Episode 1 - The Show Must Go On!/Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - Three Conditions
Manager	Okay, let me show you around the dorm.
Izumi	(I came here hoping to find a clue about my dad. Didn't think I'd end up being a part of Dad's old troupe!)
Izumi	(Plus there's the three conditions that Yakuza guy Furuichi laid out...)
	[Flashback Start]
Izumi	So what are they?
Sakyo	Listen up, because I'm not going to repeat myself. One: The new Spring Troupe is to launch their debut show within the next month, with a full house on closing night. Two: You are to form four sub-troupes like there used to be, and each must run a successful show by the end of the year. Three: The theater's debt is to be fully paid off within the year. If you fail to meet any one these three conditions, I'm turning this place into a cabaret--No ifs, ands, or buts.
Manager	But that's crazy! You can't expect us to pull all of those miracles off!
Sakyo	Then I can tear down the sign right now instead.
Manager	How callous!
Izumi	So the debut show isn't enough for you and now you're piling on doing four shows by the end of the year? You're asking for the impossible here! There's only ten months left in the year! Couldn't you at least give us twelve?!
Sakyo	Stop whining like a damn child!
Izumi	I--!
Manager	Eek!
Sakyo	Do you know how much this theater owes? I'll tell you. Ten million yen.
Izumi	Ten million?!
Tsuzuru	Dang, seriously?
Sakuya	That's more money than I can even imagine...
Izumi	Wow, okay, point taken. Let's pack up, guys. I think we're done here.
Manager	You can't be serious!
Sakyo	You get it, now? I'm doing you a favor by being so lenient. You're not getting any more concessions from me. Now... If you'd prefer to pay it off by turning some tricks, I'm sure something could be arranged.
Izumi	How could you even-
Masumi	Don't you dare touch her.
Sakyo	...
Masumi	...
Manager	So you're saying that if she just turned a trick or two...
Izumi	HELLO?! I'm standing right here! Are you seriously considering this an option?!
Tsuzuru	What are you thinking?!
Sakuya	Tricks? Like, magic tricks?
Manager	I-I was just imagining it, is all... Homina, homina...
Izumi	(Not only is he the worst liar, but he sounds like he stepped out of a cartoon from the 30's. Great.)
Sakyo	Hmph. In any case, have one last condition.
Izumi	And that is?
Sakyo	You.
Izumi	Listen, you can take your 'tricks' and just--
Sakyo	You are to be the general director of the troupe. That's my last condition.
Manager	Sounds like a plan!
Izumi	Hey, don't just put words in my mouth! To begin with, why am I one of the conditions anyway?
Sakyo	You've seen the sorry operation this mophead runs. You'll be disbanded in a month if I let him be in charge.
Manager	Ouch...the man's got a point...
Izumi	Look, I was just helping drum up members today. I didn't sign up to direct anything.
Sakyo	Oh, so you're going to ditch. Just like your father did.
Izumi	What's that supposed to mean?
Sakyo	I've heard your father was general director when he abandoned ship. Guess he gave up as soon as business started going south. I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Izumi	You...
Manager	Yukio's not like that at all!
Sakyo	Then tell me why your theater is in the shape it is now?
Manager	Well, uh...
Izumi	(Did Dad really flee from his responsibilities?) (No, that can't possibly be true. He poured his heart and soul into this place. He could never abandon it.) ... (He never came home as it was. And the few times he did, all he'd talk about was theater. He wouldn't even take me out to play anywhere.) (But that was all because he loved it that much. Because he loved this troupe.) (I don't want to see Dad's hard work disappear for good.) (This theater is the castle that Dad built for himself, as far as I'm concerned. The proof and embodiment of everything he poured into his work.) (I refuse to let such a priceless treasure be destroyed.) If I stay, then would you please retract your previous statement, Mr. Yakuza?
Sakyo	Which part?
Izumi	My dad did not run away. And he didn't abandon anything or anyone.
Sakyo	Meet the rest of my conditions and I'll consider it.
Izumi	You're on.
Sakyo	Serving as general director means cleaning up after this troupe of circus clowns for the rest of the year.
Izumi	You have my word that I'll take full responsibility.
Manager	Heck yeah! Three cheers for our director!
Sakyo	Hmph. Let's see how far you make it. This farce should only last until next month's show, anyway. I'll come to see the empty house on closing night. Also, I better not hear you call me Mr. Yakuza anymore. My name's Sakyo Furuichi.
Izumi	Sakyo it is, then.
Sakyo	Pull out, Sakoda!
Sakoda	You're the boss, boss!
Manager	Yeah, don't let the door hit you on the way out, ya goons!
Izumi	(Sure, stand up to them now, why don't you!)
Manager	Time to roll up our sleeves and get next month's show off the ground! Go, team!
Sakuya	Uh, yeah!
Tsuzuru	I dunno about this...
Manager	We're all in the same boat, and we'll make it together!
Izumi	How can you be so optimistic? It takes half a year to put this stuff together normally. We have a month. One!
Manager	Easy - We've got you, Director!
Izumi	Are you listening to a word I say?!
Manager	We've been missing a director ever since Yukio vanished. I've been managing the whole show by myself, but it just hasn't worked out. So I'm sure we'll be fine now that we have a real director! We can all be at our best, just like the old days. I know we're in good hands with Yukio's daughter!
Izumi	Matsukawa... (Is it just a sign of how much faith they had in my father?)
Manager	Hum-hum-hum... Paying off our debt in a year! Once that's outta the way, maybe we could go for some renovations!
Izumi	(Somehow I think his sense of urgency, or complete lack thereof, is what put him in this mess to start with...)
Sakuya	So, um, the troupe's not going away?
Tsuzuru	This seems dicey to me. Can we really do this?
Masumi	You're signing on too, right?
Izumi	(Everybody's so worried. Guess my first job as director is pump everyone up.) We've gotten this far, so all we have to do is keep going. Don't worry. I'll figure something out, somehow!
Manager	Director, my director...!
Sakuya	I'm in your hands!
Tsuzuru	Might as well stick it out while I'm here.
Masumi	I couldn't care less about the troupe, but as long as you're sticking around, so am I.
Izumi	Looking forward to working with all of you!
Manager	Ahh, I haven't felt so secure since Yukio disappeared! I'm gonna sleep like a log tonight!
Izumi	(I wish I could say the same. Is this really going to work out?) (I'm still skeptical, but the Mankai Company is Dad's legacy. And I'll do whatever it takes to protect it.)
[End Flashback]
Izumi	(Boy, that was a lot of responsibility to take on in such a short amount of time.)
Manager	Over here!
Izumi	Ah, coming!
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