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mimosacafe
"It's precisely because he's a human–with emotions and a life in a world completely different than mine— that I want to perform and understand Arthur."
"Opponent that Can't Be Defeated - Part 1”
⚠️ DISCLAIMER BEFORE READING: This story will contain content that comes from "BANANA FISH" the anime. Please only continue if you are willing to encounter possible spoilers.⚠️
[DOOR OPENS]
Izumi: I'm home~
Juza: Welcome back.
Tsuzuru: Welcome home.
Citron: Welcome baaack! You came back just at the right time, Director! Look!
Tsuzuru: Juza and I went to a survival game today. We were just showing Citron-san the picture we got from the place.
Izumi: Oh wow! This is a really good photo! You can just feel the energy of the action!
Citron: Tsuzuru and Juza look so cool, don't they!
Juza: Thanks.
Tsuzuru: Looking at it again, it reminds me of how fitting a gun looks in Juza's hands.
Like, it just triggered a memory of Lansky from the debut play.
Citron: Gun…. Triggered… That is a pathetic joke even for you, Tsuzuru…[1]
Tsuzuru: I didn't even say it to make some lame joke!
Citron: Speaking of, isn't the next performance going to be full of gun scenes?
Tsuzuru: You're just gonna ignore me!? —Wait, but Juza's role doesn't use guns, right?
Juza: …Yeah. We do got a lotta gun scenes, but the guy I'm playin', Arthur, can't use 'em.
Citron: OH! Spoiler alert!!
Juza: … Is it that much of a spoiler?
Tsuzuru: I don't think it's crazy enough to be a spoiler… Huh, actually, does that mean you haven't watched the anime yet, Citron-san?
I was so sure Itaru-san would've converted you into the hype already.
Citron: I've been much too busy lately, but I'll be starting it soon.
Itaru said so after all: you have to watch the anime beforehand if you really wanna enjoy the play a thousand and hundred times more!
The anime has but only 24 episodes! If you start getting into it now, you'll make it right in time before the performance! You might even find your one and only oshi if you binge now! Right now! Before opening day comes!!
Tsuzuru: Why do you sound like the voice-over guy for an ad!?
Izumi: Ahaha…
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
[FLIPPING PAPER]
Juza: (... That's one read-through on the script. Maybe I should rewatch the anime next.)
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
Ash: "Lemme remind you all again!"
"We're no dogs of the mafia."
"We do business with Dino as equals."
"If you wanna be his pet, you’re free to go to him if you’d so like."
"...Aren't I right, Arthur?"
Arthur: "You're the boss. Got no say here."
Ash: "Glad we agree. If you mean it, that is."
[FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY]
Arthur: "Tch. You think he's onto something?"
Wookie: "Nah, he couldn't even hit 'em at blank range."
Arthur: "He missed them on purpose, dumbass. Just close 'nough to nick their skin."
"He doesn't look like it, but you gotta play dirty if you wanna beat him."
Wookie: "—!! So are ya really going to…!?"
"... Gotta pay him back for these fingers."
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
Juza: … (breathes out)
Omi: Hm? … Oh, you've got a tablet out. Were you watching "BANANA FISH"?
Juza: Yeah. Was just goin' thru the script before this. I was just at the part where Arthur makes his first appearance, so I was only gettin' started.
I was talkin' with Tsuzuru-san and Citron-san earlier 'bout how I wasn't gonna be using guns in the play.
Omi: Ahh, right. There's that impactful scene, after all.
In a setting where every other character is using guns, his character definitely stands out.
Juza: …Yeah.
Omi: Is something wrong?
Juza: No, it's just… Ever since I started acting, I've had to pretend to use a gun plenty of times already.
If I just suddenly weren't able to use my fingers, I'd eventually need some kind of substitute, but…
Me and Arthur… Our stances and circumstances are all too different. M'not really sure how to put it to words…
Omi: … A theatre junkie, through and through.
Isn't that a good thing, though? To put yourself in the shoes of another to understand the role more is a credible way to role study, too.
