karahashi

\ Getting up close and personal with the leaders ♥ /

Spring SAKUYA SAKUMA	✕	Summer TENMA SUMERAGI	✕	Autumn BANRI SETTSU	✕	Winter TSUMUGI TSUKIOKA
We asked each unit leader's thoughts on the "present"-themed gravure shoot, the future, and plenty more.

— Please tell us your thoughts on the cover shoot for this issue.
Sakuya: The concept for the cover this time was having everyone in MANKAI Company give presents to our customers, so we were placed in a gift box with ribbons attached to us......
Banri: We tried holding bunting as well? When I first heard about it I thought it was a bit too fanciful shooting it with a bunch of guys, but it ended up looking quite natural.
Tsumugi: Since it's like we're saying, 'we're the present~', it was a little embarrassing after all, though......
Tenma: You ran with that flight of fancy the most, holding those colorful balloons, Tsumugi-san, so you should hold your head high.
Banri: Tsumugi-san's thin, so while he was holding the balloons I thought he might be floating several centimetres.
Sakuya: He played an angel, so it kind of feels like he can actually fly!
Tsumugi: I wasn't floating, and I can't fly......What do you all think I am? Though, before the Winter Troupe's final performance, we did all talk with the director about it possibly being interesting to use wires someday to try flying for real.
Tenma: What with how small the MANKAI theatre is, hanging from wires would have zero impact.
Sakuya: But I'd like to challenge myself to it someday! I wonder what it feels like!
Banri: For a start, what sort of role would require flying anyway.
Tsumugi: Hmm......We've already done angels, so butterflies or dragons, maybe?
Tenma: What play in the world has roles for butterflies and dragons!?
Sakuya: Ahaha. But if it's Tsuzuru-kun, I reckon he'd make it interesting!

— We've heard you've had several leader photoshoots in the past. Have you grown more comfortable with them since your first time? Also, please tell us if anything went on behind-the-scenes.
Sakuya: Tenma-kun is always bold and confident, so he's good at putting on expressions! You really are used to this sort of photoshoot, aren't you?
Tenma: That's right. When I appear in movies they take plenty of still shots too. But I am used to it.
Banri: Sakuya aside, our elder Tsumugi-san is always the most awkward.
Tsumugi: Well, I really am bad with this sort of thing......I always have a lot of photos taken, but in the end my expression goes weird. It'd be nice if I could smile more naturally.
Banri: On the days we have photoshoots, this guy's awkward right from the morning. He's unusually nervous.
Tsumugi: And Banri-kun, who can't stand seeing me like that, makes me coffee in the holding room. He's simply kind.
Banri: It's no big deal; I drink it too, so while I'm at it......I might as well.
Sakuya: But being treated kindly when your nervous really does make you happy.
Tenma: In the first place, our theatre's got a lot of mothering guys in it.
Banri: Yeah. At the photoshoot the other day, all the guys in the Summer Troupe came by in succession to see how Tenma was doing.
Tenma: Those guys were just messing around......Honestly.
Sakuya: Everyone in the Spring Troupe sends good luck messages on LIME when I have a shoot!
Tsumugi: Eh? Even Masumi-kun......?
Sakuya: He'll only send a stamp. It might just be that Tsuzuru-kun's telling him to since they room together, though......
Banri: I can understand it if that's the case. Well, the guys in the Autumn Troupe don't really care when it's my day for a shoot.
Tsumugi: Hehe. Actually, Sakyo-san and Omi-kun ask me to tell them after how you were during the shoot.
Sakuya: They're like parents......!
Tenma: Moreover, they're like parents who have a kid going through the rebellious phase of puberty.
Banri: Who the heck's going through puberty! Speaking of, the Winter Troupe members don't come to the shooting location, even though they're pretty overprotective of Tsumugi-san.
Tsumugi: Ern......This is embarrassing, but they send me off at the entrance to the dormitory on the morning itself......though Hisoka-kun is mostly asleep. They all know I'm not good with this sort of photoshoot.
Tenma: That's completely overprotective!
Sakuya: Really, all the troupes have kind members!

