Aya-chan...
I didn't think I could pull off the Nurse, since she has so many lines.
And everyone was trying out for Juliet,
so I thought nobody would notice if I didn't get the role.
I should've known it wouldn't be that easy...
"Surely Someone"
Juliet's popular, the complete opposite of me.
Plus, I've been in love lots of times before.
My first crush was on an anime character.
From there, my crush went from 2D to 2.5D...
Then finally...
...to someone 3D.
Morning, Yamada!
Morning, Hirayama.
Whoa, something smells really good.
Oh, yeah, these.
You're always gushing about how good my family's bakery is,
so Mom said to bring you some treats.
Dude, no way! And they're fresh out of the oven!
Can I have one right now?
Go ahead.
If I were a guy, I'd totally want to go out with a sweet girl like you, Aya.
Where's this coming from?
Ugh, look over there.
Oh, Asuka Yano's got a new boyfriend again?
I thought she was dating that second-year in the school rock band.
Apparently, the band broke up after Asuka dated every guy in it.
For real?
Why do guys like her so much? She's not even that hot.
'Cause she's pale and has huge tits?
'Cause she'll date anyone with a pulse?
Cut it out, guys, she might hear you!
Oh hey, Aya, you were hanging out with Hirayama again this morning, huh?
Oh, yeah.
You two are pretty close.
Listen, he's even talking about you right now.
Huh?
Seriously, Yamada's bakery is so good.
--I would die for their curry bread. --He's just talking about our bakery.
That means he's totally into you.
C'mon, now.
You're both so nice. You guys would make the perfect couple.
Oh, stop it!
Dude, Hirayama asked Asuka Yano out, and she said no!
Hirayama?! That's so random!
And Yano dates literally anyone.
What was so bad about him that even Yano would turn him down?
The weather said it'd rain today.
C'mon.
Yano always looks so bored.
I figured I'd never know what was going on inside her head.
But one day, I saw her smiling at her phone, and when I looked over,
she was watching videos of puppies and kittens.
I was like, "Wow, Yano's actually just a sweet girl."
It made me want to, like, protect her.
I know, I'm an idiot...
No, I get it. That must've hurt.
Man, Yamada.
You're so nice. Just having you around makes me feel better.
You know, Yamada...
Could we...
...be friends forever?
Oh.
Reality will never exceed my expectations. That's just my life.
Juliet and Romeo get together after falling in love at first sight.
How can someone like me act that out convincingly?
Hey, Sawa, if we end up in the same group during auditions,
I hope you won't be mad at me if I mess up.
I should go warn everyone else, too.
You don't need to warn everyone.
What's the point in trying to cover your bases like that?
But we're presenting in groups. If I mess up, it'll affect everyone.
I've never surpassed my own expectations,
and after miraculously getting into Kouka,
I've only just barely scraped by.
I've never even had a boyfriend before.
No one's ever told me they liked me, either.
Really? Well, Aya, I've never killed anyone before.
I-I would hope you haven't!
But Tybalt kills someone.
We're in the same boat. You've never been in a relationship, I've never killed.
We're both lacking that real-world experience.
I fall for my cousin, I kill a man, then I get killed.
That's the man I'm going to become on stage.
Being afraid of messing up will only make it more likely that you will.
And you'll mess up if you focus on outdoing someone else, too.
So what should I do?
It's simple, but difficult:
just do what you can.
Do what you rehearsed. If you can do that, then you're good.
You're the type of musume-yaku who nobody can hate.
So chin up! Be more confident! You're really cute, Aya!
Let's go!
Wait, I feel like...
Didn't someone say that to me once before?
Break a leg, Sugimoto-san, Aya-chan!
Mm-hmm!
Okay, let's begin!
Who was it?
Hirayama's really nice. Why'd you turn him down?
Oh, I mean, like, you have a crush on Hirayama, right?
N-No, I don't!
It's written all over your face.
I'm like, so bad with girls. You're my only friend who's a girl, Aya.
And you're so nice to me.
I wasn't gonna do anything that'd, like, make you hate me.
So it's my fault?
Huh? C'mon, no way!
Wait, maybe? I have no idea!
So, Aya, Hirayama's gotta be totally heartbroken right now.
