The Resolve to Persevere

Keiji’s Apartment, Kitchen, Early Morning

Keiji is in his apartment. He is in the kitchen, which is very small but humble and clean. The windows show that it is bright and early outside. There are even a couple of small pots of herbs growing on the windowsill.

Keiji is frying an egg in a frying pan. He is wearing an apron and looks confident and casual. He has cooked this dish many times before, and it is a normal occurrence to him.

Keiji also has a bit of gauze on his cheek and some bandages on his arm.

Keiji slides the egg off the frying pan and onto a piece of bread on a plate. He puts the plate on a tray, along with a cup of coffee, and brings it out of the kitchen.

Keiji’s Apartment, Living Room, Early Morning

Keiji walks into the living room. The way Keiji is framed blocks the view of the room. The room is dark, illuminated only by the light from the kitchen that crawls in through the open doorway.

Keiji places the tray on the ground. He has a slightly sad expression.

Keiji: “I’m going to head to class, Mum. Can you put the dishes into the sink when you’re finished?”

He waits for a reply, but none comes. Keiji turns to leave. As he leaves the living room, there’s a glimpse of the living room. Trash is piled high on the floor. Flies are swarming around. There are cigarette butts in ashtrays.

Title card: Onnagata. Episode 6.

Kabuki Training Centre, Classroom, Early Morning

The classroom is empty except for Keiji and Jun. They are both standing in their training kimonos.

Like Keiji, Jun also has a few bandages from the fall in episode 5.

Jun: “Now what’s very important for the main roles of Tsuchigumo (土蜘) is that they are done in an Aragoto style (荒事). Do you know what Aragoto means?”

Keiji shakes his head.

Jun: “To put it simply, Aragoto is a very bombastic and exaggerated style of acting. You use a lot of wild movements and dramatic mie (見え). I’ll show you the movements of the last scene, and you just copy me, okay?”

Keiji: “Okay.”

Jun picks up a thin stick to serve as his prop.

Jun: “Let’s see…Tsuchigumo…”

Jun begins a dance routine for the final scene of the play, where the spider spirit fights the retainer Hirai Yasumasa. The dance simulates the fight between Hirai Yasumasa and the spider spirit. Jun dances with a sense of drama and power, making each of the spider spirit’s movements seem so evil, without having to speak. Jun also makes an evil expression while doing the movements.

Keiji watches the dance with great intensity. As he watches, he sees the image of the spider spirit take over Jun. Jun’s dance has been so skilful, Keiji sees him as the character himself.

Keiji looks around. Not only does Keiji see Jun as the spider spirit, he can also see an image of Hirai Yasumasa and the other retainers fighting him. Through Jun’s dance, Keiji can see the other characters dancing with him too.

Keiji is absolutely amazed by Jun’s talent. When Jun finishes, Keiji claps loudly.

Keiji: “That’s amazing!”

Jun smiles.

Jun: “Thank you. You can do it too with just a little training.”

Keiji makes a doubtful expression. Can he really be just as good as Jun?

Jun: “C’mon, give it a try.”

Keiji takes up the stick and assumes the starting position.

Keiji: “I…I don’t think I can remember the whole dance.”

Jun: “That’s okay, I’ll guide you through it.”

Keiji begins the dance, moving through each position very slowly. He looks very unconfident and uncomfortable in the way he moves.

Keiji: “Like this?”

Jun: “Close. It’s more like this…”

Jun moves behind Keiji and presses himself against Keiji’s back. He puts his hand around Keiji’s arms and helps to reposition them.

Jun: “Your arms should be a little lower, and your back needs to be straight for this pose.”

Keiji’s face goes red.

Jun: “Do you get it?”

Keiji looks away and nods. Jun suddenly realises how close their bodies are, and blushes as well.

Jun steps away.

Jun: “Alright, let’s give it another try.”

Keiji goes through the dance slowly again. Jun watches intently.

Keiji stops in his pose. The dance has tired him out.

Keiji: “And then something like this?”

Jun: “Great job!”

Jun picks up the script and flips through it.

Jun: “Alright, I think we can move on to another scene now.”

Keiji (Off-panel): “No.”

Jun glances up from the script, confused.

Keiji has a fierce, determined look. He wipes the sweat from his brow.

Keiji: “I want to do that scene again. Please.”

Jun: “Why? The movements are fine. You’re already doing great.”

Keiji: “I don’t want to be great, I want to be perfect.”

Keiji looks at Jun with a determined expression.

Keiji: “My performance wasn’t even 1% as good as yours. I won’t stop practising until it’s at least 5%.”

Keiji bows.

Keiji: “Please.”

Jun smiles gently.

Jun: “Yeah, no problem.”

Keiji gets up. He smiles back, determined, and gets back into his starting pose. He practises the dance again, while Jun watches.

Jun watches intently, with a kindness in his eyes. He feels something more towards Keiji.

Jun: “Endo-kun.”

Keiji pauses his dance and glances up.

Jun: “I’m proud of you.”

Keiji is surprised and confused.

Keiji: ‘Why? I can’t even get this simple scene right.”

Jun: “For trying.”

Keiji has a slight blush. He averts Jun’s eyes and returns to his pose. The two continue to practise.