Wow...!
This crowd feels really different from the ones we're used to...!

Yes.
I'm seeing quite a few elderly patrons, as well as many coming alone. This must be Shunmeiza's core demogra—

Oh...
Those two are already getting ready.

We should do the same, Emu.
Let's give them a good show.

Yeah!

Okay, I'm ready...
I've got a good image in my head.

I need to do my best.
I can't let Tsukasa hog the spotlight.

...

(Nakayama is twenty-eight years old. Three years Hino's senior.)

(He's from Hakata and was the best student at his high school. He's personable and well-liked, but does not like to lose.)

(He was hired to become an editor for Shiranami in 1926. He sees his cool and successful junior, Hino, as his rival...)

(Every sinew of my body knows this story now...)

(Focus.)

(Your job is to present this one page from the book of Nakayama.)

“The old gramophone in the parlor was playing something I hadn't heard in a very long time.”

“Hearing that warm and beautiful sound made up my mind. To end my life here and now.”

(It's begun...)

(Tsukasa appears right at the beginning.)

(Kishi speaks with Hino, and Hino returns to the office.)

“*Sigh*
What a mess. But I need to tell the chief.”

“Good morning.”

(Enter Nakayama, who replies...)

“Morning.”

“What took you so long to get back, Hino?”

“That novelist giving you trouble again?”

“Bingo.
Chief, he asked for another extension. He's really cutting it close this time.”

“Honestly, that no good...”

“This will be his last month.
'Shiranami' may mean 'white-crested waves', but we don't want anyone taking the magazine through rough seas.”

“Understood.”

(Is it just me, or does Tsukasa seem...?)

(What a great feeling.)

(This is what he gets for acting all cocky after being chosen as Awaji's editor.)

(Enjoy being tormented by that good-for-nothing novelist.)

“No choice, I suppose.”

(Yes...!
This is nothing like what he did during practice...!)

(Those expressions and movements aren't written in the script.)

(They're the result of him directly feeling Nakayama's emotions.)

(Tsukasa's disappeared into Nakayama.)

(However, that's...)

“I'm going to the print shop...”

Everyone, you all did an excellent job.
Thank you.

Thank you.

I asked each of you to accomplish a small task leading up to this performance.

I'd like to go around now and give an assessment of how you each did.

Starting with Yata, who played Kishi...

Next, Kusanagi, our Yuriko.
You succeeded in the task I gave you to make sure to exaggerate your movements while still making them look natural.

However, you shrink up again whenever you lose focus, so try to keep the audience constantly in mind while you move.

I-I'll do that...!
Thank you very much!

Last but not least, Nakayama. Tenma.

Y-Yes?!

Tenma...

Your performance felt very out of place.

...!!

(Mr. Kato's right...)

(Tsukasa did everything he could to make Nakayama feel like a real human being. And he paid the price by...)

(...making his character stand out too much.)

(Actors can't just focus on the roles they're given.)

(They have to think about how their character fits into a play. They need to take center stage during certain scenes, while melding into the background during others... They have to constantly keep those things in mind.)

(I mentioned that to him on several occasions as we practiced, and he was striking a good balance up until today.)

(But today... He was too absorbed in the role.)

During that scene, Tenma, you basically stole the spotlight from Kishi.

...

(...
He's right.)

(I became so obsessed with making my character feel real that I forgot about fitting into the play as a whole...)

However...

Even though that scene was very short, I was able to see your character's life story.

What...?

So, you've succeeded in the task I gave you. Next time, try to think about the play as a whole while maintaining your fervent passion for acting.

It won't be easy...
But I wish you the best of luck.

Oh...

Thank you very much!

Congratulations, Tsukasa!
Hip hip hooray!!!

I'm not sure I deserve to be congratulated. I mean, I did sort of stick out like a sore thumb during the show...

But you took a pretty big step.
I think you should be happy.

She's right, Tsukasa.
You managed to break out of your shell.

All of you...!

Tenma! Everyone!

Oh, Bakuno!
Nice work today!

Likewise.
Thanks to all of you, I ended up having a lot of fun putting on this play. Also...

Thank you very much.

Huh?
No, we should be the ones thanking you...

That's not true.
Meeting you, Tenma...

You made me want to try being the lead.

What...?

As I mentioned the other day, my goal as an actor has been to shine a light on characters who I think deserve more attention.

But something hit me while talking to you, Tenma.

It doesn't matter if a character's in a leading or supporting role...

I realized that for me, the fun part of playing characters has been considering their lives as I do.

Labelling characters as “leading” or “supporting” is disrespectful in a way since they're still human beings with lives of their own.

Bakuno...

I've turned down several offers before, but I've decided to be proactive and ask to play the lead in a movie...

What...?!
Really?!

Yes.
You gave me the push I needed, Tenma.

So, thank you.

I helped you?! I'm so honored!

(Despite receiving so much help this time around, I wasn't able to produce any results on stage...)

(But I was able to take another big step as an actor.)

(Not only that...)

(I'm so glad I could make Bakuno smile.)

(So!
I should take what I experienced and use it to propel myself further forward!)

Oh, that reminds me...

Is something the matter?

The movie I'm about to work on is also going to include a few others from Shunmeiza...

But they still need more extras.
So, if you'd like, would you all like to apply to be in it?

What?

A movie...?!