1

Nene

Listen

(Tsukasa's turn involves Rio conversing with the phoenix...)
2

Nene

Listen

(They'd been running around until then, but slowly begin to understand each other's feelings...)
3

Tsukasa

Listen

“So, how does it feel...?”
4

Sakurako

Listen

“How does what feel...?”
5

Tsukasa

Listen

“You know, living forever?
Don't you ever get lonely? You have to watch all your friends and family pass on, right?”
6

Sakurako

Listen

“I think nothing of it.”
7

Sakurako

Listen

“I have long since gotten used to all that...”
8

Tsukasa

Listen

“So...
You do feel lonely...”
9

Sakurako

Listen

“Ugh. Your mouth does not know when to stop, does it? If you have time to talk, you have time to catch me.”
10

Tsukasa

Listen

“Hey, wait...!”
11

Nene

Listen

...
12

Nene

Listen

(They're on totally different levels in terms of acting...)

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

13

Nene

Listen

(I mean, Tsukasa's doing a really good job of showing Rio's timid and gentle nature.)
14

Nene

Listen

(And yet...)
15

Sakurako

Listen

“What is going on...?”
16

Sakurako

Listen

“As we converse...
My heart is being squeezed tighter and tighter for some reason.”
17

Sakurako

Listen

“He is but a mere human.
They perish after only living a handful of years.”
18

Sakurako

Listen

“And yet... Why?
Why...? Why?”
19

Sakurako

Listen

“I have never felt this before...”
20

Nene

Listen

(I can't take my eyes off her...)
21

Nene

Listen

(Seiryuin's phoenix is just too captivating...)
22

Nene

Listen

(Can I do that...?)
23

Nene

Listen

(Can I put on that kind of performance someday...?)
24

Director

Stop there. Let's have our next candidate step in.
25

Tsukasa

Listen

Thank you very much...
26

Tsukasa

Listen

(I felt powerless in her presence...)
27

Tsukasa

Listen

(In the face of her phoenix...
My Rio seemed completely lifeless...)
28

Director

Hmm...
29

Director

As I suspected, finding someone to play opposite Sakurako is not going to be easy...

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

30

Director

Okay, that concludes today's practice.
31

Everyone

Listen

Thank you very much!
32

Sakurako

Listen

Now, if you'll excuse me... I'll see you all tomorrow.

Sound Effect: Play

33

Tsukasa

Listen

W-Wait...!

Sound Effect: Play

34

Emu

Listen

Huh? Tsukasa?!

Sound Effect: Play

35

Tsukasa

Listen

Seiryuin!!!
36

Sakurako

Listen

What is it?
I still have to practice on my own, you know.
37

Tsukasa

Listen

I know you're very busy and I do apologize, but could you spare a minute of your time to talk?
38

Sakurako

Listen

*Sigh*
Only a minute.
39

Tsukasa

Listen

Then, I'll get straight to it.
40

Tsukasa

Listen

How in the world were you able to portray your character like that?

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

41

Sakurako

Listen

There's no way I can answer that quickly...
42

Tsukasa

Listen

Please! I have to know!
43

Tsukasa

Listen

Your phoenix felt so real...
It felt like she was right here. Just watching you, I was able to clearly see the forest and hear the wind in my ears.
44

Tsukasa

Listen

The star I look up to... He also put on that kind of performance.
45

Sakurako

Listen

...
46

Tsukasa

Listen

So, please!
I beg you! Even just a small hint!
47

Sakurako

Listen

Fine...
If you're willing to go that far.
48

Tsukasa

Listen

Really?!
49

Sakurako

Listen

Yes, really.
However, it's not like I did anything that out of the ordinary.
50

Sakurako

Listen

I simply wish to build the perfect character.
51

Tsukasa

Listen

Build the perfect character...?
52

Sakurako

Listen

For example...

Sound Effect: Play

53

Sakurako

Listen

Before trying to portray a character, I read books on related subjects... For the phoenix, I read this one.
54

Tsukasa

Listen

It says... “The True Identities of Fantastical Beasts”...?
55

Sakurako

Listen

It's a book about history and folklore that discusses how people came up with phoenixes.
56

Sakurako

Listen

I also researched my role by watching videos of birds and how they move so that I can learn to be like them.
57

Sakurako

Listen

Only after all that did I think about her feelings. The loneliness of never dying and endlessly being reborn from your own ashes...
58

Tsukasa

Listen

But it's only been one day since we were given our scripts. You've already done all that...?
59

Sakurako

Listen

Presenting myself, a human, as a bird is no small feat. Especially one that does not actually exist...
60

Sakurako

Listen

In order to convince others that my phoenix does actually exist, I need to form a crystal clear image in my head of what I'm trying to portray.
61

Sakurako

Listen

Which is why I plan on reading at least fifty books before we open. I'll watch videos every day as well. I even asked one of my troupe mates to let me observe their pet bird at their home.
62

Sakurako

Listen

I'm going to do absolutely everything I can in order to properly portray a real phoenix.
63

Tsukasa

Listen

(She's doing all this research for this role...?)
64

Tsukasa

Listen

(No wonder she's head and shoulders above the rest of us...)
65

Tsukasa

Listen

Thank you, Seiryuin.
66

Tsukasa

Listen

I'll put what you said into practice right away by forming a clear image of how I want to portray Rio.
67

Sakurako

Listen

I commend your desire to follow in the footsteps of a superior person...
68

Sakurako

Listen

However, Tenma, I doubt my method will actually work for you.
69

Tsukasa

Listen

What?
70

Sakurako

Listen

This is just my feeling, but you and I don't seem like the same type of actor...
71

Tsukasa

Listen

The same type...?
72

Tsukasa

Listen

Oh...

