Original subtitles

Sensei, please hear me out...

Mr. Raida!

What is it?

Ms. Abiko, Tokyo Blade's author, is in the audience leaving the venue!

-Bring her here! -Yes, sir!

I must give her a warm welcome.

Oh my, I didn't think you'd come to watch the show.

I would've given you a ticket if you had told me.

What did you think of the play?

That's how stage plays are these days, huh?

It wasn't what I expected at all.

It was very helpful in order for me to write the script.

T-That's good to hear.

Man, to have you write a script for us... I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm sure everyone on the team is also thrilled that you're...

But,

you're the only one who can do something.

Sensei.

Let's have a heart-to-heart conversation.

I'm in a very weak position right now.

If I don't maintain a good relationship with the publisher, I won't get work.

Authors have the "right to maintain integrity"

as part of their moral rights.

We can never do a Tokyo Blade stage play without your consent.

Of course, you can exercise your right to maintain integrity.

That's why I need you to keep in mind that

there is a very high possibility we'll be using your script as is.

That's totally fine by me.

No, I need you to really think about it.

For this stage play, even if your script is not up to standard,

it's possible we'll go with it to ensure enough rehearsal time for the actors.

Say there's a genius novelist.

Would their manga storyboard be perfect on their first try?

Of course not.

The same goes for writing a script.

Even a genius manga artist can't come up with a great script just like that.

Let me say it again.

If you're going to wield your moral rights,

we might use your script without making any edits.

I'm pretty sure the play will be quite a bore.

Are you threatening me?

It goes both ways.

I've done negotiations like this many times.

Over 100 people's jobs are on the line and it's on me to protect them.

I'm willing to s*** an old man d*** or two if I have to!

H-How filthy. What's with you?

You watched the stage play, right?

GOA wrote that script.

Could you please trust him to do this job?

Learn to compromise.

You must work with others for media adaptation.

It's a collection of things you can't do alone.

Fine.

I'll trust the job of a professional.

But, I have one condition.

I see.

So, this is how it turned out.

We'll share the text data through the cloud in real-time.

Ms. Abiko and GOA will talk online and make necessary changes to the data here.

That's the best I can compromise as a producer.

Shall we start then?

Okay.

Let's do this.

Okay, then. From page one.

By doing this, they'll either hit it off or their relationship gets worse.

There have been many cases where it ruined the project altogether.

So, as a mediator, this is a poor plan.

But I'm pretty sure things can't get worse than this.

I've got nothing to lose, so they can fight it out.

I do have one concern though.

Now, only time can tell

what will happen next.

You can cut the part where Blade takes down the rogue.

Instead, in the later scene, when he's fighting Tsurugi,

I want to add a line that allows Tsurugi to understand Blade's personality.

Wouldn't that deviate too much from the original?

It's fine. What's important is the character's core personality.

As long as that doesn't change, you can do anything you want.

I see.

I'm starting to grasp where you're willing to compromise.

If that's the case, how about Blade saying a line after the battle

with his sword on his shoulder?

That's good. So you do get it.

Then, let's make this part like this.

Why?

It might be hard to imagine if you don't know the stage mechanisms,

but walking across the screen as they talk will make it seem like they're traveling.

I see.

That sounds good.

That's an idea I could never come up with.

Well, this is how I make a living. I may not look it, but I'm pretty popular.

By the way, I saw the stage play you wrote.

Oh, how was it?

Um...

I really liked it.

That's the kind of script I usually write.

Please make Tokyo Blade into something like that.

Are you sure? The atmosphere will be quite different.

It's absolutely fine.

Let's go with what we're good at.

In that case, we can also leave this part to the stage effect.

Cut this, too.

We can cut this line too, right?

The actors' performance can cover this part too, right?

That's a bold move.

Cut this, too.

Cut it all!

Thanks to Mr. GOA, it became a very good script!

It's like I can see the actors acting out the scenes.

Yes, truly.

Sensei and everyone, thank you for working all night.

Sure. Great job everyone.

I'll be off, too.

GOA?

Well...

We kind of got carried away.

I knew it! This is exactly what I was worried about!

When creators work together, they tend to come up with an edgy product.

But we have no time to fix it. We have to go with this.

I can tell that this will be a great show if everything goes well.

Damn it. Now I have a different headache.

B STUDIO

Geez, they came back with such a crazy script.

Most of the exposition has been deleted

and there are many scenes where they rely solely on our performances.

This is a killer pass script leaving everything on the actors' shoulders.

If it fails, it'll all be our fault, huh?

Aren't they asking too much?

This interpretation of Princess Saya is the same as mine!

More than that, this script brings out a new side of her.

This is worth analyzing.

But this is not going to be easy.

No problem here.

I thought the previous script was lacking something anyway.

I'm more comfortable with the new script.

Acting is all about using your body, isn't it?

This script is very Mr. GOA.

Well, we've been in a few of his stage plays and we know his style.

So, it shouldn't be a problem.

I guess it's time to prove who the real star of Theater Lalalai is.

Everyone in Lalalai seems excited about the new script.

