Phoenix Wonderland
Wonder Stage

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1

Rui

Listen

Okay, that's it for our read-through.
How do you all feel about this...?
2

Emu

Listen

Oh, me first!
I really liked how Thorpe was able to play the piano like he wanted in the end!
3

Nene

Listen

That's not what he's asking.
He's talking about how we each feel about the way we acted.
4

Nene

Listen

From what I saw...
It wasn't bad or anything, but...
5

Nene

Listen

After hearing what Rui said, I couldn't help but keep an eye on what Tsukasa did... He seemed different from usual...
6

Rui

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I agree.
I believe we feel the same.
7

Rui

Listen

How did you feel, Tsukasa?
8

Tsukasa

Listen

About that. I think I also felt what you just mentioned. Something just didn't feel quite right...
9

Tsukasa

Listen

How do I explain it...?
It's like I only have a superficial grasp of this character.
10

Emu

Listen

Hm? Superficial? What do you mean?
11

Tsukasa

Listen

Well, that's the thing...
I'm not sure I understand how this character truly feels...
12

Rui

Listen

...
13

Rui

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“Thorpe, how's practice going?”
14

Nene

Listen

Wait, are you ad-libbing?
15

Rui

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“If you're trying to make a living by playing at a tavern, I have to think you're having a hard time paying rent. I wish I could help you somehow...”
16

Tsukasa

Listen

“Th-Thank you...!
Your kinds words are more than enough!”
17

Tsukasa

Listen

No, that isn't right either...
He's supposed to be lacking in confidence. He'd probably clam up in that sort of situation...
18

Rui

Listen

This is what he meant by a “superficial grasp”. He's having trouble reading between the lines.
19

Emu

Listen

Oh, now I get it!!
20

Rui

Listen

He's been able to capture a character's essence just based on instinct until now, but as I expected, this one may prove challenging.
21

Rui

Listen

Mind telling us more about where you're getting stuck and how, Tsukasa?
22

Tsukasa

Listen

Yes, I appreciate the help!
First, the scene when he looks up to the stars is giving me some trouble...
23

Rui

Listen

I see. Thorpe lacks confidence, but also seems fairly proud of himself. Even I'm having some trouble understanding him...
24

Rui

Listen

Nene, you might have a better idea.
How do you feel about this character?
25

Nene

Listen

Wait, isn't that just a roundabout way of bad-mouthing people with pride but no confidence in themselves?
26

Rui

Listen

Oh? I never said anything about that combination being bad. It just means you're proud of yourself but prefer to take it slow when making important decisions.
27

Emu

Listen

Yup yup!
You're always wonderhoy no matter what, Nene!
28

Nene

Listen

Why does it feel like you're both trying to pull one over on me...?
29

Tsukasa

Listen

Nene, I beg you!
Help me figure out how Thorpe feels!
30

Nene

Listen

*Sigh*
Alright, fine...
31

Nene

Listen

My guess is that he's stressing over producing results, but also beating himself up for being so timid.
32

Tsukasa

Listen

I see... But he has a goal he needs to work toward, right? He doesn't have any time to mope around like this.
33

Nene

Listen

Y-Yeah, you're not wrong!
But it's not exactly easy to motivate yourself when you're in this kind of pain...
34

Tsukasa

Listen

Hmm...
This is going to require more thought...
35

Rui

Listen

Alright, why don't we keep working on our characters as we run through some lines?

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36

Emu

Listen

“That piano sounds so wonderful♪”
37

Emu

Listen

“Hey, Mr. Pianist!
Can you play a song for us?”
38

Tsukasa

Listen

(Okay. Thorpe's a timid fellow, so let's try...)
39

Tsukasa

Listen

“What the?!
Who goes there?!”
40

Rui

Listen

Stop!
That's just you being you, Tsukasa!
41

Rui

Listen

Think more about how Thorpe would actually react.
42

Tsukasa

Listen

O-Okay!
Let's try that again!
43

Tsukasa

Listen

(I tried being timid but went a little too far... No matter. I just have to try again...!)
44

Rui

Listen

“Thank you, Mr. Pianist.
My little brother and sister seem much better now.”
45

Emu & Nene

Listen

“Thank you!”
46

Tsukasa

Listen

“Ah, is that so...
You can leave now if you're satisfied.”
47

Tsukasa

Listen

Sorry! Can we stop things here...?!
48

Emu

Listen

Huh?
49

Tsukasa

Listen

Something felt off about how I replied just now... “Ah, is that so...” No, maybe... “Ah, is that so...?”
50

