Ch. 1: The Famed Director
Kingdom of Kenal in the Land of Movies, Month of Shadow…-.
I checked the invitation in my hand and raised me head.
Before me spread the streets of Kenal, the entire town looking like one big movie studio.
(So this is the town of Kenal where Director Will is…)
I headed towards the film studio we were supposed to meet at, feeling a little giddy.
It was truly a place of movies as filming locations were set up throughout the entire town.
After a little while…-.
I heard the distant hum of a scooter engine coming closer.
Will: “Hey you made it! Thanks for coming all this way.”
OO: “Good afternoon Director Will.”
Will: “Oh! Your smile is so full of energy!”
Will suddenly moved in really close to my face…
Will: “Hmmm? Uh huh, yes yes.”
Looking through and above his glasses in turn, he stared as if conducting an examination and scrutinized my expression.
OO: “U-um…?”
Will: “Yes, you really do have a lively smile. It’s unfortunate, but your complexion is just too good.”
He let out a sigh as he used a finger to push up his stylishly pink framed glasses.
OO: “My…complexion?”
(He’s kind of unusual.)
Paying me no mind as I blinked at him, he cheerfully pointed to the back of the scooter.
Will: “Well, hop on!”
OO: “Eh? On the scooter?”
Will: “Sure, it’s really useful when going between the editing studio and the film studio.”
I stood there bewildered, and he held out his left hand to me.
Will: “Well, you are a girl. Come on.”
OO: “Thank you.”
My heart started to pound a little at the gentlemanly act that seemed contrary to his appearance.
Feeling a little nervous, I got on and straddled the back of the scooter. I wrapped my arms around his waist, and he started the scooter up.
…
……
After a short time, we arrived in a vast area that was the pride of the movie’s film studio.
Will: “This’ll probably surprise you, but this is the country’s castle!”
OO: “Eh?”
(The castle…is the film studio!?)
Will: “There’s an editing studio attached to the film studio, and that’s where I’m working now.”
He smiled proudly and gave a little laugh through his nose.
Will: “And…be careful.”
OO: “?”
Will: “If you’re careless and get lost around here…well, after that, no one would be able to find you.”
OO: “Eh…-“
I felt a sudden chill run up my spine at his words.
Will: “Yeees! That’s a much better expression than when we met!! Now, let’s go.”
(I feel…kind of uneasy…)
My reunion with Director Will was full of surprise and unease…
That was the start of the few days that I would be spending with him.
Ch. 2: His Production Style
Will: “If you’re careless and get lost around here…well, after that, no one would be able to find you.”
OO: “Eh…-“
Will: “Just kidding… Yeees! That’s a much better expression than when we met!!”
———————
Harboring that uneasy feeling, I followed him into his studio…-.
And there a new surprise was waiting for me.
(What’s with this place…it’s a little scary…)
The studio that I walked through as he held my hand was eerie, like a haunted house.
There were spider webs hanging here and there, and spots of what looked like blood splattered throughout the area.
OO: “What on earth…?”
Will: “This is the movie set. It’s a little dark, so watch your step.”
He spoke to me over his shoulder, and I saw he was making an odd expression.
(W-why does he look like that…)
The smile full of enjoyment he’d had just a little bit ago had vanished, and he slowly walked through the studio with an odd expression.
Will: “Stay close to me…otherwise…”
He spoke quietly and I couldn’t hear the rest of what he said.
OO: “Um…I didn’t hear that last…”
Before I’d finished speaking, he gripped my hand tighter and picked up the pace.
As he walked deeper into the gloom, I got this feeling…like a reaper guiding someone to the underworld…
OO: “…”
In order to dispel my fear, I tightly squeezed his hand and looked around.
(What a strange castle…it’s so realistic I wouldn’t think it was a set.)
The more I looked, the more realistic it was, and I started to tremble.
Will: “…ku.”
(…Director?)
It looked almost as if his shoulders were shaking as he walked in front of me.
…
……
Within the cluttered and disorganized studio, I made me way through without paying the things scattered about much attention, and a slightly open area came into view.
Atop the desk was a computer, and a mountain of papers and documents.
Will: “Well, come in. This is my work space.”
Will explained it to me with a smirk on his face, but I was still caught up in the atmosphere from before.
(Huh, it’s less messy than I thought…)
I had imagined it would be a very cluttered area, but the studio I had been escorted to was clean and organized.
However in that next instant…-.
OO: “…!”
A screen entered my field of vision, and my body stiffened.
The image projected on the huge monitor in front of me was…
OO: “…!!!”
Will: “Oh now, what’s this? Is something wrong?”
OO: “Um, Director Will, what kind of movies do you make…?”