I bet if you asked him out, he'd say yes!
What? I can't take advantage of someone like that!
Why not? Who cares, as long as you get your nice happy ending!
I guess, but he said he wants to be "friends forever."
You're so cute, Aya!
No, I'm not. Nobody's ever even told me I'm cute.
Well, you are cute, Aya.
Everyone likes you. You've got, like, a warm aura.
I know you'll totally get into Kouka.
You think so?
I just said, I know!
Hell, if I were a guy, I'd totally go out with you.
I mean, I'd go out with you right now, if you wanted.
Really? Well, thanks.
Hey, why're you laughing at me?
You're just so cute, Aya! I wanna be friends with you forever, too!
I just love you so much!
You're so cute you're gonna make me cry!
With what words should I profess my deepest love for you?
Wait... no way, was she actually...?!
What?!
Yamada-san went from pale to bright red. I hope she's okay.
I'm so sorry, girls.
I'm a teacher, I know I'm not supposed to have favorites.
But teachers are human,
and I can't help but root for the girl I discovered!
Musical theater is the mixed martial arts of the theater world.
If you can perfect your one secret move, you can turn the tables on your opponent!
Yamada-san! Don't forget about your secret weapon!
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
--Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet. --It's weird. It's like a curse has been lifted.
Surely someone is looking at me like that, without me even knowing.
I'll never be like Naracchi, but...
You can do it!
When I stand on that stage, who amongst the audience will see me?
I want them to see me.
And if that's what I want,
then I've got to give it my best shot!
Amidst the sea-swells of the thronging crowd,
Romeo, t'was your face the light endow'd!
I did it!
Now, let's see our top student's Tybalt.
What blood? My blood?
Romeo, you foul knave! What hast thou done to me?
No, this can't be! I yet live, my end cannot be so nigh!
Such beautiful expression, reflected even in the movements of her fingers.
That would be what she learned on her path to future prima ballerina.
Fair Juliet, bright star in darkest sky,
I die, hand never knowing your soft glow.
My goodness. Her Tybalt is so full of bitter rage.
Romeo!
My life ends by the hand of Romeo.
Grave tidings, my lady! Tybalt is slain!
Come on, Yamada-san! Now's your time to shine!
Why isn't she singing?!
♬ You're lying, surely mistaken! ♬
♬ Or could it be that God himself now tests the vigor of my love? ♬
♬ Nay, falsehoods! This is but a dream! ♬
♬ Our gracious Father seeks to judge me from above! ♬
♬ I can't feel hatred, only woe; ♬
♬ I can't defend the things he's done. ♬
♬ Now my heart is drowning in the fears of what is still to come! ♬
♬ Our flames of passion won't be doused; ♬
♬ My love for you will never die! ♬
--♬ All I ask is for the strength to hold steadfast and stay by your side! ♬
--She deliberately paused before beginning to sing... --♬ All I ask is for the strength to hold steadfast and stay by your side! ♬
--She deliberately paused before beginning to sing...
Then started in pianissimo, soft, as if beginning to tell a fairy tale...
Building up to a strong, yet gentle performance that wraps you in emotion!
I knew I saw greatness in her!
Thank you, Group 2. Good work.
Aya, you're a natural!
You have such an incredible singing voice!
Huh? What's that look for?
You're a worthy rival.
--Huh?! But I-- --Sugimoto-san!
Your Tybalt was so powerful!
And I felt like you kept looking right at me the whole time!
I don't have much experience with hating anyone.
Same here!
So I made up someone to hate in my head and picked my biggest rival.
Who's that?
I'm not telling.
Look! Upon the pitch-black curtain of night sparkle a thousand brilliant stars!
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Romeo, t'was your face the light endow'd!
Oh, to be young again!
Those girls are so bright, and innocent, and adorable!
It's the kind of beauty you can only see from diamonds in the rough.
They've got a long way to go before audiences will like their performances,
but I'll admit, they were all fresh.
They say talent is about hard work and perseverance,
but every once in a while,
you get someone who outperforms our expectations without even trying to.
When you see that, you can't help but get excited on their behalf.
"First-year lockers"
I have to go after lunch. I'm too nervous to eat.
You gotta! You don't want your stomach grumbling while you're up there. Eat!
