GRAPH Sayonara Talk

Haruno: If you ask why I requested you... ... I wonder why. (laughs)

Sena: Come on (laughs). But I knew it. That you would definitely call on me to be your partner for your Sayonara Talk (laughs).

Haruno: ... say something like that... (laughs).

Sena: But the truth is my heart was pounding (laughs). What should I do if it's not me? Who?! Who else would it be?! I thought.

Haruno: (laughs).

Sena: Did you debate it?

Haruno: Not at all. I thought we should use this space to put our feelings in order before my retirement. We really do have to talk about it, don't we.

Sena: Yes. My goal for today is not to cry.

Haruno: It sort of looks like you're ready to cry already though.

Sena: I am, I am. I'm ready to cry (laughs). But, I won't. Because you'll get mad (laughs).

Haruno: (laughs). I can sympathize with your wavering, about-to-cry feeling, so if I see your tears, I think I'll break down too... .

Sena: Aren't you about to cry now anyway?

Haruno: (laughs).

Sena: I was in the break room, during a rest period on the national tour, when I heard that your retirement had been announced. I sobbed so much that the people around me ebbed.

Haruno: That they ebbed (laughs).

Sena: For a while I was just fixing my stage makeup like normal, but then suddenly I started sobbing.

Haruno: (laughs).

Sena: The people around me were shocked. They were like, "Wh-what happened?!" I was like, "U... uu... uuu... Masa-chan... Masa-chan... " (laughs). Everyone understood right away: "Oh, it's because of Ms. Haruno's announcement," and they left me alone after that (laughs).

Haruno: Those feelings you have for me--to say that I'm happy doesn't even begin to describe it. I still remember the text message you sent me that day. The ending was very you (laughs).

Sena: It was like, "What number am I in the Sayonara Show?" (laughs)

Haruno: How could you appear in it? (laughs) You have a performance then! (laughs)

Sena: (laughs). What I wrote was embarrassing, so I had to make it funny at the end (laughs). I'm laughing to hide my embarrassment (laughs).

Haruno: That, and your love?

Sena: Yeah (laughs). Actually... ... the fact that I can't stand on the same stage and cheer you on during your last performance, and the fact that I can't be in your Sayonara Show... ... ... ... (tears).

Haruno: Aah, you cried!

Sena: But it's because I changed troupes and was in the position of top otokoyaku at the same time as you that I was able to understand your thoughts and difficulties. Above all, I was able to make new friends in Moon Troupe. And now, I'm very happy being onstage. I really think that what happened was a good thing. But even though I think so, this is different ... ... (tears).

Haruno: I understand. But, I think of it a little differently. Of course, when I became top otokoyaku and you were in Flower Troupe, I think those times, and that "shape," were really wonderful. I, also, was conscious of that, but at the same time, I also knew how much of a star you were, how wonderful your abilities were, how brilliant you were, so rather than being under me in Flower Troupe, if there were a place where you could shine as the center of attention, that would be much better for you ... ... that's what I thought.

Sena: ... ... that's your love, isn't it.

Haruno: If the two of us are together, we can really inspire each other and through that we can both grow, and whenever the two of us do something together, the fans are very happy, but I thought, it can't just end there. I knew we could shine brighter if we were together, but it's no good if we can only shine because we're together, is it. We both have to be able to shine on our own, I thought. You were already at the point where you could do that very well.

Sena: I ... ... it's true that at the time, I was very happy to be told things like "If we're together we can shine brighter," but I always felt like ... ... it was also incredibly presumptuous of me. I thought, for me and upperclassman top otokoyaku Ms. Sumire Haruno to be called things like "OsaAsa," as if we were a combi . . ., wouldn't that somehow be dragging on your foot, even though you, a top otokoyaku, and I were completely different, and I was unworthy . . ..
Haruno: (smiles).

Sena: What? What?

Haruno: No, I was just thinking, you really succeeded.

Sena: Why?! I haven't done anything at all!!

Haruno: (laughs).

Sena: Now that I'm standing in the same place as you I can finally properly be happy to have had you say, "A relationship we can both grow from," or to have had the fans be happy that we did something together.

Haruno: Are you fulfilled now?

Sena: Yes, I am.

Haruno: Good.

Sena: Because I'm blessed with friends.

Haruno: I see. When we were together in the rehearsal room for the TCA Special, I realized you were fulfilled. Now that I've heard it right from your mouth I'm relieved. From now on, I won't be able to sense your condition from the atmosphere like I could up until now. It's probably none of my business, but I was a little worried (laughs).

Sena: Thank you very much (laughs). I'm very fulfilled. But that and your leaving Takarazuka are completely different problems. At any rate, the feeling of loss that your retirement brings me isn't just halfway. It's not an exaggeration to say that a part of my youth is going to end.

Haruno: Thank you for saying so (laughs).

Sena: Are you happy now?

Haruno: Very happy. To the point that the word "happiness" can't describe a better state. Every day I realize, "Oh, this must be what happiness is."

Sena: I see. Actually, you give off an aura like that (laughs). Um... there's something I really want to tell you. It might be painful for you to remember what I'm going to talk about though... .

Haruno: OK.

