Until You Shine Like Deneb ch5: Backstage Spirit

Screenplay and lyrics by Nabe Ataru. Music by Bana Tea...
These are

both you, aren't they... Atanabe-san?

...Why would you think that?
It all clicked when I saw the names.

Atanabe = Nabe Atar(ru)
ATANABA = BANA TEA

They're both anagrams.

Also, during today's reading, the fact there were no staff besides the performers felt off to me.
But if you were doing everything, Atanabe-san, everything would make sense...

Even if that was the case, what happens in practice should have no bearing on the main show.

You coached us during practice earlier, didn't you?
You were planning on doing the direction yourself too, weren't you?
Were you perhaps planning on doing the singing coaching too?

And you're doing the stage set arrangements and office work on top of that!
That's not an amount of work one person can handle!
There's no problem.

Hitoha-san helps me with the office work.
...How many energy drinks
have you had today?

You're a sharp one, Hoshimisaki-san.

Is there a reason you're going this far?

You've been told that Cycnus is in danger of closing down, right?
The main reason is a lack of funds.
I want to cut down on expenses as much as possible.

Sasori-sama... is trying her hardest.
With her parents not around, she has to everything herself.
Even with such a small body,
she strives to remain firm in front of everyone.

That's why
I want to support her as much as I can.

Sasori-san... So she was supporting the troupe in place of her parents.
I was wondering why a high schooler was representing a musical troupe.

Even so... Wait!
Does Sasori-san even know you're doing all of this, Atanabe-san!?

Please keep this a secret.
Especially from Sasori-sama.
Why...?

I don't want...
her heart to be shouldered with even more burdens.

Atanabe-san's eyes are as warm as a sunny spot...
Her gentle eyes directed to someone as precious as any treasure.

I wish I could support Atori like that too...

A future like that would be rather bright.

Okay, that's all for today.
All that's left is to send the music data.
Okay~
What amusing lines...

Tomorrow...

p10

...we clean up the theater!

Let's do this!
Yeah~

Atori, you clean the floor of any dirt and stains.
Got it.

p11

Man~ This is hard work!
No way we're finishing this in a day~!
Phew~

This doesn't seem very used...
Why haven't you performed in such a splendid theater up until now?

We would always perform in smaller community centers to match our small scale.
We were just about managing... thanks to the council's generosity.

It's actually thanks to Sasori-chan's leadership that we're performing on such a huge stage for the first time.

Is that so...?
Atori's influence is something else.

I'm curious... what got you into musicals?
Fufu...

p12

Erm...

Yuuri-chan
loved musicals.
Ah, Yuuri is my mother.
Why Raika's mama?

Yuuri-chan and my mom were close,
so me and Raika has been playing with each other since we were babies.
Aah~ So cute~
Little babies are so cute~

Watching Yuuri-chan got me interested in musicals too.
When I was four years old, Mom took me to a show...

p13

Love at first sight...
A typical trope.
Fufu...

By the time I noticed it, she was more hooked on musicals than I was.
She's always singing and dancing
and I accompany her even to this day.
The first one I saw was "Wonder"...
Yuuri-chan would often act it out at home.

So Raika's mama was where it all started for you, Atoricchi~!
Do you still meet up and act out musicals even now? How nice~

...Yuuri-chan and Uncle Sora...
Um...
Sora?

p14

My parents
died in an accident when I was in grade school.

They left me behind to go swim in the starry sea.

p15

I-I see~! Sorry about that!
It was insensitive of me to ask too...
It's fine! Don't worrry about it!
You didn't know!

...The other day, when I said you didn't know anything about musicals.
I apologise for that.

It's fine.

To you too.

p16

Even if Raika forgives you, I'm not convinced.
Wha-

Why you...!
I'm giving the lead role me all, okay!?
You sure know how to hold a grudge...
Atori~...
Hey! Keep those hands moving, people!
Kay~...

p17

Yep!
That should do for now!
I'm looking forward to showtime!
Let's continue cleaning the other places.
We'll make it even sparklier!

"Aah, my word!"

p18

Rehearsal

"Her body's injuries aren't healing!"

...Something's been bothering me ever since I read the script.

"Just the body isn't enough... we need to heal the wound in her heart."
"In which case..."

This is where Nahane hangs over Shiara and...

p19

kisses here.
The kiss scene!
♪With these lips, I give to you
overflowing warmth.

It's amazing how Riona-san's pitch doesn't waver even in that position...
Wait, no!
Q-Q-Q-Q-Q-Q-
Question!
Tion!
Yes, Hoshimisaki-san?

p20

Is this kiss a... r-real one?
Or is it gonna stop just short so the guests don't see it...?

Well...
Of course it's gonna be a real one.

!?
It's just like TV dramas and movies.
It's not playing around.

Reality... It's the key ingredient in pulling an audience into a story.
What's more, this is the stage.
The audience aren't watching through a camera, but from multiple angles.
There's no benefit to using tricks.

p21

Whether it's a kiss scene or not, if it's in the script, it's to be taken seriously.
Is there a problem with that?
No! There's no... problem per se, but...

Wh-What about you, Atori...?

...?
Is there a reason why I shouldn't?

Because... she's heavy...
HUH!?

p22

It's not that different from playing with Cosmo.
Cosmo...?

My pet dog.
Dog!?

I'm a dog...?
I'm just putting up with this since it's practice and I have no choice, got it...?
?

So that's the kinda girl she is...

Well... you're free to stop for the practice if you want.
Okay, from the top.
I know.

p23

I know, but...
I need to think of this as something different.

This is acting, after all...!

p24

Phew~ Time for a break.
Sasori-sama, I've printed out the flyers.

...What is this?

Musical - Wounds and Loneliness

Sasori-sama designed it.

Can I return this wounded heart to normal?
Future musical top star

Great, aren't they?

p25

...You're a terrible artist, Sasori-san...
Eh!?

Just to check, what do you think of these flyers, Atanabe-san?

Sasori Love

I think they're really good.
Ah.
She's a Sasori-chan devotee.
Sasori-obsessed...
Sasobsessed...

Hm?

p26

Future musical top star Ayahi Atori...?

Future musical top star
Ayahi Atori stars!

That's a pretty big photo.

I figured I needed to make her stand out.
But this is a little...

Right, Atori-chan?

No.
She's right.

p27

Top star...
The place I'm aiming for.

p28

That's the spirit!
First, we need to get a lot of customers coming to this show.
To get Cycnus back on track!

W-Wait a minute!
You're gonna hand these flyers out!?

With this amateur design and bizarre text!?
We're obviously gonna redo it, right!?
Kh...

I'll redo it...
There is no need.
There's no money to commission a designer, after all...

p29

I've already printed out a bunch of them.
We need to get advertising as soon as possible.
Uwah~

My word...!! They're releasing such ridiculous flyers into the world...!!
No, think about it another way.
Like "this is good in its own way" or something...!
Pretty wild that my photo's on there.

It begins.

p30

Future musical top star...

p31

Hmm...

Feli-... Felicette.
It's time.

Yes, Papa.

Atori-san... huh.

p32

She sounds interesting!
Our musical
has begun.

Warning