Sakyo Furuichi/MANKAI Encore

Encore: Ginji

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	All our ad hoc duties are done . Let's have a good time strolling and eating at the market today !
Omi	You already went to this place during last performance, right?
Izumi	Yup, I went here with Citron-kun and Guy-san. Guy-san said the salted seafood they here is delicious.
Sakyo	Salted seafood, sounds good.
Juza	Citron-san recommended their chocolate croquette.
Banri	Ha? Chocolate croquette?
Azami	Sounds like it's ridiculously sweet...
Omi	I'm curious how they're making it.
Juza	I'm sure 's good.
Izumi	But this place is really crowded.
Sakyo	Yeah, it ain't called "Kyoto's Kitchen" for nothing.
Banri	Oi, Hyodo. Where are ya goin'?
Juzu	Gonna buy chocolate croquette.
Sakyo	Don't just go around on your own. It's going to be a huge problem if you get lost.
Azami	Are we elementary school students?
Omi	There there, let's all look for it together, Juza.
Taichi	That's right! We might find more sweet specialties ~
Juza	....'kay.
Shop Assistant	We have matcha soft serve with warabi-mochi !
Juza	....! Give me one.
Banri	Right away? Really.
Juza	If you wanna eat, go buy one yourself.
Banri	Don't need it !
Sakyo	Oi, y'all. Stop wasting time.
Taichi	Omi-kun, what is that over there?
Omi	Ah, it's Namafu Dengaku. Wanna try them?
	Excuse me, Namafu Dengaku, please.
Shop Assistant	Yes, here you go.
Taichi	Mm-! Chewy and tasty !
Banri	First time eating sumthin' like this.
Izumi	Ah, Juza-kun. The chocolate croquette shop is over there.
Taichi	tasty fried food smell is all over the place~!
Juza	.... Chocolate croquette please.
Shop Assistant	Got it!
Juza	nom nom... 's tasty. Just bout the right sweetness for chocolate croquette.
Izumi	It's not extremely sweet, delicious.
Omi	Choco's hardness is just right. This fried food is exquisite.
Juza	One more, please.
Azami	I won't forgive you if you damage your skin from eating from eating too much sweets.
Izumi	Ah, Sakyo-san. You like Okaki, right? Looks like they're selling freshly-made ones here.
Sakyo	Freshly-made Okaki, sounds good. I'll get one each.
Azami	You're nagging about us wasting money but you're also buying as much stuff.
Sakyo	Ah?
Omi	They're selling Kyo Dashimaki on the other side.
Banri	Dashimaki on skewer 's pretty innovative. Makes it easier to eat ‘em while walkin'. Let's buy some.
Taichi	I wanna try it too !
Sakyo	....Geez... Don't eat too much. The performance is already scheduled tomorrow but y'all don't look nervous at all.
Izumi	Fufu, There's a lot of delicious food. It's also important to relax before the performance. Plus, I'm looking forward to seeing Sakyo-san's Ginji again after a long time.
Sakyo	... Yeah.
Izumi	I'm glad Azami-kun joined the cast without any problems.
Sakyo	I think it's better to make him part of Kosei Group than Tatsuta Group.
	He doesn't want to be in the same group as me after all. That brat is going through rebellious phase.
Izumi	He declared it himself, something like Azami-kun will really do.
Sakyo	He never hesitates to shoot flak.
Izumi	Azami-kun wasn't around during the first performance and a lot of things happened.
	You were enthusiastic about your first leading role and Autumn Troupe members had misunderstandings because of that.
Sakyo	Well... Thanks to that I've learned something. I think I'll be able to show a different Ginji from that time.
Izumi	I'm looking forward to it.
Sakyo	I'm all good, but that guy, Hyodo...
Izumi	( Sakyo-san must've noticed. Juza-kun is acting a bit strange )
	I wonder if he's okay... I have no idea what's happening.
Sakyo	Hyodo and I will be sharing rooms tonight. I'll try to talk to him.
Izumi	Understood. I'll leave it up to you.
	(I'm a little worried but if he says so, I think I can let him handle it)

