Chapter 20
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Volume 1: First Performance: A Tragic Love Story Of A Young Lady And Spring Cherry Blossoms
Chapter 20: A Cross-Dressing Boy Takes His First Acting Class
“Nice to meet you, everyone. I’m Yuuji Wagatsuma, the instructor who will be in charge of the Acting Course. I used to be a stage actor, as well as a scriptwriter and director. I look forward to working with you.”
After introducing himself, Yuuji Wagatsuma slightly bowed his head to the thirty students gathered in the practice room for the Acting Course class.
Then, raising his head, he closed his deeply shadowed eyes and let out a short sigh.
“Originally, I was supposed to be the one primarily responsible for guiding your acting, but… there’s been an incident today, so we’ve brought in another new instructor.”
He glanced towards the backstage area at the back.
The door to the waiting room was thrown open with a bang, and a man emerged from inside.
“Hey there! You promising young actresses-to-be! I’m Kyoichiro Yanagisawa! From today, I’ll be the cool guy who’s part-time but will be watching over your acting! Nice to meet ya! Hic!”
With a can of beer in one hand, Kyoichiro’s entrance made Professor Wagatsuma place a weary hand on his forehead and speak.
“Kyoichiro… Don’t tell me you have been drinking…”
“You bet! I can’t drink unless it’s a time like this! It’s practically a vacation!”
“Calling an instructor’s job a vacation… You’re as reckless as ever.”
With the appearance of the renowned actor Kyoichiro Yanagisawa, the surrounding female students began to squeal with excitement.
After glancing at the scene, Professor Wagatsuma turned back to us and quietly opened his mouth.
“So, Kyoichiro Yanagisawa will also be in charge of your acting guidance. However, since he’s only part-time, he won’t always be at practice.”
“Listen up, kids. Just so you know, I have no intention of guiding anyone who lacks potential. It’s a waste of time. I’ll only teach those with talent. If you’re ordinary, I recommend you give up on acting and move to another course. That’s all.”
Upon hearing those words, the students of the Acting Course gulped audibly.
I sat in the back row, hugging my knees, and gazed expressionlessly at my father’s face, which I hadn’t seen in a long time.
[I have no intention of teaching people who have no talent.]
When I was young, there was a time when Rurika and I both aimed to become actors.
Rurika received acting lessons from our father and, though clumsy, continued to practice acting diligently.
However, when her father realized that Rurika had no talent for acting, he quickly ended his sister’s training.
And then my father said to my sister:
[―――Rurika, it would be better if you gave up on becoming an actor and pursued something else.]
After hearing that, Rurika cried her heart out and never practiced acting again.
That man was a firm believer in talent above all.
Because of this, I still clearly remember how Kyoichiro Yanagisawa often taught me.
“Art is a path allowed only for geniuses.”
“Only talented people can succeed, while average people can only continue to suffer hardship.”
“Hard work easily betrays people. When I say hard work never betrays people, it’s simply because the person in question is a talented person.”
He truly hated the saying that hard work pays off.
For those who seriously pursue their dreams, hard work is a given.
The issue lies in whether or not you can grasp success after making that effort.
Only the winners, the successful ones, are allowed to speak in this world.
Losers are never given the hero’s interview.
On TV screens, all you see are winners.
[And so, not only Rurika, but also to him, I was――――――――――.]
“…To him, I’m probably nothing more than a loser branded as ordinary.”
Fuuma, you have no talent right now. Your acting is just a superficial imitation, only scratching the surface.
Watching you is far from beautiful.
You, who couldn’t overcome your mother’s death, are worthless…
The words that man once said to me started echoing in my mind.
At that moment, my chest began to ache.
“Onee-sama? Are you alright? You look like you’re in pain, holding your chest like that… Does it hurt?”
From beside me, Honoka, with a puzzled look, asked with concern.
I forced a smile at her, trying to appear calm.
“No, it’s nothing. I’m fine.”
“Really? But you’re sweating a lot…”
As she spoke, Honoka pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and gently patted my forehead, wiping away the sweat.
I apologized with a furrowed brow.
“Thank you, Honoka. I’m sorry for dirtying your handkerchief…”
“It’s totally fine! Besides, a handkerchief soaked in your sweat is like a treasure!”
“T-Treasure…?”
“Eh, what am I saying…! It’s nothing!! Haha!!”
Blushing, Honoka turned to face forward, her gaze now fixed on Kyoichiro Yanagisawa.
“Still, it’s amazing, isn’t it, Onee-sama? To think that we’re getting acting lessons from the famous Kyoichiro Yanagisawa… But, well, there’s something that scares me a little…”
“Something that scares you? …Ah, are you talking about your fear of men?”
“Y-Yes. As long as we’re this far apart, I’m still okay, but… if a man gets too close, I still feel scared…”
“Shall I talk to the teachers about it later? Unfortunately, it seems that both instructors for the first-year Acting Course are men…”
“Oh no… I’m sorry for being such a bother, Onee-sama… Without you, I wouldn’t even be able to get by in this school… I’m really such a hopeless person…”
“No, that’s not true. I’ll rely on you if anything comes up as well. We’ll support each other.”
When I winked at her, Honoka blushed and looked at me with moist eyes.
I wonder if it’s just my imagination, but ever since this morning’s incident, it feels like there’s a different emotion in Honoka’s gaze, apart from respect…
It’s almost like the gaze of a predator eyeing its prey—a look that instinctively makes me brace myself.
The gleam in her eyes sends a shiver down my spine, even as a man dressed as a woman.
“…Onee-sama, I… I…”
“Well then, shall we focus on the lesson, Honoka? Okay?”
Straightening myself, I turned my gaze back to the instructors.
There, I saw Kyoichiro Yanagisawa pulling out a piece of paper and raising his voice to the students.
On the paper, the words ‘Special Event at the Civic Hall: Spring Theater Festival’ were written.
“So, I’m thinking of having you all participate in this play at the Civic Hall. The event is on May 28th. The audience will probably be a bunch of old folks from the neighborhood, but don’t slack off. Give it your all. Got it?”
With a menacing grin, he spoke again.
“Now, Yuuji is going to hand out the scripts for this play. Once you’ve got your script, pair up with someone and start practicing the roles of the protagonist and the heroine. The deadline is today, by the seventh period. Whoever delivers the best performance in that short time will be cast as the protagonist and heroine. That’s all. Now get to work and give it your all.”
With that, Kyoichiro swiftly exited to the waiting room, still holding his can of beer.
Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, everyone was left speechless.
The students of the Acting Course stood frozen, staring in shock at what had just unfolded.
