Chapter 58
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Volume 1: First Performance: A Tragic Love Story Of A Young Lady And Spring Cherry Blossoms
Chapter 58: The Cross-Dressing Boy’s Merchandise Goes On Sale
One hour before the start of “Romeo and Juliet” by the first-year acting students at Hananomiya Girls’ Academy.
In front of the community center, a stall had been set up, drawing a large crowd of people.
“Alright, everyone, please line up in a single row! We still have plenty of Kaede-chan’s merchandise!”
With this announcement, the blonde gyaru from the model department, Hina Kasuga, skillfully sold Kaede’s merchandise ——- T-shirts, fans, and hand towels with Kaede’s photos printed on them ——– to the incoming customers.
Once she had finished serving the customers, Hina let out a big sigh.
“Wow, it’s really popular. Well, most of the customers are from our school, though.”
Standing next to Hina, the short-haired girl from the voice acting department, Hanako Sato, stared at Hina’s profile with a sullen expression.
“Bitch… What is this nonsense?”
“What nonsense? You were the one who suggested selling Kaede Kisaragi goods on the day of the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ performance. What are you talking about?”
“That’s not what I meant… Why do I have to be dressed like this and handle the sales?”
“Oh, that? You look cute in it, don’t you think?”
“I do not look cute at all!!!”
At present, Hanako had cat ears on her head and was wearing a cosplay outfit mimicking a beast.
Hina squinted and smiled.
“Well, the Kaede Kisaragi fan club is mostly made up of students from our school right now. We don’t have any male customers.”
“Of course. She’s still an unknown actress not affiliated with any production company. Her recognition is naturally limited to our school’s students.”
“Exactly. So, I thought it would be good to attract a few male members this time. With that, Kaede-chi’s popularity will surely rise outside the school too, right? People will definitely wonder, ‘Who is this cute girl?’ Her fan club members will surely increase! Yay!”
“And what does that have to do with me dressing up in cosplay? Is there a reason for it?”
“Well, it might appeal to boys, right? Since I’m also dressed in a similar cosplay, just hang in there.”
Hearing those words, Hanako frown and press her hand to her forehead, let out a heavy sigh.
Then she shook her head and turned back to spoke with Hina.
“Do you really think it will work? This play, held in the community center, has only been advertised on the school’s website and is an obscure performance. The audience will likely be just local residents or students from our school. Will such a performance really attract more viewers… I’m highly doubtful.”
“Heh heh heh! Don’t underestimate me, Hanako! Despite my appearance, I have quite a network! I had some friends from other schools put up this flyer and display it on the school’s bulletin board for about a week! Impressive, right?”
Saying that, Hina handed Hanako a piece of paper.
The paper had a large photo of Kaede and detailed information about the performance.
Hanako looked at the paper and let out a small smile.
“I see… Even though you’re a bitch, you’re surprisingly resourceful despite your usual attitude. Indeed, seeing this advertisement with Kaede’s face on it, high school boys in their perpetual state of lust will have no choice but to react. Kaede-san’s power as a beautiful girl is genuine.”
“See? So, I’m sure we’ll get a lot of audience for this play――――”
“Excuse me! I’d like one of the ‘Kaede Kisaragi Complete Goods Sets’, please!”
“Sure thing! That’ll be 7,000 yen!”
“Okay, 7,000 yen. Just a moment…”
“Hey, Shogo, are you seriously spending your hard earned part-time job money on something like this?”
“Y-yeah, Kiritani-kun! You don’t need to buy the goods! You came to watch the play, didn’t you?”
“Shut up, Tohru, class rep! I finally found out the identity of the angel I met at the station! How can I not buy the goods with my beloved’s picture on them?!”
“Oh, no! Why isn’t Yanagisawa-kun here at a time like this! Yanagisawa-kun always played the role of stopping Shogo when he went wild… I wish he’d come back already!”
“I don’t care about the guy who suddenly dropped out and vanished from our sight! What I want right now is just Kaede-chan Kisaragi!! Ah… She’s really cute… Kaede-chan~~”
After paying and receiving the goods from Hina, Shogo Kiritani, one of Fuuma’s former classmate, began to gaze dreamily at the T-shirt with Kaede’s picture on it.
Seeing him like that, Hina smiled and spoke to him.
“Hey, would you like to join the Kaede Kisaragi fan club? It costs about 500 yen a month, but you’ll get exclusive member-only goods!”
“A fan club!? I’m joining! Cool!”
“N-no, Kiritani-kun! It’s clearly suspicious!!”
“Hey, it’s not suspicious at all! We’re running a legitimate business here!”
“I have a responsibility to oversee Kiritani-kun in place of Yanagisawa-kun! I’m the class rep, after all!”
“Hmm? By the way, is that uniform from Segawa High School?”
“Y-yes, it is. What of it?”
“If I remember correctly, Kaede-chi mentioned before that her brother goes to Segawa High School… Hey, do you have a blonde, handsome guy there? Someone who looks half Japanese? He’s the older brother of the girl in this photo!”
