[CH.49] Start Shooting!
**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. Azusa: Sumire's mentor Kenji Nakamura: Actor from director Kanzaki's film Mr. Onda: Senior Actor |
Finally, the filming of the movie directed by Mr. Kanzaki has begun. As one of the lead actors and an almost unknown child actor, I feel quite overwhelmed because the cast is filled with well-known actors from the entertainment industry.
On a regular basis, both Ms. Azusa and Yoko-san have been emphasizing the importance of "greetings should be polite and respectful" to me. Having lived as an adult in my past life, I truly understand the significance of greetings and manners. After matching the faces and names from the list of cast members and approaching the meet-and-greet session, I also didn't forget to visit the dressing rooms for greetings. Although I was nervous and couldn't be sure if I smiled well, I consciously maintained a bright smile and respectfully bowed my head.
However, naturally, I don't think the other co-stars see me as a fellow professional. They looked at me as if I were a relative's child who had come to visit after a long time, with the gaze of an outsider. It's frustrating, but they haven't seen my acting yet, and in a way, it might be appropriate to treat a child they just met in this manner.
I'm getting paid to appear in this movie. I want to be acknowledged at least as an actor. With this in mind, I approached the first shooting, where the protagonist played by Mr. Nakamura wakes up without realizing the gender change and rejuvenation I've undergone. From there, the main character will be portrayed by me, so I put in my best effort to prepare, not just for greetings but also to ensure that I can act naturally, as I always do.
By the time the clapperboard clicked for the second time in this scene, the heartwarming atmosphere that felt like visiting a friend's child's school observation had faded, replaced by a tense atmosphere that prickled the skin throughout the entire studio. I didn't expect to be acknowledged based on this one scene alone, but I hoped that by the end of this movie's filming, they would recognize me as an actor. It felt like I had made a good start.
As I contemplated these thoughts on the bed, I began to feel a sense of discomfort regarding the cross-legged position I had adopted to exude a more masculine aura. So, I subtly adjusted my posture into a more traditional seated position for a girl. Sitting in this way felt the most comfortable and brought back a sense of nostalgia for both my body and my inner self, as if I had truly become more like a girl. Well, it had been over a decade since I was reborn as a girl, so it was only natural for me to lean more towards that side.
The director used the method of shooting scenes in sequence, so, theoretically, it would take time to switch between different sets. However, to avoid this, it seems they have reserved multiple studios within the premises. This might incur additional costs, but it actually helps save expenses and filming time.
The other main actors were all experienced, which allowed the filming to progress smoothly without any retakes. I put my best effort into my performance, so much so that I didn't even notice when the first day of shooting had ended. During a break when I returned to the dressing room, Mr. Nakamura apologized for his previous behavior towards me, which he said had not been very courteous. But I was preoccupied with thoughts about the next scene and couldn't fully register his apology. I hope Mr. Nakamura wasn't offended if I didn't give a proper response, even though I tried my best to follow Ms. Azusa and the others' instructions.
"Why is Yoko-san so angry?" I asked.
"It's okay, Sumire doesn't need to know. We have filming again tomorrow, so let's take a bath and relax," Azusa-san replied with her usual smiling face.
She always had her usual cheerful demeanor when dealing with me. But getting someone like Yoko-san angry takes effort, and it accumulates stress. If you've angered Yoko-san, it's best to apologize promptly. Yoko-san gave us a pat on the back, and we moved to a nearby public bath. We couldn't stay at the filming location, so we had to book a hotel for several consecutive nights.
I preferred to save money, and since we were just sleeping there, I thought a budget hotel was sufficient. Yoko-san understood my preference and found a business hotel for us, but it had a unit bath, which was less than ideal. To recover from today's exhaustion, I felt that a proper bath where I could stretch my legs was necessary. Although I'm small, I can still stretch my legs in the hotel room's bath, but I didn't like the idea of taking a bath in a small, cramped space with a stuffy shower curtain.
So, we headed to an old-fashioned public bath near the hotel. It was a bit crowded, likely because it was evening. Yoko-san paid at the counter, and we entered the changing room, where a fairly large number of people welcomed us. It wasn't surprising, given that both those who were about to take a bath and those who had already finished were using the changing room. I wasn't bothered by the many naked women around me. I found it a little lonely that I no longer felt anything in this situation. But then, if I thought about it, I realized that I often shared baths with two beautiful high school girls, a cute middle school girl, and a pretty woman in her twenties. We touched each other without hesitation in our daily lives, so I might actually feel more uncomfortable touching a guy's body now.
