The Moon illuminates the mountains of Higashiyama.
Kyoto sleeps in silence, when the sudden clash of swords rouses the people.
Cut, cut, slash, slash!
For this episode, we'll be doing a period drama.
It's the end of the Edo period.
With the dreams of peace dashed, the land is plunged into turmoil.
Why do people like period dramas?
Because seeing the exploits of legendary heroes is exciting?
To learn from the lessons of the past?
Of course, those are some elements, but...
Little scum, say your name!
They call me Rururarura Rorirorinosuke!
To tell the stories of what people of yore thought and did
may be a part of our human instinct to enrich our collective unconscious.
What's a "collective unconscious"?
Simply stated, it's the idea that deep inside, we all share something in common.
It was a theory espoused by a psychologist named Jung a long time ago.
Echigo, you sly bastard...
I'm explaining something. Listen!
Hijikata-san, are the rumors true?
That is what I am here to learn.
Kondo-san is also on his way here.
Soji, look!
It's the Shinsengumi's first chief, Serizawa Kamo.
Have you returned to exact revenge on us for assassinating you?
No, Soji, that's a youkai.
It must have taken the real Serizawa-san's place,
waiting for the chance to take the town!
We will protect the town of Kyoto!
Well? What do you think of my script?
Isn't it awesome?
And what do you want us to do with this?
I want you to help the drama club by taking the stage.
Us? Act?
Nobody has joined the drama club this year.
I'm the only member...
I can't enter any competitions like this.
We're classmates, right?
Help me out, Mai!
"Tale of the Bakumatsu Youkai:
Shinsengumi Versus Phantom,
Battle of Ikedaya."
Tale of the Bakumatsu Youkai
By Kitajima Ayumi.
That's weird, but it looks fun!
Based on the Ikedaya incident, huh?
But it's factually crazy and utterly anachronistic.
It's fine, as long as it's fun and easy to understand.
You'll never get anywhere being a Goody Two-shoes all the time.
Sometimes, you have to be bold.
That's adolescence! That's what it means to be young!
She's passionate.
When it comes to drama, yeah...
I've never acted before, though.
Please!
I'll buy you lunch.
I'm in!
When that huge monkey attacked, I lent you props and costumes.
Now it's your turn to help out.
I guess I can't say no...
Let's do it!
We're in!
I shall now announce the casting.
Ichijo Haruhiko as Shinsengumi Vice Chief Hijikata Toshizo.
Izumi Reina as Captain Okita Soji.
Ruru-chan as Chief Kondo Isami.
Aye!
Kawakami Mai as the Phantom hostage from town.
Shouldn't I be the commander?
I'm going for surprise.
Speaking of surprise, Kumamakura Kurumi-chan as Sakamoto Ryoma.
I have no idea what I'm doing!
And Minase Koito as Okada Izo, the assassin.
I, Kitajima Ayumi, will play the bad Phantom.
Why am I getting roped into this?
I don't have enough people.
Help me out...
It'll look good with lots of cute girls on stage.
We'll have your back.
Let's give her a hand.
If you say so, Onii-san.
Thanks, Kurumi-chan.
Fine, I'll help.
Really?
Thanks!
Your attitude changed all of a sudden.
I just felt a presence.
There might be a Phantom nearby.
Seriously?
Well, it's a really old club building.
It might be a drama-loving Phantom.
Phantom of the Opera.
Or rather, Phantom of the Drama Club.
I'll play along until we learn what it is.
If it's an aggressive Phantom, it could be dangerous.
You're worried for us.
You're so kind, Koito-chan!
I mean... I don't trust you to handle it by yourselves.
She's blushing.
I don't mind.
I'd be super grateful, as long as you'll appear on stage!
Thanks so much, guys.
Let's have a good time together.
You dolt!
Blockhead! Woody!
Pack your bags and go home!
Give us a break.
We haven't even learned our lines yet.
Why don't we take a break?
You don't eat or have a break until this scene's ready.
From the top!
Um, um, do I stand here?
You're over here, Kurumi-chan.
I'm not in this scene, so I get to watch!
I should have said no.
I'm exhausted...
