Alright, do it!

Aye aye, sir!

Rui, can I power it up now?

Yes. The time has come for the bird robot I made for our shows to rise once more...

As Robo-Phoenix!

Chasing around a flying robot...

Do you really think this is going to be good practice, Tsukasa...?

He said the idea is based on the advice he received from Seiryuin... And I think it should prove effective.

Rio has to chase the phoenix around for a large portion of the show, so I figured that I should try doing that for as long as I can! That may give me some new insights!

I see...

Here we go!

Power ON!

Ah, it's up!

Time to catch you!!!

Grr...!

The way it moves is so unpredictable...!

“Oh, done already...?

You sounded so confident about catching me just now.”

Huh...?! Was that...?!

It's a recording of my voice.

The phoenix taunts Rio as he chases after her, no? I thought this would help make it feel more real.

True...

I appreciate it!

“Too slow.

Honestly, where are you looking? Are you not going to catch me?”

(Rio's an eight-year-old boy...

Also, he's not very athletic and only has his favorite bug-catching net at his disposal.)

(With that in mind, catching a phoenix sounds absolutely impossible. However...)

(His mother's life depends on him succeeding right now...!)

“Stop!

I'm going to catch you no matter what!”

Huff... Huff...

Are you okay, Tsukasa?

You fell a whole lot...

I'm fine. Rio also falls quite a lot.

Also, I'm being careful not to actually get hurt.

I know we don't have much time, but try not to push yourself too hard, okay? Here, use this bandage.

Ah, thank you.

But...

I still haven't quite figured Rio out yet...

I may not have actually made a connection with him yet. I mean, we're not in a forest, and the temperature and humidity feel completely different...

Alas, I know that I can't ask for everything. We don't have time to visit a forest since we need to practice, so...

Rio spends three days and nights surviving only on water...

Then, I shall do the same.

What?! You're kidding, right...?!

B-But... We're still practicing every day, and you have to play the chicken, remember? Just water? Are you sure...?

I fear that I won't be able to become Rio if I don't...

...

Your resolve is admirable, Tsukasa, and I don't plan to get in the way of you becoming a star.

However, I will stop you if I believe you're taking things too far.

Okay, thank you.

Especially since there would be a negative impact on the show if I were to fall ill.

But... Until then, I'm going to push myself to the limit!

Huff... Huff...

Tenma, you're slowing down!

Try to keep up!

...

(Grr... I'd be able to keep running if only I were at full strength...)

*Wince*

Oh no!

Tsukasa, you're really wobbly! Are you sure you're okay?

S-Sorry, Emu.

I feel a little lightheaded since I haven't had anything to eat...

At the same time, I think I'm starting to understand how hard it is to move while in a state of severe hunger...

But I'm also supposed to have wandered into an unfamiliar land. Oh, I can try remembering what it was like when we were stranded on that desert island...

Tsukasa...

(I know you can do it...!)

“Wait...! Oh...”

“I... I thought I had you this time!”

“Why can't I catch you...?

Why am I so weak and powerless...?”

No, that doesn't sound right...

He's feeling more than just sorrow here...

He's doing better than before, but...

He feels that he's still missing something...

...

(Still no...)

(I'm trying to express how he truly feels, but...)

(I still haven't brought Rio to life...)

(Why?

What am I missing here...?)

(As much as I want to figure it out, I don't have time... At this rate...)

No...!

I absolutely don't have time to think about that. I need to act! Now!

Do not give up, Tsukasa Tenma!

I know you can do it...!

“Why can't I catch you...?

Why am I so weak and powerless...?”

...

“What is your goal exactly...?!”

“I'm doing everything I can to catch you, but all you do is taunt and tease me!”

“You are mistaken...”

“The way you have been chasing me around so persistently... A very small part of me actually admires you...”

“Regardless of all the pain you are feeling, you still wish to save your mother?”

“I do...

Which is why I need to take your heart back to her...!”

(No...

All wrong...!)

(Performing opposite Seiryuin inevitably leads to my character sounding artificial... No, more than that...)

You've gotta be kidding me...

She feels even more like a phoenix now...

I-I'm staggered...

...

Stop there. Next.

Thank you...

I'll be in this next scene!

Yes, of course.

“Wh-What am I supposed to do...?

I want to save my mom, but...”

(The others are beginning to distinguish themselves from one another as Seiryuin pulls them along...)

(None seem to be the clear favorite, but at this rate, Tsukasa...)

(Not only will he not be able to reach Seiryuin's level, just getting the role is going to be a struggle...)

(Each Rio has its qualities...

They're all doing an excellent job of showing how frustrated he feels being unable to catch the phoenix despite his best efforts.)

(What am I going to do...?)

(I only have two days left...

What can I do...?!)

Tsukasa...

(Do I need to start observing what the others are doing in order to win this part...?)

(I'll surely be selected if I can show that my portrayal is even marginally better.)

(And after I'm chosen, I may be given more opportunities to polish what I have as we practice.)

(Which means, first and foremost, I need to come up with a way to win this audition...)

No... No, that won't do!

There's no point in winning this part with such a cheap portrayal.

Because the kind of star I want to become is...

(I've done everything I can...)

(I've thought about my character's background, how he feels, how he acts and moves... So many times too.)

(And yet, I'm struggling...)

(I'm nowhere near Seiryuin's level, or the others for that matter.)

(There's just no end to it, is there...?)

(The shows we've done at the Wonder Stage, our ambassadorial performances, that show we did with Asahi and his troupe, the workshop I attended...)

(I clearly felt that I grew and made big steps each time I stood on stage.)

(Which is why I thought the same would apply for this show. I was convinced that I'd be able to keep growing.)

(But...)

(There are plenty of others just like me out there.)

(Not only that, great actors and incredible talent like Asahi and Seiryuin exist...)

(And that person...)

(He's on top of the world.

Somewhere so distant and unfathomable...)

I...

How can I reach that place?

What do I need to do exactly...?

No, stop...

You won't be able to reach it if you don't extend your hand. You won't achieve anything...

Keep moving forward, Tsukasa Tenma...

Who could that be? It's so late...

Oh...

What are you all doing here so late...?

We're really sorry, Tsukasa, but we thought this was our only chance!

Yeah...

There isn't much time left until the audition...

But we've come this far.

So, why don't we think about it together?

A way for you to fully capture Rio.

All of you...

(Now I see...

I kept trying to figure this all out on my own, but...)

(It takes more than one person to put on a show.)

(I've been able to reach some great heights already because I've had them here with me...)

(The chances of the current me succeeding at this are exceedingly slim...)

(But...)

(I'm not about to stop here...

Not while I have their support.)

(As someone who's destined to become a future star...!)

Yes, I appreciate it greatly...

Until the day of the audition, let's do our best together!!!

Now...?!

You couldn't have picked a worse time...!

Hehe. It just means you're aching for a bite, right? Make sure to eat something tomorrow so that you'll be ready to practice at full strength.

Oh, I'll bring a really big rice ball!!!