Will: “Huh? Oh, I didn’t say did I?”
In that moment…-.
The speakers to the left and right of me emitted the sound of a girl’s piercing scream…
Will: “Nice scream yeah? That’s right; I’m the horror movie director, Will Beaton.”
OO: “!”
(What do I do…I’m not good with horror…)
A chill ran up my spine, and I looked around, unable to calm myself down.
Will: “Could it be you’re the type who’s bad with horror?”
The director asked as much with a smirk on his face…
OO: “Y-yes…I’m not good with horror.”
Will: “Heeeh…”
He raised his eyebrows slightly.
OO: “I-I’m totally fine with it…”
Will: “Hmmm…”
The smirk on his face only grew.
In that moment…-
The sound of thunder echoed in the room, and the lights went out.
OO: “…!?”
I reflexively reached out to the director in fear, and tightly gripped his shirt.
Then…
OO: “Eh…?”
The lights in the room came back on, and I could hear giggling.
I lifted my head, and could see the director smiling right in front of me.
What was more, as I had clung to the director, he had firmly wrapped his arm around my back…
OO: “!!”
In a panic, I pulled back from his arm.
Will: “A cute girl’s frightened expression really is the absolute best! My creative urge is bubbling. Ah, I have to write down that reaction of yours!”
His expression looked like he was having an absolutely great time as he took out his memo pad and started writing.
OO: “D-director…just now, was that…?”
Will: “…kuku.”
He pushed up his glasses with his middle finger and smiled.
Will: “The vibe from you got better and better! Your expression on the way here was pretty good too!!”
OO: “! Y-you mean…you’re enjoying this!?”
Will: “Enjoying? Of course not, do I look like such a heartless man?”
Director Will seemed to be forcing himself as his eyebrows knit together and he shook his head.
Will: “It was just a little experiment…like location scouting…I know!”
As if in jest, he clapped his hands together.
Will: “It’s a documentation activity. I look at when and how people get scared. So let me take proper notes of your every single move♪”
He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
I just stood there stock still, overcome with amazement at Director Will’s wild behavior.
Ch. 3: An Honest Reaction
The way he conducted himself was so erratic, and I stood there for a while still feeling that dread from earlier…-.
Director Will finished taking his notes, then his expression changed completely.
Will: “Right, there we go. And with that I think I’m even more knowledgeable about people’s reactions to fear. I’ll put this to good use in my next production. Sorry for scaring you OO.”
OO: “You just said my name…”
Will: “Yeah, you’ve got some potential, so I’d like to get to know you a little better.”
He wasn’t at all shy when he said it, then he turned off the monitor.
Will: “Also, let’s drop that formal ‘Director’ stuff, just call me Will.”
OO: “Right…Will.”
Will: “Yeah, so once more, hello OO and welcome to my studio!”
His beamed at me, then hit my shoulder so hard I thought it would dislocate.
Will: “Anyway, to think the person who woke me up would be someone like you…seems I truly am loved by the Gods of Horror!!”
I didn’t quite get what he meant, but Will was in high spirits as I timidly asked him a question.
OO: “Um, your new piece that you said was finished in the invitation, is it…?”
Will: “A horror film of course. That bit you just saw.”
His voice was cheerful as he winked at me from behind his glasses.
(I wonder what it’s about…and if I can watch it till the end…?)
I felt a little overwhelmed as I thought about what would happen after this…-.
…
……
After that, Will made some tea and I pulled myself together as I sat in a chair.
Will: “How much sugar?”
OO: “Just one please.”
Will: “Got it.”
Will took out a sugar cube from a small dish.
However…
OO: “Wh-what is that!?”
Will: “Ah, see? Cute isn’t it! It’s sugar made to look like a skull. These details in the mold…isn’t it super well done!? It was like love at first sight when I saw them at the coffee shop I usually go to. I begged them to give me some. The owner cried ‘This guy loves skulls too—!'”
With a pallid finger, Will pointed to a pin on his chest that looked like a skull.
Will: “Cool right?”
OO: “Do you like skulls?”
Will: “Just as a motif. I just can’t resist the peculiar shape of their sunken eyes. Though I love hearing a girl’s scream even more.”
OO: “…”
I fell into silence, unsure of what to say.
Will: “…that expression, it’s not fear, and it’s not anger. You look shocked.”
OO: “…sorry.”
Will: “Well, drink up before it gets cold…the skull will dissolve into the tea real quick.”
Saying so, he picked up a single sugar cube.
Will: “If you’re scared, just wait till it dissolves.”
Will dropped a single small skull into his own cup.
Will: “…it’s fine. Don’t worry. I hear from people all the time that I have odd tastes. But I guess girls have different tastes right?”
