Secret Training
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"Meow—! I'm the Cheshire Cat. This forest's cleverest and greatest cat, meow!"
"Meow—! I'm the Cheshire Cat. This forest's cleverest and greatest cat, meow!"
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"There's nothing that I do not know. Because the only things in this world are things that I know."
"There's nothing that I do not know. Because the only things in this world are things that I know."
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"What do you want to know? I know everything! Whatever you want to know, I know."
"What do you want to know? I know everything! Whatever you want to know, I know."
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"...Meow? What'd you say? About me? You want to know who I am?"
"...Meow? What'd you say? About me? You want to know who I am?"
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"Mwahaha, you've said some amusing things. But I cannot answer that question."
"Mwahaha, you've said some amusing things. But I cannot answer that question."
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"Who am I? Your answer is my answer. The moment you answer, my answer will also be decided, meow."
"Who am I? Your answer is my answer. The moment you answer, my answer will also be decided, meow."
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"What? You don't understand, meow?"
"What? You don't understand, meow?"
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"If you really want to know, then try thinking. Try guessing, meow."
"If you really want to know, then try thinking. Try guessing, meow."
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"Who am I? Who are you? The answer is definitely deep, deep inside you — somewhere you have to think really hard to reach."
"Who am I? Who are you? The answer is definitely deep, deep inside you — somewhere you have to think really hard to reach."
Tsukasa:
Tsuyuzaki-san, thanks for waiting!
Mahiru:
Ebisu-san, sorry for calling you out all of a sudden.
Tsukasa:
It's fine, don't worry about it. If I can help, I'll hear you out. So, what did you want advice for?
Mahiru:
Yes, actually... I'm going to be the Cheshire Cat in the next play, "Alice in Wonderland".
Tsukasa:
I see, so you will be the Cheshire Cat as well.
Mahiru:
Yes, but, you see... Out of all the characters in the story, the Cheshire Cat is particularly odd.
Mahiru:
You don't know what he's thinking, right? I've been struggling with how to approach the role...
Tsukasa:
I see. So you decided to ask me about it because I did the same role before.
Mahiru:
Yeah. Your Cheshire Cat had an unrestrained and carefree personality. It was an interesting way to express it, so I was curious to know what you used as reference.
Tsukasa:
Heheh, thanks! I don't know if I'll be able to meet your expectations but I'd be happy to help.
Tsukasa:
Now what I used as reference for my Cheshire Cat... It's probably that?
Mahiru:
That?
Tsukasa:
Hm... How should I put it, kind of like a secret training?
Mahiru:
S-Secret training!? Just what kind of training is that...?
Tsukasa:
Ah, no, maybe calling it a secret training is going overboard. But...it definitely helped as reference for performing the role.
Tsukasa:
That's right. Why don't we go there now?
Mahiru:
Huh!? Is it okay?
Tsukasa:
Of course! It's been a while since I've seen them.
Mahiru:
(Them? What's this about?)
Tsukasa:
I'll lead the way — follow me.
Tsukasa:
Marron! Long time no see, meow! How have you been?
Meow!
Tsukasa:
Okay, okay. Just wait, I'll feed you now!
*rolls around*
Tsukasa:
Mint, long time no see! This is the toy that you like! Ah, Chocolate! Here's your favorite salmon-flavored treat.
Meow meow!
Mahiru:
Um... Is this the secret training? This is a cat cafe...
Mahiru:
It couldn't be that the secret training is...
Tsukasa:
Yes — to play with real cats!
Mahiru:
What!? That's the secret behind playing the Cheshire Cat?
Tsukasa:
Yes. To be honest, I think the Cheshire Cat has similarities with real cats.
Tsukasa:
In fact, I came up with how to play that role by watching how these kittens move.
Tsukasa:
That's why, if you're going to understand the Cheshire Cat's feelings, I advice you to spend time with real cats.
Mahiru:
R-Really?
Tsukasa:
As such... There you go. These are the treats and toys that they like. Now, Tsuyuzaki-san, you try it too.
Mahiru:
O-Okay.
Mahiru:
Marron-chan, come play with meow!
...Hmph.
Mahiru:
Huh? Marron-chan, I have food—!
...
Mahiru:
L-Look, look! Chocolate-chan, let's play with the toys!
...
Mahiru:
Mint-chan, food...
...
Mahiru:
They won't play with me at all... Why...?
Tsukasa:
Ahaha, that can happen. They wouldn't play with me at all in the beginning too.
Tsukasa:
But don't worry. As long as you observe them closely, you'll definitely understand what they want.
Tsukasa:
And then naturally, you'll be able to figure out how to play the Cheshire Cat. So do your best, Tsuyuzaki-san!
Mahiru:
Yes, thank you... You're right. I have to do my best in order to figure out my role!
Cheshire Cat's Heart
Mahiru:
Marron-chan, I have food meow!
...
Mahiru:
...It's not working. I'm getting the cold shoulder.
Mahiru:
Ebisu-san said that as long as I observe closely, I'll be able to see it...
Mahiru:
... *stare*
...Meow?
Mahiru:
Looking closely like this, cats have a lot of different expressions. This one looks judgy and this one looks like it's smiling.
