Mercuro🩸Tokyo Grand Guignol 1st Performance

🩸       Mercuro       🩸

Written by K. TAGANE Directed by Ameya Norimizu

CAST

Teacher: Shimada Kyusaku

Mikami: "Y"

Chinkajon: Ameya Norimizu

Maruo: Maruo Suehiro

Student 1: Yaguruma Kennosuke

Student 2: Ogawa Nobuo

Student 3: Takei Tatsuhide (first time, Mushanokoji Sanemasa)

Student 4: Tekumaku Mayako

Student 5: Sakai Yasuki (first time, Wada Eisuke)

Student 6: Yukiya Ataru

Older sister: Momoyama Tefu (first time, Ohno Sayuri)

　

　　　

Act 1 "Classroom"

The setting is "Art Theater Shinjuku". The stage and the audience are separated by a curtain, and the set is completely invisible.

There is no music to hint at the play that is about to begin, and the auditorium is too bright.

In other words, there is no mood. The audience is probably chattering away.

Suddenly, there is a "smack!" in the music, and the lights go completely dark.

(Scene 1)

In the darkness, there is the sound of six shoes stamping on the floor. The curtain is removed, and the lights gradually come on. Their feet can be seen stamping on the floor.

We can see the school uniforms they are wearing. We can't see their faces. They have their hats pulled down over their eyes. They are sitting on chairs. They are stamping on the floor precisely in time with the rhythm. Behind them, we can see a large blackboard. This is a classroom. A teacher is writing on the blackboard. We can see a window to the left of the blackboard. We can't see the outside. We can see a door to the right of the blackboard. It is closed. Eventually, the footsteps and music came to a sudden halt, and one student stood up. Act 1 "Classroom"

Student 1:          Teacher! (The other students all turn to face him.)

Teacher:            (Disinterestedly): ... What is it?

Student 1:          Um, ... I don't think that statement is appropriate. (Sits down)

                     

                          The teacher stops his hand and stands still. There is tension in his back. 

                          After a moment, he carefully begins to erase the words on the board. 

                          When he finishes, he starts writing again.

Student 2:          Teacher! (Stands up. Everyone turns around.)

Teacher:            (Continuing to write.) What is it?

Student 2:          Um, ... This morning, I saw the corpse of a cat that had been raped. (Sits down.)

Teacher:            That must have been in a traffic accident last night.

Student 3:         Teacher! (Stands up. Everyone turns around.)

Teacher:            What is it?

Student 3:          Um, ... Lately, I've been having an itchy feeling between my legs every night 

                           and I can't sleep.   (Sits down)

Teacher:            Well, it must be because of the weather.

Student 4:          Teacher! (Stands up. Everyone turns around)

Teacher:            What is it?

Student 4:          Is Umm... My voice hasn't changed yet. (Sits down)

Teacher:             It will change soon.

Student 2:          Teacher! (Stands up. Everyone turns around)

Teacher:             What is it?

Student 2:           Umm... I saw a cat that had been violated in the garden three days ago. 

                          (Sits down)

Teacher:            (Clears throat)

Student 5:          Teacher! (Stands up. Everyone turns around)

Teacher:             What is it?

Student 5:           Umm! ... The mountain behind our house is on fire! (Sits down)

Teacher:             You must be imagining it.

Student 3:          Teacher! (Stands up. Everyone turns around)

Teacher:            What is it?

Student 4:          Umm... Last night I had a dream that was so embarrassing I can't even talk 

                           about it. (sits down)

Teacher:             Because she stays up late.

Student 1:          Teacher! (stands up. Everyone turns around)

Teacher:            (growing annoyed) What's the matter?

Student 1:          Um, I've only just transferred here. (sits down)

Teacher:            That's right.

Student 6:         Teacher! (stands up. Everyone turns around)

Teacher:            (disgusted) ...

Student 6:         Teacher! (stands up. Everyone turns around)

Teacher:            What's the matter?

Student 6:          Um, please do something about that woman! Teacher! (sits down)

Student 4:          Teacher! (stands up. Everyone turns around)

Teacher:            What's the matter?

Student 4:          Um, I think she has alopecia to be honest. (sits down)

Student 3:          Teacher! (stands up. Everyone turns around)

Teacher:             What's the matter?

Student 3:           Um, what can I do to stop having those dreams? (sits down)

Teacher:             (doesn't answer, scribbles on the board in frustration)

Student 6:           Teacher! (stands up. Everyone faces forward)

Student 6:           Um, what should I do? (Stands up)

Student 4:           Teacher! (Stands up)

Student 6:           Um.

Student 1:            I don't know what to do, teacher! (Stands up)

Student 5:           Teacher! (Stands up)

Student 1:           Um.

Student 5:           Please put out the fire quickly, quickly! (Stands up)

Student 2:           Teacher! (Stands up)

Student 5:           Um.

Student 2:           What should I do? (Stands up)

Student 3:           Teacher! (Stands up)

Student 2:           Um.

Student 3:           Please do something, teacher! (Stands up)

Student 6:           Teacher!!

Student 3:           Um.

Student 6:           What should I do?

The following are mixed together at will.

　　　　　　　    Teacher!

    　　　　　　Um　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The following    What should I do?

are mixed　      Teacher!

together at will  Um

　　　               I, um

　　　　　　   Teacher!

　　　　　       I feel

　　　　　　   Teacher! 　Um

　　　　　　   I, I feel

　　　　　　   Teacher! 　I feel, um

　　　　　　   I, I feel

　　　　　　   Teacher! 　I feel

　　　　　　    I feel...Teacher! 　I feel

　　　　　　    feel...

Everyone　　　(overlapping) I feel sick!!

　　　　　　

Everyone is feeling nauseous. The teacher stiffens and slowly turns around. He takes a handkerchief out of his pocket and mutters in a weak voice.

Teacher: 　　...Go to the nurse's office.

As soon as he finishes saying this, he nervously places the handkerchief over his mouth. The chalk on the blackboard

pops and flies into the air. Music. The students run off in a frenzy, heading for the nurse's office. The light falls, leaving the teacher behind.

Beyond the window, the moon, about three meters in diameter, rises slowly.

The crater is clearly visible. The teacher remains alone in the dim light and begins to write on the blackboard. In the silence, only the clicking sound of the chalk rings out loudly in the teacher's ears. A dense string of letters is written. Looking more closely, it is clear that it is very sloppy writing.

It seems to be a health class. The teacher continues writing, chuckling loudly.

Suddenly, there is a loud knock on the door.

The door opens with a bang.

The sound of a strong wind.

It is pitch black beyond the door.

For a moment, a light flashes.

In that light, the figures of a boy standing,

and a woman standing with a parasol outside the opposite window come into view. A strong wind.

However, this only lasts for a moment. The boy comes in and slams the door shut.

The sound of the wind stops. The boy suddenly began speaking with a smile.

　

　　　　

Boy:                 Good evening, I'm Mikami, the transfer student. Sorry I'm late. I've just arrived 

　　　　　　　by train.  The wind was strong on the platform at night and it was dangerous, 

　　　　　　　I nearly lost my feet, but when I looked up, I could see the moon. The moon in 

　　　　　　　this town is big! I liked it right away. 

Teacher:           Eh? 

Mikami:            ‥What's up? 

Teacher:          You just said the moon was big. 

Mikami:           Yes. 

Teacher:          ... Is the moon in this town bigger than the one in the town you lived in before? Mikami:           Yes! 

Teacher:          ... (Strangely, Mikami is so cheerful and lively) 

Mikami:           ...       

Teacher:          You...where are you from? 

Mikami:           From a town where the moon looks small. 

Teacher:         Where are you? Mikami: It's my hometown. 

Teacher:         So where is it?

Mikami:          Where?... It's the town where I lost something.

Teacher:         A lost item?

Mikami:          Yes. I came to this town looking for it.

Teacher:         What is it?

Mikami:          It's my older sister. –––––––After transferring schools again and again, tracing 

　　　　　　my sister's whereabouts, I finally arrived in this town. The reason is that the moon

　　　　　    is big! In towns where the moon looks big, lost items always gather.

Teacher:       You lost it... What on earth happened to your sister?

Mikami:     ...Is it okay to talk about such things when you just arrived?

Teacher:      Yes, go ahead and tell me.

Mikami:       Thank you.

He takes off his hat and bows deeply. Music. Mikami's expression changes.

Mikami:      It was a bright moonlit night exactly three years ago. My sister and I were reading 

                  a book by the window as usual, but she seemed to be acting strangely. She would

                  always read for exactly two hours... about 100 pages, then put a bookmark in the

                  book and shut it. To rest her eyes, she would look out the window for about five 

                  minutes, and she would always make tea for me. However, on that particular day, 

                   my sister couldn't keep reading for even three minutes, and just kept looking out 

                 the window for a long time. I was puzzled, but at the time...I just assumed it was 

                  because of the moon.

Mikami puts his hat on. The music stops. Mikami doesn't move.

Teacher:        ...So?

Mikami:        Can I tell you more?

Teacher:      Well, you won't understand if I don't.

Mikami:        Thank you.

And then he takes off his hat. Music.

Mikami:      The moon that night was full, and it was astonishingly large, sparkling like a gold 

                   button. I have never seen such a large, dazzling moon since then...well, until I 

                   came to this town today. ...So at the time, too, I was engrossed in my book, 

                   thinking that the moon was so beautiful that my sister wouldn't be able to 

                   concentrate on her reading. ...After a while, I looked up at the sound of a crash,

                   and my sister went out into the garden, saying, "I'm going for a walk."

Mikami puts his hat on. The music stops.

Teacher:     ...And then?

Mikami:      (smiles) That's the end of the story.

Teacher:      So...

Mikami:       Yes. My sister never came back.

Teacher:     Hmm. ...Is that what they call... disappearance?

Mikami:      That's not it.

Teacher:     Huh?

Mikami:      (suddenly gets angry) That's not it!!

Mikami throws his hat away. Music.

Mikami:      That's not it. My sister was lured out by someone!

Teacher:     Do you have any proof?

Mikami:      No. But I'm certain. My sister was lured out by someone that night.

Teacher:     Why is that?

Mikami:      (unnaturally surprised) Right!! Why, how could you stare at such a bright full moon 

                   for so long?! ...I was careless. ...The moon dazzled those around you. She wasn't

                   looking at the moon. Someone was sending a signal in the bushes in the garden! 

                  That's right! Your sister wasn't looking at the moon!!

The teacher picks up Mikami's hat and puts it on her head. The music stops.

