Iku and others watch kneeling Kasane holding out her hand and shouting her lines, “Then, let everything in this land end together with me!!” Sitting on the chair, Kingo sighs and says, “...very good...
...Even if the emotion is not quite enough, the voice is also very small, but as a whole, it is suitable for the play. Just now, you passed. From today on, you are going to display to me your true strength, understand?” While Iku looks tense at them, Kasane says, yes.
A man [Takatsu] shouts at Yoi, ‘You filthy deceiving witch!!’ Then, Yoi confronts Ake and say, ‘Repent and mend my ways?” Narration: “From the first day’s worst state, I managed to stand up--- and, after two weeks...”
While watching Kasane, Bobcut actress says that Kasane’s acting had become a lot better and she had misunderstood her earlier. Glasses actress says that during the official performance, she ought to be able to do it. Takatsu says it isn’t definite but he felt that it is not bad at all.
While reading the script, Kasane overhears them. Narration: “Everyone gradually changed...their point of view towards me. Even if it falls quite short from the praises that ‘Saki’ got, but this teeny tiny change appears to have slowly melt this frozen heart.”
There is a scene of a tear falling from Kasane’s eye as she is about to sleep. However-- Kingo watches the play wherein the villagers threw rocks at Yoi. He scowls when Yoi confronted Ake.
Kingo bites his lips and says, “Stop. *with folded arms* Kasane, there are only five days left before the official performance. I basically don’t want to say this kind of words to you at this time but...you have to delve more into your character!!”
The other actors ask each other what’s happening since they don’t know if Kasane made a mistake or not. Pointing at Kasane, Kingo shouts that he hopes that she can read the script one more time!! You basically... *catches himself* ...forget it. In short, you must assimilate more into your role!”
Looking surprised at him, Kasane tensely mutters, yes. Iku quietly looks at her. At the dressing room, Bobcut actress tells Kasane that it always felt that Kingo is especially strict with her.
Kasane is puzzled. Glasses actress says yes, today, too. “I don’t think that there is any problem at all.” Bobcut actress replies, “That’s right-- It is really a lot better COMPARED TO THE FIRST TIME. Anyway, Igarashi-san is also here. I felt that the official performance can SUFFICIENTLY PASS [/reach the standard].”
Kasane looks shocked by that. Glasses actress agrees with her and says that it isn’t necessary for Kasane to mind that. Kasane quickly turns to look at surprised and tense Iku.
Iku quickly looks away from her. Looking at her hands, Kasane thinks, “Unconsciously, I start to become aware of it. In the end, my talent (ability)---”
While smoking at the roof, Kingo wonders out loud if Kasane’s talent is only...UP TO THAT LEVEL? “If she doesn’t have ‘beauty’... *scene of Saki jumping down the ladder* Whether it is ‘Macbeth’ or even ‘Star Drop’, ‘Saki’ can suck the audience into the story...
...That boldness that is as good as ‘Fuchi Sugeyo’s (Izana), can make the character become alive in front of the audience. Can make imaginary into reality. *Kasane becoming Salome/Nina* The reason why that body can unearth more potential beyond common sense *scene of Saki*...
...is it simply because of the idea of ‘wanting to be in a beautiful stance in this world’? But if it is really like that? That time when I kept her head facing the mirror, I felt an unknown potential...so what is that? Maybe, she herself also felt it a bit--”
At home, Kasane stares at her image on the mirror. And, she kept on practicing. Narration: “Time ruthlessly passes on. No matter how hard I struggled...the day of the official performance comes closer and closer.”
Somewhere else, Nogiku is carrying a small paper bag. She looks at a small notebook with the words, ‘You’re not at fault’. Recalling Nina tapping messages to her, Nogiku sadly scowls and thinks of her.
She tears off the page and puts it in her pocket. She puts the notebook in the bag and heads towards a house. Outside the house is a crooked name plate with the words ‘Tanzawa’ on it.
Soon, people are coming into the theater. Kingo tells everyone that the number of viewers is really astonishing. “This play was once cancelled so it doesn’t have any reputation nor budget. Even if I was barely able to find this theater but the period when we’re on stage is only for three days...
...Whether it is good or bad, this situation had already brought about a heated debate in society. I don’t know whether or not, if it is because popular actress Igarashi Iku is part of this play...
