Tetra
A scout from another theatre group, huh... I thought you calling me here was sudden, but it turns out something like that happened.

Hatsumi
I thought I should let you know, just in case.

Tetra
Were Daikoku and Shigure the only ones who received scout offers?

Nikako
Ren-san and Irurun checked for me, but I didn't receive any strange emails!

Iruru
Same as Nikako for me.

Iruru
Considering they only approached the leads from "The Demon's Friend," they were probably targeting the two who would likely be dissatisfied with the current casting.

Tetra
Haah...some things never change. When actors stand out in small theatres, larger companies immediately try to scout them.

Daikoku
Is that how it works...?

Tetra
Yeah. If they can scout such actors, they can attract audiences too. Plus, it's easier than training newcomers from scratch.

Hatsumi
How foolish. They don't even know if they can trust those actors.

Tetra
Not everyone thinks like you do. The same goes for those being scouted.

Tetra
As an actor, wouldn't you want to aim for a place where you can shine more brightly? In terms of career advancement, it's not a bad offer.

Shigure
......

Hatsumi
That's nonsense. The size of the theatre is irrelevant. An overwhelming brilliance stands out no matter where you are.

Hatsumi
Look at me. Even while in a troupe called Eden, I attract this much attention. That's what it means to be an absolute existence.

Hatsumi
Both Daikoku and Shigure understood that well. That's why they didn't make a mistake about who to follow.

Shigure
That's right...

Shigure
(Not a mistake...huh...)

Daikoku
It's unthinkable for me to serve anyone but my Lord...!

Nikako
Da-chan is devoted only to Ren-san!

Daikoku
Of course... No matter what happens, my heart belongs to my Lord...!

Daikoku
But I was really worried this time... I might be fine, but I wasn't sure what that kid would think...

Iruru
Don't say that. Shigure has real attachment to this troupe too.

Shigure
......

Iruru
Shigure...?

Daikoku
Hey, you...are you listening...?

Shigure
...I'm listening. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't make assumptions about Shigure's feelings.

Daikoku
What did you say...! You should be honest at times like this...!

Iruru
N-now, now... It's true that we were making assumptions here.

Shigure
More importantly, shouldn't we start rehearsal soon? The script is finally complete all the way to the end.

Hatsumi
That's right. Since Tetra-san is here today, we'll go through the whole thing. Get ready!

Iruru/Nikako/Daikoku
Yes!

Shigure
...Yes.

Iruru
...Shigure, are you okay?

Shigure
Eh...?

Iruru
Just a feeling...you seemed troubled.

Shigure
...That's not true.

Iruru
I see...

Shigure
I was just thinking that I need to work hard.

Shigure
To become a Dai Star in Eden...

Iruru
Huh?

Shigure
...Hurry up and get ready. We're wasting rehearsal time.

Iruru
Ahaha, sorry, sorry...

Shigure
Shigure doesn't have time...

Iruru
(Shigure, could it be...are you still concerned about the scout offer?)

Tetra
Okay, that's enough! Let's stop for now!

Hatsumi
...What is it, Tetra-san? Is there a problem?

Tetra
...Up to a certain point, I have no complaints. I think rehearsal is going well.

Tetra
But still, the ending development... To be honest, it doesn't draw me in.

Hatsumi
Hm...?

Tetra
The development after Oedipus's sin and the truth are revealed... That's your arrangement, right?

Hatsumi
Yes. I made my own adjustments to make it a more intense tragedy.

Tetra
That's the issue. This script is too tragic. Especially this ending development...

Tetra
Jocasta taking her own life in front of Oedipus after learning the truth, and Oedipus going half mad and gouging out his eyes...

Tetra
Oedipus being condemned by Creon and banished from the country...withering away while tormented by the final sight of his wife and mother dying-

Tetra
You haven't changed the main outline, but making Jocasta die before his eyes, and having Creon play such an unpleasant role throughout...

Tetra
Isn't this going too far? It's just painful, with no sense of pathos or loneliness.

Nikako
...I also thought it was a bit too painful to watch...

Hatsumi
What...?

Daikoku
Nikkachi...are you going to criticize my Lord's ideas...!?

Nikako
I-I don't think the current ending is bad!

Nikako
But listening to Tetra-san, I started thinking that way...

Nikako
Is that what the greatest tragedy is...? Maybe it's not just about being extreme...

Iruru
Well, I do think we could soften it a little? It's already a heavy story to begin with.

Hatsumi
Isn't that what you want? Sorrow so intense that you instinctively want to look away should be the condition for the greatest tragedy.

Iruru
Well, I understand that argument too~

Shigure
If we keep it like this, the audience will definitely be turned off. We're already being compared to "The Demon's Friend" as it is.

Hatsumi
The concept is completely different from "The Demon's Friend." We can ignore those who don't understand that.

Shigure
...But those kinds of audience members are the majority.

Iruru
(Shigure...)

Hatsumi
...I'll keep everyone's opinions in mind. But for now, I don't intend to change this arrangement.

Iruru
If Hatsumi has decided, I have no complaints. It's certainly an extraordinary tragedy.

Daikoku
That's right...my Lord's envisioned stage is the best...! There's no need to change it based on the opinions of inferiors...!

Shigure
Please don't arbitrarily put us below you. That's just Daikoku-senpai.

Daikoku
Be quiet! My Lord stands equally above everyone!

Tetra
...Are you okay with this too, Nikako? With the content as it is?

Nikako
Y-yes! I just thought I'd like to see a different development!

Tetra
...Understood. Then this discussion is over. Let's resume rehearsal.

Iruru/Nikako/Daikoku/Shigure
Yes!

Iruru
Hey, how long are we going to keep up this dropping off and picking up after rehearsal...?

Hatsumi
Until the performance is over, of course.

Iruru
Lately, everyone's stares hurt...like "Ah, those two are going home together again~"

Iruru
(Daikoku's eyes in particular are getting scarier day by day...)

Hatsumi
They probably think our husband and wife roles are becoming more natural.

Hatsumi
If that's the case, we might as well show off more. How about a goodnight kiss next time?

Iruru
I absolutely won't do that, okay?

Hatsumi
I'm joking. It hurts even me when you reject me so coldly.

Iruru
When you say it, it doesn't sound like a joke...

Iruru
...By the way. What did you think of today's rehearsal?

Hatsumi
What do you mean?

Iruru
We talked a little about the ending arrangement, remember? That we could change it a bit more.

Hatsumi
...I said I'd keep the opinions in mind.

Iruru
No, I just thought it was unusual for you to say that. Normally, you'd just push through with your own ideas.

Hatsumi
......

Iruru
Well, it just kind of occurred to me. But it's been bothering me for some reason.

Hatsumi
...Iruru.

Iruru
What?

Hatsumi
I still think we should do that goodnight kiss.

Iruru
If you say it one more time, even I might get angry~

Hatsumi
Oops...I'll be careful.

Iruru
(Looks like I've been blown off...)