Date at the Theatre

Kabuki Training Centre, Classroom, Early Afternoon

Keiji has just finished another run-through of his routine. He is hunched over, breathing deeply. His forehead is laced with sweat, and he has clearly worked incredibly hard. Jun watches from the side.

Jun claps.

Jun: “Amazing work, Endo-kun. You’re improving so quickly.”

Keiji shakes his head, still hunched and panting.

Keiji: “No…it’s just enough. I’m still not good enough.”

Jun: “I think you’re doing amazingly well. Really.”

Keiji stands straight. He has a determined expression.

Keiji: “Do you really think that? Do you honestly believe my performance is good enough as it is?”

Jun just stares at Keiji for a moment. He closes his eyes and smiles slightly.

Jun: “I guess not.”

Keiji steps towards Jun. He is desperate to get better.

Keiji: “Then what am I missing?”

Jun thinks about the question. Then, his smile widens. He looks at Keiji.

Jun: “Are you free on the weekend?”

Title card: Onnagata. Episode 7.

Outside Streets, Kabuki Theatre, City, Early morning

Keiji is walking through the city in his street clothes. He looks at a map on his phone, then glances around. He is clearly looking for someone or something.

Keiji finally sees Jun in the distance, right outside a Kabuki Theatre. Jun is also dressed in street clothes. Compared to Keiji, who dresses in a very modern and sleek style, Jun is much more conservative in the way he dresses. Jun also dresses in a slightly feminine manner.

The Theatre has boards outside that are covered with posters for different Kabuki performances.

Keiji is about to wave at Jun when he notices that he’s talking to a girl. The girl is young and their age. They almost look like a couple.

Keiji’s expression darkens. He becomes annoyed, even angry, at the sight. He is deathly jealous.

Jun notices Keiji and smiles brightly. He waves at Keiji excitedly, then turns to the girl to say something. The girl nods in return and steps away, waving goodbye. With that, the girl leaves.

Keiji walks up to Jun, still a little annoyed.

Keiji: “Who was that?”

Jun is oblivious to Keiji’s annoyance.

Jun: “Oh, she’s just a friend from school.”

Keiji tries to hide his annoyance, but he’s very bad at it.

Keiji: “Are you two…dating?”

Jun laughs as if Keiji has made a silly joke.

Jun: “I’m not into girls, you know.”

Keiji appears visibly relieved. He breathes a sigh of relief. It’s subtle, and even he himself doesn’t quite realise it.

Keiji looks Jun up and down, taking in his clothing. This is the first time he has seen Jun in casual clothes.

Keiji: “You have a great sense of style. If I’d known, I would’ve dressed a little nicer.

Jun blushes slightly

Jun: “You look great too, Endo-kun.”

Keiji blushes in return. He turns to the theatre and tries to divert the conversation towards it.

Keiji: “So what is this place?”

He glances at some of the Kabuki posters on the boards.

Jun: “It’s a theatre famous for hosting Kabuki plays.”

Keiji seems impressed.

Keiji: “Wow, that’s cool.”

Jun: “I bought us tickets to watch a play here today.”

Keiji: “Eh? That’s great.”

It takes Keiji a moment to realise what Jun said. He turns to Jun frantically.

Keiji: “Wait, aren’t tickets super expensive?! I can’t accept a gift like that!”

Jun laughs.

Jun: “It’s okay. These tickets were super cheap.”

Keiji gives Jun a confused look.

Kabuki Theatre, City, Early morning

Lights shine on the stage. The play is in motion. On centre stage, there is an actor dressed in a colourful ornate kimono, typical of heroic Aragoto Kabuki characters, but he is also wearing a heroic mask similar to the protagonists from Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー).

On the other side of the stage is a villain, also dressed in ornate Aragoto style and wearing bright face paint. He wears a large prop squid hat over his head with tentacles that come down like hair.

Mighty Kamen (強大仮面): “Emperor Squid (イカ帝), your evil has gone on long enough!”

Mighty Kamen holds a sword in one hand and strikes a powerful Genroku Mie (元禄見得).

Mighty Kamen: “By my sword, I will vanish thee!”

The crowd roars with cheers and applause. The crowd is mostly full of children, who are nevertheless passionate for the play and watching on with wide smiles.