Tsukasa

Listen

I can't figure it out...
How would Thorpe respond in this situation...?
51

Emu

Listen

Tsukasa...
52

Rui

Listen

...
One week later

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53

Tsukasa

Listen

...
54

Rui

Listen

Maybe we should stop here for today...
55

Tsukasa

Listen

Hm? Oh, sure...
Let's call it a day.
56

Nene

Listen

Okay...
57

Tsukasa

Listen

(This is bad...
I've spent a week trying to figure out this role, but I'm still nowhere close...)
58

Tsukasa

Listen

(At this rate...)
59

Rui

Listen

Tsukasa...
60

Tsukasa

Listen

I should probably take a closer look at the original story. Otherwise, at this rate...
61

Rui

Listen

...
Scramble Crossing
62

Nene

Listen

*Sigh*
I hope Tsukasa's okay. He seemed really stuck today. Isn't there anything I can do to help him?
63

Nene

Listen

But I already told him just about everything I can.
64

Nene

Listen

Hm...?
65

Rui

Listen

...
66

Nene

Listen

Rui, what's wrong?
You seem really down.
67

Rui

Listen

Huh? Oh, I was just thinking about Tsukasa's acting...
68

Rui

Listen

I regret not putting more thought into this...
69

Nene

Listen

More thought? What do you mean...?
70

Rui

Listen

Until now, I kept assigning roles to Tsukasa that I thought would help bring out his potential...
71

Rui

Listen

His goal in life is “to become a world-famous star”. In retrospect, I regret not pushing his boundaries by assigning him more challenging roles.
72

Rui

Listen

In other words, I regret not thinking ahead more...
73

Nene

Listen

...
74

Nene

Listen

(I don't believe it...
This is how he's taking this situation?)
75

Nene

Listen

(Usually, he doesn't really care as long as he got to do the shows he wanted.)
76

Nene

Listen

(But now... It's like he genuinely cares about all of our dreams and goals in life...)
77

Nene

Listen

But... You know there's no use crying over spilled milk, right...?
78

Rui

Listen

Huh?
79

Nene

Listen

Remember what you told me after what happened with me and my troupe? “You can look back all you want, but you can't change the past.”

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80

Rui

Listen

Oh...
81

Nene

Listen

That cheered me up a lot.
It made me think, “That's all in the past, so I need to keep doing my best right now.”
82

Nene

Listen

So I'm gonna tell you the same thing. The past is the past. All we can do right now is believe in Tsukasa and do what we can for him.
83

Rui

Listen

Yes, you're right...
84

Rui

Listen

I should be coming up with hints or other ways to help him.
85

Rui

Listen

Thank you, Nene.
Tenma Household - Living Room

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86

Tsukasa

Listen

“Ah, is that so...
You can leave now if you're satisfied.”
87

Tsukasa

Listen

“They're finally gone. I can practice in peace now... But there might not be any point now since the contest is tomorrow.”
88

Tsukasa

Listen

“*Sigh*
I only have half a day left...”
89

Tsukasa

Listen

“The stars... They're so beautiful...”
90

Tsukasa

Listen

No, this still doesn't feel right...
91

Tsukasa

Listen

I was under the impression that Thorpe looks up to the stars here to flee from his issues because he knows he can't overcome them before the contest...
92

Tsukasa

Listen

But am I wrong...?
93

Tsukasa

Listen

I don't know...
Not being able to figure this out means I'm far from the world-famous star I want to become...
94

Tsukasa

Listen

No...
Now's not the time for that!
95

Tsukasa

Listen

Alright, in times like this, there's but one thing for me to do!
96

Tsukasa

Listen

(Yes...
Sitting on this bench really does put my mind at ease.)
97

Tsukasa

Listen

Okay...

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Sound Effect: Play

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98

Saki

Listen

I'm home!
Tsukasa, you're back too?
99

Saki

Listen

Oh...
100

Saki

Listen

Hehe.
The way Tsukasa plays the piano's always so beautiful.
Rui's Room

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101

Rui

Listen

We don't have much time left until our show...
102

Rui

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(I need to rethink why Tsukasa's still having trouble with this role...)
103

Rui

Listen

(He's clearly done a full analysis of his character. He understands what Thorpe's trying to achieve.)
104

Rui

Listen

(But he's still struggling to immerse himself into this role.. In a way, him and Thorpe are still “strangers”.)
105

Rui

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(Tsukasa's usually able to become one with a character and act as if he's in their shoes.)
106

Rui

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(There has to be something that can help him become more comfortable with being Thorpe...)
107

Rui

Listen

Wait, I know...!
Next Chapter: Commonalities