Free Time Events: Akira Azuki

Warning: All Free Time Events from this point forward will have major implicit spoilers for the main story, at least through Chapter III. Consider yourself warned.

EVENT 1: Azuki-san got started in acting at a young age, and fondly remembers her humble beginnings.

I spent some time with Azuki-san, and got the chance to ask about her for the first time since we got here. We'd been preoccupied by other things, but now that we had a free moment, she was happy to oblige me.

"There's something I'm curious about, Azuki-san," I said. "How did you get started in acting?"

Azuki-san paused. For a moment, I worried that she'd get angry at me for asking her for information I could read in a magazine or look up online (even if we didn't have either on the Ursa Major), but after a moment, she answered.

"Good question, Nagato," Azuki-san said. "In first grade, my class did a play, and I ended up getting the lead role. I forget the title, but it was a story about a prince who goes on a journey and saves a princess. A lot of media outlets know about my first 'real' voice acting role- as the protagonist's little sister on Heartthrob High School- but not many people know what I did before that."

"I see," I said. "Anyway, in that play, were you cast as the princess?"

"The prince," Azuki-san said. "Our class was short on boys, and none of them were up to the job, so I auditioned. I passed with flying colors, and the rest was history."

Azuki-san smiled as she recounted her story. She was obviously proud of herself, but she was also a bit nostalgic, and not just because we were trapped on a cruise ship. She probably also liked how her androgynous looks and boyish name came in handy from time to time.

"Performing in school plays was really fun," Azuki-san said. "It was a real rush to be the best in your class at something, and to more or less do the same thing all those actors on TV do. While you're on that stage, you get to be someone you're not- in my case, the hero of the story- and bring a story to life by participating in it."

"And you made it all the way to stardom," I said, "going from the prince in a school play to Magical Girl Sakura herself."

Azuki-san looked a bit uncomfortable after hearing Magical Girl Sakura's name, but if she was bothered, she didn't say it straight out.

"Yeah, but some of the best times I've had acting were when I performed with amateurs," Azuki-san said. "Despite obviously not having the skill or the experience the pros do, they actually do acting because they love it, not to build their resumes or get a paycheck. They love what they do, even if they aren't the best at it. As long as they actually do put in an effort, I can work with them."

I remained silent for a moment, pondering what Azuki-san had said.

"Are you surprised, Nagato?" Azuki-san said.

"Somewhat," I said. "I get where you're coming from, but I always thought that people who were good at something always aimed for the highest level- for example, a child who likes swimming at the local pool might want to one day compete in the Olympics. The only question is if that child's good enough."

"I get that," Azuki-san said. "Of course, for me, acting itself is most important, and as long as I can keep doing it, I'l be happy."

This conversation was an eye-opening experience in more ways than one. Not only had I learned more about Azuki-san, but I'd also seen the perspective of someone who was truly passionate about what she'd done.

EVENT 2: Being famous isn't without its downsides, but Azuki-san sees it as a necessary evil to do what she loves most.

We continued talking about some of Azuki-san's earlier works. Her school had been impressed by her performance as the prince, and cast her as the lead in the play about a high school student (a girl this time) who wakes up in the hospital with amnesia, and hears about how her schoolmate, her younger half-brother and her girlfriend perceive her. It was an interesting concept, and made me think about how I looked at Azuki-san herself.

"I've been thinking about where we left off last time," I said. "Back when we first met, you didn't seem happy to be recognized by your classmates. Is that true?"

"Not entirely," Azuki-san said. "I mean, it's a real pain have the attention of guys like Kojima, and there's a hell of a lot of people out there who make him seem tame. Then again, when it comes to being an actress, fame is a bit of a chicken and an egg proposition. Not only are the best actors famous, but you also have to be famous to succeed."

"What do you mean?" I said.

"It's simple," Azuki-san said. "You have to be fairly well-known to be an attractive prospect for casting and to have a fanbase large enough to keep your career going. Usually, this just requires being good at what you do, having a competent promoter and being smart about picking your roles, but one mistake can cost you big time."

I was speechless for a moment. On the one hand, this made the already unachievable goal of being an actress seem even further out of my reach. On the other hand, the more I learned about Azuki-san, the more human she seemed.

"That sounds difficult," I said.

Azuki-san shrugged.

"When I hear people talk about acting, it's often wannabe actors who think it'd be a lot of fun, and jaded actors who think it's a pain in the ass," Azuki-san said, "but really, neither group's completely right. It is a lot of hard work and there are some pretty seedy elements to the business, but if you can deal with everything that comes your way, it's also really fulfilling. It's not something I'd recommend to just anyone, but if you can make it, you should go for it."

"That's reasonable enough," I said, "but how do you know who can make it and who can't?"

"I honestly don't," Azuki-san said, "but I'm fairly certain a lot of people would know if they obviously aren't up to snuff. All I can say is I guess I'm one of the lucky ones."

While Azuki-san was a talented actress, she didn't necessarily have what it took to evaluate others' potential, probably because most of her coworkers were people who'd realized that potential.

"Yes, you are," I said. "I wish I had something- anything at all- that I was as good at as you are at acting."

