1. SECOND STORY
FIRST PERFORMANCE
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2. What the hell am I doing?
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3. A Rakugoka who's on his way up.
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4. Which is me, Guriko Arakawa.
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5. Tailing my own master like this...
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6. Forgive me, Master.
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7. It's all because of what happened
on set yesterday.
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8. Could you teach me everything
you know about fishing?
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9. Who cares about that stuff?
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10. Just tell me the secret behind it!
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11. Guriko, got a second?
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12. Hey, Riichi. What's up?
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13. You trained under Master Shiguma, right?
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14. Right!
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15. Shiguma Arakawa's last apprentice
is yours truly!
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16. I don't know how to tell you this, but...
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17. All this talk about Master Shiguma
dating a young girl...
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18. - Is that true?
- Huh? What's up with that?
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19. There's a bunch of people
who've seen them walking side by side.
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20. It's true.
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21. Said no one ever!
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22. He went inside!
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23. Karaoke?
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24. In there, huh?
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25. Wait. No way.
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26. So it's true!
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27. Huh? What are those two doing?
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28. Rakugo? Is it that kind of game?
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29. But the master's face...
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30. couldn't be more serious!
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31. Excuse me, sir?
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32. - Is there a problem?
- Huh?
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33. Oh, uh... No, no, nothing at all.
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34. Sir!
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35. You damned fool!
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36. You heard a baseless rumor and
took it upon yourself to tail me?
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37. How could you be so ridiculous?
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38. Shame on you!
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39. Well, if you hadn't been so sneaky...
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40. you wouldn't have blown it, right?
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41. Hey! Do you know who
you're talking to? You cheeky...
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42. Master, who is this little twerp?
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43. She's Akane Osaki, Shinta's daughter.
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44. Nice to meet ya!
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45. Th-This kid?
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46. The daughter of Shinta Ani-san,
who got expelled six years ago?
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47. Never mind that.
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48. How was my Rakugo?
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49. Ever since that day, six years ago
since you started training me...
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50. I still don't have permission to perform
Rakugo in front of an audience.
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51. But I'm going to be 17 this year,
and I'm a senior in high school.
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52. - So you haven't changed your mind?
- No.
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53. I'm going to become a Shin'uchi
of the Arakawa School.
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54. I'll become a Shin'uchi, and show them
how amazing Dad's art was.
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55. Everyone...
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56. That man...
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57. I'm going to prove it!
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58. Please allow me to train under you!
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59. Time sure does fly, doesn't it?
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60. Make you my apprentice?
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61. But Akane, you're still in grade school.
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62. Why do you want to become a Rakugoka?
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63. What on earth happened?
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64. Dad started working for a company
that sells concrete.
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65. He said he couldn't just
keep brooding all the time,
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66. so he started working.
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67. - All right, I'll head over now.
- He seems so busy every day.
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68. But because of that,
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69. he now earns more money
than he ever earned from Rakugo.
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70. We can even go out to eat dinner.
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71. Isn't that a good thing, though?
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72. That's what everyone says.
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73. That it's a good thing.
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74. A good thing that Dad quit Rakugo...
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75. That he was forced to quit Rakugo...
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76. But I really loved Dad's Rakugo!
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77. Even though he was the only one talking,
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78. I could see all kinds of people
and scenery, like magic.
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79. That's why it makes me sad to think that
I'll never see Dad's Rakugo again.
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80. But when Dad quit Rakugo,
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81. everyone said, "He's serious now,"
and they all smile and laugh.
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82. The only one who was sad was me.
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83. Every time someone said,
"Aren't you glad?"
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84. it felt like they were saying
Dad's Rakugo was no good.
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85. It made me so bitter.
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86. So I made up my mind!
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87. I'm going to become a Shin'uchi,
and prove that Dad's Rakugo was great!
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88. You've grown. Truly.
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89. Apprenticeship with just
a high school degree...
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90. That's rare nowadays,
but not completely unheard of.
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91. If there is a problem at all...
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92. It's with me.
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93. I'm not fit to take on an apprentice.
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94. But still...
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95. Sorry, Akane.
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96. Hello?
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97. Oh, it's been a long time!
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98. What?
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99. Well, that sounds like trouble!
