Tetra
I'm coming in.

Hatsumi
Sorry to bother you before rehearsal.

Tetra
Honestly, calling just me out like this. You could've given this status report in front of everyone.

Hatsumi
I don't want to distract everyone with unnecessary things. I'm already asking too much of them.

Hatsumi
Iruru told me. Not to try and handle everything alone.

Tetra
...I see.

Hatsumi
Is rehearsal going well?

Tetra
Of course. I'm training them rigorously to meet your standards.

Hatsumi
That's reassuring.

Tetra
...To be honest, I thought it would take more time to get things ready. Those kids have exceeded my expectations.

Hatsumi
Oh?

Tetra
I was particularly worried about Nikako, who hasn't been an actor for long...

Tetra
But she's absorbing techniques rapidly and making the role her own.

Tetra
Daikoku's acting was a bit concerning too, but her desperate efforts are showing results. No need to worry anymore.

Hatsumi
How's Shigure? She must have had various complaints up to now...

Tetra
She complains a lot, but her attitude towards rehearsal is dead serious. Seeing that cheekiness makes me get fired up too.

Tetra
She pushes back, so I'm enjoying it. Iruru occasionally has to stop us.

Hatsumi
It's hard to tell who's the instructor.

Tetra
Actually, having Iruru there is a real help.

Tetra
Her sense for acting is impressive, and she's attentive to the other actors... She's definitely Eden's pillar.

Hatsumi
Yes...I know that well.

Tetra
Well then, now tell me about your side. How's the script coming along?

Hatsumi
...It's still going to take time. The climax just doesn't feel right.

Hatsumi
You asked before, what exactly I wanted to convey...

Hatsumi
I haven't solidified that... What do I want to convey?

Tetra
Don't ask me. That's something only you know.

Hatsumi
Yes, you're right...

Tetra
...We're reaching the limit of how long we can wait.

Tetra
Depending on the changes to the arrangement, the direction of everyone's acting might change too. We need time to rehearse based on that.

Hatsumi
I know... I'll finish it properly. To meet everyone's efforts.

Tetra
...I believe you.

Hatsumi
Well... t's almost rehearsal time. I'll go back home and face the script again.

Tetra
Why don't you stay and see how everyone's doing?

Hatsumi
I told you. I don't want to distract them with unnecessary things.

Tetra
Sneaking a peek shouldn't be a problem. Come on, follow me.

Hatsumi
...Alright.

Nikako
Haah~...

Shigure
What's wrong?

Nikako
I was re-reading the script, and I was just thinking again. Oedipus is really amazing, isn't he?

Daikoku
Well, he did defeat a monster and do various things, but...is he that special...?

Nikako
That's part of it, of course, but...

Nikako
I think what's most amazing about Oedipus is that he didn't run away from what he had to do.

Iruru
Ah~, I see what you mean~. He ends up completely ruined because of it, after all.

Nikako
Exactly! Even though he realised it wasn't good for him, and everyone tried to stop him, he still pursued the truth as a king...

Nikako
It must have been incredibly painful for his body and mind...

Nikako
The fact that he saw it through to the end is amazing!

Shigure
He could have covered everything up halfway through, but he properly accepted everything for his country.

Nikako
Yeah, yeah... He's a pitiful person, but cool, right?

Tetra
Hmm...those kids are having quite an interesting conversation.

Hatsumi
......

Tetra
Is something wrong?

Hatsumi
No...I just think I heard something good.

Tetra
Are you going?

Hatsumi
I've seen how everyone's doing. I'll go home and concentrate.

Tetra
I see...

Iruru
What? Hatsumi contacted you?

Tetra
Yeah. She says she'll finish the script properly.

Tetra
But...Hatsumi herself is still struggling with what she should do.

Tetra
If she can't break free from that, she can't move forward...

Iruru
(I wish she'd rely on us at times like this... Was what I did actually pointless...?)

Daikoku
My Lord's uncertainty...what could it be...I'm frustrated that I can't notice it even though I'm by her side...!

Shigure
If even Hatsumi-san doesn't understand it, there's no way Daikoku-senpai would notice.

Daikoku
Sh-shut up...! I might be able to at least find a hint...!

Nikako
...Come to think of it, I was just thinking during our conversation. The way "Oedipus Rex" is being adapted doesn't seem like Ren-san.

Iruru
What do you mean?

Nikako
The "Phantom of the Opera" and "The Demon's Friend" that we've done until now... They had sad endings, but I felt refreshed afterwards.

Nikako
Even with the sad endings, I could somehow feel positive afterwards...I felt something like hope.

Nikako
But the adaptation of "Oedipus Rex" is just painful... I couldn't feel like looking forward.

Nikako
I don't know if it's related to Ren-san's worries... But it might be a hint.

Daikoku
N-Nikkachi...you've seen through my Lord's essence...!?

Nikako
I-I don't know if this is right! It's just what I thought on my own!

Nikako
But...I hope it can be a hint to help Ren-san.

Nikako
I'm also a member of Eden. I want to help my struggling friend.

Tetra
(As expected, Nikako has a sharp eye that strikes at the essence of things. That's this girl's weapon.)

Daikoku
Nikkachi...you'd go that far for my Lord...!

Shigure
Unlike Daikoku-senpai, she seems to be supporting her with pure intentions.

Daikoku
W-what...! I-I'm thinking about my Lord with a pure heart too...!

Shigure
It doesn't look that way.

Daikoku
This kid, I'll let you say whatever you want...!

Daikoku
You don't even want to support my Lord, do you...!

Shigure
What!? Shigure is worried too! I'd do anything if it meant Hatsumi-san would return to normal!

Iruru
Oh~. So Shigure felt that way too.

Shigure
Eh, ah!?

Shigure
That was just...there was no deep meaning...

Iruru
No, no, don't be embarrassed. Words like that might be exactly what Hatsumi needs right now.

Tetra
Iruru, have you noticed something too?

Iruru
I'm not sure if mine's correct either, but I've decided it's time to properly face this.

Iruru
Nikako helped me make up my mind too.

Nikako
Huh?

Iruru
(Everyone's words...I'll convey them properly to Hatsumi. That's probably my role.)

Iruru
(If she's forgotten hope, then we'll remind her of it. With our feelings...!)