[X] Miyako could ask for her help as co-director, as she had quickly learned how new she was at this.
"Hey, you know how I said I wanted to direct…" Miyako began, twirling her index fingers around.
"You're already giving up, is that it?" Koyomi said on instinct.
"What? No, of course not! I, uh, just need a bit of help, that's all," Miyako said, her face a bit flushed. "I was going ask if you'd like to be co-director, Arisugawa-sama. It's your book, and my first play, so it's a good idea, huh?"
Koyomi thought that over a little while, then sighed, "I might as well, I can only imagine leaving you unsupervised will only be for the worse."
Even though she got her to agree, Miyako still gritted her teeth hearing that remark of Koyomi's. But still trying to be positive, she said, "Awesome! So, any pointers?"
Scanning around the stage, Koyomi looked at Kazuya and told him, "Don't overdo it, talk as you would normally. That should get you through most of Genji's dialogue." She then walked over to the crab costumes and said, "Higashi-kun, since we're sticking you in here, remember you're playing the ghosts of fallen warriors, or visions that can pass as them, whichever feels most natural, before you get hung on them being crabs," she shot a glance at Miyako while saying that. Then she gestured at the god costumes and said, "Whoever we've got playing the Bardo guardians, keep your voice at the lowest pitch, the reader- ah, audience needs to feel the gravitas and unearthliness."
Miyako's eyes lit up at how quickly Koyomi had taken charge, given how reluctant Koyomi had been to even see the adaptation before.
Maybe this is what she was like leading other Hanazakari back then? No wait, she was probably more a lone wolf than leader, she thought on impulse. Still, a part of her was getting a little worried, Wait, what if she takes so much charge over directing that she leaves none for me?
Then Hayato had to say, as if to confirm Miyako's fears over being outclassed, "Yes of course, Arisugawa-sama. You're certainly a natural at this!" Stars were starting to sparkle in his eyes.
Rushing to make everyone remember that she was still co-director, Miyako started giving rapid-fire orders to the actors like, "Do that, but more!" "More enunciation!" "Remember your action verbs!"
But Koyomi herself didn't think that much of Hayato's compliment, as she gave him an odd look and told him, "You're too quick to praise, I'm only a 'natural' at this since I already wrote the book. Really, this is how Asahi raises her kids?"
"I heard that!" Asahi said as she moved up to the stage. One thing though did cause her to smile, with her telling Koyomi, "Well, seems co-directing this play is giving you a reason to get out of the house more and into town."
"I get into town plenty!" Koyomi said back, only to find herself at a loss for how to elaborate on that.
"If anything, she gets into town a little too much," Reiji came up and spoke. Miyako winced at seeing his usual antagonism flare back up, but could relax when Reiji actually backed down by saying, "Sorry, eheh, force of habit. And whoever it is, I for sure support Nozawa having a co-director." That statement Miyako wasn't quite sure what to think about.
"I do apologise if I was too hasty with my words, Arisugawa-sama," Hayato said to Koyomi for before, and then whispered to Miyako, "
Ah, Mother and Arisugawa-sama also aren't as friendly as I thought they would be."
"Look, it wasn't like I was offended or anything by you getting all fawny. Just annoyed, really," Koyomi said.
"
And hey, that's what plenty of old friends are like," Miyako whispered back, "
Er, so I'm told anyway."
"Okay, don't you all have scripts to read already? Because I only want to spend as long on this as I have to," Koyomi then said, signalling at everyone to get in their places.
Eventually the night of the play came upon them. Being the town theatre's first production of a new cycle, it was expected Reiji would get a little over-zealous in sticking posters for it everywhere. Koyomi did try to push him to advertising at libraries and bookstores, better to find people who already had interest in Ladder to Heaven, while Asahi was convinced to let him post a couple of ads up at the shrine.
And speaking of the shrine, the time also came when Asahi told Miyako, "Well Nozawa-chan, your trial period is over. Considering everything else going on, with putting on the play and you applying for university again, I had my doubts about whether you'd still have time for the shrine." Miyako tensed up, sweating and shaking, before Asahi followed with, "But given your duties are part-time, all of which you've still attended to, and the good word my son has put in for you, I have chosen to confirm you as a shrine maiden. Not full-time, but hmhm, nobody's perfect," she smirked.
Breathing out such a sigh of relief it was like a balloon deflating, Miyako shook Asahi's hand and said, "Thank you! Thank you!" But she then tensed right up again, remembering what she was going to tell her boss the moment she really became a miko. "Guess since I'm in now, there's something I oughta tell you."
Asahi narrowed her eyes. "Oh, such as?"
Going back to sweating and shaking, Miyako slowly said, "You know how Inari's been depicted as male, female, and intersex throughout history?" having thought that'd help ease Asahi in… only to realise it'd sound like she was asking her something she'd be more than aware of. "Well, I-I'm sorta like that too. Er, not divine or anything, course not, but that I'm- I'm- I'm a transwoman!" she finally blurted out.
