Nikako
Morning everyone!

Tetra
Morning. When you're ready, we'll pick up where we left off yesterday.

Nikako
Tetra-san...is Ren-san not coming today either?

Tetra
No. I got a message saying she's taking the day off. Honestly, she always dumps everything on me at times like this.

Iruru
Come on now. It just means she trusts you.

Iruru
Besides, I'd rather she focus on adjusting the script right now. I was surprised when we suddenly got that message about her rewriting it.

Nikako
...Could it be because of me?

Iruru
Huh? Why?

Nikako
Because the other day, I said something that sounded like a complaint...

Tetra
If we're talking about blame, I'm the original cause. Don't worry about it, Nikako.

Nikako
Alright...

Daikoku
Nikkachi, don't worry... My Lord doesn't waver over something like that...

Tetra
Daikoku's right. Hatsumi doesn't easily change things once she's decided on them.

Shigure
But is it really okay? It's been a week since Hatsumi-san stopped coming.

Shigure
There are more and more scenes we can't rehearse without Oedipus... She needs to come back soon, don't you think?

Iruru
...Let's give her a bit more freedom. Maybe she needs to think things through on her own.

Iruru
Being dragged along by Hatsumi's whims isn't anything new for us anyway.

Shigure
That's true, but...

Iruru
(Come to think of it, Hatsumi mentioned before...that there's one person whose opinion she listens to.)

Iruru
(I've no idea who it is...but perhaps she's gone to meet them...)

Iruru
(I wonder if that person likes tragedy as much as Hatsumi does...?)

Hatsumi
..."Thirst".

Iruru
Huh?

Hatsumi
Because I think it quenches my "thirst" the most...perhaps.

Iruru
That's your reason for liking "tragedy"?

Hatsumi
Yes. That feels most right.

Iruru
(The reason she likes tragedy is because it quenches her "thirst"... That's what Hatsumi said.)

Iruru
(It bothered me a bit then too.. what does she mean? "Thirst" quenched by tragedy...)

Hatsumi
I'm here.

Iruru
What!? Hatsumi!?

Hatsumi
It's been a while.

Daikoku
M-my Lord...! You've come back...!

Nikako
We were worried about you!

Hatsumi
Refining the script took more time than expected.

Shigure
...So it's finished now?

Hatsumi
Yes.

Tetra
Anyway, let me read it first. We need to move forward with rehearsals.

Hatsumi
I only changed the climax. You only need to look at that part.

Iruru
...Huh?

Hatsumi
Is something wrong?

Iruru
No...it's just...how do I put it...

Hatsumi
What is it? If you have something to say, say it clearly.

Nikako
Ren-san...is this really the finished version?

Hatsumi
What...?

Tetra
...Jocasta, thinking of dying together with Oedipus after learning the truth. However, Oedipus ends up killing her instead-

Tetra
Having killed not only his father, but also Jocasta, who was both his mother and wife, Oedipus goes half mad and massacres Creon and his subordinates.

Tetra
The country of Thebes, with its ruler gone mad, helplessly perishes from a plague that occurred simultaneously.

Tetra
Oedipus, who survived, gouges out his eyes and wails in lament at the centre of the ruined country-

Tetra
Indeed...this might be the ultimate tragedy. But it's too grotesque.

Hatsumi
......

Tetra
It's just one horrible event after another. Hatsumi...is this really what you want to convey?

Hatsumi
......

Daikoku
I-I'm sure my Lord is just tired...! If she rests a bit, surely...!

Nikako
I...think we should reconsider... I can't imagine wanting anyone to see this ending...

Daikoku
Even you're saying such things, Nikkachi...!?

Shigure
...Shigure thinks so too. The previous script would be better than this.

Shigure
But if you tell us to perform it, we will. I'm sure Hatsumi-san has confidence in it.

Daikoku
M-my Lord... I would...even with this...um...

Hatsumi
...Don't force yourself, Daikoku.

Hatsumi
I understand what you all want to say. ...I'll reconsider this ending.

Iruru/Nikako/Daikoku
!

Shigure
...Huh?

Hatsumi
I'll make sure it's ready in time for the rehearsal period. So...please give me a bit more time.

Iruru
No way...for Hatsumi to back down so easily...

Tetra
She was probably uncertain herself...wondering if this version was good enough.

Iruru
Huh...?

Tetra
And we hit the nail right on the head. She had no choice but to reconsider.

Iruru
Hatsumi...

Shigure
Hatsumi-san...is uncertain...?

Shigure
...What's that about?