At a small restaurant, Atae is sitting at the table with
Sugeyo. Izana is eavesdropping on them from behind. After sipping a cup of
coffee, Atae asks if he had provoked her to anger. Flustered Sugeyo looks away
and denies it by saying, it isn’t so..
Atae says that it is because she doesn’t want to look
straight at him. Blushing Sugeyo says that it is because she is a bit nervous.
Atae laughs for wasn’t she quite natural and unrestrained on the stage. This
made both Sugeyo and Izana nervous. Atae says forget it..it is very normal for
her to be wary of him since she must have already heard about the reason he is
visiting various theater troupes.
“It is precisely as they said. It is for me...to scout you
out and be part of my own cast and crew. That is to say, I want to break up
your relationship with this current theatrical troupe. *Sugeyo looks tense as
Izana continues to quietly listen* Not only you, from the start, everyone are
cautious towards me that they refused my invitation [to talk with you]...
...You already have deep affection with the current
theatrical troupe, and the relationship is very good, yes? The troupe members
definitely also really cherishes you. The troupe leader seems to be a very good
person.” Sugeyo says yes, she knew Daijirou for such a long time, she has many
friends like Tomoko and everyone are very good people.
Atae says, but, speaking bluntly, even if it is a small type
of theater, Sareki’s [theatrical group] stage is also extremely stale that it
is already out-dated. “If you continue to stay there, you will to be buried in
that kind of place, and your talent will definitely be buried. I’m not being
pretentious, but rather, it will happen.” Sugeyo looks surprised while Izana
looks troubled.
Atae says that she must felt that what he is saying about
the theater troupe is very cruel but he is only sincerely asserting the truth,
that’s all. “As an artist who sincerely loves the theater, I really longed to
add you [to my group]. This is also for you, to sparkle in front of even more
people.” This surprises both women.
After a pause, Sugeyo says that she really appreciates his
intention and what he said is perhaps right, but sorry, she cannot accept his
invitation. Izana and Atae aren’t happy because of what she said. Standing up,
Atae says that he understands and that’s it first for today. “During the next
performance, I’ll try to talk to you once again...”
Sugeyo says that there is..no next time. This puzzles Atae.
Sugeyo tells him that she came to the theater today to resign from her work as
an actress. This shocks Izana and Atae. Atae grabs Sugeyo’s arm and shouts that
he absolutely won’t let her do that kind of thing. “Do you plan on personally
destroy your own talent!? *Sugeyo is surprised*...
...The ones who really need you aren’t just your current
colleagues!! There is also your future for theater arts, and the audience’s
yearning to witness it!! Those are your...” Atae notices the other customers
looking at them. He lets Sugeyo go and apologizes. “...in short, I felt that
even if I searched the whole world, I won’t be able to find an actress just
like you. So please, properly think about it.”
Sugeyo looks thoughtful. Izana looks nervous and depressed.
Sugeyo says that she understands, she...will accept his invitation. This
surprises both Izana and Atae. Sugeyo says that if he says that he felt that
‘Fuchi Sugeyo’ is such an important existence...” Atae asks if that is for
real, ah...it’s such a huge favor!
Holding her hands, he says actually he always thought there
is no one aside from her who is qualified to play the role of the stage play
that he’s planning! “Thank you very much!!” Izana is puzzled by what Sugeyo
did. While Sugeyo is walking at an alley, Izana calls out to her, and asks why
she gave her consent. Surprised Sugeyo asks if she overheard it. Since Sugeyo
didn’t answer her, Izana asks if it is because she is giving her consideration.
Flustered Sugeyo says that it isn’t so. She felt that what
Atae said is right, and Izana’s talent should brighten up a bigger stage. “So,
I also want to see it! *happily smiles at Izana* I think everyone at Sareki can
definitely understand. Not only me, Atae-san, and also the future audience. They
would definitely want to see your figure standing on top of the stage.”
Izana looks surprised. She then says that actually, everyone
isn’t only watching her, it is also Sugeyo’s beauty. Sugeyo says that they
created ‘Fuchi Sugeyo’ together, right. Izana says that it is so. Sugeyo
happily says that the two of them cannot do without either one. While Sugeyo
walks away humming, Izana looks at her warily.
Narration: “—So like that, the female actress, ‘Fuchi
Sugeyo’ performs under Kaidou as director. She played ‘Nina’ in the ⌜Seagull⌟
that catapulted her into popularity as a much anticipated skilled actress.” As
‘Nina’, Izana emotes, “I’m---a seagull. No, that’s not right...