While thinking about such things, I took off my clothes and, holding a towel, rushed into the bath. Of course, I washed my whole body thoroughly before getting in and immersed myself in the spacious bathtub. Along the way, Yoko-san asked, "Shall we wash each other's bodies?" and tried to interfere, but I was too tired to have that kind of energy, so I conveyed that I just wanted to soak in the hot water quickly, and she reluctantly stepped back. However, she seemed a bit downcast and pitiful, so I decided to let her wash my back. Occasionally, Yoko-san's fingers touched near my chest or my side, but well, let's be lenient about it. My body is quite skinny to the point where you can see my bones protruding, but the soft parts are really squishy and soft. I've learned from Maho-san and the others to take good care of my skin, so it's only natural to want to touch it.
After taking a deep breath, the person intertwined their fingers tightly and thrust both hands forward. If it had been their past body, the bones would probably have creaked and groaned in various places, but their still young current body extended tired muscles and tendons nicely without making much noise. They let go of their fingers and immersed both hands in warm water, and noticed that their chest didn't swell at all. Their nipples had started to swell, so they thought that the rest might swell like a bowl soon, but there was no movement, and it remained as it was.
"What's the matter, Sumire? You put your hand on your chest. Are you in pain, by any chance?"
Yoko, who had finished washing her own body, entered the bathtub and submerged herself next to me. She looked slightly concerned as she said that, and I shook my head vigorously.
"I always thought my chest never really grew. Maybe I'm a defective product."
"Sumire, you worry too much. You're still at an age where it will grow more if you just relax. Also, if you want to increase your chest and your height, you should eat more."
Yoko's comment hit a sore spot for me. I'm trying my best to eat, but I always seem to get full quickly. Is it because I have a small stomach or not enough physical activity? Frustrated with my own body, I puffed up my cheeks. Behind Yoko, who was smiling wryly at me, there was a woman approaching with a laugh.
"Oh, Hana-san. Thank you for your hard work."
As soon as I recognized her, I stood up to greet the woman, but she gestured for me to sit back down. I straightened my bent knees to sit and bowed politely. Hana Asou was an actress who co-starred with me in the same movie. In the story, she played Nakamura-san's younger sister, so she was like a sisterly figure to me. She was in her mid-twenties, still a young actress but well-known for her talent.
"Sumire-chan, you're so serious, but be careful not to overdo the politeness. Some people don't like it when you're too formal. Like Grandpa Onda," Hana said with a smile.
"Hana-san, thank you for your hard work. Are you close with Mr. Onda?"
Yoko chimed in with a small nod, and Hana, upon hearing the question, answered with a laugh.
"We're drinking buddies. He takes me to fancy places that I wouldn't easily go to on my own, so I'm quite grateful."
"You two have quite an age difference..."
"I hang out with various people, and I even go drinking with Nakamura-san occasionally. Sumire-chan, when you reach the legal drinking age, let's go together."
I replied, "Yes, please, I'd love to," to Hana-san's invitation, even though it might have been just a social nicety. But something seemed to be bothering her, and she moved closer to me, gazing into my eyes.
"I'm glad you've returned to being a normal girl. Just a while ago, Sumire-chan, you looked so much like Nakamura-san wearing a girl's facade that I was worried you might not return to your usual self," Hana-san said, while gently rubbing my cheek with her palm. She looked genuinely relieved. Even though I never really lose consciousness even during acting and, on the contrary, I perform while considering many things, it made me happy to think that my performance had made people feel like they were truly watching Nakamura-san.
"Thank you very much. But it's not like I'm turning into someone else, so I'm okay."
"Oh, it's not like I'm thinking Sumire-chan's gone crazy or anything! It's just that Grandpa Onda said something like, 'That girl might be possessed by a spirit,' so I got a little worried," Hana-san explained nervously.
Hana-san's flustered excuses were amusing, and Yoko and I exchanged glances before chuckling. She then asked about the topic Yoko and I were discussing, and when I honestly mentioned it was about breasts, I didn't know what had triggered her, but she suddenly hugged me tightly, saying, "Oh, I had a time like that too. So cute!"
In the end, it was good that I had become friends with Hana-san, but I couldn't help but feel the disparity with the two round mounds on her back. I hoped that maybe I could be blessed with beautiful breasts like hers, even though her breasts weren't particularly large, they had a lovely shape, and I wanted to emulate that.
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