| “Takato, you’re in the way.”
“I’m sorry.” |
| It’s been several months since I joined GOD-za——
Practice carries on, with many troupe members standing in a row along the wall of a huge practice room. |
| Idle chatter is strictly prohibited.
Even though we’re supposed to be doing a comedy exercise, tension hangs in the air, filling the room with a strained atmosphere from beginning to end. |
| Everyone here is desperate to earn a role; all around us are rivals we should defeat.
Not a single trace of friendliness or camaraderie exists here. |
| Unconsciously, I look towards the empty space beside me.
Tsumugi, who took the audition with me and was supposed to be here, is not there. |
| As bitter regret, irritation, and emptiness start to well up inside me, I instinctively clench my fists. |
| “Next up, Takato.”
“——Yes!” |
| I forced myself to look up, and stepped forward. |
| |
| It had been around a year since I joined the troupe when Reni-san summoned me to the theater. |
| As instructed by Reni-san, who stood with his back to the audience seats, I started walking alone towards the stage.
And then I was promptly stopped. |
| “From now on, that is where you belong.”
“Huh?” |
| I was standing right at the center of the stage.
Only the lead actor, GOD-za’s top star, was allowed to stand here. |
| Don’t tell me that I’m——?
I was more shocked than happy. |
| “Your acting is brilliant and has charm. Befitting of GOD-za’s center.”
“...Thank you very much.” |
| |
| It’s a full house, and the final performance. |
| At the center of the stage, I take in the thundering applause and shouts of praise that rain on me from the audience.
This is the summit –– the place I grasped after taking down my rivals standing next to me.
The responsibility and pride of being the top star take me to great heights anywhere. |
| The view from the center of a big stage is the best.
But when I suddenly look around me, the scenery changes completely. |
| I’m faced with the gaze of my rivals, who want to drag me down from the top and take my place. |
| I feel lonely –– as if I’m standing on stage by myself.
In order not to buckle under that strong pressure, I focus and give it my all every single day; in the midst of all that, I learn what emptiness is like. |
| |
| Shinozaki | ——something like that happened back then too, didn’t it? |
| Tasuku | ... |
| Shinozaki | Takato? |
| Tasuku | Ah. I’m sorry——What were you saying? |
| Shinozaki | I said that even when you played the lead for the first time, you weren’t nervous at all and you seemed so confident; it was really cheeky. |
| Tasuku | I was nervous. |
| Shinozaki | Yeah right. Everyone was talking about how you were the boldest out of all the top actors so far. |
| Tasuku | I was just hiding it. |
| (...The only one who noticed was the person who filled the questionnaire.) |
| Shinozaki | ...So, you haven’t made up your mind? |
| Tasuku | ... |
| Shinozaki | You’re not done returning the favour, huh. |
| Tasuku | No... |
| (The Director told me that I’ve returned the favour enough. If the only reason I’m staying in the troupe is to return the favour, then I shouldn’t be hesitating.) |
| (If I join Shinozaki-san’s troupe, I’m sure I’d be able to face more new challenges and encounter new plays.) |
| (But still...) |
| I’m sorry. Please let me think about it a little more. |
| (I still can’t reach a conclusion.) |
| Shinozaki | That’s fine. Take your time to think about it. I’ll wait however long it takes. |
| Tasuku | Thank you very much. |
| (The reason why I’m staying in Mankai Company, huh...) |
| |
| Guy | ... |
| Izumi | Ah, Guy-san, perfect timing. |
| Guy | What’s wrong? |
| Izumi | I just wanted to grab some things from the storeroom. Can you help me? |
| Guy | Got it. |
| |
| Izumi | It’s right there on the upper shelf but I can’t reach it—— |
| Guy | This? |
| Izumi | Thank you very much. |
| Guy | Should we put this box away too? |
| Izumi | Ah, those are—— They’re Tasuku-san’s belongings, from the other day. I had him give those scripts to me for reference. |
| Guy | It’s just scripts, but there’s quite a lot. |
| Izumi | There is. There are many different kinds; it’s interesting. |
| Guy | ...What’s this? |
| Izumi | That’s a story based on a Japanese fairy tale. It’s a pretty famous script and has been adapted into stage plays by many different theater troupes. |
| Guy | ... |
| |
| “Thank you very much!”
“Thank you very much.” |
| It was my first time watching my father on stage.
My father appeared in the curtain call, and bowed his head many times near the edge of the stage. |
| The unoccupied seats stood out; amidst the sparse clapping that resounded in the audience,
I remember clapping so hard my hands stung. |
| Although I didn’t really understand theater, I didn’t think it was fun by any standard.
But my chest throbbed when I saw my father appear on stage. |
| My father’s life as an actor must not have been easy.
I think he spent more time working his part time job than practicing. |
| Even so, if he found even just a short amount of time each day,
He’d say, “I’m going to street act, so watch the house, Guy,” and go out looking happy more than anything else——. |
| |
| Guy | ...I’m going out for a bit. |
| Izumi | Huh? |
| Guy | I’ll be back before practice. |
| Izumi | Wait, where are you going? |
| Guy | On a warrior’s journey. |
| Izumi | ...Huh? |
| Guy | ... |
| Izumi | Ah, please wait—— |
| |
| Guy | “The right to strike——!” |
| “Hah!” |
| Izumi | So he meant street acting when he said warrior’s journey... |
| (He went out so suddenly, I was wondering what it was...) |
| Guy | “Last night, my master was attacked by someone. It couldn’t have been anyone else but you.” |
| Izumi | ... |
| (Compared to the beginning when he’d just joined the troupe, Guy-san’s acting has improved.) |
| (It’s even better now compared to practice the other day. He’s working so hard with individual training...) |
| Guy | ...Thank you very much. |
| Izumi | Good work, Guy-san! |
| (Of course it could still use some work in certain areas, but the fact that several people stayed to watch him street act by himself is enough!) |
| Reni | ...My, my. I was wondering where the noise was coming from... |
| Guy | —— |
