Chapter 21
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Volume 1: First Performance: A Tragic Love Story Of A Young Lady And Spring Cherry Blossoms
Chapter 21: A Cross-Dressing Boy Remembers A Past Trauma
“Pair up and practice acting as the main character and heroine…”
“What? Right, now?”
“Moreover, you said the deadline was by the seventh period today. Professor Yanagisawa, are you serious about deciding on the main character and heroine in such a short time…?”
After Kyoichiro leaves, the classmates immediately begin talking to each other in a noisy and agitated manner.
Gazing at them quietly, Professor Wagatsuma gave a troubled smile and spoke.
“Well, I think it’s only natural that you’re confused. If you were suddenly told to audition for the main lead and heroine role before the script had even been distributed, most people would be shocked. But, well, it’s also the quickest way to gauge each student’s ability, so I’d be delighted if you could demonstrate your abilities to the fullest in front of us instructors.”
Upon hearing those words, the classmates regained their composure and began to look at Mr. Wagatsuma with serious expressions.
Seeing the Acting Department students fall silent, Professor Wagatsuma gave a slight nod.
“Well, I’ll start handing out the scripts now. I’ll start handing them out from the front, so anyone who picks one up should pass it on to the students at the back. Students who pick up a script can find a partner among their classmates and start practicing right away. Everyone, do your best until the seventh period.”
As he spoke, Wagatsuma-sensei began distributing the stack of pamphlets he was holding to the students sitting in the front row.
After taking in the sight, I put my hand to my chin and quietly let my thoughts wander.
[There are 30 students in the acting class. If they are paired up in pairs, that will result in a total of 15 pairs.]
Only one pair out of those 15 will be selected to play the main lead role and heroine in the play.
Therefore, if their partner gave a poor performance, it would tarnish their own evaluation.
The performance evaluation will be in pairs – since they will be paired, not only their own abilities will be important, but naturally, the abilities of their partners will also be given importance.
This audition, so to speak, tests not only acting ability, but also each student’s human qualities – their observational skills and negotiating skills.
The entertainment industry is a place where talent is just as important as communication skills.
It was an audition format that was so typical of that man, and it really brought out his bad personality.
“Onee-sama, Onee-sama, the script is being passed around, right?”
Perhaps because he was deep in thought, he didn’t seem to notice the student sitting in front of him handing him the script.
I bowed slightly to the student in front of me, apologizing, and took the script.
When I looked at the cover of the booklet I picked up, I saw the title of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Although it’s a very cliched script for a play, I think a story that everyone knows is more appropriate for a lecture at a civic center.
There’s nothing particularly wrong with this script choice.
“But William Shakespeare…”
That damn father had always loved Shakespeare’s stories.
Well, to put it simply, he was just an otaku.
A long time ago, when I went to see Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon in central England, I was incredibly excited.
That man was such a big fan of Shakespeare that it shocked both Rurika and me when we were children.
So… it makes sense that they chose ‘Romeo and Juliet’, one of Shakespeare’s masterpieces, as the play.
However, because judge Kyoichiro is a troublesome fan, if their interpretation of the main lead roles of Romeo and Juliet differs from his, the audition could become very chaotic.
Even though it is a story that everyone has loved for a long time and that everyone knows, it is difficult to understand the feelings of the characters who have come to a tragic end in their love and to act in detail.
It would be virtually impossible for a mere student with little life experience to fully play the roles of a man and a woman who love someone so deeply and experience such love that they decide to commit suicide.
To be honest, I would say it is a fairly difficult performance.
“Romeo and Juliet. If I remember correctly, it was about a man and woman born into warring families, who were at the mercy of the fate that surrounded them, and ended up committing suicide after a tragic love affair… That’s the kind of tragic love story it was, wasn’t it, Onee-sama?”
Honoka, who was sitting next to me, spoke up with a frown on her face and a troubled look on her face.
I nodded at her and opened my mouth.
“Yes, that’s right, Honoka-san. The story takes place in the 14th century Italian city of Verona. Romeo, born to the Montague family, and Juliet, born to the Capulet family, get caught up in a feud between their families, are at the mercy of the fate of the times, and meet a sad ending – a tragic story of love.”
