Reunion

Kabuki Training Centre, Hallway, Early morning

Keiji stands in front of the door to the classroom, his bag hung over his shoulder. His expression is one of mixed pain and anger. He is deciding if he will open the door. If he will even keep trying to be a Kabuki actor. He stares at the floor, frustrated.

Ōemon (Off-panel): “Not going in?”

Keiji turns around. Ōemon is standing behind him.

Keiji avoids Ōemon’s gaze.

Ōemon: “It’s hard, I know. And it’ll just get harder.”

Keiji almost hesitates to ask, but he pushes himself to say something.

Keiji: “Do I belong here, sensei?”

Ōemon has a gentle expression.

Ōemon: “That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourself, Endo-kun. I know I said on the first day that you need to find what drives you, but it’s also okay to not know yet. That’s what this training centre is for.”

Keiji thinks about Ōemon’s words.

Ōemon: “But, if you do decide to open that door, you’ll have to promise me to work hard today. Okay?”

Keiji doesn’t say anything. He moves out of the way as Ōemon comes up to the door. He puts a hand on the handle, about to open it, before turning back.

Ōemon: “Oh, and before I forget: there’s a dinner event tonight for the first and second-year students to meet each other. It’s optional, but it’ll be nice to meet your senpais.”

Keiji is suddenly filled with energy. His expression turns from sadness to excitement. He is barely holding back his newfound eagerness.

Keiji: “Will she be there?!”

Title card: Onnagata. Episode 4.

Restaurant, Late night

A second-year student stands at the head of the table. He raises a glass of soda and speaks.

Second-year student: “Hello everyone, thanks for coming. On behalf of your senpais, I just wanted to welcome all you first years to the Kabuki training centre. If you ever need help with anything, you’re always welcome to rely on us. Let’s get along, and I hope you guys have a good year. Cheers!”

All the first and second-year students are sitting around two or three tables joined together. The table is covered with plates of various foods. There are about fourteen people in total. Half of them are sat on a bench against the wall, while the other half across the table has chairs. Everyone, except Keiji, raises their glasses and cheers.

Everyone except Keiji: “Cheers!”

Keiji is sat at the very end of the table, on the bench. He holds his drink, but he didn’t join the cheers. He looks around, turning his head from side to side. He is clearly looking for someone.

Keiji (Narration): “So she’s not here.”

Keiji has a disappointed look. He breathes deeply, then gathers his determination. He’s already here, so he might as well make the best of it.

Keiji turns to the student closest to him. He tries to make a friendly face.

Keiji: “Hey there. My name is Keiji Endo, it’s good to meet you.”

The student very half-heartedly replies. He is clearly not too interested in talking with Keiji.

Student 1: “It’s good to meet you, too.”

Keiji: “Have you guys been interested in Kabuki for a long time? Cause I just—”

The student turns away. It is not in a directly malicious way, but there is a clear sense that Keiji is being ignored.

Keiji looks confused, but he doesn’t let it deter him. He turns to the students across from him and tries to join in on their conversation.

Student 2: “I was really excited to act in Renjishi (連獅子), but it’s so much harder than it looks!”

Student 3: “No kidding. I watched it last year and I thought it looked so easy, but actually doing it is hard as hell.”

Keiji tries to awkwardly join in on the conversation. He attempts to speak in a joking and friendly way

Keiji: “You guys are finding Kabuki hard too? Man, I have no clue what I’m doing half the time!”

The two students purposefully ignore Keiji. Keiji is confused. What’s going on? Why is he being ignored?

Keiji looks around. The faces of the people around him shift into evil dark silhouettes. In Keiji’s mind, the students are making fun of him behind his back.

Keiji (Narration): “Ah. I see.”

Keiji’s expression saddens. He remembers back to his time in high school.

Classroom, High School, Dark and twisted flashback

A small group of students, whose faces are also warped into malicious and distorted shadows, laugh and mock Keiji.

Classmate 1: “Looks like Keiji didn’t come to class today.”

Classmate 2: “Again? Where is he going to go deal drugs this time?”

Classmate 3: “He must really want to fail the finals.”

Classmate 4: “Not like the idiot would pass even if he did come.”

Restaurant, Late night

Keiji closes his eyes, his head low.

Keiji (Narration): “It’s happening again.”

He opens his eyes. There’s a mixture of annoyance and sadness. He reaches for a dish of food and starts to eat.

Keiji (Narration): “Whatever. I don’t care”

He continues to eat, completely giving up on socialising. There is an anger in the way he’s eating.

Keiji (Narration): “I don’t care.”