The whole world froze as she waited for Asahi to reply, with her boss finally saying, "I did have my suspicions. My apologies, but you aren't quite the subtlest person, and there were those pills you carried around yet never told me about," that line really making Miyako flinch, though Asahi added, "I'm relieved that they're just medication. And I suppose this explains why you ran away from home. Listen, I as a kannushi am in a usually male-reserved role, so while I may be little versed in trans matters, it'd be hypocritical of me to interrogate another's gender, especially when they're as hard a worker as you."
With that great a weight being lifted; Miyako had no words. Just a broad smile and a big hug for Asahi. "This… really means the world to me!" she at last was able to say, eyes welling up with joy.
"And I'm glad we could address this sooner rather than later, I'd hate to be the source of that much more pressure on you," Asahi said.
They stood there a little while longer, only for Asahi to notice the time and go, "Oh dear, fetch Hayato would you? I'm afraid we'll have to hurry, else we be late for the play, especially since I'm cast as Mahakala.
Hopefully Hayato's not still stuck on that crabwalk."
Miyako gulped. "Yeah, you're right. Okay, let's move!"
I'm the director, ah co-director, I can't be late to my own play!
After getting there all winded, Miyako then had to endure the gruelling anticipation fueled by the audience's mumblings. At least they were reasonably more in number than expected, not like that'd been much.
"Sato? Rather generic name for your lead."
"I think that's the point, symbolise how he could be anyone."
"Well, that better have been what they were going for."
"Don't see how his sort's supposed to be an 'everyman'."
"I'd heard of Kuramazov, but this is my first real experience of their work."
"Why do those costumes look out of a 70s TV show, or worse?"
Miyako did get to busy herself with some Hitchcockian cameos in the meantime, helped get her mind off the ultimate reception a little.
This is almost like waiting for the teacher to give you a grade, except all the teachers are grading you at once, she thought.
Finally, the curtains closed and everyone took their bows, well except Koyomi who insisted on remaining backstage. Miyako hyperventilated in fear of a thrown tomato or tin can, but while the applause was far from the most rapturous, it was still certainly polite. Not that her anxiety left, as she got to thinking how much nastier the reaction would've been had she not gotten Koyomi on-board as codirector.
Echoing her thoughts, Reiji said when they met up backstage, "Maybe not the best season opener, but that turned out a somewhat pleasant surprise. Hopefully we'll be able to procure more professional actors for our next production." Miyako already knew everyone but Reiji was only temporarily acting here and had appointments elsewhere, but still, did he really have to phrase it like that?
"How about you, Kazuya-kun? Surely acting the lead has got you feeling something, right?" Miyako turned and asked.
"…It has,' Kazuya muttered out, his hands shaking like he was only now feeling the cold, "Fear and embarrassment. I've been told those aren't good emotions to have."
"Er, well they
can be good," Miyako tried to pep him up, but didn't want to admit that was mainly as warning signs.
"Doesn't help he spotted Ryoichi in the audience," Reiji said. "Only him though, naturally neither of his parents."
"Yeah, noticing a trend with them," Miyako huffed.
"Pardon me, but I could use a little help getting this off," the normally serene Hayato said about his costume, a falcon caught in the crab's claws. Like mother like son, that seemed to go double for Asahi dressed as Mahakala.
"It's certainly a different experience to channelling Inari through dance," Asahi said once her head was free, "but I'd like to think my knowledge of the gods paid off."
"Hold on, where's Arisugawa-sama?" Miyako asked. Hayato, a little predictably, was quick to answer by pointing at the back door. "Thanks!" she said as she rushed out into the night, before even really saying to goodbye to everyone.
While she stumbled in the darkness past trees and along roads, Miyako still tracked Koyomi down in little time. "What is it? The play's over, what more do you want?" Koyomi looked back at her and asked.
"I, I just wanted to say thank you for everything, that's all," Miyako told her. "If you hadn't said it was okay, we never would've got to put on this play."
Still coulda adapted My Chemical Valentine
though.
Almost psychically, despite being very much untransformed, Koyomi then said, "Miyako, when you pitched your fanfiction as your first idea for a play, there was something I thought to say, but didn't. I hoped, still do, that it was just a coincidence, with how often that flower appears in art. But I suppose you have a right to know."
Miyako's breathing slowed, before she thought to ask, "Did I, did I do something wrong?"
"No, or at least no more wrong that you usually do," Koyomi said, then finally came out with, "You gave your main character, your thinly veiled self, the flower title Higanbana, correct?"
"Y-Yes," Miyako gulped. "Ah, was that taken?"
"That's putting it mildly, though no, you're not going to Flower Jail or anything," Koyomi said, staring off into the darkness. "I… told you that Hirasaka Namie was the first ever Hanazakari I saw die, remember? Higanbana was her flower."
Miyako gasped, "I-I didn't know!"
"Of course you didn't," Koyomi muttered, "How could you?"
Merely Players has reached its end. This gives you
125xp each to distribute among Koyomi's and Miyako's stats (
their current stats can be viewed here):
Koyomi:
[ ] Technique
[ ] Physique
[ ] Heart
[ ] Mind
Miyako:
[ ] Emotional Intelligence
[ ] Emotional Strength
[ ] A mixture (write-in)
