The Space Between Us

Scene 1 – A New Formation (3 min)

In the morning, after the bell rings, Shiroyama arrives late to class. To his surprise, Mizuki, Hana, and Arai are already there, as if their budding group had formed without any formal discussion. Shiroyama sits next to them without trying to talk, but he notices that their presence doesn't bother him. They're just there.

In class, the teacher announces a group project. Shiroyama expects to be left out again, but to his surprise, Mizuki raises his hand and suggests that they work together as a group.

Mizuki:
"Why not team up, Shiroyama? It could be fun."

Shiroyama (thinking for a moment, with a faint smile):
"Why not..."

The group is formed, but the dynamic feels different. Shiroyama starts to realize he might not be as alone as he thought.

Scene 2 – First Exchanges (4 min)

While working on the group project, Mizuki suggests a topic related to movies and pop culture. Arai, excited, jumps in with a flurry of film suggestions. Hana, as usual, observes silently, but her eyes shine with visible curiosity. Shiroyama remains mostly quiet, but occasionally offers insightful comments. Gradually, he starts engaging more—without even noticing.

Arai:
"What if we talk about the impact of horror films on society?"

Shiroyama (thoughtfully):
"It might be more complex than that, if we dig into the psychological side."

Arai frowns, intrigued, then nods.

Arai:
"Not bad, I like that!"

Mizuki seems increasingly at ease, finding common ground with Shiroyama. Hana eventually starts taking notes, and the atmosphere becomes more collaborative.

Scene 3 – Lunch Break, Growing Bonds (3 min)

During lunch break, the group gathers on the rooftop, as usual. Shiroyama begins to relax more, making conversation easier. Arai talks about his favorite movies, Mizuki recounts a ridiculous story from an online video, and Hana finally joins in—calmly but surprisingly—with her take on a film Arai mentioned.

Hana:
"That film... it's more a metaphor for fear. But what's interesting is that the characters don’t actually evolve."

The others look at her, surprised. Shiroyama, though he doesn’t say much, starts to see another side of Hana—one he hadn’t noticed before.

Shiroyama (thoughtful):
"Maybe that’s what makes the film so fascinating... the idea of stagnation."

Hana gives him a small smile, and a kind of quiet mutual understanding begins to take shape.

Scene 4 – The Group Presentation (4 min)

A few days later, the project is finished. The group presents their work to the class. Shiroyama speaks with ease—his tone calm and direct, yet his passion comes through. Mizuki adds details about the chosen films, Arai contributes with enthusiasm, and Hana offers sharp critiques that surprise everyone, especially the teacher, who seems impressed by the depth of their analysis.

Teacher (impressed):
"You really worked as a team... this is surprising! It’s very coherent and well thought-out."

The group exchanges satisfied looks. For the first time, Shiroyama smiles a little, though he tries to stay composed. He’s not used to feeling proud of school achievements, but he’s starting to understand that sometimes it's not just about grades. Sometimes, it's simply the joy of doing something together.

Scene 5 – Confrontation with the Class Rep (4 min)

Back in class, just as things seem calm, the model class representative—ever the perfectionist—turns once more to Shiroyama. She seems irritated by his laid-back attitude.

Class Rep:
"Group work is all well and good, but you still haven’t changed. Laziness never got anyone anywhere."

Shiroyama looks at her calmly, unbothered.

Shiroyama:
"No need to rush. I never said I wanted to go fast."

The class rep’s gaze is sharp, but Shiroyama remains unfazed. For him, it's not about performance—it’s about personal rhythm. And he’s starting to accept that the group forming around him, though unexpected, gives him a kind of balance.

Scene 6 – Evening Reflection (2 min)

That evening, Shiroyama is alone in his room, thoughts drifting through his head. He gazes out the window at the city blossoming under the twilight.

Voiceover (Shiroyama):
"Maybe that’s what life is. Not being the best, but accepting being with those around you... even if you weren’t ready for it."

He turns toward the window with a soft smile forming on his lips. He hasn’t found his place yet—but for the first time, he wonders if he really needs to.

Final line:
"Sometimes, being surrounded isn’t a choice... but that doesn’t make the choice any less interesting."