Teacher:     Calm down. ...Anyway, go to that seat by the window over there (Mikami heads to 

                   his seat)...I understand that you're searching for your sister. I'll pray that you find 

                   her soon too.

Mikami:       (Taking his seat) Thank you. ...I've been to a lot of different schools, but this is the 

                   first time I've met someone as sensible as you are. I really like you, teacher.

Teacher:     Is that so?

Mikami:       I like this town too... I feel like I'll definitely find my sister soon.

Teacher:     Oh, I hope so... But what makes you so sure that your sister is in this town?

Mikami:       I told you before. It's the moon, moon!

Teacher:     Is that all?      

Mikami:      Yes.

Teacher:       ...I see. ...You said Mikami-kun. ...I'm sorry, but you might not be able to find her in 

                   this town.

Mikami:       Why? Why did you suddenly say something like that?

Teacher:       ...It's the moon, moon!

Mikami:        ...?

Teacher:       Mikami-kun. The moon is the same size no matter where you look at it.

Mikami stands up in shock. Suddenly, there's a commotion as the students come back from the nurse's office. They've probably been treated, and are all wearing masks, eye patches, bandages, etc. Everyone takes their seats.

Teacher:      Okay. ... Now then, it's time for the sixth period. We're going to start the sixth 

　　　　　  period, health class. Today... open your textbook... to page 365. ...Is that okay? 

　　　　      ... Today, we're going to learn about sexually transmitted diseases, and of these,   

                    the most frightening is syphilis.

Student 2:   Teacher.

Teacher:      Yes.

Student 2:    We already learned about syphilis in last week's class.

Teacher:      (sulking) ...You can't remember it after just one time, can you... Huh? Did you 

                     remember it all? Huh?

Student 2:    No, no...

Teacher:      Well, come forward.

Student 2:    ... Teacher: Come forward! (Student 2 steps forward timidly.) Now, on this diagram

                    of the human body, mark the parts affected by syphilis.

Student 2:   Okay... (Thinkingly marks each part of the diagram)

Teacher:      Good. (Pointing at the diagram with a stick) As you can see, if you tried to draw a 

                    diagram of the parts affected by syphilis, it would look like this. Syphilis 

                    progresses, attacking every part of the body: the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, brain, 

                    heart, lungs, spleen, liver, kidneys, spinal cord, genitals, and even joints, muscles,

                    bones, skin, lymph nodes, and blood vessels. ... (Looking at Student 2)

                    ...Can such a dangerous disease be stopped by learning about it just once?

Student 2:   Yes, okay. Sorry.

Teacher:     Then tell me what the pathogen is.

Student 2:   Okay. 1. Treponema varium...

Teacher:      See! No! It's Treponema varium!

Student 2:   Treponema varium is a spiral-shaped microorganism that is found in large 

                   quantities in lesions on the patient's skin and mucous membranes.

Teacher:      All right. Sit down then. ... Now, let's all read page 366, the section on modes of 

                    transmission. ...  1, 2, 3, go

All:               How acquired syphilis is transmitted. [First direct contact transmission] This occurs 

                    when there is direct physical contact with a patient, primarily through sexual 

                     intercourse, kissing, and other sexual acts, or through blood transfusions, and 

                     also through breastfeeding, when a syphilis-affected mother transfers the 

                    infection to the infant's mouth, and conversely, when a syphilis-affected child 

                    transfers the infection to the mother's breast. Furthermore, it can also be 

                    transmitted through the hands and fingers of doctors, nurses, midwives, etc. 

                    while treating patients.

Teacher:      Very well. ... Syphilis is a highly contagious disease. You can assume that the 

                    pathogenic bacteria Treponema are swarming throughout the city. Therefore, you 

                     should also take great care. In other words, never engage in sexual intercourse.

                    ... Sexual intercourse is a sure way to fail.

Mikami, who had been staring blankly in a bored daze, suddenly bursts into loud laughter. The teacher touches his can and clears his throat. Mikami takes out a telescope from his bag and, looking like he can't bear to listen, begins to look out the window.

Teacher:      ...It's not just about sexual intercourse. At your age, it seems that some people 

                     lose their minds in activities like masturbation, but this is also a very sinful act, 

                     so I want you to absolutely stop it.

　　

                      The students start to make a fuss.

Student 4:     Teacher. (timidly)

Teacher:        Yes.

Student 4:     But... here, um, page 320, under the heading on masturbation and masturbation, 

                      it says, "There was once a theory that masturbation and masturbation were 

                     harmful to the body, but nowadays, the harm is completely denied, and worrying 

                     about the harm can actually have negative psychological effects."...

Teacher:       ...The Ministry of Education is wrong too.

Student 4:     ... (sits down)

Teacher:        Look, have a look at the Old Testament. The word onanism comes from Onan, 

                      the son of Judah, who is written in "Genesis." Onan incurred Jehovah's wrath 

                      and was executed simply for needlessly leaking semen from his body! 

                      Furthermore, even in the Book of Leviticus, it is written: "If a man should have an 

                      ejaculation, he shall bathe his whole body in water, and he shall be unclean until 

                      evening. And any garment or article of leather on which semen has been 

                      contaminated shall be washed in water, and it shall be unclean until evening." 

Everyone.      ... Teacher: It is written so strongly. Therefore, in our school, all sexual acts are 

                      prohibited, without exception. That's good, isn't it? 

                      Students wipe the sweat from their foreheads with handkerchiefs. 

Teacher:        Now, next, what happens when a pathogen is transmitted? The process and  

                      symptoms. Let's read this.  1, 2, 3, go

All:                 When you come into direct or indirect contact with a patient, the pathogen enters 

                      through a very small wound in the skin or mucous membrane, such as a cut hair,

                      where it multiplies, and after a latent period of about three weeks from the time of 

                      contact, a small lump usually appears at the site of entry. This then breaks down 

                      and becomes an ulcer. The area around this ulcer is somewhat hard, so it is 

                      called a hard chancre, and it does not itch or hurt, and the ulcer itself heals 

                      naturally after about a month. 

Teacher:        Yes. Well, this period is the worst. 

                      During this period, patients are still not aware of their infection and can walk 

                      around the city without any worries. However, this is the period when the 

                      infection is most contagious. Therefore, you should avoid going to red-light 

                      districts and other places with poor environments. ...Next, let's continue with the 

                      progress and symptoms of secondary syphilis. 1, 2, 3, go

All:                 If primary syphilis is left untreated, the treponemes will enter the bloodstream and

                      spread throughout the body. This will cause fever, headache, loss of appetite, 

                      and general fatigue, and at the same time, round, red rashes the size of 

                      soybeans will appear on the chest, abdomen, back, etc. Next, round, copper-red 

                      bumps that rise from the surface of the skin will appear in areas that are moist 

                      and prone to friction, such as the genitals and around the anus. (From this point 

                      on, Student 3's reading skills begin to lag behind the others.) Then, a fairly large,

                      oozing, light pink sore called a flat condyloma will appear. If this sore appears in 

                      the larynx, the voice will become hoarse. If it progresses further, circular white       

                      spots will appear on the skin, and the hair will fall out in patches. Furthermore... 

Teacher:        Wait a minute!

Everyone stops. Only Student 3 doesn't hear the teacher's voice.

Student 3:      ... and then my hair started falling out in patches... and then... it started creeping 

　　　　　　up my whole body...Crawling...crawling...crawling...

Teacher:        What's wrong!

Student 3:      ...Teacher.

Teacher:        Huh?

Student 3:      ...There's no way this disease could exist.

Teacher:        What?

Student 3:      This disease is a fabrication. I've never seen anyone with these symptoms.

Teacher:         (laughing) That's probably because you don't know. Medical science has 

　　　　　　advanced and, in general, there are fewer patients who are too late to treat, but 

　　　　　　the venereal disease department is always full of patients. ...You never know 

                      when that will happen to you too.

Student 3:      I won't get that disease! …I have, how should I put it, a strong resistance, so…

                      you see, even during the school trip, I was the only one who didn't come into 

                      contact with raw water, right? …Yeah, I've never had rubella, either…I always 

                      keep it clean…The same goes for my family. Everyone is extremely healthy…

                      None of the animals we keep at home have ever gotten sick…Teacher: I see…

                      But is that really true? Maybe you just didn't notice, but your dog had 

                      heartworms, for example. 

Student 3:      No. That's not true. Not a single one of them got sick…Ah…(stammers)

Teacher:        Ah…What is it?

Student 3:      No…I'm sorry. Come to think of it, there was one 

                      time…

Teacher:        Right? So, what is it? 

Student 3:      Yes. It's a praying mantis that I kept when I was in elementary school.

Teacher:        A  praying mantis? 

Student 3:     Yes. I caught one in the field behind the school and raised it with care. Then, one 

                      morning, I noticed that there were only one of the two at first. Then, I started to 

                      worry that the remaining one was sick...

Teacher:       Oh, there's nothing to be surprised about. It wasn't that one of them ran away, 

                     but that one ate the other one.

Student 3:     What?

Teacher:        Well, the female ate the male.

Student 3:     Did... she ate it?

Teacher:        Yes, she did.

Student 3:     Why?

Teacher:        Because... the female did it for nutrition.

Student 3:      Because those two were really close!

Teacher:        Yes, but the spawning season was approaching and the female needed nutrition,

                      so she ate it.

Student 3:      No! It had nothing to do with spawning! They were all such good friends, 

                      but one of them went away, so she must have gotten weak. She got sick, 

                      her stomach swelled, and after a while she started excreting strange bubbles 

                      from her bottom. Inside the bubbles were tiny particles that looked like 

                      parasites...

Teacher:        Ah... you see, those are eggs.    

Student 3:     Yes. They might have been parasite eggs.

Teacher:        No, that's not it, those were eggs that were laid by the female, using the male as 

                      nourishment.

Student 3:      (not hearing the teacher's words)...I thought, "Oh no, this is bad, I've caught a 

                       bad disease," so I used tweezers and a needle to crush the eggs like this, 

                      (gestures as I crush the eggs)...Yes, I pop them like this...This parasite is taking 

                       advantage of my weakness...pop...

Teacher:         ...(clears throat)

Student 3:       ...I don't want my cute praying mantis to get...pop...a ​​disease...pop...a ​​

                      disease...I don't want...it...pop...

Teacher:        (irritated) Nurse!

Student 6:      Yes.

Teacher:         Let's go to the nurse's office again!

Student 6 takes Student 3 away.

Teacher:        Oh, I've wasted time on something trivial, but syphilis is not something you can 

                      develop immunity to, like measles or typhoid. You can get it over and over again.

                      Make sure you remember how terrifying it is! We'll continue this next week. 

