Translator: Flowingcloud Editor: Arocks141
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Theater 5: Genius Child Actor and Genius Child Actor! – Scene 4
Mimi runs down the school hallway while looking down.
Since she was young, Yuugao Mimi had always been a reserved girl. When she was even younger, she would hide behind her tall father’s back, and when she made friends, she would hide behind the backs of Juria and Rin. She lacked confidence and was timid, yet she was a girl with dreams.
She had watched Natsu’s drama with her father. Her mother, who usually appeared absent-minded and carefree, was on TV looking bewitching and sexy, a beautiful and attractive “adult woman”.
“[Hey, Dad. Can I become like that too?]”
“[An actress, you mean? Of course you can! Because you are Natsu’s daughter!]”
Timid.
Shy.
Lacking confidence.
Easily flustered.
She believed she could change herself. In the world of acting, in the world of an actress, perhaps she could become someone different from her true self. Maybe she could become an incredible actor, just like her mother.
With this dream in mind, she persevered. Even when she was so frustrated she couldn’t voice it properly, even when she cried in front of the full-length mirror because she couldn’t walk gracefully, even when she felt like giving up because waking up early was too hard, in the end, she always stood up and continued to work hard.
Just to reach the dream she had seen with her father that day.
(It hurts.)
Yet now, she was in so much pain.
(It hurts.)
She clutched her chest, crouched down, and wiped her eyes. The tears that keep spilling out seemed to be taunting her, questioning if she even has the right to cry. Mimi came to hate her own tears.
(It hurts───)
She has no right to rely on anyone. That’s right, Mimi only mocked herself.
(…What time is it now?)
How long had she been like this? When she turned around, there was no one following her. The kind-hearted girl must have surely ran out of patience with her by now. It’s probably just right for someone like her who had rejected her friend in such a way. Mimi erased the image of the smiling girl from behind her eyelids, ignoring the pain in her heart.
“Let’s go back…”
She muttered and started walking. The sky was still dyed red. Perhaps not much time has passed. Her steps are heavy, and it was painful to move, however, she had to return. She cannot keep causing trouble for her family and her manager. The filming was already delayed because of her and would be pushed back even further if she did not go back.
…But on the other hand, if the girl she hurt would despise her, that would feel like salvation to Mimi.
“──!”
“…!!!”
Suddenly, she heard a voice and stopped in her tracks. It was coming from the direction of the stairs. Mimi hesitated slightly before deciding to head that way. If it was the voice of someone searching for her, she would end up causing them trouble.
Walking closer, she eventually spotted the familiar silver hair in the direction of the voice and hid herself behind a wall.
(Tsugumi-chan and… a woman?)
The school building was bathed in the setting sun with a stairwell entrance wide enough to accommodate many students. A woman stood with her back to Mimi, looking down at a girl—Tsugumi—standing just before the steps who she got separated from due to an argument just now. Upon closer inspection, the woman resembled the staff member who had instructed them to move earlier. The space in front of the stairs was wide due to the corridor leading up to the stair entrance, and from her hiding spot around the corner, Mimi seemed to go unnoticed by Tsugumi and the woman.
Mimi did not have the best eyesight, but she was confident that her hearing was better than most people. Thus, she listened closely.
“Things would have been better if someone like you weren’t here!”
She stopped breathing for a moment.
(Eh… why?)
That was something Mimi had once wished for. It was a thought that had once crossed Mimi’s mind. If Tsugumi had not been there, what would have become of Mimi?
Surrounded by her kind friends like before, working towards goals like before, just like before…
(N-No, that’s not right.)
She shook those detestable thoughts out of her head. It could be a misunderstanding, and even if it was not, Tsugumi is strong. Surely, she would be able to handle the situation on her own, without Mimi needing to do anything.
During difficult auditions or even with Juria, Tsugumi had always been that way. Bold and strong—she resolved issues in ways one would not expect from someone a year younger than Mimi.
(That’s why, it’s okay. Even now, she’ll definitely—)
Mimi leaned forward slightly. As the slanting light of the sunset shifted, she got a clear view of Tsugumi’s backlit face.
(──Eh?)
Pale skin.
Trembling hands.
Paralyzed feet.
Eyes filled with terror.
(Why?)
