Watamote ch217-3: Since I'm Not Popular, It's the School Festival's Stage (Part 3)

p1
>>Cinderette
>Alright! Starting today until tomorrow, let's give all our performances our all!
>Yeah!

>That being said, it's just our school attending the first day,
>so there won't be that many people attending.
>Well, it at least makes the first performance less nervewracking.
>Excuse me!!

>We've got a lot of people here to watch!
>Help me form a line!

p2
>We had quite a few spectators during practice too. I wonder why?
>There's a lot of third year girls.
>They must have their eyes on someone...
>...It's me.

>They're probably here to see me.

>Eh!? Did this guy suddenly turn into a narcissist!? Did the prince role go to his head?
>There's no way.
>He doesn't look very motivated, but I guess he's getting into character?
>He's probably telling the truth. Everyone just doesn't know that Tomoki-kun is popular.

>What should we do? We don't have enough seats.
>Ah.
>Right.
>Could the boys fetch some more chairs from somewhere?

p3
>There's a lot of familiar faces.
>He must be really popular.

>Hey! How long are you gonna make us wait!? Hurry it up!
>Drop the hoodlum act.

>Be quiet!! Follow the rules and don't bother the management!!
>Huuh!? What's your deal, four-eyes!? I'll smash your glasses!
>There's a creepy brownnoser at the front of the line.

>Honestly, they're so impatient...

>Aren't you going to make something like this, Koto?
>We Stan Tomoki-kyun

>I would never draw such cheap words as "stan".
>I see...

p4
>You just about made it in.
>I'm not very interesting when I'm just standing in a line,
>but I am hoping something will happen since Onee-chan and her friends are here.

p5
>Of course they're here... I don't wanna fight with them if I can, though... In terms of our levels, I mean.

>Wait, isn't Koharu-chan eating way too much!? Is she trying to eat an entire day's worth of calories in thirty minutes!?

>Well, nobody's gonna fall in love with a pig, so that doesn't bother me.
>The more pressing matters right now are...

>There's a ball at the castle today. I wonder if I'll be able to go...
>this girl...

>and those words...
>There'll be a love scene between Kuroki Tomoki-kun and Iguchi Akari-san.

p6
>You're just here to make me look good, so behave yourself.
>Yes.

>...Tch. She's here too? Make things harder for me why don't you.

>It's your turn, prince.

>Oh! Tomoki's here!!
>Here come's Masaki's fella!!

>I wonder if Kuroki's little bro will show off his acting skill.
>What are you looking at me for?
>I'll fucking kill you!!
>Shut up.

p7
>Her face is all red... He can even give a gloomer like her the wrong idea...
>I never thought watching my brother give a serious performance would be this painful...

>Ah.
>Um, Prince, would you give me one last memory and dance with me?

>Why is someone like you speaking to the prince, Cinderette?
>Never mind her, Prince. Let's head outside together.

>Uuuh!?

>Prince...

p8
>Not sure if it was the actor's intent, but he adlibbed by stepping on that bitch's foot.
>There was acting I didn't get to see during practice. Kuroki Tomoki won't stop growing as an actor.
>His acting presence reminds me of when Ich*ro appeared in Furuh*ta Ninz*burou. [tn: Columbo-inspired police detective drama which ran from 1994-2004.]

>As if the ball that day was all a dream, Cinderette returned to her everyday life.
>Clean my room, Cinderette.
>I'm going into town. Oh, and chop some firewood too, while you're at it.

>Then one day...

>Well then, the banquet at the castle tonight... I'm counting on you.
>Yes. In the name of our family, the prince will meet his end.

p9
>Mother, what do you mean by the prince meeting his end?
>Exactly as I said. We're going to attend tonight's banquet and kill the prince.
>Why would you do such a thing!?

>In the public eye, our family lives as a group of nobles,
>but in reality, we are secretly a family of assassins who are contracted to take down important figures. The Prince of East is considered a nuisance to the King of the West.
>We infiltrated the ball the other day to get close to the prince too.

>I was supposed to kill the prince myself, but he seems to let his guard down around you.
>You'll be the one to kill him.
>Think of it as paying us back for taking you in and raising you when you had no other relatives.
>No way...

>Hey, what's going on here?
>I don't really get it.
>This sloppy development really gives it a nice amateurish feel.

p10
>Got it? Mix this poison into the prince's drink.

>The prince is coming this way. Hide the poison.

>Cinderette. I was hoping I'd see you again.
>Prince... Me too. I've been thinking about you every day since that night.

>Prince, don't forget that I'm here too.

p11
>Uuh!

>!?

>Shall we head to the balcony?
>?
>Was this in the script?
>Sure.

>Is it me, or does the prince seem more wicked than the stepsister?
>Hmm, I guess it's just Kuroki-kun's take on the role...
>I'll get him to stop doing that next time.

>The moon sure is pretty, huh?

>..Ever since that night we met,
>not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about you.

p12
>Cinderette, I want you to live with me as my princess.

>Tch.
>Fu.
>The dialogue's a bit monotone. I want more emotion.
>Normally you imagine the prince to have a cool voice, but his monotone voice makes him sound like a more realistic prince. Reminds me of my acting.

>Ah. Such words are wasted upon me.
>Oh, how happy I would be if I could just take your hand right now...

>But fate won't allow me to marry you, Prince.
>Still, I can't bring myself to kill you.

>Yet I can't betray my stepmother and stepsister who have raised me up until now.
>The only path left for me is...

p13
>This is poison.
>Why would you...

>You foolish sister, Cinderette!
>I'll have to kill him myself!!

p14
>Seize her!
>Behave yourself!
>If you had just died, my little sister wouldn't have had to di- OWWWW!?

>...Cinderette. I won't let you be alone.
>I'm coming for you right...
>Please wait!
>Huuh!?

>I'm a doctor. That poison is likely Apple Poison.
>In which case, Tsunderette should only be in a near-death state. If she receives a kiss by a precious one, she should wake up.

>Are you sure about this? It was supposed to end with him dying too, right?
>Yeah. Yoda-san's idea was better.
>I had mixed feelings about mimicking Romeo and Juliet anyways.
>Wouldn't it be more interesting to have her come back to life with a kiss from the prince? Just like Snow White! And if we use the school announcement to fool everyone, audience and protagonists alike, it'll be way more exciting!!

p15
>Go on! Kiss!
>Go, Tomoki~
>Have at it, kid!!
>You're just fine with anything, aren't you!?

>Kiss!
>This is stupid...
>Do it~

>Tomoki-kun, don't force yourself.
>You don't have to do it.
>They should be satisfied if we just pretend.

>Knowing those two, they'll probably try to fool everyone with a pretend kiss! I need to give them a helping hand!!

>Be careful, Tomoki-kun... Sayaka's acting suspiciously.
>Got it. I'll finish her off when she gets close enough.
>Finish her off!?

>Here she comes!!

p16
>I won't let you, Prince!!

>!?

>!?

p17
>...
>Cinderette awoke from the prince's kiss and the two lived happily ever after.
>Way to go!!
>Yoda!!
>Tomoki!!

>Screw this! Give me my money back!
>Heey!!
>Koto, you didn't pay anything.
>Uwah...
>Ah~
>What a novel ending!
>An accidental kiss just like in shoujo manga! I couldn't even tell it was acting!!
>That wasn't acting. That was the real thing.