Azuki-san gave me a look that said "Apart from tech support?" but luckily for me, didn't ask about that.

"You don't have to be 'the best' at anything," Azuki said, "since I'm probably not the best actress ever. All you need is something that you're good at and you love, and the rest should take care of itself."

I nodded and thanked Azuki-san, even though I wasn't sure whether I even had what she described. That bein said, I could tell that some of Azuki-san's inner strength came from her ability to think positively, so I resolved to at least try to do so.

EVENT 3: Azuki-san wasn't happy about playing Magical Girl Sakura, but took the role for the sake of her career.

After discussing all of Azuki-san's school plays, our conversation moved on to her professional acting roles. Azuki-san seemed a bit weary of talking about those, probably because of the endless interviews she had. That said, she was eager to talk about Shakespeare's plays, and her hope that one day, she'd be able to play a part in a work that become as much of a timeless classic as the Bard's greatest plays.

"I'll be honest, Nagato," Azuki-san said. "As much as you like Magical Girl Sakura, I wasn't too thrilled with how it turned out. I always thought it was kind of saccharine and childish."

"I suppose I see why you feel that way," I said, "since some critics used the same terms to describe it. I don't agree, though."

"I know," Azuki-san said. "What do you like about it, though?"

I paused to carefully word my answer.

"Let's see..." I said. "I liked how Sakura was portrayed fairly realistically for a child her age, particularly getting scared in her first real battle, and you did a good job of showing that. I also liked how Sakura's mother being a single mom wasn't just a way to avoid having to show her dad, but was actually a plot point. More than anything, though, it's fun. The story's engaging enough that you want to know how it turns out, it's believable enough to keep you invested in it and the characters are human enough to relate to. I guess what I'm saying is that I left the theater having enjoyed myself, and a lot of kids my age did, too."

"I get that," Azuki-san said.

I scrutinized Azuki-san. While her remark wasn't meant to be unsurprised or dismissive, something I said had struck a chord in her.

"Anyway, my mom saw potential in Magical Girl Sakura," Azuki-san said, "and foresaw that it would be a hit. She's not a fan of the series, since she's a couple decades outside its main demographic, but she did think it was well-made, and saw it as a good opportunity, so she insisted that I try out for the part- and take it once I got it."

"And you went along with it?" I said.

"Yeah," Azuki-san said. "Magical Girl Sakura wasn't my cup of tea, but it was popular and reasonably well-liked, so if I did a good job, it would be good for my career. Practically speaking, I had no reason to refuse."

Judging from how Azuki-san had reacted to seeing me around Nagato-sensei, it was obvious that her professional relationship with her mom was very different than my relationship with my mother-cum-teacher. Still, the elder Azuki-san was Akira-san's mother, so she still expected her daughter to obey her.

"The other reason," Azuki-san said, "is that my mom isn't purely doing this for herself. She wants a good career so she can put food on the table, but she also wants me to be a famous actress- or otherwise have a steady and well-paying job- so I can support myself. She knows she won't always be there for me, and wants me to be able to stand on my own in case anything happens to her."

"That's reasonable," I said. "Mom hoped that getting into Talent High School would help ensure my future success."

"Good for Nagato-sensei," Azuki-san said. "I guess our moms have that in common."

Azuki-san quickly changed the subject back to her professional film roles, much to my surprise. While Azuki-san had always struck me as outspoken and blunt, were there things that even she didn't like to talk about?

EVENT 4: Azuki-san was impacted by her father's death, which she realizes didn't solely affect her.

When I met up with Azuki-san, she didn't seem to be in any mood to talk about her films.

"Is something on your mind, Azuki-san?" I said.

Azuki-san nodded.

"By now, I suppose you've noticed that I've never mentioned my dad," Azuki-san said. "I think it's time I told you why."

Speaking from personal experience, I could probably tell that it wasn't a very happy story. That said, Azuki-san had resolved to tell it, so if she was willing, I had no desire to stop her.

"I'm listening," I said.

"Back when I was six, my dad was killed in a car accident," Azuki-san said. "It was a head-on collision when he was on the way home from work. None of us knew it was coming- Mom prepared dinner as usual, I couldn't wait to tell Dad about my day at school and Dad himself probably never realized that he wouldn't make it home until he saw the other vehicle coming right toward him."

"That's horrible..." I said. "Losing your father so suddenly and at such a young age."

Azuki-san nodded. I don't know how much she knew about me- specifically, that my father had died while Mom was pregnant with me- but she could tell that I understood. Perhaps Azuki-san had known her father, but she was also old enough to remember the pain of losing him.

"That's not the worst part," Azuki-san said. "What if I told you that the accident was my dad's fault?"

"How?" I said reflexively, with the words reaching my lips before I understood what I was saying.

"I overheard some conversations in the days after my dad died," Azuki-san said, "and did some digging when I got older. Dad's car was the one that crossed the center line and struck the oncoming vehicle, resulting in the accident. The other driver didn't make it, either, and he also had a daughter."

I thought about my own experience. While my father had been struck by a car and killed, it was as a pedestrian, and he was legally crossing the street.