...You still remember the seagull that you have shot down? A
man incidentally came and saw a seagull [/girl], and killed it because he got
nothing better to do.” Pleased Atae watches from backstage. Narration:
“Starting from ⌜Seagull⌟, Kaidou would promote ‘Fuchi
Sugeyo’ in each stage drama that he directs...
...From classical plays to modern plays, the best
arrangement, best art design and the best performers are assembled together to
perform in unbroken succession. In each of this plays, the purpose is to make
‘Fuchi Sugeyo’s reputation to go a level higher...
...A fictional woman, who goes beyond true reality, had
charmed numerous audiences. Later on, because of Izana-san’s recommendation, I
do some backstage work at Kaidou’s side. *Kingo watches ‘Sugeyo’ and others
during the curtain call* At the same time, I secretly write scripts. Not only
Izana-san’s acting, Kaidou is a substantial skilled director...
...He has this kind of ‘making everyone sees something that they
had never seen before’ ambition. Even if he is somewhat pompous [/flashy], but
this is also accepted by the other people [/made him popular]. Thus, [things
are done] according to this person’s preference. He nurtured ‘Fuchi Sugeyo’s
body and spirit...
...Both elegant and drop dead gorgeous, she had become some
sort of ‘work of art’ [who has everything in one body] that is set up on
high--- It is unknown when this former ugly woman who had nothing started to
get used to being called by others as a ‘legend’. Not only that, the things
that she attained are not merely the audience’s praises.”
The scene changes to ‘Sugeyo’ making love with Atae.
Afterwards, ‘Sugeyo’ apologizes and says that she should go home. Putting his
shirt on, Atae says that it seems that she always go back at this time so what
is her reason for it. “Or, could it be that you have some other man aside from
me?” ‘Sugeyo’ says that it isn’t so. He asks, then why.
‘Sugeyo’ tells him that she cannot say it. After a pause,
Atae says forget it. He pulls her to him which surprises ‘Sugeyo’. He asks her
to marry him, and then she and her little secret will be his. ‘Sugeyo’ says
okay. Narration: “Once was an ugly person who wasn’t allowed to exist in this
world has now attained happiness as a woman. It is a sudden jump to become a
winner in life.”
Comment:
Apparently, Sugeyo went along with this on her own free will. In a way, it is a
contrast with her daughter. For Sugeyo, it is for a good intention whereas for
Nogiku, it is a bad one.
In this case, there is really a thin line between nice and
stupidity for Sugeyo. It seems like she is willingly walking into the lion’s
den. ^^; Even if she did that, she doesn’t seem able to win Izana’s heart who
eyed her warily even if she agrees to continue this charade.
Atae is a very blunt and practical man. Instead of sweet
talk, he went straight to the brutal reality to convince ‘Sugeyo’ to perform in
his play. It is interesting though that she is very ‘selfless’ that she
immediately changed her mind when the focus was more on making a lot more
people happy compared to her own happiness or a few people.
So, with fame and everything, Izana is living the best time
of her life. As the ending narration had mentioned, it is a huge jump from an
unwanted ugly person. She now also attained love. I would assume that Atae
hated her ugly appearance. After all, he sent Kasane away but kept Nogiku.
I’m thinking that he was the reason why Sugeyo is locked and
chained up. He might want his ‘Sugeyo’ to be always beautiful. Still, perhaps,
something might have happened which led to that like what happened to Nogiku. Perhaps,
love made Izana ‘stupid’ to do everything what Atae wants.
It makes me wonder if Kingo is telling this story to Kasane
so that she won’t make the same mistake regarding love or perhaps, how to treat
her ‘partner’/Nogiku. Okay, the latter is wishful thinking. Anyway, I think
Atae learning the secret is a turning point on how things spiral down into a
tragedy especially for Sugeyo. Scans by RAD汉化组
Word of the day:
Seasons are integral to the cycle of life and nature. Learn
from this balance in nature, and have balance in your life. There is a time and
season for everything. ‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose
under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1’ ~ 101 mottos for success by J. Richards and
M.S. Fontaine.
thank you for the kasane update! i look forward to these a lot. the art is beautiful and i love how dark the plot is. what publication does it come in?
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, lovelyluvluv ^-^
DeleteIndeed ^^
This runs in the magazine, Evening published by Kodansha.