His fingers wound tight around his fork.

Keiji (Narration): “I don’t care.”

A wide shot. Jun is standing right next to Keiji, who is too focused on his plate of food to have noticed. Jun is wearing casual clothes and he has a bag slung over one shoulder. He has a bright smile, and speaks to Keiji.

Jun: “Is it okay if I sit next to you?”

Keiji looks up, eyes wide, his mouth full of food. His face turns bright red. He blushes hard.

The students all look over to Jun. They have excited expressions.

Random Student 1: “Jun! I thought you had rehearsals.”

Jun smiles. He looks comfortable and gentle.

Jun: “I did but we finished early.”

Some of the other students chime in.

Random Student 2: “Ichikawa-san, would you like to sit with us?”

Random Student 3: “No senpai, sit with us!”

Jun gives a polite smile.

Jun: “Thank you, but it’s okay: I can just sit here.”

Jun looks down at Keiji.

Jun: “If that’s okay with you.”

Keiji struggles to speak. He is too flustered and surprised by Jun being here, let alone wanting to be next to him. Finally, Keiji moves a little, giving Jun a space to sit on the bench.

Jun: “Thank you.”

Jun smiles and sits down next to Keiji. There are a few looks of concern/disappointment/disapproval amongst the rest of the students. Keiji notices them, but Jun doesn’t. Or, at least he doesn’t seem to care.

Jun: “My name is Jun Ichikawa. It’s nice to meet you.”

Keiji’s face is still red. He still struggles to say something.

Keiji (Narration): “C’mon, Keiji, say something!”

Keiji stares into Jun’s face. He is beautiful. Perfect.

Keiji (Narration): “Anything!”

Wide-shot. Keiji speaks frankly but gently. It is a whisper. Nobody else hears it except for Jun.

Keiji: “You’re beautiful.”

Jun’s eyes go wide. There is an ever so slight blush across his cheeks.

Keiji’s face turns red again. He scrambles to correct himself.

Keiji: “Uh...I mean, I’m Keiji Endo. It’s nice to meet you.”

Jun smiles sweetly. Then, he has an expression of realisation.

Jun: “Oh! You’re the guy at my performance last time! So you’re doing Kabuki now, huh? That’s awesome!”

Keiji is feeling more comfortable talking to Jun now, though he’s still nervous. He avoids Jun’s eyes while he speaks.

Keiji: “I wanted to do Kabuki...because of you.”

Jun smiles genuinely this time. He smiles, as if the prior smiles he gave to the rest of the students were fake.

Jun: “I’m so happy to hear that.”

Jun: “Were you a big Kabuki fan before?”

Keiji: “Not...not really.”

Keiji looks afraid. He doesn’t want to be judged by Jun.

Jun: “Oh, that’s awesome! It’s great whenever we have new people in this community.”

Keiji becomes more and more comfortable. Ever since he’s come to the training centre, everyone has judged him and made fun of his inexperience. Jun is the first person in the school to be truly nice to him.

Jun: “Which plays have you watched before?

Keiji: “I’ve watched the One Piece Kabuki.”

Jun: “For real?! That one was so good!”

Keiji is in disbelief.

Keiji: “You watched it?”

Jun: “Watched it? I loved it!”

Keiji: “Seriously?”

Jun: “Oh yeah. It looks like its just for children at first, but they actually did Kabuki in such a way that it’s easily accessible to everyone, without losing on quality.”

Jun takes a drink.

Jun: “If you want, I can recommend you some other plays you might enjoy.”

Keiji: “Really?”

Jun and Keiji appear as if they are both enjoying themselves. Some of the other students glare at Keiji, annoyed that Jun is only interacting with him.

Keiji (Narration): “In just ten minutes, I felt as if I had known Jun for ten years. As if I had always known him, and these eighteen years had only been a dream.”

Keiji looks down at Jun’s hand. For a moment, he thinks about holding it. There’s a close-up of his hands moving towards Jun’s. Then, he stops. His hand curls into a fist. He pulls it back.

Keiji tries to awkwardly change the subject. He looks around.

Keiji: “So, uh, do you ever feel awkward about being the only girl in the training centre?”

Jun looks at Keiji. He is confused, but polite about it. He tilts his head slightly.

Jun: “What do you mean?”

Keiji: “Well because...”

Keiji glances around. He looks at the students, all of whom are male. He turns back to Jun, who is still waiting for him to explain. Keiji’s eyes slowly go downwards.

Keiji quickly looks back up.

Keiji (Narration): “Ah. I messed up.”