Kamo	Welcome !
Izumi	Thank you for inviting us.
Sakyo	Most of the hotels are expensive now. It's a great help for the company to reduce costs.
Izumi	( It's not free unlike when we performed Yin Yang Midnight but we were able to get rooms at a discounted price.)
Kamo	I'm going to watch tomorrow's performance. Just looking at the flyer sets my heart aflutter!
	I'm looking forward to seeing an atmosphere different from Yin Yang Midnight !
	Everything Japanese-themed is good after all. I want to take lots of videos !
Azami	Just don't turn it into a yakuza movie.
Taichi	But I'd love to see it !
Omi	Same here.
Izumi	Please feel free to take video if you have the opportunity.
Kamo	Yes ! Please let me take a video by all means !
Sakyo	Well then, y'all. Don't be late for tomorrow's performance.
Banri	Yeah, yeah.
Taichi	Got it !
Sakyo	...Phew.
Juza	Did you take a bath?
Sakyo	Yeah, are you reading the script?
	(His script is worn out. It's a proof that he's taking the performance seriously)
Juza	‘bout time to go to sleep. Should I turn off the lights?
Sakyo	No.... Can I talk to you a little bit?
Juza	....?
Sakyo	I noticed you're acting strangely during today's practice. Is there anything that's bothering you?
Juza	....
	.... So you noticed.
Sakyo	Of course. We have a lot of interactions together for the play. Director-san is worried too.
Juza	.....Is that so..
	It's..... it's been a long time since we performed Tales of Chivalry.
Sakyo	Yeah.
Juza	My role has lesser action scenes than other performances.
	That's why I'd like to do something different during my scenes with Ginji.
Sakyo	( So that's why he's been re-reading the script and rewatching the performance footage)
Juza	I've only been thinking of trying a different approach while practicing my scenes with Ginji.
	During today's practice too, there were several times when I felt like I can't catch up with my emotions while throwing out dialogues.
	I thought 's mainly 'cuz I've been concentrated too much on practicing the dialogues.
	My body's remembering the flow 'n it just comes out of my mouth.
	I was a little worried tomorrow's performance would be the same.
Sakyo	I see.
	(It's Hyodo, so I'm sure he'll be completely absorbed in his role as soon as he stands on the stage)
	(As the leading actor, I have many interactions with Ken. I'll do something about it. )
	For the time being, leave it up to me.
Juza	......'kay. Understood.
Sakyo	Let's wrap it up for today. We have a long day tomorrow.
Juza	...'kay.
Izumi	( It's finally the encore performance )
Sakyo	You good, Hyodo?
Juza	....Yes.
Izumi	( Speaking of... Sakyo-san said he’ll talk to Juza-kun yesterday. I wonder if it's okay now. )
Sakyo	Everyone, pump it up !
	ーー Let's go !
Autumn Troupe	Ou!
Izumi	( Sakyo-san is brimming with confidence. I'll trust him and wait for the performance to start.)

