That morning, I woke up feeling a bit lazy. My head still felt heavy after yesterday's audition. One thing, however, dragged me out of bed: the audition results. Normally, I wouldn't care much, but this time felt different. My acting yesterday was strange. The world around me seemed to transform into part of the story. More than that, the pain I felt was so real. But, well... what matters now is waiting for the results.
After taking a shower, I quickly got ready. A message from Satoshi had already come through.
"Kaito, let's meet at the café. I can't wait!"
I smiled slightly. Satoshi was always so excited. Me? Not so much. I only joined the audition because he insisted. No harm in trying, I thought.
When I arrived at the café, I saw Satoshi waving enthusiastically. I approached him at a relaxed pace, ordered a coffee, and sat down across from him.
"Kaito, how are you feeling? I'm sure you'll make it!" he said eagerly.
I just shrugged. "We'll see."
"Oh, come on! You don't seem excited at all. Your performance yesterday was amazing! Everyone looked shocked," he said again.
I glanced at the coffee in front of me, smiling a little. "I just tried to play the role well. Nothing special."
Satoshi chuckled. "You don't get it, do you? People were whispering things like, 'He must've studied abroad,' or 'This guy's new, but his acting is like a pro.'"
I sipped my coffee slowly. Compliments like that always made me feel strange. Not because I didn't appreciate them, but... I just felt ordinary.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed. A notification for a new email. Satoshi leaned in eagerly. "Check it, Kaito! It must be the announcement!" he said with excitement.
I opened the email, and my eyes locked onto one important line.
*"Congratulations! You've been selected as the lead role in the film 'Shattered Echoes.' "
Satoshi nearly shouted with joy, while I only gave a small smile.
"It looks like we're starting something new," I murmured.
After reading the announcement, I stared at my phone screen a few seconds longer than usual. Not because I was surprised, but because I was still processing what had just happened. A lead role? On my first audition? It all felt too much for a beginner like me.
"Congratulations, Kaito!" Satoshi almost jumped out of his seat, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I knew you'd make it! We have to celebrate!"
I gave a small smile. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Filming hasn't even started."
He let out an exaggerated sigh, clearly dissatisfied with my reaction. "You're way too calm. If I were you, I'd be screaming with excitement by now!"
I told him, "Let's just see how things go. I don't want to get my hopes up too high."
Still, the memory of yesterday's audition lingered in my mind. Something felt off. I truly experienced an atmosphere shift it was like the world around me transformed into the story on the script. And more than that, the pain I felt when I got "stabbed" with a sword during one of the scenes was far too real.
Was it just my imagination? Or was there something strange about me?
While those thoughts swirled in my head, Satoshi kept chatting about his plans for a celebration that evening. I just nodded occasionally, listening. There was no way I could tell him about this weird feeling. He would only laugh and say I was overthinking the acting.
But this was more than just acting. I was sure of it.
The day of the script reading arrived, and I showed up at the studio early. Even though this wasn't my first time attending something like this, I still felt a bit nervous. This was a more serious stage more formal. Just as I expected, several actors and crew members were already gathered around the table, holding their scripts.
I greeted them briefly and took a seat. Soon after, one of the crew members handed me my script. As soon as it landed in my hands, a familiar sensation arose. A small notification appeared in the corner of my vision.
"Script Rating: B. Strong and emotional storyline, but the protagonist needs further development. The actor's performance can improve this rating depending on the final shoot and editing."
I glanced at the notification briefly and dismissed it without much thought. It had become a part of my routine by now. I knew the rating could change based on various factors. What mattered now was how I brought the character to life.
The director took his place at the front, signaling for the script reading to begin. I opened to the first page, absorbing the words and character descriptions.
We started reading. I delivered each line carefully, searching for the natural flow of every sentence. As I immersed myself in the script, the world around me began to shift. The cold air of the studio faded, replaced by the atmosphere described in the story a poverty-stricken city full of conflict.
I could feel the dust swirling in the air and hear the faint murmurs of the city's bustling streets. My body followed the instincts of the character I was portraying, each step feeling real, as though I was truly walking through the ruins.