— Please tell us what MANKAI Company's future plans are. You can tell us if there's anything you're personally aiming to do, too!
Sakuya: While we'll be rotating through the second play for each troupe from now on, we plan to put on regional plays too.
Tenma: When you change towns, the atmosphere of the audience changes too. No matter what the circumstances, it's important to act as per usual.
Banri: You're really serious about the weirdest things. It's fine to just take it as a trip.
Tenma: 'The weirdest things'......!? I mean, on the other hand, you're too lax. As a leader, you should be more serious......
Banri: Ahh, even you're lecturing me? I've got enough of that with Sakyo-san.
Tsumugi: It's important to be moderate in both bearing responsibility and letting yourself relax. Most importantly, you need to take care with your physical condition. There are bound to be some longer trips, and it's easy for your health to crumble when you're in an unfamiliar place.
Sakuya: That's right! First I have to work on Itaru-san's habit of staying up late......
Banri: Impossible.
Tenma: That was quick!
Banri: Give up on that guy. There's no way you'll fix that.
Sakuya: As I thought......
Tsumugi: Now, now. Itaru-kun is an adult too, so if it comes to that he'll think about it a little. ......Maybe.
Sakuya: A-As his leader, I believe in Itaru-san!
Tenma: Once we get to regional plays, the next step is to hold plays abroad, huh.
Banri: Oh, nice. The south seems good. Theatre seems popular there?
Tsumugi: I don't know whether or not that's true, but I think you just want to go there......
Tenma: Speaking of which, didn't Citron say he was born on a southern island?
Sakuya: Yeah! On a small island, with a gigantic treasure house of marine life in the nearby seas, famous for giant squid senbei! I kind of want to try them!
Banri: What's with this southern island and its giant squid senbei!? That's weird!
Tsumugi: It doesn't seem delicious at all......
Sakuya: Really?
Tenma: Well, in terms of divining the truth, I'd like to go to Citron's country.
Tsumugi: It'll be a triumphant homecoming play for Citron-kun.
Sakuya: Plays abroad......Our dreams are spreading out! I'd like lots of people to see our plays!

— Finally, let's have a message to the fans.
Tsumugi: Then, I'll start. Once again, this is the leader of the Winter Troupe, Tsumugi Tsukioka. The Winter Troupe has lots of people who go at their own page, but I think it's coming together as a team bit by bit. In very little bits, though......Looking to our second play, I'd like to improve on both our acting and our teamwork. Please continue to support us in the future.
Banri: This is the Autumn Troupe's leader, Banri Settsu. The Autumn Troupe is currently proceeding with preparations for its second play. The content is different again from our debut, so definitely come see it. It shows off even more difficult action sequences. We're going to continue doing things our way, so cheer us on. That's all from me. Then, next is the egotistical yet serious and reliable leader, Tenma Sumeragi-kun.
Tenma: Don't give me a weird introduction! I'm the Summer Troupe's leader, Tenma Sumeragi. It's rare for us to have the opportunity to do a troupe feature book, so I'm glad we were able to talk about a lot of things today. The Summer Troupe is also carrying out the final tweaks to its second play. If we focus exclusively on comedy, our audience will soon tire of it. It takes some trial and error, but I'd like us to master our own brand of comedy. Please continue to support us from here on as well. ......Finally, Sakuya.
Sakuya: Thank you very much for reading up to this point! We in the Spring Troupe are striving hard every day at practice, trying to connect the successes and failures in our second play to our next! Look forward to the Spring Troupe's third play......Right now, I'm already impatient to stand on stage again!
Tenma: One theatre isn't enough, huh.
Banri: Ahh, I get that. Thinking about the behind-the-scenes work involved, it's difficult, but only being able to perform plays one troupe at a time makes the frustration build up.
Tsumugi: Hmm, I think the capacity of the theatre is a little lacking at the moment, too.
Sakuya: It's proof that the troupe members are growing steadily! Everyone in MANKAI Company will work hard so we can show you better and better plays! From here on out......
Sakuya/Tenma/Banri/Tsumugi: Please continue to support us!