Nene
(Tsukasa's turn involves Rio conversing with the phoenix...)
Nene
(They'd been running around until then, but slowly begin to understand each other's feelings...)
Tsukasa
“So, how does it feel...?”
Sakurako
“How does what feel...?”
Tsukasa
“You know, living forever?
Don't you ever get lonely? You have to watch all your friends and family pass on, right?”
Don't you ever get lonely? You have to watch all your friends and family pass on, right?”
Sakurako
“I think nothing of it.”
Sakurako
“I have long since gotten used to all that...”
Tsukasa
“So...
You do feel lonely...”
You do feel lonely...”
Sakurako
“Ugh. Your mouth does not know when to stop, does it? If you have time to talk, you have time to catch me.”
Tsukasa
“Hey, wait...!”
Nene
...
Nene
(They're on totally different levels in terms of acting...)
Nene
(I mean, Tsukasa's doing a really good job of showing Rio's timid and gentle nature.)
Nene
(And yet...)
Sakurako
“What is going on...?”
Sakurako
“As we converse...
My heart is being squeezed tighter and tighter for some reason.”
My heart is being squeezed tighter and tighter for some reason.”
Sakurako
“He is but a mere human.
They perish after only living a handful of years.”
They perish after only living a handful of years.”
Sakurako
“And yet... Why?
Why...? Why?”
Why...? Why?”
Sakurako
“I have never felt this before...”
Nene
(I can't take my eyes off her...)
Nene
(Seiryuin's phoenix is just too captivating...)
Nene
(Can I do that...?)
Nene
(Can I put on that kind of performance someday...?)
Director
Stop there. Let's have our next candidate step in.
Tsukasa
Thank you very much...
Tsukasa
(I felt powerless in her presence...)
Tsukasa
(In the face of her phoenix...
My Rio seemed completely lifeless...)
My Rio seemed completely lifeless...)
Director
Hmm...
Director
As I suspected, finding someone to play opposite Sakurako is not going to be easy...
Director
Okay, that concludes today's practice.
Everyone
Thank you very much!
Sakurako
Now, if you'll excuse me... I'll see you all tomorrow.
Tsukasa
W-Wait...!
Emu
Huh? Tsukasa?!
Tsukasa
Seiryuin!!!
Sakurako
What is it?
I still have to practice on my own, you know.
I still have to practice on my own, you know.
Tsukasa
I know you're very busy and I do apologize, but could you spare a minute of your time to talk?
Sakurako
*Sigh*
Only a minute.
Only a minute.
Tsukasa
Then, I'll get straight to it.
Tsukasa
How in the world were you able to portray your character like that?
Sakurako
There's no way I can answer that quickly...
Tsukasa
Please! I have to know!
Tsukasa
Your phoenix felt so real...
It felt like she was right here. Just watching you, I was able to clearly see the forest and hear the wind in my ears.
It felt like she was right here. Just watching you, I was able to clearly see the forest and hear the wind in my ears.
Tsukasa
The star I look up to... He also put on that kind of performance.
Sakurako
...
Tsukasa
So, please!
I beg you! Even just a small hint!
I beg you! Even just a small hint!
Sakurako
Fine...
If you're willing to go that far.
If you're willing to go that far.
Tsukasa
Really?!
Sakurako
Yes, really.
However, it's not like I did anything that out of the ordinary.
However, it's not like I did anything that out of the ordinary.
Sakurako
I simply wish to build the perfect character.
Tsukasa
Build the perfect character...?
Sakurako
For example...
Sakurako
Before trying to portray a character, I read books on related subjects... For the phoenix, I read this one.
Tsukasa
It says... “The True Identities of Fantastical Beasts”...?
Sakurako
It's a book about history and folklore that discusses how people came up with phoenixes.
Sakurako
I also researched my role by watching videos of birds and how they move so that I can learn to be like them.
Sakurako
Only after all that did I think about her feelings. The loneliness of never dying and endlessly being reborn from your own ashes...
Tsukasa
But it's only been one day since we were given our scripts. You've already done all that...?
Sakurako
Presenting myself, a human, as a bird is no small feat. Especially one that does not actually exist...
Sakurako
In order to convince others that my phoenix does actually exist, I need to form a crystal clear image in my head of what I'm trying to portray.
Sakurako
Which is why I plan on reading at least fifty books before we open. I'll watch videos every day as well. I even asked one of my troupe mates to let me observe their pet bird at their home.
Sakurako
I'm going to do absolutely everything I can in order to properly portray a real phoenix.
Tsukasa
(She's doing all this research for this role...?)
Tsukasa
(No wonder she's head and shoulders above the rest of us...)
Tsukasa
Thank you, Seiryuin.
Tsukasa
I'll put what you said into practice right away by forming a clear image of how I want to portray Rio.
Sakurako
I commend your desire to follow in the footsteps of a superior person...
