A Gentleman Thief's Thrilling White Day?!

Chocolate Factory

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

1

Choco Maniac

Listen

“Alright, everyone!
Let's make some chocolates together!”
2

Children

“Yay!”
3

Mizuki

Listen

“We're gonna make some really yummy ones, so try to keep up, alright, Mr. Thief?”
4

Akito

Listen

“Yeah...!
But before we start...”
5

Akito

Listen

“It looks like Chocota's tuckered himself out from crying a little too much, so why don't we give him some time to rest?”
6

Choco Maniac

Listen

“Yes, of course!
Would you mind showing him the way for us?”
7

Akito

Listen

“Okay!
Let's go together, Chocota.”
8

Akito

Listen

(Hey, you okay? Can you walk...?)
9

Hamano

(Yes...)
10

Akito

Listen

“Alright, let's all wave goodbye to Chocota for now! See you later!”
11

Children

“See you later!”
12

Len

Listen

(What's Tsukasa planning from here on out? I'm getting all anxious and excited at the same time!)
13

Choco Maniac

Listen

“Now then... Back to making our chocolates!”
14

Mizuki

Listen

“You guys all ready♪ Lemme hear it!”
15

Children

“Yeah!”
16

Mizuki

Listen

“Anyway, Mr. Thief here loves to eat chocolate, but doesn't have a clue when it comes to making them. So, we've gotta teach him how!”
17

Mizuki

Listen

“Let's see... Where should we start?
Oh, perfect! Thanks for raising your hand!”
18

Girl

Yay, I got picked! We should choose which chocolates to use!
19

Mizuki

Listen

“That's right!
We have quite a lot to choose from, so let's see what our options are!”
20

Choco Maniac

Listen

“I see...
Yes, this is quite an impressive selection. Which do you think would be best for us?”
21

Boy

Oh, I like milk chocolate!
22

Girl

I like white chocolate!
23

Mizuki

Listen

“I personally prefer bitter or dark chocolate... So, what do you think?”
24

Choco Maniac

Listen

“Wait wait wait!
There's no way we can use all of them! I need a minute to think!”

Sound Effect: Play

25

Mizuki & Children

Listen

“Okay.”
26

Choco Maniac

Listen

“Hmm... How about this one!?
It looks the most like Chocota!”
27

Mizuki

Listen

“Then, milk chocolate it is!
A bit of sweetness with lots of yum♪”
28

Mizuki

Listen

“Next, we'll need to think of a good design... What do you guys think? Any ideas?”
29

Girl

A big heart!
30

Boy

Make it look like Chocota!
31

Mizuki

Listen

“Hey, those are some great ideas!
Hmm... Which do you think is best?”
32

Mizuki

Listen

Chocota-shaped chocolates seem like a bit much, don't you think...?
33

Tsukasa

Listen

I agree. We'd be able to buy some time, but our show would fall apart in the process. I suppose some simple hearts will just have to do...
34

Tsukasa

Listen

No, wait. Chocota's this place's mascot. There must be molds of him lying around... Found one!
35

Mizuki

Listen

Hey, good call!
36

Tsukasa

Listen

Alright... Ahem!
37

Choco Maniac

Listen

“He's always there to stop me from eating any chocolate, which has led to us fighting and bickering each time we've met...”
38

Choco Maniac

Listen

“But he's put these delicious treats into a new light for me. For that, I must show him my appreciation.”
39

Choco Maniac

Listen

“Which is why I'd like to make some chocolates that look just like Chocota as a sort of olive branch!”
40

Mizuki

Listen

“That's a great idea, Mr. Thief!”
41

Choco Maniac

Listen

“Thank you!
So let's start making our chocolate Chocotas!”
42

Mizuki

Listen

“Alright, everyone, remember what we need to do after we choose a design?”
43

Children

“Melt the chocolate!”
44

Tsukasa

Listen

(Once that's all melted, we just need to pour it into the molds, wait for them to cool and decorate them with some toppings...)
45

Tsukasa

Listen

(But we can't keep this up forever. Will Akito and Chocota be able to make it back in time...?)
46

Employee

Okay, the other show proceeded as planned, which means the demo corner should also be...
47

Employee

Hm...?
Wait, is that...?
Green Room

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

48

Hamano

*Sigh*
49

Akito

Listen

Feel better?
50

Hamano

Y-Yes...
I don't think we've met, but thank you. So, who are you...?
51

Akito

Listen

Oh, I'm the Choco Maniac's... Acquaintance...
52

Hamano

I see...
I've become such a burden for Tenma...
53

Akito

Listen

Nah, don't worry about him.
He's not the kind of guy who gets mad over something like this.
54

Akito

Listen

More importantly, you think you can go back out there? He sort of wants to end everything with all of us out there, so if you think you can make it...
55

Hamano

Yes, I should...
Hnng...
56

Akito

Listen

Is something wrong?
57

Hamano

No... It's just...
My heart's been throbbing nonstop...
58

Akito

Listen

What?
59

Hamano

I-I'm sorry...
It should settle down in a minute...
60

Akito

Listen

...

