Real Beauty
Ichie (Diaochan):
"Please protect me, Dong Zhuo! Lu Bu is so violent. I'm afraid for my life..."
Ichie:
Hmm... This is not quite right.
Ichie:
(I'm not sure how, but I can just imagine Fumi telling me my performance lacks a punch...)
Ichie:
(Maybe it's because the original story used tons of difficult words...? I feel that I don't quite get who Diaochan was.)
Ichie:
Hmm... Time to go to the library, I guess! There should be easier versions of Romance of the Three Kingdoms!
Ichie:
Off to the library, Ichie!
Ichie:
923...923... Chinese literature...
Yuyuko:
Huh? Ichie-san?
Ichie:
"Oh, if it isn't my dear Wang Yun!"
Yuyuko:
Did hell freeze over? It's unusual to see you here.
Ichie:
Did you completely ignore my passionate line!? Wang Yun is Diaochan's father!
Yuyuko:
It's against my principles to act outside a play...
Yuyuko:
Anyway, are you looking for something in particular?
Ichie:
Yes — something on Diaochan!
Ichie:
I know that Rinmeikan has quite the collection, but I was looking for something different.
Yuyuko:
I see. Most of the books in Rinmeikan are quite old indeed.
Ichie:
Ah! How about a "Romance of the Three Kingdoms for Dummies"? Or you could give me a lecture on it...? Pretty please!
Yuyuko:
*sigh* Fans of the book won't be too happy about your approach.
Ichie:
Sorry, sorry! Help me out, please!
Yuyuko:
All right then... Mind you — it's not my forte so don't expect too much.
Ichie:
Thank you, Yuyuko! I'll buy you a tomato juice next time!
Yuyuko:
Heh heh. Looking forward to that. Anyway, you already know the overall story, right?
Ichie:
It's about the Three Kingdoms in China — Wei, Wu and Shu!
Ichie:
It starts with the Yellow Turban Rebellion and ends with the fall of Wu!
Yuyuko:
Exactly. Diaochan was born and lived through that period of great turmoil.
Yuyuko:
She came to be known as a dangerous woman as she used her allure to lead Dong Zhuo to his death, but...
Yuyuko:
She was also renowned for her loyalty to Wang Yun and Lu Bu.
Ichie:
Oh, you're right!
Ichie:
Diaochan could have used her charm to side with anyone, but she decided to use her good-looks and side with Wang Yun and Lu Bu.
Yuyuko:
She sounds like you in a way.
Ichie:
Heh Heh. I may be a charming young woman unrivalled through the whole land, but—
Yuyuko:
You don't pull any pranks on anyone other than us.
Ichie:
Huh!?
Yuyuko:
Anyway... What I was trying to say is that she doesn't go around recklessly using her power.
Yuyuko:
How about it? Do you feel more confident about her now?
Ichie:
Oh, yeah. I was too caught up in the dangerous aspect of her portrayal.
Ichie:
That's why I was focusing on her charm, rather than the fact that she was loyal and hard-working.
Yuyuko:
Heh heh. Her beauty managed to fool someone like you, too.
Yuyuko:
That's probably how Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu also fell victim.
Ichie:
Ngh... She really did! Next time I won't be fooled so easily!
Yuyuko:
I'm sure you won't. How do you plan to change how you perform Diaochan?
Ichie:
First and foremost, I'm going to change my attitude depending on who I'm interacting with!
Ichie:
I'll act like a charming beauty in front of Dong Zhuo, and like a loyal person in front of Wang Yun!
Yuyuko:
That sounds exactly like something she would do. I'm looking forward to seeing it in action next time.
Ichie:
Don't you worry! My Diaochan will blow your mind!
Ichie:
All right then! I'm gonna go practice now! Thank you for everything, Yuyuko!
Yuyuko:
Heh heh... I better polish my Wang Yun, too.
Loyalty and Charm
Ichie (Diaochan):
"Sigh... If I were the Moon, I could shine over you during your darkest hours..."
Yuyuko (Wang Yun):
"Diaochan..."
Ichie (Diaochan):
"Oh my. Father..."
Yuyuko (Wang Yun):
"You look as beautiful as always. What is troubling you?"
Ichie (Diaochan):
"Nothing... I'm just sad."
Ichie (Diaochan):
"You have no use for me, Father. I'm no more than a doll..."
Yuyuko (Wang Yun):
"Nonsense. Having you by my side gives me peace of mind."
Ichie (Diaochan):
"Still... Peace of mind won't help you defeat Dong Zhuo."
Yuyuko (Wang Yun):
"You heard me..."
Ichie (Diaochan):
"Yes, I heard you saying Dong Zhuo is still too powerful. I wish I could offer some help, but alas I'm too powerless."
Yuyuko (Wang Yun):
"Aah... It has come to this..."
Ichie (Diaochan):
"Father?"
Yuyuko (Wang Yun):
"Even if it means knowing that you'll lose yourself in your grief and become but a mirage of yourself..."
Yuyuko (Wang Yun):
"Even if it means knowing that you'll disappear from my eyes... I'll tell you my plan."
Ichie (Diaochan):
"I'll do anything I can to help you! I'm prepared to disappear!"
Yuyuko (Wang Yun):
"...Listen. This plan depends on your melancholic beauty."
Yuyuko:
That was great, Ichie-san.
Ichie:
Heh heh! I practiced a ton!
Yuyuko:
You can perform a beautiful role when you don't have too many lines.
Ichie:
First you compliment me, and then you diss me!? Anyway, I'd rather be cute!
Yuyuko:
Oh, okay. A marvelous actress gifted with cuteness — that's you Ichie-san.
Ichie:
All thanks to your advice! I haven't forgotten about the tomato juice by the way!
Yuyuko:
Sure... Huh?
Ichie:
What is it?
Yuyuko:
Did you hear something just now?
Ichie:
You're right...
Ichie:
...Haah! I recognize this walk — Lu Bu!
Fumi:
Ichie! What did you do to the script!?
Ichie:
"Oh my. Have you read my love letter?"
Fumi:
Why did you write all around the margins, though!? That's just a simple prank, it is!
Ichie:
"How could you call it a prank...!?"
Ichie:
"I even went to great lengths and wrote it in pencil too. If you find it offensive, feel free to erase it!"
Fumi:
You plan to reply as Diaochan forever? Erasing it is not the problem.
Ichie:
"I know what you're trying to say."
Ichie:
"Erasing it would mean that you disregard my feelings...which you don't want to do."
Fumi:
I haven't said anything of the sort!
Ichie:
"I knew it. You love me!"
Fumi:
Accepting your prank doesn't mean I love you. Erase it yourself!
Ichie:
"Lu Bu — you're so mean. You don't love me then!"
Ichie:
"Oh, poor me! I may as well disappear like a mirage — Farewell, everyone!"
Fumi:
ICHIE! Come back here, you sly fox!
Fumi:
ICHIEEEEEEEEE!
Ichie:
"Heh heh! Catch me if you can, dear Lu Bu!"
Yuyuko:
Look at that. Diaochan is toying with Lu Bu's anger... Ichie really is good.
Ichie:
I heard that Diaochan was a "dangerous woman", but I thought it meant that she gets scolded often! Huh? That's just how Fumi reacts to her?
Ichie:
When I got the role of Diaochan, I thought that she was completely different than me, but Yuyuko made me realize we're not so different.
Ichie:
I should have realized it myself. Diaochan cares about those around her, and she's an excellent prankster too, after all...!
Ichie:
And more importantly, we're both real beauties! Tee hee!