Hasumi, Stop It.

Hasumi, enough. It's enough already.

Theater doesn't need to be popular.

I'm an unsuccessful theater person, a self-proclaimed theater troupe member.

I'm turning 36 this year.

Having come this far, I need it.

I need the excuse that "theater just wasn't popular."

I'm already preparing to die saying exactly that.

Theater isn't popular.

The audience doesn't come.

The troupe members just get older.

And then, I'll grumble a bit while laughing over drinks.

"Man, the times were just bad."

If I can't say that, I'm in trouble.

If it doesn't end that way, I'll break.

So Hasumi, please stop.

Every time you charm everyone with that friendly smile, it troubles me a little.

Don't try to expand theater.

Don't try to increase the entry points to theater.

Don't tell people who don't know theater how interesting it is.

Please, just stop doing that.

I've adapted to a world where theater isn't popular.

On the premise that theater isn't popular, I've already built a small grave that says, "If only it were popular, I would have been more appreciated."

Don't destroy my grave.

Let me remain a victim of an era where theater wasn't popular.

It was very comfortable, you know.

Spending my days believing that "if only I were in the 80s, I would have definitely succeeded."

Let it end as a mere possibility.

Let my self-esteem sleep within those hypotheses—that if the times were different, if theater had more attention...

Listen, Hasumi, think calmly.

The worst thing is being unsuccessful even when theater is popular.

Don't try to create a world where people become that miserable.

Hasumi. I'm begging you. Hasumi.

Calm down. Hasumi.

Don't smile so much. Hasumi.

Your smile is too cute.

Don't smile so much anymore.

Hasumi.

You're doing this out of goodwill.

You're doing it because you love theater.

You're doing it because you want interesting things to reach more people.

You're doing it because you believe in the potential of theater.

First of all, stop that vibe.

If you do that, everyone will support you.

Don't move anymore.

Hasumi.

Please, Hasumi.

What a stylish name.

Hasumi.

I really didn't want you to win the Kishida Kunio Drama Award.

Oh, Makoto Ueda, you too.

There's something dangerous about your movements too.

Hasumi. Ueda.

You guys are desecrating my grave.

It's bad when people like you, who are open to the world, win this award.

Oishi is enough. Only people like Oishi should win the Kishida.

What is he?

There's something strange about him.

That's fine. He's fine, Oishi.

He's fine.

He's just strange.

It's fine if nobody knows about the Kishida Kunio Drama Award.

It's an award I'm never going to win anyway.

...But you know, it's not like I've given up.

Someone who has truly given up wouldn't say things like this.

Someone who has truly left theater wouldn't care whether theater becomes popular or not.

I care.

Because I care, I'm praying, "Please don't let it become popular."

I don't want to see the sight of myself failing in a world where theater is popular.

I want to die slowly in a world where theater remains unpopular, being somewhat appreciated by a tiny fraction of people.

Hasumi, please.

Understand me.

Hasumi.

Ueda. Please.

Stop it already.

Don't open up theater any further.

Don't let theater out.

Don't let the air into theater.

Don't let theater become popular.

I!

The conclusion of my life!

Cannot be explained!

By my lack of effort!

Or lack of talent!

Or laziness!

Or errors in judgment!

Or just not being loved!!

So please!

Let it be the fault of the era!!

Let me explain my misfortune through the era or the country!!

"Because it was an era when theater wasn't popular."

"Because it was an era when audiences didn't come to small theaters."

"Because it was a country where money didn't flow into culture."

"Because in the age of SNS and video, stage plays were a bad match."

"Because theater isn't something that spreads that much anyway."

Defend! Defend this at all costs!!!!!

Hasumi!

Hasumi!

Ueda!

I'm done for!

Hasumi!

Hasumi-kun!

Hasumi-kun!!!!!

Help me!!!!!

Help me already!!!!!

Hasumi-kun, help me already!!!!!

Hasumi-kun!!!!!!

It hurts!!!

It hurts!!!!!!!!!!

Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(End)