Sakurako
However, Tenma, I doubt my method will actually work for you.
Tsukasa
What?
Sakurako
This is just my feeling, but you and I don't seem like the same type of actor...
Tsukasa
The same type...?
Tsukasa
Oh...
Rui
Yes. Actors come in all shapes and sizes.
Rui
For instance, some prefer to gradually get into character while others may try to imitate their foibles... Of course, there are prodigies who can immediately take full control of their characters, but let's set that aside for now.
Rui
From what I've seen, Tsukasa, I'd say you're someone who likes to gradually get into character. Seemingly the most popular archetype.
Tsukasa
Gradually get into character...?
Rui
In simpler terms, I believe you prefer to learn by doing since you and logical analyses of characters don't usually mix well.
Tsukasa
(Right...
Rui's mentioned that before.)
Rui's mentioned that before.)
Tsukasa
(Based on what she said just now, Seiryuin is the type of person who prefers to take a more analytical approach to her characters.)
Tsukasa
(As for me...)
Sakurako
When you played Miles during the night show, I didn't get the sense that you broke him down into his fundamental components.
Sakurako
So, I believe there is a better approach for you to take. What do you usually do when learning to play a new character...?
Tsukasa
I...
Tsukasa
Ever since we did a rendition of “A Pianist Named Thorpe”, I've tried thinking about what my character and I have in common.
Sakurako
I see...
Sakurako
You like to get into character by first establishing an emotional link with who you'll be portraying.
Sakurako
In that case...
They might be your best teacher...
They might be your best teacher...
Tsukasa
(They...?)
Sakurako
I have a friend who's the same type as you, Tenma.
Sakurako
They too like to establish an emotional connection with their characters and try many different things to achieve that goal.
Sakurako
Such as placing yourself in their environment or doing what you think they would do.
Tsukasa
Placing myself in their environment...
Tsukasa
I have some experience with that.
I remember attempting to understand how an impoverished shoeshine would feel by sitting along the side of the road.
I remember attempting to understand how an impoverished shoeshine would feel by sitting along the side of the road.
Sakurako
Then, you have a basic understanding of what to do. However...
Sakurako
This person would actually become one.
Tsukasa
Become one?
Sakurako
Yes, in other words...
They'd shine shoes until they're able to make a living of it.
They'd shine shoes until they're able to make a living of it.
Tsukasa
...!
Sakurako
Of course, I don't mean that you should go around copying all of the roles that you play...
Sakurako
But your characters should gain more presence as you do what is necessary to bring them to life and be on the same page as them emotionally.
Tsukasa
Yes, I agree with you there...
I can understand that method.
I can understand that method.
Tsukasa
However, will it be possible for me to do all this in less than a week...?
Sakurako
What you do until the audition is entirely up to you. But...
Sakurako
Tenma...
You've been going around claiming to be a future star, yes?
You've been going around claiming to be a future star, yes?
Sakurako
So...
Why don't you become the star of this show?
Why don't you become the star of this show?
Tsukasa
...!
Tsukasa
Of course...!
Tsukasa
I promise to make this the best show ever by surpassing even you...!
Sakurako
Hehe... That's more like it.
Well, I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Well, I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Tsukasa
(I made a fairly ostentatious claim there towards the end, but I'm very short on time...)
Tsukasa
(Will I really be able to figure out this character in less than a week? To get on the same level as Seiryuin...?)
???
Tsukasa!!!
Nene
Seriously, why'd you run off like that? What happened...?
Tsukasa
Oh, you're all here...
Tsukasa
Apologies...
I had Seiryuin give me a few tips regarding how to get into character.
I had Seiryuin give me a few tips regarding how to get into character.
Nene
What...?
That's a pretty big ask. And she agreed to help you?
That's a pretty big ask. And she agreed to help you?
Tsukasa
Yes. Well, to be clear, not using her way, but her friend's...
Tsukasa
However, I'm worried that I won't be able to figure out my character in time if I go with that...
Emu
Tsukasa...!
Is there anything we can do to help?!
Is there anything we can do to help?!
Emu
I know we don't have much time, but we might be able to do something about that if we all work together...!
Tsukasa
Emu...
Rui
To be honest, getting on the same level as Seiryuin as she is now will be incredibly difficult...
Rui
But you still wish to go through with this regardless...?
Tsukasa
Yes...
Nene
...
Nene
(Tsukasa really amazes me sometimes...)
Nene
(Even after seeing such an incredible performance, he's not giving up. I was convinced that it'd be impossible to catch up to her...)
Nene
I wanna help too...
Nene
(I have to learn more...
I have to absorb what I can from Tsukasa and Seiryuin's performance...! So that I can also get better!)
I have to absorb what I can from Tsukasa and Seiryuin's performance...! So that I can also get better!)
Tsukasa
All of you...
Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Next Chapter: The Distant Peak