Though thirty minutes had passed since the play ended, the theater lobby was still bustling. From acquaintances of staff celebrating the final performance to audience members waiting to make eye contact with the actors.

The two actors who played the lead roles were even holding an impromptu signing session. The woman who played the minor role of “the daughter of the female protagonist’s friend” quietly observed the scene. When she was younger, she might have felt bitter and sad, but now, well……

I should be satisfied with my role, her gait, securing the path ahead with her cane, showed no hesitation.

“Excuse me, actress!”

Planting her cane to the right while extending her left foot, then to the left while extending her right foot. Her shoulder, exercising intense concentration, stiffened.

“Actress!”

A youthful voice. Perry belatedly realized that the owner of the voice was uncomfortably close. In the direction her clear face was turned, a girl in a gray school uniform was reverently clasping her hands. Her freckled nose bridge was reddish.

“I really enjoyed the play. I’m, well…… your fan.”

“Mine?”

“Yes! Actress Perry Humble!”

Fan, fan, fan.

The woman’s expression was peculiar as she silently repeated the word. The girl who had caught the departing actress spoke rapidly, as if afraid someone might chase her away.

“I first saw you in December last year, and since then. I wasn’t even interested in ‘A Midsummer Commotion’ originally, but I came because you were in it.”

Her dark eyes scanned the leads surrounded by audience members once, then the supporting actors chatting casually with regular audience members once. Perry’s eyelashes fluttered somewhat rapidly. Her thin eyelashes took on a faint golden hue following the daylight-colored light.

“Really…… really me?”

“Yes! So, um, could you, could you s-sign…?”

“I don’t have anything like a signature. If just my name is okay, oh, a pen—”

“I have everything! Here.”

Fan, fan, fan.

It wasn’t an unfamiliar word. Though it might sound arrogant, she had secretly smiled while writing that word just two days ago. But, not like this……

Unlike the first fan who had declared himself her pen pal, the second fan was too vivid. Today’s ticket and a fountain pen. Perry awkwardly wrote her name on the two items handed to her. Perry Humble was a name she had written countless times, yet strangely, her hand faltered.

Will this do? Others seem to write all sorts of things…… If I’d known, I should have watched how other actors sign. With slight regret, Perry added “Thank you for discovering me” below.

“Is this enough?”

“Yes! Oh my. If you do another production, I’ll definitely come. Oh, right. This. Thank you for your hard work these two weeks!”

The bouquet of roses was so magnificent she could bury her face in it. Perry sniffled lightly and bowed her head.

“Thank you, really…… This is my first flower gift.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Where did you buy it? Ah, I’m not asking about the price, just thinking it must have been difficult to carry.”

“No, um, that……”

The student, who had been chattering as if ready to give her home address, swallowed. The sound of feet shuffling was distracting. The girl, who had been basking in her beloved actress’s gaze, soon made a sad face.

“That…… actually, I didn’t prepare the flowers!”

“What?”

“Someone asked me to deliver them. Oh, he asked me to pretend I prepared them…… I didn’t do it for money! I really saw that man here for the first time! First time…… or maybe not?”

“Man?”

“So…… I really am your fan, that’s what I, haha……”

The girl, who had been hastily explaining, left only with a promise to wait for the next production before rushing out of the building. Still tightly clutching the ticket with Perry Humble’s signature in both hands.

“A man……”

Perry, who had been needlessly looking around, hurried her steps again. It was almost time for the last tram. No one stopped the unknown actress now.

The gentle night breeze playfully wrapped around her light brown hair. The thin wrapping paper around the roses rustled softly with each step. Her lightly painted lips curled up slightly. The collision occurred at that moment.

“Ah…!”

Her cane fell with a thud and rolled beyond the sidewalk. Her humming stopped abruptly. The woman’s eyes, relying on the dim streetlight, narrowed finely.

The sound of someone inhaling and swallowing. Wondering if it was a signal to speak, Perry paused briefly, but when no further sound came, she bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry. I can’t see well.”

Her dark eyes filled with embarrassment. Her left hand, having lost the cane, fidgeted, repeatedly clenching and unclenching. She hadn’t had such an incident recently, but the surroundings were dark, and her excited mind had let her guard down.

“Where, where is it……”

Trying to find it while keeping the bouquet undamaged made movement even more difficult. Perry crouched down and slowly felt the ground. Though it shouldn’t be possible, her leg that had been injured a month ago began to throb. Naturally, no matter how much she squinted, she couldn’t see even the tip of her cane.

At that moment,

Careful footsteps slowly approached. The stiff texture characteristic of leather briefly touched Perry’s palm then fell away. The familiar sensation of cold, elongated metal. The woman, now holding her cane, exhaled a held breath and stood up.

“Thank you.”

The surroundings were still pitch black. The low-intensity streetlight barely illuminated the feet of the two people.

At best, she could barely recognize the other person’s silhouette. Tall with a squared posture, dark hair indistinguishable from the night sky.

“Thank you so much. You saved me.”

As Perry was about to bow again, the man hurriedly waved his hand. Though not certain, he seemed a bit embarrassed, so Perry was going to end her greeting there. At that moment—

The low-blowing wind was cool. The sound of fluttering clothes echoed. From the briefly shaken jacket sleeve came the same scent as the rose bouquet Perry was holding.

※※※

[Celebrating the Return of a Genius Actress

This play was also magnificent! When you, Perry, first appeared on stage, I almost teared up. Even though it wasn’t a sad scene at all.

How should I explain it? Though it was the same role, the depth of your acting was clearly felt even from the audience. Should I say the character came alive? You, Perry, were already a flawless actress, but to think you could become even more amazing…… It’s beyond admiration; it’s almost frightening now.

It’s fortunate to be able to see actress Perry Humble in the same era. I can’t help but pity the people a hundred years ago who couldn’t see Perry and those a hundred years from now who won’t.

Though I love every scene you’re in, if I had to choose just one—it was really difficult—it’s the moment when you bite your lip and fiddle with your skirt behind the happy female protagonist!

Even when the spotlight is on others, you always exist as a character. Even without noticeable movements or lines. That meticulous and three-dimensional portrayal overwhelms me tremendously. Since my thoughts on 「A Midsummer Commotion」 would be too lengthy for this letter, I’ll write them separately.

I never thought anything was missing from my life, but when I see you, I repeatedly realize that my previous life was only half complete. Perhaps I realized it from the moment we first met.

You will probably think I’m exaggerating and be displeased, but out of a desire for you to know this excitement, I write these few words. Please don’t deny my feelings, as they are neither false nor exaggerated.

Just as you’ve given me the best April, I pray that the best days continue for you as well.

April 17,

From your eternal fan.]

[To Yuan

You wrote “a few words”? Yuan, do you know how surprised I was when I received the letter from the delivery person earlier? I probably won’t receive such a thick letter for the rest of my life!

To think you wrote a 13-page review, if I ever get a lead role, you’ll probably write a dissertation.

I absolutely, absolutely don’t hate it. I was just very surprised, and to be honest, extremely happy. I’ve already read your review so many times. I can almost recite it now. I’ve definitely memorized the first few paragraphs.

Thank you, sincerely.

Actually, a stage, a play, can’t exist with just one actor, right? There needs to be at least one audience member. What meaning does acting have if no one sees it?

Once, I consoled myself saying even that was meaningful, but deep down I painfully knew I didn’t really believe it. Desperately waiting for someone to see me.

Even if it’s just a passing role, when I’m on stage, someone watches me. Even if it’s just for a moment. Even if the focus shifts away immediately, for that one moment…

Thank you for watching Perry Humble, Yuan.