It was so much better going early.
True. Waiting to perform is torture.
And now we get to eat without any nerves getting in our way, since we all went.
Now we just have to figure out who we're gonna vote for.
Not all of us.
Huh?
Sarasa hasn't gone yet.
Oh, right. I thought it was quiet around here.
Where is she? The bathroom?
"CONGRATS ON GETTING INTO KOUKA, SARASA!"
What's that look for, Sarasa?
Oh! So you know how Akiya-kun couldn't come to the party yesterday?
He just said he'd take me to the aquarium today!
Look at him, gettin' all smooth with you.
Wasn't long ago that he was here cryin' like a baby!
Problem is, I'm so excited to see him, my heart's racing like crazy,
and now I have all this time to kill!
I know!
I'll go meet him at his house!
Be back by seven!
I will!
Akiya-kun!
I finally made my way to the starting block!
I get to be on stage again!
"Sorry, I'm gonna need like another hour"
Why did you want to talk to me, Kouzaburou?
I heard Sarasa-san got into the Kouka School.
Dunno how you heard, but yeah.
Apparently only one in 25 applicants get in.
It's pretty crazy she got in on her first try.
I expected no less of her.
They'd have to be blind to not admit her.
Still, that tracks for Kouka. That's how they've stuck around for a century.
You're lucky Sarasa's a girl.
That was uncalled for.
That school's in Kobe, right? It'll be hard to get info on her down there.
I'll miss her.
Yeah.
Really? You gonna miss her, too?
Well, yeah, we've been friends for forever.
Why don't you go out with her, then?
Wh-Where did that come from?!
Now that's a dumb question.
I want to make sure Sarasa-san lives out her teenage years to the fullest.
Childhood friends might drift apart because of the distance,
but if you were dating, you could help me out, yeah?
Have you totally lost your mind?!
Akiya, don't start acting like
you're already the 16th Kaoh.
Kaoh-san is devoted to the craft.
If he sees someone else with the talent he's looking for,
he'll pick them to be his apprentice and inherit the title of Kaoh.
Don't worry. Kaoh-san trusts me enough to let me influence that decision.
Do you catch my drift, Akiya?
Are you threatening me?
Not at all. It's just an idea.
You do have a crush on Sarasa, don't you?
Well... yeah, but...
So think it over.
That patronizing pat...
I should hate him for all this.
But by some miracle, I just can't.
He's so smart, so charming, so handsome...
A villain, through and through.
How pretty.
Yeah. It reminds me of the Kouka Troupe's grand parade.
Those little shiny fish are the ensemble,
and those big slow fish are the stars with leading roles.
Which one's the top star?
Oh, definitely the stingray.
Its big fluttering wings are like the feathers the top stars wear.
Sarasa-chan, I...
Never mind. Would you come see me in Shinbashi before you go to Kobe?
I can't. Grandpa says no kabuki.
Oh. Right.
Akiya-kun,
when I'm gone, could you come by my house every now and then?
Just so my grandpa won't get lonely.
I'm not a grown-up, but I'm not a kid anymore, either.
And right now, I feel like I've finally figured out
how someone's been feeling this whole time.
Two years after I start at Kouka, I'll be one of those little fish.
And one day, I'll be a stingray, and I'll play Lady Oscar.
I'm finally gonna leave kabuki behind.
I couldn't be Sukeroku, so I'll let you play him, Akiya-kun.
Also, Akiya-kun...
I want you to be my boyfriend.
Akiya-kun, Grandpa Ken, how are you guys today?
I've got my audition coming up soon! I'm gonna give it my best shot.
I'll let you know if I get the part.
Sarasa! Where were you?
Working on my audition.
--Where? --Outside.
Did you eat?
Yep!
You gonna be okay?
This time, I'm gonna show everyone my take on Tybalt!
Cool. Break a leg.
Right, let's start with our remaining hopefuls.
Thank you, sir!
Come up when your name is called. Tybalt, Sarasa Watanabe.
Yes, sir!
He's starting with Tybalt?
Wait, that means...
Juliet, Akina Horiguchi.
Yes, sir!
Nurse, Emiri Sunouchi.
Yes, sir.
And our Romeo...
...will be me.