Translator: Flowingcloud Editor: Arocks141
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Theater 4: Horror Actress’s Friend From the Old Days!? – Ending
Mansion. Large bath.
Tsugumi is being led by her mom by her hand.
After wiping away the tears and wiping themselves down, it was time for family bonding time—or it should have been. At any rate, rain was falling on them the entire time, long enough for them to start sneezing, so naturally, everyone was worried about our health. We have to thoroughly take a bath first. We were all thrown into the bathtub, which had been prepared by the servants.
Koharu-san would be taking care of me, or so I thought, but instead, it was my mom. My mom washed my head in a good mood, and we were together in the bathtub, which is bigger than a public bathhouse, along with the Juria-chan mother-daughter pair, who were nervous as if this was their first time taking a bath.
“Um, Mom.”
“Juria, I won’t say anything weird anymore, so tell me if there’s anything you want to do.”
“Umm, err, I want to eat Mom’s food… Ah, but you’re busy, right?”
“Mom’s going to be sad if you keep holding yourself back.”
“Ehh, t-then, can we play games together?”
“Okay, fine with me.”
Juria-chan began to break the ice timidly and Satsuki-san nodded with a gentle smile. That bright smile of her’s certainly does have traces of Sara-chan in it.
In contrast to those two, I was hugged by my mother, our cheeks touching, who had moved me to her lap just a few seconds before. My hair was rolled up in a towel in a way that it wouldn’t fall down to prevent it from getting soaked in the bathtub.
“M-Mommy?”
“You made me worried.”
“Umm, err…”
“When you told me you were going to die, my heart was about to burst open.”
Ugh, she heard that, didn’t she? Of course she would, that’s obvious. I looked at my mom, who was likely angry, timidly from the side. As I looked, she was not angry, nor smiling, but looked at me seriously, then our eyes met.
“Mommy? Um, I…”
“Tsugumi. My lovely Tsugumi. Listen, okay? You are an irreplaceable child for us. A precious treasure.”
“…”
Is this okay?
“Just as the same for Juria-chan and her mom, I also want to know everything about you, give you everything you want, and for you to tell us everything that you want to do. Do you know why?”
“Because I am Mommy’s child?”
“No. It’s because I love you.”
“—”
Is it okay for me to accept this?
Kirio Tsugumi was not raised with love. Therefore, she took a path that nurtured love.
Sorahoshi Tsugumi grew up surrounded by love. Nonetheless, she still doesn’t know what love really is.
“Don’t forget, Tsugumi. We love you.”
“Mommy, umm…”
Can I accept your love? Can I accept Mommy’s love?
“What is it, Tsugumi?”
“Can I sleep with you today?”
“Hehe, of course. I’ll brag to Daddy later.”
I don’t really understand love.
Even so, if it’s allowed—I wonder if it is okay to receive this overflowing love.
“Well then, let’s get out. I’m going to get dizzy.”
“Okay!”
We got out of the bath and she wiped me down. While being wiped down, my eyes met with those of Juria, who was being wiped down somewhat awkwardly.
“Umm!”
“Juria-chan?”
“Um… thanks, Tsugumi.”
The eyes were downcast, concealing her shyness. However, she was forced to look up in order to wipe her body. Juria-chan was flustered and was somehow really cute.
“No. You’re welcome!”
“Will you be… my friend from now on?”
Her voice sounded somewhat frightened. However, it might have been slightly upsetting to be asked such a question. I smiled at her as if blowing away all the emotions packed with fear.
“Hehe, of course! Also, I wouldn’t like it if you stopped being my rival, you know?”
“Yeah! Tsugumi is my best friend and my rival!
Her smile was stronger and tougher than any smile I have ever seen in her. I was somehow happy to see that smile, and my heart warmed as if it were my own smile.
(Everything will surely be fine now.)
Thus, please do not let that current smile become cloudy—and so I strongly wished.
A room in the mansion.
Mimi awake next to her sleeping dad.
Mansion at night. Instead of the four-person room they were given, today, the parent-children pairs slept together in a private room. Mimi was one of them, curled up like a cat using her father’s big arm as a pillow.
She could not sleep. No matter how much she closed her eyes, counted sheep, or clung to her father’s arm, the sleepiness did not assail her.
—A very large mansion. Many servants.
(It’s something I don’t have.)
—Acting that can astound the director. Ability that can gain the recognition of adults.
(It’s something I cannot do.)
—And above all.
“When you’re done, could you help me with acting practice?”
She recalled when Juria was pondering on how to act like a bad girl. Normally, Mimi was her practice partner. However, that time, Mimi was not the one she asked for.
“No, I’m always practicing with Mimi, so I’ll be fine with Tsugumi today.”
(That was usually my role.)
“How about you, Mimi?”
“Ah, umm, um, err…”
“Yeah, I get I said something unreasonable. Then, Tsugumi?”
“Do you want to try acting the bad girl situation out?”
“I see. Okay, if it’s practice, then it’s fine. Sure, as expected of my rival!”
(Even though Juria-chan’s best friend is me.)
Juria ran away. Mimi froze.
—Tsugumi rushed after her before anyone else.
(I won’t be of any help to Juria-chan.)
Worried, she drew near the bath.
She heard her best friend’s (Juria’s) voice.
“Tsugumi is my best friend and my rival!”
(My best friend should have been me, Shinyuu.)
Deep inside, Mimi’s chest ached.
(It’s not fair. It’s not fair. It’s not fair. It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair!)
Eventually, the pain ran through Mimi’s entire body, and as if blossoming, her voice leaked out.
“Everything would be good if Tsugumi-chan didn’t exist.”
After the overflowing sensation was put in the words, it put her at ease. Although she had become more at ease, for some reason, the deepest part of her heart seemed to have become much heavier. As she was about to fall asleep, Mimi forgot the bitterness that felt as if she had swallowed lead.
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 🙁
──Let’s Move on to the Next Theater──
Translator Note: What a way to start with a bang! The first chapter of this volume brings us through a variety of emotions. What a ride. Juria’s problems that were hinted at throughout the series so far are finally put into the spotlight. While you thought this was probably a chapter focused on Juria, we see significant character building and development coming from Tsugumi. A two for one deal. And finally, Mimi’s inferiority complex is being highlighted to the extreme at the very end. There won’t be any spoilers coming from me, but her issues are going to be tackled soon. I hope you enjoyed Theater 4: Horror Actress’s Friend From the Old Days!? See you at the next Theater!
Editor Note: Mommy, you didn’t lecture Tsugumin! Well, I understand why, but… Let’s just make sure she doesn’t do dangerous stuff from now on!
GOD DAMMIT STOP THROW MORE DRAMA AT ME I JUST WANT TO READ SOME YURI SE- I mean what?
On a serious note tho, I kinda liked Juria’s arc but I’m not looking forward to the extremely cliched Mimi arc lol
Juria’s arc was definitely was one of the better arcs so far. I’m waiting for Rin’s arc that might or not might ever happen.