[13] Scripts and Stitches

As the others started to pack up, Kana approached me. "So," she said quietly, "what do you really think?"

I glanced around, making sure no one was in earshot. "Honestly? It's... not quite what I expected."

She nodded, a knowing look in her eyes. "Welcome to adaptations, Akira-san. First lesson: be prepared for changes."

I chuckled humorlessly. "Changes are one thing, but this feels like... I don't know, like all the life's been sucked out of it."

Kana's expression turned thoughtful. "You've read the manga, I take it?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I wanted to get a feel for the character."

"Then use that," she said, her voice low. "They can change the words, but they can't change what you bring to the role. Find ways to add those layers back in."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is that allowed?"

"Let's just say it's part of the actor's job to interpret the character. As long as you hit your marks and say your lines, there's room for... nuance."

As she walked away, I found myself reevaluating Kana Arima. She wasn't just experienced - she was clever. And maybe, just maybe, she could be an ally in bringing some life back to these characters.

I packed up my things, mind already working on how to infuse some of the real Kanata into tomorrow's shoot. This wasn't the adaptation I'd hoped for, but it was the one I had. Time to make it work.

I paced my small apartment, script in hand, muttering lines under my breath. The first episode's storyline was simple enough - Miyu's backstory and her initial meeting with Kanata while helping him find a cat. But the way they'd written Kanata... it was like they'd taken a cheese grater to his personality.

"Alright, they want a bad boy heartthrob. But that's not who Kanata really is. So how do we merge the two?"

I flipped to the first interaction between Kanata and Miyu. The lines were cringeworthy at best.

"Hey there, beautiful. Seen any stray cats around here? Besides me, of course," I read aloud, wincing at every word.

I shook my head. "No way. Kanata wouldn't say that. He's abrasive, yeah, but not... whatever this is."

I closed my eyes, thinking back to the manga. Kanata's first meeting with Miyu was abrupt, almost rude. But there was an underlying vulnerability there, a hint at the pain he carried.

"Okay, let's try this," I muttered, opening my eyes and staring down my reflection. Time to channel Kanata - the real Kanata.

I hunched my shoulders slightly, letting a scowl settle on my face. When I spoke, my voice was gruff, with an edge of irritation.

"Oi. You. Seen a cat around here? Orange tabby. Kind of mangey looking."

I paused, then added a mutter under my breath, "Like I've got time for this shit."

Not bad. It kept the basic idea of asking about the cat, but with Kanata's actual personality. Now for Miyu's response...

I flipped the page, reading Kana's line. "Oh, um, I think I saw one near the park earlier. Do you need help looking?"

I snorted. Even in this watered-down version, Miyu's kindness shone through. Alright, how would Kanata react to that?

I let my scowl deepen, but allowed a flicker of surprise to cross my face. "Hah? Why would you want to help a stranger? What's your angle?"

I nodded to myself. That felt more authentic. Suspicious, defensive, but with a hint of genuine confusion at someone offering help without expecting anything in return.

I was still muttering lines to myself when a rapid knock at the door jolted me out of character.

"I'm home!" Marin's sing-song voice called from the other side.

I blinked, momentarily disoriented as I shifted from Kanata's headspace back to my own. "Coming," I called back, tossing the script onto the futon.

I opened the door to find Marin beaming at me, her arms laden with shopping bags. "Guess what? I found the perfect cosplay for my next convention!"

"Let me guess," I deadpanned, "it's another barely-there outfit that'll give your followers nosebleeds."

Marin giggled, pushing past me into the apartment. "You know me so well, Akira-kun! But this one's special." She reached into her bag, pulling out a colorful game case. "Ta-da! The pièce de résistance!"

I squinted at the title. 'Saint ♡ Slippery's Academy for Girls - The Young Ladies of the Humiliation Club: Debauched Miracle Life 2'

"I'm planning to cosplay as Shizuku Kuroe. She's the cool, mysterious transfer student with a dark past."

The colorful cover featured a cast of anime girls in different dresses. "I see. And this Shizuku character...you plan to cosplay her at the next con?"

Marin nodded eagerly. "Yup! Her costume is perfect for me - mysterious, alluring, with just the right amount of skin showing."

