Double Planet Episode 6

Double Planet
Episode 6: "From my own story to my story and Natsuki's"
Tamaru Luka (Furuta Jun & Kanda Yota / Radio Shonan Personality)

"I've been doing well," we exchanged greetings like this many times in the classroom. Meeting face-to-face with classmates I'd been in contact with on social media, I realized how much fun it was to talk face-to-face and feel each other's warmth. There's no time lag in communication, and it's comforting to be face-to-face with the other person. It's something we take for granted, but now we realize its value. COVID-19 has taken so much from us, and while it's really annoying, at the same time, it may have also given us a sudden realization. When I mentioned this to Natsuki from the drama club, she responded within seconds.

"That's what theater is all about."

Natsuki has a tendency to want to link everything to theater. But this time, I was convinced. The appeal of theater is that people come face to face with each other, emotions collide, and drama is born and a story is formed. The audience can watch this directly. That's the appeal of a live performance.

"But it seems club activities will be difficult for a while."

I thought the same. Classes may return little by little through staggered attendance, staggered school attendance times, and shortened classes, but the resumption of club activities is another matter. I still wasn't sure how the drama club would resume.

"The summer tournament may also be canceled..."

With that said, Natsuki went completely silent.
I understood Natsuki's feelings all too well. Natsuki had practiced harder than any of the third-years and said that she would definitely enter the competition as a cast member. What's more, if it were allowed, she would like to try for the lead role. Natsuki's ambition was endless, as she wanted to experience the pressure that only a lead role can bear.

In fact, my consciousness was not lost.

During this school closure, I wrote a play without anyone asking me to.
When I sent an email to the radio show "Love & Music" asking for advice, I shelved the strange story I had in mind: "The animal I thought was a dog, but it turns out to be a cat, is actually what I wanted to create." I started thinking about what kind of work I really wanted to create, and started coming up with ideas again. Keywords like "friends" and "future" came to mind. I wanted to create a story that wasn't a worldview that was too far-fetched, but something life-sized. It featured life-sized characters. I didn't really know how to write it, but I looked up formats online and somehow managed to keep writing by imitating others. I made it a habit to wake up at a set time every day, write at a set time, and go to bed at a set time. This was because I was influenced by reading essays by Haruki Murakami. I felt like a great writer, at least. And so, after a little over a week, I finished a work of about 30 pages.

The title is "Sky and Puzzle"

Rather than feeling a sense of accomplishment at finishing it, I was overcome with anxiety: "Is this really interesting?" To be honest, I wasn't confident. That's why I hadn't told anyone yet. It's not that I was being shy, I was simply embarrassed to even talk about it. But I still thought I should tell them. No matter how I thought about it, now was the perfect time to tell them.

"I... I wrote a play script."

My voice was very weak and quiet, but Natsuki didn't miss it.

"Oh, you wrote it? The one with the cat and dog?"
"No, I wrote it with a new idea. If you'd like... please read it sometime."

Natsuki's face, which had been depressed, suddenly brightened up.

"I'll read it! I'll definitely read it, so send it to me!"

I was surprised, as I had a feeling that Natsuki would reject it again at some point. I never imagined she would be so enthusiastic about reading it. Something you create can cheer someone up. Sometimes, even before they come into contact with the work, the mere fact that it exists can have the power to change a person. This reality made my heart race. COVID-19 has taken many things from us, but because I was able to spend more time at home, I was able to write a story. On my way home from high school, my steps were so light I could almost dance.

The next day, Saturday, I read the script one more time before sending it to Natsuki. I did a final check for typos and attached the Word document to an email. All that was left to do was press the send button. Once I pressed it, it would go from being just my story to being a story about me and Natsuki. My fingers were shaking. It was just a press. It had been a long time since I had felt this nervous.

At that time, an email was featured on "Love & Music."

"hello!
It's subtle blue.
"Kiseki no Kotoba" is the first song I've written lyrics for, and although I've tried various things as an amateur, I'm completely lost when it comes to composing. I can come up with a melody, but it doesn't connect with the original, so I end up going back to zero again, over and over again.
So, I thought maybe I could get some help from my master, Kanda-san, and decided to ask him, even though I knew it would be a long shot.
Could you please help me compose "Kiseki no Kotoba"?!"

"Email sent"

Our story began.

"to be continued"

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