Chapter 5 - The Ultimate Despair

(...Despair...)

(How to visualize and express the prince's despair, that's the key to this whole show.)

(And for that, as Asahi-san mentioned, I have to grasp "what would make me feel completely hopeless.")

(But—)

I just can't wrap my head around it......

(...I've come close to despair a few times.)

(When I couldn't do anything for Saki as she suffered from her illness. When my first show ended in failure. When I realized how pathetic I really was—)

(I felt how powerless and helpless I was..... But—)

(I never despaired to the point where I couldn't stand back up. Even in my weakness, part of me still wanted to keep going.)

(However...)

(In this scene, Prince Bless is completely consumed by despair. So much so that he can't even move.)

(What could possibly make someone feel that despaired—)

No good... I've hit a wall...

...Sigh. It's pretty late, but... maybe I'll go to SEKAI and clear my head.

Hm? Someone's voice...?

Everyone should already be asleep, but—

Wha...! C-Could it be...!?

If it's an intruder, I must strike back.....! No wait, I should call the police first...!?

Either way, I, Tsukasa Tenma, will protect my family at all costs— Huh?

"—This settles it for my insurance! FLOWER Life Insurance!"

Wh... What? So it's just the TV.

Looks like someone left it on. Seriously. Let me find the remote......

"—Now for World News."

Hm?

"The military invasion that intensified last week is having severe impacts on the local population."

"Tensions between the two countries keep intensifying, with the United Nations fearing a chain of retaliations—"

Ah......

War.....

(...This is exactly what I can't imagine.)

(—Bombs falling on the place where you were born and raised.)

(Streets and schools destroyed, people's faces twisted with grief and rage.)

(Normal everyday life completely transformed, where even smiles have vanished—)

...I'd rather not think about that too deeply.

(Still...)

(Someday, I want to be able to bring smiles to people who are suffering like this.)

(That's why I need to develop my skills and truly grasp each role, but—)

...I still have such a long way to go...

...The scenario that would crush me completely...

(...After thinking it over several times, I feel like I'm starting to see "what would actually make me despair".)

(If I were to fall into despair, it would probably be—)

No, but if that happened...

Boing, boing, boooing......

Hm? I heard something again...

Boing-boooing!! Good eve-boing, Tsukasa-kun!!

Whoa! M-Miku!!

Wh-What's with all the "boing-boinging"?!

Ehehe, Miku was thinking about a bunny show and before she knew it, she was boing-boinging around~♪

I-I see... You're as free-spirited as always...

Ehehe, not really-boing~♪ Did you come here to practice, Tsukasa-kun?

Yeah... I'm trying to deepen my understanding of the prince.

Ooh☆ You mean the prince from the show contest, right?

So exciting~! Tsukasa-kun, you're amazing at playing princely characters☆

But... I'm really struggling with this one.

No way!? How come, how come!?

...Simply put, I probably lack the imagination for it.

Today I've been thinking about the prince's despair, but—

Gotcha~ So Tsukasa-kun was thinking about what would make you feel despair!

...I guess I have found some kind of answer on my own.

Huh? Really?

That's right. If I were to fall into despair—

It'd be the moment I lost my dream.

You mean like your dream of becoming a star disappearing?

Exactly. More precisely, it would be when I give up on that dream.

Giving up on my greatest dream... If that happened, I'm sure I'd fall into deep despair.

I'd have no idea how to move forward, what to live for anymore... I could lose all sense of who I am.

So if I want to imagine despair, I should picture the moment I give up on my dream.

However—there's one problem with this.

A problem?

I can't imagine myself giving up on my dream.

Oh... That makes sense!

You've made up your mind that you're definitely, definitely going to be a star!

Exactly!

If I were in an accident that left me unable to walk, or if I could never speak again—I still wouldn't be able to abandon my dream of becoming a star.

I'm determined to chase my dream no matter what happens!

Tsukasa-kun.......

Ehehe ♪ You're definitely still the same old Tsukasa-kun! ☆

...I'm honestly proud of my own conviction.

But because of that, I still can't grasp the prince's despair. ...What should I do next...?

........ At this rate, I'll never catch up to Asahi-san.

Asahi-san? Oh..... come to think of it, you mentioned practicing together!

Yeah. I'm learning a lot thanks to him.

But... at the same time, I'm forced to realize just how much faster and further he's progressing than I am.

Tsukasa-kun...

But—anyway, I just have to keep going.

You can only carve out your own path by taking steps forward.

Ah.....

(.....Tsukasa-kun's gaze seems to reach way further than usual today.)

(He must really, truly find it frustrating how far ahead Asahi-san is.)

(But he's swallowing down all that frustration and sadness, trying to move forward bit by bit.....)

.....He really is cool.

Hm? Did you say something just now?

Well, um—Oh!

If you beat Miku at rock-paper-scissors, then Miku'll tell you!☆

What? Now you've made me even more curious—

TSUKASA-KUUUUUUUUN!!

Hyo? That voice—

Oh, Miku-chan's here too! Good-Wonderhoy-Evening!

I figured you'd be here.

You guys... What are you doing here!?