Drama club might be as strenuous as a sports club.
We'll walk you home, Kurumi-chan.
Thank you.
Sorry, guys...
I get really worked up when it comes to drama.
It's all right.
It's tough, but it's fun!
Well, yeah, you didn't even have to do anything.
Truthfully, our drama club has lost in the prelims ten years in a row.
Ten years?
Everyone must have really sucked.
Hey!
So I want to make it through this year's preliminaries.
I want to fulfill the wishes of the senior members.
This kind of thing's fun once in a while.
Right, Koito-san?
You're right.
Oh, no!
The rehearsals were arduous but fun.
Shosuke and our senior club members helped out with lighting and sound effects.
We even visited places known for drama.
By the way, the Ikedaya incident
happened when anti-Tokugawa rebels started a huge fire in Kyoto
and attempted to abduct Emperor Komei, only to be stopped by the Shinsengumi.
The rehearsals went well.
How dare you?!
The Phantom we expected never showed up.
Finally, it was the day of the competition.
High School Drama Competition
To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles, And by opposing end them...
All these schools know what they're doing.
I'm so nervous...
I'm getting excited.
Let's do our best, Albrecht.
We're up next.
We're ready.
I'm getting goosebumps, even though I'm a mermaid.
Don't mess this up, Haruhiko.
Make our practices count, and I'm sure it'll go well.
The goal is to make it through the regionals.
Let's give it one hundred percent! No, two hundred percent!
Hosea Academy Drama Club, go!
All right, let's do this!
Next, the Hosea Academy Drama Club.
They will be playing "Tale of the Bakumatsu Youkai:
Shinsengumi Versus Phantom, Battle of Ikedaya."
Hijikata-san, are the rumors true?
That is what I'm here to learn.
Kondo-san is also on his way here.
Soji, look!
All right.
It's Serizawa Kamo.
Have you returned to exact revenge?
No, Soji, that's a youkai!
It wants to take the town for itself.
Huh?
What the...
What is this?
Is this real?
What's going on?
Is this a Phantom's trick?
I knew it.
Haruhiko-kun, what are the lines?
Um...
It must have taken on human form to try to take over the town!
Toshi! Soji!
Are you all right?
Kondo-san?
Kitajima-senpai!
Let's just continue the play.
This isn't what we rehearsed, is it?
This wasn't part of the script.
What do we do, Shosuke-kun?
Don't ask me.
That scene was pretty heavy.
I heard they have a real Phantom.
They must be using its powers.
That's a good idea.
That was a unique performance.
These days, student plays have become elaborate.
Huh, something seems odd.
I'm sorry, I'm not actually human.
I'm a Phantom.
The defeat and frustration
of losing for ten straight years coalesced into a Phantom.
That's who I am.
So you were hiding among the students, disguised as a human?
Yes.
I manipulated your memories,
pretending to be a second-year drama club student this whole time.
They're off-script again!
Let's just match the lighting and SFX with their actions as best we can.
Then I'll handle the music.
I'll take care of the lighting.
Did you know, Koito?
I had a hunch.
But I didn't know what her deal was, so I waited.
I meant no harm.
But I didn't think you'd help me if I told you I'm a Phantom.
I thought I'd scare you away...
So I kept my identity secret.
I am a Phantom born for drama and living for drama.
I wanted to enter the competition and grant all the unfulfilled wishes of the last decade!
That, and that alone,
was my desire!
I'm sure you cannot forgive me.
Fine.
Seal me or do whatever else you must.
Let's continue the play, Senpai.
Ichijo-kun, you'll still call me "Senpai"?
Phantom or human, you're our friend.
We worked so hard together.
I want to finish the play, too!
I guess I wouldn't want all that practice to go to waste.
Let's grant all those wishes together!
Thank you.
Thank you so much, everyone.
So this is the pure beauty of youthful energy!
I didn't get the story, but it was nice.
These scenes get me every time!
It's so passionate.
It's like it wasn't an act.
It was a little clichéd, but it was powerful...
What an unexpected twist!
It must be a meta-play, where the actors return to their roots.
Crap, we're still on stage.
But everyone seems to think this is also part of the play.
