"Whoa~ Yume, your acting is breathtaking no matter how many times I see it~!!"
"I appreciate the praise, but could you step back a bit, Ai?"
It's starting to get hot. Actually, we're both drenched in sweat, so why do you keep trying to stick to me...?
As a bonus, after mine and Ai's play ended, we immediately went to the waiting room and were watching the other kids' play on the TV monitor.
"Is that Melt Narushima...?"
"Eh? Who's that?"
"He's the actor playing Kizami... Don't you think it's about time you start memorizing other people's names?"
"No~! Since Yume will take care of all that anyway~"
"Sigh..."
I didn't dislike how Ai still acted like a child, but a part of me wished she would grow up just a little bit.
That aside...
"He's certainly grown."
"Hmm~ It might certainly be better than when he did that ridiculous acting before~"
Ai spoke in a nonchalant tone, but I couldn't help but be suspicious... Because.
"Ai, how did you... know about that?"
"Booo~ I remember every drama Aqua has been in, you know?"
"Gasp...!?"
Had I ever been this moved by Ai's growth as a mother...!
"So? You're saying that kid playing Kizami has grown?"
Ai asked me with pure curiosity, and after thinking it over, I gave her my opinion.
"Yeah. That's more than enough growth. And I'm sure he'll continue to grow."
I said that while keeping my eyes fixed on the screen. It was coming soon. Kizami—no, Melt Narushima's best minute.
Well, of course, the one who gave him this specific advice was Aqua. That's my son!
"Hmm... but he still looks pretty clumsy?"
It was natural for Ai to see it that way.
"Well, he might look clumsy, but Ai, that's not what's important."
"Eh?"
After stroking the head of the confused Ai, I slowly explained my thoughts.
"The most important thing for him right now is utilizing that very clumsiness.
Normally, it would be impossible, but the stage has been set just right for him.
The part where Kizami's strength shows is the duel scene with Monme.
If Melt-kun tried to practice all of his acting, it would be impossible, but if he pours everything into just one spot, that spot will shine brighter than anyone else's.
By the way, he probably received advice from Aqua, too. And Aqua likely had the same idea as me."
Because he's my son.
"He~? And then? What happens!?"
I gently held Ai's face to make her look at the TV screen and continued.
"Being underestimated by the audience means the audience is also letting their guard down. You know that's the basics of all entertainment, don't you, Ai?"
"Yes."
"Right. To use an analogy... a child who gets bullied in class.
An inconspicuous, plain schoolgirl wearing glasses.
An otaku who everyone thinks has no redeeming qualities.
...When an actor everyone looked down on for being terrible suddenly starts doing something incredible."
Melt-kun showed it. The greatest scene.
"Heh... that's amazing."
"Right? Then naturally... it gets pretty heated, doesn't it?"
With those words, I recalled Melt-kun coming to me to ask for help with his practice.
"Yu... Yume-senpai!!"
"Hm? You're... Melt-kun. What's the matter?"
His appearance when he approached me while I was resting... well, somehow I saw a glimpse of Ai in him, trying to move forward.
"There's something... I want to ask of you!"
"Hmm... go ahead."
If it had been a half-hearted request, I would have just ignored it.
"...There is a scene that must shine the brightest in my performance... could you please help me!?"
".......Haha!"
That one sentence moved my heart. Ah, yes, exactly.
"...Interesting. Fine. For one month, even if you beg me to stop, I won't stop. You know what my original job is, right?"
"......Yes!"
"Good. Good. Seeing young kids trying so hard makes me motivated too. For once... I'll show you personally."
Since the only way is to slowly, very slowly let the body learn it, you'd better not think about resting from now on. Junior.
"...Hm, it was quite fun."
"Eh? So Yume really taught him personally?"
"Of course. After the rehearsals ended, I took him to my private training gym for 5 hours every day. I made him do it continuously without missing a day.
Over and over and over until I was satisfied.
Even when blisters formed on his hands.
Even when his hands bled.
I made him do it until it felt like it would never end. And now, this."
This is the result!!
The moment Melt—no, Kizami—finished his spectacular blade-catch, a massive roar erupted from the audience. Listening to that roar, I thought:
[Now, it's your turn to move forward.]
[Kizami and Melt-kun are alike. Because they are alike, he knows even better.]
[Exactly what he lacks!]
[So for this one minute.]
[It belongs to none other than you, Melt-kun!]
[Now, burn everything you have in this one minute! Show every single person in the audience!]
[That you are standing right here!!]
"Hmph? So Aqua gave the advice and Yume taught him the actions?"
"Well, you could put it that way. From Melt-kun's perspective, he probably swallowed his pride to ask Aqua.
Well, if that's how he feels, I can't help it, but I think it would be fine if he acted with more confidence instead of feeling like he's wounding his pride~"
In acting, there's something to learn from everyone, whether they're seniors, peers, or juniors.
"I'm going to step out for a moment then."
"Eh? Where are you going!"
"To comfort my hardworking junior, why?"
"Ehehe~ I'm coming too~"
"Good grief... fine, fine. You should give him some praise too, Ai."
"Hmm~ I'll think about it~"
"Haha!"
In the end, with Ai tagging along, I headed backstage to see Melt-kun.
When we arrived backstage, Melt-kun already seemed to be talking to Kamoshida-kun, who played the role of Monme.
"Whoa! Not bad! You're completely different from the rehearsal! You put some good emotion into it. Keep it up next time."
With those words, Kamoshida-kun went into the dressing room. Melt-kun then continued his conversation with Aqua, who was right behind him.
"I finally understand the meaning of what you said back then. This is fun."
"...Is that so?"
As the two fell silent, Ai and I approached them.
"Great work, Melt-kun."
"Yu... Yume-senpai!?"
"Yume..."
I slowly stroked Melt's head.
"Hahahaha! All that hardship vanished in the blink of an eye, didn't it?"
"Yes!"
"That's what acting is like. No matter how hard the process is, once you give a satisfying performance, it all tends to get washed away."
"Thank you... so much!!"
"Right."
After saying that, I looked at Aqua. He seemed embarrassed and tried his best to avoid my gaze. Since he looked quite cute, I stroked Aqua's head too.
"Remember the roles of Sayahime and Toki well. And if you don't want to forget, it's fine not to. But don't keep them bottled up in your heart forever."
Aqua looked up at me as if surprised by my words, so I gave him a light flick on the forehead.
"Good luck, Aqua."
As for Ai.
"It was quite good to watch~"
"Th-thank you~!!"
"Later then~!"
After giving a light compliment, she started following me.
"Was that a generous compliment?"
"Of course~ Since it's a compliment from me, Hoshino Ai, it's natural for him to be happy, right?"
"Haha! I suppose that's true... Shall we go back to the dressing room and rest? Let's take our time and enjoy the acting of the kids who will be responsible for our next generation."
"Hehe~ Though it'll still be hard for them to beat me~"
Ai and I looked at each other and couldn't stop laughing as we headed back to the waiting room.