Towards a Beautiful Future

Former Theatre Member A: ......I'll ask you again. Was Macbeth like that?

Chief Director: We did the best we could in accordance with tradition. It was the result of the member’s efforts in accordance with the direction.

Former Theatre Member B: It seems different from the Lady Macbeth I played. For someone who has been directing for so long, you don't seem to have a very good understanding of tradition.

Chief Director: Your thoughts are quite reasonable. However, it was a necessary decision to protect our authority......

Former Theatre Member C: Oh? I don't remember calling someone.

Former Theatre Member A: Who is it?

Former Theatre Member B: Oh, Lord of Glamis and Cawdor. I don’t think this is your scene.

Koyomi: I have come to speak to you all, although I know it is rude of me to do so. Please read this.

Koyomi: This is the latest edition of the Saint-Claud Guide, which goes on sale tomorrow. Three theatre companies have been selected from Japan: Olympus, the Tamba Acting Troupe-

Koyomi: -and us, Gingaza.

Former Theatre Member A: Even if we can't look down on the others, I commend you for maintaining the star status. ......But it seems that you were lagging behind your wife in terms of acting.

Former Theatre Member B: Your Macbeth was wonderful, with a sense of tradition and stability. But it seems that all the praise was going to your wife?

Koyomi: ......I'm ashamed to admit it, but you're right.

Former Theatre Member C: Tell me frankly. Why did the unusual performance attract more attention than the tradition?

Chief Director: That was my instruction......

Koyomi: As you say, it's undeniable that we were trying to be original. But without a deep understanding and acting ability, you can't be original.

Koyomi: Lilja-san met the high demands this time. The results are as the guide I brought with me commented.

Former Theatre Member A: ......’Gingaza, the lighthouse of the theatre world that continues to uphold its profound traditions.’ The quality of the critics has gone down too.

Koyomi: In order to protect its reputation, the actors and the stagehands alike worked hard to achieve their goals, despite the many challenges they faced.

Former Theatre Member C: You're starting to look like your mother. Then again, she wasn’t considered inferior to her wife.

Former Theatre Member B: Yes. If you were going to carry on the tradition of Gingaza, you had to be more highly regarded than anyone else.

Koyomi: You're right.

Chief Director: Senju showed us a performance worthy of the leader of the troupe. This time, it was entirely my fault.

Koyomi: No. Despite the great support I received from everyone, it is true that I was unable to measure up to Lady Macbeth.

Koyomi: It was due to my lack of ability. I will use this regret as fuel to work even harder in my training.

Former Theatre Member A: If you know that, then go ahead and work hard. As the centre of the galaxy, become a giant star that attracts the world.

Koyomi: Of course I know that. I have no intention of giving up Gingaza, or of being it’s poster child.

Chief Director: ......Thank you, Senju.

Rinko: Phew, I finally got tickets after going to three places! I knew about it from early release information, but I have to see it with my own eyes!

Rinko: This is it. Gingaza, the lighthouse of the theatre world that continues to uphold its profound traditions!

Rinko: As expected. You worked hard, Ramona.

Rinko: I'll do my best too. Yeah!

Ramona: ......Look. This feature article is also about Lilja!

Ramona: 'You can't take your eyes off the beautiful and terrifying Lady Macbeth'. Yeah!

Xue: No way......there's not even one article about me......!?

Xue: Is there nothing, like King Duncan's beautiful end!?

Koyomi: It's a traditional Macbeth, close to the original. Why not let him fall beautifully in the imaginations of the audience?

Hikari: Oh, I found a photo of Xue. Look, look.

Xue: Good job!

Xue:But I’m out of focus! Koyomi-san and Finland are the main focus here!

Ramona: It's a great photo. It perfectly captures Koyomi being distraught at the sight of the ghost of King Duncan, and Lilja being confused by it.

Koyomi: When I see this beauty, I can't help but agree…...

Lilja: I'm home.

