Chapter 4 - That Which Stops Us From Moving Forward

(... How can we make sure the Kikyo Troupe stays around?)

(They’re announcing the disbandment in three weeks. We have to have thought about it by then.)

(Let’s see… We could ask robots like Nenerobo to make up for the lack of actors?)

(They can jump super duper high, and move around all fast like swoosh-swoosh—)

(... But that wouldn’t suit Morinomiya’s performances…)

(I’ve been thinking about it since our conversation… I can’t come up with any ideas that have made me go "Ah, that’s definitely the right one!" …)

Uu~! I want to make my brain go squish-squish and then po-po-pop back into place~!!

......S-Squish-squish?

—Eh?

KAITO-onii-san…

You were curled up on the bench, so I was worried you weren’t feeling well… 

That doesn’t seem to be the case, though.

Ah, um........

 … Are you worried about something, maybe?

Ah.........

If you’re happy to talk to me, I’m here to listen.

Of course, only if you want to, though.

… Thank you, KAITO-onii-san.

You see—

…..I see.

So you’re looking for a way to avoid the Kikyo Troupe from disbanding.

Yeah… At first, I thought we could try attracting people who like the Suzuran Troupe. 

I thought if they liked their performance, there’s a good chance they’ll like the Kikyo Troupe too.

But…

I heard the Kikyo and Suzuran Troupes share the same theatre for performances.

So after the Kikyo Troupe was formed, the Suzuran Troupe’s performances decreased a little… 

And it seems like the Suzuran Troupe’s fans are disappointed about that.

I see.......

So there might be some fans of the Suzuran Troupe who don’t think very highly of the Kikyo Group. 

Yeah… 

And there are loads and loads of other things I have to think about—

I wonder if I can really find an idea that can make everyone smile.

—But! I don’t want the Kikyo Troupe to go!

.....!

… The Kikyo Troupe’s performance was super, super good.

Even after the performance was over, my heart was still going bam-bam…

I really don’t want it to end yet.

I think the Kikyo Troupe’s performances will make heaps of people smile in the future.

So…

There are loads of things that will be difficult, but I want to give it my all.

—It seems like you’ve made your mind up, Emu-chan.

Ehehe, yeah!

I was feeling all fuzzy-fuzzy, but now that KAITO-onii-san has listened to me, I feel a bit better!

I’m pleased to hear that.

…All I can do is listen to what you say. But I’m rooting for you, Emu-chan.

Yeah! Thank you, KAITO-onii-san!

.........

…...I’m astonished.

This many ideas in such a short time?

Yeah…!

I figured I should write down everything that came to mind!

Suzu-chan might have already thought of some of the same ideas…

But do you think any of them could be of even a bit of use?

 …......

Each idea is original and interesting, but I think it would be difficult to realize any of them because of the issues we’d encounter with budget and time.

....That's true......

… I’m sorry.

You took the time to think about them, and this is the thanks you’re getting.

Not at all! I’m glad you just told me no upfront! 

But…it’s really difficult. If we don’t do something soon, we’ll lose the Kikyo Troupe…

Yeah.

Once the disbandment is announced, it’s very hard to reverse.

…....But, I’ve been thinking it over, and I’m still not sure what the course of action should be.

It would definitely be most effective to appeal to the young people who support the Kikyo Troupe…

Ah… Over here, pick me! Suzu-chan-sensei, I have a question!

The Kikyo Troupe is popular among young people, right?

In that case, can’t we lower the ticket price?

Right now, the price is the same as the Suzuran Troupe’s…... if we want to make tickets accessible to students and the like, I think the price should be dropped a bit more.

That might make it easier for people to introduce it to friends!

…I’ve thought about that before. I even suggested it to the higher-ups, but the answer was no.

If we lower the ticket price without expecting repeat or new customers, our revenue will drop as such.

If that happens, the amount of money we can spend on performances will decrease…and, in turn, the quality of the performances will decrease.

For Morinomiya, that’s unacceptable.

“To give the audience the best possible experience.”

Morinomiya has been around for a hundred years because of their commitment to that belief.

I see… 

(I can understand why the people in charge of Morinomiya want to cherish that.)

(But…)

…....Can’t we create the best possible experience even without money?

Eh.......?

The Wonder Stage used to have no budget at all…..

We ended up making all kinds by hand.

We repaired all the old seats ourselves.

If we all work together like that to ensure the audience still enjoy themselves—

Can’t we both create the best experience and lower ticket prices…?

.......

In theory, it's possible.

So then.......!

But only in theory.

What kind of reaction we’d get if we were to try it…

I don’t know about that. 

That…may be true, but…

Still, still, if it’s a possibility, we should think about it.

If we think really really hard about the idea and make another proposal, it might just work!

…....You’re right.

And I know that in my head.

But even so—

I’m scared.

Eh......?

 Without change, we can’t protect Morinomiya’s future.

I supported the change to implement the Kikyo Troupe—

I have no regrets about that.

But…

As a result of that decision, some older fans were sad.

(Ah.....)

Could it be that when you then had to share the theatre—the Suzuran Troupe’s fans were disappointed?

Yeah.

That was something I hadn’t anticipated.

…...The way I thought was too naive.

…...I’m no good. There’s no such thing as a change that’s one hundred percent supported.

But—what if it ends up making even more people sad than before…?

I can’t get that thought out of my head…..

Maybe I’m just becoming a coward.

…....

(…...She’s right.)

(By moving forward, we might hurt the people who’ve supported Morinomiya up until now....…)

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