Chapter 2 -- J-drama Drama
Wednesday November 30
I decided to skip running today because we had a pool in the backyard. Dad and Manaia sat and watched me swim laps. They seemed to be getting along well as they laughed about something while I pulled myself out of the water. I plopped down on a chair at the table they'd claimed.
"What time did you get in last night?" Dad asked.
"After two," Manaia grumbled.
Fritz was going to have to send me someone to help Manaia. It was one thing for me to put in the hours, and another for someone to have to watch me 24/7. I would send a text to Fritz later.
"Go get ready, and I'll make breakfast," Dad offered.
When I came back, he'd made bacon and eggs with avocado slices and a banana.
"I hear we're doing golf scenes today," I said.
"I've worked with almost everyone, and they can at least hit the ball," Dad shared. "Daisuke said that was all I needed to worry about. They would do something called a 'cutaway.'"
I was impressed that Dad was on a first-name basis with our director. I'd seen different cast members leave for extended periods to get their golf lessons. Kenta had bragged that his father was a director at a large electronics company, and they had a country club membership. That may have been one of the reasons he'd won the role. With him, we at least had one of us who wouldn't embarrass themselves when we acted like we were golfers.
"That's where they show someone hit the ball, and then they 'cut away' to the shot landing and rolling into the cup. I'm sure that they can just do a 'continuous shot' with mine," I teased.
"It's good to have a dream," Manaia said.
---
We'd gone to the driving range to start our day. Dad gave us each a bucket of balls and let us loose. While we hacked away, the camera crew would focus on each of us in turn. They would use the shots as b-roll later.
Then Mr. Otsuki arrived and set the scene. The four girls watched the three guys hit balls. Misaki, Kana, and Ai discussed the merits of each boy, while Haru's character stood shyly, embarrassed they would talk about such stuff.
It helped highlight how our cultures differed. Haru's character's sweet innocence was probably the way girls behaved when my grandmother was young. It reminded me of middle school so much that I honestly expected them to be passing notes with checkboxes asking whether you liked someone or not.
I'll admit I thought some of the innocence was missing in America today. But there were other aspects of Japanese culture as it was portrayed that bothered me. Everything seemed awkward, and no one wanted to admit that they liked someone. Girls were regarded as too forward if they expressed an interest in a guy and were then considered the 'wrong kind' to bring home to Mom. Guys became frustrated and would act inappropriately, which would get them slapped down and shamed.
I may have read too much into the script because if Japan were really like that, no one would ever find their significant other.
Plopping my character into the middle of all this shy, awkward innocence was the catalyst for the J-drama. No one would consider me a player by American standards, but I wasn't a good boy, either. In this series, I played someone who was out for a good time and wasn't awkward about it.
A good example was how they wanted us to notice the girls. In my case, I would look over, smile at them, and then go back to talking to the guys. But Jiro and Kenta would either glance over and quickly look away or would position themselves so they could see the girls without looking like they were interested. It gave them a sneaky, stalker vibe, in my opinion.
During a break, Kenta wanted to talk to me.
"How do I buy an American girl dinner? Every girl I asked has told me 'no.'"
"I make them buy."
"You are so arrogant. Is that what they expect? Am I being too respectful?"
"No, I'm just that good-looking," I joshed.
Kenta ducked his head and nodded. The poor guy apparently thought I was serious.
"Do you have your eye on someone specific?" I asked.
"Could you maybe put in a good word for me with your assistant?"
"What's in it for me?" I asked, still teasing him. "I'm not sure I want you bothering her."
Kenta's eyes got big.
"No. I would never," he began and then saw my smile. "You are awful. It's just that ... I don't know."
Yes, I did know. Lexi was a gorgeous woman. I was afraid she would destroy Kenta. She would figure out she held all the cards in their relationship and either string him along or get bored with him.
"I'm not sure she's right for you. Perhaps we should find you an American girl with training wheels before you set your sights so high," I suggested. "The girl who delivers scripts seems nice."
Kenta looked away and blushed.
"You already struck out there, I take it?"
"She threatened to report me," he admitted.
Oh my! That wasn't good. Maybe my creepy-stalker feeling wasn't too far off.
"I probably don't want to know what happened," I conceded.
Kenta gave me a sideways, shy look.
"No. It's probably best I not repeat what happened," he said, and then straightened up. "I'm not the only one. The girls want to meet American men. They seem to like one in particular."
"Maybe I can introduce them to him."
"I'm sure you could," Kenta said with a twinkle in his eye.
Tami calls me 'stupid boy,' and I might be slow sometimes, but I picked up on that and let out a heavy sigh. I didn't need the girls chasing after me.
"They are aware I have a girlfriend, right?"
"Oh, yes. Haru and Jiro have both told them they have no hope. But that doesn't seem to dissuade them; it makes it more of a challenge."
If I was wise to what they were up to, then I was safe. I'd fended off plenty of girls with no trouble. All I had to do was remember Brook, and they suddenly held no interest. It was a little startling to realize that. I knew I loved her, but never expected it would make me feel that way. I was a guy, after all.
Then I had an idea. My character was supposed to stir the pot, romantically. Why not give it a little truth? I would ask one of the girls to lunch. The logical choice was Misaki Hayashi because she was the first of the group who would make a run at me in the J-drama.
---
I was reading lines with Hana when Lexi popped her head into the room.
"Caryn received a strange request. Gordon Parker from Springbok, the shoe company, wants to meet with you and your dad. He suggested dinner tomorrow night."
"Did he say what it was for?"
"No. Do you want me to find out?" Lexi asked.
"I'm just trying to figure out if I need an agent or manager there or not," I said and then scratched my head. "He requested Dad and me?"
"Yeah. I'll find out what it's about," she said and turned to leave.
"Hey, before you take off? Is there time for me to take someone to dinner tonight, or am I booked with the shoot?"
"You have an hour and a half around eight. Did you want me to make reservations?"
"If you could, that would be great."
"Who are you taking?" Hana asked.
