Chapter 6

…In the end, she didn’t recover during rehearsal either…

Mm-hm…

Is there really nothing else we can do for her…?

I wish I could say otherwise, but…

…I can’t exactly name anything else we could try.

…………

Hey… what’s wrong, everyone?

Is this about Nene-chan?

Rin… KAITO.

Mm… yeah. That’s right.

We’ve all practiced so much, and Nene-chan’s been asking everyone for advice… she’s really been trying so hard, but…

…Even today’s rehearsal didn’t bring out her best performance.

Of course, the show could technically go on with what she has now. But…

It wouldn’t be the best Wonderlands×Showtime performance we could offer… is what you’re saying.

…So she’s still holding onto that negative tension?

Most likely, yes.

But… we truly have no idea how to fix it.

Nene’s tried practically everything she could. Even multiple mental control techniques…

Lately, Nene-chan always looks like she’s hurting when she performs…..

Even Princess Heart is going all swirly… I just want to help her return to her old self…

…Yeah.

Until she had that dream, Nene was doing great, and so good it felt like only she could play that role.

If she felt that too, she’d want to stand onstage in that version of herself.

That’s exactly why I want to help her, but—

—May I speak on that matter?

Rui-kun…!

You said you wanted to think alone. Did you come up with something?

......I did.

I need a conversation with her, just the two of us.

A convo.....?

What are you planning to tell her?

…It’s nothing complicated.

But as the director, there’s something I can’t leave unsaid.

So before the show starts, I need a moment with her.

I’m not entirely sure what you mean but…

As the troupe leader, I’ll trust you as our director. And of course, I trust Nene too.

Me too!!

—Thank you, both of you.

The lighting’s catching weird. Move the stage-right platform in a bit! You can place it over the mark!

Got it!

…………

(One hour until showtime…)

(I pushed and pushed… but in the end, I still couldn’t do it.)

(At this point… my performance is—)

…I need to switch gears.

I have to give everything I can now…

—Nene.

Ah......

Rui, what’s the matter? Did you need to check something—

There’s something important I need to tell you before the show.

…Huh?

Not here either…

Maybe they're still getting their hair and makeup done. I wanted to talk a bit before the show, but…

(…Everyone felt stiff during rehearsal.)

(They lost the momentum they had during practice… probably because something changed with Nene-chan.)

(I don’t know why… but I want to help however I can—)

Since it’s almost showtime, Rui-kun must be talking to her right now…

Yeah. I don’t know what he’s telling her, but all we can do is hope it works out—hm?

Asahi-san!

Oh... there you are. I was trying to find you.

Huh? You were looking for us?

Yeah. Something bothered me during rehearsal, so—

—What’s this important thing you wanted to tell me?

Hm? That voice…

Today, let me say this, as Wonderlands x Showtime’s director.

Nene. The success of this show depends entirely on you, our lead.

Eh....

For today’s performance, I want you to deliver your absolute best.

Because if you don’t… then there’s no reason for you to be here at all.

…!