She leaned in conspiratorially. "The real challenge will be getting into character. Shizuku is so complex - she starts out shy and bookish, but as her dark past is revealed, she becomes bolder and more assertive."

I raised an eyebrow. "You almost sound like you're preparing for a role, not just a costume."

"Of course!" Marin looked affronted. "Cosplay isn't just about appearances - it's about capturing the essence of a character. Their personality, their quirks, their..."

"Oh, right!" Marin's eyes lit up. "How was the read-through? Did you meet your co-stars?"

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. Marin must have noticed my expression because her excitement dimmed a bit.

"That bad, huh?"

I sighed, dropping onto the futon. "It's not... terrible. Just different from what I expected."

Marin plopped down next to me, her knee brushing against mine. "Different how?"

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. "You know how in manga, characters have all these layers and complex motivations?"

Marin nodded enthusiastically. "Like in 'Kimi ni Todoke' when Sawako-"

"Yeah, yeah," I cut her off before she could launch into a full analysis. "Well, imagine if someone took all that and just... flattened it. Made everything simple and surface-level."

Marin's brow furrowed. "But why would they do that? The complexity is what makes characters interesting!"

I shrugged. "Guess they think it's easier for a TV audience to digest."

"That's stupid," Marin declared, crossing her arms. "People aren't stupid. They can handle complex characters."

"You're preaching to the choir here."

Marin's face suddenly lit up. "I know! Why don't you add the complexity back in yourself?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What, you mean like... improvise?"

"Not exactly," Marin said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "More like... interpretation! You know the character from the manga, right? So use that knowledge to add depth to your performance!"

I stared at her, surprised by the suggestion. It wasn't too different from what Kana had hinted at earlier.

"You know," I said slowly, "that's not a bad idea."

Marin beamed, clearly proud of herself. "See? I'm not just a pretty face!"

I snorted. "Never said you were."

I stood up, stretching my arms above my head. "Alright, let's give this a shot."

Marin clapped her hands excitedly. "Ooh, are you gonna act out a scene? Can I watch?"

I shrugged. "Sure, why not? You can be my audience."

I took a deep breath, letting my posture shift. My shoulders hunched slightly, and I felt a scowl settle onto my face. When I spoke, my voice came out gruff and irritated.

"Oi. You. Seen a cat around here? Orange tabby. Kind of mangey looking."

I paused, then added under my breath, "Like I've got time for this shit."

Marin's eyes widened. She leaned forward, completely engrossed.

I imagined Kana's response, her soft voice saying, "Oh, um, I think I saw one near the park earlier. Do you need help looking?"

My scowl deepened, but I let surprise flicker across my face. "Hah? Why would you want to help a stranger? What's your angle?"

Marin squealed, bouncing on the futon. "Oh my gosh, Akira-kun! That was amazing! You totally became a different person!"

I relaxed my posture, letting the character slip away. "You think so?"

"Absolutely!" Marin nodded vigorously. "It was like watching Kanata come to life! The way you changed your voice and everything... it was so cool!"

"Thanks. I'm still working on it, but-"

"No buts!" Marin interrupted, wagging her finger at me. "You're gonna knock their socks off tomorrow, I just know it!"

I set the script down, rubbing my eyes. After going over the lines for what felt like the hundredth time, I was starting to see them when I closed my eyes.

"Alright, enough of that," I muttered to myself, standing up and stretching. My stomach growled, reminding me it was time for dinner. I glanced at Marin, who was sprawled on the futon, her face buried in her phone.

"Hey, I'm gonna start on dinner. Any requests?"

Marin looked up, her eyes bright. "Ooh, can we have omurice? Pretty please?"

I snorted. "What are you, five? Fine, omurice it is."

As I moved to the kitchen area, Marin called out, "You're the best, Akira-kun!"

I started pulling ingredients from the fridge, listening to Marin's excited chatter as she scrolled through her phone.

"Oh my gosh, Akira-kun! I found the perfect wig for Shizuku! It's this gorgeous deep violet color, and it's got these long, silky strands that'll look amazing when I style it."