                      That's all for today!

Student 2:     Stand up! (Everyone stands up) Thank you!

The bell rings. The teacher quickly leaves. The lights go out.

(Scene 2)

　　　

The bell continues to ring. It gets brighter. It seems to be after school. The five students, excluding the one who went to the nurse's office, are all either slouching their feet on their desks or flipping through comic books and movie magazines.

Student 6:      Okay. Did you see it? Let's go next.

Student 4:      Wait a minute. It'll be up soon.

Student 6:      Come on... you're really slow at reading...

Student 4:       It'll be soon, just a little longer.

Student 6:      Come on... I'll take a look first, and then I'll give it to you.

Student 4:      Oh, that's fine.

Student 6:      I'm not good at looking at things with others... it's distracting...

Student 4:      Okay. I'll look at it a little faster... but look at this photo. It's really beautiful, 

                       isn't it? ...It's the best.

Student 6:      Eh?

Student 4:      This one! It's Dietrich from Morocco.

Student 6:      Wow!

Student 4:      Yeah. It's good. Her co-star Gary Cooper was still young at the time, and he was 

                       really cool!

Student 6:      You... you're just an old hag. ...That's crazy!

Student 4,      M...So who are you?

Student 6:      You idiot, I'm Brooke Shields after all!

Student 4:      Brooke Shields?

Student 6:      Yes. Look at this! (Turns the page) Argh!!

Student 4:      Hmm...I wonder...

Student 6:      Of course it is, idiot. If you start liking old ladies now, nothing good will come of it.

Student 4:      Hmm...I wonder.

Student 6:      Leave that old hag to Kinbuchi (apparently that's what teachers are called).

Student 4:      No good. It's too good for a guy like that!

Student 6:      Hehehe. But that Kinbuchi guy... do you think he has any women?

Student 4:      No way. There aren't any. There's no way there are any at that rate.

Student 6:      Hmm. That's true... they have a class on syphilis once a week.

Student 4:      It really is annoying.

Student 2:      (joins their conversation) Hey, on that note, I've seen a man without a nose 

                       before.

Student 4:       Really?

Student 6:       Ugh! That's gross. Student 2: Also, Sato from class B said he hurt his nose in a 

                        soccer game, but I wonder if it's that. ...It seems a bit low.

Student 6:       Wait a minute. So does that mean he's already been with a girl?

Student 2:        ...I-I guess that's what it would be...

Student 4:        Eh?

Student 6:        Eh? ...But if that's what he is, it'll spread to us too. ...Then the school would be 

                        closed.

Student 2:       The school would be closed...

Student 4:       Hmm...

Student 6:       Hmm...

Student 2:       I bet it'll be in the paper.

Student 6:       Heh heh. That guy with the gold rims is gonna be shocked!

Student 2:       ...Oh, and then there's that transfer student, Mikami, I'm curious about him. Student 6:       Yes, that guy. He's always looking outside.

Student 2:       Rumor has it he's looking for someone.

Student 6:       Who is it?

Student 2:       I don't know...

Student 4:       I wonder if he's a virgin?

Student 6:       Of course. That kind of guy is not popular.

Student 2:       Yeah... when I look at him... I get a bad feeling.

Student 4:       That's right.

Student 5:       Sorry to interrupt you, but what do you think about today's extracurricular 

                        class...?

Student 2:       I'll be there! It's a Chinkajon class after all.

Student 4:       What do you think we'll be doing today?

Student 2:       Yeah, last week we were talking about capitalist society, so... today...

At this moment, the clock suddenly strikes eight. The students stop talking and listen carefully. Then, one of them gently blows a whistle as a signal, and everyone slowly moves their chairs and sits in two rows facing each other in front of the desk. The whistle is blown loudly, beeping. Then, music with a fierce beat begins to ring out. The students shake their fists, stomp their feet, and start calling out.

Students:       Chinkajong! Chinkajong! Chinkajong! ...

The music gets louder, and the blackboard flips over with a creak. The students call out enthusiastically! A beggar boy is lying down on the back of the blackboard, clinging to it and eating his lunch. He is wearing a ripped hakama and a woman's undershirt, but it is very dirty. When the blackboard stops, he opens his mouth wide and laughs loudly. However, this was not the boy's actual voice, but a device that would play a taped laughter sound when he opened his mouth. From then on, all of the boy's laughter was a device. When the students heard the laughter, they all raised one hand.

　　　　

Students:     Heil, Chinkajon! 

Beggar:       Hmmm, heil. (while eating his lunch)... Ahh... (scratching his chest)...

　　　　　  Uhh... (scratching his butt)... In the lecture two weeks ago, we learned about 

                    "improving the social status of homeless people" and "privileges in beggar   

                     society". 

                     Then the week before that, we learned about "the relationship between catnip and 

                     catnip, history and women"... and last week, we had a lecture about "the trends 

                     and countermeasures of a capitalist beggar society". How was it?

Students:     (Applause!)

Beggar:        Well then... this week's lecture... finally this week... erm, this week, I would like to 

                     talk about "The meaning of masturbation and its practice", which you have all 

                     been waiting for.

Students:       (Applause!)

Beggar:          ...Well, let's get straight into the lesson...Raise your hand if you've tried it 

                     already!

Pause. No one raises their hand. Beggar laughs, as usual.

Beggar:        Even infants and small children engage in masturbation.

Student 4:    Chinkajon! (Raises hand)

Beggar:        Yes! (Points)

Student 4:     We were taught that masturbation and masturbation are sins, according to the 

                     Old Testament.

Beggar:         I thought Kinbuchi said that? ...Listen, Kinbuchi only teaches lies, so we have to 

                      be very careful! Students: (Applause) Beggar: Well, it's true that the word 

                      masturbation originates from Onan in the Old Testament, who was ordered by his

                      parents to sleep with his dead brother's wife and have a child in his place. 

                      However, when the time came, he suddenly got fed up and purposely ejaculated 

                      on the ground. He was killed for disobeying his parents' orders, so the crime was 

                      not the masturbation, but the abortion of sexual intercourse. The anti-civilization 

                      philosopher Diogenes, who enjoyed a solitary life in a barrel, openly indulged in 

                      masturbation in broad daylight in the Athens square with his students. He then 

                      turned to the assembled spectators and said, "How wonderful it would be if, in 

                      the same way, when you are hungry, you could rub your stomach and feel full." 

                      ...and that is truly true.

The beggar boy finishes his lunch and steps onto the podium.

Beggar:        Well then! Without any boring introduction, let's get straight to the point.

Saying this, he moves his head up and down.

Students:      (imitates)

Beggar:        (Shakes his hips from side to side)

Students:     (imitates)

Beggar:        (Stands out his arm and shakes his wrist)

Students:     (imitates)

Beggar:        Then open your zipper! ...Stick your hand in! ...

Students:     (Nervous)

Beggar:        ...Charge!!

With a command, music starts and the students begin masturbating vigorously. The beggar boy flies around between them with a look of joy. Eventually, as the music ends, the students ejaculate all at once and reach climax. Semen flies into the air. The beggar boy showers it on his body. Instead, quiet music plays.

The students are groaning softly.

Beggar.     ...On the third door from the right of my favorite public toilet, there is a sign in bright red that says "Do Not Use." I wrote that myself in the winter four years ago, and since then, no one has used the toilet except for me. Every day, I sleep and wake up inside this door and look out the window. From the small, barred window, all I can see is a small patch of ground at the edge of the trash dump, with two spindly weeds growing there. Sometimes the trash crumbles down to the base of the weeds, and smooth pieces of onions and brown shards of beer bottles sparkle in the strong sunlight. I urinate into the white toilet bowl while admiring the view. The toilet bowl is cool and smooth, and when I hold it, it rumbles softly like snow. At times like these, I kick the toilet door violently and remember that day. ...But now I can't remember anything, and even when I walk through the city or relieve myself at the back of the square, the painted words "Do not use" on the third door from the right of my favorite public toilet remain upside down and floating in my mind, and superimposed on it are the weeds, food waste, and shards of beer bottles sparkling in the sun on the tiny ground visible through the small, latticed window, divided into squares that stick to the back of my eyelids and never go away no matter what I look at...and then I realized, um, I ... After the beggar boy finishes speaking haltingly, he suddenly opens his mouth and laughs. He quickly turns around and dives behind a desk to hide. The door slowly opens and Mikami comes in, looking around restlessly. He opens a drawer in the teacher's desk on the podium and searches inside. But then he seems to give up and just stands there blankly. He turns to the front. Slowly, step by step, he begins to walk towards the front of the stage, as if savouring each step. The sound of the wind begins to blow, and with each step, the wind gets stronger. The wind gets stronger. Music begins to mix with the sound of the wind, and suddenly, crowds of people appear from both sides of the stage, walking through a winter town, and cross the stage. Mikami, one of them, looks at him in surprise. He calls out to him loudly, stopping him.

After the beggar boy finishes speaking haltingly, he suddenly bursts into laughter. He turns around and dives behind a desk to hide. The door slowly opens, and Mikami comes in, looking around. He opens a drawer in the teacher's desk on the podium and searches inside. But then he gives up and just stands there blankly. He faces forward. Slowly, step by step, he begins to walk towards the front of the stage, as if savouring each step. The sound of the wind begins to sound, and with each step, the wind gets stronger. The wind gets stronger. Music begins to mix with the sound of the wind, and suddenly, a crowd of people appear from both sides of the stage, walking through a winter town, and cross the stage. Mikami looks at one of them in surprise. He calls out to him loudly.

Mikami:      Big sister! Big sister!

The person doesn't notice and starts to leave.

Mikami:      Wait, big sister! It's Yukio!! Sister!!

The person stops dead. It seems to be my sister. Only the two suspensions hitting Mikami and my sister remain. In the darkness, the crowd of people has disappeared before you know it. The music has also disappeared. My sister stops, but doesn't turn around.

Mikami:      Sister... What's wrong with you?!

Sister:        ...

Mikami:      ...

Sister:        ...

Mikami:      ...I've been looking for you for two years.

Sister:        ...

Mikami:      What's wrong with you? It's Yukio. You haven't forgotten him, have you?

Sister:        ...

Mikami:      ...He's dead. The cat. ...All the grass in the garden has withered, too.

Sister:        ...

Mikami:      ...I hear Yuko has gotten married...

Sister:        ...

Mikami:      You can imagine what I felt!

Sister:        ...

Mikami:      Where have you been since then? ...Who were you with, and where were you?!

Sister:        ...

Mikami:      ...The trunk has holes in it, and it's tattered.

