Sweet and Savoury at the Cafe

Cafe, Afternoon

Keiji, Jun, and Kaoru are sat in a cafe. Keiji and Jun are seated on one side and Kaoru is sat across them on the other. Keiji has his arms crossed and has an impatient expression. Kaoru has her hands on her legs and looks both embarrassed and angry. Jun looks at the two of them with concern.

There is a quiet moment as they all sit in silence.

Keiji: “You’re really not going to say anything?”

Kaoru gives Keiji an annoyed glare.

Kaoru: “What’s there to say, idiot?”

Keiji: “Well, I get that women can’t do Kabuki, but surely the training centre could’ve made an exception for you.”

Kaoru: “What makes you think the higher-ups would give a crap?”

Keiji: “I mean, you’re pretty good, aren’t you?”

Kaoru becomes angry and passionate.

Kaoru: “Pretty good?! Pick a play. Any play. I know every single line— every intonation and gesture. I know the way the actors are staged and the movement of each of their choreographies. I am better at Kabuki than every other student in that place. Why do they have the right and not me?!”

Keiji and Jun look at Kaoru with surprise. They are taken aback by Kaoru’s passionate rant.

Kaoru calms herself down. Under the table, her fists tighten around the fringes of her dress.

Kaoru: “I can work twice as hard, train for twice as long, and still I will get nothing. Still, nobody will accept me.”

Keiji is sympathetic to her struggles. He folds his arms and nods slightly in agreement.

Keiji: “It’s the same with everything. It’s always the old men at the top who make it hell for the ones that don’t fit in.”

Kaoru glares at Keiji.

Kaoru: “It’s not just the higher-ups. It’s everything. It’s the audience. It’s people, and it’s you two as well.”

Keiji and Jun appear hurt. Kaoru becomes more impassioned. She looks at Keiji.

Kaoru: “You especially. You have no idea how lucky you are. You can do Kabuki without hiding a single thing about yourself. You have everything I ever wanted, and you don’t even appreciate it.”

Kaoru’s eyes glare with ferocity.

Kaoru: “So don’t sit there and pretend you know anything about what it’s like for me. Neither of you could possibly understand—”

A giant parfait is placed on the table, right in front of Kaoru. It’s an incredibly feminine item, with plenty of whipped cream, strawberries, bits of chocolate, and cookie pieces that are designed to look like cute animals.

The waitress who put it there steps back. She speaks with a polite smile.

Waitress: “This is your Berry Berry Strawberry Shortcake Parfait (ベリーベリーストロベリーショートケーキパフェ).”

Kaoru’s face goes entirely red with embarrassment. She is so shocked and shaken, she can’t get a single word out.

Finally, Kaoru manages to get her words out, full of a mix of anger and embarrassment.

Kaoru: “I-I-I didn’t order this! The waitress must’ve given me the wrong thing. Waitress! Waitress—”

Jun (Off-panel): “Kaoru.”

Kaoru turns to look at Jun. He smiles reassuringly at her. He has a very trustworthy feeling to him. In front of Jun, he has the exact same parfait. He has ordered the same item and feels no shame or embarrassment for it.

Jun: “It’s okay.”

Kaoru cowers in her seat. She calms down from Jun’s reassurance and feels less embarrassed for ordering her parfait.

Keiji’s order hasn’t arrived yet. He speaks with an innocent curiosity.

Keiji: “Why don’t you do other acting jobs instead? Like being an actress on TV or in a movie. It’d be a lot easier, and with your skills, you’d be pretty good at it.”

Kaoru stares back at Keiji blankly. She speaks without anger, embarrassment, or shame. She speaks with pride. She speaks as if the answer were obvious.

Kaoru: “Because I love Kabuki.”

Keiji and Jun both look impressed by Kaoru’s genuine love and determination.

Kaoru gathers her strength and will. She breathes deeply. Then, she bows her head. She doesn’t want to, and it makes her very uncomfortable to show such vulnerability to Keiji, whom she despises. Still, she forces herself to do it.

Kaoru: “Please don’t tell the training centre about this.”

Keiji and Jun look at Kaoru’s bow. Jun glances over to Keiji, concerned about how he would react.

