".....Sigh, good grief....."
Is this the result of two creators uniting? Truly, a 'perfect work' has emerged, one that could be called the collaboration of a hardworking person and a genius.
"Ai, what do you think?"
I asked her about the script because I was curious about Ai's pure opinion, and the result was unexpected.
"Hmm~ it might not be bad? Or rather, has it gotten better than before? Mmm..... anyway, Ai is satisfied with this!"
"I didn't expect you to say that, Ai. Well, it's certainly not bad..."
And unexpectedly, lines for Ai and me were added. I'm not sure what the reason behind those related actions is, but....
"Are they telling us to take on the role of showing the juniors how it's done?"
I let out a hollow laugh while watching the other people in the rehearsal room. Of course, including my observation, the words they were saying naturally drifted into my ears.
"Seriously... an absurd script has been completed. They completely pushed back the explanatory lines..... and there are so many scenes that simply won't work unless you do something with 'movement' alone..... Plus, even looking at Yume-senpai and Ai-senpai's scenes, there's almost no dialogue, just acting through actions and facial expressions... I mean, of course, the lines increased slightly.... But just looking at this, I can tell. This is a brutal killer-pass script that dumps everything onto the actors' performance."
Haha. If even Kana-chan feels that way, then others must feel it too.
"It means if we fail, the responsibility is entirely on us... Even with Yume-senpai and Ai-senpai here, isn't this a bit too much?"
Kana-chan said that and looked at Ai and me. Naturally, everyone's eyes turned toward us.
"Haha, our juniors seem to be scared, don't they? Right, Ai?"
"Ahahaha! That could be the case!"
With a single word from Ai and me: "Scared?"
""""""""""Who said they were scared!!!""""""""""
"Haha! Hahahaha!!"
As expected, it could be called the best word to boost morale.
In the end, after many twists and turns, the meaningless(?) battle between the original creator and the screenwriter came to a close. Now that the scenario is complete, full-scale practice starts today.
"Yes, yes, this fits my interpretation of Sayahime! It doesn't just fit; it's a script where I can discover a new side... Fufu, I think this will be worth analyzing."
Akane-chan seemed to quite like the new scenario.
"A script that dumps everything on the acting..... this is hard to perform..."
Then there was Kana-chan, who seemed to have various concerns.
"I have no problem. I already thought it was lacking to begin with."
And Himekawa-kun, who still seemed confident. You could say they've gathered only kids with truly outstanding characteristics.
"I like this better!"
"Acting should be done using your body!!"
Adashino Mei-chan and Yoshidomi Koyuki-chan spoke while sticking together during a break.
"GOA-san's scriptwriting habits came out."
"Well, we've been on stages he's handled several times, so we know the points. No problem."
Hayashibara Kiiro-kun and Funato Ryoma-kun spoke as if they had filmed with him many times.
"The chance to prove who the true top of Lalalai Theatrical Company is has finally arrived!"
Finally, there was the model-student type Mita Norio-kun, who wore glasses. Personally, I think Mita-kun's talent is not bad at all. Though... it's a bit lacking compared to Himekawa-kun.
"Well, that's fine, but the problem is those two~"
"Eh? What do you mean, Yume?"
Did she hear me talking to myself? Ai approached me and asked.
"I'm going crazy.... what am I going to do? There are only fifteen days of practice left... I don't think I can pull this off by then.... This would be a piece of cake for Aqua, though..."
I stroked Ai's hair as I listened to the conversation between Aqua and Melt-kun.
"Well... I don't know."
Of course he wouldn't know. Aqua still lacks awareness as an 'actor.'
"So work a little harder, son."
I quietly rooted for Aqua as I participated in the rehearsal.
After practicing for a long while...
"Stop."
Ah, here it comes.
Kindaichi-san stopped Aqua's acting mid-way.
"Toki, this is the scene where your character stands out the most. Put more heart into it."
"I'm sorry."
"In the midst of the story's climax battle, Sayahime collapses after being severely wounded, and Toki despairs over once again being unable to protect someone precious.
But how would Toki feel facing Sayahime, who has miraculously opened her eyes?
Before that, the despair of failing to protect Toki's parents could be amplified even further, or he might just break down completely.
But how would Toki feel facing Sayahime, who has miraculously opened her eyes?"
At Kindaichi-san's clear words, Aqua averted his eyes.
"Release from anxiety..... intense joy and hope.... and anger at himself for failing to protect his parents and guilt toward them.... I suppose."
"That's right. You're certainly acting according to the original work.... However, what's different this time is that Toki's parents' appearance is included.