Sister:        ... (shifts the trunk from left hand to right hand)

Mikami:      You're planning on going somewhere again, aren't you?

Sister:         ...

Mikami:       Where are you planning on going?! Eh?! ...Answer me!! Where were you planning

                   on going?!

Sister:         ... (slowly turns to face the front. Doesn't look at Mikami)

Mikami:       (Regains composure, quietly) ...Let's go home.

Sister:          ...

Mikami:        ...Let's go home...to the house.

Sister:          ...

Mikami:        Let's go home together, sister.

Sister:          ...

Mikami:        Sister!! Why are you silent! Sister, sister... 

A faint whistling sound can be heard between Mikami's words. Mikami notices it and stutters. It is leaking from  between his sister's lips. It is a sound made through the gap between her teeth. It is a sound even quieter than a whistle. If he listens closely, he hears that it is the theme song to Jean Gabin's "Headlight." Mikami stands there, still imagining his sister's lips. Eventually, his sister slowly moves her eyes to Mikami's chest. Mikami looks at her own chest. The second button on her school uniform is undone and missing. That's all. Mikami looks at his sister quizzically. His sister is still looking at her chest.

Mikami:     ...No, I dropped this somewhere...

His sister is still looking at him. She is glaring at him as if she is severely criticizing him for being missing a single button. Mikami panics.

Mikami:     No, that's not it...It was right there just now...Yes, it must have fallen somewhere 

　　　　　around here...

Mikami crawls around the ground searching for it. He can't find it.

Mikami:     ...That's strange...Really...It was closed just a moment ago...If she dropped it, it should have fallen around here...That's strange...

Mikami suddenly looks up at his sister. His sister is not there. Only the suspension in the sky where his sister was is still there. Mikami is stunned and stares at the suspension. The theme of the light plays. Mikami cries out in pain and chases after his sister. Suddenly, a crowd of people from the town appears from the side where his sister left, and Mikami is mobbed. The crowd repeats to each other loudly, "I love you," "I love you too," "I love you," "I love you too." Mikami's voice is drowned out as well. The headlight theme gets louder. The lights slowly go out. The music is still playing. Eventually, it fades away and a shock comes in. Mikami is lying on the ground alone. 

He gets up. He wipes the dirt off his clothes.

Mikami:    ...Sister didn't look at my face until the very end.

Music. Mikami, facing forward, continues to wipe the dirt off his clothes with just his hands. The lights go out. In the darkness, the teacher's voice reads Turkish, followed by the voices of the students repeating it. It lights up and it's a classroom.

Class is in progress. The teacher seems to really like Turkish, and is unusually cheerful. But then his face suddenly clouds over. Mikami is looking out the window through the telescope again.

Teacher:       Hey, hey, Mikami!

Everyone:     Hey, hey, Mikami.

Teacher:       What are you looking at!

Everyone:     What are you doing––––––.

Teacher:       Shut up!

Everyone:      ….

Mikami:          ….

Teacher:         …What are you… looking at?

Mikami:         The city view.

Teacher:       , huh... Is that stuff interesting?

Mikami:         Yes, it looks upside down. The forest, the city, the people.

Teacher:        I see... What kind of lens are you using?

Mikami:         It's window glass.

Teacher:        Window glass is... Um, just regular glass?

Mikami:         Yes, that's right. When I broke a window before, one of the pieces was shining so

　　　　　　 beautifully,so I picked it up and put it up.

Teacher:        But there's no way that scenery would look upside down with just regular glass.

Mikami:         Yes, I'm lying.

Teacher:        ...

Mikami:          ...But this glass is the finest quality.

Teacher:        So what are you really looking at with that finest quality glass?

Mikami:         Far away.

Teacher:        With ordinary glass you can't even see far away.

Mikami:         So close, so far away.

Teacher:        Huh?

Mikami:         No, to be precise, it's the farthest point on Earth. To me, it's the end of the earth.

Teacher:        Where is that?

Mikami:         There.

Teacher:        Huh?

Mikami:          Here. (Pointing to his own back) ...My back.

Teacher:        (Laughing) Are you trying to see a fly that's landed on your back?

Mikami:           ...

Teacher:        I see... Your glass is a magic mirror.

Mikami:         No, after all... a pane of glass is a pane of glass.

Teacher:        Then why can you see someone's back?

Mikami:         That's right... Are my eyes lenses?

Teacher:        Hmm?

Mikami:          No, I was just thinking that maybe my eyes have become lenses.

Teacher:        What do you mean?

Mikami:          Well... it's just that faraway things look close, and close things look very far away.

Teacher:         Your perspective is messed up.

Mikami:          Yes. When I reach out to grab something that's right there, it's too far away and    

                       I can't get it.

Teacher:         That's strange.

Mikami:           It's strange. The more I panic, the further away it becomes. And yet, faraway 

                      things look right there, so it's boring and I don't even feel like reaching for them.

Teacher:        You... you seem a little tired. When you first transfer to a school it's easy to be 

                      emotionally unstable.Besides, in your case, there's also your sister to consider... MIKAMI:        It's not like that. I was just saying that maybe my eyes work that way.

Teacher:        Really? Then maybe there's no need for such a telescope.

MIKAMI:        No, it doesn't work that way.When I lose something in my room, I use this 

                      method. I look at the room in the mirror.I try putting on clear glasses.I look upside

                      down between my legs.Then, the thing I'm looking for, which I couldn't find even 

                      after turning the drawers upside down, is there, right in front of me.

Teacher:        And so?

MIKAMI:        So basically... this is how I'm looking for my sister.

Teacher:        ...Mikami. I can understand how you feel. That's why I've been quiet these past 

                       few days too. But you won't find your sister using such childish methods.

MIKAMI:         No, I'm sure I'll find her. 

Teacher:         But class is in progress. Even if you're a transfer student, we can't be so lenient.

                       From today on, stop looking through the telescope during class!

Mikami:          But teacher...

Teacher:         You talk too much. Anyway, what you should be working on now is to catch up to 

                       the level of this school as quickly as possible. Good!

Mikami:          Teacher!

The teacher ignores him and starts speaking in Turkish.

Mikami:         Teacher!

Teacher:        ...

Mikami:         Teacher!

Teacher:        ...

Mikami:         (This time he slowly raises his hand, brightly) Teacher!

Teacher:        (Reluctantly turns around) ...Yes. ...Mikami-kun.

Mikami:          ... (Stands up straight)

Teacher:         What is it?

Mikami:          ...Um...

Teacher:         Do you still have something to say?

Mikami:          ...Um... (smirking)

Teacher:         What is it? Just say it quickly!

Mikami:          ...That's, that... (smirking even more) ...It's boring.

The students react abnormally to that one word. They each grab a pencil box and start shaking it. The teacher goes pale. The students all start screaming like machines.

Student 1:      It's boring!

Student 2:      It's boring! Student 3: So boring!

Student 4:      So boring!

Student 5:      So boring!

Student 6:      So boring!

Teacher:         Shut up! Shut up!

The students stop dead.

Teacher:          ...Mikami. What are you pretending to be?

Mikami:            ...Teacher. My favorite teacher... Actually, when I was looking through the 

                        telescope earlier......I saw your face.

Music. All the students toss their notebooks into the air. The pages unravel, and the paper flutters through the air.

Mikami slowly holds the telescope up to his eye and peers into the teacher's face.

He is squeezed by two suspensions. Eventually the lights go out.

––––––––––– Curtain ––––––––––

–––We will now have a 10-minute break. –––

Go to the bathroom, smoke a cigarette, drink some juice, or just chat.

          Act 2 "The Nurse's Office"

(Scene 1)

The lights slowly go out. Silence. When the audience quiets down, the only sound is heavy breathing.

Student 3:        Haa... haa... haa... haa... uh... uh... N-brother... haa  Haa... brother, stop... uh...   

                        stop it... haa... haa... I- I'm... your brother... uh... haa... haa... something like 

                        that... I'll never do that again... uh... I'm not... a.. woman! Haa... haa... ah! Stop...

                        haa... Ah! Stop! Haa... you shouldn't do that...Uh... ah ah!   No...No!  ...Haa 

                        haa...Big brother, no  No...Big brother! Big brother,ah!...When!!You pervert!!

                        Stop...Ahh...Stop it! Stop it! Ahh! Stop it! ...Ahh! ...Ahh!!

The lights come on along with Student 3's scream. Surrounding him are a teacher in a white coat and the nurse's assistant, Maruo (Maruo Suehiro), also in a white coat, who are watching him intently. This is the nurse's office. Student 3 is sitting on a small bed in the center. On either side of it are partitions made of pipes covered with white cloth. In the center of the back wall is a large medicine shelf. It is lined with medicine bottles. In front of the window is a desk. Next to it is a human body model. There is a cupboard containing medical equipment on the wall next to the door.

The teacher and Maruo stare expressionlessly at Student 3. Student 3 wakes up screaming and begins to tremble.

Student 3:       Haa... haa... T-teacher, it hurts... it hurts so much... H-hurry up, Please put me 

                       out of my misery... please... hurry... haa... haa...

The teacher grins. Slowly,

Teacher:        Maruo!

Maruo:           Yes.

Teacher:        Prepare for surgery!!

Maruo:           Yes!!

Music!

Maruo hurriedly puts on a mask and rubber gloves, and sets up equipment around the bed. He lays Student 3 on the bed and passes an IV tube containing blue liquid through his body. He puts a general anesthesia mask over his mouth and blocks off the bed with a partition. The teacher also puts on a mask and rubber gloves, and washes his hands with disinfectant.

Teacher:        Scalpel!

The teacher holds out his hand. Maruo hands over the scalpel. Suddenly the music gets louder, and the teacher, scalpel in one hand, begins to dance vigorously. With his body undulating violently, he jumps into the screen. Perhaps the anesthetic was not enough, as student 3 can be heard to scream. Dots of blood splatter onto the screen. The teacher jumps out from inside the screen while dancing. His gloves are stained with blood. He makes a U-turn and jumps into the screen again. More blood splatters onto the screen. Perhaps with too much momentum, the screen is ripped in one or two stripes by the scalpel. The teacher grabs one of the organs and jumps out, holding it in his hand. Dancing, he comes to the front of the desk. At that moment, Maruo's voice comes from inside the screen.

Maruo:          Teacher! Something bad has happened! Something strange has come out of his 

                      stomach!!

Maruo opens the screen with a bang. Student 3's stomach is torn open, and from within, along with his internal organs, a strange creature with sharp teeth is sticking out!

Teacher:       (Surprised, stops dancing and stares)...An alien.

Maruo:          An alien?

