Chapter 4 - A Finale Worth Dreaming Of

So this is going to be the carnival's final stop.....?

W-Wait, but why?!

So many people are coming here and having fun.....

It is, isn’t it? That brings me a lot of joy.

But..... I’m getting old.

I just don’t have the strength to keep moving from place to place, keeping this place running anymore.

Ah....

Still, I have no regrets.

I created this carnival to bring happiness to people, no matter where they were.

And I think..... that dream has been fulfilled now.

Spreading happiness far and wide, to all kinds of people—

That’s right. Even today, so many people left this place with a smile.....

Just like all of you.

And that..... makes me happier than anything.

Inuyama-san....

......I see. It's sad to think such a wonderful amusement park will be gone, but.....

I know so many people have left here smiling.

And that includes me!

Yeah..... Thank you.

Oh, in that case, could you tell us when the final day is?

Huh?

Since it's closing, we'd love to come back one last time!

Yeah! We were just saying we should all come visit again together!

Haha. Is that so?

It is two weeks from now. If your schedules are open, I’d love to see you all here one last time.

Two weeks from now......

That’s actually our day off from practice.

I’m free that day too.

Then it’s settled—let’s all come back together!

Indeed! Let’s all witness this carnival's grandest finale in all its glory!

........!

.......The grandest finale, huh?

......Meooow......

Inuyama-san...? Is something wrong?

Ah, no, it’s nothing major. Just…...

…..I thought, if we could bring back that show one last time, it’d make for a truly grandest finale.

That show?

…..If you don’t mind, could you tell us more about it?

........

…...When we first opened this carnival, we put on a special, one-week-only show to celebrate.

It was a labor of love, something my staff and I built with our own hands.

We’d never made a show before, so we struggled with everything—the script, the costumes, you name it..... It was a challenge, to say the least.

Even so—

The moment the show began, all that struggles just vanished.

So many people were smiling—the entire place was filled with joy. And in that moment, I knew....… this was the beginning of my dream.

That moment....… it’s burned into my memory, even to this day.

…...That show must have meant a lot to all of you.

It was.

That’s why I tried to bring it back before this carnival shuts down...… but I couldn’t make it happen.

Wait, why?

The script wasn’t properly preserved, and the costumes were in bad shape....

It just wouldn’t be feasible to recreate it.

You might think, “Why not just make a new show instead?” But if this is going to be our last one, it has to be that show.

Nothing else would feel right.

So, I decided to let it go.

Oh… I see…....

My apologies. I shouldn’t be sharing this with guests like you—

No, I was the one who asked. More importantly—

Inuyama-san...… if you’d be willing to consider it..… will you let me put on that show for you?

Actually, I used to be a performer at an amusement park, too. And hearing your story...… it really moved me.

“I want to see people smile.” “That moment was burned into my memory.”

...…I understand those feelings all too well.

That’s why—if you’ll have me, I’d love to be a part of this.

Tenma-kun.......

…...Count me in, too. I’ll do whatever I can.

Just like Tenma-kun said, today’s been full of unforgettable moments......

You've brought smiles to so many people, Inuyama-san..... so now, we want you to have the biggest, brightest smile of all!

I appreciate it, really...… but like I said, we don’t even have the script anymore.

And the costumes are badly damaged too…..

Leave the script to me! Just tell me what you remember, and I’ll piece it all together!

I might be able to do something about the costumes!

If there are any photos left, I think I can recreate them!

I’m not as skilled as Mizuki, but I do know a thing or two about sewing.

I’d love to help out too

Um..... I can’t really fix or sew clothes, but......

But if it’s acting, then I can definitely contribute.

You guys…!

Inuyama-san, I promise we’ll make sure both you and the audience leave with smiles.

So..... will you let us bring your cherished show back to life?

......Everyone, thank you. I never imagined you’d go this far.....

.................

I know it’s completely unreasonable to ask this of people I just met today.

But—

If I could witness that moment again.....

Forgive me, but... could you grant me this final dream?

.....!

Yes, absolutely!

For the perfect grand finale, where both you and everyone leaves with a smile.....

We’ll make this show a success, no matter what!