But...

Are you serious? I don't think I can do this at all.

We only have half a month until the show. Can we even make it?

This is probably a piece of cake for you, Aqua.

No, I wouldn't say that.

Okay, let's begin.

Are you the new leader of the Shinjuku Cluster?

Let's see what you've got!

What's wrong with hating everyone in Shibuya?

They killed my family!

They're just a ship of fools, after all.

The chances of us losing are one in a million. Or not even one in...

Hyakume, be more assertive.

Yes, sir!

Touki.

Princess Saya.

Stop.

Touki, this is your big scene.

Get serious.

I'm sorry.

This is the climax of this show.

Princess Saya collapses after being seriously wounded in a battle.

Touki falls into despair.

But miraculously, Princess Saya awakens.

Seeing that, what does Touki feel?

Relieved from anxiety.

A strong sense of joy and hope, I guess.

That's right.

You are acting as depicted in the manga.

But, for a stage play, you need to really show your emotion

for it to reach the audience.

Bring out your emotions.

This scene calls for emotional acting.

This is for my family!

Yeah, let's go with that.

There.

Don't stress over it.

This is your first stage play. You just need to get used to it.

Take your time to figure...

Don't spoil him.

Aqua, you've never done emotional acting, have you?

In the end, acting reflects your personality.

Aqua is not the type to express his emotions.

That's why there's no emotion in his acting.

All he's ever done is copy a performance he's seen somewhere.

It's about his nature.

You talk like you know him so well.

Well, obviously.

Amongst everyone here, I've known him the longest.

By that, I mean since we were kids.

We're pretty much childhood friends.

I'm not like some business girlfriend who only recently got to know him.

We only reconnected recently though.

But, I know.

What Arima said is right.

I can't do emotional acting.

Much less getting emotional and shedding tears as part of my performance.

Maybe I said too much.

But if I don't, no one else will.

Arima, how do you cry when you act?

There are a few methods, such as using your emotions or your physical memory.

But what they often use for child actors is this.

Aqua,

what would you do if your mother died?

Like that.

It's a method where you imagine what's in front of you is precious.

In this case, Touki is filled with joy when he sees that Princess Saya is alive.

So, just remember the time you were happy and act it out.

Even a guy like you has a happy memory or two, right?

Move, Tsurugi!

You're barging into Shibuya without a plan?

You're even more of a daredevil than Blade!

Keep in mind that you're trying to outsmart your enemy.

Yes, sir!

Happy memories.

Don't you dare enjoy yourself.

Don't forget.

You couldn't save her.

You don't have the right to...

Aqua?

Aqua?

Hey, what's wrong?

I'm okay.

Just a little dizzy.

I'll take a rest until it goes away.

-Is it anemia? -Probably a hangover.

He's not like Mr. Kindaichi. He's still in high school.

Akane.

You're his girlfriend, right? Stay with him.

Right.

How convenient.

Here. Have some water.

Thanks.

Sweating and light-headedness.

Is it a panic attack?

You look really pale.

Why don't you lie down for a bit?

I'll contact your family to pick you...

Don't.

I don't want my sister to know about this.

She already moved on.

She doesn't need to remember all this.

But you should get someone to pick you up.

Then...

GOTANDA STUDIO

I'm not his Daddy, you know.

Geez.

Um, are you...

Aqua's girlfriend or something?

For real? I thought he was with...

So, he's doing what normal guys do behind my back.

I'm sorry for bringing him here without notice.

It's fine.

I'm probably the only one who knows his situation.

This isn't the first time either.

This has happened before?

Well, you're his girlfriend. I suppose I can tell you about it.

A long time ago, he was involved in a horrific accident.

This happens sometimes when he remembers about his past.

PTSD.

You mean he's experiencing flashbacks of his trauma?

Yup.

He was in counseling for a long time,

but I think he didn't want to worry his family.

He pretends that he's recovered.

Well, of course he can't forget it.

Even I'm not completely over it.

I have work to do, so take care of him for me.

Sure.

I can never forget the rusty metal-like smell of blood

that pierced through my nose.

That feeling of her hand gradually getting colder

is stuck in my head.

If only you had been more careful.

If you had risked your life to protect her.

Ai...

Ai?

The idol that Aqua worships, who died 14 years ago.

Ai was in the same agency as Aqua

and his sister, who's also an idol, revived B Komachi.

Both siblings have a strong attachment to Ai.

Psychological trauma.

The incident he was involved in as a child.

Counseling.

Ai's murder.

The possibility of an accomplice.

Their agency's representative, whom they live with, is Miyako Saitou.

A foster parent. Their biological father.

The reason the siblings use the family name Hoshino.

Ai's family name was never made public.

Ai actually had a child in secret.

Ai.

Akane.

Why are you crying?

I just imagined something scary.

If it were really true

it would be so sad.

And you'd feel so alone not being able to tell anyone about it.

I'm on your side, no matter what happens.

I'll carry your pain with you, okay?

What's this about?

Nothing.

Just a backstory I came up with.

Subtitle translation by: Aya Kudo