Sound Effect: Play

61

Tsukasa

Listen

(There's definitely something weighing on Hamano's mind, but he wants this show to go on despite that...)
62

Akito

Listen

Did something happen by chance...?
63

Hamano

Huh...?
64

Akito

Listen

You sounded like you were in pain while crying, and yet, you still want to see this show through...
65

Akito

Listen

Which is why I'm asking if something not so great happened to you?
66

Hamano

So...
67

Hamano

It has to do with a childhood friend...
68

Hamano

I'd known this girl who lived next door since we were both little, and we used to play a lot together.

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

69

Hamano

She even suggested that I try performing in these shows part-time because of my interest in acting. And so, I did...
70

Hamano

She's also quite the confectioner...
I've received many delicious gifts from her on Valentine's Day and I made sure to give something back each year... Until this past year...
71

Hamano

When she got married and moved overseas...
72

Akito

Listen

...
73

Hamano

We were close enough that I knew she was dating someone from abroad, which didn't actually bother me that much...

Sound Effect: Play

74

Boy

Me...? They're for my friend, Haru, who lives next door to me!
75

Boy

She always gives me snacks and sweets for Valentine's Day, so I want to give something back for White Day.
76

Boy

And I want to keep doing this for Haru until I'm old and gray!
77

Hamano

But what that boy said...
That sort of did it for me...
78

Hamano

I saw myself in him...
I realized that I was hoping that I'd be able to keep giving her gifts until the day I died...
79

Akito

Listen

I see...
Now it all makes sense.
80

Hamano

Again, I apologize for causing such a stir. I don't deserve to play this role anymore...
81

Hamano

But I want to go back out there.
Tenma's still trying to keep this show going, so I should be out there to help him do that.
82

Akito

Listen

(He's still crying...
And his face is still flushed...)
83

Hamano

I'll put this costume back on and...
Wah...!
84

Akito

Listen

Whoa, watch out...!

Sound Effect: Play

85

Hamano

Oww...
I'm sorry. I think I got up too quickly and... Are you alright?!
86

Akito

Listen

I'm fine...
But I really don't think you're in any shape to go back out there.
87

Hamano

No, I can't just quit because of something like this...
88

Akito

Listen

No, you've clearly been through a great deal...
89

Hamano

But what kind of actor would I be by bringing my baggage on stage...?
90

Hamano

That girl's the one who originally said that I should go into acting. She said that I have a talent for making people smile...
91

Akito

Listen

I'm no actor, but I know how you feel since I also have some experience performing on stage...
92

Akito

Listen

But you can't just cut yourself off from what you're feeling. I've learned that there are times when you just can't do anything...
93

Hamano

...
94

Akito

Listen

I have no idea if this is going to help, but this is what I had to go through...
95

Akito

Listen

You'll be able to sing the way you want as long as you have your friends by your side.

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

96

Hamano

Friends...?
97

Akito

Listen

In this case, it's the Choco Maniac.
He's been worried sick about you.
98

Akito

Listen

He even wants you to be smiling when this is all said and done.
99

Akito

Listen

So if you do plan on going back out there, I think you should rely on him more. That might be your best way out of this situation.
100

Hamano

...

Sound Effect: Play

101

Employee

Hamano!!
102

Akito

Listen

Huh?!
103

Employee

Why aren't you out there performing?!
Did something happen?!
104

Hamano

Oh, that's because...
105

Employee

Also, there's someone else trying to lead everyone around... If something had happened, we'll need to stop this show at once before...
106

Akito

Listen

(C-Crap...!)
107

Hamano

Please, wait...!
108

Hamano

I made a mistake during the show and am having Tenma cover for me right now.
109

Hamano

But I promise to see this through to the end. I promise to make everyone smile...
110

Akito

Listen

Good.
That's the spirit, Chocota.
Next Chapter: A Finale Full of Smiles