"As you can see, it didn't make things any easier for me," Azuki-san said. "Whenever I miss my dad, I keep thinking about how his mistake cost someone else their life, and how there's another girl who lost her father. I have to wonder; do I have the right to miss him, when he took down another girl's father with him?"

"I think you do," I said without missing a beat. "Rather than compare who has it worse, you should have empathy for those with similar problems. Because that girl lost her father, you should understand how she feels and vice versa. I know because... I lost my father in a similar way."

"I had no idea," Azuki-san said. "Maybe you're the other girl?"

I shook my head firmly.

"I don't think so," I said. "My father died not long after my mother became pregnant with me. Our incidents were probably six to seven years apart."

"Yeah, I get it," Azuki-san said, a bit relieved. "But seriously, Nagato, I do see a lot of myself in you. Our dads aside, we both work hard for our moms' sake."

"Even if my career isn't nearly as important as yours?" I said.

"I believe so," Azuki-san said. "As long as you take it seriously, and do it well, then it'll serve that purpose just fine."

I nodded appreciatively. Some people would probably say something like that just to be nice, probably because people like me seemed pitiful to most who were living lives they were proud of. Azuki-san, however, wasn't the kind to sugarcoat her words, so if she said something nice, she meant it.

"I'm glad to hear that," I said. "Even if you didn't like Magical Girl Sakura, you did an excellent job as the lead. Even those who didn't like the film said you took the role seriously and played it well, so it's only natural that I'd think so, too."

"Thanks," Azuki-san said. "I guess that's what's really important."

I nodded.

"One more thing," I said. "Is it all right if I call you 'Akira-san'?"

"I was hoping you'd ask, Chiyuri," Akira-san said. "And the answer's yes. The '-san' is optional, though."

"Thank you, Akira-san," I said. "I take it you won't mind if I add it anyway."

Despite our depressing conversation, we shared a laugh, since we glad to see the barriers between us crumbling. There weren't many people I could tell about my father, apart from my mother, the woman he had loved, so I was overjoyed that I could add Akira-san to that small but growing list.

EVENT 5: Akira-san has started to appreciate her projects more.

We decided to spend some time in my room, and sat on my bed. Akira-san shared some stories about plays back in Shakespeare's day, such as how for all their reputation as high-brow literature, Shakespeare included some low-brow humor for the less sophisticated masses of Elizabethan England.

"You know, Chiyuri," Akira-san said, "I've been thinking, and maybe I was wrong to think of Magical Girl Sakura as just an opportunity to advance my acting career."

"Oh, really?" I said. "What brought about the change of heart?"

"For starters, people like you actually enjoy it," Akira-san said, "so it serves its purpose well. A lot of movies are supposed to be fun to watch, and in that sense, everyone who works on them are entertainers."

"Like you and your classmates were back in elementary school?" I said.

Akira-san nodded.

"Yeah, we were," Akira-san said. "The play didn't charge admission and there weren't any professional critics in attendance, but the school enjoyed it, and some of my classmates kept telling me that I did a good job. Of course, the people who gave bad reviews to Magical Girl Sakura wouldn't be any kinder to us if they held us to the same standard as the films they reviewed."

"Do you think they're wrong?" I said.

"Hard to say," Akira-san said. "The critics often have good points about what the movie makers did well or badly, but sometimes, viewers like a movie critics hated or vice versa. Maybe the fans aren't thinking as deeply as the critics, or the critics are so caught up analyzing the artistic and technical merits that they don't consider whether the movie's fun. I don't know which of them is 'right' or if there's even a right or wrong in debates like this, but as long as people enjoy my work, then I'm happy."

"I'm glad to hear that," I said. "I'm looking forward to your next work, whatever it is."

"Thanks, Chiyuri," Akira-san said. "I hope that someday, I'll play a big role in a work produced by the next Shakespeare, but for now, I'll do my best to produce movies and shows people will enjoy. That's the least I owe to you as my fan- and more importantly, my friend."

We sealed the promise with a handshake. Not many people besides Mom saw potential in me, so I'd always be grateful for Akira-san for doing so, and treasure her as my first true friend.

Skill: Retake. Reduce Influence Gauge penalty from a wrong answer.

Akira's Undergarments: A generic non-name brand pair of briefs. According to Azuki, you won't be able to tell if these are hers.

Here's the first of the Side C Free Time Events, showing a perspective reversal- now Nagato is spending time with Azuki. The Free Time Events for anyone who were alive at the end of Chapter III will take place in the killing game, while those who died by the end of Chapter III (Azuki, Kojima, Mihama, Taiga, Tsukimura and Yamazaki), will take place in Cruise Mode.

Some people complained about Shuichi's Free Time Events with Kaede being too "fanservicey," and focusing on their relationship, so I mainly focused on Azuki's acting career. There are some bits about her friendship with Nagato, particularly Nagato being a fan of Magical Girl Sakura, and how they both lost their fathers, but it isn't the primary focus.

As for Azuki, one aspect that's sometimes touched upon is that she's a big fan of Shakespeare, which I referenced in several ways- her birthday (the Ides of March), her occasionally thinking about Shakespeare's work, her last words (from Hamlet), and her execution.