Teacher:        That's right! An alien called a sexual delusion!!

Maruo:           What should we do?

Teacher:        Cut it out! Cut it out---!!

The teacher starts dancing again. Maruo closes the screen and begins to cut the alien out.The teacher continues dancing wildly.

Maruo:         Teacher---!!

Teacher:       What's wrong!!

Maruo: It's no good!! This time... This time he himself has become a powerful delusion!! Maruo opens the screen. The music gets louder. ...!! Student 3 has turned into an alien,

writhing around! The teacher stops dancing and stands there in a daze.

 

Teacher:         ...I see. It's anesthesia!

Maruo:             !?

Teacher:         Turn off the anesthesia!! The longer he sleeps under the anesthesia, the more 

                       his delusions will grow!

Turn off the anesthesia! Wake him up!!

Maruo closes the screen. He quickly turns off the anesthesia. The music fades away.

All that remains are the heavy breathing of Maruo and the teacher.

Teacher:        Haa... haa... how is it?

Maruo:           Haa... haa... it seems... he's gone back to normal. (Slowly opens the screen)

                      The anesthesia... has worn off, but... haa... haa... it seems he's now fainted from 

                      the pain.

Teacher:        I see... that's good. While he's unconscious, he'll probably dream...

The Teacher stares at Student 3's body. Student 3 lies silently, his organs protruding out of his body in a pitiful state.

Teacher:        (shouts in shock) Mercuro!

Maruo:            ...?

Teacher:         Maruo! Give me some Mercuro for the final time!

Maruo timidly takes some Mercuro from the medicine cabinet and hands it to the Teacher. The Teacher drips some Mercuro onto Student 3's stomach.

Teacher:         ...It's a strange red. (Looking entranced, he tries to stroke his stomach) Oops, 

                       Mercuro if you accidentally touch it. If you get it on your fingers, it won't come off 

                       for three days.

Maruo looks on quizzically.

Teacher:         Come on! Blow, blow!

Maruo:            Huh?

Teacher:          Blow it. Like this. (blows air from his mouth) Huff! Huff!

Maruo:            Huff! Huff!

Teacher:          ...As the affected area dries in this way, the unique shine of Mercuro appears.

                       Hmm? You've probably had this experience, right? When you were a child and 

                       scraped your knee, you put this medicine on it, and the wound eventually dries 

                       and begins to glow a strange color. I can't tell if it's red or green. ...Yes, like a 

                       deep red metal...

Maruo:             ...

Teacher:         Do you want to know the secret, Maruo?

Maruo:            Yes.

The teacher flips through a book drawer. He stops at a page and hands it to Maruo.

Teacher:         Read it.

Maruo:           (reads)

Teacher:         Say it out loud!

Maruo:            Y-Yes. ...Um, Mercuro. Mercurochrome to be exact. Odorless indigo-green or  

                       greenish-reddish brown granules. Practically insoluble in alcohol and acetone, 

                       but soluble in water. ...When dissolved in water, it turns red. Mainly used as a 

                       2% aqueous solution. It works slower than tincture of iodine, but is not irritating 

                       and has bacterial growth inhibitory properties.

Teacher:         Hmmm, hmmm.

Maruo:             ... Ah, a side effect. A rash from a rash of urticaria. Ah, the molecular formula for

                      mercurochrome...C20 H8 O6 N02 Hg...

Teacher:        There it is. What's C?

Maruo:           Carbon.

Teacher:         What's H?

Maruo:            Umm... Hydrogen!

Teacher:         That's right. What's O?

Maruo:           Oxygen!

Teacher:         Then what's Na?

Maruo:           Sodium.

Teacher:         What's the last Hg?

Maruo:             ...!

Teacher:         What's wrong?

Maruo:            No, but... Because, teacher, that can't be...

Teacher:         ...There's something. Maruo. You must be surprised. That's right, Hg, mercury.

Maruo:            ....

Teacher:         1919. Mercuro was discovered by Young White Schwartz while he was 

                      researching compounds made from mercury and dyes. No one could believe it. 

                      Mercury is the only liquid metal, and a highly toxic substance, so it's in a 

                      disinfectant. (Picking up the bottle of Mercuro)...Mercurochrome. A highly toxic 

                      substance and a drug. A paradox in a bottle. The perfect drug. ...And don't you 

                      just love the way it sounds? Mer-cu-ro. It starts with a nasal sound, then a 

                     popping sound, and ends with a lisping sound. It has all three ways of   

                     pronouncing a consonant. ...It's perfect... The teacher again pours Mercuro into

                     Student 3's stomach. His face lights up with satisfaction. Teacher: When you give 

                    Mercuro to your internal organs like this, all your diseased organs seem to come 

                     back to life. Look, when you shine light on it like this, it will shine here and there 

                     like metal. ...If you have such beautiful internal organs, you will be loved even 

                     after death.

Maruo:          ...

Teacher:       Hey, Maruo. Now, just stitch it up.

Maruo:          Is this the only treatment you need?

Teacher:       That's right, the wounds of delusion can only be healed with Mercuro.

Maruo:         But...

Teacher:      Oops, if you get Mercuro on your hands, it's a disaster. It won't come off for three 

                    days. ...Oops, If you get Mercuro on your hands, it's a disaster. It won't come off 

                    for three days...Oops, if you get Mercuro on your hands, it's a disaster. It won't 

                    come off for three days.

Maruo stares at the teacher in silence. The lights go dark rapidly.

(Scene 2)

The bell rings. The lights come up. The students are lined up with their charts in hand. It seems that the physical examination is about to begin. Everyone looks a little nervous as they look down at their charts. They occasionally whisper to each other.

Student 1:        (Whispering) Hey! Hey! Hey!

Student 4:        (Whispering) What's going on?

Student 1:         The other day, I had a dream that my bones were falling apart.

Student 4:         So what?

Student 1:         Well, that's why I'm lacking calcium, I guess?

Student 4:          I wonder. I've been trying to eat seaweed every day lately...

Student 1:          Eh?

Student 4:          It's seaweed.

Student 1:           ...does seaweed have calcium in it?

Student 4:          Eh?

Student 1:          Is it good for your bones?

Student 4:          What are you talking about? It's hair! ...It's just not growing back.

Student 2:          Pfft! What's wrong? It's still not growing.

Student 4:          Shut up!

Student 1:          Wait a minute, I'm talking about dreams!

Student 2:          Huh?

Student 1:          That's why I'm talking about calcium!

Student 2:          Hey, that's not the point, Takei, isn't he acting strange lately?

Student 1:          What's strange about that?

Student 2:          He's acting strange!

Student 6:          Hey!

Student 2:          Huh?

Student 6:          Were you talking about Takei just now?

Student 2:          That's right.

Student 6:           I see. He's really strange, isn't he!

Student 2:           You thought so too? (To Student 1) Wh-so, he's really strange, isn't he?

Student 1:           So in what way is he strange? Student 6: Yeah, how can I put it, it's like he's 

                            a different person.

Student 2:           That's right! It's like he's a different person!

Student 1:           How has he changed?

Student 6:            I can't really explain it, but... he's gotten stiff.

Student 1:           Huh?

The suspension hits Student 3 (Takei). The rest of the room goes dark. Student 3 stands there, expressionless and stiff.

Student 6:         Right... how can I put it... it's metallic.

Student 2:         Yes, that's right. It's metallic.

Student 6:         It's kind of jerky, it's weird, you know?

Student 2:         Yeah. Like a machine.

Student 1:         You're probably imagining it.

Student 2:         No, that's not it. When he was going up the stairs, I heard his footsteps 

                         clicking!

Student 1:         That must be because he stepped on a caterpillar or something and left

                          it there.

Student 2:         I guess so... it's weird, though...

Student 6:         I think it's been since that day.

Student 2:         That day?

Student 6:         That's the day! The day Takei was called to the nurse's office by himself after

                          school!

Suddenly, the door opens. The light comes on. A teacher in a white coat, Maruo, comes in. The students frantically line up. The teacher sits down at his desk. Maruo clears his throat and calls the student's name.

Maruo:            Well, let's begin the regular checkup. Uh...

Student 1:       Yes. (He sits in the chair in front of the teacher and hands him the chart.)

Teacher:         (Looking at the chart) Hmm, you've grown quite a bit. You've grown 9cm in a   

                       year.

The teacher places the stethoscope on your chest. Next, I check the color of the back of your eyelids.

Teacher:         Stick out your tongue. ...Hmm, you seem a little anemic.

Student 1:      Yes, sometimes I get dizzy. And...I feel like my bones are a little brittle...

Teacher:         Your bones?

Student 1:      Yes, I dream of my bones falling apart.

Teacher :        ...Are you talking about dreams again? People who tend to have dreams are 

                       said to be anemic all the time. ……I'll tell you, the disease of longing for a 

                       disease can never be cured.

Student 1:       I-I really want to cure it!

Teacher:         Really? Well then, in your case... don't sleep too much.

Student 1:       Huh?

Teacher:         Next!!

Maruo:            Asada-kun. (Student 1 leaves in a huff)

Student 2:      Yes. (Sits down)

Teacher:        Oh... you've lost a lot of weight. Hm?

Student 2:      Yes...

Teacher:         You've lost 7kg. …Let's see. (Puts stethoscope on) Hmm... (Looks at the back of 

                       eyelids) Hmm... Are you worried about something?

Student 2:      No, I don't.

Teacher:         Right... I don't. …You're going too far, aren't you?

Student 2:      What?!

Teacher:        That's why I say that overdoing it is bad for your health.

Student 2:      (blushing and looking down)

Teacher:         Do you have to go that far to feel satisfied?

Student 2:      I'm sorry. (in a faint voice) I know I shouldn't, I shouldn't, but... at night,

                      my hands...even I...don't know why...

Teacher:         Huh?

Student 2:      ...?

Teacher:         ...I'm talking about how you study too much.

Student 2:       ...

Teacher:        (clears throat) ...Looks like you need handcuffs.

Student 2:      (looks down and jogs off)

Teacher:        (sighs in frustration) ...Next!

Student 6:      Yes. (sits down)

Teacher:        You're still... not growing taller. Still 135cm.

Student 6:     Huh?

Teacher:        Huh? (Teacher looks at Student 6. Looks at the chart. Looks at Student 6 again)

                     ...Maruo Hey!! This chart is wrong! This chart!!

Maruo:          Oh, I'm sorry. (Tries to take the chart the teacher hands over)

Teacher:       Wait a minute. (Suddenly grabs Maruo's hand)

Maruo:          ?

Teacher:       Maruo-kun... What's this callus from a pen?