Sound Effect: Play

73

Rui

Listen

Yes. Actors come in all shapes and sizes.
74

Rui

Listen

For instance, some prefer to gradually get into character while others may try to imitate their foibles... Of course, there are prodigies who can immediately take full control of their characters, but let's set that aside for now.
75

Rui

Listen

From what I've seen, Tsukasa, I'd say you're someone who likes to gradually get into character. Seemingly the most popular archetype.
76

Tsukasa

Listen

Gradually get into character...?
77

Rui

Listen

In simpler terms, I believe you prefer to learn by doing since you and logical analyses of characters don't usually mix well.
78

Tsukasa

Listen

(Right...
Rui's mentioned that before.)
79

Tsukasa

Listen

(Based on what she said just now, Seiryuin is the type of person who prefers to take a more analytical approach to her characters.)
80

Tsukasa

Listen

(As for me...)
81

Sakurako

Listen

When you played Miles during the night show, I didn't get the sense that you broke him down into his fundamental components.
82

Sakurako

Listen

So, I believe there is a better approach for you to take. What do you usually do when learning to play a new character...?
83

Tsukasa

Listen

I...
84

Tsukasa

Listen

Ever since we did a rendition of “A Pianist Named Thorpe”, I've tried thinking about what my character and I have in common.
85

Sakurako

Listen

I see...

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

86

Sakurako

Listen

You like to get into character by first establishing an emotional link with who you'll be portraying.
87

Sakurako

Listen

In that case...
They might be your best teacher...
88

Tsukasa

Listen

(They...?)
89

Sakurako

Listen

I have a friend who's the same type as you, Tenma.
90

Sakurako

Listen

They too like to establish an emotional connection with their characters and try many different things to achieve that goal.
91

Sakurako

Listen

Such as placing yourself in their environment or doing what you think they would do.
92

Tsukasa

Listen

Placing myself in their environment...
93

Tsukasa

Listen

I have some experience with that.
I remember attempting to understand how an impoverished shoeshine would feel by sitting along the side of the road.
94

Sakurako

Listen

Then, you have a basic understanding of what to do. However...
95

Sakurako

Listen

This person would actually become one.
96

Tsukasa

Listen

Become one?
97

Sakurako

Listen

Yes, in other words...
They'd shine shoes until they're able to make a living of it.
98

Tsukasa

Listen

...!
99

Sakurako

Listen

Of course, I don't mean that you should go around copying all of the roles that you play...
100

Sakurako

Listen

But your characters should gain more presence as you do what is necessary to bring them to life and be on the same page as them emotionally.
101

Tsukasa

Listen

Yes, I agree with you there...
I can understand that method.
102

Tsukasa

Listen

However, will it be possible for me to do all this in less than a week...?
103

Sakurako

Listen

What you do until the audition is entirely up to you. But...
104

Sakurako

Listen

Tenma...
You've been going around claiming to be a future star, yes?
105

Sakurako

Listen

So...
Why don't you become the star of this show?
106

Tsukasa

Listen

...!
107

Tsukasa

Listen

Of course...!
108

Tsukasa

Listen

I promise to make this the best show ever by surpassing even you...!
109

Sakurako

Listen

Hehe... That's more like it.
Well, I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Sound Effect: Play

110

Tsukasa

Listen

(I made a fairly ostentatious claim there towards the end, but I'm very short on time...)
111

Tsukasa

Listen

(Will I really be able to figure out this character in less than a week? To get on the same level as Seiryuin...?)
112

???

Listen

Tsukasa!!!

Sound Effect: Play

113

Nene

Listen

Seriously, why'd you run off like that? What happened...?

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

114

Tsukasa

Listen

Oh, you're all here...
115

Tsukasa

Listen

Apologies...
I had Seiryuin give me a few tips regarding how to get into character.
116

Nene

Listen

What...?
That's a pretty big ask. And she agreed to help you?
117

Tsukasa

Listen

Yes. Well, to be clear, not using her way, but her friend's...
118

Tsukasa

Listen

However, I'm worried that I won't be able to figure out my character in time if I go with that...
119

Emu

Listen

Tsukasa...!
Is there anything we can do to help?!
120

Emu

Listen

I know we don't have much time, but we might be able to do something about that if we all work together...!
121

Tsukasa

Listen

Emu...
122

Rui

Listen

To be honest, getting on the same level as Seiryuin as she is now will be incredibly difficult...
123

Rui

Listen

But you still wish to go through with this regardless...?
124

Tsukasa

Listen

Yes...
125

Nene

Listen

...
126

Nene

Listen

(Tsukasa really amazes me sometimes...)
127

Nene

Listen

(Even after seeing such an incredible performance, he's not giving up. I was convinced that it'd be impossible to catch up to her...)
128

Nene

Listen

I wanna help too...
129

Nene

Listen

(I have to learn more...
I have to absorb what I can from Tsukasa and Seiryuin's performance...! So that I can also get better!)
130

Tsukasa

Listen

All of you...
Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Next Chapter: The Distant Peak