Like Everyone Else

Chisa
I'm home~. Today was a great fishing day... huh?

Chisa
Is Panda not here?

Chisa
Hmm...

Shizuka
"What does that mean?"

Chisa
Ah...

Shizuka
"It means... that I have been in prison."

Shizuka
"Stop this bad joke!"

Shizuka
"Monsieur Pontmercy. I was in prison for 19 years. For stealing bread. Then I stole again and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Now I am an escapee."

Chisa
Shizuka.

Shizuka
Sasuga? What's that big fish print? Were you fishing today?

Chisa
Yeah, I wanted to see my fishing buddies. I caught this today. Shizuka, you were practicing on the rooftop again.

Shizuka
Yes. We've had this happen before.

Chisa
During the audition, right?

Shizuka
That's right. During the break before Marius.

Chisa
What you were doing just now was the same as that time, right?

Shizuka
Ah, maybe it was.

Chisa
Marius and Jean Valjean.

Shizuka
Yeah, that's right.

Chisa
Do you want to play Jean Valjean?

Shizuka
Yeah, someday.

Chisa
Someday?

Shizuka
Well, it's the Horoscope Season. If I could play it, I'd want to do it this time too.

Shizuka
But this time I wasn't good enough.

Chisa
Is that so?

Shizuka
Hiiragi-san, Kudo-san, and Shamo-san all said it was a small difference, but I think I was completely defeated.

Chisa
Your Jean Valjean was very passionate.

Shizuka
Yes, because it's the Horoscope Season. Maybe I put in too much heat.

Chisa
Would it have been better if you hadn't put in that passion?

Shizuka
I don't think so.

Shizuka
I think the Jean Valjean in me is passionate. I'm sure even if it wasn't the Horoscope Season, I would have performed passionately.

Chisa
But the acting just now might have been different from before.

Shizuka
That's because I'm playing Marius. Right now, I'm thinking primarily as Marius.

Chisa
Are you okay with being Marius?

Shizuka
It's not about being okay or not. Once you've accepted a role, you don't want to be disrespectful as an actor, right?

Shizuka
You said it too, didn't you? That it gets fun as you keep doing it.

Chisa
Yeah. Panda was right.

Shizuka
Marius's feelings thinking about Cosette. As I think about it, my interpretation gradually changes...

Shizuka
A-and it's not because Cosette is played by Yae-chan! ...Though maybe a little bit of personal feelings are mixed in.

Chisa
I understand. When Panda is my partner, the enjoyment is different.

Shizuka
Then, is Jean Valjean less passionate than usual?

Chisa
...I don't know.

Shizuka
At the very least, I think Sasuga's Jean Valjean is amazing.

Chisa
...Panda told me that too.

Shizuka
I'm going to outshine that Jean Valjean and become a Dai Star!

Chisa
Panda told me that too.

Shizuka
Then, isn't that it?

Chisa
What do you mean?

Shizuka
It means we're expecting Sasuga's Jean Valjean, which is going to become more and more amazing from here on.

Chisa
Expectations... Am I giving a performance that meets expectations?

Shizuka
Of course. You're working so hard every day.

Chisa
Working hard...?

Shizuka
At the very least, if I lose to Sasuga, it's meaningless. I'll continue my efforts to be selected as a Dai Star.

Chisa
............

Shizuka
...Sasuga?

Chisa
Y-yeah. I'll work harder too.

Shizuka
Yes, let's challenge each other!

Chisa
Yeah.

Shizuka
Oh right, since we're here, could you be my scene partner?

Chisa
Huh.

Shizuka
Oh, is this a bad time? Or is it already dinner time for everyone?

Shizuka
At times like this, I think hunger is inconvenient.

Chisa
...I'm sorry.

Shizuka
There's nothing to apologize for. Well, I'll continue a bit more before going back.

Chisa
Yeah.

Chisa
(Shizuka is amazing...)

Chisa
(Even though I'm trying hard, I still don't understand...)

Chisa
(Maybe if I could think "I want to be a Dai Star" like everyone else...)

Panda
Ahh~, finally a full day off.

Panda
After school it's straight to rehearsal. And on days off, it's full rehearsal. If we didn't have days like this, I'd be in trouble.

Chisa
That's good, Panda.

Panda
Oh. I plan to record some videos for streaming today. Are you going fishing again, Sassu?

Chisa
No, I'll be at the dorm.

Panda
I see. You've been putting in good effort lately. I think it's fine to have days like that too.

Chisa
Good luck with your streaming videos, Panda.

Panda
Yeah, see you!

Panda
Wait, staying at the dorm means you were doing independent practice!?

Chisa
Yeah, and then Mr. Dugong came, and Shamo-san came too. They watched me.

Panda
One-on-one... how enviable...

Chisa
Shizuka was there too, so it was three people.

Panda
Argh! I would have prioritized that too!

Chisa
S-sorry. I thought streaming was important too, and I shouldn't bother you.

Panda
Don't take it so seriously. It makes me uncomfortable. So, did your practice yield results?

Chisa
I don't know, but Shamo-san praised me.

Panda
I see, I see. Looks like I need to put in more effort too.

Chisa
How was your recording, Panda?

Panda
Well, about that. There was this performer that would suit Sassu—

Noa
Alright, prepare for the next scene!

Chisa
Boss.

Noa
Hm, what is it, Sasuga?

Chisa
The part where I knock on the monastery door. Was that good?

Noa
The part with the inner conflict?

Noa
I thought it was good, but you have something that's bothering you. I understand.

Noa
Everyone, let's take a 15-minute break. We'll resume the run-through from where we left off.

Yae
Yes!

Kokona
Amazing, Sasuga-chan. Your concentration doesn't break at all.

Kathrina
It's not that it doesn't break, isn't it too tense? Usually you're more laid-back.

Panda
She hasn't been going out to play lately either. Even when she's in her room, she's always thinking about the performance.

Yae
She hasn't been hosting somen parties either.

Shizuka
...That might be my fault.

Kokona
Shizuka-chan, what do you mean?

Shizuka
When we met on the rooftop recently. I said something like she should work harder.

Panda
That should be fine. I always say similar things too.

Shizuka
Really? Then I guess it's okay...

Kathrina
Seeing that level of effort makes me think I need to work harder too.

Yae
I understand! It makes you feel like you can give a better performance, right?

Panda
For a Dai Star like Niizumachii to say that, it's quite something.

Chisa
What are you talking about?

Kokona
We were talking about you, Sasuga-chan. About how amazing your concentration is. Oh, and your acting too, of course!

Chisa
...I see, thank you.

Panda
...Hey, Sassu. Still something—

Noa
Sasuga, are you staying hydrated?

Chisa
Ah... I ran out. I'll go get more.

Noa
Your acting is good, but you're forgetful about these things.

Panda
Um...

Panda
From Hiiragi-san's perspective, how is Sassu's acting right now? It seems like Sassu's worries haven't disappeared...

Kokona
Yeah, sometimes she looks like she's in pain. Even though I just told her how amazing she is.

Noa
Let's see, she's very stable. Steadily improving. She listens to guidance and applies it quickly.

Panda
Right?

Noa
So rather than worries, I see it as ambition.

Panda
That's what it is?

Noa
I'm sure Sasuga can see it. That there's still room for her to grow.

Noa
It's the happy suffering that every actor has for the sake of expression.

Chisa
gulp, gulp, gulp... gasp...

Chisa
Haah...

Chisa
...Why does everyone praise me?

Chisa
Even though I'm not becoming Jean Valjean at all.

Edit

Pub: 20 Jul 2025 14:55 UTC

Views: 3