Chapter 27: Categories of Talent
Somehow, Aqua found himself having trained at the Lalalai Theatrical Company for an entire week.
Ever since Hikaru Hoshino introduced him to the head of the troupe, Mr. Kindaichi, Aqua had naturally joined the theater's experience-based acting workshop. Aqua still remembered the scene that day: upon seeing him, Kindaichi froze for two full minutes before suddenly becoming giddy with excitement for reasons known only to himself.
Over the following week, Aqua felt as though he was being groomed to be the troupe's future pillar; he had no idea what Kindaichi actually saw in him.
Attending kindergarten during the day, heading to the theater after school, and returning home at night to Ruby's cold mockery—Aqua had somehow grown accustomed to this "hellish" lifestyle.
It was the weekend again, and with no school, Aqua arrived at the theater early in the morning.
To his surprise, Hikaru Hoshino was also there. Upon spotting Aqua, Hikaru left Mr. Kindaichi—whom he had been chatting with—and walked straight toward him.
"So, I take it this week has been quite fulfilling?"
Hikaru laughed and ruffled Aqua's hair, turning his neat blonde bangs into a messy bird's nest.
With a dark expression, Aqua swatted away Hikaru's meddling hand. "I suppose you could say I've had some gains. My understanding of acting has improved slightly."
"However, I still don't believe I have any talent for this."
Aqua assumed his classic "old soul" demeanor. He fixed his gaze on a girl practicing diligently in the distance and said indifferently:
"The harder I work, the more I feel the gap between myself and those with true talent. No matter how much I struggle, I can't catch up to their silhouettes. In the end, I'm just not suited to be an actor."
"Hey now, listen to you."
Hikaru felt like he was about to lose it. What was with these people and their obsession with "talent" and "giftedness"? He had wanted to complain about this back when he was reading the manga, but he never expected to have the scene play out right in front of him.
He decided to have a proper discussion with Aqua.
"What do you think is the most important thing for an actor?"
"Isn't it acting skills?" Aqua looked up, puzzled.
"No. A good actor needs to work on many fronts. There are many key factors, but the *most* crucial one definitely isn't pure acting skill."
"If an actor has the looks and their acting is passable, they've basically met the criteria to debut. But for future development, being good at acting doesn't guarantee fame. Persona, resources, company strength, marketing... there are too many variables. Those who survive in the end are usually the 'slick veterans' who adapted to the rules of society, not necessarily the 'method' or 'powerhouse' actors."
Hikaru also turned his gaze toward the girl practicing hard in the corner. She looked to be about the same age as Aqua, with shoulder-length hair and clear, sapphire-like eyes. Clutching her script, she used exaggerated and slightly unrefined movements to portray the image in her mind.
"You think she's one of those 'talented' people, don't you?"
Hikaru voiced Aqua's thoughts.
"But from my perspective, an actor like her—unless something happens to trigger a major change—will likely remain lukewarm for the rest of her life. There are plenty of A-list stars in Japan right now whose acting can't even touch this little girl's, yet they still hold those top spots."
"The highest-earning entertainers are almost exclusively variety comedians, because those shows have a stable market and high ratings, which naturally attracts massive capital investment."
"And 'talent' like hers usually only finds soil in stage plays or arthouse films. Neither field is doing well lately. Theater has been on a downward slope for years, and while arthouse films are perennial award favorites, it's an industry consensus that they mean small investments and broke crews. In such soil, where is the hope of becoming a national-level actor?"
"This is the entertainment industry—a battlefield for capital—not some hot-blooded shonen sports manga."
"As I see it, Aqua," Hikaru let out a huff through his nose, "compared to those 'powerhouse' types, your future is actually far broader."
"You know how to coordinate relationships on set, you understand how to please a director, and your looks are top-tier. For a smart person like you, if you join a major agency—I won't say you'll definitely be a sensation, but you'll certainly make a name for yourself."
Hikaru patted Aqua heavily on the shoulder, nearly knocking the boy off balance.
"Don't go around saying you have no talent anymore. Next time, I'll just assume you're being ironic and actually trying to brag," Hikaru said slyly.
"I wasn't try—" Aqua instinctively tried to argue, but ultimately swallowed his words with a sigh of helplessness.
"Fine, I get it. I won't say it anymore."
Hikaru laughed heartily. "That's more like it! Why does a kid have to act so old all the time? 'I can't do this, I'm not good at that'... you lack vigor and vitality."
"Come on. You've been staring at that girl for a long time, haven't you? Let me help you break the ice!"
With that, Hikaru marched toward the rehearsing girl, while a terrified Aqua grabbed onto his shirt.
"She's practicing just fine, let's not disturb her."
"Is that the excuse you've been using to convince yourself all week?" Hikaru looked at Aqua with disappointment. "At the very least, go ask for a name and some contact info."
"Besides, I'm not disturbing her. This might actually be an opportunity for her."
Hikaru pried Aqua's fingers off one by one, leaving the immature boy behind as he approached the lovely little girl.
"Tired from practicing? Want some water?"
As he spoke, he handed over the soda he had originally prepared for Aqua.
"Thank you, but I'm alright," the girl politely declined.
"Your acting is quite good—comparable even to Kana Arima from our production. Interested in acting in a movie?"
The girl's eyes suddenly lit up at the mention of "Kana Arima." She seemed very interested, yet she still hesitated and declined timidly.
"I think I'll pass... my acting is still very unrefined. I don't deserve such praise."
"Don't be like that." Hikaru yanked the reluctant Aqua to his side. "This kid's acting is even worse, and he's already decided to join. Why don't you reconsider?"
Aqua began to struggle violently.
"Won't it be a great experience to improve together in the field? Getting to act alongside Kana Arima at close range... opportunities like that don't come often."
The hesitation on the girl's face became more pronounced. Seeing this, Hikaru flashed a satisfied smile.
"I haven't asked your name yet. I'm Hikaru Hoshino."
The blue-haired girl gripped her script tightly and bowed deeply. When she stood up, her water-blue eyes were filled with a budding resolve.
"Akane Kurokawa. Please look after me."