Daikoku
...

Daikoku
(Among the theatre companies featured last year, the ones I know are Gingaza and Olympus...)

Daikoku
(There are several other companies whose names I've heard. They're all major or accomplished theatre groups...)

Daikoku
(Sirius isn't included either. ...Well, the selection criteria themselves are strict, so I suppose that's to be expected.)

Daikoku
(I might learn what kind of theatre companies are more likely to be appreciated by the public. ...I'm not trying to interfere with the direction of our performances, but...)

Daikoku
(Ugh, thinking about this feels like I'm defying my Lord, which I hate...)

Hatsumi
Daikoku?

Daikoku
Eek!?

Hatsumi
You're quite early. What's that, you're reading?

Daikoku
Ah...!

Hatsumi
...

Hatsumi
The Saint-Claud Guide, I see you're interested in it too.

Daikoku
Th-this is...! I was just trying to investigate other theatre companies...!

Daikoku
It's only to study the enemy, so that someday we can defeat Sirius-I mean, Gingaza and Olympus...!

Hatsumi
I see.

Hatsumi
But Eden doesn't aim to stand at the top of numerous theatre companies. That would be following the same path as Gingaza.

Daikoku
Ah...

Daikoku
I didn't mean it like that...

Hatsumi
I don't mind if you're interested in other theatre companies. Do as you like. Just remember what I've just told you.

Daikoku
Yes...

Daikoku
(It was careless of me to bring the book, thinking I'd show it to Iruru-san. I only wanted to be useful to my Lord...!)

Daikoku
(That expression, though not angry...she didn't seem to be in a good mood.)

Daikoku
(I've heard she didn't get along with Gingaza either... Maybe she hates even hearing their name?)

Daikoku
...

Daikoku
Why couldn't I realise something so simple, I'm such an idiot...!

Tetra
Oh?

Tetra
If it isn't Daikoku. What's wrong? Standing still in the corridor like that.

Daikoku
Tetra-san...

Tetra
Ah, I was wondering what you were holding, but it's the Saint-Claud Guide. So you read it too.

Daikoku
I've done something thoughtless again...

Tetra
Hm?

Tetra
...I see, so that happened. Well, Hatsumi herself doesn't seem to view this book positively.

Daikoku
That's right...I should have known that just by thinking about it, but I...

Tetra
Honestly, you're too affected by Hatsumi's reactions. No one would get upset over reading a guide or two.

Daikoku
But...iit might have looked like I was denying my Lord...!

Tetra
Even if she were denied, that stubborn one wouldn't bend. Honestly, couldn't Hatsumi hide her emotions a bit better?

Tetra
Let's see...Gingaza is a regular feature, as expected. I'm surprised. They haven't missed being featured once since they were first included.

Daikoku
...Um, Gingaza is the company that my Lord used to belong to, right?

Tetra
That's right. She had quite a dispute with the director and left.

Daikoku
A dispute...

Tetra
I suppose she wanted to break down authority and formality, but was shown something that symbolised those very things, which she hated.

Daikoku
...