A Sad Farewell at the Curtain Call - 8: How I Feel

By the Fountain

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1

Rui

After we spoke that day, I thoroughly weighed my options... To stay at Phoenix Wonderland as a member of Wonderlands×Showtime...

2

Rui

Or to work alongside you, Asahi, at ArcLand...

3

Rui

And I thought quite a lot about each option in terms of making my dream come true...

4

Asahi

I see...

5

Rui

To be completely frank...

6

Rui

If I want to make my dream come true, I should accept your offer, Asahi.

7

Asahi

...!

8

Rui

The practices we held together for our performance showed me just how skilled and passionate the cast members of ArcLand are.

9

Rui

It's a simple fact that no other place in Japan has such a group at its disposal.

10

Rui

Not only that, but ArcLand provides the perfect working environment for directors. I wouldn't have to make any of my own props...

11

Rui

So...

12

Rui

As a director, moving to ArcLand is what I should do...

13

Asahi

Does that mean...?

14

Asahi

...!

15

Asahi

That's quite an expression you've got on your face...

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16

Rui

Huh...?

17

Rui

My expression? What do you mean...?

18

Asahi

You know what I mean.
I wish there were a mirror here.

19

Asahi

Rui...
Thank you for considering my offer. I'm glad you took the chance to join us seriously.

20

Asahi

But...
I have a feeling that your heart lies elsewhere.

21

Rui

...!

22

Rui

(Oh, I see...)

23

Rui

(I guess this means I...)

24

Asahi

I noticed something when we were practicing together.

25

Asahi

The way you direct is truly egalitarian. You're never biased towards anyone.

26

Asahi

That being said, you show a great amount of trust in everyone from Wonderlands×Showtime.

27

Asahi

You still want to do shows with them, right...?

28

Rui

...

29

Asahi

*Sigh*
I wish things could've turned out differently...

30

Asahi

Especially since it seems like I failed to make you think, “I want to direct for this guy!”

31

Asahi

Which means I still have a long way to go as an actor.

32

Rui

That's not true.
You're already an incredible actor, Asahi.

33

Asahi

Haha. Thanks.
But I want to get better for when we meet next time and really make you do a double take.

34

Rui

Asahi...

35

Asahi

Still, I understand how you feel...

36

Asahi

I was blown away by Tsukasa's acting today. Compared to who I spoke to before the show, it's like he was a completely different person.

37

Asahi

Nene and Emu also did an admirable job of keeping up with us.

38

Asahi

If I had friends like that, I'd want to do everything I can to make them shine on stage. I'd want to see how they grow moving forward...

39

Rui

Yes...
To me, Wonderlands×Showtime is...

40

Rui

A precious jewel that perpetually glows with color and brightness.

41

Asahi

That's a nice expression.

42

Asahi

Anyway, I'll ask you again when you graduate from high school.

43

Asahi

Until then, Rui, I'll be waiting. On the world's stage...

44

Rui

Asahi...

45

Asahi

Hehe. I'm sure you... No, I'm sure all of you will be able to catch up to me in no time.

46

Rui

Yes, we will.

47

Asahi

In that case, let's both keep doing our best. For the sake of our friends!

48

Rui

Yes, let's.

Museum of Emerging Technologies - Main Gate Plaza

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49

Rui

I'm back, everyone.

50

Nene

Oh, Rui...

51

Tsukasa

Ah, there you two are!
Where have you been all this time?

52

Rui

We finished cleaning up what we were assigned to, so we decided to have a little chat. We apologize for disappearing like that partway through.

53

Tsukasa

No, it's our last day together, so it makes sense that you wanted to talk. Mind if I ask what the subject was?

54

Rui

Well, we talked a little bit about the future...

55

Tsukasa

The future...?
That's awfully vague.

56

Tsukasa

But this show did make me think a little about my own future.

57

Rui

It did?

58

Tsukasa

I realized that my acting skills need a lot of work.

59

Tsukasa

Getting to work with the cast members of ArcLand like this reminded me that the road to stardom is a long one.

