Chisa

groan

Kokona
S-Sasuga-chan!? Are you alright...?

Chisa
Ah, Kokona...you came.

Kokona
Y-yeah...I came to invite you to practice the Peter Pan role together, but...

Chisa
...Practice...

Chisa
Practice, huh...

Kokona
Yes, practice-actually, let's forget that, would you like to go for a walk together instead? The weather is nice today!

Kokona
Hmm. The breeze along the riverbank feels nice, doesn't it?

Chisa
...Yeah.

Kokona
Oh right. The other day, when I was running along this path with Shizuka-chan, she-

Chisa
...

Kokona
...Um...

Kokona
Th-the other day, when I was having lunch with Kathrina-chan at school, we decided to go buy drinks and-

Chisa
Kokona.

Kokona
...Hm? What is it?

Chisa
You know. I want to ask for your advice... I haven't been able to talk with Panda at all lately.

Kokona
Eh?

Chisa
I've been thinking that maybe I'm being avoided a little. But I don't know what to do.

Kokona
...

Kokona
Was there something that triggered this?

Chisa
No. I understand that things started feeling strange around the time of the "Peter Pan" auditions, but...

Chisa
I don't know specifically what caused it.

Kokona
I see.

Chisa
Yeah. But sometimes I end up hurting Panda without realising it. So I think maybe that's what happened this time too...

Kokona
...I see.

Kokona
Come to think of it, why did you audition for the Peter Pan role, Sasuga-chan?

Chisa
Well, that was because I saw Panda working hard practicing for the audition, and I thought I might try it too.

Chisa
And also-

Panda
Sassu, you're an actor too, don't you want to play the lead more, or aim higher?

Chisa
Yeah.

Panda
What's with that half hearted response?

Chisa
Hmm, I don't necessarily want to become a Dai Star like everyone else. I just want to have fun doing it.

Panda
...Hmm. Sassu, aren't you frustrated about not getting the lead role?

Chisa
And also, Panda said to me, "Aren't you frustrated about not getting the lead role?"

Chisa
Panda says that actors should aim for the lead, but I don't really understand.

Chisa
But I thought I wouldn't know unless I tried once, so I took the audition.

Kokona
Fufu, Sasuga-chan's actions are always motivated by Panda-chan, aren't they? You really love Panda-chan.

Chisa
Yes...that might be true...

Chisa
But maybe Panda is having a hard time because I'm always just copying her.

Chisa
Panda is super smart-oh, and cute. I'm pretty absentminded, so I don't notice when Panda is hurt.

Chisa
Panda is always challenging herself with various things, right? It looks so fun that I want to try it too.

Chisa
...And then, I end up surpassing Panda after starting later, or we get into arguments because she tells me not to copy her...

Chisa
Everything Panda does seems to sparkle and shine. So I took the audition with that same feeling this time too.

Kokona
...I see. Was Panda-chan also the reason you started acting?

Chisa
Yes. When we were in elementary school, we watched Sirius's "Romeo and Juliet" together.

Chisa
We were really moved by it, and Panda said, "I want to stand on that stage!"

Chisa
So I also thought I wanted to stand on Sirius's stage together with Panda.

Chisa
Then, we promised to become Dai Stars together. To be honest, I care more about being with Panda than becoming a "Dai Star" myself.

Kokona
Fufu, you really do love Panda-chan, don't you?

Chisa
Yeah. Being with Panda is so much fun.

Chisa
That's why I want to always be with Panda from now on, but...

Chisa
But that might be troublesome for Panda now...

Kokona
I see. I think I understand how you feel, Sasuga-chan.

Chisa
Really?

Kokona
It's not like I surpass her in everything! But I also want to be with Shizuka-chan forever.

Kokona
Of course, I want to be with Kathrina-chan and Yae-chan, Panda-chan and Sasuga-chan, everyone inside and outside the troupe, all of them, forever.

Kokona
I understand having someone you love and want to be with forever, and how the world seems to shine when you're with them.

Chisa
...Yeah.

Chikage
-Ah.

Chisa
...Huh?