A3!

My heart won't stop pounding.

This is where I've longed to be since that day.

To be on stage where only actors can stand.

I'll swallow all my nerves and anxiety.

The bud inside me begins to open.

At this moment, I want to laugh out loud.

I want to shout until my throat is hoarse.

I want to throw all my raw emotions into my performance.

This is where I belong.

The show must go on.

The bud will go into full bloom!

Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy.

"15 Complete Works of Shakespeare" "As You Like It" Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy.

"15 Complete Works of Shakespeare" "As You Like It" --This wide and universal theater

--Look, how cute. --This wide and universal theater

--Look, how cute. --presents more woeful pageants than the scene wherein we play in.

--presents more woeful pageants than the scene wherein we play in.

All the world's a stage,

and all the men and women merely players.

They have their exits and their entrances,

and one man in his time plays many parts.

"2pm Showtime!!"

"Welcome to Vedulo, City of Theater"

It was pretty good last time.

Yeah, it was.

Tickets for tonight's show still available!

Just say it! I have a terminal illness, don't I?!

A street act!

That's not true!

Don't lie to me.

I saw you and the doctor talking.

Tasuku...

I don't wanna die not knowing!

Tell me more about my illness!

We'll attract attention here. Let's talk at the hospital.

Yeah.

Thanks for watching!

God Troupe's worth watching!

Their acting pulls you in!

Excuse me, is God Troupe accepting new members?

We should be.

You've got experience?

Not much. You have dorms there?

No, we don't.

I see...

Um...

If you're looking for a dorm, my troupe's--

Oh no! Please excuse me!

Please try Mankai Company!

What was that about?

Mankai Company?

"Mankai Company" "Romeo's Heavenly School"

"Mankai Company" "Romeo's Heavenly School" This should be the right place...

This should be the right place...

This building looks like it has a long history.

Really...

"To: Yukio Tachibana"

"To: Yukio Tachibana" Dad...

Hey, you. You've got business at this theater?

Are you the one who sent the letter-- Whoa!

Well?!

Dad, you don't owe this guy money, do you?

It's you...

Nope, not me! I didn't receive a letter or anything. I'm just Passerby A!

Get outta here if you've got no business here.

Unless you like danger.

Danger?

Oh, yeah! Take a look at my backhoe!

Nothin's gonna stop this baby!

Boss, can I bust it up?

Do it, Sakoda.

Please, don't do it!

But just the sign. I'm turning the building into a bar.

Don't pretend you didn't hear me!

Wh-What are you doing?

I warned you it'd be dangerous here.

Please, Furuichi! Don't do it!

I said I'd repurpose the place if you couldn't pay off the debt.

We're about to start a show!

If we make some money, I can at least pay off some interest!

Sakoda, stop.

You're the boss, boss!

Matsukawa.

Y-Yes?

Presale tickets sold?

Still zero, sir!

Day-of tickets sold?

Zero, sir!

--When's showtime? --In three minutes!

Sakoda, you've got this.

Wait, please! It's our new member's debut show!

What?

No actor would ever forget their debut show!

How sad would it be to tear down the theater right before their debut show!

-You have zero audience. You call that a show?

--I-I'll be... --You have zero audience. You call that a show?

...w-watching the show!

Better not regret stopping by to watch.

Hey! I'm Romeo Kadota! First year in high school!

I have a crush on a girl in my class!

Oh no! It's so late! I've gotta to go to school!

He's the new member, huh. And the other troupe members--

Hey, wait up, Romeo.

Take me with ya.

It's a parrot?!

All right! I'm gonna go see her!

A fall like this is nothing compared to this joy!

Aw, how come she won't like me back?

Nothing discourages him. Looks like he's so happy just to be on stage.

I-I'm going to the ballgame at the castle!

To the ball !

My first play was also so fun.

I was so immersed...

...it ended before I knew it.

Thank you very much!

Now that's over.

Demolition time.

What?! Even after watching how hard he worked?! You monster!

How hard he worked?

Yeah! He got his feelings across!

You think this is a school play where kids show off how hard they've worked?

This is a place where professionals are paid to entertain.

You're not wrong... Someday, if he works hard--

In this world, just working hard doesn't do the damn trick!

You won't get anywhere with just hard work.

You have no talent for acting.

End of discussion. This troupe's going to be shut down.

Wait, please!

Um... We really won't have this place anymore?

Yeah.

I just joined yesterday!

I'm still no good at acting, but I love theater!

Please don't tear this place down!

Tough luck.

No way...

The show must go on.

Please, wait!

I beg you! I need this place!

I've already decided.

I won't let you!

Manager...

I have to protect this place at all costs!

Matsukawa, I've given you more than enough chances.

But--

There's no more room for negotiation.

There's still a possibility things will turn upward...

Not a chance.

If only Yukio returned to make it like the old days.

By Yukio...

...you mean my dad, Yukio Tachibana?

Are you Yukio's daughter?

"From: Isuke Matsukawa"

That's the letter I sent! Where's Yukio?

I haven't heard from him for eight years. He hasn't come home, either.

I see...

Not what you expected? It's over.

How rude! There might be another way!

You can only say that because you know nothing about this theater.

Believe it or not, this theater is exclusively for the troupe.

"Under Construction" Most troupes rent venues for their shows, but not this troupe.

"Under Construction" Along with the costs of maintaining its dorm,

"Under Construction" the funds needed to upkeep this place is steep.

In its heyday until eight years ago, this troupe brought in revenue by having

four sub-troupes--Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter--perform year-round.

This troupe can't stay afloat unless it has four groups performing constantly.

But all we have here is a useless brat who only joined yesterday.

--Sakoda. --Wha-- Sir?

Do it.

I-I just remembered!

What did you remember?

T-Truth is, my dad left the troupe to me if anything happened to him.

Really?

We just have to get four sub-troupes, right?

Well, yes.

That'll be easy! I'll bring in some more troupe members!

How many?

Er... I can get two more right away!

You have until sunset. I'll wait until sunset today.

Bring two new members to me.