The stage doesn't reach the audience unless you pour out more intense emotions. Draw out more emotion. This is a scene for emotional acting."
Ah~ unfortunately, the meeting between Ai, me, and Aqua is when we make our exit, so it's a bit disappointing.... Well, we haven't 'shown' it yet.
[Our death, Ai's and mine.]
"Well, don't be like that. This is Aqua-kun's first challenge on stage, so he doesn't know the balance yet. It'll be fine if he adjusts bit by bit..."
There's no way that's true, Akane-chan.
"You shouldn't coddle him. Aqua, you've never done emotional acting before, have you? In the end, acting reveals your personality. Aqua doesn't usually show his emotions on the surface.
That's why there's no emotion in your acting either."
That's a valid point, Kana-chan.
"You've only been replicating a demonstration you saw somewhere like a model, haven't you? This is a problem with Aqua's nature."
"You talk as if you know everything."
Oh..... is this a lovers' spat over our Aqua....!!
"Of course I do! Out of everyone here, I've known Aqua the longest? I've known him since he was tiny!
Basically like a childhood friend? It's a different story from some business girlfriend who only recently appeared."
Wow, Kana-chan is incredibly petty....!
"Even so, we only reunited recently."
Don't be a spoilsport, Aqua!!
"Arima, how do you perform a crying scene?"
Oh, is he going to try acting proactively? Aqua!?
"Hmm... whether you use emotions or your body, there are many ways.... A method often used in the child actor world is...."
[Aqua-kun, what if your mom or your dad died?]
How blunt. No, actually, would that be more helpful to the current Aqua?
"That! It's a technique where you think of the object in front of you as something precious and cry! In this case, Toki feels that he couldn't protect Sayahime just like the parents he failed to protect.
Since he's overcome with joy seeing Sayahime alive, you can just act while thinking of something happy.
You must have one or two happy things to remember."
After Kana-chan finished speaking, Aqua seemed to ponder for a moment, and soon a small smile appeared on his face.
But suddenly, Aqua's expression changed.
".........Wh...at....?"
SIDE - Hoshino Aqua.
[Why are you enjoying yourself?]
[Don't forget. You almost failed to protect them.]
[Do you have the right to...]
The scene that flashed through Aqua's mind was the image of Yume, stabbed in the abdomen and covered in blood.
His figure, growing colder and colder, wouldn't leave Aqua's mind.
[That's right..... I almost failed to protect them....]
[I almost failed to protect both Ai and Yume and was about to just watch them die.]
[If Yume hadn't held out and collapsed back then, wouldn't Ai have been next?]
[Even if Yume held out, even if the culprit was caught, if he hadn't reached the hospital in time, Yume might have died just like that.]
[If that senior hadn't come, Yume might have died right there.]
[I am a sinner. A sinner who couldn't even protect a single family member.]
[Ah.... I am.......]
Just as Aqua was about to lose consciousness in despair.
A q u a........!!
[Who........?]
A q u a.......!!!!
[Ah, this voice is.......]
"Aqua!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Aqua!!!!!!!!!!!"
[Ah..... right. These voices are my precious family.... Hoshino Yume and.... Hoshino... Ai.....]
As the two voices reached him, the despairing Aqua closed his eyes as if relieved.... and lost consciousness right there.
SIDE - Hoshino Yume.
Aqua's expression suddenly darkened and he was about to fall, so Ai and I rushed to him immediately.
"Aqua!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Aqua!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ai and I held up the collapsed Aqua.
"Aqua, are you okay!? What's wrong all of a sudden! To think you'd collapse? Are you not feeling well somewhere!?"
"Ah... Yume, what should we do!?"
As Ai and I panicked, the atmosphere on the set naturally turned frantic. Just as I realized this and was about to regain composure...
"....I'm... fine. Yume-senpai, Ai-senpai.... I just felt a little dizzy. Would it be okay if I took a rest until I've calmed down....?"
Seeing Aqua like that.....
".....Fine."
Though it pained me, I had no choice but to let him go. And as I stopped Ai, who was about to follow Aqua...
"Yume!!"
"Calm down, Ai."
I looked around and calmed Ai down. Soon, realizing what I meant, Ai said,
"...Okay."
"....Good girl."
Even so, she leaned against me, and I just stroked her hair. And then,
"Akane-chan. Could I ask you to look after our junior? A girlfriend should help at a time like this, right?"
I said that while looking at Akane-chan, and noticing my gaze, she immediately...
"Ah.. yes...."
...left the practice room. And I could hear it.
".....What a convenient setting."
Kana-chan's voice, sounding as if she were jealous of their relationship...
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