[CH.84] Discussion About a New Job
The students who are really serious about sports are amazing. As I watched them going all out, I tried my best in the sports test to some extent.
My sport grades are roughly around the average of kids the same age. Considering that I was the absolute bottom in my past life, I think this is a satisfactory result. I've consistently done flexibility exercises, so I had the best score in the class for the standing forward bend. Thanks to daily jogging, I could finish the long-distance run with a time faster than the average. When the results of what I've been doing come out like this, a sense of achievement and even more motivation well up.
The ones I ran with were Miu-chan, Kawamoto-san, and Miki-san, who tends to be sarcastic when she opens her mouth. I can't help but think that with her sharp tongue, she somehow managed to live peacefully until now. It seems that she had talent in softball, and adults around her actively covered for her because of that, or at times, her teammates endured her behavior to somehow keep up appearances.
But the softball team at this school is strong, and there are several kids with abilities similar to Miki's. Kawamoto is one of them, and despite being annoyed by Miki's words and actions, she voluntarily takes care of her, feeling that it would be a waste to sideline her due to her skill. She seems to have a self-awareness of pulling the short straw, which makes her act in a reserved manner.
"This is still a little better," Kawamoto said with a wry smile, so I quietly praised her, saying, "Thank you for your hard work." It might have been more appropriate to say "otsukaresama" (a more casual expression of thanks for hard work), but the words came out before I could think, considering her efforts.
Kawamoto and Miki were naturally good because they are in sports clubs, I have some above-average scores but mostly average, and Miu-chan, a pure cultural type, unfortunately didn't do well. There are kids who struggle with sports even if they're not overweight, but in my past life, my inability to move was purely due to obesity.
Aside from that.
Finally, the event rush that started from the entrance ceremony has ended, and it seems that regular classes will begin next week. From the entrance exams to entering middle school, there were various complications, so I had asked Yoko-san to go easy on work. But now that we're returning to a normal daily rhythm, I need to put more effort into my job again. After all, even though tuition is free, money will still be necessary in the future. I have to diligently save up.
As I discussed such matters with Yoko-san in the car on the way home, she mentioned that there's a meeting about my work scheduled for later today. She initially planned to hear the details, consider them, and then bring the discussion to me. However, she invited me to join, saying, "Why not participate since we're already here?" I'm a bit uneasy about it because the last meeting I attended wasn't pleasant.
But I think participating would help me better understand the details of the project and the intentions of the production side more clearly than hearing about it secondhand. So, I've decided to participate, motivated to overcome my discomfort. Haruka, who was listening to the conversation next to me, might have been curious and eager to observe in the past, but she has been completely focused on improving her own acting skills since then. When we get home today, she plans to head straight to the practice studio and work on the assignments she received from Ms. Azusa.
It seems that the sales team has also decided to promote Haruka again, and everyone in the office is cheering for her, hoping that more work will come her way in the future. I went to apologize properly, and I think they sensed Haruka's reflection and sincerity.
I also need to work hard so that I won't be easily overtaken. As I think about that, the car approaches the dorm, and after dropping off Haruka and exchanging a small wave, it starts moving again at a relaxed pace.
"By the way, Yoko-san, have you already heard about the details of today's meeting?"
"Yeah, you can feel their determination over there. Normally, we receive materials on the day of the meeting and get explanations, but this time they sent them in advance. And it's thiiis thick."
Yoko-san uses her left thumb and index finger to indicate the thickness of the documents. Indeed, it seems quite thick, almost like a famous weekly manga magazine.
"It's about a TV drama where the siblings, a brother and sister, solve neighborhood problems. But instead of focusing on mysteries and such, it seems they want to tease the viewers with the overly close relationship between the brother and sister."
"So, is it a story about a slightly risky relationship between a brother with a sister complex and a sister with a brother complex?"
I ask Yoko-san, sighing a little, suspecting that it might be another somewhat unique role. I can't help but feel a bit anxious that such images might stick, making it difficult to receive offers for ordinary roles.
"For now, it seems like they're portraying the siblings as close. However, if the scriptwriter gets carried away, there might be developments like a sister who loves her big brother or a big brother who takes the wrong path with his sister."
"If that happens, it's likely to face criticism from the public..."
"Don't worry. About ten years ago, there was a drama that depicted housewives having affairs, and it was a huge hit. Viewers seem to be looking for various stories and stimuli, don't you think?"
Knowing the future where extreme directions led to discussions about regulations and zoning, I can only smile wryly. Well, I alone can't do much about that trend, so in the end, I have to go with the flow.
"If it were natural, they would come to us, but the fact that they're reaching out to us means they're quite serious. Let's get the details at the office."
Yoko-san said this, and as I turned my gaze outside the car, we had just entered the office parking lot. The dorm and the office are close, but when we're engaged in conversation, time seems to pass quickly. After getting out of the car and entering the office, the person we were supposed to meet hadn't arrived yet.
For the time being, it seems Yoko-san has some urgent office tasks to attend to, so I decided to do some self-study in the open space. As part of my preparation for university entrance exams, I've been buying and solving various university entrance exam prep books from second-hand bookstores in Jimbocho. Surprisingly, I often encounter problems I can't solve, which turns out to be very beneficial for my studies. However, for problems that may change over time, I make sure not to take the answers for granted by confirming the publication year of the prep book. It's crucial to verify whether the information is still current, as the answers themselves might have changed.
