Chapter 1: A Helpful Senpai
Stage Director: Everyone gather up. We will now reveal the results of the auditions for "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter".
Stage Director: Princess Kaguya will be play by...... Senju Koyomi.
Koyomi: OK.
Koyomi: (In the acting world, there is no such thing as having fun. I wonder when I started thinking like that?)
Iroha: Welcome back, you came back a bit later today, it seems.
Koyomi: It's because ther performance is near and we're finishing up all the practice.
Iroha: Wasn't there a hotpot party today?
Iroha: HIkari-chan was streaming it earlier, I thought you were with them.
Koyomi: I have no need for boring things like going out to eat with other people. No please excuse me, Iroha-san.
Iroha: Hold on, onee-san.
Koyomi: What is it?
Iroha: ......Aren't you tired? If you need anything, I can hear you out......
Koyomi: Thank you for your concern. But you can just focus on taking care of yourself.
Iroha: Onee-chan......
Koyomi: ( I have to do everything it takes to make "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" a success.)
Koyomi: (As a member of the Senju family, as a member of Gingaza, I have to be able to live up to the expectations.)
*Ramona: Yeah, if you the actor is unable to enjoy the play, then the viewer will also be unable to enjoy the play.
*Ramona: So, why don't we enjoy this together?
Koyomi: You say it like its that easy.
Koyomi: Oh my, one of the books fell on the floor......
Koyomi: "Macbeth". ......Thats brings me back...... I still had that with me it looks like.
Koyomi: (Reading this script, it really reminds me of that person. They and Ramona have a lot of overlap with each other.)
Koyomi: (Those people who had left really cast a shadow on my heart.)
Koyomi: --That was 5 years ago, back when I was a first year in middle school.
Koyomi: I was recommended by my parents to join Gingaza. In order to meet their expectations, I worked myself to death. But it was fulfilling.
Koyomi: To fufill my parents' expectations, to fulfill the responsibilities of being from a prestigious theater family.
Koyomi: That was what I ought to do. I never once questioned it.
Koyomi: "The clock has struck midnight. Time is up."
Koyomi: "My Prince, I have to leave now. We must go our separate ways now"
Troupe Member A: "Wait, Cinderella!"
Koyomi: (This is the scene where Cinderella rushes to leave...... But Cinderella is reluctant to leave. Let's have her look back at the prince while shes running away.)
Koyomi: "Goodbye my Prince, We may never ever see each other again, but I will never forget this night we shared together."
Stage Director: --OK! Koyomi!
Koyomi: Yes.
Stage Director: That was fantastic just now. Lets go with that in the performance.
Stage Director: And as for you, prince! Put more effort into chasing after Cinderella!
Koyomi: Director, After this, we're going to do some private practice, since we've changed how we're going to act this.
Troupe Member A: Senju-san, don't worry about it. I just wasn't able to keep up with your acting......
Stage Director: I see. Acting is an art, actors need to be able to quick-witted with their acting style.
Stage Director, You guys, I want you to be able to overtake my expectations for this play. Koyomi has already exceeded them. The rest of you need to try harder!
Everyone: Got it!
Koyomi: (I'm playing the lead role this time. Practice is rough, but I'll make it through somehow. Surely Mother and the others will be pleased with this.)
Koyomi: (......Thats right, it's been a while since my last day off, lets go see and enjoy a play.)
Koyomi: (That way I can polish up my sense.......)
Koyomi: (......Haaa, I've gotten a bit tired now.)
???: Uh..... You're Senju-san, right?
Koyomi: You-
Shiori: I'm Konno Shiori. I'm part of Gingaza.
Shiori: But you probably don't know that.
Shiori: I...... haven't been in a play since the second one, so I haven't performed with you at all.
Koyomi: I have heard your name before. Is something the problem?
Shiori: That should be my line! Right now, you were on the swing and you seemed out of it.
Shiori: Is something on your mind? It's dangerous for a middle schooler to be out here in the night!
Koyomi: I was just taking a break from jogging. Don't worry about me, I have bodyguards to protect me.
Shiori: Bodyguards!?
Shiori: As expected of the princess of the Senju family......
Shiori: Oh right, did you want this manjuu to replenish your energy? My family runs a gift shop so they stock them.
Shiori: We have regional specialties, mostly from the Miyagi Prefecture.
Shiori: The sweetness of the custard is to die for~.
Shiori: Ah, I'm not trying to poison you or anything!
Shiori: See? nomnomnom
Koyomi: Huh.....?
Koyomi: Fufu.
Koyomi: Both of your cheeks are all puffed up..... What are you, a hamster or something?
Shiori: gulp
Shiori: Ah, I got you to laugh!
Koyomi: Thank you for calling out to me.
Shiori: Don't worry about it, practice must be rough.
Shiori: The next performance will surely be popular. The play will be turn out fantastically thanks to Senju-san.
Shiori: If you ever have any problems, feel free to reach out for a helping hand.
Koyomi: That's alright, I don't have any problems......
Koyomi: But thank you anyways. I'm feeling a bit better now thanks to you.
Shiori: Really? Thats good to hear.
Shiori: It's getting late, so hurry up and head home. I'll see you at the hall.
Koyomi: See you later.
Koyomi: ......It's sweet. She's right, this is to die for.