Maruo:          A callus... A callus...

Teacher:       What's this callus? Eh? ...I see... There's been some bad rumors about you lately.

                     They say that you've been drawing manga in this nurse's office when I'm not 

                     looking. Well... It seems to be true.

Maruo:          W-can't you do that?

Teacher:        Hmph. Oh well. I won't say anything about your personal tastes. ...

                      But Maruo- kun... It's definitely not erotic manga.

Maruo:          I've never drawn erotic manga before!!

                    (Maruo rushes out)

Teacher:       ...I think I've hurt your feelings a little... It can't be helped. Well then, 

                     Hayasaka-kun!

Student 6:     Okay. (He sits down and takes out the chart)

While the teacher is looking at the chart, Maruo sneaks back to the corner of the stage, faces the audience, and opens the front of his lab coat. He's wearing a Shojo Tsubaki shirt, with a ribbon for the Newcomer Award on his chest, and between his belt are four of his original books. He bows to the audience. I don't know if there will be applause or if he will be ignored. Without the teacher noticing, Maruo sneaks off again.

Goodbye.

Teacher:        (Placing a stethoscope on Student 6's chest) Your pulse seems a little fast.

Student 6:       ...

Teacher:        Are you worried, too?

Student 6:       ...

Teacher:        If you keep quiet, no one will know.

Student 6:      ...My mother... sneaks a peek inside my drawers when I'm at school.

Teacher:         ...How do you know?

Student 6:      The things I put away are always in slightly different positions.

Teacher:        You're not imagining it... are you?

Student 6:      No! Even now, he's sneaking into my room! ...I can tell....Look...I just put my 

                      hand on the drawer...Look...I just opened it! ...Right?

Teacher:        Hmm, then why don't you put this dead mouse in there?(Taking a mouse out of 

                      his inner pocket) He'll be so scared, he'll stop looking Yeah. (laughing)

Student 6:      (straight face) ...I'll try it. (holds it carefully in his palm and leaves)

Teacher:         Next!!

Student 4:      (sits down)

Teacher:         It's you.

Student 4:      Yes, um, teacher... (high-pitched voice)

Teacher:         Ah, I know your case. You say your voice hasn't changed yet, right?

Student 4:      Yes. And...your hair too!

Teacher:         Don't worry. It will change soon.

Student 4:      When is soon?

Teacher:         Well...someday.

Student 4:      Teacher! They told me the same thing last year!!

Teacher:         Really? Well, next year, I hope I don't have to say it! Next!!

Student 4:       ... (sadly leaves)

Teacher:         (looking at the next student, Student 5) What's wrong, you? You're covered in 

                       burns! Student 5: Yes, you're completely burned.

Teacher:         That's terrible, what's wrong?

Student 5:      Yes. In the end, the fire couldn't be put out, and even when I asked the teacher,

                       it didn't work...

Teacher:         What are you talking about?

Student 5:       So, even though I hate fire, the mountain behind the school is a sea of ​​fire...

Teacher:         The leaves are turning beautifully, but it's still not a fire.

Student 5:      And the teacher didn't do anything about it, so I had no choice but to go put out 

                       the fire myself, and ended up getting burned.

Teacher:         ...You...

Student 5:       Oh, it's hot. It's so hot.

The teacher silently picks up a washbasin nearby and pours water over Student 5's head.

Student 5:      ...Oh, how cold.

Teacher:        ...I wonder. Is the fire of your delusion out?

Student 5:      ...

Teacher:         If it's still not out... should I replace your blood?

Student 5:      Huh?

Teacher:         I'm saying I should replace your blood with Mercuro.

Teacher:         Look at Takei!!

All the students look at Student 3 (Takei). Student 3 walks awkwardly towards the chair in front of the teacher. Meanwhile, the students are whispering to each other, "That's what I thought," "Did something happen to him," etc. Student 3 sits down in the chair.

Teacher:       How are you? How are you feeling?

Student 3:     I'm feeling great.

Teacher:       Are you still having strange dreams?

Student 3:     No, I hardly see it anymore.

Teacher:       All right! (To students) Did you hear, everyone? For this delusional Takei, this is it!

                     This is the effect of Mercuro. ...Currently, 20% of his blood has been replaced with 

                     Mercuro. With just that, his brain has been purified to this extent, and he   

                     maintains an extremely clean mental state. ...How about that? Are you jealous? 

                     This is the only way you can be freed from the irritating delusions you have every

                     night. And this is also the reason why I can remain such a clean person. 100% 

                     Mercuro flows in my veins.

Student 1:     Teacher! Please change my blood too!

Teacher:        I see, I see. That's good. ...Then let's do this. We'll start with the students who did 

                     well in the next Swedish exam.

Mikami:         Doctor!

Teacher:        Huh? Objection?

Mikami:         No, I'm the only one who hasn't had my regular check-up yet.

Teacher:       Oh, that's right. ... Then sit down. Everyone else, return to the classroom!

Mikami:        (sitting down for now) But I'm healthy, so it doesn't matter to me.

Teacher:       The more people believe that, the more likely they are to have unexpected 

                     illnesses. ...If you ask me, you seem to be the person who needs Mercuro the 

                     most.

Mikami:        Why?

Teacher:      Well, you've been acting strangely irritable lately. And even though you say you're 

                    looking for your sister, you're just looking through the telescope. Plus, you said 

                    some really interesting things the other day... You saw my face in the telescope...

                    What does that mean?

Mikami:       Well, I don't know either.

Teacher:      You don't know?

Mikami:       Yes. But I really did see it...

Teacher:      That's creepy... It's as if I have some kind of connection to your sister (laughs).

Mikami:       (laughs) Is that so?

Teacher:      If not... does it mean that I should help you find your sister?

Mikami:       Ah, maybe so.

Teacher:      Hmm, I guess that's what I thought. ...Well, actually, I thought that might be the 

                    case, so I tried to look into it myself, although I was not very knowledgeable.

Mikami:        Huh?

Teacher:      But... it's quite hard to say.

Mikami:       So that means...

Teacher:      I'm going to disappoint you.

Mikami:       I don't mind. Please tell me. Teacher: I see. –––––I checked the ward office, 

                   hotels, and inns, etc., but I couldn't find anyone who looked like it.

Mikami:       …I see. If that's the case, then... that means he may not be in this town anymore...

Teacher:     Hmm... it's a small town after all... that might be the case...

Mikami:      But...

Teacher:     Hmm?

Mikami:      Maybe the man who took her sister out is still in this town, right?

Teacher:     Eh?

Mikami:      Maybe the sister and the man parted ways soon after coming to this town, and only

                  the man is left behind... Or maybe they parted ways on the way here, and only the 

                  man arrived...

Teacher:    But there's no basis for that at all. ...Rather than letting your imagination run wild,

                  it's better to look for new clues as soon as possible.

Mikami:     That's right. That's right.

Teacher:    Don't get discouraged and do your best.

Mikami:      Yes. Thank you. ...But it must be tough for you, teacher. Every year you're in 

                  charge of students with all sorts of problems and you're so considerate to them 

                  each and every one of them...

Teacher:    Well... this kind of thing is part of a teacher's job.

Mikami:      Has it been a long time already?

Teacher:     Eh?

Mikami:      It's been a long time since you started teaching at this school, hasn't it?

Teacher:    Oh, no, I've only been here for about three years.

Mikami:       ... (laughs)

Teacher:      ...?

Mikami:       I see. Still three years? So you were here just around the time your sister left.

Teacher:     ... Mikami: No, I just thought it was a coincidence...

Teacher:     Mikami-kun, you...

Mikami:       I was joking, teacher. I'm very sorry. (Turns around as he prepares to leave) Oh,

                   and by the way, teacher. That lie about you having Mercuro blood in you won't hold 

                   water on me. 

Well then.And he says, heading for the door. Just as he's about to leave, the doorbell rings.

Teacher:     Mikami-kun!! When you get back to the classroom, tell them you're self-studying 

                   today!!

Mikami:      (Turns around as he heads out the door) Yes.

He replies and closes the door. At the same time, the lights go out.

(Scene 3)

In the dark, the sound of insects and the sound of a cat humming in the distance. It's night. The infirmary is empty. There is a rattle. The human model flips over and the beggar boy's face appears. The boy looks around, sees that no one is there, and, as usual, he opens his mouth and laughs. He runs around the infirmary happily.

To cheer himself up, he drinks the alcohol. He snacks on small, round pieces of absorbent cotton soaked in tincture of iodine. He pops several pieces into his mouth. Next, he takes off his clothes and wipes his body with gauze soaked in ethanol. In other words, now is the time for his bath. After washing his body, he slowly removes the human model from the stand and spins around while embracing him. He lays him on the bed in the center and kisses him. He slowly takes his mouth off. A long string of saliva glistens between the human model and his mouth.

At that moment, the doorknob rattles. The boy hastily puts the human model back in place and hides behind the bed. Mikami comes in. He takes a flashlight and goes to the desk. He opens every drawer, seemingly searching for something. He leaves the desk and slowly scans the wall with the flashlight light. It stops on the lab coat. Mikami searches frantically in the pockets of the coat. But there is nothing. Mikami gives up and stands there. The beggar boy gets out of bed and sneaks up to Mikami. He snatches Mikami's flashlight and shines it into Mikami's face.

Mikami:        Who's that?!

Beggar:         ...

Mikami:        Who's that?!

Beggar:        It's me.

Mikami:        Huh?

Beggar:        It's me (he then lights the light on his own face and laughs with his mouth wide 

                     open) Ha ha ha!

Mikami:        Who are you? ...What are you doing here?

Beggar:        We're both in the same boat, aren't we? ...I'm taking a bath.

Mikami:        Taking a bath? Here?

Beggar:        I always clean myself up in the nurse's office. What were you doing instead?

Mikami:         ...

Beggar:        I thought I was the only one who'd act like a thief, at this time, in a place like this.

Mikami:         ...

Beggar:        And you were in danger. In about 20 minutes, that guy should be on night duty.

Mikami:        That guy?

Beggar:        I'm your homeroom teacher. ...You're the transfer student, aren't you?             

Mikami:        Yeah.

Beggar:        Have you made any friends?

Mikami: ...    Beggar: It doesn't look like it yet. ...Okay! In that case, I'll give you something  

                    good. ...Hehe Heh...This is perfect for a transfer student.

The beggar boy takes out junk from various parts of his body and lays it out.

Mikami:       What is that?

Beggar:       First, a bat claw to ward off evil. Then, a tooth from Tama from Third Street. 

