Matsuzo stood before the men; the friends looked at one another, wondering if Matsuzo had heard everything. Sugimori contained his composure. "Matsuzo-san, I presume you  are here for Renjiro-san?"

"Indeed, I received word that the guests have arrived, and they await for Renjiro-san." Matsuzo noticed his pupil's state; he was appalled to see him in that manner. "Sugimori-san, please entertain our guests. I would like to speak with Renjiro-san alone."

Sugimori glanced at Renjiro, who slowly stood and nodded. He didn't want his friend alone, which would create suspicion and tension. The writer left.

Matsuzo waited momentarily to ensure that he and his pupil were alone. When certain, he eyed Renjiro. "You have changed as of late. You have not been yourself. What is happening with you?"

The actor knew he had to be careful with his words; Matsuzo had taught him everything he knew. "I-I have not been well, Master. My mind and body have been weak as of late."

"Yet, you did not tell me."

"Yes, I kept it from you because I did not want to be considered weak, Master. I have been training constantly, but my perfectionism has tired me lately." Renjiro noticed how Matsuzo analyzed him; he was emotionless. This sight terrified him even when he was a child. His Master does not express his emotions, which makes it challenging to know what he felt.

Matsuzo slowly paced back and forth as his eyes never left Renjiro. "You have always trained yourself to perfectionism and have never complained. I have always taught you that Kabuki cannot withstand weakness. An actor must give his admirers a fantasy that they wish to possess. What will they feel when they see the most famous actor on his knees? The fantasy will vanish and you will wither along with it."

It was something Matsuzo always told him when he first began to train in the profession. As a child, Renjiro promised to keep the fantasy alive until adulthood. However, Sugimori's words flashed into his mind, and he wondered. "Matsuzo-san, what would have happened if I refused?"

"Refused what?"

"What would have happened if I refused to be a kabuki actor?"

Matsuzo stopped pacing; his back faced his pupil. He didn't expect such a question; it angered him. "What is with the sudden question?" The older man slowly turned to look at his pupil. "Before I arrived, I couldn't help but overhear certain things, although the walls have muffled them. "What I heard was of Yoshitiro-san's name." He slowly walked closer to Renjiro, who stayed on his spot but stopped a few inches away. "Does Yoshitiro-san have anything to do with your sudden change of demeanor?"

Renjiro knew that Matsuzo tried to avoid the question and to put pressure on him. It was something that he was used to from his Master. "No, it is because of my training that my mind and body finally reached their limit. For the first time that I have felt so...weak."

"You? Weak? Bah, you spew nonsense. You are my best actor, and because of the skills I have taught you, your name has spread throughout Yoshiwara." Matsuzo turned around. "Your name can be greater. I heard that your name is spreading more throughout the country. Your name can even reach the Emperor! We are closer to achieve such a goal!"

So many thoughts trailed in Renjiro's mind. His Master always dreamed of performing for royalty, and he would agree to them. However, Renjiro questioned himself, "Is that what I want?" Since becoming a kabuki actor, Renjiro has always done what he was told. Questions were never asked since Renjiro felt he was indebted to Matsuzo for choosing him. His eyes widened at the possibility that Matsuzo was living his dream through him. "Is Sugimori-san right? Am I just a mere puppet to be controlled?" Renjiro looked at his Master; he didn't have enough strength to argue. "If it pleases you, I need something else to prepare for our visitors. If it doesn't trouble you, please inform them to wait." The young man knelt before the mirror as he opened a small wooden cabinet that contained some of his makeup.

"Very well, Renjiro-san. Please do not keep them waiting. You have upset them once, and I would hate it if I heard them complain." Matsuzo left the room and closed the sliding door behind him, ensuring that Renjiro wouldn't hear him. He stopped midway in the hallway until he saw the theater's gardens. Matsuzo was thoughtful in his conversation with Renjiro; his pupil never dared to ask him questions. He didn't tell Renjiro that he had heard the last bits of the conversation with Sugimori, and he was enraged. Not only that, he noticed that Renjiro didn't use the honorific of -sama, but instead, -san. "That writer is getting too close to my best actor. More than to my liking." There was no doubt that Sugimori's works brought more popularity to the theater, but he was putting his nose where it didn't belong. "Hmm, perhaps I should remind Sugimori-san's place and that there are consequences for those who get in my way."