Mimi has seen Tsugumi’s acting up close more than anyone else. That’s why she can somewhat sense her feelings. Tsugumi was not acting—she was genuinely terrified. 1
(What should I do? I have to call for help.)
But, did she really need help? Could this be an act too? A situation she will somehow resolve? If even Tsugumi was truly frightened—
“Even the children co-actors think it would be better if you didn’t exist! Isn’t that right? Because as long as you’re here, they’ll always just seem ordinary!”
That’s right. As long as Tsugumi was around, Mimi would always remain the same, unable to change from the self she so hated. But, what if Tsugumi was not there? What if she was abandoned here?
Then, Mimi could return to her usual self. She could obtain a life without Tsugumi.
(I…)
“[Mimi-chan is kind.]”
Mimi suddenly recalled her voice. When was it? When Rin played a prank and Tsugumi was crouching down, Mimi patted her back and Tsugumi said those words to Mimi.
(I’m…)
“[I’ve often felt happy to be friends with Mimi-chan.]”
(I’m…)
“[It’s only normal for friends to be nice to each other.]”
Tsugumi was always kind. She was always there to help Mimi. Tsugumi watched over her with a smile, as if she truly cared about her.
That was Tsugumi’s true self, that Mimi kept averting her gaze from, as she kept trying to escape her own hated self. Tsugumi’s true heart.
(Ah.)
Mimi leaned forward too much and her eyes met with Tsugumi. However, Tsugumi did not ask for help.
“(Run… away…)”
Her lips moved while trembling with fear, even though she was scared. She did not call for help.
(—The one that’s really kind is Tsugumi-chan.)
She breathed in.
If she wanted to change, it was not about rejecting someone else.
Because it was okay to not be able to change.
“Somebody—!!!!”
Mimi’s loud voice vibrated through the air. Her running feet headed towards the woman frozen in surprise.
“Wha, you—!”
“Stay away from Tsugumi-chan!!”
Mimi screamed as she clutched the legs of the woman who was caught by surprise.
“Tsugumi-chan is—Tsugumi-chan is my friend! She’s amazing, strong, cool, cute, and kind. She’s my friend!!!”
“Damn it, let go!!”
“No!”
“!?”
“I won’t let you go ever!!!!”
Brushed away and her glasses flying off, she fell on her buttocks, but still, Mimi stood up. Then, the woman grabbed her out of anger. That’s why, Mimi just smiled. She bravely grinned and told her friend, who she realized was precious and who she may not be able to start over with, just one word.
“(Run.)”
She conveyed her thoughts and just tightly closed her eyes. Even if something happens to herself, she would save her friend.
“You little brat!!!!”
“I won’t let you.”
A small shadow cut in between Mimi and the woman. The shadow was pushed by the woman and fell down the stairs—
“Tha… That can’t be—”
“Heh, heh, I did it, I did it.”
—And fell vigorously onto the dark landing. The silver hair that should have been full of life spread like a spider’s web, and Tsugumi moved slightly powerlessly… and eventually stopped moving with a spasm.
“N-Nooooooooooo!!!”
The evening twilight.
The school building at dusk.
“Uahhhh, I don’t want this, Tsugumi-chan… Tsugumi-chan!”
If only she hadn’t directed her ugly jealousy at her.
If only she had faced Tsugumi head-on.
Regret painfully gripped Mimi’s heart.
“—!”
In the midst of what seems like infinite time, Mimi unexpectedly picked up a sound. It was a scraping, creaking, crawling, crying sound.
“Eek!”
A scared voice. The woman who pushed Tsugumi’s face distorts with fear. She hurriedly follows the line of sight—blue eyes peeking through the silver hair move erratically in different directions.
“■■a” 2
The small body that should have been motionless began to rise up starting from the fingertips writhing. Both Mimi and the woman trembled at the surreal scene.
From the fingertips to the shoulder. The arm moved, swaying like lifting a marionette, lifting in reverse—stopping with a twist, stuck in a bridge-like position.
“Ah ■■aa■a.”
“Eh—?”
“■o■” ■■? ■, ?—!!”
And then—from the darkness, a shadow writhed.
I’m guessing that she’s either somehow acting again (maybe by applying her martial art skills to safely fall)
Or being on death’s door somehow ejected the old Tsumugi out… Probably the former tbh lol