| *the scene begins in GOD-za's practise space* |
| |
| Reni | Now, let's begin our read-through of the play. |
| Izumi | (It's finally the first day of practise. This one's different from what we all usually do, so everyone's a bit nervous.) |
| Haruto | "Father... I'm sorry." |
| Shifuto | "Hey, where are you going at this hour?" |
| Haruto | "...What are you doing here?" |
| Shifuto | "I know exactly what you're thinking. We've been together since birth, after all. You won't solve anything by running away." |
| Haruto | "I know that. However, needless conflict is rising all around me because of my very existence." |
| Izumi | (Haruto-kun's acting is a little stiff today. Shifuto-kun's got Lutz down pat, however.) |
| Tasuku | "Urgh, I can't stand that blockhead. Has his brain petrified in his old age?" |
| Azami | "I understand you're frustrated, but that's uncalled for, Master Gilbert." |
| Tasuku | "Our people are starving, and yet he insists on waging war with Northaria. Neither father nor any of his officials can see our reality for what it is." |
| Azami | "War is inevitable, it seems." |
| Izumi | (Tasuku-san's doing well in his role as the upstanding prince. Azami-kun seems a little nervous, however. Maybe because of the atmosphere here?) |
| |
| Reni | Hm, well, that's our first read-through complete. |
| First off, Haruto. I'd like to see a little more energy from you, like what you had during the auditions. |
| I know this is just a read-through, but you're putting too much focus on trying to say the lines gracefully. |
| Haruto | ...Right. I'm sorry. |
| Reni | As for Shifuto, I'd like you to bring out more of Lutz's caring side around Cain. Remember, they're adoptive brothers who have been together since they were very young. |
| Shifuto | Okay. |
| Reni | Tasuku, you're doing well with balancing Gilbert's passion and his princely air. Keep it up. |
| Tasuku | Thank you. |
| Reni | Izumida, I think you could make Sasha a little more sincere among all his snarky politeness. |
| Azami | Sure. |
| Reni | What did you think? |
| Izumi | Right! Um... |
| (Oh, no. Now I'M getting nervous from how seriously everyone is looking at me.) |
| I think Cain's emotions were a little shallow during the scene where he reveals his identity to Gilbert. |
| It's a very important and emotional scene for the both of them, so I'd like it if their emotions came across more clearly. |
| Reni | Yes, I agree. How did you interpret that scene, Haruto? |
| Haruto | Huh? I, um... |
| Reni | What about you, Tasuku? |
| Tasuku | I think Gilbert was shocked to find out that Cain, who he's grown quite fond of, is actually the prince of the kingdom he's considered an enemy for so long. |
| Reni | Hm, yes. Haruto, give the scene a bit more thought until our next practise. |
| Haruto | ...Right. |
| Actor A | Wow, Tasuku-san is amazing. |
| Actor B | He's still the same old Tasuku-san we knew from his GOD-za days. |
| Haruto | ... |
| |
| *the scene changes to the back hallways of GOD Theater* |
| |
| Shifuto | Here's the waiting room backstage, and here's where the costumes are. Actually, you've been here before, right? |
| Azami | Yeah, but it's way bigger here, so it's also harder to remember where everything is. Thanks for showing me around. |
| Shifuto | Yeah. It helps to know your way around here, huh. |
| Azami | Oh, right. Do you want to grab something to eat on the way home? |
| Shifuto | Ah, not today. I've got some stuff to do. |
| Azami | Oh, okay. I'm heading off, then. |
| Shifuto | See ya. |
| |
| *the scene changes to outside the GOD Theater. It is night time* |
| |
| Haruto | Haah... |
| Shifuto | Hey, Haruto-san. |
| Haruto | Wargh! |
| Shifuto | Haha, was I really that scary? |
| Haruto | Don't just pop out of nowhere like that! |
| Shifuto | I didn't "pop out", I've been standing here the whole time. |
| Haruto | Geez, you have no presence at all. |
| Shifuto | Haha, you're so funny. How could the top actor of GOD-za have no presence? |
| Haruto | Geez, why are you always so overly confident? It's so annoying. |
| Shifuto | C'mon, let's go get dinner. |
| Haruto | I'll pass. I'm tired. I just want to get home. |
| Shifuto | But you're gonna eat when you get home anyway, so same thing, right? Oh, how about we have dinner at your place, then? It doesn't have to be fancy or anything! |
| Haruto | You're the last person on Earth I would ever let into my house. |
| Shifuto | Aww. How about we get some croquette udon, then? |
| Haruto | Why?! |
| |
| *the scene changes to the noodle restaurant* |
| |
| Haruto | Haah... |
| Shifuto | Oh, would you have preferred kitsune udon instead? |
| Haruto | No. |
| Shifuto | Our first practise run today was a lot of fun, huh. |
| Haruto | On what planet? |
| Shifuto | And like, Reni-san's direction has changed a lot, too. |
| Haruto | Yeah. He's started to ask his actors for their input a lot more. |