　　　　　 Tama is a cat that has been alive for 200 years. And...oh, you have to be careful 

                   with this one. Look...it's a silver fly wing. ...Hmm? What do you think? I'll sell it to 

                   you for a low price.

Mikami:       I don't need that!!

Beggar:       ...I see. ...Okay. Well, how about this one?

The beggar boy takes out some photos from his pocket and grins. He stretches out his legs and places each one between his toes.

Beggar:      Hey! What do you think of these? Nice tits, don't they? Huh?

Mikami:       (Astonished, turns away)

Beggar:      What is it? Look at this one. ...Well, how about this one? These ones have better 

                   legs.

Mikami:       (Ignores him)

Beggar:        ...Is that so, you? You think one with just one woman is boring? Then this one is 

                    for you.  You know, a man and woman scene.

Mikami:       Come on! Come on! I'm not buying that!!

Beggar:      ...Heh! You're a stickler. I get it! If you're not interested in buying it, I guess there's 

                   nothing I can do.

The beggar boy lights the alcohol lamp and tries to burn the photos.

Beggar:       Well, I suppose so. Even though it's called sex, it's just a photo of us walking with 

                    our arms folded.  I mean, it doesn't matter if it doesn't sell... but it was hard work! 

                   I stole it from the inside pocket of a gold-rimmed bag. (holds it up to the fire)

Mikami:       Wait a minute!

Beggar        V

Mikami:       Let me see that!

Beggar:      First of all, money.

Mikami:      How much!

Beggar:      It's a bargain, 1,000 yen.

Mikami:      (impatiently, he fumbles around in his trouser pocket and hands over 1,000 yen.

　　　　　 In return, he snatches the photo and looks at it)

Beggar:      Oh... do you like that kind of gossip? ...Or do you like that kind of woman?

Mikami:      (stares silently at the photo)

Beggar:      Well... everyone has their own tastes... (mouth wide open)

Mikami:      Shut up! Stop laughing!

Beggar:      I'm not laughing at you or anything. I'm always laughing.

Mikami:      Why?

Beggar:      Why? Because it's fun. Because it's so fun, I can't help it.

Mikami:      What's fun about it?

Beggar:      Because... the world is full of roses.

Mikami:      Roses?

Beggar:      That's right. A sea of ​​roses.

Mikami:       I can't see such things.

Beggar:      You don't need to see them. You are the rose.

Mikami:      Am I a rose? I'm not a rose!

Beggar:     I see. Don't look so gloomy. In that case, I'll be a rose soon.

Mikami:     ...

Beggar:     Well, he'll be coming soon. You'd better go home now. (He walks towards the 

　　　　　human body model)... See you!

The beggar boy goes behind the human body model. Mikami stands there, motionless. He stares intently at the photograph again,

lighting it up with the flame of the alcohol lamp. Then he takes his eyes off the photograph and extinguishes the flame

with the palm of his hand. Again. And a third time, he flicks the wick with his palm and the flame goes out. At the same time, the screen goes dark.

(Scene 4, End)

The door slowly opens. The teacher enters. He is wearing a black frock coat. Quiet music plays. The teacher stands in front of his desk. There are several scalpels lined up on the desk. He picks up each one, carefully polishing them. When he finishes polishing them, he unbuttons his frock coat. The front of the coat is opened. Various surgical tools are densely packed inside the coat. He quietly inserts the polished scalpel into the gap. He closes the front of the coat. The teacher roars, small and low, like an animal. Suddenly, there is a loud knock on the door. It opens with a bang. The sound of a strong wind. It is exactly the same as when Mikami appeared in Act 1. Beyond the door is pitch black. It would be fine if lightning flashed, with the contrived style of a B-grade horror movie. The light illuminates Mikami, who is standing, and the window opposite, with only a parasol, for a moment. Mikami walks inside. The door closes. The sound of the wind stops.

Mikami:        Good evening. I'm Mikami, a transfer student. I've come to tell you something, 

                     teacher.

Teacher:       (impersonating the school's internal announcement in a monotone voice) It's long

                      past time to go home. All students, the side gate is closing. Please go home 

                     immediately. Three, two, one...

Mikami:         I'm sorry to call at this time. There's something I absolutely must tell you.

Teacher:       It's long past time to go home. All students, the side gate is closing...

Mikami:        The lock on the side gate is broken.

Teacher:       (sighing in annoyance, stroking the edge of his desk) Please... don't get in the 

                     way of my work...

Mikami:        I won't bother you. Just answer my questions. It's about the buttons...no, about my

                    sister...

Teacher:      Why do you guys want to talk so much?

Mikami:        ...

Teacher:      (Continuing to stroke the edge of the desk persistently) This desk is nice. That 

                     bed, the screen, the medicine shelf...they're all quiet and silent... And they're 

                     here, as always.

Mikami:         ...

Teacher:       (Sighing again)...It's cold and it feels good...

Mikami:        Did my sister... feel good when it was cold too?

Teacher:       Eh?

Mikami:        Did my sister feel good when it was cold too?

Teacher:       Eh?

Mikami:         My sister said it must have felt really good when it was cold too.

Teacher:       Your sister?

Mikami:        You and my sister always say the same thing!! Teacher: (bangs on the desk)

                     I'm talking about this desk!

Music, Mikami, faces forward.

Mikami:        1980, February 21st. Rain. It's been raining for two days straight. The walls of the 

                     buildings and the asphalt are constantly spewing glistening water. As I walk 

                     alongside my sister on the sidewalk, my toes hurt from the cold rain that seeps 

                     into our shoes. We approach an intersection. The light is red. I stop and look 

                     back, and see my sister standing there, clinging to a telephone pole. Rainwater is 

                     pouring down her hands, up to her elbows. The light turns green. My sister 

                     doesn't move. I call out to her. She doesn't answer. I call her again. She doesn't 

                     look at me. I can see her elbow. She was soaked, and all I could see was her 

                     elbow. The river had already bent 130 degrees. My sister continued to do this 

                     forever. She called out again. My sister finally spoke. ..."It's cold, and it feels 

                     good."

The teacher turned to leave.

Mikami:        This is a serious matter. Please answer my question!

Teacher:       (without turning around) Math? Physics? Chemistry?

Mikami:        No!

Teacher:       Oh, maybe morality for you.

Mikami:        No!

Teacher:      (turning around) So, it's about the fifth period Turkish class, right?

Mikami:        Where are you?

Teacher:       XXXXXX? (Says, "Where are you," translating into Turkish)

Mikami:        (holding back) ...I thought I told you this was a serious matter. ...(slowly)

                     Where are you, sister? Teacher: (slowly) X X X X X, X X X X? (same translation)

Teacher:       (finally returning to Japanese)...Mikami-kun. I'm certainly a teacher, and I try my 

                     best every day to answer as many of my students' questions as I can. I've done 

                     everything I can about your sister. But what more can I answer?

Mikami:         I'm telling you because I know you can answer.

Teacher:       Am I a fortune teller?

Mikami:        Teacher! I've looked into it.

Teacher:       ...Looking up? What exactly have you looked up about me?

Mikami:        It's our relationship. The relationship between you and your sister.

Teacher:      (smiles bitterly) You see, I don't even know what your sister looks like!?

Music turns to face Mikami.

Mikami:       December 4, 1981. Cloudy, then sunny. A month has passed since my sister 

　　　　　  passed away. I flip through her photo album and find that every single photo has 

                    been torn away. I also check my own album. All the photos with my sister in them 

                    have been cut in half, and my face, smiling alone like an idiot, is scattered here 

                    and there on the edges of what's left. I check my sister's address book. This too is 

                    torn. However, I can faintly see pen marks on the top blank page that remains.

                    I place a 4B pencil horizontally and rub carefully. Faint letters begin to emerge. 

                    With great effort, I am able to confirm the addresses and names of nine people. 

                    Of these, one is a clinic...white. Eight people remaining. Of these, five are 

                    women...white. Three men remaining. One of them died in 1980... innocent. 

                    One was tracked down... innocent. One remaining! Under investigation... currently!

Mikami points at the teacher. The music stops.

Mikami:        ... Teacher. It's you.

Pause.

Teacher:        (smirking)... You know... haven't you watched too many detective stories?

                       ... Well, if you knew, I would have known, and that's how we dealt with it...

Mikami:          So you're finally ready to confess.

Teacher:         Hmm. Confess, huh. ...But unfortunately, I can't give you the answer you're 

                       expecting. Your sister and I are just acquaintances, and we haven't seen each 

                       other since we lost contact three years ago.

Mikami:          Are you still going to pretend you don't know? If you intend to keep it a secret

                       forever like that, then I must tell you. ...There was a photo in the inside pocket of 

                       your suit. Eh? What kind of photo was it? You kept it there as if it were a very 

                       precious thing, but...it's a photo of you with your girlfriend...my sister, arm in arm,

                       smiling happily! Mikami takes the photo out of his pocket and throws it at the   

                      teacher. The teacher looks down at the photo that has fallen to the floor. He is 

                      trembling with rage. 

Teacher:         ..Mikami...you...did you sneak a peek into someone else's inside pocket...do you 

                      know what happens to people who sneak a peek into someone else's pocket? 

                      ...It's flypaper you...it'll get all dirty stuck to it! ...You have pretty bad taste 

                      too...eh? ...Your sister too...didn't you get tired of that? 

Mikami:          What! 

Teacher:         I'm telling you, she got fed up with you and ran away!

Mikami:          Shut up!! It was you who got dumped! It's just as I thought! (Mikami picks up the

                      photo that had fallen and puts it on the desk in front of the teacher) Look at this 

                      photo! Look, it looks like she has her arms crossed, but there's a huge gap 

                      between them! Huh? What do you think? It's proof that you couldn't get your 

                      sister! ...There's no way you could tame those elbows. Who could put their arms 

                      around those elbows!

                      Hahaha! Now, there's no need to be embarrassed about being dumped. 

                     Where did you and my sister usually meet? Where did she say she lives? 

                     PWhere did she go after she dumped you? Come on, answer me! !

Teacher:        ...That's right. She is not a woman who can love. She abandoned both you and 

                     me. We broke up three years ago. When your sister was still in your town!

Mikami:         You're saying you didn't take her away? Then who did?

Teacher:       Like you said at the beginning, you were just looking at the moon.

Mikami:        What!

Teacher:       I'm saying it wasn't a person, it was the moon!

Mikami:        Don't say something nonsensical!

Teacher:       I can't say anything more than this! I don't know.

Mikami:        Say it!!

Teacher:       I can't say anything I don't know!!

Mikami:        Say it!! Say it!! Say it!! Say it!! Say it!! Say it!! Say it!!