...What remains is for us to do everything possible to act well on this play. ...Kasane, you cannot give up yet. Perhaps, you can see the light when the heavy curtain is pulled open.” Kasane didn’t answer him. She looks at the heavy curtain.
Narration: “Once the curtain is pulled open...the light will be exposed and it will shines down on me. But on contrary, it makes me more afraid now. It is the same during that year’s cultural festival when I played ‘Cinderella’. There is no change at all--”
She looks tense as the curtain opens. With one hand covering one’s face, Iku points at Kasane and says, “Yoi, Yoi, thou art truly stupid. Unexpectedly, refusing my radiance.”
With the same pose, Kasane replies, “Ake, Ake, thou art truly hateful...thou do not know a thing of my suffering..” Narration: “What Habuta-san said is true, I must give it my all. But, at some moment, I caught sight of a familiar sight. His figure. *sees Nobuhiko watching from the audience* Reflecting into my eyes.”
Iku notices something wrong with Kasane. Somewhat shaken Kasane walks backstage. She thinks, “Uno san...ah, why... no, this kind of thing can also possibly happen. *covers face* But, your eyes...saw this ugly figure--”
She hears a bell. She snaps out of it. She tells herself that this is no good, she has to calm down a bit. “I cannot cower... before— the past me become your lover, we were first *scene of them in Salome and Macbeth*...
...actors who mutually approved [of each other] and progressed together. So, *putting on the wreath of leaves* I must do well as an actress, in order not to be shameful in front of you...”
Gesturing a bouquet of leaves, Yoi tells the villagers, “I and that woman is the same... She is the ‘village’ miko, and I’m the praying miko on the ‘mountain’!!” The villagers threw rocks at her as she covers her head.
Nobuhiko scowls. While Kingo watches on, he thinks, “That woman...even if she is just barely able to do it... but her lines and actions are already too anxious [/tense]... If this keeps up, the pacing as a whole will be messed up...”
Narration: “However...I cannot control my own body as I please.” As Kasane crawls to the altar, she recalled Nina saying, “You don’t know this kind of feeling, right? That kind of feeling when you become aware that your own acting had become quite inferior...”
There is a scene of Nina committing suicide and Kasane tried to grab her hand. Narration: “I know this kind of feeling, Nina. Frustrating, humiliating...how I wish to disappear---”
While Kasane continues to act, she thinks that no...it isn’t like this...my...my acting (ability) is...” It felt as if Kasane is falling into the abyss. Iku can only look at her with a teary eye. Kingo sighs. Nobuhiko observes. The audience applauds.
During the curtain call, Kasane thinks that this applause is sparse...and it totally cannot be mentioned on equal terms with Saki’s... She looks up to see Nobuhiko giving one final glance before leaving. Kasane’s eyes widen. She quickly slaps away Iku’s hand and runs off. Iku calls out to her.
While running, Kasane thinks, “Cannot end like this. Even if we don’t mutually love, at least--” It is raining outside. While Nobuhiko is walking away, Kasane calls out to him, “Uno-san!! ...About...About that...” Nobuhiko looks at her.
Comment: Kasane’s acting as herself is slowly improving as she slowly gains confidence and acceptance. It is already something that her co-actress can talk with her and be very understanding. Still, it is a far cry from her acting as Saki or Nina.
It must have been a shock to learn that this time around, it is Iku who is carrying the play. It is really frustrating and everything that Kasane couldn’t bring out the talent she had no matter how hard and how long she practiced.
It turns out that their play is only just for 3 days. Day 1 is a fail for Kasane if she were to compare it to Saki’s. Did Nobuhiko’s appearance there affected it? Maybe a little. In the end, both Kingo and Iku knew that Kasane couldn’t pull it off like before.
In a way, even compared to Iku’s Yoi, Kasane’s Yoi isn’t that captivating. And from that ending, it seems that Kasane is setting herself up for more pain. Meanwhile, it seems that Nogiku is going to see Nina’s parents for closure. It turns out that the contents of the bag were Nina’s belongings.
Hm...I actually wonder how does this play end. There was no mention of the lipstick at all or the face switch. From that scene, Yoi is pitifully trying to strangle Ake before she falls into the abyss. Was that part of the script? Iku’s Yoi is more menacing as she became a ‘demon’, so what happened afterwards? Scans by 网易汉化
Word of the day:
God chooses what we go through; we choose how we go through it. ~ Our Daily Bread