Aiming for the Southern Cross (Part 2)
Xue: Reward presentation contest? Stimulate my material desire......?
Xue: Ha! I've been criticised, but I'll accept it and stand up for myself. Come on you snobs, loosen my purse strings!
Ramona: I'll take that as a yes! Here comes Ramona Wolf!
Ramona: ......Well, now. I'm going to do a reward presentation, but before I get down to business, I'd like to present my favorite reward for myself.
Ramona: As I said earlier, a reward is also an investment in yourself. Effort and study are essential to surviving the harsh world of theatre.
Ramona: BuHowever,t aren't we getting caught up in that and losing sight of the essence? First, let's define the essence of reward.
Ramona: A reward is.......
Ramona: ......rewarding!
Xue: Forget the oxymoron. Get to the point.
Ramona: Fine! What is the gift I gave myself?
Ramona: Hikari, drum roll please!
Hikari: Dadadadadadada! Bang!
Ramona: With respect to Japanese culture. It's a soba noodle making experience!
Lilja: Clap clap clap.
Xue: What can I say, it's really silly......
Xue: Tell me what makes making soba noodles useful for a play.
Ramona: Three years, three months and three days. That's how long it takes to learn how to make soba.
Ramona: Technology and culture that have been passed down over a long period of time cannot be learned overnight. Of course, this is not limited to soba noodles. I have also experienced making udon noodles by hand before.
Xue: Let's talk about the play! Do you want to become a noodle chef!?
Ramona: Well, don't be so hasty. Surely noodle-making won't help you directly.
Ramona: But experiencing the culture is a great weapon.
Ramona: In fact, Katrina's performance as she became familiar with the culture and made it her own was spectacular. Have you ever felt the di
Xue: That's......true, but.......
Ramona: We need to know more. About the people of this country. About the culture.
Ramona: That's why I make soba noodles. To understand different cultures and to create empathy beyond that.
Xue: Gunnu...... you’re suddenly saying something serious......
Ramona: So the reward I present to Wang Xue is! Hikari, drum roll please!
Hikari: Dadada-
Xue: That's enough, get on with it!
Ramona: Namely! A tour of hidden hot springs!
Xue: Hot springs!?
Ramona: We'll go into the fields and mountains and search for the source of the spring, which has never been explored by man. Pile up stones to form a dam and create a hot spring!
Ramona: The thrill of never being guaranteed to find the source of the spring, and the survival skills you will develop. There is no more luxurious activity than this!
Ramona: How about it, why don't you explore the hot springs with me!?
Lilja: When do you want to go?
Xue: Why would I go? Don't think all Japanese dig hot springs!
Hikari: Then I'll give a presentation next!
Hikari: What I recommend for Xue is the all-you-can-eat cheat day!
Xue: It's about that day when you can eat whatever you want, right? Then every day is a cheat day for you huh.
Hikari: Then another reward! Load!
Xue: A load?
Xue: Hey, why are you taking off your clothes......?
Hikari: Undo the clasps on the back and then....... Phew~.......
Ramona: I'll pick it up-what's with the weight!? Lilja, can you hold that one for me?
Lilja: Impossible. I can't lift anything heavier than mascara.
Hikari: Ta-da! This is a Dai Star training cast!
Hikari: You can become a Dai Star just by wearing it! ......So the rumour goes.
Hikari: Let’s turn Xue into a Dai Star right away! Yes, raise your hands. Hooray!
Xue: There's no way I'm putting that suspicious thing on! Stop it!
Hikari: Here we go!
Xue: Aiya! I-I just heard a sound I shouldn't have heard!
Xue: All right, don't use all your strength! I’ll die before becoming a Dai Star!
Hikari: Alright, Dai Star training cast on!
Hikari: Come on, let's chew on the reward of exercising our muscles!
Xue: I-Instead of chewing, all the muscles in my body are screaming......! Why are you so unconcerned, you!?
Hikari: It's proof that your sleeping muscles are waking up!
Hikari: People are gonna be like 'someone with pecs like that is in Gingaza!? I'm gonna lose it!'
Xue: I've lost it a long time ago now!
Hikari: Waah!
Xue: Haah, haah...... Is there no one sane left......!?
Xue: I've never missed Koyomi-san so much......
Ramona: I asked Koyomi about it in case you're interested, but she said it's 'an offering to God'.
Ramona: ......She is surprisingly religious.
Lilja: The last one is my presentation. I came up with a great reward.
Xue: I already have a bad feeling about this......
Lilja: You will love it. With pleasure.
Lilja: ......My reward is to touch my beauty. Look with your eyes. Enjoy every inch of it…...
Xue: I knew it! It was a mistake to ask you guys!
Hikari: Aww! I could have learned a lot from Lilja-san's beauty tips!
Hikari: Right, Ramo-san!?
Ramona: Ah, well, I'm having trouble deciding where to focus my eyes…...
Xue: Damn it, I knew a reward was a waste of money! Dismissed, dismissed! Eat your dinner and go to bed!
Lilja: There isn’t any more though.
Xue: I’ve hardly eaten at all though!? Hikari again!?
Hikari: Ahh.......I just thought I'd eat it before it gets cold.
Ramona: No wonder. A person's personality shines through in their food. There's no way that the kindness of someone preparing something while complaining wouldn't be delicious, right?
Xue: I'm telling you, it's just an investment. I'm going along with you because you say we’ll make more money playing friendship games......
Xue: ......Well, as long as it tastes good, there's nothing better than that. They're such cheap people that they can use such a small pot.
Hikari: Is this pot really small?
Hikari: I thought it was because I was eating too much.
Xue: You're eating too much, but...this hot pot is for two people in the first place. It's usually more efficient to make it in a larger pot-
Xue: ......I see! If I buy a bigger pot, I can cook all the ingredients at once! It'll taste better and I’ll have less time to wait!
Ramona: Useful. Then I’ll put it out as an investment, as you would say.
Xue: I don't want it. I will buy the pot with my own money. Ni-san and the others will be relieved if I tell them I bought a pot.
Hikari: So, in other words, the reward is a pot? Is that really okay?
Xue: Listen, I've calculated that if you eat hot pot every day for about six months, it will pay for itself. And it will taste even better than it does now!
Xue: The point is, I can just sit around the pot with you guys, and the rest will be rewarded!
Xue: How's this for cost-effectiveness?
Ramona: S-So, sitting around the pot together is Xue’s reward!
Ramona: Friendship permeates! I'm......I’m so happy!
Hikari: Yeah, yeah! Even in a large pot, you can eat without leaving any leftovers! I will not lose!
Lilja: ......Xue, did you eat chili? Your face is turning red.
Xue: Y-Yeah, it's just that I'm more used to making things in a big pot! After you finish eating, go home and sleep! You idiots!