Wait, wait, wait! What were you doing on top of that tree?!

7

Emu

Hehe♪ I was running a little late because of some class rep business, so I decided to take the short way!

8

Tsukasa

It looks pretty tall to me!
Honestly...!

9

Tsukasa

Also, you didn't have to do that since Nene and her friend aren't here yet.

10

Rui

Hehe. To be fair, we are all ten minutes early.

11

Emu

Okay! Then, I'm glad I made it in time!

12

Emu

I can't wait to meet Nene's friend. I wonder what she's like!

13

Tsukasa

What was her name? Byakkomachi...?
She's keen on learning more about Wonderlands×Showtime, so she must have an eye for talent!

14

Rui

She sounds like a very avid student.

15

Rui

She even asked to meet us at Phoenix Wonderland because she wants to learn as much as she can from the night show.

16

Emu

Hehe☆ I really hope she enjoys it!

17

Emu

Oh!

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18

Nene

Thanks for waiting, you guys!

19

???

Hello. You must be Kusanagi's friends.

20

Byakkomachi

Nice to meet you all. My name is Suzu Byakkomachi, and I need to thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

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21

Byakkomachi

Kusanagi's told me all about Wonderlands×Showtime. I've been hoping to meet you for quite a while now.

22

Emu

Oh...

23

Nene

Huh?

24

Emu

It's heeeeerrrrr!!!!

25

Byakkomachi

Wh-What...?

26

Byakkomachi

I see.
You saw me leaving that meeting...

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27

Emu

Yeah!
I was really far away, but I saw someone with perfect posture!

28

Emu

That was you, right, Suzu?

29

Byakkomachi

Suzu...?

30

Nene

E-Emu, you shouldn't start calling her by her first name so suddenly...

31

Byakkomachi

No, that's okay. I was only a little surprised, since not many people do call me by it.

32

Byakkomachi

Please feel free to use whichever you prefer, Otori.

33

Emu

Thanks, Suzu!

34

Byakkomachi

Oh, sorry for getting us sidetracked.
Where were we...?

35

Byakkomachi

I was definitely the person you saw that day, Otori, since I was scheduled to meet with the board then.

36

Byakkomachi

That being said...

37

Byakkomachi

I would greatly appreciate it if you could all keep this between us.

38

Byakkomachi

I'd like for everyone at the academy to treat me like any other actor or actress.

39

Nene

O-Okay, got it...!

40

Rui

Still, it's incredible to think that a student is being given an opportunity to be involved with how Morinomiya is run...

41

Byakkomachi

It is incredible.
I'm very grateful to Grandfather for giving me this opportunity.

42

Nene

Grandfather?

43

Byakkomachi

Oh, he's the chairman of the board of the Morinomiya Revue.

44

Nene

What?

45

Emu & Tsukasa

The chairman?!
Of the board?!

46

Rui

From what I understand, Morinomiya's chairman is quite the businessman...

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47

Rui

I remember reading about how he became the chairman of the board after spending time as the president or one of the executives at several major companies...

48

Byakkomachi

That's right.
When he was young, he apparently had a reputation for being a ruthless manager.

49

Byakkomachi

But he was actually a Morinomiya fan long before he ever became the board chair.

50

Byakkomachi

He even used to take me to see shows with him when I was little.

51

Emu

You went with your grandpa...

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52

Byakkomachi

I've always loved how dazzling Morinomiya's shows are. I wanted to stand in the spotlight on that stage...

53

Byakkomachi

My family wanted me to enter the world of business, but then my grandfather said, “Why not try both...?”

54

Byakkomachi

Initially, all I did was sit in on some meetings. But I've been getting more and more opportunities lately to express my opinions regarding proposals, advertisements and such.

55

Tsukasa

Now that you mention it, I remember hearing about a recent ticket campaign running on Morinomiya's social media...

56

Byakkomachi

Oh, that was actually my idea.
It was the result of us trying to get more young people to come see Morinomiya's shows.

57

Emu

That's...

58

Emu

That's amazing, Suzu!!!

59

Byakkomachi

Huh?

60

Emu

So, I'm also learning a lot about management and stuff right now!

61

Emu

My grandpa was the one who founded Phoenix Wonderland...

62

Emu

And I'm doing everything I can to make it a place that's filled with smiling guests!

63

Byakkomachi

Your grandfather...?
You mentioned that your last name is Otori. Does that mean...?

64

Nene

Yeah, we also forget from time to time...
Her family runs the Otori Group.

65

Byakkomachi

I had no idea.
That explains why you're learning more about management...

66

Emu

Yup!

67

Emu

But my brothers are always telling me how my ideas aren't practical.

68

Emu

When Phoenix Wonderland was having trouble attracting guests, I couldn't come up with any good ideas to turn things around...

69

Emu

Which is why...

70

Emu

I think you're really amazing, Suzu!
You're actually balancing your dreams with reality and making things work with everyone at Morinomiya!

71

Emu

I wanna be just like you! I want to learn to do what you do as fast as I possibly can!

72

Byakkomachi

Just like me...

73

Emu

Suzu...?

74

Byakkomachi

No, never mind...

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75

Guest

Daddy! The night show's about to start!

76

Nene

Oh...

77

Rui

We've been chatting for quite a while now.
Why don't we find a good place to watch the show?

78

Tsukasa

Yes, let's do that!

79

Byakkomachi

Let's go, Otori.

80

Emu

Oh, yeah...

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81

Emu

(Just now...)

82

Emu

(Suzu seemed kinda sad for some reason...)

Next Chapter: An Unexpected Problem