prof | Let's Play Umineko, Episode 2 Scene 4: The Festival

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Ushiromiya Hideyoshi

Eva's husband. He took his wife's name upon their marriage and became a member of the Ushiromiya family. He therefore does not possess the spiteful genes passed down through Ushiromiya family members, and his bright smile is very refreshing at the family conferences.

He started his business from scratch, and now works as the president of a medium-sized restaurant chain. The chain seems to be growing and performing extremely well.

Away from Rokkenjima once more!

Jessica is a member of a music club, which will be performing at the festival, but as the time draws near, she has something else on her mind.

There's a second goal to the cultural festival for Jessica and her peers:

Showing off of boyfriends! You know, that thing Jessica doesn't have.

She's managed to somehow trick her friends into thinking she has a boyfriend, which is a plan that has never, ever gone disastrously wrong.

She's not going to be able to keep the charade up for much longer at this rate. Her friends are starting to suspect.

Of course it was Shannon's idea.

As for who would play the role...

Shannon knows about this, too.

She already checked the schedule, and he's free that day.

Jessica is very reluctant! Does Shannon have the skills to pressure her here?

Yes. Yes she does.

Jessica teased her relentlessly about George, so it's only fair, after all.

Shannon has known Kanon since childhood, making her a great source of information for Jessica. With the kind of questions she's been asking, it was not difficult for Shannon to figure out how she feels about Kanon.

I see what you did there, Umineko.

Hard part's over.

Now for the really hard part.

Talking to Kanon directly.

Shannon continues to have Jessica covered!

What she told Kanon is that High School is a place where girls without a boy by their side are considered inferior, and the lady of the Ushiromiya family must not be seen as inferior in any way.

He knows what's going on, though.

Also, he still has that brooch. Could this turn of events be related to that?

Without love, it cannot be seen.

Whatever's going on in that head, it seems that he's arrived.

Looking good, Kanon!

Kanon's not used to being around this many people, so he's super uncomfortable right now.

Jessica's chorus of friends flip the fuck out at everything either of them says or does.

Well, there's a solution to that!

Slapstick violence ensues.

Now, the concert! The concert is coming!

Kanon considers dignity and a composed mind to be virtues. High school is difficult for him to deal with, especially when Jessica is there, too. This is not proper behavior for the daughter of the Ushiromiya family.

Kanon is beginning to understand Natsuhi's headaches. The crowds of people - many of them staring at him and whispering - aren't helping, either.

When approached by strangers, Kanon recites the magic words: "Sorry, I'm with someone." Like magic, they retreat.

But the main problem of the attention he's getting remains.

Maybe this will solve it! The crowd is cheering. Something is about to happen.

Natsuhi wouldn't approve of Jessica's hobbies. Or, well, anything about this event, really.

Kanon only listens to classical music, at home.

So, this next bit is a bit difficult for him to handle.

BGM: Tsurupettan (Yes, really)

Kanon doesn't understand at all, but he can't help but be fascinated by Jessica's energy.

At home, Jessica is the Future Head. She can't have a sense of her own identity.

The Jessica out on stage right now is the real one. Kanon only knows the fake.

Kanon doesn't follow the enthusiasm of the crowd, but he does feel that he saw something that cannot be seen. Not for him.

The ocean is still grey.

That night. Dinner.

The festival isn't something she has any interest in talking with her parents about. For reasons that are probably obvious.

Wait, what?

No, she's not actually talking about the concert.

Jessica needs practice as a leader, so that she can become a good matriarch in the future. She's not interested, of course.

Jessica sulks in the garden. Really, she figures, it's probably for the best. If Natsuhi had see that, she would have called it inappropriate for the successor of the family.

Surprise! You're not alone!

Jessica thanks Kanon for his help earlier. Kanon says she played well.

Furniture has no need of music. So, Kanon has no need of music.

Right?

Jessica takes a stab in the dark - Kanon wasn't thinking that she was having fun while watching her perform.

He was jealous.

The two of them have similarities. Both have their fates that they were born to - one as the successor, and one as a servant.

But there is a difference.

It's not running from reality. It's creating a new reality where you can be happy.

That Kanon has been trained to think this is impossible is unbearably sad to Jessica.

The thought resonates within Kanon. Make a part of yourself that isn't furniture.

Isn't that what Shannon did? Create a human version of herself through George?

So, have one part of himself who is Kanon, and another who isn't.

Jessica is the successor. Jessie is happy.

Kanon is furniture. If Kanon is someone else, maybe he can be happy.

Jessica asks Kanon what his real name is.

He almost answers.

Kanon lashes out in frustration. Jessica's words are unimaginable cruelty to him. A wonderful world he can never be a part of.

Kanon is not permitted to have dreams of a bright future.

Oh no.

Shannon and George are doomed to misery as well. It is an empty dream.

Beyond a single sentiment, everything was rejected.

Jessica walks, then runs, back to the mansion.

For a moment, Kanon feels that he's made a terrible mistake.

BGM: Organ Short No. 600 Million in C Minor

Beatrice is quite willing to forgive Kanon for his rude speech! After all, the complications between lovers are a pleasure sweeter than opium to one such as her.

Kanon's response is to take out the brooch and throw it to the ground.

Shannon is grateful to the witch, but Kanon knows she's no cupid. All she's doing is showing love to those who can never experience it. She's just toying with the servants.

Beatrice is interested in the idea of a girl who loves a piece of furniture! The sort of doomed love that springs in such circumstances is fine entertainment.

There's always a price, isn't there?

The price of the power that made Shannon and Kanon's loves possible is the entertainment of watching them suffer under the heel of fate.

As it turns out, it is difficult for Beatrice to remain on this plane of existence for long, so she is willing to acquiesce to Kanon's demands.

He stomps on the brooch one more time, and it shatters into a cloud of golden butterflies underfoot.