Hikari: Lilja-san, welcome back!

Hikari: Where did you go for your walk today?

Lilja: The maid cafe in Akihabara. I took a photo with Iroha, so I'll give it to Koyomi.

Koyomi: This is an autograph......!

Koyomi: ......Ahem. No, no. Why did you take a photo?

Lilja: I heard from that artist that photos can be beautiful too.

Ramona: You've received another letter? That contemporary artist seems to be quite obsessed with Lilja…...

Lilja: It's natural, because I'm beautiful.

Hikari: I'm crazy about Lilja-san too!

Hikari: Look, Lady Macbeth’s photos are so beautiful!

Lilja: ......Yeah. I think they’re beautiful.

Ramona: I never thought I'd hear Lilja praise a photo......

Ramona: She never commented on any of the photos I took......

Lilja: I've come to understand the beauty of a well taken photo. Seeing it with your own eyes is still the best way, though.

Xue: What is this? It's the same old Finland after all…... I thought you'd changed…...

Hikari: ......Let's have a photography workshop next time, Ramo-san.

Ramona: Yeah, let’s do it. This time I've got to impress Lilja!

Lilja: I'll take you on.

Lilja: ......Now that I think of it, I remember. The workshop. Koyomi, yawn. I want to steal your beautiful yawn.

Koyomi: yawn ......I'm not sleepy, so I can’t do it properly......

Xue: Alright, it's time for my part time job! Now I can earn money without any worries!

Ramona: Now then. I'll go and check out how my rivals are doing.

Hikari: I'm coming too!

Koyomi: ......People are changing, aren't they?

Lilja: Sometimes change is a good thing. What do you think, Koyomi?

Koyomi: ......I don't know.

Koyomi: But maybe it's not a bad thing.

Koyomi: Things that change, things that don't change, and things you don't want to change. When they all mix together, we can shine even more brightly.

Lilja: Yes. The future of Gingaza will surely be beautiful.

Koyomi: Good morning, Hikawa-san.

Hikawa: Good morning, Koyomi ojou-sama.

Hikawa: I'm sure you're looking forward to seeing them, aren't you......?

Koyomi: Yes, I have to burn it into the back of my eyelids.

Koyomi: I'm off then.

Hikawa: Be careful on your way.

Hikawa: ......It seems you've been sleeping well recently. I'm glad you're doing well, Koyomi ojou-sama.

Tourist A: Hey, isn't the Gingaza Theatre this way? Have you got lost again?

Tourist B: That's because the map is upside down. The Saint-Claud Guide is going to cry.

Koyomi: ......

Lilja: ~♪

Shopper A: Ah, I found it! The script for the Gingaza version of ‘Macbeth’. Even though it's a classic that's been performed many times, it's still really interesting.

Shopper B: That's right, I'm really glad I saw it! Lady Macbeth was scary!

Lilja: ......I feel like seeing the sea today. I’ll go for a long walk.

Lilja: ......It feels good. A beautiful sound that you want to listen to forever.

Businessman on the Phone: Yes, we would like to ask Gingaza, which is also listed in the guide, to support our theatre appreciation tours......

Street Vision News: It seems that three theatre companies from Japan will be selected. There is a lot of attention on the future of the listed theatre companies.

Koyomi: Yes, please look forward to the future of Gingaza.

Koyomi: Heh heh......

Lilja: ......

Lilja: ......Ah, I fell asleep.

Lilja: ......The sunset is beautiful.

Town Announcement Speaker: It's 5 o'clock. All you good children, please be careful not to get into traffic accidents on your way home.

Lilja: .....It's already this late. If I don't go home, everyone will be worried.

Lilja: ......

Lilja: 'On stage, you were uglier than anyone, and more beautiful than anyone. I hope that one day we can explore beauty together.’

Lilja: ......Nice letter. Heh heh.

Lilja: I understand now. I am beautiful. But beauty is not just about being pretty.

Lilja: The world is full of so many beautiful things.