Translator: Flowingcloud Editor: Arocks141
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Theater 1: Horror Actress Reincarnated as a Genius Child Actress – Scene 1
Indoor (Day)
Fluorescent lighting. Five child actors are lined up side-by-side.
A silver hair girl sighs.
What fear is. What it means to enjoy fear. That was something I have always been asking myself ever since I became involved with horror. Thus, although just my pet theory, I believe that those two questions are two sides of the same coin.
Fear is for everything that lasted up until yesterday to be destroyed, and for that yesterday to be today. To enjoy fear is to realize that today is an extension of yesterday, yet different than yesterday.
What is it that I want to say?
“Asashiro Juria, six years old! Nice to meet you!”
“Yuugao Mimi, six years old. Um, I’ll do my best. Nice to meet chu. Ah.”
“Yoruhata Rin, six years old. Nice to meet you.”
The three girls beside me cheerfully announced. The three of them have their own unique personality: the lively type, the quiet type, and the cool type. There were many participants besides these children, but I believe that only these three seemed like they knew what they were doing.
Well, at this stage, everyone starts off being mediocre. I think of them like ‘they’ve got themself together, how admirable’, or like ‘wow, how cute’, but nothing more than that. However, if I were to state one complaint.
“Well then, could you tell me about yourself?”
It was a man with a beard showing me a smile that showed he was fond of children. He looked old due to his beard, but most likely, he was one of the few young famous directors. Even though his strictness could not be seen right now, I could tell.
After all, from my many years of coming in contact with people, there were those who had the same inextinguishable flame inside their eyes. There was a time where I made everyone and everything shiver in fear… but let’s put that aside.
Similar to the other participants, I faced him and took a step forward. I am currently not a horror actress. At that moment, I stepped forward, burdened with my parent’s expectations. I am inexperienced—that’s right, I am a little girl after all.
“Sorahoshi Tsugumi, five years old. Pleased to meet you.”
As I bowed politely, I could see my parents, who were observing, being deeply moved. As usual, my doting parents were worried, but it was not like I could wave my hand at them so I hope you forgive me with just eye contact.
Sorahoshi Tsugumi, formerly Kirio Tsugumi.
Really, why did it turn out like this?
The actress spirit that I cultivated for many years was stifled by my small sigh.
Hospital Room (Day)
On top of the bed.
Sorahoshi Tsugumi’s Monologue
When I woke up, I was enveloped by a sense I was familiar with. The white sheets, beige curtains, white ceiling, and IV bags that I caught at the edge of my eye. It never happened ever since I became famous, but it happened from time to time in my early days when I collapsed from overwork. My house was dirt poor no matter how you framed it. On top of lacking nourishment, I worked too much.
When I looked around, I found a lot of things around the bed, such as many paper cranes, colored paper, fruits, dolls, and so on. I wonder where they came from? I guess the dolls are from a Japanese horror movie.
(Where’s the nurse call… huh?)
As I extended my arm to the bed’s edge, I suddenly noticed a bizarre sight. No no, that can’t be it, give me a moment. I am a woman that would cooperate with ‘the black one’ if it’s for a horror film. 1 What are you going to do if you shiver like this? With these chaotic thoughts, there was no way I could keep calm.
After all, I want you to try and imagine. The (if anything, it was losing its elasticity) arm that I was used to seeing had turned into a small, soft, and youthful, pure white arm.
(Why did this… no, in the first place.)
Script.
Truck.
Being crushed.
What happened after that?
(If this was a horror film, wouldn’t I be chased around by the destiny of death?) 2
The sudden flashback of the scene gives me a mild headache. Could it be that I have died once? If so, is this me as a child? Did I have such beautiful, white skin? I feel malnourished as if I were a dead tree though.
How is my body now compared to that? White. Springy. I felt like I was a little skinny, but I don’t really care about that. Could it be that? The so-called cycle of rebirth mentioned in Buddhism? Me? An atheist with no religion, and have been playing the role of a blasphemous evil spirit or a haunted god? That’s ridiculous. That’s a horror story, isn’t it? 3
“——”
“——”
“——”
Then, suddenly, I heard a voice. Whose voice is it, I wonder? It was a strange feeling as if it was familiar but not familiar. I don’t know, however, how do I put it, it feels like my body remembers?
As I listened with a light, the curtain was suddenly opened. What I saw there were a beautiful man and woman who were a feast for the eyes. The woman was indeed a yamato nadeshiko beauty with glossy black hair that stuck out over her forehead and fair skin. Her tear-stained cheeks were quite reddened. The man was a different type of beauty. Silver hair and blue eyes. His nose was straight and he was tall. He looked like he had just stepped out of a sculpture. 4
(Umm, who was this again—)
“—Daddy, mommy?”
Before my thoughts could come to a conclusion, a lovely voice came from my throat, similar to a bell ringing. Perhaps, could this be my voice? No, if I had a beautiful voice like this, whispering horror should be easy… wait, that’s not it.