| Shifuto | Yeah, like how they interpret their characters and what they want to show and stuff. |
| I have a lot of fun comparing what I think to Reni-san's interpretation and coming up with something new! |
| I also like it when he gives us tips on how to act out our interpretations. |
| Haruto | But before, he would have preferred us to be dolls that he can mold into his ideal interpretation. |
| Now that he's changed, I think he's having a lot more fun, too. |
| Shifuto | What about you, Haruto-san? Are you not having fun? |
| Haruto | No, that's not it. I was just commenting on how acting for him feels different now. |
| (I didn't really do any of my own interpreting on the first day, either... Old habits die hard, I guess.) |
| (Now, not only do I have to try and meet Reni-san's strict standards, but I also have to share my own thoughts with him...) |
| (...which is a complete 180 of what he used to ask of us. I'm having a bit of trouble adjusting to this change.) |
| (I can't be like this human sponge over here, taking everything in stride and having fun.) |
| Shifuto | What is it? |
| Haruto | Nothing. |
| Shifuto | Speaking of things that feel different... I'm glad I have the chance to act with Azami, but it feels kinda weird. |
| We've always been together, but I feel kind of... shy, maybe? Or like... hmm... |
| Haruto | Hey, our fans will be comparing us to Mankai Company, so don't you dare let your guard down. |
| Shifuto | Ya, I know. |
| But man, how awesome is Tasuku-san? His interpretation is on point. |
| Reni-san praised him a lot on the first day, too. |
| Haruto | ... |
| Shifuto | We can't lose to him, can we? |
| Haruto | Exactly. Which is why I wanted to go home early and give the script another read and prepare for tomorrow. |
| Shifuto | Why? You've already got your lines down pat. |
| I don't think you really need to read that much and think too deeply about it. Just trust your gut feeling! Or your gut interpretation? |
| Haruto | My god, you— |
| (Some people can't do it that easily, all right?!) |
| Shifuto | What is it? |
| Haruto | Nothing! |
| Shifuto | But like, your interpretation of Cain during the auditions was perfect, I think. |
| I've been practising with your ad lib in mind the whole time. |
| Haruto | (That just came out because I was so preoccupied with the thought of getting the role and competing with Tasuku again.) |
| (Plus, I was a little jealous of Shifuto, because he was able to improvise his line so easily.) |
| (Shifuto and Tasuku are the same. They were both chosen by Reni-san, and they both have something I will never have.) |
| (I staked everything on the feeling of dread that descended upon me in that moment, and turned it into an ad lib. And I somehow managed to get the lead role...) |
| (I told myself to stay calm, but I ended up embarrassing myself on the first day, anyway.) |
| (Maybe I just don't have what it takes.) |
| Hey, don't you ever get scared of staying an actor? |
| Shifuto | Huh? What do you mean? |
| Haruto | Like, don't you ever get frustrated or scared of failing and not accomplishing anything? |
| Shifuto | Hmm... Well, I do get scared about not being able to provide for my family with my acting, but... |
| ...ever since I was promoted to the main roster, the performance fees and royalties from merch and whatnot have been coming in steady, so yeah, that helps a lot. |
| I guess I don't really feel scared or anything, no. |
| Haruto | Oh, I see. |
| Shifuto | What would an actor be frustrated about, do you think? Besides money and stuff. |
| Haruto | ...The fear of whether you're a "real" actor or not, I guess. |
| Shifuto | What do you mean? |
| Haruto | Never mind. |
| Shifuto | Are you not allowed to act if you're not "real" or something? |
| Haruto | That's not what I mean. |
| I just think that for any actor, they want to believe that their talent is real, and they want other people to recognize that, too. |
| However, real life is a lot harsher than we'd all like. When a lead role goes to an actor, that's it. |
| Only a handful of people can be recognized as the "real" thing. |
| Anyone would be scared of not making it into that handful. |
| Then the question becomes whether they should continue clinging to acting as a replaceable "fake", or if they should just quit. |
| Shifuto | But if they keep at it, they might become "real" one day, right? |
| Haruto | ...! |
| (Whatever. He's just one of the people that can make it into that handful. Anyone would know that once they see him on stage.) |
| (Not that I would ever say it to his face.) |
| (But what if I never become one of the "real" ones? Is there any point in me continuing to act?) |
| (Why do I even act...?) |
| Shifuto | You'll be fine, Haruto-san. I guarantee it. |
| Haruto | I don't want your guarantee. |
| Shifuto | So let's keep acting our butts off! To the newborn GOD-za! |
| Haruto | Quit it with the newborn crap! |
