Panda
Phew... hah... —Right! Bath and dinner!

Panda
Ahh, that was good.

Shamo
Panda-chan.

Panda
Yes—Oh, Shamo-san? What is it?

Shamo
Do you have a moment?

Panda
Um... what's this about?

Shamo
I'd like to talk with you a bit.

Shamo
I'm sorry to take up your evening time.

Panda
N-no, not at all. I'm always available when Shamo-san calls for me!

Panda
(Though I wonder what this is about...)

Panda
(About our earlier conversation? No, we could have just continued in that room. ...Is it something she couldn't say in front of Hiiragi-san? W-what kind of talk would that be!?)

Shamo
You went fishing with Sasuga-chan recently, didn't you?

Panda
Huh? Oh, yes! ...Wait, did you know about that?

Shamo
About what?

Panda
Ah, well... Sassu has been even more focused since then. It was after going fishing with me and having an argument.

Panda
Well, not really an argument, more like I unintentionally touched a nerve with Sassu. Or whether it was even a nerve...

Shamo
Could you tell me more about what happened then?

Panda
Eh? Oh, well—

Panda
...And that's what happened.

Shamo
I see.

Shamo
What do you think about Sasuga-chan?

Panda
...I think Sassu is amazing.

Panda
So amazing, too amazing... that sometimes it gets a bit frustrating.

Panda
Ah, but! I don't really dislike him! The one I really dislike is... myself.

Panda
During Peter Pan, I let my complex show and hurt Sassu, and caused trouble for Katorin.

Panda
I'm really terrible in that way... And I don't really understand Sassu either...

Panda
Maybe someone like me doesn't deserve to be Sassu's friend...

Shamo
Yes, that part of you is no good.

Panda
Ah... hahaha. When you say it so directly, Shamo-san... it hurts.

Shamo
Jumping to conclusions is not good.

Panda
Eh...

Shamo
Do you remember what Noa said at the office earlier?

Panda
sniff... I'm sorry... which part?

Shamo
The rough gems are being polished. That includes you, Panda. You too.

Panda
Um...

Shamo
If Sasuga-chan is alone right now, then you should become an actor who can stand beside her so she doesn't have to be alone.

Panda
Stand beside... me, next to Sassu?

Shamo
That way of thinking isn't good.

Shamo
Feelings of inferiority, frustration, anger at yourself—all of these can nourish your acting. But you shouldn't bottle them up.

Shamo
You know, don't you? That stage you love the most. The one who shone brightest there was none other than Éponine.

Panda
Ah...

Shamo
Éponine and Jean Valjean hardly ever interact.

Shamo
But if Éponine shines so brightly that she can't be ignored, then even Jean Valjean will have to take notice.

Panda
(Shine... me... bright enough to rival Sassu...)

Shamo
You will become a Dai Star as Éponine, won't you?

Panda
!

Panda
...Yes. Of course.

Panda
Just watch me become Sassu's rival!

Edit

Pub: 20 Aug 2025 14:17 UTC

Views: 4