Hearing my voice, my parents—I presume they were my parents—looked at me in amazement. Then, they rushed over to my bed as if their life depended on it and they put their noodlefish-like hands on my cheeks.
“You’re awake!? Ahh, that’s great, my Tsugumi.”
“Tsugumi… I was wondering what would happen at one point. I can’t bear it if my angel left this world.”
Most likely, my parents were shedding their tears constantly like that. Even if they were crying, it was picture-perfect. Amazing.
“I… what?”
“Tsugumi, you slipped down the stairs and fell. 13 steps to say no less!”
It’s like that famous story where they’re fine after 97 steps. Nah, I’d die from that.
“Afterward, you continued sleeping for three days. Look, Minako got overwhelmed with worry and folded a thousand cranes.”
Those paper cranes were folded by (probably) my mother. Amazing. 5
No, no, no, that’s not the point. I could not help but get confused and lose my train of thought. However, I guess I will just have to accept it having come this far. If I close my eyes and try to remember, certainly, there are this body’s memories. I mean, in terms of taste and personality, this girl was, in all probability, me. I guess this is a reincarnation of myself, living as me even though I had no memories. I could only thank my parents for loving me properly, even though I must have been a strange child.
“So, are there any places that hurt? My angel.”
“Nu-uh.”
“That’s great. Ahh, I will go call the doctor.”
No, but, what is it? I can’t, my brain isn’t functioning well in any way. Perhaps the backlash from recalling my memories, but I feel somewhat feverish.
“Tsugumi?”
“I’m… going to sleep.”
However, I made sure to tell them, “Don’t worry about me.” After I said that, my consciousness faded, drowning in the warm darkness.
Hospital Room (Day)
Maxwell (Father) replies to Minako (Mother).
“Dear? How’s Tsugumi?”
“She’s sleeping. She seems to have a slight fever.”
I exhaled softly in front of our sleeping angel on the bed. My heart ached as I looked at Tsugumi, who had smiled at us so bravely after all that had happened.
“She was always a sharp kid. She probably took our feelings into consideration.”
“Yeah, you’re right, Dear. Tsugumi is our angel, why did this sort of…”
“Don’t say anymore, Minako. I don’t want to see you worrying over it. After all, you are my goddess.” 6
At the same time I planted a kiss on Minako’s forehead, who was depressed, the doctor came in late. The old man is the person we have the utmost trust in. We silently bowed, told him the situation, then we moved to the corner of the hospital room.
“The fact she woke up means she is probably fine. However, we will continue to keep her hospitalized for this week and watch over her situation.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
After watching the doctor leave, I snuggled up to Tsugumi. Her face is very similar to that of Minako, a Japanese, and she is very cute, but her hair and eyes are similar to mine, platinum blonde hair with sapphire eyes. To us, she is an adorable angel, but apparently, to the masses, she looks “devilish”.
Her face is beautiful and lovely, and her skin and eyes seem to have lost their color. The fragility and transience of her face, which seems to melt away if you touch her, attracts anyone. To the point where moths lured by the moonlight will forget themselves.
I wish I had not chosen her private tutor just based on their education. I thought that if she was the same gender, nothing unusual would happen, but I did not expect her to push her down the stairs.
“Let’s hire servants only with referrals from someone more reliable.”
“Well then, should we arrange for one from the Sorahoshi main family?”
“You’re right. I have connections I can use there. It is for Tsugumi’s sake after all.”
“Yes. —Let’s do everything we can to ensure that our lovely child does not get hurt, Dear.”
“Ahh.”
Therefore, Tsugumi, please continue smiling innocently forever.
In order to do so, I will get whatever you want.
No matter what method I have to use, you see.
That’s right, when I caress Tsugumi, I can feel my heart stirring in delight.
Please, I wish you happiness in your future.
If you are reading from a pirate or aggregator site, please read from the translator’s site: yado-inn (dot) com I have to put the link like this or else the bots will remove it, sorry 🙁
- Flowingcloud: I have no idea what this means.
- Slothmaster (Arocks): This author seems to have taken that idea from a movie I will not name “The Final Destination”.
- Slothmaster (Arocks): No, it would be a satyr at best. Nowhere near the level of horror.
- Flowingcloud: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_nadeshiko
- Slothmaster (Arocks): Is this a horror story, or a comic story? Pick one, author!
- Slothmaster (Arocks): Angels and Goddesses? It’s now a religious story? Author, decide already!
Thanks for the translation.
Could “the black one” be referring to cockroaches?
Maybe, who knows?
From what I see from her personality, I guess it some kind of ghost as she love horror too much.
Thanks for chapter.
Wow… what kind of b*tch to push 5 year old child into stairs? I need to torture that b*tch and made her begs for death.
another five years old?
>“I wish I had not chosen her PRIVATE TUTOR just based on their education.”
it’s the tutor bro
I hope someone will get revenge on this tutor… Thanks for the chapter