Mahiru:
...Huh? This one's expression... I feel like I've seen it before...
Mahiru:
...That's right! Could it be—?
Mahiru:
Marron-chan! Is this what you wanted to eat...?
...Meow!
Mahiru:
That's it. This is what you wanted to eat, isn't it?
Mahiru:
Mint, here you are!
Meow meow meow!
Mahiru:
Chocolate... You want to play right now. Then here, let's play with this toy.
Meow!!!
Mahiru:
Okay, okay. So you like this rubber ball...
Tsukasa:
Wow, Tsuyuzaki-san! You won them over already.
Mahiru:
Yes, once I observed them closely, I could tell what it was that they wanted.
Tsukasa:
Ah, which means... Have you also realized the true nature of cats?
Mahiru:
I think so... I can see myself using this to understand more my role as the Cheshire Cat.
Tsukasa:
Right?! That's also what I thought when I could finally understand their feelings.
Tsukasa:
I realized that I could use their fickle and carefree nature in my performance.
Mahiru:
Fickle and...carefree?
Tsukasa:
Yes. What I mean is that to win over cats, you don't force them to match you, but rather you match yourself to how they are.
Tsukasa:
So I channeled that into my acting and came up with a carefree Cheshire Cat who isn't bound by anything or anyone.
Mahiru:
I see... I didn't see that perspective.
Tsukasa:
Huh? Wait... Isn't this also what you came up with?
Mahiru:
No. To be honest, I got close to them with a method that's slightly different from yours.
Tsukasa:
Oh, really? What method is that?
Mahiru:
That's still...a secret.
Tsukasa:
What!? Now I REALLY want to know.
Mahiru:
Hehe, I'll use it when I play the Cheshire Cat on stage, so I'll tell you then.
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"Hey, we meet again. Maybe it's destiny, meow?"
"Hey, we meet again. Maybe it's destiny, meow?"
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"Meow? You know the answer now?"
"Meow? You know the answer now?"
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"Meow, let's see then. Who am I?"
"Meow, let's see then. Who am I?"
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"Meow? You don't understand? ...Well, of course. That's a difficult problem that even I, the smartest in this forest, have a hard time with..."
"Meow? You don't understand? ...Well, of course. That's a difficult problem that even I, the smartest in this forest, have a hard time with..."
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"Huh? ...You think I'm actually lonely?"
"Huh? ...You think I'm actually lonely?"
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"What!? How dare you! I'm not an attention seeker..."
"What!? How dare you! I'm not an attention seeker..."
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"W-What!? I give strange riddles because I'm seeking attention?"
"W-What!? I give strange riddles because I'm seeking attention?"
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"D-Don't be stupid! If you keep saying these preposterous things..."
"D-Don't be stupid! If you keep saying these preposterous things..."
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"..."
"..."
Mahiru:
(As Cheshire Cat)
"You might be right... I...know that I only want...to spend...time...with everyone..."
"You might be right... I...know that I only want...to spend...time...with everyone..."
After the performance...
Tsukasa:
Tsuyuzaki-san, good work! Your performance was really good!
Mahiru:
Ah, Ebisu-san! Thanks for coming!
Tsukasa:
I was surprised! I didn't expect you to emphasize the Cheshire Cat's loneliness in your acting.
Tsukasa:
Just what did you find in the cats at the cat cafe?
Mahiru:
Truth be told, when I looked at their faces, it reminded me of my younger brother and sister back home.
Tsukasa:
Oh, you have siblings!
Mahiru:
Yeah. All my siblings are carefree and oftentimes unpredictable.
Mahiru:
But when I can't give them attention because I'm helping my parents out...they have those same lonely expressions.
Tsukasa:
I see. So that's the connection that you made with cats at the cat cafe and the Cheshire Cat.
Mahiru:
Yeah. When I was spending time with them, I started to wonder if they don't actually feel lonely often.
Mahiru:
And then the image of the Cheshire Cat came to mind.
Mahiru:
Couldn't it be that his elusiveness is an act to hide his loneliness?
Mahiru:
That's why he was pretending to be fickle... I wanted to try adding that bit.
Tsukasa:
Wow, this is an interpretation that only you could come up with.
Mahiru:
Heh heh. Thank you.
Tsukasa:
The role of the Cheshire Cat sure is deep. Depending on one's interpretation, the acting can differ so much.
Mahiru:
Yeah, it seems like there is still room for more interpretations.
Tsukasa:
Hehe, I was thinking the same thing. Don't you feel that we still need more training?
Mahiru:
Training? ...Oh! Hehe, indeed. We do need more training.
Tsukasa:
I thought so too, so I've already contacted the staff!
Mahiru:
Wow, you're a fast worker. Shall we go then?
Tsukasa:
Yes. To our training spot — the cat cafe!
Mahiru:
My Cheshire Cat performance will be different from Frontier's Ebisu-san's so I hope you'll enjoy it.
Mahiru:
What surprised me the most this time was Cheshire Cat's wide range.
Mahiru:
We thought about the acting for the same role and from the same references... I can't believe that the direction of our acting came out to be so different.
Mahiru:
I talked about it with Ebisu-san too but it's a role that makes you want to try out a variety of other possibilities.