Until You Shine Like Deneb ch10: Scars and Loneliness

Ah, here it is.

Cycnus Theater.

It's a musical, so I thought it'd be more exaggerated than this.
This isn't much different from a wind instrument contest.
Not a lot of seats, though...

This is where Atori will...

I didn't get a view from the front during the culture festival...
I thought she was good in the video...
but to honest, I'm curious about how a familiar face got viral.
Hmm~

I want to get a proper look today.

Either way,
as her friend, all I want

is for her to make it to the end safely...!

Sh-She's acting kinda different?

Oh...?

Hm...?

♪This world is so boring.
Won't somebody give me adventure?

I may be a musician...
but it's because I've experienced so many contests on stage that I'm so surprised.

This isn't a play.
It's a "world".

It hooks you an instance,
makes blinking feel like a nuisance,
and thrusts its hand deep inside your chest
to make your heart pound, by force if it needs to.

♪I have spent everyday searching
for the shadow of someone who can flap their wings freely

♪Take me out of this cage right now

♪I shall go capture the caged bird at once
♪My world is waiting for a brand new moment

Ah...

So this is what "basking" is.

"Scars and Loneliness"

This is a parallel world where many different species co-exist.
In this peaceful kingdom, a festival known as the Easter Festival is being held today and tomorrow.

Such a pretty girl...
Is she a model?

♪Today is the first day of the Easter Festival
♪The town is bustling with the music
♪Let's peacefully show our respect to the maidens

♪Okay everyone, let's be merry and dance

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I was wondering how such a small troupe could express there being a lot of people without an ensemble cast...
A screen, huh... How ingenious.

And in this kingdom,
there is a maiden who holds a special power...
That was nervewracking...
Let's hurry to the set.

p11

Lady Shiara!

...Shiki, what are my duties for today.
12 of them.
Once again, there are people in need to healing who wish to see you.

That's twice as many as usual.
There is a festival going on,
which means there are more people visiting our kingdom.

Phew...

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...I see.
Understood.

Your guide awaits.
Fufu... The sick are this way...

Shiki is pretty, and the individuality of her lag catches the eye,
but even so...

[tn: lag = deliberate pauses in dialogue]

she almost looks like part of the scenery
standing behind that girl, who you can tell is the "lead" in this short scene alone.

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That's just how much overwhelming presence Shiara has.

Be they wounded or sick... I'm the only one in the entire world with the power to heal their bodies.
Day in and day out, I heal sick people as a maiden of this kingdom.

♪ The people revere it as a miracle, but if it's tamed, the kingdom will prosper.
♪I am fated to remain locked away in a cage, treated as a tool until I die without anyone seeing who I really am...

♪I don't want to live in such a hopeless future.
In which case...

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I will escape from here!

Hey, Atanabe.
Why did you write the script "Scars and Loneliness"?
That...

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was probably me "venting".
Venting?
To put it roughly...

"Scars and Loneliness" is taking the gloominess and hope I felt during my teen years
and realising it as a parallel world within a stage play.

Your teens... That's a pretty heavy topic.
I guess it was troublesome...
I wouldn't be so sure.
If anything, I think I was saved.

That so? Was there a nice person or something?
Yes.

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I met you, Sasori-sama.
You probably have no idea

how much you've saved me, though...

I guess you could call the other characters the manifestation of my emotions.
Presumptuous as it may be... Nahane, who Shiara meets, is me.

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And now for the main event of the Easter Festival... Lady Shiara will show you her miracle!

Aah... Such happiness...
This recorded voice must be Raika.

...My heart is always alone,
so I know all too well.

This kingdom...

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if filled with fake happiness.

♪ The scar on my shoulder and the loneliness I was dealt that day will surely never heal
♪ I no longer have a past, I can only move towards the future

♪ But dark clouds hang over this future...

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Kyah!

Oww...
Watch where you're going.
Same to you...

...Huh?
Hm?
Your right shoulder...

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I am Shiara.
Might you... be injured?
!

I was hiding it... so how could you tell?

Occupational disease, I guess?
More importantly, the fact you're not surprised upon hearing my name means you're from outside of town.

...?
Aw man. I had just managed to run away from my duties...
but I can't help but be curious about your injury.

I'll tell you as I examine it.

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You see,
I have the power to heal other people's injuries and illnesses.
And right now, there's an Easter Festival happening... Everyone who came here for it has this charm.
You can have one too.

And as for that scar on your shoulder... there.
...!! The pain is gone!

I can't use it on myself, though.

♪ My word
To think someone who shows such kindness to others cannot protect herself...
...Ah, I see.

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♪Fate has guided me
to protect this girl

...
How old are you, Atanabe?

Who can say?
Fufu

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...It's just,
the years and months it took before I met you and you pulled me out of the depths with just one word
felt so long to me.

Did I... say something?

HALT!

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I am looking for Lady Shiara.
Do you know anything?
...Can't say I do.

Hm? That charm...!

Those aren't being handed out to the public.
They have a unique pattern too.
!

Who gave that to you...?
Hmm... You could use a little more suspicion in your voice.

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I'm trying not to sound too forced but...
It's a tough balance...
We need to find a natural lag that suits you, Futaba.

...I lag that suits me...

Suspicious...
Erm, this is...
Oh right. Those charms are specially made...!
Nice one, Futaba.

Atori's so cute...!
If you're gonna stick around then help us out!

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It's the first night of the Easter Festival.
Let's dance til the morning comes~!

Hey!
Hey!

You're really working hard with your dance, Ami.

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I'm aware that my singing and acting is lousier than everyone else's~
...

So I'll dance with energy!
That's the one department I won't lose in!

...Looks like it was worth running away.

We should dance too.
Wah

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Kyaaah!

What? An explosion?
This is bad! Several houses exploded and a lot of people are hurt...
We've got collapsed people over here too!!

Waaaah!

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The maiden! Somebody call for the maiden!
This is all...
because I ran away...
Aah... At this rate, so many people will...

...Ng!

Wait.

Where do you think you're going?

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I'm sure they'll take the injured back to the palace.
There's no need to return there.

The freedom you seek...
The cage you wish to escape...

Does anything that's happening here have anything to do with this?

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There's more injured!

You have some first aid skills, don't you!?
Wh?
Well, yes... but...

Hmm~
Even I can do some healing, won't it be too late to save those who are gravely injured?
I'm not on the maiden's level, after all...

Just do it!
Quickly now! People need your power!

The...
The freedom I desire...

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is not worth letting the lives right in front of me be extinguished!

Warning