I thought I might play with Zabuton's children for a bit, but I wondered what we should do. I decided to ask them directly.
After some discussion, it was settled: I would watch a performance by the Zabuton's Children's Theater Troupe.
They were going to put on three plays. The stage was set up on the table in my room, and they had prepared everything from costumes to the set itself. Wait, there was even a curtain? It looked quite professional.
The first was a classic tale of good triumphing over evil. A monster being bullied by a wicked adventurer was rescued by a virtuous one who happened to pass by. The plot followed a solid structure and was easy to follow, and the climactic battle was surprisingly grand.
The second was a musical centered on a culinary battle. Perhaps they chose a musical format to better convey the deliciousness of the food? Watching twenty of them perform a stomp in perfect unison was a truly impressive sight.
The third was a mystery. That was a creative way for a victim to die, and the trick they used was quite clever. They even incorporated stage equipment, which I learned was built with the help of the Mountain Elves. I see.
Each play lasted only about ten minutes, but they were all very entertaining. It was clear everyone had given it their all.
I told them not to worry about their mistakes. During the musical, someone's legs had gotten tangled during a complex step. I checked to make sure they weren't hurt, then praised them for not stopping despite the trip-up. Their peers had done a magnificent job of following up, too.
I gave them some overall feedback. I suggested that every team try to make better use of the stage's width, as things felt a bit cramped. I also mentioned that while the dialogue placards were a good idea, the font should probably be a bit larger. I even suggested introducing kuroko.
When they looked puzzled, I explained that kuroko are stagehands who assist the actors while remaining invisible to the audience. I cautioned them, however, that they would need to wear specific outfits to signal their role.
I laughed. They were all so entertaining.
Still, I wondered if this actually counted as "playing together." I had mostly just been watching. In that case, I should join in—no, acting in a play was out of the question.
I considered helping with the stage equipment like the Mountain Elves did, but the craftsmanship was already superb. They even had gimmicks ready that they hadn't used yet. It didn't look like there was any room for me to contribute there.
If that was the case, I would build them some lighting equipment. That would really liven things up.
The children loved the idea. The only problem was the light source. Since we didn't have electricity, I'd have to ask Lu to provide some magical light. They seemed concerned that I was going to a lot of trouble just for them, but I assured them it was fine. After all, it was for their sake.
I told them we should show the play to the village children next time. It would be a waste to keep it to myself. They would be fine; Hakuren had been teaching them, so they could read the placards. Tiselle's reading skills were still a bit shaky, but she would enjoy the musical even without the text. I was sure of it.
I spent the rest of the day focused on building the lighting equipment alongside the children. If I did it all by myself, we wouldn't be playing together.
The children were overjoyed once the equipment was finished. Meanwhile, I noticed Zabuton herself waiting patiently behind me.
I hated to disappoint her when she looked so expectant, but it was already night. I asked if we could play tomorrow instead, and I felt a wave of relief when she nodded. I realized I had gotten a bit too caught up in my work. My stomach was growling. I needed to go eat dinner before Ann got angry with me.
I told the children to make sure they ate their fill as well. They all shook their legs in unison as if to say, "We understand!" It was so cute I couldn't help but laugh.