Keiji has a plain and completely unbothered expression. He doesn’t even think about it for a second. He is not judging Kaoru whatsoever. He doesn’t have any ill intent towards her.

Keiji: “Okay.”

Kaoru raises her head. She is suspicious of how easy that was.

Kaoru: “Okay? That’s it? You’re not going to make fun of me or make me do things for you?”

Keiji: “Nope.”

Kaoru looks shocked.

Kaoru: “Why?”

Keiji just shrugs.

Keiji: “If the training centre will let an idiot delinquent like me be a student, why shouldn’t they let you?”

Kaoru’s eyes widen.

Keiji speaks with sincerity.

Keiji: “Besides. You can’t help loving what you love.”

Kaoru has a slight blush on her cheeks. She looks away. Deep down, she is happy that someone understands her, but she is too prideful to let Keiji know.

Jun is looking at Keiji, although Keiji doesn’t notice. Jun has a subtle smile. He clearly admires Keiji, and his kindness and empathy. He is falling ever deeper in love with him.

The waitress comes to their table carrying something. Her body covers the panel in such a way that we cannot see what it is. She places the item in front of Keiji.

Kaoru pulls herself out of her stupor. She tries to change the conversation.

Kaoru: “S-so. What did you order?”

The waitress steps away. Keiji holds up a large mug of foaming beer. Keiji doesn’t look surprised or concerned. He answers as if he orders beer all the time and as if he isn’t breaking the law.

Keiji: “Beer.”

Jun and Kaoru stare at him with shock. Their mouths were open agape with surprise.

Kaoru looks concerned and slightly afraid.

Kaoru: “Endo-san, how old are you?”

Keiji replies casually and normally.

Keiji: “Eighteen.”

Kaoru looks like she thinks Keiji is an idiot.

Kaoru: “You know the legal drinking age in Japan is twenty, right?”

Title card: Onnagata. Episode 7.

Outside the cafe, City, Sunset

Keiji, Jun, and Kaoru stand outside the cafe. The sun is setting. There is a warm orange colour to everything, giving the atmosphere a sense of nostalgia, romance, and innocence.

Keiji and Jun stand together, facing Kaoru. Jun has a little bit of whipped cream on his cheek.

Kaoru: “The performance is happening really soon. You’ll have to practise really hard or else you won’t be ready in time.”

Keiji smirks.

Keiji: “Oh, don’t you worry. I’ll be ready.”

Kaoru glares at him.

Kaoru: “You better be. If you’re not, I’ll kill you.”

She turns to leave.

Kaoru: “See you later then.”

Keiji and Jun both raise a hand to wave goodbye.

Keiji: “See ya.”

Jun: “Goodbye!”

The two watch Kaoru walk away. There is a moment between them.

Jun: “Alright. Shall we go back?”

Keiji: “I want to go back to the training centre and do a little more practise.”

Jun: “Practising too much is bad for you, too. You should take it easier.”

Keiji: “I can’t. Not when the performance is so soon.”

Keiji notices the cream on Jun’s cheek. He reaches a hand over to wipe it.

Keiji: “You have a little cream on your cheek.”

Keiji puts his hand close to Jun’s cheek. Jun blushes from how close it is.

Keiji wipes away the cream and licks it off his finger. He does so in a casual way, as if he doesn’t realise its romantic undertones.

Jun blushes.

Jun: “You have something on your face, too.”

Keiji is surprised.

Keiji: “Really?”

Keiji reaches for his face, as if wanting to wipe it off.

Keiji: “Where?”

Suddenly, Jun leans in.

The setting sun is beautiful as it lowers beneath the tall skyscrapers. It casts long shadows behind Keiji and Jun, whose faces are cut off by the panel.

There is a long moment. Finally, Jun pulls back.

Keiji’s expression is one of surprise. Jun is lightly blushing.

Jun is determined, despite his embarrassment.

Jun: “I love you, Keiji.”

Keiji tries to say something, but he can’t manage to get his words out.

Jun: “You don’t have to love me back. You don’t even have to say anything. I just…I want you to know how I feel.”

Keiji is thinking. There is a gentle aura between the two of them as they stand on the empty sidewalk.

Keiji: “Can you…give me a little time?”

Jun pauses. Then, he smiles and nods.