II. You're Not Ready

INT. MUSIC ROOM - MORNING

In a room filled with music sheets, instruments, and chairs for students, the clock reads 7:40. Coffee is brewing in a machine placed on a large desk, and there is a man writing down on a white board attached to the wall at the front of the room. That man, Masura, is currently studying the orchestra’s next piece of music.

He’s been at it for a while now, and since the other members will be arriving soon, he puts his task on pause to welcome them when they walk in. A list of names can be seen on the large desk, and with 7 crossed out, he takes a quick glance over the page.

The first person to slide the door open is the girl with dark blue hair... no, black hair. She turns her gaze from the door she opens to Masaru as he stares at her, giving him a slight head nod after a moment. With that, she starts to walk toward an empty seat, but is stopped by Masaru. He puts up his finger to wait a moment, and sketches something onto his little white board he walks around with.

TEXT: Sorry, it takes me a while to get names down.

After he makes sure that she saw it, Masaru holds up his finger again, and then erases what he had just written. He shows his next message:

TEXT: It’s Yuuko, right?

The woman, Yuuko, nods her head slightly, giving her answer. Masaru, happy he got it right, gives off a slight smile. One that he tries to hide, but can be easily seen through by someone who paid close enough attention.

Yuuko raises her hand for a moment, looking as if she’s about to display something, but is quickly interrupted by the door sliding open again. Yuuko stops with her hand as it was before the door opened, and then drops it down before turning away from Masaru to head to her seat.

After staring at Yuuko for another second, confused by what just happened, Masaru turns his attention toward the entrance. The man who just entered, Souta, is greeted with the same thing. Masaru writes:

TEXT: Souta, right?

Souta starts to mouth a word, but then thinks for a second, and then just nods his head. They both give a slight bow to each other, and Souta continues towards a seat. 4 more people come in, continuing the same cycle of a respectful bow to each other.

The next person to walk in is Daiki. The first thing he looks at when he enters the room is Masaru, making eye contact with him. He exhales, curves the ends of his mouth with dissatisfaction, and gives a quick nod before he turns away to go toward a seat.

With that, the last 5 people eventually show up, and it’s time to begin their plan overview. This isn’t their first time all gathering in this room, but now more than ever, the disconnect can be felt emanating throughout the room. It only seems to be affecting one person though: Masaru.

Masaru grabs the sheet music off his desk, passes out the copies he made, and puts the extras back on his desk. He proceeds to write on the wall mounted white board.

TEXT: I took over this position 1 week into you guys learning the current piece. I want us to continue to improve, and looking past our practicing techniques, I want us to be in an actual performance environment.

As Masaru continues to write and erase new sentences, with the exception of a few, the other members continue to watch patiently. Those few start to display a sense of impatience, namely Daiki, but still sit awaiting what is trying to be said here.

TEXT: So, with that being said, I’ve requested a period of time for the Modern Music class to sit in the audience.

Masaru, turning around to check for their reaction, witnesses the visible shock from the members. After a moment, some turn to each other while the others make up their own reactions. Masaru turns back around and writes on the board:

TEXT: It’s on the 5th of May, which gives us 3 more weeks. Any questions or concerns?

As Masaru finishes writing and turns around, he sees Daiki stand up. His chair slid back as he did, and he had actually already taken one step before Souta stepped in front of him.

SOUTA

~~~~~~

Daiki tries to move again, but after getting pressed back by Souta, he silks his tongue and sits back down. Now with Daiki keeping his gaze fixed on Masaru, Souta starts to walk up to the board.

Masaru hands him the marker, and Souta writes his message:

TEXT: We’re not rea-

Souta seizes for a moment, and looks at Masaru. After making eye contact, he casts his eyes down for a moment before looking back up at the board and erasing what he had written.

TEXT: No, that’s not right. You’re not ready.

The other members slowly turn their attention over to Masaru, preparing to see what kind of reaction he might give...

...

A smirk?

Yuuko widens her eyes and then clenches her fist on her skirt, staring on as Masaru grabs the marker again, and writes another message.

TEXT: I’ll earn your trust.

Everyone now widens their eyes.

TEXT: Until then, I won’t run.

Masaru stares at everyone, and lets out a deep bow. Without verifying anyone’s reactions, he then looks over to Souta and does the same. Souta lets out a quick laugh exhale, and proceeds to bow back with EXTREME DETAILED ILLUSTRATION.

Souta turns to return back to his seat as Masaru starts to erase the messages on the board. He lifts up his arm to write one last message.

TEXT: That is all for today. We can do this.

Everyone sits for a moment, discussing inaudible things with one another. Masaru puts his marker down, and feeling the heaviness of the air, he starts to wipe down the board. Daiki, who hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Masaru after he wrote his plea to earn trust for a second time, is noticeably bothered. A great fit of rage isn’t the way to describe it, but it’d be wrong to say there isn’t an intense display of dissatisfaction on his face.