Child 1: “You can do it, Mighty Kamen (強大仮面)!”

Child 2: “Beat him up, Mighty Kamen (強大仮面)!”

Near the back, Keiji and Jun are sat amongst the audience. Keiji turns to Jun with a very confused expression.

Keiji: “Ichikawa-san, what am I supposed to learn from this?”

Jun smiles back.

Jun: “I’ll tell you after the show.”

Keiji seems unsatisfied with that reply, but he nevertheless sits back in his seat and continues watching.

Initially, Keiji seems bored watching the performance, but very quickly, he starts getting interested in the story. He puts his full attention to the show. As the story progresses, Keiji’s expression changes to match each scene’s tone.

Keiji’s expression turns to annoyance and anger.

Emperor Squid (Off-panel): “You will never win now, Mighty Kamen! I cannot be defeated!”

Keiji’s expression is now one of sadness. He is on the verge of tears.

Side Character (Off-panel): “Mighty Kamen, you can’t lose! You carry the hopes and dreams of all who love you!”

Keiji’s expression shifts to one of excitement and joy. He holds up a fist as if in silent celebration.

Might Kamen (Off-panel): “You can’t run away from justice! Your end is now! Transform! (Henshin, 変身).

Jun watches Keiji’s face intently and with a warm smile. Keiji doesn’t notice as he is too engrossed with the play.

Jun’s expression conveys that he is beginning to fall in love with Keiji. Jun glances down at Keiji’s hand. Jun extends a hand over to Keiji’s. Just as their hands are about to touch, Keiji moves his away to clap. Jun pulls his hand back and looks away, embarrassed.

The play is finished, and the crowd claps rigorously. Keiji is also clapping excitedly.

Jun smiles, pretending like nothing happened.

Jun: “How do you feel?”

Keiji looks at Jun with a joyous expression.

Keiji: “That was awesome. I’m surprised it was so good. I thought it would’ve been bad.”

Jun: “Because it’s for kids or because it’s not a traditional Kabuki play?”

Keiji: “Both, I suppose.”

Jun looks towards the stage. He looks contemplative.

Jun: “Kabuki is Kabuki. One shouldn’t be seen as less than the other. Kabuki plays aren’t good because they’re traditional and they aren’t bad because there’s not. There’s something to be learnt from everything, right?”

Keiji nods along. Everything Jun says makes sense to him, but Keiji isn’t quite sure what his point is.

Keiji: “Right. But what am I supposed to have learnt from all this?”

Jun thinks about it for a moment, still looking towards the stage.

Jun: “When it’s for a TV or movie, it’s easy for a camera to capture every little emotion an actor conveys. You can be subtle without any of your acting being lost. But as theatre actors, we don’t have the luxury of subtlety.”

Jun continues as the stage actors have come on stage to bow.

Jun (Off-panel): “Every action we make must be bold and grand and unmistakable.”

The actor playing Emperor Squid waves at the audience, smiling.

Jun (Off-panel): “If we are evil, we must be completely vile and despicable.”

The actor playing Mighty Kamen is also waving at the audience with a smile.

Jun (Off-panel): “If we are a hero, then we must be the bravest and most heroic of all.”

Jun looks back at Keiji with a kind smile.

Jun: “We must embody the very extremes of all things, big and small.”

Keiji’s eyes widen, as if he suddenly understands what Jun is saying. His understanding of Kabuki has increased drastically.

Keiji: “I think I’m starting to get what you mean.”

Keiji smiles excitedly.

Keiji: “I’m excited to go back and try it out myself!”

Jun smiles in return. The two get up from their seats. Keiji stretches his arms a bit.

Jun: “Ready to go back?”

Keiji: “Yep.”

Jun turns to leave. Keiji glances down into the audience and notices something. Keiji bends over to get a better look. He narrows his eyes.

In one of the rows of the audience below, there is Kaoru, smiling happily. However, instead of her usual masculine clothes, Kaoru is dressed in a very feminine dress.

Keiji’s expression is one of complete shock and surprise. He cannot believe his eyes.

Keiji: “Kaoru?!”

Kaoru looks up, confused. She sees Keiji, and her face goes red. She has a very embarrassed expression.