Mikami         continues shouting.

Teacher:       ...

The teacher looks at Mikami with a kind of surprise. Mikami realizes that whatever he says won't get through to him.

Tired, he sits down in his chair. He can't say anything. He thinks deeply. Mikami just keeps glaring at the teacher. Pause. The teacher notices something. He looks at Mikami.

Teacher:       You... the button on your chest is undone. How sloppy.

Mikami:         Huh?

Teacher:        It's a button. The second button on your uniform.

Mikami:         (Suddenly becomes nervous) This... no... this is...

The teacher stares at him intently.

Teacher:         I'm sure you said something about... the button earlier.

Mikami:           ...

Teacher:         Did you lose it?

Mikami:           ... No... I mean... um... (Suddenly gets on his hands and knees and searches 

                       the floor around him, (disoriented)

Teacher:         Does the button have something to do with your sister?

Mikami:          (suddenly stands up, defiant) That's why I'm asking you to give me back that 

                       button! Teacher: Eh? 

Mikami:          (this time, extremely angry) It's the button. Give me back my button!! 

Teacher:         What are you talking about? What did you do with the button? 

Mikami:          (as if suddenly remembering) ...Ah, that button was taken by my sister.

                       I absolutely need it back. 

Teacher:         The button? 

Mikami:           ... (staring blankly into the distance) 

Teacher:         ...You. 

Mikami:          ... 

Teacher:         ...Could it be you?

Mikami:         (startled) What is it? 

Teacher:         ... (looking at his face) 

Mikami:          ... 

Teacher:         (suddenly brightening and smiling) Could it be that you are... 

Mikami:           ...? 

Teacher:         Eh? ...You...killed your sister.

Mikami is frozen as a stone. Pause. Mikami is trembling violently. Slowly, one by one, he rips off the buttons of his school uniform. He gathers them in his right hand and stares at them. He raises his right hand to face height. Pause. One drops. Then, a medicine bottle falls and breaks in the medicine shelf behind him. Drops again. Another medicine bottle falls and breaks. Drops again. Another medicine bottle falls and breaks. There is only one left. Pause. Drops again. Suddenly, all the bottles filling the medicine shelf collapse with one force. The shelf collapses along with the medicine bottles. Beyond them, 

a rotting wooden horse is swaying gently. On its back, his older sister is tied face-up with plastic tubing, rubber tubing, and electric wires. Countless shards of glass are stuck in her body. A large amount of blood is flowing from the wound. Quiet music can be heard. The soft sound of a church bell can also be heard from afar. Pause. Mikami mutters in a daze.

Mikami:         ...On a moonlit night, a single button was lying on the shore. I didn't think I'd pick 

                      it up and put it to good use, but... (Nakahara Chuuya)

Mikami is smiling, gazing quietly into the distance. But suddenly, his expression changes, and he grabs the teacher in a frenzy. The teacher grabs Mikami by the collar and they struggle. The teacher slams Mikami's body into a cupboard containing medical equipment. Mikami grabs the teacher again. This time, he slams his body into the electrical panel next to the door. Mikami's back shorts out, sending sparks flying. Intense music starts. The fluorescent lights in the room all start to flicker in irritation. Mikami picks up one of the medicine bottles that has fallen and broken, and prepares to strike.The teacher takes a scalpel from his frock coat and prepares it. Mikami slashes. The teacher dodges.The two switch positions and this is repeated several times. Heavy breathing. They are both getting quite tired. Eventually, as they struggle violently, the teacher's scalpel is thrust into Mikami's stomach. Mikami screams. The music stops abruptly. The two remain motionless. Threads of slime-like rain begin to fall from the ceiling. Mikami cries out in pain, moves away from the teacher, and writhes on the floor. The teacher looks down at him, breathing heavily. Mikami writhes while deliriously muttering things like, "It hurts," "Damn," and "That's terrible." Quiet, dark music plays. The rain continues to fall in threads.Just as Mikami finally starts to stand up, the teacher stabs him in the stomach again. Mikami screams."Ouch!" The teacher pushes Mikami away. Mikami stumbles, muttering, "Stop it," "Please," and "It hurts." Covered in blood and writhing, he still throws whatever he can get his hands on at the teacher. The teacher pushes Mikami against the wall and stabs him hard in the stomach and chest. He continues stabbing Mikami as if he is afraid of him. He mutters things like, "You damn maggot," as if in a daze. Eventually, he gets tired and leaves. Mikami staggers to the center and, in agony, tears the front of his shirt apart. The flesh on his chest turns back, exposing his ribs. Mikami collapses, dead. The teacher stands looking down at Mikami's corpse. Noticing that his hands are stained with blood, he wipes the blood off with the bed curtains in disgust.

Teacher:       This is pure blood.

The teacher walks briskly across the room and opens the door. Six students rush in.

Student 3 drags Mikami's body and dumps it into a large plastic bucket in the corner of the room.

The room becomes bright. Between the gaps in the six students' school uniforms, thin vinyl tubes can be seen crawling around their bodies.

Mercuro is flowing through the tubes.

三上、石の様に凍りつく。間。三上、小刻みに震えている。ゆっくりと、学生服のボタンを、１つ、１つ、むしり取る。右手に集め、じっと見る。その右手を、顔の高さまで上げる。間。ポロリと１つ落とす。すると、後ろの薬棚の薬のビンが１つ、落ちて割れる。ポロリと、また落とす。薬のビンがまた１つ落ちて割れる。ポロリとまた落とす。薬のビンがまた１つ落ちて、割れる。最後の１つになる。間。ポロリと、また落とす。突然、薬棚を埋めつくしている全てのビンが、一勢に崩れ落ちる。薬ビンと共に、棚も崩れ落ちる。その向こうに、朽ちかけた木馬が１頭、静かに揺れている。木馬の背には、姉が、ビニール管、ゴム管、電線などで、あお向けに縛りつけられている。姉の体には数えきれない程のガラスの破片が刺さっている。傷口からは、夥しい量の血が流れている。静かな音楽が聞こえる。遠くから、小さく教会の鐘の音も聞こえる。間。三上、放心したように、呟く。

三上　　　　…月夜の晩に、ボタンが１つ、波打際に、落ちていた。それを拾って役立てよう

　　　　　　と、僕は思った訳でもないが…。(中原中也)

三上、静かに、遠くを見つめて微笑んでいる。が、突然、表情を変え、狂った様に教師につかみかかる。教師、三上の胸ぐらをつかみ、もみ合う。教師、三上の体を、医療器具の入った戸棚に叩きつける。三上、再び教師につかみかかる。その体を、今度は、ドアの横の配電盤に叩きつける。三上の背でショートして、火花が上がる。激しい音楽が入る。部屋の蛍光燈、一勢に、イライラと点滅し始める。三上、崩れ落ちて割れた薬ビンの１つを拾い上げ、構える。

教師、フロック・コートからメスを取り出し、構える。三上、切りつける。教師、かわす。

２人、体を入れ替えながら、何度か繰り返される。荒い息。２人共、かなり疲れてくる。やがて、激しくもみ合う内に、教師のメス、三上の腹に突き刺さる。三上、悲鳴を上げる。音楽、ピタッと止まる。２人、そのまま動かない。天井から、粘液のような雨が、糸を引きながら落ち始める。三上、苦しそうな声を上げ、教師から離れ、床をのたうち回る。教師、荒い息で、それを見下ろす。三上、「痛いよ。」「畜生。」「ひどいよ。」などと、うわ言のように言いながら、のたうち回る。静かな、暗い音楽が流れる。雨は、糸を引きながら落ち続ける。

三上、やっと立ち上がりかけると、教師、再び三上の腹を刺す。三上、悲鳴を上げる。

「痛え！」教師、三上を突き放す。三上、よろけながら「もう、やめてくれよ。」「たのむよ。」「痛いよ。」などと呟く。血まみれでのたうちながら、それでもまだ手当たり次第に、手にした物を、教師に投げつけたりする。教師、三上を壁に押し付け、腹といい、胸といい、メッタ突きにする。三上を恐れているかのように、刺し続ける。うわ言のように、「この蛆虫野郎。」などとぶつぶつ言っている。やがて疲れて、離れる。三上、よろよろと中央まで行き、苦しそうに、ワイシャツの前を、ビリビリとひき裂く。胸の肉がめくれ、肋骨がのぞいている。三上、そのまま倒れ、絶命する。教師、三上の死体を見下ろして佇む。血で汚れた自分の手に気づき、いまいましげに、ベッドのカーテンで血を拭う。

教師　　　　汚ない血だ。

教師、つかつかと部屋を横切り、ドアを開ける。学生６人駆け込んでくる。

生徒３、三上の死体をずるずる引きずり、部屋の隅の大きなポリバケツの中に捨てる。

部屋明るくなる。６人の学生達の学生服の合間から、体をはう、細いビニール管が見える。

管の中を、マーキュロが流れている。

　　　

Student 6:        February 24th, 1985, Yukiya Ataru, 62% Mercuroid!

Student 5:        Also, Sakai Yasuki, 52% Mercuroid!

Student 4:        Also, Nakajima Haruomi, 74% Mercuroid!

Student 1:        Also, Yaguruma Kennosuke, 67% Mercuroid!

Student 2:        Also, Asada Shinro, 85% Mercuroid!

Student 3:        Also, Takei Tatsuhide, 98% Mercuroid!

After he finishes speaking, the six students turn to face the teacher, who is sitting at a desk.

Student 3:         ...So, what should we do?

Teacher:           Take a breath.

Everyone:         (S––––––––––––)

Teacher:            Exhale.

Everyone:         (Ha–––––––––––––)

Teacher:            And wait.

Student 3:         Until when?

Teacher:            Until the purity of Mercuro in the body increases and complete purification is 

                          achieved.

Student 3:         Where?

Teacher:            Here.

Music. (Third choice) The students breathe slowly and repeatedly, placing their hands on their hearts, wrists, and temples, checking the changes in their bodies. The Teacher looks straight ahead and does not move. Behind him, a huge moon slowly sinks. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

                                                                END 

　　　　　　　　　　　–––––Curtain–––––

Thank you for reading to the end. 

The content is grotesque, but the performance is 

very beautiful and sweet, and it's like a 

time warp to the Middle Ages. 

The boys' agony and the confusion and delusions of those just before becoming adults are all mixed together, and the natural scenery of the sound, 

light, and acting is so captivating that it's 

hard to believe it's all a performance. 

The collaboration between 

Taganekikyo and Ameya Norimizu is 

a fantastic play that is the most beautiful and 

the most grotesque, which you will never see again.

Keiko T. Olds