Chapter 3: Deal with the Devil
Tsubomi: Still no contact, huh.
Tsubomi: ...
Tsubomi: "How are you feeling?"... No, surely they're well, I did hear them say that after all...
Tsubomi: (But still, what if...)
Tsubomi: Ahh! I gotta do what I gotta do. The lead role, getting good results in the mock exam.
Tsubomi: ...what I gotta do. Right, I did tell them after all.
Tsubomi: Good morning.
Iroha: Ah! Good morning, Tsubomi-san!
Tsubomi: Senju...
Tsubomi: You're here.
Iroha: Yep! Mito-chan was also here just now, but she had to help out at home, so she left.
Tsubomi: I see.
IRoha: Tsubomi-san, are you going to practice for the audition too?
Tsubomi: Too? So you're practicing too?
Iroha: Ehehe, Yes.
Iroha: I;m getting some help from Mito-chan.
Tsubomi: I see.
Iroha: Are you getting Kamira-chan to help?
Tsubomi: Yeah, but Akiru still hasn't arrived yet.
Iroha: I see!
Iroha: In that case, before she comes, did you wanna talk for a bit?
Tsubomi: I don't mind, but...
Iroha: Ehehe, yay!
Iroha: So... what are your thoughts on Faust as a person?
Tsubomi: Whats with this all of a sudden.
Tsubomi: Are you scouting out your rival or something for the audition?
Iroha: Ah! Thats true...!
Iroha: I didn't mean it like that but... Ehehe, sorry.
Tsubomi: Whatever.
Tsubomi: I think... Faust is a smart and foolish person.
Iroha: Smart and foolish?
Tsubomi: Faust was originally a old scholar.
Tsubomi: At the end of his life, after mastering his studies, "I stand, no wiser than before" he exclaimed.
Tsubomi: At this moment of despair when he's about to take his own life, suddenly the Devil, Mephistopheles appears before his eyes.
Tsubomi: And presents a deal with Faust.
Tsubomi: "I will give you a new lease on life. However, in return, you will leave with me the dead soul of yours."
Tsubomi: Agreeing to the terms of the contract, Faust is rejuvinated and starts his life again. This time to enjoy his life to the fullest.
Tsubomi: Faust was a clever person, he thought and considered many things, always compared himself to his ideal, surely to the despair of his life.
Tsubomi: But, to fall for the Devil's sweet nothings makes him quite foolish, no?
Iroha: ...
Tsubomi: If we're in despair, and stop in our tracks, thats when it all ends. If you don't keep trying and struggling, you will get swept away by your undesired fate.
Tsubomi: And one way of changing that fate, is to make a "Deal with the Devil". And as you know, this new fate will not suit Faust's ideals.
Tsubomi: In the clouds of despair, with an insignificant glimmer of hope, it seems like a shining light from heaven.
Tsubomi: If you don't follow the rules and think it through, there's no point.
Iroha: ...If it were you, would you accept Mephistopheles' deal?
Tsubomi: I don't even feel a shred of despair.
Tsubomi: I'll keep struggling and take my edstiny into my own hands.
Iroha: Fufu, bullish aren't we?
Tsubomi: What if it were you?
Iroha: Hmmm. if it were me... Well, there's still Heaven and Hell between me and a "genius scholar"...
Iroha: I've said that I've wanted to redo my life before, but I think this life is enough... I can't imagine a life that is more luxurious than this.
Iroha: SO I think I would say "Leaving myself like this is enough" and decline.
Iroha: And also, if I lose all my memories with everyone in Denki, wouldn't that be terrible!? So keeping things this way is the best option!
Tsubomi: Fufu, that's just like you.
Iroha: Hehe, thank you very much.
Iroha: ...This is a strange feeling, isn't it?
Tsubomi: Hmm? What do you mean?
Iroha: Speaking with you like this about roles, I never imagined doing this, and-
Iroha: never thought I would go up against you in an audition. Not even during the entry audition or even after joining the troupe.
Tsubomi: That's true... I don't think I've ever gone head to head with anyone in auditions before either.
Iroha: If you think of this as the follow up to "Alice", I do think that people will have their eyes on the play just liek Kaname-san said.
Iroha: And so, I think we all have to exceed Kaname-san's expectations.
Tsubomi: ...
Iroha: But, regardless of who takes the lead role, we'll definitely put on a wonderful Denki-like performance of "Faust"
Iroha: I look forward to it.
Tsubomi: ...I see.
Iroha: Tsubomi-san...?