Aiming for the Southern Cross (Part 2)

Xue: Reward presentation contest? Stimulate my material desire......?

Xue: Ha! I've been criticised, but I'll accept it and stand up for myself. Come on you snobs, loosen my purse strings!

Ramona: I'll take that as a yes! Here comes Ramona Wolf!

Ramona: ......Well, now. I'm going to do a reward presentation, but before I get down to business, I'd like to present my favorite reward for myself.

Ramona: As I said earlier, a reward is also an investment in yourself. Effort and study are essential to surviving the harsh world of theatre.

Ramona: BuHowever,t aren't we getting caught up in that and losing sight of the essence? First, let's define the essence of reward.

Ramona: A reward is.......

Ramona: ......rewarding!

Xue: Forget the oxymoron. Get to the point.

Ramona: Fine! What is the gift I gave myself?

Ramona: Hikari, drum roll please!

Hikari: Dadadadadadada! Bang!

Ramona: With respect to Japanese culture. It's a soba noodle making experience!

Lilja: Clap clap clap.

Xue: What can I say, it's really silly......

Xue: Tell me what makes making soba noodles useful for a play.

Ramona: Three years, three months and three days. That's how long it takes to learn how to make soba.

Ramona: Technology and culture that have been passed down over a long period of time cannot be learned overnight. Of course, this is not limited to soba noodles. I have also experienced making udon noodles by hand before.

Xue: Let's talk about the play! Do you want to become a noodle chef!?

Ramona: Well, don't be so hasty. Surely noodle-making won't help you directly.

Ramona: But experiencing the culture is a great weapon.

Ramona: In fact, Katrina's performance as she became familiar with the culture and made it her own was spectacular. Have you ever felt the di

Xue: That's......true, but.......

Ramona: We need to know more. About the people of this country. About the culture.

Ramona: That's why I make soba noodles. To understand different cultures and to create empathy beyond that.

Xue: Gunnu...... you’re suddenly saying something serious......

Ramona: So the reward I present to Wang Xue is! Hikari, drum roll please!

Hikari: Dadada-

Xue: That's enough, get on with it!

Ramona: Namely! A tour of hidden hot springs!

Xue: Hot springs!?

Ramona: We'll go into the fields and mountains and search for the source of the spring, which has never been explored by man. Pile up stones to form a dam and create a hot spring!

Ramona: The thrill of never being guaranteed to find the source of the spring, and the survival skills you will develop. There is no more luxurious activity than this!

Ramona: How about it, why don't you explore the hot springs with me!?

Lilja: When do you want to go?

Xue: Why would I go? Don't think all Japanese dig hot springs!

Hikari: Then I'll give a presentation next!

Hikari: What I recommend for Xue is the all-you-can-eat cheat day!

Xue: It's about that day when you can eat whatever you want, right? Then every day is a cheat day for you huh.

Hikari: Then another reward! Load!

Xue: A load?

Xue: Hey, why are you taking off your clothes......?

Hikari: Undo the clasps on the back and then....... Phew~.......

Ramona: I'll pick it up-what's with the weight!? Lilja, can you hold that one for me?

Lilja: Impossible. I can't lift anything heavier than mascara.

Hikari: Ta-da! This is a Dai Star training cast!

Hikari: You can become a Dai Star just by wearing it! ......So the rumour goes.

Hikari: Let’s turn Xue into a Dai Star right away! Yes, raise your hands. Hooray!

Xue: There's no way I'm putting that suspicious thing on! Stop it!

Hikari: Here we go!

Xue: Aiya! I-I just heard a sound I shouldn't have heard!

Xue: All right, don't use all your strength! I’ll die before becoming a Dai Star!

Hikari: Alright, Dai Star training cast on!

Hikari: Come on, let's chew on the reward of exercising our muscles!

Xue: I-Instead of chewing, all the muscles in my body are screaming......! Why are you so unconcerned, you!?

Hikari: It's proof that your sleeping muscles are waking up!

Hikari: People are gonna be like 'someone with pecs like that is in Gingaza!? I'm gonna lose it!'

Xue: I've lost it a long time ago now!

Hikari: Waah!

Xue: Haah, haah...... Is there no one sane left......!?

Xue: I've never missed Koyomi-san so much......

Ramona: I asked Koyomi about it in case you're interested, but she said it's 'an offering to God'.

Ramona: ......She is surprisingly religious.

Lilja: The last one is my presentation. I came up with a great reward.

Xue: I already have a bad feeling about this......

Lilja: You will love it. With pleasure.

Lilja: ......My reward is to touch my beauty. Look with your eyes. Enjoy every inch of it…...

Xue: I knew it! It was a mistake to ask you guys!

Hikari: Aww! I could have learned a lot from Lilja-san's beauty tips!

Hikari: Right, Ramo-san!?

Ramona: Ah, well, I'm having trouble deciding where to focus my eyes…...

Xue: Damn it, I knew a reward was a waste of money! Dismissed, dismissed! Eat your dinner and go to bed!

Lilja: There isn’t any more though.

Xue: I’ve hardly eaten at all though!? Hikari again!?

Hikari: Ahh.......I just thought I'd eat it before it gets cold.

Ramona: No wonder. A person's personality shines through in their food. There's no way that the kindness of someone preparing something while complaining wouldn't be delicious, right?

Xue: I'm telling you, it's just an investment. I'm going along with you because you say we’ll make more money playing friendship games......

Xue: ......Well, as long as it tastes good, there's nothing better than that. They're such cheap people that they can use such a small pot.

Hikari: Is this pot really small?

Hikari: I thought it was because I was eating too much.

Xue: You're eating too much, but...this hot pot is for two people in the first place. It's usually more efficient to make it in a larger pot-

Xue: ......I see! If I buy a bigger pot, I can cook all the ingredients at once! It'll taste better and I’ll have less time to wait!

Ramona: Useful. Then I’ll put it out as an investment, as you would say.

Xue: I don't want it. I will buy the pot with my own money. Ni-san and the others will be relieved if I tell them I bought a pot.

Hikari: So, in other words, the reward is a pot? Is that really okay?

Xue: Listen, I've calculated that if you eat hot pot every day for about six months, it will pay for itself. And it will taste even better than it does now!

Xue: The point is, I can just sit around the pot with you guys, and the rest will be rewarded!

Xue: How's this for cost-effectiveness?

Ramona: S-So, sitting around the pot together is Xue’s reward!

Ramona: Friendship permeates! I'm......I’m so happy!

Hikari: Yeah, yeah! Even in a large pot, you can eat without leaving any leftovers! I will not lose!

Lilja: ......Xue, did you eat chili? Your face is turning red.

Xue: Y-Yeah, it's just that I'm more used to making things in a big pot! After you finish eating, go home and sleep! You idiots!