The similarities we have with the character must've certainly factored in Itaru-san's casting choices…
But even then, there'll still be parts of them that are difficult to understand. It's not just you— every one of us who's been chosen has their own worries about their own roles.
Juza: … You're right.
Omi: Actually… Since Arthur can't use any guns, that means your main action scenes will involve knife fights this time, wouldn't it?
Juza: Yeah. Director told me they had prepared a butterfly knife as a prop.
Omi: Really? I hope you don't mind me expecting a lot from your knife-fighting scenes then.
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
Izumi: (Today's rehearsal is going to focus on the action scene between Ash and Arthur— played by Banri-kun and Juza-kun respectively…)
Banri: Hmph—!!
[SWISH]
[WOOSH]
Izumi: (They're not doing BAD, per say, but there's this awkwardness in watching them. Especially on Juza's side…)
(They're used to fight scenes by now, but doing knife scenes specifically must be different after all.)
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
Izumi: ——Let's wrap it up for today.
We've only just started doing our rehearsals, so I think with more practice, we can make those action scenes feel even tighter. Good work, everyone!
Tasuku: Good work today.
Kumon: Man, I'm so huuuungry~!
Juza: … Director.
Izumi: Hm? Juza-kun? Did you forget something?
Juza: …I was hopin' to borrow that knife prop you were talkin' 'bout before.
I think that, for Arthur, his knife scenes are the crux of his character. But I was really flubbin' it earlier.
Izumi: (So even Juza-kun felt the awkwardness in his own movements, huh…)
Juza: Most of my main action scenes in Autumn Troupe shows have been gunfights. I still don't know my way 'round knives yet…
So I was thinkin' that I should at least try to get used to holdin' a knife even outside of practices, just so I can get a better feel of 'em.
Izumi: (He's even come up with his own way of improving for the performance, too.)
Of course. Here, I'll lend it to you.
Juza: Thanks.
✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦——✦
"Opponent that Can't Be Defeated - Part 2”
Juza: (... Guess I should've known that using a butterfly knife would feel totally different from a regular knife.)
(Especially when tryin' to spin it with the wrist… But if I can just do it without the knife slippin', then that's a big step already.)
Manager: —GYAAAA!!!
Juza: —!?!
Manager: Hy-Hyodo-kun— Y-You have a knife in your hands…!!
Juza: Ah… No, uhm. This is—
Manager: Wait, ha… Have you finally figured out who was pudding thief then—?!
Juza: The pudding…
Manager: HYAAA—!! SO YOU HAVE!! I'M SORRY I'M SO SORRY! I-It just looked so tasty, I…!!!
I-I-I'll go buy you a new one, alright?! JUST DON'T KILL MEEEEEEE—!!!
Juza: … Manager. This knife's fake.
Manager: Eh. Fake? Like… Like a prop?
Juza: Yeah. Been fiddlin' with it as part of my role study.
Manager: Oh gosh, was that all to it? It was a fake? You could've said something sooner.
Fidgeting with it with such a terrifying face, too— you had me jumping to conclusions…
Juza: Sorry 'bout that…
Taichi: Hey guys, I heard a crazy scream over here. What's going on—
GYAAAAAA!!!
Ju-Juza-san! What's that in your hand?!
Juza: Ah. Taichi, this—
Taichi: NO WAIT! Please don't jump the gun just yet and listen to me!!! I want you to look past Manager's actions, PLEASE!!!
Manager: Why are you saying it as if I commited a crime!?
Juza: T-There's no gun, and I just said this is fake…
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
Juza: … I eventually got the better hang of this after carryin' it 'round me the whole day.
(But it's 'cause I've had it with me all times that I made a buncha people all startled, too…)
Hisoka: … (snore snore)
Juza: ……
(Hisoka-san's sleepin' at a place like this? At his hour? … Would it be better if I wake 'im right now?)
Hisoka: … (snore snore)
Juza: (... But he looks like he's havin' a good dream though.)
