I. You Did Great, I Can Tell

MASARU

2 WEEKS LATER

INT. AUDITORIUM - MORNING

A baton can be seen swinging in a variety of different directions, each with a different intention than the last. With each of these swings, the grip becomes tighter. Sweat starts to build up, both on the baton and the wielder.

TEXT: ~~~~~~

Weeks have passed, and it seems like, to the students, this is the new regular routine. But this isn’t enough to satisfy Masaru. What everyone seems to view as the acceptance of their situation, Masaru desperately fights with his baton for the next step he can so clearly envision.

The sweat slowly makes its way throughout Masaru’s body, physically forming at the top of his forehead. His movements are becoming slower than before... and his balance is starting to wane to a worrying degree. It’s not just fatigue from conducting that is getting to him. Anyone can tell it’s a manifestation of his anxieties.

He continues to portray a calm and collected look on his face, but his body shows the true fear that he is letting overcome him. Each musical vibration reaches down to his core, but he processes it a second too late, delivering each of his cues a second off.

The students, who had all been playing last time he looked, now have 3 people that have put down their instruments. The other 12 people continue playing their instrument, but one thing remains the same between everyone there... All eyes are on Masaru...

INT. AUDITORIUM - EVENING

Masaru brings his baton down to his side, drenched in sweat and gasping for air, he lets out a deep bow. As he lifts his head back up, an overwhelming sense of sorrow and appreciation can be seen displayed on his face. Looking over at the students, a couple of them have already begun talking with one another, while a few are still looking in Masaru’s direction.

With a feeling of uncertainty in the air, Masaru seems to stall for a moment before he puts his baton down, and reaches for a small white board in his bag. He grabs the marker attached to it, and proceeds to start writing.

TEXT: “You all did great, I can tell.”

A girl with black hair, who you’d easily mistake for having dyed her hair dark blue, simply gives a slight nod to Masaru’s remark. This prompts everyone else to give an audible answer to what Masaru said, but then quickly closes their mouth, and gives a slight bow toward him.

TEXT: ~~~~~~

A certain silence fills the air, one different from the one Masaru is used to feeling. Not a silence where all the vibrations settle after a performance, but one that settles with you and makes your blood run cold with anxiousness for what’s to come. In this case... It’s nothing good.

2 members, one man and one woman, walk forward, stopping right in front of Masaru. One of them ( puts their hand out in an attempt to signal for the white board. As Masaru extends his arm with the white board, he can feel it. The silence turns into ringing the more he reaches his arm out, as if a natural response from the body to warn against danger. Sure enough... The danger unfolds with each letter written down onto the board.

TEXT: We Resign.

Shock? No... That’s not quite right. Confusion could describe it... but that’s not it either. His mouth gapes open at first in response to what he’s just read, but after a second, he breaks into a smile. He offers the two students farewell, thanks them for participating, and then watches their backs as they walk away.

As the vibrations get further and further away, an expression of motivation develops on Masaru’s face. He turns towards the other members, slowly erases the words on the white board, and starts writing his own statement.

TEXT: I’ll earn your trust.

He returns to write a second statement, erasing what he had just written as the students all display mixed reactions. A second later, Masaru turns around the board once more.

TEXT: Until then, I won’t run.

Within the group of members, a boy with dark brown hair and a very well put together outfit puts on a heavy display of annoyance. He opens his mouth, saying something that even Masaru can see the bluntness of.

DAIKI

~~~~~~

The other members, including the girl with black hair from earlier, look toward him with shock in their eyes. Some proceed to look down at the ground, but the others turn their attention toward Masaru.

Masaru, mixed with curiosity and hesitation, extends the white board out for the boy to take. Masaru smiles, remembering that his name is Daiki, and is looking forward to deepening his connection with someone from the orchestra.

Daiki drops the cocky look on his face, takes the white board, and presses it back into Masaru’s chest. He visibly says something again, continuing the trend of an unmistakable bluntness.

DAIKI

~~~~~~

The other members all look toward Daiki, another boy (Souta) says something to him, and he proceeds to sit down. Masaru can clearly see some sort of disagreement happened, but the one thing that isn’t clear is what was disagreed on.

Masaru looks at the members in front of him, takes a breath to digest what just happened, and says something out loud.

MASARU

~~~~~~

With that, he gives a bow, and the day of practice has come to an end.