I began delivering my lines.
"I'm nobody, but if you refuse to leave now, don't blame me."
Every word came out with an intonation different from my usual voice, deeper and more deliberate. My movements were instinctive, following the flow of the story as if I had known this character for a long time. No hesitation, no pause just pure instinct.
When the scene ended, I sat back down, trying to calm myself. This was only a script reading, but it felt as if I had already entered the world of the film.
The director looked at all of us before turning his gaze to me.
"Kaito, your way of speaking changed during that reading," he said. "Where did you learn that? Is this the result of acting training abroad?"
A few other actors also stared at me, waiting for my response. I shook my head slightly and gave a small smile, unsure of what to say. Deep inside, I was still trying to figure out how all of this had happened.
After finishing the opening scene, the director asked us to proceed to the next part. I prepared myself, once again immersing into the character. Gripping the script a little tighter, I focused on understanding the role more deeply.
In the next scene, my character a young man hardened by life was involved in an emotional confrontation with an old friend. The atmosphere around me shifted, just like before, and I sank even further into it. It no longer felt like I was reading a script. The words in the dialogue transformed into reality. I could feel the chill of twilight on the city outskirts, the sharp wind on my face, and the ache in my chest.
The scene escalated into a confrontation. My character had to face his old friend, who had now become his enemy. Anger and sorrow filled my mind, flowing naturally into every line I spoke. Every expression felt heavy, as if an emotional weight truly bound me. My heart pounded with every word I uttered.
"I... don't want to fight you," I said, my voice trembling, almost drowning in resentment. "But... if this is what you've chosen, I won't back down."
I stood slowly, following the narrative, and the world around me changed once again. Suddenly, I was standing on an empty street, surrounded by old, crumbling buildings that seemed to loom ominously. My old friend stood a few meters ahead, his face twisted with hatred. I could feel the biting cold on my skin, the bitterness in my mouth, and the heavy breaths I exhaled.
"Enough!"
I shouted, staring him down with eyes full of rage. My hands trembled not from fear, but from the intense clash of emotions inside me. This was no longer my usual self, but the character I was portraying, and everything felt vividly real. A voice whispered at the back of my mind: The pain will feel real if he attacks you.
The director instructed us to act out a light fight scene. Even though this was just a script reading, I moved as if my body was fully engaged in the conflict. My fists clenched, my fingers aching from holding back anger. As the scene progressed, we exchanged sharp, emotionally charged dialogue.
With every line I spoke, the anger and disappointment became more real. My vision blurred briefly, and my head throbbed painfully. It felt like I had completely lost myself in the character.
When the scene reached its climax, my friend's character struck me in the narrative. In the world of the script, I stumbled back, as if pushed by a powerful blow. A sharp pain pierced my stomach. I held my breath, but the pain was too real far more real than I had expected. A small gasp escaped my lips, reflexively reacting to the intensity.
I felt something warm at the corner of my mouth, like blood, even though I knew that couldn't be possible in reality. In my mind, I began to question: How could this feel so real? Was it because of some strange power that emerged every time I held a script? Everything felt so alive the pain, the cold air, even the sweat trickling down my temple.
"What is happening?" I wondered silently, but I stayed focused on the character. No one could know that I was feeling different. I had to keep acting, even though the pain was growing more intense. Yet strangely, I found myself adapting to it.
The director raised his hand, signaling the scene to pause. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my scattered thoughts. Even though this was only a script reading, I could see the impressed looks from several people around me.
Behind me, the producer and judges whispered among themselves.
"He... is incredible. Is he really from Japan? His acting feels like someone trained overseas," one of the judges murmured.
"Do you know him?" the producer asked, eyeing me with curiosity. "He just appeared out of nowhere, yet he feels like a seasoned professional."
I remained quiet, saying nothing. As usual, they had likely misunderstood me. But it didn't matter much to me. I was more focused on what I had just experienced. This strange power... it was becoming stronger and more real every time I read a script.