Chikage: …Juza?
Juza: …Did you just come back from work Chikage-san? Welcome home.
Chikage: I'm home.
… And why's this guy sleeping on this spot again?
Hisoka: … (snore snore)
Chikage: Get up already, sleepyhead.
Juza: (... Actually, wouldn't these two…)
Chikage: … Good grief, what a hopeless lump he is.
Meanwhile… I see you've got quite the dangerous object in your hand. Is it for role study?
Juza: …Yeah.
It's a prop we're gonna be usin' for the next play. I don't mean to harm Hisoka-san with it.
Chikage: I know. But if you had to explain that to me, then I'm guessing you did the same plenty of times prior to now, huh?
Juza: …
Chikage: Juza?
Juza: … Chikage-san. Would it be alright if you could show me how you use knives?
Chikage: …That's quite the sudden question. May I ask why?
Juza: Just seeing you two here in front of me got me rememberin' 'bout "Scarlet Mirror".
The scene where the two of you— where Holmes and Moriarty— had this bloodcurdling fight scene… was amazing.
I even felt intimidated when you, as Moriarty, were duelin' with me as Moran in a knife fight.
So I was hopin' that if I could see maybe a demonstration from ya, maybe it'd give me hints on how to approach my current role.
Chikage: … I understand now.
Sure, I'll give you a demo. Let's move to the rehearsal room, then.
Juza: …!! Thanks so much!
Hisoka: … (snore snore)
Juza: … Should we do somethin' 'bout Hisoka-san?
Chikage: You can leave him just fine.
Juza: … I'll grab 'im a blanket, at the very least.
Hisoka: … (snooze)
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
Juza: Huff—!
Ha…!!
Chikage: … It looks like you've gotten good with it already.
Juza: Thanks… But I feel like there's still somethin' crucial that's missing.
Chikage: Right… I suppose it does feel a bit awkward to the usual way you do fight scenes.
Assuming you're the type who remembers by feeling rather than by muscle memory, I'm certain you'll be able to manifest your real strength in your movements when you need it most.
Juza: … When I need it most?
Chikage: That's right. When you need it most.
Juza: ……
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
Izumi: Alright. For today's rehearsals, we'll go over the action scene between Banri-kun and Juza-kun again.
Are you ready, you two?
Banri: 'Nytime.
Juza: Yeah.
Izumi: —And action!
Banri: Hmph…!!
[SWISH SWISH]
Juza: Haa…!!!
[SWOOSH]
Juza: (It'll come when I need it most… Is what Chikage-san said, right.)
(But WHEN is that supposed to be? I'm already doin' my best keepin' up with this guy. How do I know when's the right time—)
Banri: Look who's cheeky 'nough to be deep in thought right now.
Juza: …..
Banri: … Hey bastard, are ya actually tryin' to corner me down or what over here?!
Juza: ——
[AGGRESIVELY SWINGS]
Banri: —!!
[SWOOSH]
[SWISH SWOOSH]
Izumi: (Juza-kun's movements changed. Even though it almost seemed like Banri-kun was the one who had him clinging to his last seconds there—)
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
Izumi: —We're stopping there!
Kumon: You were so aweeesome there, Nii-chan!
Azami: Yeah. Talk about intense.
Tenma: Seems like all the days of practicing with the butterfly knife was worth it.
Juza: … Seems like it… Feels like I got the hang of it now.
(It ain't just about how I use my hands; I need to have the grippin' emotion of taking this guy down, too.)
(This must've been what Chikage-san meant by actin' it out by feeling…)
(And along with that is how Arthur feels 'bout Ash…)
Banri: —The fuck you starin' for?
Juza: … I ain't doin' shit.
Banri: Hah? You totally WERE!
Juza: Haah?!
Tasuku: … And they're back to this again.
Omi: The same old scene, as always.
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[1] ジューザが銃を使う (JYUUZA ga jyuu wo tsukau); verbal pun. Took a different play on words for english (kudos to han for these lines)