Let's see... The classroom for my next lesson should be this way.

(I'd like to get there early in order to check to make sure I'm moving okay.)

Wait, this is where...

(This is where I had that talk with Imura...)

I haven't seen her since she was told to stop auditioning the other day... I hope she's okay.

(I know I should focus on the show itself, but...)

Huh? Kusanagi...?

What are you doing in the middle of the corridor? Is something wrong?

Oh, Byakkomachi...

Umm... I was just thinking about something, is all.

I see.

Then, I apologize for interrupting your train of thought.

No, we should be heading to class, after all. I appreciate you speaking up.

Ah, I'm glad to hear that.

Um, Byakkomachi?

Do you know if Imura's okay?

I haven't forgotten about what you told me the other day, but...

She should be fine.

It's nothing for you to worry about, Kusanagi.

Huh...?

Anyway, shall we?

We probably shouldn't spend all our time chatting here.

R-Right, let's go.

(So, is she telling me again to stop thinking about Imura and stay focused on the production?)

(It's still a bit of a bitter pill to swallow...)

(But...

I do need to do everything I can for the task ahead of me.)

(Phew... Another tough lesson today, but I feel like I'm moving my body much better now.)

(Still, I'm miles behind the others.

I should probably head over to SEKAI to do my usual training and...)

Hi, Kusanagi...

Huh? Imura?

U-Uhh, so... How are you feeling?

You haven't been showing up for our lessons.

O-Oh, I'm okay!

I had a bit of a flu, is all...

But my fever finally broke just earlier.

Really? Thank goodness...

A-Also...!

I'm really sorry about what I said during the auditions. I feel awful about not taking your feelings into consideration more.

I'm also sorry...

You were just trying to cheer me up, but I ended up lashing out at you.

No, you were just...

No, I took all of the anger and frustration I was feeling out on you...

Even going into the audition, I knew that I still didn't have a good grasp of Luca.

But I decided to go in without doing the work, because I wanted to play him so much. I ended up putting on a horrible performance, and the teachers rightly called me out on it.

Then, even though you were just trying to cheer me up, I bit your head off... I really am sorry.

No, you don't have to apologize. It's my fault for...

No, please let me continue!

I want to apologize to you, properly. But that's not all I have to say.

I want to finish by thanking you.

What?

The way you performed during the audition made it clear to me that you really faced Luca head-on.

Oh...

That made me really happy.

I ended up getting cut, but you kept trying your absolute best.

Seeing that made me want to stand back up.

...!

So, thank you. I'm done running...

From auditions, and from my own shortcomings.

(Oh...)

(I see...

So this is what Byakkomachi meant.)

(She must've known that Imura would find the strength to stand back up.)

(Which is why she just kept watch. Because she believed in her classmate...)

Then, why don't we hold a debrief together right now?

Huh? A debrief?

Yeah, because I wanna do everything I can. That includes making the most of the results from this time around.

So, I'd love to hear what your thought process was, in terms of learning to play Luca.

Because I do genuinely believe that you did a good job of capturing Luca's delicate personality.

*Nod*

Thanks, Kusanagi. I also really liked your portrayal of Luca...

Thanks. Then, let's discuss this in the courtyard. There are just so many questions that I wanna ask you.