Chapter 2

…Well then, let us begin again once more.

It is time to begin the selection of the Main Host for the tradition we hold great pride in, the Feature Tourー

YESYESYEEEEES!!

YESES ON YESES ON YESES!!

I! AM! HOST!

HOST! IS! MEEEE!!

Isotake, calm down.

I’m getting a weird sense of deja vu.

Isotake-kun is volunteering with the utmost enthusiasm. If there are any objections, please raise your hand high.

I don’t really care either way, so you can go with whatever.

Isotake has yet to be the main nor the subhost. I believe he would be a fair choice.

I was… thinking the… same.

If he’s the host, …he can decide… on the location.

Ahh, I get it.

So while we’re on the study trip, he can choose the location he wants for the film contest.

Ding ding ding!

Akuta-kun, are you participating in a contest?

Yup yup. I’ll be shooting my ultimate weapon that’ll serve as my turning point.

Now that you mention it… I believe the club Isotake-kun is in charge of, also known as the Macrocosmic Milky Way Miracle Solid Movie Club, is in a critical state. The very existence of it is teetering on the edge of extinction.

Ehh!? When did you get into a pinch like this…!?

In order to avoid that happening, he must build a track record of activity by submitting an activity report…

It seems that this is how he decided to do it.

Right on the mark, yes!

My target issss… A win at the SomSomFil Contest!!

Somsomfill…?

The name of the film contest. He somehow abbreviated it.

It’s very unique sounding.

Well, you can do whatever you want. Just as long as I’m not involved.

Think again! Can you still say that once you take a look at my SECRET WEAPOOON~!?

Uugh!?

T-That’s…!

The “Film Production / Support Ticket (Day2)”¹…!

That’s the gift… we all gave to Isotake… for his birthday…

I never would’ve assumed he’d use that trump card here… Well played.

It seems that you all have made up your minds. The same is true for us.

You’re joking… I never should’ve agreed to that gift…

With that said, from now on you can call us… The group that can make crying kids laugh until their sides hurt! We’re the “Isotake Troupe ²”!

Obviously I’m the Director.

Ushio’s the Assistant Director, Nanaki’s our Sound Operator, aaand Muneuji’s on lights!

Hah!? Why!?

There is no why! It’s a feeling!

Got it.

Then it’s decided.

‘kay, theeen, Kari-sen’s our Costume Designer, and Sensei is our Producer!

I shall demonstrate the best of my abilities.

I’ll try my best…!

What about… me…?

Kiroku’s our lead actor!

HUH!?

This is the first time this year I’ve heard Kinugawa let out such a loud voice.

Also counting on ya to be my Sub Host!

He just casually chose him.

Of course the… Sub Host is fine… But… the lead actor is… way too much…!

Nah, it’s fine to feel like a flightless bird or like a baby bird leaving the nest for the first time! But my eyes do, in fact, NOT deceive me!

If you and I combi up, I’m so sure we can put together an amazing tour AND get some good shots too!

Every universe in the cosmos is telling me that if I’m with Kiroku, I’ll have the power of 10 billion people with me!

Ah… Uu…

Kiroku-kun, what do you think?

(…Isotake has found a lot of good things about me up until now. He also helped me out a lot when I was making my pieces of work.)

(So now, it’s my turn…)

……

…I don’t know if… I’ll be any good, but… If that’s fine… with you, then…

LET’S GOOOO!! Thanks for your OK~~!

Buddha Statue, if you don’t wanna do an irrational request that Idiotake makes, don’t just sit there looking dejected. Tell him outright.

Isn’t that your own opinion?

Hah? What do you mean by that?

I meant exactly what I said?

Anyways, Isotake. Do you know where you want to do your training?

Yeah. I was tryna come up with a whole buncha options, buuuut…

(Everyone seems used to Nanaki-kun and Ushio-kun’s bickering… They’ve already moved on.)

Since Kiroku gave me the all clear, then Fukui!

The heart of Fukui is?

Ah… Could it be…?

Correctomundo!! It’s the sanctuary for dinosaurs~~!!

Now that you mention it… I think we’ve talked about wanting to go to the dinosaur museum in Fukui before.

It’s been a goal of ours since we binged the “Dinosauro Park³”series in our room! It was a big hit!

It was a very lively get together at the time. Kinugawa was sketching during the whole duration.

The screen paused so I thought the movie froze or something, but then he got up and started counting the amount of teeth the dinosaurs had. I thought he was losing his mind.

Dinosaurs are really big… and cool… I wanna see one…

If we’re talking about Fukui, the Tonjibo Cliffs are also a must see location. If you wanted to film something in Fukui, you could get really cool footage up there…!

