Scene 3

* Volume
* Magazine

**Scene 3. Stage 2** is the third chapter of *Act-Age* manga series.

## Summary

This chapter begins with Yonagi watching a video of her acting. She was really serious watching a video, even Yuki called her repeatedly but she didn't hear. Yuki worries because Yonagi was been watching the same footage on repeat for 3 hours, even she says Yonagi is scarier than Sadako from Ring. Kuroyama just sit while reading a newspaper, then says that it was her first time shooting a video and he guesses she is excited.

Suddenly Yonagi calls Kuroyama, asks him if there is something strange about how she is in the video? Kuroyama answers no because the client was happy with it and she said to herself that she looks pretty. Yonagi still feels strange about the video but she doesn't know why. After that conversation, Yonagi leaves the office because she has work that night.

Yuki asks Kuroyama if Yonagi was definitely odd. Kuroyama just says that Yonagi is legit because she recognized intuitively that her performance is still unrefined. He believes she will evolve while making a weird expression. Yuki asks him if he was really happy lately. She wonders if because all this time he has been dissatisfied with all of the talents they have seen an now he has finally found the gem he has been searching for in Yonagi. She thinks that one-day Yonagi will be ready to play a special role in Kuroyama's future film. Kuroyama agrees with that statement while saying that that is why he created the company and now he just needs to throw himself to Yonagi's training.

In the Stars Agency office. Arisa Hoshi is watching Yonagi's acting video for the web ad that Kuroyama made. She is amazed by him because he evoked a high level of sensitivity in an actress in just one day. Even Arisa's assistant doesn't believe that Yonagi is the same girl they saw in the audition. She expected that because she knew it was Kuroyama's role as a director to draw out an artist's full potential. She is glad because he is developing Yonagi's skill before going public. But, she feels alert and says that they need to act quickly because Kuroyama isn't an ordinary director. According to her, Sumiji Kuroyama had won accolades at all of the world's top movie festivals like Cannes, Berlin and Venice film festival. The reason why he's still not well-known in Japan is only that he never prioritized fame until now. Arisa worries because she thinks he will destroy her industry for his dream and now he has his weapon, Kei Yonagi.

The next day Yonagi, Kuroyama, and Yuki arrive at shooting locations. This shooting is set in Edo-era Village. Yonagi is amazed by the shooting set while she doesn't know yet what they are filming and what her role is. Kuroyama just says "Stage 2, Yonagi". Yonagi changes her costume into a kimono with Yuki's help. While fixing Yonagi's costume, Yuki says that they're filming a period piece of net prime. Kuroyama isn't directing that project and they are there as Yonagi's manager. Then Kuroyama tries to explain about filming staff to Yonagi, from the director, production team, film crew to audio crew. Yuki explains that Yonagi's role is an extra who is basically passerby in the setting. Despite just be one in crown of people in the background behind the stars and don't have specific line, Yuki says that extras are quite important. Yonagi has no objection to that.

Everyone is preparing for filming. One of the film assistants explains the scenario. The scenario is a young girl chases a stray ball into Daimyo's procession and is slain on the spot for her impudence, while the rest of the villager look on and helpless to intercede. Yonagi will act as one of the villagers. Yonagi is thinking about the scenario because her role is a villager from the Edo era and she has never experienced it because she was born in the Heisei era. While Yonagi thinking, some film crew see Kuroyama and Yuki. They wonder if they have seen Kuroyama somewhere before. Yuki just mutters that if they should know Kuroyama's face if they are in the entertainment business.

The shooting will try to take testing. When the director says "Action", Yonagi tries to delve her role as a villager who witnesses a samurai killing a young girl and she just looks on as they kill her. Suddenly, she jumps into the scene and kicks the actor who played as a samurai. Everyone are shocked while Kuroyama just laughs hard. Yonagi says if the young girl is okay. the young girl says that she is okay but she is supposed to be killed in the scenario and after that, she is suddenly crying. Yonagi apologizes to the director and film crew because she made a mistake. a film assistant tries to remove her from the set but the director thinks about something and then asks him to leave her for now. Yonagi talks to the director. She says she can't look on as a child is killed. Director answer "You're an actress. The script is your bible.". While the director and Yonagi talk to each other. Kuroyama explains what he means as Stage 2. Stage 2 is playing a person who isn't you and it's an important lesson. Yuki doesn't believe that Kuroyama is using someone's project as his teaching tool. This chapter ends at that scene.

## Chapter Notes

* This is the first time Studio Daikokuten's office is displayed from outside.
* Sumiji Kuroyama had won accolades at the world's top movie festivals. In this chapter, Arisa mentions movie festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice Film Festival.
* Although already won a lot of film awards overseas. Kuroyama isn't famous in Japan, even film crew in this chapter are hard to recognize him.
* This is the first time Yonagi has acted for a drama project and also the first time Yonagi plays as an extra.
* Koujirou Takada and Kanon Yamamori appear in this chapter, but will be formally introduced in the next chapter.

## Characters in This Chapter

* Kei Yonagi
* Yuki Hiiragi
* Sumiji Kuroyama
* Arisa Hoshi
* Shimizu
* Koujirou Takada
* Kanon Yamamori