Let's just ignore them and continue.
That's okay, right?
Yes, of course.
Kondo-san, we ought to cooperate.
Don't be so naïve, Sakamoto Ryoma!
You're an anti-Tokugawa mastermind.
We are enemies.
Um...
The Aizu leader you serve seeks reconciliation
between the shogunate and the court.
I, too, wish to avoid a civil war.
We ought to talk!
What's up with the bear?
It's no use, Ryoma.
We and the Shinsengumi are like oil and water!
Okada Izo, of the Tosakinno Party.
Kondo, Okita, draw!
Gladly!
Let's fight!
Shinsengumi Captain Okita Soji.
Wait, Kondo-san, Soji!
We've been deceived.
Explain this, Toshi-chan!
The ones who killed the pro-Shogunates
and the ones attacking the anti-Shogunates were actually youkai!
Their plan is to make us fight each other and steal the nation from under our noses.
S-Say what?
I applaud you, Hijikata, for seeing through my plan.
You're that youkai we defeated before.
You were alive?
I am not a youkai.
We are Phantoms!
Soon, this town will be a sea of flames.
And the nation will be ours!
He's flying.
Wire action!
She's all scary again!
And the set's gone all weird.
It must be Kitajima-senpai's power.
Her Phantom powers affect the surroundings when she gets too into it.
Don't mind it. Keep going.
Phantom!
I won't let you have your way!
Yeah!
Look at this.
Oh, no!
Help me!
Oh, no! It's taken Omai-chan hostage! She provides us food and shelter!
This is all I've been doing ever since that monkey.
How dare you, Phantom?
How dare you, uh, abduct a lady?
Say what you will!
Kanwakarakara!
Oh, no!
How cowardly.
Haruhiko-kun...
The audience, too!
I declare, this is a good showing.
The Gion Festival does only come around once a year.
What a beautiful Moon.
Summer nights are wonderful, especially when the Moon is high.
Marvelous, indeed.
Might we not get in trouble for our quaint accents?
What does the sumo wrestler say?
Dosuquaint.
Toshi-chan, So-chan, let's go after them!
Yeah!
Izo-san, let's go with them.
The town is abuzz with the Gion Festival.
We must hurry, or there will be more victims.
Where did Senpai go?
There's no way we'll find them. It's too big.
Stay calm.
The situation should follow the script.
Right, they're supposed to be at the Ikedaya.
There, right in front of us.
Ikedaya Inn
Yeah, that's Kitajima-senpai's script.
The pacing is quick, and the story easy to understand!
Shinsengumi!
We'd like a word with you!
Sakamoto Ryoma...
...and Okada Izo are here, as well.
Sh-Shinsengumi?
Shosuke-san?
Sho-chan's the shop keeper!
Keep up the performance.
I think everyone will be back to normal at the end of the play.
Th-Th-This is bad!
Run, everyone!
It's the Shinsengumi!
Sorry, Shosuke.
He got me...
I'm sorry, Shosuke-san.
Shinsengumi on the scene.
Hijikata-san, help me!
Omai-chan!
How dare you, Shinsengumi?
You've found this place,
but the fight is just beginning!
Get them!
Omai-chan!
Kotetsu is rather bloodthirsty tonight!
Bizen Osafune Kiku-ichimonji sword!
En garde!
No!
Of the five elements, water extinguishes fire.
I summon the water phase from my kidneys to my fists.
Phantom, taste the sword of justice!
You haven't won yet, Hijikata...
My people will surely defeat the Shinsengumi.
Just you wait.
It's over.
We did it, Hijikata-san.
Thanks, Sakamoto-san.
A new day will dawn soon for Japan!
We're back to normal.
You dolt! Blockhead!
Woody!
Do you think you'll make it to the nationals with that kind of acting?!
Wait a second...
I thought we were only helping you for the regionals.
With this cast, we'll aim for the nationals.
I got permission from the school, too.
Summer break is canceled!
No way.
We should have sealed her.
I'm in! It's fun!
Once more.
From the top of that scene!
Gold Hosea Academy Drama Club
Okay...
Hosea Academy Drama Club