If that is the case, let us fill out a request for permission to film.

Thanks a bunch!

In addition to that… Isotake-kun will also be participating in my special course.

Huh? Special course…?

My personal Perfect Scenario Mastery Course: Lightning Speed Mastery Editiooooooon!!

And thus, the curtain rises..

I’ll be in your care.

Haha, you’re gonna take the course too, Sensei?

This is something I have absolutely no knowledge about, so I felt curious and decided to join you guys.

Now, l will begin to share the knowledge I have gathered with my expertise on analyzing winning trends in similar film contests that were held in the past! I shall teach that information to you.

Ehhh~~~ …I don’t really need any of that tho.

You believe so? In that case, will you be able to understand the terminology I will use in the course without any instruction?

Uhmm… I know vaguely about the “Johakyuu Structure”⁴ and the “Kishoutenketsu Structure”⁵, but…

What’s the “HELP THE DOG Principle”?

Sensei, that one’s likeee.

If you saw someone help Shuumai right in front of you, they’d be more likeable to you in a flash, right?

Of course! A person who likes dogs can’t be a bad person!!

It doesn’t haveta be a dog. If you see the main character of a movie do something good like that in the beginning, it helps you empathize with them more and gets you more invested right? That’s what it’s about.

Ohhh…! I get it…!

There’s a whole lotta techniques like that out there~

Like for example, the logline⁶! From cliffhangers⁷ to covered peaks⁸! The Hero’s Journey⁹! The list goes on!

Excellent. Isotake-kun, you studied up very well.

Ohh… It’s still a little confusing to me, but it’s awesome that you know the names to all these different techniques, Akuta-kun!

Hehehe… This is all before breakfast too. If it’s about movies, you can leave it to me!

Which is why I don’t really need instruction or anything from Kari-sen. Can’t we just call it quits?

Not quite. Having the knowledge of the terms is not the same as being able to put these techniques to use.

Because of that, we will start out by filling these scenario templates.

The paper is divided into square boxes.

This is that “box writing” thing right? I’m a genius, so I never had to use stuff like this..

If that is the case, then that is all the more reason why this is a necessary step for Isotake-kun.

Ehhh, forrealll…?

Indeed. By practicing this, you will be able to visualize the flow of your story and see it from an outside perspective.

With that said, your assignment is to use this template to create a plot that incorporates the theme of the contest, “friendship”.

That is your homework until tomorrow arrives. Am I understood?

Whenever I get told to do assignments and stuff, I feel like I need a lil extra motivation or something…

Am I understood?

SO CLOSE!? I-I MEAN, YES.

Yooo, you here, Kiroku?

Ah… Isotake, are we… going back already…?

Mmm nahh. I actually wanted to ask you for something, Kiroku.

I was gonna go turn my assignment in to Kari-sen in the club room now, but I wanted to ask if you’d read it too.

I usually write this kinda stuff by myself, but I wanted to get some input from the lead actor this time!

I thought I could get some more inspiration that way too!

Okay… If you’re okay… with me, then…

TYY!

‘k, I’ll give you a quick rundown of the story while we’re walkingー

Oh, what’s this? The bombers are having a little strategy meeting?

Trying to decide where to bomb next?

…!

So simple-minded, Morita-kun and Sekiguchi-kun! You’re totally off the mark.

Hmm? Well either way, don’t you have something else you need to be worrying about?

Hahaha, true. Isotake, he’s prob talking about your grades!

… Ahh…

I-Isotake…

T-The ground shakes where Akuta Isotake walks~~!

Now that you mention it, you’re totally right~~!?

Eh…

I just remembered. Didjya know? I broke my record on how many quizzes I could get a single digit score on in a row!

But! I’m a biiit busy right now, so I’ll worry about alla that later!! Then, see you guys tomorrow!!

Uh, yeah…

……

I-Isotake, um…

Hm? Didya forget something in the classroom?

Ah… No… It’s nothing…

If you’re good, then I’m good!

R-Right…

(I wonder what Isotake’s thinking about that whole exchange just now…)

(It’s not really a good thing to just forgive and forget about, butー)

Eh? ‘Cuz, isn’t it better to think positively than to just wallow in the negativity?

Well I guess I wouldn’t say it’s better, my brain just jumps back and forth like that without me thinking about it.

I’ll call itttttttttttt~~ …A Positive Jump! It’s like the most awesome life skill in the world! ¹⁰

(Is his brain just… jumping like it usually does…?)

Hmhmhmmmmm ♪

(But… That’s a bit…)