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Keito: Mashiro. You can sit wherever you'd like.

Keito: But this is the final rehearsal before the performance. Since only associated parties and guests are allowed to watch, there's no need to sit close together, right?

Tomoya: That's true. But you know, Narukami-senpai told me I should bring a kerchief, because their performance would be a tear-jerker.

Tomoya: And I thought, it'd be super embarrassing to be seen crying by a random person that happened to be sitting near me, right? Which made me think that if someone was going to see me cry, it'd be better if it was someone I knew.

Tomoya: But even if it's Hasumi-senpai, it still feels embarrassing. Ehehe.

Keito: Hm. The more reputed a play is for being a 'tear-jerker', the more conscious of crying you feel, don't you think?

Tomoya: Ah, that's true. If you feel self-conscious, you'd probably be less prone to crying.

Tomoya: Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing this sad, but heartwarming story. Hokuto-senpai praised your script too.

Keito: Hidaka did?

Tomoya: Yeah. This performance is in a completely different style than the ones you've written before. He was impressed, saying, "I'm surprised he can handle a wide range of genres, from serious to comedic."

Tomoya: I heard that they were careful with adapting the script so as not to kill its charm. If I didn't have work, I would've loved to take part too!

Keito: … I also had some work to do, so I just handed the script over to them. The members of Dramatica are all quirky, and are a bit of a handful sometimes.

Keito: But because of the passion they put into their performances, I have faith in them. Next time, I hope to participate as an actor too.

Keito: Hm, an announcement from the stage… Looks as though the show will be delayed for around ten minutes.

Tomoya: This is a rehearsal after all. I just hope it's not serious. Maybe they aren't done checking equipment.

Tomoya: I guess I could read the pamphlet I got at the entrance to kill time.

Keito: That reminds me, I haven't read it yet either. I'll have a look as well.

Tomoya: … Ah. Like usual, there's a feature article on one of the members of Dramatica. This time, it's Hasumi-senpai right?

Keito: Yes. They interviewed me after the script had been finished. That was a while ago.

Tomoya: Isn't it hard to take pictures for these sorts of interviews? Even if they tell you to act natural, you can't help but feel self-conscious because of the camera.

Tomoya: Even when I try to pose casually, I end up looking like an industry professional. I always feel concerned about that.

Keito: You just have to get used to it through experience, I suppose.

Keito: Whether to sit or stand, where you should look, how you position your hands… No matter how much you overthink it, there are limits to variation.

Keito: The thing that readers are most concerned with is the interview, the photos merely act as decoration.

Tomoya: The photos are decoration… Understood. I guess I won't worry too much, since the main attraction is my answers to the interview questions.

Tomoya: Thanks for the advice Hasumi-senpai.

Keito: It isn't a big deal. I just stated the obvious.

Tomoya: Even if it's 'obvious', it still helped me realize it. Thanks to you, I'll be less afraid of making mistakes.

Tomoya: As the leader of Ra*bits, I feel like I have to be all put-together. I'm immature, so I constantly worry about the littlest things.

Tomoya: Hasumi-senpai, I bet those sorts of little things don't faze you at all…

Keito: No. I have plenty of worries myself.

Keito: I have a meeting regarding the 'Feature Live' after this play. We haven't decided on the kind of performance, what to put on the pamphlet, or anything like that.

Keito: AKATSUKI as a Unit has a distinct aesthetic, so I've been consciously trying to distance myself from that to avoid similarity but… Besides that, we're working with a completely blank slate.

Tomoya: Hm… But even if you gave Anzu-san that much information to work with, I'm sure she'd be able to whip up something nice.

Keito: Hm. But this is an opportunity to respond to all of the fans who would show up to support me at the solo live, so it'd only be logical for me to take the lead when promoting it.

Keito: … The buzzer signaling that the show is opening just sounded, so let's end the conversation here.

Keito: Now, let's direct our attention to the show.

[3 Hours Later, in the Terrace seating area of Cafe COCHI]

Keito: (That performance… After I submitted the script, I didn't show up to any of the rehearsals that followed.)

Keito: (Perhaps that was why it was so good. It was refreshing to see such an unconstrained interpretation.)

Keito: (When I write, even though I try to imagine how it would look on the stage, It always ends up surpassing my expectations, which is what makes writing feel worthwhile.)

Keito: (What kind of story should I tell next—)

Keito: Hm…. What was that sound... ?

Keito: … So the culprit was you, Anzu. Why did you just take a picture?

Keito: "I liked your mellow looking gaze" you say? So you wanted to capture me in my natural state for the Feature Live pamphlet?

Keito: If you want to take a picture, it's usually good manners to ask first… That's the extent I'll nitpick though. If that was your intent, I don’t actually take issue with it.

Keito: How long are you going to stand there? Sit down. I want you to show me if you got any good shots.

Souma: …… dono! Hasumi-dono!