A few days later
Wonderland SEKAI

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1

Emu

Listen

(How do we save Kikyogumi from being disbanded...?)
2

Emu

Listen

(They're making that announcement in three weeks, so we gotta come up with something before then.)
3

Emu

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(Let's see... What if we got robots like Robo-Nene to replace any troupe members that left?)
4

Emu

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(I mean, she can do all sorts of things like jumping really high and moving super fast.)
5

Emu

Listen

(But that doesn't really fit what Morinomiya's going for...)
6

Emu

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(I've been thinking really hard since then...
But I haven't been able to come up with any good ideas...)
7

Emu

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Nooo!
Why can't I just easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy ideas out of my brain?!
8

???

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E-Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy...?
9

Emu

Listen

Huh?

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10

Emu

Listen

KAITO...
11

KAITO

Listen

I was worried that you weren't feeling well when I saw you curled up on a bench like this...
12

KAITO

Listen

But that doesn't appear to be the case.
13

Emu

Listen

So, umm...
14

KAITO

Listen

Is something bothering you...?
15

Emu

Listen

Oh...
16

KAITO

Listen

I'll be more than happy to listen.
But you don't have to tell me if you don't feel comfortable, Emu.
17

Emu

Listen

Thanks, KAITO.
The thing is...
18

KAITO

Listen

I see...
And you're trying to come up with a way to save Kikyogumi now.

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19

Emu

Listen

*Nod*
At first, I thought we could try to get the Suzurangumi fans to start liking them.
20

Emu

Listen

My hope was that they'd start liking Kikyogumi since they already like going to see shows.
21

Emu

Listen

But...
22

Emu

Listen

Both troupes have to share the same theatre.
23

Emu

Listen

And because of that, Suzurangumi hasn't been able to put on as many performances.
24

Emu

Listen

Which has made a lot of their fans really sad and disappointed.
25

KAITO

Listen

I see...
26

KAITO

Listen

If that's the case, then some Suzurangumi fans might hold a very negative opinion of Kikyogumi.
27

Emu

Listen

*Nod*
28

Emu

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There are a lot of other things that I have to keep in mind too...
29

Emu

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So, I'm starting to wonder if I'm ever going to come up with an idea that's going to make everyone smile.
30

Emu

Listen

But I really don't want Kikyogumi to get disbanded!
31

KAITO

Listen

...!
32

Emu

Listen

Because the show we saw them put on was so amazing...

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33

Emu

Listen

Even after they closed the curtains, my heart was still racing. I didn't want it to end...
34

Emu

Listen

That's why I believe Kikyogumi can make lots and lots more people smile.
35

Emu

Listen

So...
36

Emu

Listen

Saving them isn't going to be easy, but I'm still gonna do my best.
37

KAITO

Listen

It sounds like you know what you want to do, Emu.
38

Emu

Listen

Hehe. Yup!
39

Emu

Listen

I felt like I was running in circles, but my head feels a lot clearer after talking to you, KAITO!
40

KAITO

Listen

That's good to hear.
41

KAITO

Listen

All I can really do is listen to your concerns, Emu, but I'll be rooting for you...
42

Emu

Listen

*Nod*
Thanks, KAITO!
The next day
Morinomiya Music Academy - Courtyard

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43

Byakkomachi

Listen

...

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44

Byakkomachi

Listen

This is incredible...
You really came up with all these ideas in that short period?
45

Emu

Listen

Yup...!
I wrote down everything that popped into my head!
46

Emu

Listen

You probably came up with some of the same ideas already, but do you see any that might be worth giving a try...?
47

Byakkomachi

Listen

...
48

Byakkomachi

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Each one is fun and creative, but I'm not sure we have the time or budget to make them happen...
49

Emu

Listen

Right...
50

Byakkomachi

Listen

I'm sorry...
I know you worked hard to come up with these.
51

Emu

Listen

No, that's okay!
I'd rather you tell me straight out that they aren't possible!
52

Emu

Listen

Still, this is so hard...
If we don't hurry, then Kikyogumi is really gonna be disbanded...
53

Byakkomachi

Listen

I know. After they announce what's happening, it's going to be next to impossible to get them to take it back.
54

Byakkomachi

Listen

And I'm also having trouble coming up with the perfect solution. But I am certain that getting young people to start supporting the troupe is going to play a key role...
55

Emu

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Oh, wait...! Ms. Suzu, I have a question!
They're really popular with young people, right?
56

Emu

Listen

Would it be possible to lower ticket prices somehow?
57

Emu

Listen

Right now, you have to pay the same price as a Suzurangumi show... But if you want more young people to come, then lower might be the way to go.
58

Emu

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That should make it easier for people to invite their friends to come along!
59

Byakkomachi

Listen

I've already come up with a similar idea, and even suggested it to the board. They rejected it outright...
60

Byakkomachi

Listen

Without some way to bring new or existing fans in droves, lowering ticket prices would simply result in a drop in revenue.
61

Byakkomachi

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That would mean a smaller budget for each show...resulting in lower quality performances. Morinomiya is firmly against that.
62

Byakkomachi

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Because they want to provide the audience with the best experience imaginable. Morinomiya has existed for a hundred years precisely because it's been doing just that.
63

Emu

Listen

Right...
64

Emu

Listen

(I think I'm starting to get a better idea of what the people running Morinomiya care about the most.)
65

Emu

Listen

(But...)

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66

Emu

Listen

You can still put on amazing performances without money, right...?
67

Byakkomachi

Listen

Huh...?
68

Emu

Listen

The Wonder Stage used to get almost no funding. We had to make things ourselves for a while...
69

Emu

Listen

We even repaired all the old seats that were there ourselves.
70

Emu

Listen

What if we all worked together and came up with ways for the audience to have fun?
71

Emu

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Wouldn't that make it possible to give them the best experience imaginable, while also lowering ticket prices...?
72

Byakkomachi

Listen

...
73

Byakkomachi

Listen

In theory, that may be possible.
74

Emu

Listen

Then...!
75

Byakkomachi

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But that's only in theory.
We have no idea what's going to happen if we put your idea into practice...
76

Emu

Listen

Yeah, I know... But...
77

Emu

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But if there is a possibility, then we should try to think it through.
78

Emu

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If you lock down all the little details and make the suggestion based on that, maybe it'll go better this time!
79

Byakkomachi

Listen

I know. I've been telling myself the same thing...
80

Byakkomachi

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But... The truth is...
81

Byakkomachi

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I'm really scared.

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82

Emu

Listen

What...?
83

Byakkomachi

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Morinomiya needs to change if it's going to exist in the future.
84

Byakkomachi

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In that sense, I don't regret pushing for the formation of Kikyogumi.
85

Byakkomachi

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However...
86

Byakkomachi

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That decision ended up disappointing some of our existing fans.
87

Emu

Listen

(Oh...)
88

Emu

Listen

You mean how when it was decided that two troupes would be sharing the theatre, it came as a huge disappointment to the Suzurangumi fans?
89

Byakkomachi

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Yes. I honestly wasn't expecting that to happen.
90

Byakkomachi

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I should've seen that coming...
91

Byakkomachi

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I know this is foolish of me...
No change is going to have a 100% approval rating.
92

Byakkomachi

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But the thought of ending up saddening even more people...
93

Byakkomachi

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I can't get that out of my head...
I think I'm frozen with fear at this point.
94

Emu

Listen

...
95

Emu

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(I know what she means...)
96

Emu

Listen

(Trying to get Morinomiya to move forward might mean disappointing even more fans...)
97

KAITO

Listen

<...>
Next Chapter: The Path You Choose