Okay, team!

Let's start our first full rehearsal!

Yeah!

But are you sure you're okay?

Doesn't it still hurt?

You hit your head pretty hard, so take it easy. We don't want to make you worse than you already are.

Are you worried about me or just mocking me...?

Anyway, I'm fine! I got checked out at a hospital just to be sure.

Let's focus on the rehearsal today, okay?

If you're REALLY sure you're okay... Let's get started!

We're going to do a read-through first, right?

Rui, you said you'd bring us copies of the script.

...

Rui? Hello?

Sorry, what was that? Ah, the script.

Here are your copies! Ready to go?

Yeah...

Director! We have a remarkably large audience today!

Oh? Excellent!

Let's see what sort of demographic it is this time... Huh?

Am... Am I seeing this right?

Are these creatures...crawling out of graves?!

Could they be... No, they DEFINITELY are zombies! And they're headed this way!

Yikes, you're right!

And they don't smell very nice either!

That's not the problem! Goodness me, we must evacuate our visitors at once!

Before the zombies get them, that is!

At this point Tsukasa makes his way to the center of the audience seats while addressing the guests as he passes them.

Run away! Run away!

Zombies are coming!

Next, he faces the oncoming zombies and...

No, er... He should turn back and return to the stage. Then he says his next line....

Hold on, isn't that kind of anticlimactic?

This is the first scene with the zombies.

It needs to have more of an impact.

Yes, I suppose so...

How about I fight the zombies?

Cooool!

I wanna fight too!

That could work. Tsukasa could struggle as he tries to fight one zombie and the audience will know that these are formidable opponents.

Yes... We could have that. And while he's struggling with the one zombie, a whole throng of them can appear from the other side...

Tsukasa dashes back towards the stage, the zombies close ranks and the audience will hold their breath.

Hah! Everyone's eyes will be glued to me!

And then? What happens next?

Just when the zombies are about to catch him, Tsukasa performs a miraculous leap!

Ah, it's wire-flying time!

He somersaults in the air and flies past his pursuers...

That's going to look INCREDIBLE♪

This is just the kind of daring performance I was born for! What comes after that, Rui?

Actually... This might be too much action so early in the play. It'll throw off the pacing.

Really?

I need to give it some more thought. Let's leave it for now and move on to the next scene.

Rui...?

Sooo... The next scene is where I get dragged away into the trap room!

We had a bit of an accident last time, but I'll pull it off without a hitch this time!

About that scene...

I'd like to tweak it a little.

In what way?

Disappearing into the trap room creates a problem where the audience can't see what's happening.

It would be better if zombies appeared at the far side of the stage and you'll find yourself cornered.

You can still act the being dragged underground part, just you'll be doing it while in the full view of the audience. Don't you think that would be better?

Well, it's not bad but...

Are you sure you're happy with just that...?

Hm? What do you mean?

Our Halloween show deserves to be more original than that. I'm fired up for it and really want to outdo myself.

There's nothing wrong with pantomiming it but it's going to take away from the realism we're trying to create.

Now, zombies emerging from beneath the stage gives it a real sense of danger!

Let's have TEN zombies gang up on me and pull me under for a powerful and dramatic effect!

That many? It sounds risky, especially since you nearly got hurt last time we tried it with just one.

That was due to my carelessness. Don't worry, I can do this! The audience will be even more thrilled if it looks a little dangerous!

What do you think, Rui?

Um...

I don't think it would be visually appealing.

We should keep the action on the stage.

Let's go with the change I mentioned earlier... Hm?

What is it?

Did I say something strange?

Not strange, but...

It's just that...

You don't sound like yourself.

I don't...?

Hmm. I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary. How am I acting different from usual?

It's hard to put my finger on it, but...

...

Hey, Rui...

Is this honestly what you want from this show?

Huh?