"Uh-huh," I responded, focusing on chopping vegetables. "Sounds nice."

"And look at this fabric!" She bounded over, shoving her phone in my face. I leaned back, trying to focus on the screen without going cross-eyed.

"Purple. Very... purple," I said, gently pushing her hand away. "Watch it, I've got a knife here."

Marin giggled, unfazed. "It's not just purple, silly! It's a rich, deep violet that'll perfectly capture Shizuku's mysterious aura. And look at the sheen on it! It'll catch the light just right when I move."

I nodded, only half-listening as I started the rice cooker. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

"Well, not everything," Marin admitted, hopping up to sit on the counter next to where I was working. I shot her a look, but she just grinned and swung her legs. "I still need to figure out how to make the headpiece. It's this intricate black design, and I want to get all the details right."

I stirred the vegetables in the pan, adding some soy sauce. "Can't you just buy one?"

Marin gasped, looking scandalized. "Akira-kun! A true cosplayer makes their own accessories! It's all about the craftsmanship and attention to detail."

"Right, my bad," I said. "So what's your plan?"

Marin's face scrunched up in thought. "Well, I was thinking of using a lightweight plastic as a base, then covering it with black fabric. But getting the lace pattern right is going to be tricky..."

As she rambled on about different techniques and materials, I finished cooking the chicken and started on the omelettes.

"...and then I'll need to figure out the best way to attach the tights without them bunching up or sliding down," Marin was saying as I plated the food.

"Sounds complicated," I said, sliding a plate in front of her. "Here, eat before it gets cold."

Marin's eyes lit up at the sight of the omurice. "Ooh, it looks delicious! Thanks, Akira-kun!"

I sat down across from her with my own plate. "Yeah, yeah. Just eat."

As we dug in, Marin continued to talk between bites, her phone propped up against a water glass as she scrolled through cosplay photos.

"Oh, look at this one! See how she got the folds in the skirt? That's what I'm aiming for."

I glanced at the screen, raising an eyebrow at the rather revealing outfit. "Isn't that a bit... much for a school uniform?"

Marin giggled. "That's the point! It's supposed to be sexy and daring. Shizuku starts off all shy and proper, but as her dark past is revealed, her outfits get bolder too."

I shook my head, focusing back on my food. "If you say so."

"You know," Marin said, tapping her chin thoughtfully, "you'd make a great Gojo."

I paused, my chopsticks halfway to my mouth. "Who now?"

"Gojo! He's the mysterious bad boy at Saint Slippery's. Well, he's not actually a student there, he's more like a... hmm, how to explain it without spoilers..."

I held up a hand. "I'm gonna stop you right there. I'm not dressing up as some anime pretty boy."

Marin pouted. "Aw, come on! You'd look amazing in his outfit. It's all dark and brooding, just like you!"

I snorted. "Hard pass. I've got enough on my plate with this drama role."

"Speaking of which," Marin said, her eyes sparkling, "are you going to use some of those cool acting techniques you showed me earlier?"

I shrugged, pushing the last bit of rice around my plate. "Maybe. Depends on how the director reacts."

"You should totally do it! Show them what a real actor can do!"

"We'll see. For now, I'm just focused on not screwing up my lines."

As we finished eating, Marin's phone pinged with a notification. She squealed, nearly knocking over her glass as she grabbed it.

"Yes! The wig I wanted is back in stock! I've gotta order it now before it sells out again."

I stood, gathering our plates. "Go for it. I'll clean up here."

Marin beamed at me. "You're the best, Akira-kun!"

Once I finished cleaning the kitchen, my phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:

"Hey, it's Kana. Got your number from production. Want to run lines tomorrow before the shoot? Might be good to get on the same page."

I stared at the message, surprise mixing with a touch of suspicion. Was this a olive branch? A chance to coordinate our approaches? Or was she trying to suss out my plans?

Either way, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

"Sounds good," I texted back. "My place or yours?"

The response came quickly: "Neither. Meet me at Café Leblanc at 7 AM. It's quiet, and they make great coffee."

I smirked. Smart. Neutral ground, public enough to be safe, private enough to talk freely.

"See you there," I replied.