Kazama	"Allow me to do the honor.I go by the name Kazama....Kazama Ginji. Looking forward to working with you. "
Izumi	( Ginji, and his underling, Kojima have been in the care of Tatsuta Group. Our story begins with the group boss' assassination. )
Ken	"Kazama... Tell me, what should I do ?"
Kazama	"Boy.... Get a hold of yourself ! "
Ken	" ーー! "
Kazama	" Now that boss is gone, you are the only one who can lead the Tatsuta Group. "
Izumi	( The way they're expressing the emotion now is really good. )
	( At the beginning of the performance, Ginji acted a lot more calmly... I've never seen this approach before )
Ken	"Is a young boy like me capable of taking this kind of responsibility?"
Izumi	( In response to Sakyo-san's acting, Juza-kun grinds his teeth to convey immaturity )
	( It's an ad-lib ! )
Kazama	"Boy, it's not the matter of your capability. It's the question of whether you'll do it or not. "
Mogi	"Geh, no way I'll work under that 'boy'."
Ken	"Say, could you take revenge for my father's death? I can't make any brash move with all the trouble brewing inside the house."
	"Please! You're the only one I can rely on. "
Kazama	" I haven't forgotten the favor I owe from your father. I will protect Tatsuta Group."
Izumi	(Kazama, who was asked to take revenge for Tatsuta Group's head, began to gather information. )
Mogi	"What the hell is this? This is not what you promised! You promised you'll make me Kosei Group's next head if I hand over Tatsuta Ken!"
Yokota	"Ahh, that. "
	"Turns out that there isn't much meat left in the Tatsuta Group. "
	"Only shameful dogs like you would be happy to gnaw a mere bone."
Mogi	"Bastard!"
Izumi	( Omi-kun's Yokota have always had a strong presence since the premier but now, it has become even more amazing...! )
Mogi	" Urgh...."
Ken	"Mogi ? Oi ! Who did this to you? ! "
Mogi	"Guess I got what I deserved. "
	"It was Yokota of Kosei Group who did your parents. "
	"He promised he'll give me a top position in Kosei Group and protect Tatsuta Group if I sold you to him."
Ken	"So the one who attacked me... "
Mogi	"Sorry. I just wanted to protect boss' group by any means."
Izumi	(Banri-kun's Mogi is also more human than it was at the premiere)
	(Kazama and Kojima went on their way to take down Kosei Group. However, Kojima fell into Yokota's cruel traps. )
Kojima	” Boss ! ! “
Kazama	“ーー”
Kojima	” Kuhーーー”
Kazama	“Kojima ! “
Kojima	“Ha, ha, boss, is this enough to pay the favor I owe you...? Guess this is not enough...”
Kazama	“Kojima ! ! “
Audience A	! ......
Audience B	ーー
Izumi	( I can hear sobbing from the audiences. Truly, only Taichi-kun's performance can shake people's heart this much )
	( Kazama headed to the final battle all by himself)
Yokota	“Kazama....? So you're still alive.”
Kazama	“The dragon inside me is crying out every night. It thirsts to kill and devour scoundrels like you! “
Yokota	“ーー!”
Izumi	( Kazama annihilated Yokota but he struggled as he is surrounded by Kosei Group membersーー)
Kosei Group Member	“Bastard ....! The chairman is...!”
	“Oraah ! “
Kazama	“Kuhーー”
Kosei Group Member	“Uaahh !”
Kazama	“ーー!”
Kosei Group Member	“ーー ! I will destroy you ....!”
Izumi	( Azami-kun's spirit is amazing... ! He was able to master the role. People won't even think it's the first time he performed for this play)
Ken	“...They're gone.”
Mogi	“Heh... Guess they can't stay in one place for too long. “
	“Gotta go too. I need to take responsibility for my mistakes.”
Ken	“The hell are you talking about, Mogi? If you want to take responsibility, I'll have you bury the bones of Tatsuta Group."
Mogi	“Boss...”
Izumi	( Curtain falls as Ken and Mogi watches Kazama and Kojima take their leave )
Autumn Troupe	Thank you very much !
Audience A	That was impressive !
Audience B	Kazama is so cool !
Audience C	I was so passionate. I was moved to tears....
Izumi	( This performance has a different approach from the premiere. It's the real thrill you can only get during encore performances )
	Good work !
Taichi	Sakyo-nii and Juza-san's acting is different from what we practiced. I was surprised !
Omi	I was surprised too.
Taichi	That was unfair ! I want to compete with you too !
Azami	Me too. I didn't want to lose.
Omi	That's right. I felt once again how fun it is to try different types of acting.
Banri	It's not that bad. Things were easier to convey during our premiere performance but well, I think it's fine from time to time too.
Izumi	Yup! I agree.
	Even so, I am happy that as we performed in different places and increased the number of our performance, everyone was able to challenge themselves and deliver different approaches.
Juza	...Yeah, if someone changes their acting, the other person should receive and return it.
Sakyo	As Fushimi said, there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to acting.
Izumi	Yup ! One of the joys of acting is to repeat trial and error until you make it into a good play.
	Let's not forget to take on new challenges and do our best for the rest of the time !
Autumn Troupe	Ou !
Sakyo	Glad it ended well.
Juza	.... Yeah, thank you very much.
Sakyo	For what?
Juza	You changed your approach from our premiere.
	I took advantage of the fresh feelings I received and was able to act in a way I have never done before.
Sakyo	No.... Same with me here. It received a lot from you. Hope I can return it.
Juza	If you put it that way, then me too.
Sakyo	It's kind of nostalgic. A lot of things happened during the premiere.
Juza	Sorry. Back then, I followed you around without you knowing.
Sakyo	No, I'd say I have been saved by what you did. Seems like you also became my mother's "most favorite" as a result.
Juza	Most favor... what ?
Sakyo	She likes your acting.
Juza	...'see. Please tell her, thank you.
Sakyo	Yeah.
	Anyways... Of all things why would y'all think it's love. Beats me.
Juza	......Please stop.
Sakyo	......
	Everyone's sleeping like a log.
Juza	You're right.
Izumi	Zzz.....Zzz....
Taichi	Mm....can't eat any....more...
Azami	......
Sakyo	( Love...huh..)
	Guess we know each other better now than we did back then.
Juza	....That's good.

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