Izumi | For today’s practice, we’ll start from Act 2—. |
Yuzo | Yo, how's everything going? |
Izumi | Yuzo-san!? |
Sakyo | ....Tch. |
Yuzo | Oh, I heard from Matsukawa, but you're really here. It's been a while, Sakyo-boy. |
Izumi | B-boy.... |
Taichi | I wonder if he's a yakuza? |
Omi | Sakyo-san's older-brother figure, maybe? |
Sakyo | Why'd you invite this thing? |
Izumi | Eh!? I didn't invite him—. |
Yuzo | Hey, come on. I took care of Spring and Summer. Might as well watch over Autumn as well. |
Sakyo | Tch. |
Izumi | Then let's start from the top. |
| |
Yuzo | ....Hm. |
Izumi | (Will he rip them apart again.....) |
Yuzo | I’ve got a bunch of things I wanna say to you lot, but... |
| First. You guys aren't presenting yourselves at all through your acting. It's not even a matter of technique. |
| It is a problem to show too much personality on stage, like the Summer Troupe, but you guys are showing way too little. |
| If you put a mask on a fake human, it’s just plain shallow. Acting is entertaining when real people play out lies. |
Omi | Shallow.... |
Taichi | Lies, huh..... |
Yuzo | Your roles were specifically written for each of you. Reveal yourselves more through your acting. |
Izumi | Should we change their way of thinking? |
Yuzo | Yeah... We don't have much time, so let's put things into practice right away. |
Izumi | Practice...? |
Yuzo | I have a secret technique. A “portrait.” |
Juza | A portrait? |
Yuzo | It's a common method used to make beginner actors lay themselves bare. |
| You use your own life as the basis for a one-man biographical performance. You’re responsible for everything, from structure to stage directions. The time limit is exactly five minutes. |
| Make sure you plan, think through, and practice on your own before the actual performance. Because watching someone else’s portrait will influence you. |
Taichi | Wait, by “actual performance,” do you mean we're going to present them? |
Yuzo | Yup. I'll have you perform your portraits as an opening act for the troupe I’m taking care of. |
Izumi | Eeh!? |
Juza | In front of an audience....? |
Izumi | Isn't this a little sudden? |
Omi | So we’re going to present our autobiographies? That's pretty embarrassing... |
Sakyo | ....His ideas are as nasty as usual. |
Yuzo | Did you say something? |
Sakyo | ...I don't think anyone would be interested in some 30-year-old’s life story. |
Yuzo | Nah. Actors gobble up anything that'll help them with acting—and other people's lives are some of the best stuff out there. Especially complicated lives. |
Sakyo | ....Tch. |
Yuzo | Well, that said, Sakyo aside, you're all half-baked. Even if you reflect on your lives, you probably won’t be able to pull something together on your own, so... |
| Make "the biggest regret of my life" the theme of your performance. That should make things easier. |
Omi | Regret, huh... |
Yuzo | And at the end, we'll have the audience vote for the best one-man performance. |
Izumi | You're going to rank them!? |
Yuzo | This kind of thing is better to motivate a group like this. |
Izumi | But we've only just started practice.... |
Yuzo | Don't worry. |
Banri | Hyodo. Looks like we'll decide a winner sooner than I hoped. |
Juza | ....I won't lose. |
Banri | Hah, bark as much as you want. |
Omi | When is the presentation? |
Yuzo | In two weeks. Finish your portraits alongside your usual practice. |
Taichi | T-two weeks!? |
Omi | That's pretty difficult. |
Banri | It’s only five minutes long, so it won’t take any time to put together. |
Juza | ..... |
Izumi | (Yuzo-san drops another bomb. I can’t even imagine how this will turn out.) |
| |
Juza | ...Dammit. What am I supposed to write? |
Sakyo | You're practicing out here? |
Juza | ....Yeah. |
Sakyo | Why not in your room? |
Juza | ...Settsu is there. |
Sakyo | I see.... |
Juza | What are you going to talk about? |
Sakyo | ....Who knows? |
Juza | ...... |
Omi | Huh, Sakyo-san, you're here too? |
Sakyo | Are you also practicing on your own? |
Omi | No, I'm here with these. |
Sakyo | ...What are these? |
Omi | Scones. Everyone's practicing till midnight, so I thought I should hand out some snacks. |
Juza | Thanks. |
Omi | I have jam and cream, too—want some? |
Juza | Yeah. |
Omi | ....More? |
Juza | Yeah. |
Sakyo | ....Just watching this is giving me heartburn. |
Omi | Haha. The scones themselves aren't very sweet, so if you'd like, Sakyo-san, you should have one too. |
Sakyo | ....Then I'll take one. Thanks. |
| Both of you, don't stay up too late. |
Omi | Yes. |
Juza | Yeah. |