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100. Let me find someone for you.
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101. All right, I'll talk to you later.
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102. Master, is something the matter?
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103. That was Ms. Yoshino from the Rakugo Cafe.
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104. She's looking for someone
to perform today.
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105. That's short notice.
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106. Seems like her solo performer
is running late.
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107. Is that right?
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108. Understood! Then I'll...
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109. Yes. Akane, you go.
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110. - Huh? You sure?
- What?
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111. Akane, becoming my apprentice literally
means becoming a professional Rakugoka.
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112. Now go get a look at the world of pros!
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113. Understood.
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114. I'll bring the house down with laughter,
and leave them speechless!
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115. Just wait and see!
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116. RAKUGO CAFE
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117. Oh, it's you, Guri-chan!
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118. Thank you for filling in today.
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119. Uh, no, I'm not the one
going on stage today.
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120. It's her.
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121. What? This girl?
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122. Oh, are you Ms. Yoshino?
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123. What? Uh, yes.
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124. I've been entrusted with the role of
substitute performer by Shiguma Arakawa.
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125. My name is Akane Osaki!
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126. I will devote myself wholeheartedly
to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
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127. Thank you for your support!
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128. Who is this girl?
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129. What a sweet child she is!
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130. And thank you for your support!
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131. AKANE
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132. Who's Akane?
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133. That's unusual, using just her first name.
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134. I wonder which school she's from?
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135. What? Not an apprentice?
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136. And it's her first performance, no less?
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137. If it gets bad, I'll clean up after her!
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138. So please let her perform.
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139. Guri-chan really implored me.
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140. When the music starts, you're up, okay?
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141. - Did you hear me?
- What?
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142. Oh, uh... Hey, you're right!
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143. This kimono that I borrowed
from Master fits me like a glove!
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144. You've got butterflies, huh?
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145. What? Huh? No, I do not!
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146. Well, listen up. Ready?
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147. You write "people" on your
dominant hand and swallow it.
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148. Dominant hand signifies the audience.
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149. A Rakugoka dominates the audience, see?
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150. The master's been known
to do it too, for major shows.
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151. The master does it?
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152. - So you are nervous after all!
- Shut up!
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153. Well, don't get too worked up.
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154. Hey, are you actually a nice guy?
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155. What do mean, actually?
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156. Sorry! I didn't mean that.
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157. Thank you.
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158. I feel a little more relaxed now.
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159. All right.
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160. I'm heading out now.
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161. AKANE
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162. Whoa. A crowd!
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163. Well, not that I didn't know.
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164. I knew there would be.
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165. But seeing it from here...
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166. The pressure's crazy!
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167. And somehow, I totally feel...
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168. all alone.
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169. But I made the decision myself
to come here.
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170. Don't fold.
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171. Don't run away.
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172. Let it all out!
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173. Everything you've been building until now...
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174. What exists inside me...
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175. Today, right here...
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176. All of it!
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177. Uh, we all have our likes and dislikes.
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178. Thank goodness, she started talking!
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179. Her voice is strong,
and her gestures are bold.
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180. Hey, what a shock! Man, what a shock!
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181. Rakugo is a dialogue-based play.
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182. You portray each character by yourself
and through their exchanges,
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183. you mine the audience for laughs.
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184. It was slithering, with jaws opening wide...
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185. Its long tongue going, flicka-flick!
There was a snake, see?
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186. Man, was I shocked!
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187. Huh? For real?
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188. So what about you? What are you afraid of?
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189. "Scared of Manju."
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190. A story about young men talking
about what they're afraid of,
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191. and the ensuing commotion.
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192. A familiar Rakugo classic. But...
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193. There's something I'm scared of.
What did I tell you?
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194. Oh, dear me! What is this?
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195. This isn't something that a first timer
with no master can accomplish!
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196. Oh, come on.
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197. Manju.
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198. What was that? Huh? Manju?
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199. Say what? Hey, are there any bugs
called manju?
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200. But what is this? It feels so nostalgic.
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201. That guy says he's afraid of manju!
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202. Hey, seeing manju will kill him,
so wouldn't that be an AN-ssassination?
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203. Shin-chan!
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204. Manju!