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60

Tsukasa

So, in order to become a world-class star that really shines, I'll need to learn as much as I can from actors like Asahi moving forward.

61

Tsukasa

You as well, Rui!

62

Rui

Yes.
I'll be glad to help you, future star...

63

Rui

Anyway, now that our final ambassadorial performance has come to a close...

64

Rui

Let's start thinking about the next show we'll be doing at the Wonder Stage. I already have a mountain of ideas that I want you all to...

65

Emu

Oh, Nene, does this mean...?!

66

Nene

Yeah...

67

Nene

I'm not sure what happened...
But he seems a lot better now.

Aboard a Train

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68

Emu

Hehe... I can eat lots more...

69

Nene

Hnng... My shoulders feel...so heavy...

70

Rui

Hehe.
Sounds like they're having some nice dreams.

71

Tsukasa

Hm? Rui, you're awake?
I thought you'd fallen asleep considering the day we had.

72

Rui

I had a few things on my mind is all. Aren't you going to sleep, Tsukasa?

73

Tsukasa

Actually, I've been thinking about a few things as well.

74

Rui

Oh? May I ask what's on your mind?

75

Tsukasa

The fact that we won't be putting on any more ambassadorial performances. It's been bothering me a little...

76

Rui

Why's that...?

77

Tsukasa

As I mentioned a little while ago, this experience gave me an opportunity to learn quite a lot from Asahi and the others...

78

Tsukasa

I suppose it's only natural for skill gaps to appear when performing in shows alongside good actors...

79

Tsukasa

But learning something new topped all of that, and it ended up being very fun.

80

Rui

Yes, I agree.
I had fun as well.

81

Rui

I can tell that you were able to learn several new things while working alongside Asahi this past month, Tsukasa.

82

Tsukasa

Yes, I knew it! You saying that means the changes I've been feeling are real!

83

Tsukasa

Still, I'm saddened by how our ambassadorial performances are coming to an end. After all, we were able to meet and work with these incredible people because of them...

84

Tsukasa

As a future star, I sure hope that I'll get more opportunities to really grow like this...

85

Tsukasa

But there's no use crying over spilled milk!

86

Tsukasa

We have a duty to fulfill as cast members of Phoenix Wonderland. Let us do what we can for it!

87

Rui

Right...
Well...

88

Rui

You have clear goals that you wish to accomplish, Tsukasa.

89

Rui

You care deeply about doing your best as a cast member of Phoenix Wonderland and making your own dream come true...

90

Tsukasa

Rui...

91

Rui

Hehe. To be fair, I'm just paraphrasing what somebody else said.

92

Rui

But no one has the right to step on your true feelings.

93

Tsukasa

I see...
Hearing you say that is very encouraging.

94

Tsukasa

And yes, you have a point...
For the sake of Phoenix Wonderland, as well as my own dream, it may be good to look at things that way moving forward.

95

Tsukasa

Yawn... I'm getting sleepy all of a sudden.

96

Rui

You should rest. I'm sure you're very tired after doing two performances today. I'll wake you when we arrive at our station.

97

Tsukasa

Okay, thank you.
Then, I'll be going to sleep for a bit...

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98

Tsukasa

...
*Snore*

99

Rui

Hehe.
What a lively snore.

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Rui

Tsukasa's also been thinking about what we'll be doing moving forward...

Rui

(Sooner or later, we're all going to set out to achieve our own goals...)

Rui

(Things are fun now, but that may change in an instant.)

Rui

(I suspect I'll have moved on by the time that happens.)

Rui

(Or no...?)

Rui

(Look at me. When am I going to grow a spine and learn to be more decisive...?)

Rui

(However, I did learn one thing from this experience...)

Rui

(I want to keep doing shows with my friends. More than I previously realized...)

Rui

(So, for now, I'll keep holding onto both...)

Rui

(My desire to make my dream come true and my desire to keep putting on shows with my friends.)

Rui

(But it could be possible for us to stay together and make all our dreams come true... I'll try coming up with a way.)

Rui

(Hehe. I'm such a romantic...)

Rui

(But I want to see that future.)

Rui

(So, I should do everything I can right now to make that happen...)

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