The scene of Yuji wasn’t simple, but it wasn’t too difficult either.
It was the scene following the one of Kobayashi Ryuki.
Because Ryoya had taught those kids who bullied his younger sister a lesson, the parents of those kids came looking for trouble.
To punish Ryoya and Junko, the stepmother locked Ryoya and the others into a confined and narrow closet…
To say it is simple is because older brother Ryoya doesn’t actually have that many lines in this scene.
And to say it is difficult is because older brother Ryoya has quite a few close-ups of expressions and physical movements in this scene.
Therefore, this scene is a considerable test of a child actor’s Acting.
But Yuji on stage didn’t think that much.
Only after the staff member emotionlessly read the lines “Brother, are we really going to leave?”
Yuji directly started.
He didn’t need adjustment like Kobayashi Ryuki.
Nor did he need to brew his own emotions.
When he opened his eyes.
All emotions were as natural as mercury pouring onto the ground.
“Of course.” His voice paused.
Ryoya, played by Yuji, lowered his head.
When he raised his head again.
His large eyes were filled with a gentle light, as if right beside him, there truly was a younger sister clinging tightly to him, her body shivering and uneasy about the future.
“…But I’m so scared.” The previously expressionless staff member froze for a moment, then reacted and continued to act alongside Yuji.
Only this time, that emotionless voice seemed exceptionally gentle and soft.
“Don’t be afraid, Brother will always be with you, Junko.”
Yuji smiled.
His smile was bright and sunny.
Yet his body was trembling slightly.
Because Ryoya was actually very scared too.
Just like his younger sister, he was only a child of eight or nine years old.
He also didn’t understand whether his choice was right or wrong.
But the responsibility of being an older brother made him know that he must shoulder the responsibility of protecting his younger sister.
Therefore, even though his body trembled, the smile on his face remained gentle.
“But…
Brother…” Junko beside him gently raised her face, her petite face endearing, as if she still wanted to say something.
But she was interrupted by a fit of intense coughing from Yuji.
The night was deep.
The closet only revealed a single crack.
Moonlight poured in from outside this narrow crack.
The dust-filled closet, compounded by his already malnutrition and the frail lungs of a child, made him cough lightly without stopping.
Yet even so, the palm with which Ryoya grasped his younger sister’s hand still did not loosen.
Time seemed to have stopped at this moment.
Inside the narrow closet.
Yuji and Junko closed their eyes.
she and him huddled closely together…
As if clinging to each other’s tiny world…
Everyone fell silent at this moment.
Their eyes widened slightly.
This is the spacious audition venue.
This is not that narrow, enclosed, and oppressive closet.
This is something everyone present understands.
But why…?
Their gazes…
How come they just couldn’t move away from that child actor whose name they had never heard of before?
…
Yamashita Keiji actually didn’t understand at all.
Yes.
Completely didn’t understand.
Clearly he had long known that the role had already been pre-determined.
Clearly knowing that even if he was one of the production team’s iron triangle, he couldn’t change this matter.
“But why…?”
Yamashita Keiji took off his glasses.
Before he knew it, his eyes were already brimming with tears.
Knowing so much, yet why was he still so moved beyond measure by the Acting of the child actor before him?
No…
Perhaps he had known the answer long ago.
He looked up at Yuji.
Because the other party was wholeheartedly interpreting the script he had written!
He just wanted to see this scene, wanted to see the characters from his pen vividly displayed before him, which was why he worked so hard to enter the industry.
What’s even more crucial is.
The Acting of the child actor named Yuji before him seemed to carry something else.
There was a strong, vivid emotion!
Through the script, through that near-perfect Acting, it transmitted into the heart of Yamashita Keiji, the creator.
“Choose me.”
He was saying this through his Acting.
His eyes, his lips, between every gesture and movement—
All seemed to be saying this.
His mind and body were strongly expressing this emotion!
That was an incomparably strong!
Incomparably vivid emotion!
“Choose me!”
But—
Looking at that child actor who looked like a star.
Yamashita Keiji lowered his face in shame.
For the first time, a feeling of guilt arose towards a child actor.
I’m sorry…
I’m sorry.
I cannot choose you.
…
Off stage.
Sakurajima Mai only felt goosebumps break out all over her body.
She looked at Yuji on stage with a stunned expression.
At this moment, she finally understood the meaning of Yuji’s sentence ‘try my best to do my best’.
Because at least now…
At this very moment.
He who stood upon the audition stage.
Was simply shining with brilliance all over!
Like a true star!
That dazzling Acting, as if wanting to express everything about himself, made even her, a child actor known as a ‘genius’, feel a sense of inferiority and self-abasement.
This point could be seen from the audition venue that had completely quieted down.
Everyone was quiet, watching Yuji on stage.
At this moment, they were all captives.
Captives of Yuji’s Acting alone!
“This really is…”
Sakurajima Mai only felt her throat dry, somewhat stunned and not knowing how to evaluate it.
But a sound suddenly rang out beside her.
She subconsciously looked over, only to find that at some point, the red-haired Kana’s wine-red eyes were full of tears.
Crystal clear teardrops.
At this moment, they were constantly welling up from her eye sockets.
“Kana-chan…
You…” Sakurajima Mai felt a bit strange.
Why was Kana crying?
Why did she have to show such a sad expression?
Didn’t she have a great chance of getting the lead role?
But soon, this question had an answer.
“He acts so well.”
Raising her head, tears couldn’t stop welling up from her eye sockets.
“With such superb Acting, just how much hardship did he have to endure, and how many times did he have to practice?” she said.
Her originally childish and cute voice became hoarse, and she gripped her skirt tightly.
Hearing these words, Sakurajima Mai was stunned, followed by silence.
She raised her head and looked at Yuji in the center of the stage.
Yeah…
Acting so well…
As an actor herself, she almost dared not imagine.
This kind of Acting…
Just how many times did one have to flip through the script?
And how much effort and hard work did it require?
But why?
Such a hard-working person couldn’t get the results he deserved?
Sakurajima Mai’s gaze towards Kana became gentle.
For a long time, her impression of Kana had actually been quite ordinary, feeling that she was just a rather willful child.
But now…
While everyone else was amazed by Yuji’s Acting,
she alone was shedding tears—not just moved by his captivating Acting, but feeling even more aggrieved for all the effort he had put in without reward.
“You really are such a kind and gentle child.”
At that moment, ten-year-old Sakurajima Mai took on the responsibility of an elder.
She gently pulled the uncontrollably weeping Kana into her embrace.
“Cry if you want to.
But no matter what the final result is…
at this moment…”
“…this stage belongs to Yuji-kun.”
Looking at the small figure in the middle of the audition stage,
Sakurajima Mai spoke quietly.