0. Silence

EXT. OUTSIDE THE CROWDED HALLS - MORNING

Looking through a window, an unending number of people can be seen walking back and forth, keeping an order of which things flow.

Silent footsteps supposedly echo throughout the hall, each step with intention to be louder than before, but ultimately falling flat.

A man - MASARU, walks through the hall crowded with people, accompanied by the bag he keeps a tight grip on. He’s wearing a typical dark grey blazer, unbuttoned, revealing his black t-shirt underneath. The rest of his outfit consists of grey slacks, and brown dress shoes made of leather. His hair is kept as much as he can manage, but admittedly, he does need a haircut just in case the occasion he desperately fights for arrives.

As he starts to get lost in thought, he feels the vibration of his phone from his pocket.

MASARU

...

His mouth hangs open for a moment, but then brings his teeth down to bite on the corner of his lip, steadily turning it into a slight, worried, smile. He realizes he’s missed 7 messages, all from different people whose names he’s all too familiar with. Some of their profile pictures display them holding an instrument, each one different. A mixed display of hesitation and resolution appears in his eyes as he stops his pause, puts his phone back in his pocket, and continues down the hall.

INT. AUDITORIUM - MORNING

A great amount of vibrations can be felt as MASARU steps closer and closer to the door in front of him. It’s a basic door, large enough to have 1 person enter at a time, maybe even 2 if they walked in sideways. It’s weird though... Each step taken, the door seems to be increasing in size.

MASARU continues with an uncertain expression on his face, displaying a look that anyone would guess means he’ll turn around. The silence that at some point had gotten louder without him realizing is now starting to fade.

MASARU

Exhales...

He hadn’t realized it before, but now that he takes a closer look, there is light pouring out from the bottom of the door. As he rests his sweating palms onto the handle, he slowly pushes down, and presses the door in.

As the blinding light covers his vision, he sticks a hand up to block the source: One of the stage lights. He walks forward through the open doorway, spotting someone talking to him from the back of the auditorium. Coincidentally, this is exactly where the light seems to be coming from.

TEXT: ~~~~~~

MASARU can’t make out who this figure is due to how bright the light is, but he can clearly see there’s a figure up there. He decides to look away from the light, scanning his surroundings, and he discovers everyone else up on the stage.

At some point, MASARU had started to ignore the vibrations, but as he looked toward the stage, he’s reminded of them. Again, these vibrations start increasing as he approaches the stage, seemingly not yet recognized by the people up on it.

Stepping up onto the stage, MASARU finally sees the reason for the vibrations he’s been feeling. Figuring there’s only one way to get their attention, he lets out a yell.

MASARU

~~~~~~~~

It’s clear he said something, but within the silence, it was impossible to make out.

Everyone else seems to have been able to hear it though, as they all jolted in their seats, clearly startled by what they just heard.

MASARU claps his hands together to make it clear he was about to say something. He raises his hands to the top of his head, but then pauses, and decides to bring it back down. He takes a deep breath, and starts to proceed with saying something inaudible.

TEXT: ~~~~~~