[CH.31] Audition and a Mysterious Sensation

I Reincarnated as a Beautiful Girl and Aim to Become a Top Actress! (WN)

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[CH.31] Audition and a Mysterious Sensation

**TL Notes: So as not to confuse you all, I made a list of the characters that get mentioned in this chapter that you may have forgotten before.   Sumire Matsuda: MC Yoko Ando (Yoko-san): Sumire's manager. Ms.Oshima: Sumire's Mentor. Director Kanzaki: The interviewer at Sumire's first audition and the person who paved the way for Sumire to enter the entertainment industry.

We had lunch on the restaurant floor of the department store and took a short break. Feeling content after our meal, we touched up our appearances in the restroom and left the department store.

While taking the subway would have been faster and cheaper to reach our destination, we opted for a taxi ride again. This decision was influenced by the upcoming audition, and it was driven by the concern that we might sweat or mess up our hair and clothes during the subway ride, as suggested by Yoko-san.

Although she assured me not to worry about the expenses because it's covered by the Ms. Oshima office, I still couldn't help but feel it was big-hearted of them. I was determined to perform well in my work and find a way to repay their kindness.

Perhaps my determination was showing on my face, as Yoko suddenly started talking about something unexpected.

"You remember the elevator at the department store earlier? There was an elevator girl there, right? I wanted to be an elevator girl back when I was in middle school."

I wasn't sure if she was trying to ease my pre-audition nervousness or if she just felt like starting a conversation. Her sudden confession caught me off guard, and I could only respond with a simple, "Is that so?"

Within the next ten years, however, the profession of elevator girls would become obsolete. I think Yoko would have had a hard time finding a new job or facing a career change in that case. But had she pursued that path, we might never have met, and for that reason, I'm glad she gave up on it.

While we were engaged in such casual conversation, we arrived near our destination. I thanked the taxi driver and stepped out of the cab. Yoko, who had completed the payment, also got out of the taxi. We then entered the tall building in front of us together.

In the lobby, there was a counter with receptionists wearing matching uniforms, all smiling warmly. Yoko approached the counter and explained our purpose. After receiving a guest badge, we were instructed to head to the conference room on the 15th floor. With the name badge pinned to my chest, I entered the elevator and made my way to the designated meeting room.

I couldn't help but feel a bit anxious about walking through the company's offices as an outsider. However, I assumed that the receptionists were likely busy with other tasks, and since we had obtained permission, I probably wouldn't get in trouble.

"Don't be nervous, you'll be fine. Just be yourself as usual, Sumire-chan, and the results will follow naturally," Yoko-san reassured me.

"Yes, thank you," I replied, feeling the tension in my shoulders. I took a deep breath. She was right—I should perform as I always do, and if that's not enough, there would be other opportunities to repay Mr. Kanzaki.

As I stepped out of the elevator, I was taken aback to find that Mr. Kanzaki was waiting for us.

"I think it's about time, so please do your best today," Mr. Kanzaki said.

"I'll do my best to the best of my ability!" I replied.

This was my best expression of determination. I wish I could confidently say, "Leave it to me," but my cautious nature makes me refrain from making irresponsible statements. Especially when dealing with a benefactor, I want to be sincere and trustworthy.

Following Mr. Kanzaki, I arrived at a moderately spacious meeting room. Inside, there were six middle-aged to near-retirement-aged men, as well as a woman with an age difference akin to that of a parent and child. The young girl appeared to be around my age or a year older, and the woman seemed to be in her mid-thirties.

In fact, isn't that girl Yuuka Anno? She's probably one of the most famous child actresses, with name recognition among the top child actors. Even in my past life when I had little interest in child actors, I recognized her face and name. I believe she continued her career as an actress into adulthood and remained a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.

I see, that makes sense. If we were to compare Yuuka-chan and me, most people would naturally choose Yuuka-chan. Honestly, Mr. Kanzaki, I'm not a match for someone like Yuka-chan... But if Yuka-chan's side wants to participate, I think it would be best to go along with that and forget about our agreement.

Internally, I was in great turmoil, but I did my best to maintain a poker face, bowing politely to everyone as Mr. Kanzaki introduced me.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Sumire Matsuda. I look forward to working with you today!"

I tried to be as cheerful and clear as possible, giving a lively elementary school-like greeting. A few of the older individuals seemed to soften their expressions at first sight. It's quite an advantage to look good on the outside, especially if no one knows what you're really like on the inside. I feel like I could be a hit with the grandpas and grandmas, assuming they don't know what I'm truly like. Well, in reality, my paternal grandparents and maternal grandmother dote on me.

"As expected of a recommendation from Director Kanzaki, she's such an adorable child," one of them remarked.

An older gentleman, who appeared quite refined, addressed the director with a touch of a Kyoto accent. Judging by his demeanor, he exuded an air of authority. From what I heard yesterday, the people gathered here are the ones who provided funding for the director's movie, so they are undoubtedly significant figures.

"Well, then, since everyone has taken time out of their busy schedules to be here, we shall commence the audition without further delay," Director Kanzaki said as he began the explanation. It seemed that both Yuuka-chan and I would be performing improvisational theater pieces and acting out scenes from a prepared script according to the given theme, with our performances evaluated for competition.

The judging panel consisted of six company presidents and Director Kanzaki, making a total of seven members. They would evaluate both performances together, and the one with the majority of votes would secure the heroine's role.

To determine the order of performance for the improvisational theater piece, Yuuka-chan and I played rock-paper-scissors. I chose scissors while Yuuka-chan picked paper. It didn't matter much to me whether I went first or second, but I thought taking the initiative would help me focus on my own performance without being influenced by Yuuka-chan. So, I chose to go first, and we quickly settled on the order without any dispute.

