Mallow Blues

Kazunari

Oh, “New Fleur Award Executive Committee Member” is trending.

Itaru

I didn’t expect something from a video channel.

Kumon Are they gonna announce stuff on the new Fleur Award?

Itaru

Iirc, that one’s still undergoing maintenance.

Banri

Stream should be starting soon.

Yukio

“…”

Reni

“…”

Izumi

Ah, it’s dad and Kamikizaka-san.

Tenma

It’s kinda weird seeing them stand besides each other.

Yukio

“Nice to meet you all on our official video channel. I’m Tachibana, a member of the Fleur Award Executive Committee.”

Reni

“I’m Kamikizaka.”

“On this channel, we’d like to show you our efforts towards a new Fleur Award.”

“Please wait a little bit more as we shall have another formal occasion to go in-depth on the details of the new Fleur Award.”

“So for now, for the new information on our first stream, please watch this video.”

Izumi

Eh!? Is that a theater!?

Kumon

Is it under renovation or being built from the ground up!?

Muku

Oh yeah, I did see some construction on Veludo Way!

Yuki

Ah, that one.

Taichi

You mean that’s a new theater for the new Fleur Award!?

Reni

“We are pleased to announce that we are in the process of building a new theater complete with streaming equipment for the new Fleur Award prize.”

Tasuku

To think they’d build a whole new theater…

Sakyo

Does the fact that there’s equipment for livestreaming mean that the next Fleur Award will be primarily streamed online?

Kazunari

Is that Yukio-san’s idea?

Izumi

Probably…

(MANKAI’s built from dad’s idea after all… This wouldn’t be unlike him.)

(I hope Kamikizaka-san’s not having a hard time with dad’s reckless behavior again…)

Reni

“The seating and exterior are still under construction, it’ll still be some time before the official opening.”

“Though, the foundation of the stage has already been assembled.”

“I shall have Tachibana explain the schedule for the new production which will also be the unveiling of the new theater and rehearsals using the equipment.”

Yukio

“Next month, the new Fleur Award will be on the foundation of the new theater, marking our new beginnings.”

Taichi

Eeeh!?

Izumi

Dad’s making a comeback!?

Yukio

“The livestream will be free of charge as it will serve as a test for the equipment.”

“In regards to the content and the cast, it’s still a secret, so please look forward to it.”

Kumon

Who’s it gonna be?

Kazunari

Maybe it’s the first gen guys?

Banri

It’ll be next month though. Don’t really think they got the schedule for that.

Tsumugi

Maybe they’ve been preparing beforehand.

Sakyo

I wonder. But since it’s Yukio-san, there’s a possibility it was just an on-the-spot idea…

Izumi

(Whatever it is, I’m just excited to see dad working again!)

Yukio

…That’s why!

Kasumi

Yeah!

Hiro Why what?

Zen

…

Syu

…Sigh.

Zen

Just how did you get all of us together, musn’t be a busy season, so it’s whatever…

Kasumi

I’m a part of the work that’s allowed to write an exclusive “Spotlight” feature article on the stage up close.

Yuzo

You were so against it last time, now you just came stumbling in.

Kasumi

Oh shut it. Then and now are different.

Syu

Now how’d a popular actor like you fit this into his schedule?

Hiro

If I got told that I’ll be in a play with the first gen troupe on the stage of the new Fleur Award, it’d be top priority no matter what.

The agency’s got a lot of buzz lately so I managed to make some adjustments. What about your own theater company, Syu-san? Syu

I’ve got some young talent I got my eye on, so I asked that person to take over the role for next month’s show. And Reiji?

Reni

As a board member, I don’t really have a choice but to take it on.

Yukio

Looks like Yuzo’s the only one participating comfortably.

Yuzo

I’m right here you know!

Yukio

Thanks, everyone. I’m really happy that we can do theater together again like this.

Yuzo

What are you planning on now that we’re all here?

Hiro

A remake of an old show?

Yukio

Fufu, you’d be surprised. It’s a new show… on Shinsengumi!

[ Prev. ]

Hakkaku: What’s this? I thought you weren’t here, but then I realized you were out here taking an afternoon nap.

Yukio: I’m awake.

Hakkaku: What are you doing?

Yukio: It’s great to just lie here and feel the four seasons that I love so much along with the wind, the smell of the earth, and the temperature of the ground.

Hakkaku: The four seasons, huh? Anyway, have you decided on a theme for each troupe’s next show?

Yukio: For Spring Troupe, I couldn’t decide between either something in medieval Europe or Japan’s Heian period, and for Summer Troupe, I was torn between some kind of adventure and something to do with sports…

Yukio: And for Autumn Troupe, I’m split on whether to do something with spies or mercenaries, and then for Winter Troupe, I’m tied between something with rice or something with fruit.

Hakkaku: What on earth are those last two choices? Have you talked to the others?

Yukio: I talked to everyone a little bit, and they said that as long as you’re the one writing it, they’d want to do it, Hakkaku-san.

Yukio: Then they got into a fight over it.

Hakkaku: What about making it mixed then?

Yukio: Then the casting would have to be decided via rock-paper-scissors~.

Hakkaku: If you say that, they’ll just get mad at you again.

Yukio: …Truthfully I just wish that he were here. There’s a role I wanted him to play…

Hakkaku: You should make up before things get any more complicated. These things get messier the longer they go on.

Yukio: You’re right… I will someday, I promise. Because to me, Reni is--.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Yukio: …

Reni: Hey, Tachibana.

Yukio: Eh? Ah, sorry. I spaced out.

Reni: Good lord… we’re in a meeting.

Board of Directors Member: No need to worry. I understood enough of what you just explained. I think it’s a great system.

Board of Directors Member: We feel that the new Fleur Award is appropriate in the sense that it renews the previously closed Fleur Award.

Reni: Now then, let’s continue to work out the details.

Board of Directors Member: However, we’ve been inundated with inquiries from our clientele asking about what’s going to happen with next year’s Fleur Award.

Board of Directors Member: And it’s impossible to maintain silence any longer for the client’s media…

Board of Directors Member: How about we make some sort of progress report regarding this to dispel the client theater companies’ anxiety about losing their goals?

Yukio: That’s true, it may be a good idea to report on the plans you’re working on, Reni.

Yukio: There’s no timing problem over here, and sooner or later information could leak out from somewhere within the construction situation.

Board of Directors Member: Correct. I’ll leave it up to you to decide when and how.

Reni: Well then, let’s get an official press release out ahead of time.

Yukio: Ah!

Reni: ?

Yukio: I just got a great idea for the report.

Reni: …I have a bad feeling about this.