Sakuya: (It’s hard to say my challenge was a success, but… I’m glad I’ll be able to give good news to everyone in the troupe who supported me.)

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Yokoyama: So it seems like you were interested in other roles too, but just as I suspected, this one was truly perfect for you.

Sakuya: Thank you so much. Did you think that Sakura’s role suited me because we have a lot of things in common?

Yokoyama: That may have been part of it, but that wasn’t the only reason. Way back when, I went to see fuyuzakura blooming amidst the falling snow.

Yokoyama: And I was moved by how they bloom so charmingly while enduring the cold, and I poured that feeling into the role of Sakura.

Sakuya: Fuyuzakura… you mean like cherry blossoms that bloom during winter, right?

Yokoyama: Yes, just like the name suggests, they’re cherry blossoms that bloom from autumn through winter.

Yokoyama: They’re pale pink in color, and their shape resembles the cherry blossoms that you can see during the spring, yet just by changing the surrounding air and scenery, they give a completely different impression.

Yokoyama: They were truly… truly beautiful.

Yokoyama: And your acting reminded me of those fuyuzakura. That’s why I really wanted you to play the role of Sakura.

Yokoyama: Even while watching you perform the other roles during your audition, I couldn’t help but remember those fuyuzakura, and it only made me more certain of that.

Sakuya: Thank you so much. I’ll do my very best!

Yokoyama: Our performance is still a ways off, but I’m looking forward to it. You have another performance with your troupe before that, right, Sakuya-kun?

Sakuya: I do! The script isn’t done yet, so I’m not sure what kinda role I’ll have for it, though…

Yokoyama: I’ll look forward to it. Be sure to do your best.

Sakuya: Thank you so much!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Sakuya: (Even though I didn’t quite succeed in my challenge to broaden my range, I still feel like I’ve caught a glimpse of my own unique acting style.)

Sakuya: (I guess that alone made it worth the effort. Hearing someone say something like what they said is one of the greatest rewards for an actor. I’d better give it my all for my role as Sakura.)

Sakuya: (And the same goes for Spring Troupe’s twelfth play, too, of course…)

Sakuya: (I wonder how things went with Citron-san’s work. I hope it’s going at least a little bit better…)

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Citron: 《Thank you for today.》

Company Employee: 《Likewise. It was an honor to meet with you.》

Company Employee: 《Should there be anything we can do to assist the Kingdom of Zahra, please don’t hesitate to let us know.》

Citron: 《Well, I thank you for your continued support.》

Company Employee: 《We look forward to continuing to work with you.》

*They walk away*

Citron: …Phew.

Citron: (From the looks of things, they don’t seem like they’ll be of much help.)

Itaru: —Prince Citronia.

Citron: How do you do, Prince Itaru? Are you on your way back from work?

Itaru: Damn, being called a prince by a prince is kinda crazy. How did it go today?

Citron: Slowly, but surely~.

Itaru: Gotcha. Well, I feel th— wait, are you good with being lumped in with the rest of us office workers?

Citron: I, too, can speak fluent office worker now.

Itaru: Cool. Y’know, it’s been a while since we’ve stopped for a drink on the way home. You wanna go out for one? I’ll take you to the usual office worker place.

Citron: Do you not have to drive, Itaru?

Itaru: We’ll call a cab. Someone from MANKAI can do it.

Citron: How resourceful of you. But I will have to decline today. I have a mountain of things to do when I get home.

Citron: Just like you with your games, I must get everything completed before our rehearsals for the next performance start.

Itaru: You sure that’s a fair comparison?

Itaru: …But real talk, how are you holding up? You’re our darling mother, so you’re absolutely allowed to rely on us a little more.

Citron: Thank you.

*Notification*

Itaru: Ah, it’s from Sakuya—looks like he got the part.

Citron: Ohh, congratulations! Tonight’s dinner at the dorms will be a celebration.

Itaru: Well then, shall we be well-behaved and get home?

Citron: While we are here, I want to get some office worker gifts.

Itaru: Like what? Like meat and cake and stuff to celebrate?

Citron: Like fancy tarts topped with lots of fruit! 

Itaru: Oh, so we’re going straight for the stuff of royals.