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205. Hey! I told you how scared I am of manju,
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206. so you all bought some,
and you're trying to kill me!
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207. Manju... So scary!
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208. Manju...
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209. So scared... I'm so scared!
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210. Of manju...
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211. Oh, so scared... Of manju!
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212. I'm terrified! So scared...
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213. What's this? Hey...
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214. It's just crushed red bean paste manju?
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215. And what do we have here?
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216. A buckwheat manju, right? Isn't it?
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217. Oh, I'm so scared!
Come on, quit messing with me!
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218. Hey, where'd all those butterflies go?
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219. You're not even fazed
by your first performance.
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220. Damn it.
Like hell, you're "Scared of Manju."
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221. You're the scariest of all!
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222. Well, this sucks.
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223. At last my dream came true, and I got my
first solo performance at the Rakugo Cafe.
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224. But thanks to that accident, I got stuck
on that bus for three and a half hours.
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225. It's so not funny.
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226. I've really made the audience wait on me.
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227. I feel so bad.
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228. I'm scared of manju!
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229. How could you, Master Shiguma?
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230. Sending over a girl without telling me
a thing about her,
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231. then asking me what I think of her?
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232. What else can I possibly say but that
her performance was splendid?
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233. Listen, you jerk!
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234. You've been gobbling those manju while
screaming how scared you are of them.
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235. So what the hell are you really scared of?
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236. Oh, well. What I'm scared of now
is some bitter tea!
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237. Good job.
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238. Thanks.
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239. So how was your first-ever performance?
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240. More exhausting than I thought.
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241. Well, you did speak
for 20 minutes straight.
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242. Yeah, but I'll take this
kind of exhaustion any day!
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243. I wonder if they'll let me do it again?
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244. Don't get cocky, you dummy! You—
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245. Amazing!
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246. That was incredible! Incredible!
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247. Are you a teenager?
You're younger than me, right?
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248. Boy, that was stunning!
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249. You really made that boisterous
row house come alive!
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250. Your tone of voice and your tempo is like
Master Shiguma's, but a little different.
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251. Tell me, where do you usually perform?
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252. Hey! You...
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253. Well? Well? Well, well?
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254. I totally get why you did that.
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255. But that guy's up next.
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256. Huh? That's your concern? Who cares?
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257. Ouch, ouch.
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258. Hey, sorry.
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259. When I meet a talented Rakugoka,
I just can't hold myself back.
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260. But seriously, your
"Scared of Manju" was great!
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261. Especially how you gobbled those manju.
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262. You slightly changed how you ate
the chestnut and kudzu manju.
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263. I was like, "Nailed it!"
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264. All right. I'm up.
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265. Wait a second.
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266. Since you did take the stage
to fill in for me...
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267. Yeah! As a special favor, I'll let you
watch my solo performance for free!
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268. Watch and learn from the wings.
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269. So arrogant! I wouldn't watch him
for anything!
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270. Oh, where's the harm?
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271. Let's learn from the guy.
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272. Apprenticed two years ago.
Promoted to Futatsume at 19.
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273. He's the Rakugoka
that everyone's talking about.
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274. It won't hurt to watch him.
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275. It pisses me off to say it,
but that guy's Rakugo...
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276. It's sensual.
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277. Uh, I know I've kept you all waiting
today for a very long time.
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278. But you were certainly in luck!
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279. The girl before me
was not only pretty, but talented!
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280. I wonder who's been teaching her Rakugo?
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281. Really, she was amazing.
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282. Aside from Rakugo, I'm sure there are
all kinds of things you can learn.
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283. But completing your studies
is certainly no small feat.
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284. Hello! Old Master!
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285. Yes, yes.
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286. Hey, Hattsan. Is something the matter?
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287. Oh, thank goodness you're here.
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288. Uh, you see, I want to be a ladies' man!
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289. I wanna be a catch!
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290. How should I do that?
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291. You're putting me on the spot,
asking me a question like that.
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292. He's homely, and he has no money.
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293. It's a tale of such a man
taking singing lessons
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294. from a master
so he can become a ladies' man.
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295. An Ongyoku-banashi.
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296. Oh, then would you like to hear a ballad?
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297. A ballad? Sure, sounds good.
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298. Oh, is that right? All right, then.
