The Show Begins

Balcony, Keiji’s Apartment, Night

Keiji stands on his balcony overlooking the city. It is night, but the lights of the buildings illuminate everything with warmth.

Keiji has a cigarette between his fingers. He puts it between his lips, then breaths out a gust of smoke.

A figure comes out from the sliding window. It is Keiji’s mother. She is dressed in simple clothing, and her hair is messy, but otherwise her face is never seen.

Keiji’s mother stands next to Keiji, gazing out at the city.

Keiji wordlessly passes his mother his cigarette without looking at her. She takes it from his hand.

Keiji: “My show is tomorrow.”

Silence. Keiji’s mother takes a breath of the cigarette.

Keiji: “I have a free ticket since I’m part of the cast. If you want, I’ll give it to you.”

Keiji watches his mother, waiting for a reply.

Keiji’s mother breathes out a gust of smoke. Her hand hangs over the balcony fence, still holding the cigarette between her fingers.

Keiji’s Mother: “You’re wasting your time.”

Keiji’s expression sours.

Keiji’s Mother: “You should be studying for the supplementary exam, or applying for a trade school. You could even be working.”

Keiji’s Mother squashes the cigarette on the balcony railing.

Keiji’s Mother: “You can’t make a living with Kabuki. Not people like us.”

Keiji’s mother walks away.

Keiji has a saddened expression.

Title card: Onnagata. Episode 9.

Kabuki Theatre, Night

There is a large audience waiting for the play to start. The curtains are drawn over the stage.

Wings, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Ōemon takes a peek at the audience from a gap in the wings. He looks down at his watch.

Ōemon: “He wouldn’t run away, will he?”

Kaoru is standing backstage. She is in her costume as Hirai Yasumasa. Her hair is done, but her makeup isn’t. She has a calm yet confident expression, as if she has full faith in Keiji.

Kaoru: “He’ll show up.”

Ōemon turns back to face Kaoru.

Ōemon: “Hmph. Alright, go finish your makeup.”

Kaoru leaves. Just as she is gone, there is a loud bang backstage. Ōemon approaches the noise.

Keiji is on the floor, having just fallen over. Jun is standing behind him, breathing heavily. They are right in front of the door leading into the backstage.

Jun: “Sorry we’re late, sensei. We were doing some last-minute practice and lost track of time.”

Ōemon sighs. He looks down at Keiji, who is still on the floor.

Ōemon: “Are you ready, Endo-kun?”

Keiji staggers onto his hands and knees. He looks up with a confident smirk.

Keiji: “Hell yeah.”

Ōemon looks all over Keiji’s body. He notices the sweat across Keiji’s forehead. He notices the sweat soaked into Keiji’s shirt. He notices the dirt and creases on his sneakers. It’s clear that Keiji has been practising hard.

Ōemon smiles.

Ōemon: “Alright. Go get changed.”

Changing Rooms, Backstage, Kabuki Theatre, Night

Keiji enters the room. It’s a small room. Kaoru is sitting in a seat in front of the mirror, and there’s a make-up artist applying white paint to her face.

Kaoru speaks without looking at Keiji. She continues facing the mirror. There’s a hint of a smile in her reflection.

Kaoru: “You’re late.”

Keiji smirks.

Keiji: “I wanted to make you sweat a little.”

Keiji walks up to his costume, which is hung up on the wall. He stares at it with a vacant gaze and distant expression. He is clearly deep in thought about something else.

Kaoru watches Keiji through the mirror. She realises something is off about him.

Kaoru turns back to the make-up artist.

Kaoru: “I’m sorry, but is it okay if you give us a minute?”

The make-up artist leaves.

Kaoru spins around on her chair. Her face is almost fully covered with white paint.

Kaoru: “Are you okay? You’re not quite yourself today.”

Keiji continues to look at the costume, facing away from Kaoru.

Kaoru: “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to. I just don’t want anything to be bothering you when you’re on stage.”

Keiji thinks about it for a moment. Then, he turns around to face Kaoru.

Keiji: “Jun kissed me yesterday.”

Kaoru blushes. She has a surprised expression.

Kaoru: “Seriously?!”

Keiji nods.

Kaoru looks incredibly invested in Keiji and Jun’s relationship, though she tries to hide it. She has the energy of a schoolgirl asking about people’s crushes.

Kaoru: “So are you two like…together?”

Keiji thinks about it for a moment. He is clearly in conflict with himself.

Keiji: “I don’t know.”

Kaoru: “What do you mean that you don’t know?”

Keiji is flustered.

Keiji: “Well, uh, I guess not.”

Kaoru is doubtful. She stares at Keiji, waiting for a reply.

Keiji: “He confessed to me.”

Kaoru leans in excitedly.

Kaoru: “And then?!”

Keiji looks troubled.

Keiji: “And then…I asked him to give me some time to think about it.”

Kaoru is getting ever more interested and excited.

Kaoru: “So…?”

Keiji closes his eyes. His frustration is obvious.

Keiji: “I can’t reciprocate his feelings.”

Kaoru is shocked and disappointed.

Kaoru: “Why not? You obviously like him.”

Keiji averts his gaze. There’s a mix of defiance, anger, shame, and regret.

Keiji: “I’m not gay.”

Kaoru’s expression sours. She is clearly disappointed and annoyed by Keiji’s answer.

Keiji continues to speak, as if he is trying to convince himself as well. As he speaks, Kaoru gets angrier. She gets out of her seat and starts stomping towards Keiji.

Keiji: “I’m straight. I like women, alright? And Jun is…Jun is…”

Kaoru loosens the part of her costume near her chest. She gets up close to Keiji, who backs away in surprise.

Keiji slams against the wall. Kaoru puts a hand on the wall, right by his head. Her body is up close against Keiji, and they are almost touching.

Keiji has a surprised expression. What is happening?

Kaoru pulls down her kimono further.

Kaoru: “Am I turning you on?”

Keiji has a thoughtful expression. His eyes glance down at Kaoru’s cleavage, which is visible from the way she is bent and from her loosening her kimono. He glances back up at Kaoru. He has a genuine expression. He is not blushing at all. He feels no attraction towards Kaoru whatsoever.

Keiji: “No.”

Kaoru glares at him for a moment, then backs away. She pulls the kimono tight over her chest.

Kaoru: “If love were really as simple as being straight or gay, you would’ve felt something just then.”

Kaoru looks up at Keiji.

Kaoru: “But I’ve never seen a man look more bored staring at me.”

Kaoru starts walking towards the door.

Keiji looks apologetic.

Keiji: “Kaoru…”

Kaoru stops at the door. She turns back and smiles at Keiji. It’s the first genuine smile she has given him.

Kaoru: “You can’t help loving who you love.”

Keiji’s eyes widen with understanding and realisation.

Kaoru opens the door and leaves, leaving Keiji alone in the changing rooms.

Keiji’s expression shifts from one of doubt to one of emerging confidence. He is finally starting to accept his feelings for Jun as he stands proudly.

Right outside the changing rooms, Kaoru is leaning back against the door. She looks blankly for a moment, then brings her hand to her lips. She gently touches her lips and blushes. There is the slightest hint of a pained expression on her face. Did she actually like Keiji? Or is she starting to get feelings for him now?