Sena: Several years ago, when I was still in Flower Troupe, on Wednesdays during the run of a show, there was practice for the TCA Special. During practice for TCA Specials, we're together with people from other troupes who we aren't normally together with, so the rest periods are really lively, right? A little before that, you lost your mother... . But you were forcing yourself to smile and talk with everyone. I couldn't stand it... . I didn't want you to have to be in the middle of a lot of people. So when it came to the afternoon break, I took you out... .

Haruno: We ate obentou under a blue sky, just the two of us.

Sena: Then, when we had finished our obentou... .

Haruno: I cried, right?

Sena: That's when you said, "You have to say 'thank you' to people while you still can."

Haruno: (smiles).

Sena: That day, I went home and called my mom right away. I said, "Thank you for everything, Mom."

Haruno: That's so cute! (laughs)

Sena: It's not as if just because you're retiring from Takarazuka we'll never be able to see each other again, but I think right now, I have to tell you the things I never told you precisely because you were always there. Including the music school preparatory course and regular course it's been 17 years--Masa-chan, thank you so much.

Haruno: ... what is this ... it sounds fake... .

Sena: I really feel grateful to you. I think the reason I can be in Takarazuka the way I am nowI'm not lying or flattering you or anythingit's thanks to you. Really, thank you so much.

Haruno: ... ... um... ... ... . I don't know... what to do... ... . It surprised me... ... to hear something like that from you... . I can't express the feeling I have right now in words... ... . Why do you say... ... .

Sena: Because you taught me to say "thank you" while I still can.

Haruno: No way... . I think it's because you were there that I am who I am now, andI don't mean this in a weird wayit's thanks to everyone around me that I can say I really like myself now, but I think the one who always influenced me most deeply was you, so... . I'm the one who should be thanking you for making me who I am now... .

Sena: No way! No way!

Haruno: Sorry, I can't express myself well. Asako, thank you. But you know, even though we're saying thank you, even though I'm leaving Takarazuka, our relationship will still continue, won't it.

Sena: Right, right.

Haruno: Even if, like up until now, no reply comes to a text message (laughs), even if we don't get in touch often (laughs).

Sena: (laughs). Huh? ... ... wait a minute! That's going to continue? I wonder if it's going to continue. I'm kind of worried now (laughs). Umm... will you really get in touch with me?

Haruno: ... ... ...

Sena: Oh... never mind... .

Haruno: I'm kidding I'm kidding! (laughs)

Sena: I know (laughs). You're really waiting for me to get in touch with you, right? (laughs)

Haruno: (laughs).

Overflow Talk 1... Future Prospects

Haruno: I can't imagine myself after I retire and have free time.

Sena: Here's my prediction. You'll aaalways be at home, taking care of plants and things. And you'll probably have hamsters or some kind of small animals again, like before. I got it! For your retirement present I'll give you a hamster.

Haruno: Hey! Wait a minute!! If you do that I'll name it "Asako," but is that ok? Every day I'll say things like, "Here, Asako!" "Look! Asako! Food!!" (laughs).

Sena: Nooo!

Overflow Talk 2... To A Different Degree?

Sena: There was a great loneliness inside of me when Midori (Ootori Rei) retired as well, but, forgive me for saying so, it's different with you than with Midori. The magnitude is different (laughs).

Haruno: When Midori reads this she's going to get really mad. A text message will come right away (laughs). "Hey--!!" (laughs).

Sena: "You two--!!" (laughs).

Haruno: Even though we're upperclassmen (laughs).

Sena: She'll get mad anyway (laughs).

Overflow Talk 3... Fan Letters

Sena: I'm really upset I couldn't see you sing the national anthem at the opening ceremony of the world track meet. I can't set a timer to record videos (laughs).

Haruno: But you're constantly hearing me sing in person, so it's fine.

Sena: But the national anthem is differeent. I wanted to hear iit. Well, but the next day, I received a fan letter that was mostly about you singing the national anthem, so I was pretty much able to imagine it (laughs).

Haruno: (laughs).

Sena: A lot of people write me letters on your postcards too (laughs).

Haruno: I wonder why (laughs).

Sena: Yeah, I wonder why (laughs).

Haruno: Actually, I often receive fan letters that talk about you too.

Sena: It's good that we know how the other is getting along, isn't it (laughs).

Overflow Talk 4... Aura

Sena: Your hair is really pretty isn't it. You can boast about how glossy and straight it is (laughs).

Haruno: I don't really boast about it. But it is pretty (laughs).

Sena: See? (laughs).

Haruno: When I grow it out it'll be really pretty (laughs).

Sena: (laughs). I wonder what you'll look like after you retire.

Haruno: I think I'll become really normal. I wonder if people will even recognize me. That's how plain I think I'll become.

Sena: This again.

Haruno: It's true, it's true.

Sena: No, because you have an aura you can't hide.

Haruno: No, no. Even if I do, it's limited to onstage. Even now I'm very inconspicuous backstage. No matter how flashy of a costume I'm wearing, people are constantly calling out, "Haruno-saan" looking for me. "I'm right here!" I think (laughs).

Sena: That happens to me too (laughs).