Shion Yuu: When we come now to a conversation like this, somehow it's actually difficult to talk (laughs). This is the first time we've talked together like this in "Kageki" or "Graph", isn't it?

Hyuuga Kaoru: We're always talking together at rehearsals and things like that, so there's nothing to talk about now.

Shion: Maybe about the performance right now... But we don't meet in the show at all~.

Hyuuga: We don't, do we (laughs).

Shion: I've only acted with Nessy in "Flowers Scattered on the Western Sea", as Arimori and Tadafusa.¹

Hyuuga: It's strange... Even in "Sorrowful Cordova" we didn't meet once.

Shion: We met, but we didn't interact within the performance. In Bow Halls too, we've appeared together, but never had anything to do with one another. In revue shows we'd appear in the same scenes, but because we'd be placed on opposite sides of the stage...

Hyuuga: Our eyes don't meet (laughs). It's only that we're on opposite sides, I guess.

Shion: Yes, that's it. It's only when we leave the stage that I feel like we can meet each other's eyes.

Hyuuga: After that, not at all.

Shion: We're in our own little worlds again (laughs).

Hyuuga: Other than that, we say "hello" when we cross paths.

Shion: When we did our shinjin kouen as well, there was a period when Nessy-san was doing Rumi-san (Setouchi)'s roles, and I was performing Mine-chan (Mine)'s roles, but we were split between the first and second performances.²

Hyuuga: Shime (Shion) got assigned to Star Troupe at the same time that I was transfered here, right!?³ So even though we've kept company with each other for that long...

Shion: That must be why the world thinks we've always been doing shows together. We haven't at all; it's a huge misunderstanding we've created, I think.

Hyuuga: I want to do a show together~. We could meet eyes properly (laughs). Zorro and a private detective?

Shion: I would be the private detective?

Hyuuga: That's right.

Shion: I don't wan't to be a private detective~ (laughs).

Hyuuga: Then how about a police detective?

Shion: A police detective!?

Hyuuga: A newspaper reporter!

Shion: Ehhhh~!

Hyuuga: Ah, I know! The young master (obon) of a rich family.

Shion: Obon!? If it's an obon, I'll do it~ (laughs)! You want to play a role like Zorro?

Hyuuga: Yep. And also~ wouldn't you like to try doing a fantastic type of revue show, or something like that?

Shion: Like those that Taako-san (Asami) and Ii-chan (Kotobuki) did.

Hyuuga: Right.

Shion: I like wearing coattails and dancing all in a row. Only someone like me can suit your height, Nessy, when we're lined up, hmm?(4) (laughs)

Hyuuga: That's why you like it (laughs).

Shion: I thought this while I was watching the recent TMP Music Festival — Star Troupe really is big. It looks like even the underclassmen lately are getting bigger.

Hyuuga: By the way, Shime, you're a Taurus and a type O, right? I'm a Taurus and a type B, so.... we don't suit (laughs).

Shion: We don't suit, not at all! (laughs)

Hyuuga: It doesn't particularly feel, usually, as if we suit or don't suit.

Shion: That's because we've known each other for too long. Nessy-san, Pucchi-san (Azumi) and the others from your year have made themselves almost into my classmates, and I'm very grateful.

Hyuuga: We really do seem like classmates, don't we.

Shion: Somehow or other we're alway doing things together; we're like siblings, and I've always respected you.

Hyuuga: Write that out big, in bold letters (laughs).

Shion: You've taught me so much in the shinjinkouen and such, that it's made me really happy.

Hyuuga: The way I see you, you have a very gentle personality, and I think: Wouldn't it be good if she had some un-gentle bits (laughs)?

Shion: What kind of personality is that?

Hyuuga: Completely different from me. Our characters on stage are different too.

Shion: That's why next time, definitely, I want to do a performance where we interact.

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(1) Two members of the Taira clan.
(2) Up until the 80s, the shinjinkouen often had two different casts.
(3) 1979
(4) Nessy is 173 cm, and Shime 169 cm.