Let's see... We've got plenty of drinks and snacks...

Okay! I think we're all set to go☆

I can't wait to see what Mr. Ohara's films are like! I'm really looking forward to the story!

I hope the others get here soon♪

Oh, I think that's them...!
Welcome, everyoooone!

Come on in☆ I've been waiting for you guys!

Waiting for us to get here is great and all...

B-But...

What in the world is this plaaaaaaaaace?!

Huh?

Don't “huh” me!
Answer me! What is the meaning of this place...?!

It has a giant screen covering the whole wall and a sound system I've never seen anywhere else! Also, these chairs are far too luxurious for their own good...!!!!!

It's like a full-blown movie theater!!!!!

We always come here to watch movies and stuff.

Always...?!

Hehe. Emu's house never ceases to amaze.

Yeah...

Guys, look! I've got snacks and drinks for all of us☆ We can have these while we watch♪

Hm? Ah, right...
I was so staggered that I forgot why we're all gathered here today...

We're watching “The Spring Lantern”, right?

Yes.
The protagonist, Mabuchi, saw his mother arrested when he was little, and has been labeled the son of a criminal ever since...

The story centers around him as an adult discovering that his mother may have been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

I have to say...
That sounds like a bleak story...

It is. However, very unlike Mr. Ohara's other works, this one involves a few action scenes... I have a feeling we'll all enjoy watching it together.

Action does sound like fun!
Then, let's start watching☆

Hmm... Not only did his neighbors talk about him behind his back, but everyone at school treated him like dirt... I can't imagine how he must've felt while growing up...

Yeah... Talk about a sad childhood...

Wait... Not only did this man say something foreboding a minute ago, but he also seems very familiar with Mabuchi's mother...

That's it! This man's the real culprit!

Yeah, I seriously doubt this one's that simple...

<I don't plan on ever forgiving you. But...I still appreciate what you did. I probably wouldn't have made it this far on my own.>

<I can finally start living a normal life.>

Oh, we're at the credits...

It's over...

I can't believe it was actually that person...

Yeah, I got fooled too!
I completely thought it was his neighbor Sasano the entire time!

Hehe. Sounds like you two went straight for the bait.

The man you thought was behind it all ended up being the protagonist's most important friend, Tsukasa.

Grr... My deduction skills still need work...

However, this film really delivered in terms of doing an excellent job of presenting each character's emotions.

Yeah, and the whole cast was amazing.

I couldn't help but side with the protagonist. I found myself rooting him on as he went after the real suspect...

Yeah, my heart really went out to him...!

They did a magnificent job of making use of each actor's talents and skills.

The way you can lead the viewer's eye with good camerawork or cleverly use certain shots to present how a character's feeling... The screen gives you access to so many techniques.

Yes, and despite it being a bit of a sad story, it was still very good. I think we all learned a lot from it.

I agree.

Oh, didn't Rin say that she wanted to watch a film with us?

Who don't we take this one over to SEKAI the next time we visit?

Yes, we can take this over and tell them about how we get to be in a film.

Okay! I hope Rin and the others like this as much as we did♪

Still, I can't help but wonder what this director's gonna be like when we meet him in real life.

I can't say...
But if he's capable of creating films as profound as this one, then I'm sure we'll be able to learn a lot from him.

Right.
I'm very much looking forward to learning more about directing from him.

Yeah! I'm really nervous since it's our first film ever, but let's all do our best!