A one-woman show?!

Yes. If we do that, then we'll be able to put on a satisfactory show with a lone actor and bare minimum stage effects.

Either way, it's still impossible. We don't have enough time or even a single actor to do it.

Wait… Are you saying that you'll take to the stage for us?

No, this is an Uranohoshi school festival, so I think it should be an Uranohoshi high school student who performs.

I will work behind the scenes and support you off-stage in the wings for this performance.

Luckily, the planned performance is a love story based on The Little Mermaid.

If we re-structure the play so that the mermaid princess' monologue is the focus, then we can still closely recreate the vision of the original script!

But who on earth could play such a huge role…?

Riko! I heard all about what happened! Is everything okay?!

…I found her!

Wh-What is the meaning of this sudden finger-pointing?!

A tender, mysterious story based on a mermaid folk tale, where the mermaid princess has dark hair that almost sparkles! Nobody fits this role and the setting better than Dia!

Please, c-calm down! Could you be so kind as to explain what in the world is going on?

[Fade in/out.]

Oh, I see… I think I understand now. I do empathize with thinking about your audience members and wanting to put on a show for them regardless.

However, you must also take into account the feelings of all the club members who worked so hard preparing for today.

Riko, what did the club members say?

On the phone earlier, they said they don't want to disappoint the audience with an empty stage or let down everyone here to enjoy the school festival.

It's not like I don't understand how they feel. They worked so hard preparing for today because they wanted to see everyone's smiling faces.

I want to help change the play ever so slightly, while making sure we don't ruin their hard work, to deliver something to the audience!

Dia, won't you please help us out?

…I understand. For everyone else's sake, and for the sake of the school, let's give it a go!

Dia!

I'll make adjustments to the script right away now that that's settled. And I'd like to be in charge of directing your performance, if that's okay with you, Dia. Let's get this done!

I won't let you down.

[Fade in/out.]

Was the plan for you to play the piano for all of the background music, Riko?

No. I was only going to play for one song during the finale. The girl in charge of sound was going to play some sounds and music for the rest of it.

Well, that means we're gonna have to be the ones to sort out the background music, right? Are the tracks and sound effects all here?

Yeah, they're here. I don't really know how to use the sound equipment, though…

Let me have a look. Hmm… If I do this to this…

Eeek!

That made me jump! Looks like we're out of our depth.

Y-Yeah…

Hmm… Oh! How about we reproduce all of the music by playing the songs on the piano instead?

That might work! There are a lot of peaceful ballads in the play, so we might get away with it.

[Fade in/out.]

How does this sound, Maki?

Yeah, that's a really pretty melody.

Thank you. I'm really nervous, but I'm glad to have you by my side, Maki.

Working behind the scenes is a really important job, too. I'll be here supporting you, so let's do our best!

Yeah! I'm counting on you, Maki.