“A love story… Ah, well, may I ask something in passing… Have you ever, Onee-sama, um… fallen in love…?”
“Eh, love? Well… it’s embarrassing to say, but I’ve never fallen in love with someone.”
“Oh, is that so?! That’s a relief…”
“Relief?”
“Ahhh!! N-n-n-n, it’s nothing!!”
For some reason, Honoka’s eyes started spinning around in a panic.
While tilting my head at her, I turned my gaze forward to check my surroundings.
Apparently, everyone is already busy looking for a partner.
They stood up and each called out to the person they wanted to pair up with.
From what I can see, it seems like a lot of students are calling out to Akane, who is already an accomplished actress.
Also, a student who said during her self-introduction the other day that she belongs to a famous production company seems to be popular.
Naturally, being the only amateur in the class, not a single person spoke to me.
I knew it was coming, but to be honest, it just makes me feel really sad.
Seeing this situation brings back memories of when I was in elementary school and was left out of the group assignments and had to pair up with a teacher…
It’s as if they’re implicitly saying that they don’t even care about me, and it hurts so much, uuuh…
[Sob sob… I guess I’m definitely a leftover… This situation feels like past trauma is being dug up…]
“Um! Onee-sama!”
[But it’s alright. Since that man was going to be a judge, I was planning to be very careful with this audition. Karen had told me that beforehand, so it’s fine even if I’m alone…sniff. We’ll pair up the remaining people later…]
“Oh, Onee-sama! Would you be so kind as to pair up with me?”
As I was holding back tears at the sight unfolding before my eyes, Honoka made this suggestion to me.
I couldn’t help but exclaim “Huh?” in surprise.
“Honoka-san… Did you just say that you wanted to pair up with me?”
“Yes! But is that not okay…?”
Honoka spoke with a somewhat nervous look on her face.
Seeing her like that, I straightened my posture, put on a serious expression and spoke.
“Honoka-san, do you really understand what that means? I’m just an amateur, you know? If you team up with someone like that, I’m sure it will hurt your audition results. Sympathy will only lead to you getting into trouble.”
In her self-introduction yesterday, Honoka said that she had experience being a member of a professional theater troupe.
Considering her background, I’d say she’s a much more worthy partner than me in this class.
Honoka swallowed hard at the suspicious gaze she was getting, and then, with a tense look on her face, she quietly opened her mouth.
“…It’s not that I feel sorry for you or anything. I honestly think that you’re not a ordinary person.”
“Am I not an ordinary person…?”
“Yes. This morning, when you saved me from a thug. Without a moment’s change of expression, Onee-sama beat up the man. Even when she saw the man on his knees in fear, neither anger nor pity was visible on Onee-sama’s face. She simply said that she had won because she deserved to. She looked down at the loser as if that was only natural. –When I looked into those cold eyes, I was a little scared, to be honest.”
After saying that, Honoka put her hand to her chest, took a breath, and then gave a small smile.
“But at the same time, I admired your sister’s unwavering, dignified presence. From a young age, I was shy and didn’t like to stand out. I was once a member of a theater company where my mother was the leader, but I never stood in the spotlight. I always only played supporting roles, standing on the sidelines and saying a few lines.”
“……”
“My mother was by no means a great actress; she was just an unsuccessful actress doing a bit of acting in a small theater company. But… when she stood in the spotlight, she was always dazzling and shining. So I wanted to be a presence as dazzling as that. I wanted to carry myself with dignity and be a cool heroine… just like the strong-looking older sister I saw this morning.”
“I’m not some cool heroine or anything.”
“No. You are very cool, Onee-sama. Whether you are an amateur actress or not, to me the ideal girl is you, Kaede Kisaragi-san…”
As she said that, Honoka looked straight at me, her eyes not wavering a single bit.
I can’t believe that Honoka would think that much of a pervert dressed as a woman…I can only feel so sorry for her.
I let out a short sigh, locked eyes with Honoka, and smiled back at her.
“…I understand. Either way, I’m sure I’ll end up being a leftover. If you’re okay with me, let’s pair up, Honoka-san.”
When I called out to her, Honoka flashed a dazzling smile.
