In Order to Move Forward

Koyomi: (Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It is a story about the fate of people driven by desire.)

Koyomi: (The protagonist, Lord Macbeth, and his ally Banquo, receive a prophecy from three witches.)

Koyomi: ('Long live the man who will be king! Long live Macbeth!')

Koyomi: (After hearing the prophecy, Lady Macbeth seduces her husband with her lust for power. In order for Macbeth to gain power, he must eliminate many obstacles.)

Koyomi: (The current king, Duncan. Banquo, who has received a prophecy that his descendants will become kings. The couple also take out their political enemies who threaten their power one after another.)

Koyomi: (At first, it was the ambitious Lady Macbeth who drove the timid Macbeth. However, as they weave their web of intrigue, the two of them change completely.)

Koyomi: (......The script itself hasn’t changed much, it's the standard version. However, there have been some changes to Lady Macbeth's character.)

Koyomi: (......She has the ambition to be eternally beautiful. Consideration to highlight Lilja-san's beauty......)

Lilja: ......yawn I'm sleepy......

Lilja: Are we still reading through it?

Hikari: I'm sorry, Lilja-san. I wanted to be more prepared than ever before.

Koyomi: Yes. There's nothing better than being prepared.

Lilja: Preparation......? Even though you already know how to make yourself look beautiful?

Koyomi: No, that's not-

Hikari: Ah! Welcome back, Xue! Good work on your last day of work.

Xue: Ugh, you're still reading together at this time? What an incredible amount of energy…...

Hikari: We have to put on a great performance! Saint-Claud!

Xue: Hmph, if you know that, that's good.

Xue: …...Maybe I should add some ad-libs to stand out too?

Koyomi: The teachers will decide the direction of the performance. You should trust them.

Koyomi: The way of an actor is to believe in the script and the direction and to fulfil the role given to them.

Xue: Hmph. Well, Koyomi-san is Koyomi-san. Do as you like. I'll be myself, and do as I like.

Hikari: If you're going to do it, I'll help! Then, let's start with Act 1!

Lilja: ......Are you still going to do it? Staying up late is bad for your skin. I want to do what I want to do too. I'm sleepy......

Xue: If you want to sleep, sleep as much as you like later! Let's get started!

Koyomi: ......

Gingaza Members: I’m going to make it rain blood. Or should I make the blood rain…...build up? There's a meter to it, and it all depends on Banquo right before.

Gingaza Members: The stage direction for the witch's illusion is the same as it was three years ago. I just checked with the technical staff.

Hikari: ......

Xue: Hey, what are you daydreaming about? Aren't you going to start?

Hikari: ......Everyone's gradually started talking to each other. In the past, everyone was just practicing on their own.

Xue: It must be the bad influence of some hardworking idiot…...

Xue: Now that I think about it, where did she go?

Ramona: Please listen to us! We just want to contribute to Gingaza too!

Koyomi: ......!

Hikari: Ramo-san......?

Chief Director: You don't need to. Just do your part without thinking about unnecessary things. That's what Gingaza actors do.

Ramona: Everyone, including myself, is still confused. That's why we should exchange opinions and try to improve our acting. What's wrong with that?

Chief Director: That idea itself is presumptuous.

Ramona: What the......!?

Koyomi: Please calm down, Ramona-san......!

Ramona: …...I'm calm. Yes, I'm calm. I don't want to cause any trouble.

Chief Director: I'm going. Continue your independent practice.

Koyomi: Yes, I'm sorry to have taken up your time.

Koyomi: What were you thinking?

Ramona: I just wanted to discuss it. It'll be too late once we've missed the star of Saint-Claud.....

Koyomi: I'm sure they've agonized over this decision before coming to it. The teachers are also working for Gingaza.

Ramona: ......

Koyomi: Let's move to a different location. You should also cool your head.

Ramona: ......Yeah.

Hikari: ......

Hikari: Ramo-san and Koyomi-san haven't come back yet. I wonder if they're okay......?

Xue: I don't know. Well, I can understand Germany's point of view.

Xue: The other theatre companies are also desperate to get their plays listed in the Saint-Claud Guide. We have to do even better than that.

Hikari: That's right, I can't lose! I'm burning up!

Lilja: ......yawn

Lilja: I can't go on any longer, I've reached my limit. I'm going to borrow Hikari's knee pillow...... It's so warm......

Hikari: Waah. Lilja-san, you'll get cold on the floor of the practice room.

Hikari: ......She fell asleep.

Xue: You know...... Is it okay for you to show yourself like that to some so-called contemporary artist…...?

Lilja: (I know what I have to do.)

Lilja: (All I have to do is stand on the stage and do what I'm told. All they want from me is for me to be beautiful.)

Lilja: (But everyone's getting so worked up. It's strange.)

Ramona: What do you think, Koyomi? About this production of Macbeth.

Koyomi: The main story is the same as the original. It's based on tradition. What's different from past performances is Lady Macbeth's obsession.

Ramona: Yes. Normally, what Lady Macbeth wants is enormous wealth. But this time, she wants ultimate beauty that comes from wealth.

Ramona: Is undoubtedly the result of consideration for Lilja's image. Since the script has been changed, the production will be different from before.

Koyomi: Yes......

Ramona: But is this really all that's needed? Is this right? If you're going to change things, there are other things you could do......

Koyomi: As I said before, this is the conclusion of Gingaza. You should follow the direction of the play.

Ramona: I don't think you're saying that from your heart. I'm sure you have at least one opinion, Koyomi.

Koyomi: (Opinions…...I don't have any.)

Koyomi: (But I'm torn right now. Caught between the traditions I've been protecting and the innovations they’ve brought about…...)

Koyomi: ......

Ramona: Hey, Koyomi. Even if our methods are different, I want to protect Gingaza too. Just remember that.

Koyomi: ......Is your method defying the teacher?

Ramona: I did it because it was necessary, that's all.

Ramona: Well…...I guess I came across as disrespectful in your eyes. I just wanted to have a chance to talk…...

Koyomi: You’re alike......

Ramona: Hm?

Koyomi: ......No, about what we were talking about earlier. To be honest, I'm worried about this new policy too.

Koyomi: The fear of taking on something new that isn't just the 'royal road'. Above all, I'm worried that I'll have to throw away everything I've built up until now......

Ramona: Koyomi......

Ramona: I'm sorry.

Koyomi: Er, why did you apologise?

Ramona: It seems that I can't bear your burden and am causing you trouble. As you can probably guess, I'm a little impatient.

Ramona: As a leading actor, your concerns are only natural.

Ramona: Gingaza has always been a theatre company that values tradition and formality. Thanks to people like you, I think it has been able to maintain that tradition.

Koyomi: ......

Ramona: But now, with the aim of being featured in the Saint-Claud Guide, we are all working harder than ever to put on a great performance of 'Macbeth'.

Ramona: It means that while respecting tradition, we are also required to innovate and to step into new territory.

Koyomi: That's contradictory.

Ramona: Yes, that's why. There is no guide that can show us the way to the star of Saint-Claud. It's ironic that it’s supposed to be theatre guide is supposed to help us not get lost......

Koyomi: A guide......

Koyomi: (Everyone is struggling to find the answer. They are searching for a signpost to help them do what they need to do.)

Koyomi: (If that's the case, what I need to do is......)

Koyomi: ......Let's go back to the rehearsal room, Ramona-san. As the leader, I think I may have found what I need to do.