“A blonde, handsome guy…? Could you be talking about Yanagisawa-kun?”
“Yanagisawa-kun…? His surname is not Kisaragi?”
“Yes, that’s correct…”
“Hmm…?”
Hina and Miyuki Makikusa, Fuuma’s former classmate, tilted their heads.
After staring at the two of them, Hanako put her hand to her chin with a puzzled look.
“…Is it possible that there are some complicated circumstances that lead to their surnames being different? Hmm…Even so…there’s something that seems a bit off…”
“What’s wrong, Hanako?”
“”No, it’s nothing. Also, please don’t make a mistake. I’m Francesca-san.”
“Look, we’ve bought some goods, so let’s get going, Kiritani-kun!”
“No way! I’m definitely going to join the fan club! So, Gyaru-san! How do I join the fan club!?”
“Well, you need to sign this document—”
“Arisaka-kun, please take him away!”
“There’s no other way… Come on, let’s go, Shogo.”
“Hey, let go of me, you glasses guy! I haven’t joined the fan club yet!”
With his arms being pulled, Shogo, Tohru, and Miyuki, Fuuma’s friends hurriedly left the scene.
Seeing his back, Hina frowned in anger.
Hey! I finally found a potential customer—oops, I mean, a fan club member—so don’t just take them away on your own!
“……”
“What’s wrong, Hanako? You look a bit confused.”
“No… nothing.”
“Really? But you look a bit gloomy…”
“Um, excuse me. Can I also buy some of Kaede-san’s goods?”
“Oh, yes, yes! …W-wait, what!? Senior Ginjou!? Why is a big star from the third year acting department here…!?”
“Lesbian… Did you come to see the play as well?”
At Hanako’s words, Ginjou Haruki smiled and nodded slightly.
“Yes. It’s a day off from school, so I came to support Kaede-san.”
“Are you still after the blue-eyed one… You’re so persistent…”
“Haha! Of course, I won’t give up! I’m determined to win Kaede-san’s heart! When we fought together the other day, I realized that once again! She is the very existence worthy of being my lifelong partner!”
“Eh, eh!? S-senpai Ginjou, do you like Kaede-chi!? H-how embarrassing… The biggest rival to the Kaede Kisaragi fan club is smitten with Kaede-chi… The third-year Ginjou Haruki fan club members are going to be so upset…”
“I’m sorry to the fans, but my heart now belongs solely to Kaede-san.”
Ginjou flicked her bangs back and flashed a handsome, charming smile, showing off her white teeth.
Seeing this, Hanako clicked her tongue in irritation, let out a short breath, and glanced towards the entrance of the Civic Center.
“…”
There were the three people there who had arrived at the store earlier: Shogo, Tohru, and Miyuki.
For some reason, Hanako stared at Fuuma’s three friends with suspicion, silently observing them.
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“— Finally, this day has come.”
In the backstage area of the Civic Center.
All the first-year acting students were lined up, standing in front of Professor Wagatsuma and Kyoichiro Yanagisawa.
Kyoichiro surveyed the students, grinning with a confident smile, and began to speak.
“Listen up. This play is scheduled to be a discreet performance with little publicity. The audience will likely consist mostly of local residents and our students. There might even be only four or five people in the audience. But— do not be discouraged. No matter the situation, give it your all.”
“Yes!!!”
“All actors start as unknowns. Even if some of you are already affiliated with production companies, from my perspective, most of you are still inexperienced, second-rate actors. You are not much different from amateurs.”
After saying that, Kyoichiro took a breath, crossed his arms, and continued.
“Therefore… consider today as the starting point of your acting careers and perform with that mindset. Enjoy this beginning. Everyone’s first performance should be fun. It is because you had fun that you are standing here now. Show the audience your enjoyable performance! Show them how much you want to succeed as actors!”
Saying that, Kyoichiro glanced briefly at me, lowered his gaze, and smiled faintly.
Then, as if saying there was nothing more to convey, he exited the backstage.
A performance that should be enjoyable, huh?
I had long planned to perform “Kaede Kisaragi” differently from “Fuuma Yanagisawa” as a actor.
Fuuma Yanagisawa’s acting was characterized by precise technical skills, accurately portraying the character in the script.
However, Kaede Kisaragi is different.
Kaede Kisaragi is a false actress born to become the shining star of Hananomiya Girls Academy, created to lure others into the world of theater.
What needs to be done is not precise acting but simply dragging others into this world.
[The world of art is, in reality, nothing but hell… My job is to deceive others and present it as a glamorous world.]
―――――― The most important thing as an actor.
It is a technique to replace oneself with another person and channel a different personality onto oneself.
Perfectly tracing the heart of the character in the script, sublimating oneself into a different existence, and deceiving the audience—an actor who dances madly on stage like a swindler.
That is the essence of the acting profession that has continued since ancient Greece.
So, I… Kaede Kisaragi, intend to become a true swindler.
To drag others into the entertainment industry—a hellish world where only those with talent can seize victory, walking through an answerless darkness—become a devil.