Trip Show 4

Subaru: School’s out!

Whatcha gonna do today, Hokke? Are you focusing on your drama club for a while?

Hokuto: Yeah, sorry. It’s like a moment of rest before we go into SS... no, that sounds wrong. I just want to meet that grand stage without any regrets.

And I want to be successful in drama club too, in my own way.

My dad is a top idol and my mom’s a great actress. I feel like I can reach my father’s heights, but I’m still a long way off from my mother.

I want to grow a lot more as an actor.

If Buchou complimented me just once for my performance onstage, I think I could finally be proud of the other half of the blood that flows in my veins.

I could continue forward as an undivided, whole Hidaka Hokuto.

Well, Buchou has only ever insulted my skills, saying I’m a no-talent, no-skill ham of an actor.

It would be stupid of me to bemoan my lack of talent or to give up completely, though.

I won’t have that many more opportunities to stand on stage with him.

That guy’s a true genius, and I can only perform together while we’re both high school students. I’m not going to waste this chance.

So I’ll put my best effort into this performance, too. I’m going to make him speechless.

Subaru: I thought that you hated Masked Pervert-san though, Hokke.

Hokuto: I do hate him. I think his personality and his behavior both are shameful.

But that doesn’t matter on the stage. In a meritocracy, berating someone for their character is just the whining of a sore loser.

Subaru: Hmm... Well okay. There’s something kinda “carpe diem” about that. I guess I’ll go to basketball practice today then, too, even though there’s nothing to do now that the summer tournaments are over.

Hokuto: Go for it. Every experience helps shape your art.

Natsume: Ahaha, you act like you know the first thing about that... ♪

Hokuto: What is it now, Sakasaki? Don’t make fun of me.

Natsume: Well, I’ve just been summoned by Wataru-nii-san... so I’m going with you to your clubroom.

I don’t know what he wants, and it’s out of my way, but if he calls I have no choice but to answer.

Hokuto: Hm. Whatever, I guess we’re going together.

Natsume: Indeed. ...Apologies, Baru-kun. I’ll be stealing your friend away from you ♪

Subaru: You aren’t really. You guys are friends too, right? I saw you eating lunch together today, even.

Hokuto: No, that was just Sakasaki shoving himself into my business.

Subaru: Well that’s fine, right? I don’t care who you’re friends with, Hokke.

Tomoya: Excuse me...!

Subaru: Whoa?! Uhhh, some kinda princess is here!

Hokuto: What is it, Tomoya? You don’t come around to the second year classrooms often; do you need something from me?

Tomoya: ...o... Um.

Hokuto: Huh? Sorry, I didn’t catch what you were saying.

What’s wrong, Tomoya? It’s not like I’m going to get angry at you, so speak up.

Tomoya: Gh, mm... Um, mmm...

W–would... would...

Hokuto: Wood? What about wood, Tomoya? Speak clearly so I can understand you.

Tomoya: W–would—Wouldst thou! g–go to the ball... with me...!^[1]

Hokuto: ......

Subaru: Ahaha! What’s this kid saying? He’s hilarious ♪

Hokuto: Shut up, Akehoshi. ...I’ll get angry.

I would be honored, my lady. Might I lead thee thither? Please, take my hand.

Tomoya: ... ♪

Natsume: Wow, he’s entirely in character. Though still a bit awkward... Still, Hokke-kun understood him and met him where he was.

Subaru: Huh, what? What’s that mean?

Natsume: It means that everyone in the drama club is already coming into their roles...

Baru-kun. It is a virtue of yours to always say what you’re thinking.

B̠̓u͜͡t n̋ͨo̧̠ o̮̓ͬnͨe h̛̟͠âs̱͌ͧ ţ͔͑h̲̔e̫ rͨi̲͐̈gẖ̩͡t̻̑ t̗o̿ mo̍ck soͥ̕͢m̺̮eͬo̴͝͞ne̞̎ͤ wh͖o i̸̳s͆ p̘̤͕u̩͒ťṭ͢iͦn͑ͩg̻̀ ȩ̂a̓r̟ͧͨn̼̟ęṡt̝ͮ̆ ḙ̸ͭf̫̣̗f̾̎o̴̐͌rt̝ īn̔t̥̍o so̶̓͊m̚et̊̉h̘̦ȋng͐.̘

I b̠el̽ͬiͥ͘eͭ̊ͣv̬ĕ̟ y̤ou͉ s̘h̷͛͠ỏu̵l̬̯ͭd k̘͍̐nͅo͚w̝͔͑ t͂hͯa͊tͫ b̨et͑ẗ͔eͯͤř̥ͭ th̯âͫn m̠̭͐ö͇́͐š͇t͖̓.̡͎̰^[2]

Subaru: ......