Questions like whether a certain prefecture will still be the top producer of a particular fruit nationwide 30 years from now might not appear in university entrance exams, but who knows? It might be a naive example, I admit.
At times like this, I seriously wish the internet was more widespread. In this era, it might be possible to connect to the internet through PC communication, but if only a small number of people are using it, the amount of information available would likely be significantly less compared to the future.
While concentrating on my studies, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Startled, I turned around to find Yoko-san, and when I shifted my gaze a bit, there were two men in suits, both looking a bit troubled and giving wry smiles. Oh, they probably tried to get my attention several times, but it seems I completely missed it. I hurriedly stood up, bowed my head.
"I'm sorry for not noticing."
"No, no, we apologize for interrupting your study."
Wiping the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief, one of the men said this while lightly waving his hand. I quickly cleared away my study materials on the desk and offered them the chairs across from us. As they handed us their business cards and introduced themselves, the office receptionist brought us tea at the moment they settled in their seats. It seemed they prepared tea not just for the guests but also for Yoko-san and me. Honestly, I was grateful because my throat was quite dry.
I gave a small wave to the receptionist who winked at me as she left, then focused on the meeting. It's spring, but today's temperature is a bit high. The gentleman who wiped his sweat with a handkerchief earlier took a sip from his teacup, enjoying the taste, and then began to speak.
"I appreciate you taking the time amid your busy schedule. I didn't expect Sumire-chan to join us."
"When I mentioned this meeting when picking her up from school, she expressed a strong desire to hear the discussion together," Yoko-san said with a smile, so I nodded politely in alignment with the conversation. For some reason, I received compliments for being polite, even though it was just a simple gesture. I couldn't help but worry about what kind of performers they usually work with and their attitudes, especially considering the behavior of underage talents in the entertainment industry.
"When I joined the company, the newcomers were often ridiculed as a 'new human species,' but nowadays, these young girls are much more like a 'new human species.'"
"No matter how times change, I believe basic manners are crucial," the other gentleman added.
The two gentlemen continue their conversation right in front of me, discussing a generation that I, as someone from the age group currently being discussed, can only awkwardly smile about. Yoko-san nods vaguely and proceeds with, "Well then, let's get into the details of the discussion..." But these gentlemen are not particularly inconsiderate people, and it seems there are many men of this type in this era. It feels quite insensitive to someone who experienced the end of the Heisei era in their past life, but perhaps if you consider it normal, you can casually ignore it like Yoko-san does.
"Um, for this project, we're considering asking Sumire-chan to take on the lead role. As for the content..."
"I've given Sumire a brief explanation."
"Ah, well, let's skip that part then. Basically, we're planning a story where a brother and sister solve neighborhood troubles, issues with friends, and the like."
Since this part of the story was already conveyed to me by Yoko-san, I just nodded in agreement.
"The script and series composition are being handled by a woman, and she mentioned wanting to include a bit of a romantic element between the brother and sister. Is that okay with Sumire-chan?"
Of the two gentlemen, the older-looking one sought confirmation. Since I've chosen this path, I'm prepared for requests involving love scenes. However, considering the character I'm playing is set as a elementary school student, I added a condition based on ethical considerations that it shouldn't be 'too explicit.'
"For this drama, we aim to make it enjoyable for a slightly younger audience, ranging from early to mid-teens, rather than the target demographic of trendy dramas. Some kids are watching it because it's trendy, but there's a mismatch in content happening."
I see, so this drama is a test case to explore a new direction. Even in the detective drama I'm in, it seems some kids turn off the TV once the case is solved. Miki-san, who I ran with during today's sports test, is one of those types. Considering the low level of recognition when I introduced myself in class on the first day, there might be other kids like that too.
"Who is planned for the role of the brother?"
"We offered the role to Ishidou-kun. He agreed with a double 'OK,' saying it's Sumire-chan as the co-star."
Oh, it's Ryuya-san, whom I filmed a movie with before. Since then, he occasionally called me at the dorm, and we greet each other and have small talk when we pass by each other at the TV station. The last time we met was around February this year, so he must have heard about this project afterward. Ryuya-san, who was an amateur in acting, was a naturally talented and hardworking person. By the time we wrapped up filming, he had improved a lot, performing surprisingly well for a beginner. If we can work together again, I'm excited to see how much he has grown since then.
I've heard that your main job with the idol group is also going well, but is it okay to pack in so much work? It's not really my place to worry about, but I can't help but feel a bit concerned.
"Deciding that Sumire-chan will play the role of the younger sister is confirmed. As for the role of the older brother, there are several candidates, including Ishidou-kun. After offering the role to Ishidou-kun, we received various suggestions from different places, like, 'Please consider our talents too.' We plan to conduct auditions, including Ishidou-kun, to make the final decision."
"Is Ryuya-san okay with that?"
Even though an offer was made from the production side, having auditions later might naturally cause dissatisfaction. However, if it's said that Ryuya-san is already in agreement, there's nothing more to discuss. Since he's someone I know, and if he's comfortable with it, I've decided to support him silently in my heart.
Support Tangerine Translation on Ko-fi! 🍊 ko-fi.com/tangerinetranslation 🍊
Comments
Post a Comment