Kays Translations

Chapter 27: [Former Family Side] Things Don’t Go According to Script – Ichika

“Cut!! That ‘Take care’ needs to be more delicate! This is a crucial scene where you’re sending your husband off to war. Even though you really want to stop him, you suppress those feelings and act cheerful so as not to darken his mood. And then, as you hope he’ll come back one day, you say your final words—‘Take care.’ That’s the kind of scene this is! But with this stiff, mechanical delivery, it’s not going to touch anyone!”

“Then say that first! That kind of thing isn’t even written in the script!”

“And what do you expect when you showed up on set without even a proper meeting beforehand?! There’s no way that kind of detail would be in the script—figure it out yourself!”

On the film set, Ichika was once again being scolded by the director for another failed take—she’d lost count of how many times by now.

Ichika was participating in “Singing of You in the Corner of the World,” a film depicting the love between a man and a woman torn apart by war.

The director was Yoshiaki Yabu, a legendary figure in Japanese cinema. He was well-known for his meticulous standards and difficult personality.

“How many times is this now? All she’s doing is performing what’s on the page. If I don’t tell her, she doesn’t get it, and even if I do, she never surpasses my expectations. I want to see real acting—something that comes from within!”

The director slammed the script against the chair he’d been sitting in.

(Th-this wasn’t how it was supposed to go… This isn’t my fault…)

“When I saw your performance in ‘Sunset Glow’, even I was moved. What was that, huh?”

The director recalled a previous film Ichika had appeared in.
Her acting in that film had been praised by the public, and it was the reason she’d been chosen for this role.

“That was just me performing the script as written.”

“What? No way! You couldn’t have done that without a deep understanding of the material.”

(What is he even talking about? Isn’t it their fault for not preparing proper reference materials? If they had, a single meet-and-greet would’ve been enough. They’re just trying to drag me into unnecessary discussions. Is this director targeting me?)

Ichika’s resentment toward the director was growing more and more misaligned with reality.

Having creative discussions to deepen mutual understanding is normal.
Showing up on set having only memorized lines, without any preparation, is what’s truly abnormal.

Ichika had always received high praise for works that leveraged her beauty and strong personality—
the kinds of roles tailor-made for her, often referred to as “typecasting.”

That was because she just had to be herself—
In fact, that’s what was expected of her.

With her striking appearance, charm, and on-screen presence, Ichika had quickly risen to stardom.

However, actors are sometimes required to play roles completely unlike themselves.

Ichika had difficulty understanding human emotions.
She couldn’t grasp a character’s inner feelings from reading the script alone, nor did she ever try to research them on her own.

However, she was excellent at following instructions exactly as given.

Knowing this, Go had compiled extensive, well-researched materials from various perspectives and handed them to Ichika.

But Ichika, thinking they were just made by her idiot younger brother, had thrown them into the trash right in front of him, deeming them worthless.

After that, Go began handing her the same materials, saying they came from the director instead of himself.

Since then, Ichika had received praise as a more advanced-level actress.

The talent that even critics raved about and the supposed “deep understanding” she had of each work—all of it was thanks to Go’s research and materials.

“I told you, as long as I have the materials, I can do it.”

“You and your materials, materials, materials. Your manager says the same thing. But guess what? That’s not normal! If there’s some magical material out there, I’d love to worship it. Acting isn’t just about doing what you’re told! Real actors experience things for themselves, think like their lives depend on it, and pour that into their performance. Are you mocking this profession?!”

The director’s angry voice echoed throughout the studio.

“Now, now, Director. Please calm down.”

“Kazuma, you taking her side now?”

The man who addressed the director was Kazuma Sannomiya, the lead actor in “Singing of You in the Corner of the World” and Ichika’s onscreen husband.

Kazuma Sannomiya was a highly acclaimed actor with numerous domestic film awards and international recognition.

“No, that’s not it. I just think it’s a waste to spend any more time on her when we’re already behind schedule. Her acting happened to be good in that one film, but this is her true ability. You know the type—people who get popular just because the project suited them, or because of the timing or trends, even though they don’t have any real talent.”

“Yeah… I thought her acting had some spark to it, but I must’ve been blind.”

“T-That’s not true…!!”

Ichika couldn’t keep quiet any longer and cut in.

“Oh? Then take a look around you. The other actors are waiting, the staff is exhausted—all because you’re not giving a good performance.”

When Ichika looked around, she saw irritated actors and worn-out staff staring at her.

Never having been subjected to such stares, Ichika bit her lip in frustration.

“Ggh…”

“You know getting hurt is a no-go, right? That’s basic for an actor. If the footage can’t be used, we’ll have to reshoot, and that’s just another way you’d be causing trouble for everyone.”

“S-Shut up!!”

“‘Shut up’? That’s something a child would say. No one’s spending their time and money just for your sake, you know?”

Even just a one-day delay in shooting could mean huge losses. Numerous people and companies were involved: actors, staff, the studio, editors, distributors… The cost in time and money was no joke.

“Shut up!”

(W-Why am I going through this…? Am I going to have to keep acting under this pressure, being scolded while everyone glares at me, never knowing if I’m doing it right…?)

“Shut up! Shut up!”

(I’ve always been praised without even trying… How did it come to this…? What do I do? What do I do? If I just had the materials… If I just had the materials, I could…!)

“Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!!”

Unable to endure the shame she had never felt before, Ichika ran off the set.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going?!”

“Someone stop her, quickly!”

Staff rushed after Ichika.
The atmosphere on set, left in her wake, was tense and silent—completely ruined.

“What the hell is with her? I’m never working with her again!”

“That might be for the best… If she had even a little humility to listen or the hunger to learn on her own, she might have improved. But with an attitude like that… I doubt she’ll ever change. Still, you were waiting for her, weren’t you, Director? Willing to play the villain again, just like you did with me back in the day.”

“Tch. I wasn’t waiting for anything. I’ve long forgotten about stuff like that.”

Director Yoshiaki Yabu was often misunderstood due to his harsh words, but they were always intended to push actors to grow.
It was said in the industry that those who endured working under him and learned to think for themselves always went on to succeed.

That’s why he was respected by many veteran and talented actors.

From that day on, Ichika never returned to the set.

Eventually, fed up with waiting, the director informed her agency of her dismissal from the project.

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