Panda
Ah, found you! So this is where you were!

Chisa
...Panda?

Panda
We need to start preparing soon. Come on, let's go--

Panda
--Hey, your hands are cold...

Chisa
......

Panda
Hey, Sassu...

Chisa
...I'm sorry, Panda. I'm sorry...

Panda
W-What's wrong!? Is your stomach hurting!? Are you feeling sick!? Um, an ambulance--or should I get Hiiragi-san first!?

Chisa
...I realized it.

Panda
Realized what!? Tell me what's wrong!

Chisa
I'm scared.

Panda
I see, you're scared... wait...

Chisa
Actually, I still don't properly understand... About Jean Valjean... About being a Dai Star...

Chisa
But I started enjoying acting, and it was going well, so I thought I'd be fine...

Chisa
But today, somehow... I can't calm down... ...I realized now... that I'm scared.

Chisa
Even though we need to make the stage performance a success...

Chisa
Everyone worked so hard...

Chisa
I need to give a performance worthy of becoming a Dai Star...

Chisa
But I'll ruin it... with my emptiness...

Panda
Hey you.

Chisa
...That hurts.

Panda
Of course it does. I meant it to hurt. If I were Éponine, I would've chopped you on the head with a tray.

Chisa
Was there such a scene?

Panda
Nope. That's Panda's original.

Panda
Anyway, do you remember what you just said? "I'll ruin it," what's that about?

Chisa
But...

Panda
Chop.

Chisa
Ow.

Panda
A Sirius performance isn't something you do alone, is it? Have you forgotten even that?

Chisa
I know. That's why--

Panda
You don't know. I'm saying stop trying to shoulder everything alone just because you're the lead.

Panda
Sorry to Kokochi, but we have the Arabian Nights precedent.

Panda
Honestly, watching Sassu at rehearsal, I thought you'd be fine. I'm sorry about that. I should have known everything was new for you.

Chisa
No, there's nothing for you to apologize for...

Panda
No, I should apologize for that... But what do you mean by "empty"? Even after practicing with us, did nothing get through to you?

Chisa
Ah...

Panda
At least towards the end, Sassu looked like she was having fun... that's what I thought. During rehearsal, you were practically glowing.

Panda
You weren't like your usual self. But it was very Sassu-like, I could feel your excitement.

Chisa
You felt it too...?

Panda
You said it yourself, didn't you? You were excited, right?

Chisa
...Yes.

Panda
You're not empty at all.

Panda
Everyone keeps talking about Dai Star this, Dai Star that, so you might think it's something important.

Panda
But Sassu is strongest when she's enjoying herself. And sometimes I hate strongest Sassu.

Chisa
Panda...

Panda
But the strongest Sassu is the coolest!!

Panda
When I'm with the strongest Sassu, I feel like I can be strongest too - that's what I thought during our practice!

Chisa
...Panda.

Panda
Listen, Sassu.

Panda
I, and everyone else, we love your Jean Valjean. Thanks to being pulled along by your Jean Valjean, we've made it this far.

Panda
I decided to follow you this time. But I'm not just following. I'm walking alongside you, looking for a chance to overtake you. So.

Panda
Let us support the stage too.

Chisa
...Yes.

Panda
Your hands are getting warmer.

Chisa
Ah...

Panda
Besides, it's morning and it's hot outside! Stay inside! What would you do if you got heatstroke!?

Chisa
Yes...

Chisa
Hey, Panda.

Panda
What?

Chisa
Let's do our best together.

Panda
...Yeah!

Kokona
Uh... sniff... uu, I'm so glad...

Shizuka
Ah, idiot! Kokona, don't make a sound...!

Kokona
But~!

Panda
...Haah. We've become a spectacle before even getting on stage.

Edit

Pub: 24 Sep 2025 20:20 UTC

Edit: 10 Oct 2025 10:39 UTC

Views: 3