As the company presidents prepared in their makeshift judging seats, they were provided with documents and instructions. Yuuka-chan and I were given time to plan what kind of performance we would present. The theme was a young girl playing by the sea, and we had one minute to convey that theme convincingly to the audience.

I had fond memories of going swimming in the sea during my past life, as my maternal grandmother lived alone on an island, and her house was right next to a beach open to the public. I recalled the scent, the feel of the air, the temperature and sensation of the seawater, trying to bring back those seaside sensations.

Then, suddenly, Yuuka-chan spoke to me, "You've been called out to such a place, too."

Her words broke my concentration, and my memories of the sea quickly faded away. I turned to look at her, and she had a slight smile on her face.

"Did you come from Tokyo as well, Yuuka-san?"

"Yes, I took the first Shinkansen of the day. But for a lead role in Director Kanzaki's film, I can endure waking up early."

I felt she was about a year older than me, so I addressed her with the appropriate honorific. This seemed to be the right choice as she continued without any sign of being displeased.

It appeared that Yuuka-chan had already decided the competition was in the bag, and she was the chosen one. Her career and recognition were indeed higher than mine, so it was understandable, but it did get under my skin a bit.

"Let's both do our best. Even if it doesn't work out this time, you'll find a great role eventually."

"Yes, thank you."

Despite the subtle annoyance, I responded with a smile and a bow. There was no point in starting an argument or trading more sour words. I focused on calming my mind and conjured up the image of the sea once more.

I had experienced improvisational acting many times during my lessons with Ms. Oshima. I didn't want to focus on winning or losing against Yuuka-chan. My main goal was to deliver the best performance I could. To achieve that, I had to concentrate. I tried to recall the scent of the sea, the scorching sun on my skin, and every little detail.

As I concentrated deeply on these memories, I felt a peculiar sensation, as if my consciousness was sinking deep into the sea. Strangely, I didn't feel fearful, even though I should have. Instead, I wanted to go even deeper. I had never experienced this during improvisational acting before, so I didn't know if it was a good or bad thing. However, I also felt an exciting sense that something new was possible.

"Alright, Sumire-chan... let's go."

When Director Kanzaki addressed me, I nodded with a floaty feeling and stood in front of the judges. As the director's voice shouted, "Ready, set, go!" and his hand clapped, the beach and the sea appeared in front of me.

Walking on the sandy shore, I felt the warmth under my feet. I found myself instinctively quickening my pace until I reached the water's edge, where I dipped my feet into the cool sea. The scene continued with me scooping up water with my hands and playfully interacting with someone on the shore, then playing ball games, all in what felt like a remarkably condensed one-minute time frame.

"Cut! That's enough!"

Looking at his watch, the director called out, and the beach in front of me dissolved like a mirage. In its place, I saw the judges' faces, who were looking at me with astonished expressions.

As I watched Yuuka-chan's performance, I found myself pondering the strange sensation I had experienced. The feeling of being both detached and yet sharply focused hadn't entirely faded away during the break. It had mostly returned to my usual state, but there was a faint lingering sense of it.

If I had to describe that state with words, it was almost like being "in the zone," a term commonly used to describe a state of heightened concentration often experienced by athletes. During this state, one's performance exceeds their usual capabilities. For example, a baseball pitcher might see the seams on the ball with clarity, or a tennis player might consistently deliver perfect aces with their serves.

It seemed like a combination of my past life experiences, training with Ms. Oshima, and the unique abilities of my current body had come together to create this miraculous experience. However, I couldn't intentionally recreate that feeling. Moreover, if I were to immerse myself in that all-powerful state too often, I'd be more worried about my heart becoming arrogant rather than confident.

I felt a sense of relief, as I realized I was more suited to the patient, steady, and deliberate path of mastering my skills on my own. This conclusion lightened my mood.

I noticed that Yuuka-chan's performance had a somewhat lackluster quality, unlike the confident and vibrant acting I had seen her perform in television and movies. Since she mentioned she had taken the first train here today, perhaps her health wasn't optimal, which could explain it.

As I watched Yuuka-chan, she gave me an intense, angry glare for some inexplicable reason, which left me feeling puzzled. She then exchanged a few words with Director Kanzaki and abruptly left the conference room. A woman who appeared to be her mother followed her, looking somewhat flustered. It was strange for her to leave without knowing the results, and I wondered if there might be an issue, like needing to use the restroom.

I stared, bewildered, at the closed door, while Director Kanzaki and the other judges had wry smiles on their faces. It made me question whether Yuuka-chan's hasty departure was acceptable. Was it possible she needed a restroom break?

As I stood there, looking perplexed, Director Kanzaki chuckled awkwardly. Not only him but also the company presidents on the judging panel wore similar expressions.

"Um, my performance... was it not good?"

I tilted my head slightly and asked, to which their awkward smiles only deepened. I looked to Yoko-san for help, but even she was smiling with an air of embarrassment. It felt as if they were all making fun of me, which made me slightly annoyed, but I needed an explanation above all else.

"May we unanimously request her to take the lead role?"

"After seeing such a performance, there's no option but to request her."

In response to Director Kanzaki's words, the president speaking in the Kyoto dialect gave his answer. After confirming the nods from the other presidents, Director Kazuki approached me.

"Sumire-chan... it's a request once again, but will you appear as the leading actress in my film?"

As he extended his right hand, his words began to sink into my brain like a soothing wave. So, does that mean it's settled?

I felt a mix of astonishment and joy at the unexpected news of my success. I stood up and firmly shook Director Kanzaki's right hand with both of mine.

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