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299. Well, there's a ballad
called "The Loose Hair," so...
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300. What? Loose hair?
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301. That's what happens a lot
with those express buses, right?
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302. No, that would be loose schedules.
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303. This Rakugoka was aboard one,
and got stuck...
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304. He's a totally different person now.
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305. He's so sensual.
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306. I can't believe he can play
such a seductive woman.
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307. All right, why don't I sing it
for you first?
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308. You listen, and try to learn it.
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309. Are you ready, sir?
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310. If I were...
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311. Wow, his singing's great!
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312. A bush warbler...
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313. In my master's garden...
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314. He can do this kind of thing, too?
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315. So, something like that.
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316. What? You mean I gotta do that?
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317. All right, are you ready, sir?
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318. Three, two...
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319. If I were
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320. A bush warbler!
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321. Don't forget to take breaths.
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322. He's so polished,
it pisses you off, right?
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323. The essence of his art is sensuality.
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324. Because he can play sensual roles,
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325. it plays up the words and actions
of his dimwitted roles,
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326. leading to waves of laughter.
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327. Who is that guy?
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328. Kaisei Arakawa.
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329. KAISEI ARAKAWA
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330. Since the Shin'uchi
Promotion Test six years ago,
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331. he's the only man that Issho Arakawa
promoted to Futatsume.
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332. All these reviews are about him.
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333. I thought I did pretty well
out there myself, but...
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334. Well, well...
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335. They've written some
pretty nice things about me.
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336. Don't be so shocked. You wound me.
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337. But you were reading them pretty ardently.
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338. Could it be that I was on your mind?
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339. Not a chance.
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340. Oh, by the way, Akane, are you
training under Master Shiguma?
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341. No, not yet.
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342. Is that right? Then...
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343. Akane, why don't you train
under my master, too?
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344. Nope.
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345. That was quick! I'm sad to hear that.
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346. I mean, I was
pretty serious about it, too.
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347. My master's currently
gathering young talent
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348. to shake up the current
seniority-based Rakugo world.
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349. He only evaluates your artistic skill.
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350. It's the ideal environment for us.
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351. You should join us there, too, Akane.
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352. I see. Then...
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353. I think I'll start training
under Master Shiguma!
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354. Thanks! See you!
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355. Huh? Wait, what's that supposed to mean?
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356. Well, you just said it yourself.
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357. That he'll evaluate you if you're skilled.
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358. Oh, right.
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359. Kaisei Arakawa, sir!
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360. I lost to you today, but I'm going
to catch up before you know it.
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361. So brace yourself, all right?
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362. Akane!
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363. Look, look, look!
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364. Just look at all these reviews about you!
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365. I went to copy them all at once,
and it took me a while.
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366. Huh? Akane?
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367. Hey, we're heading back now.
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368. H-Huh?
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369. She didn't leave already, did she?
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370. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
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371. NEXT EPISODE
ELDER FELLOW APPRENTICE
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372. Akane Small Talk!
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373. My first performance sure was fun!
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374. Well, I guess it wasn't bad, huh?
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375. Before you start your apprenticeship,
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376. you should listen to a bunch
of Rakugokas and learn from them.
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377. Sure thing!
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378. Hey, I know.
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379. As your senpai, I'll tell you
where you should listen to Rakugo!
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380. Oh, that's okay. I already know.
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381. Don't be shy!
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382. First of all, yose.
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383. These are theaters made especially
to show the audience our art.
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384. The yose known as joseki
usually have performances
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385. 365 days a year, from noon till night.
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386. Aside from Rakugo,
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387. they also feature a wide range of arts
like kodan, manzai, and kamikiri.
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388. If there are available seats,
you can just drop by that day,
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389. and you're free to come and go throughout!
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390. Awesome, huh?
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391. I told you, I already know that.
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392. Also, the more popular Rakugoka
do solo performances in bigger venues.
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393. If you want to immerse yourself
in your favorite Rakugoka's storytelling,
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394. I'd definitely recommend it!
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395. Hey, I need to tell Master about today.
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396. You can also watch Rakugo performances
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397. at community centers,
cafés, and even temples.
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398. Yeah, you really need
to keep an eye out for them.
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399. Huh? Hey!
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