Will peered at me over the tops of his frames.
The way he looked at me was filled with some intense emotion…
Will: “I mean, it’s natural that the reason you look so cute is because of this world’s providence.”
OO: “…”
Will reached out a finger and brushed my cheek.
He stared fixedly at me as he twirled my hair around his fingertip.
Will: “Right, OO?”
As my name came across his lips, a tooth poked out that looked like it belonged to a vampire in a horror movie, and I started feeling uneasy.
(I can’t get myself to calm down…)
I unintentionally turned away from his gaze.
Then, his fingers suddenly moved again and grabbed my chin.
OO: “…”
Will: “It’s clear just looking at how you reacted earlier that you don’t like horror…but for reference, would you tell me your favorite kind of movie?”
OO: “M-my favorite?”
(Movies…the kind of movie I like…)
OO: “I like movies with animals.”
Will: “…wonderful! I like those too.”
OO: “You do?”
(That’s unexpected…)
Will: “I especially like things about the savanna and its harsh environment, and the expressions of imminent dread as the animals feel their lives are in peril. There’s so much to learn.”
OO: “…”
Not knowing how to respond to that, I held back and said nothing.
OO: “I like romance.”
Will whistled in excitement.
Will: “As expected of a girl. I wonder if I should incorporate some romance into my next project.”
He looked as if he was thinking about something, his gaze focused on the days ahead, and he started jotting down notes again.
Will: “Anyway, now I know that you’re surprisingly honest! … well, me wanting to see your expressions was why I called you out here.”
His voice was faint, and he smiled maliciously.
Will: “But I’ll have to get my enjoyment later…since you came all this way, I’ll show you around where we do all the movie making!”
My heart felt a twinge of unease as I recalled the exchanges we’d had up to this point.
OO: “No, that’s alright…-“
Will: “It’s no trouble!!”
And with that, I was pulled by the hand as Will took me from the editing studio.
Ch. 4: Haunted House
Guided by Will, I visited each of the sets within the large studio.
(His guided tour is…a lot more normal than I thought it would be…)
No matter which set we went to, the staff were all uniformly busy.
(This is amazing…I wonder exactly how many movies they’re making at the same time?)
I lost myself in the unfamiliar equipment and the fact that they were filming scenes right then and there.
Will: “By the way, everyone here is a retainer or servant, or a regular royal like me. Everyone in this country is involved in film production.”
OO: “…so that’s how it is. As expected of the Land of Film.”
The scale of what he’d told me took my breath away.
Will: “There’s also a lot of the citizens who work in something to do with film.”
OO: “I see…”
As we walked, we made our way to an inner passage.
(This place is a little scary too…)
The corridor had eerie mannequins and strangely painted masks hanging on the wall.
Among them were a few that were unmistakable zombie and monster masks…
My shoulders shook.
At that time…-
Zombie: “Dir-ec-tor——“
OO: “————!!”
Suddenly, a rotting, blood-stained corpse appeared before me, and I gave a silent scream.
Will: “…!”
OO: “Eh?”
Will moved to shoulder his way in front of me, as if protecting me from the monster.
I was caught up in what he did and momentarily forgot my fear.
Will: “This is the finished mask I ordered then?”
Staff: “Yes, please take a look at it!”
The mask was pulled away, and from within came the face of a young man.
(One of the staff members?)
I held back the tears that had formed in my eyes, and watched as Will quickly gave the staff member more instructions.
The man replied cheerfully, then turned his back to us and ran off.
(That scared me…)
Will looked at me as I let out a sigh of relief, then laughed cheerfully.
Will: “Kk…haha! That guy’s pretty good huh!! That was even better than the expression you made before in my room…filled with even more terror!! … I’m a little jealous. Wait a sec, let me just make a quick note.”
I thought he looked amused, but then he furrowed his brow in displeasure as he took out his notes…
Will: “It’s too bad I didn’t bring my camera…”
OO: “…your world revolves around the frightened expression people make, isn’t it.”
Will: “Yes! Seems like you understand that world now too.”
Will excitedly asked a question of me.
Will: “You’re the kind of person who doesn’t like haunted houses and stuff like that right?”
OO: “Yeah…I’m fine if it’s something like a ride, but walking through one…”
Will: “Ahaha! And to think we’re walking through one now! If you’re scared…wanna hold hands?”
OO: “…”
He moved close to my ear as he asked in a whisper.
OO: “…I-I’m fine.”
My voice shook as I answered, and he frowned ever so slightly.
OO: “U-um…”
Just a moment ago, I had thought my heart would stop, and maybe because of that, now my mouth wouldn’t work properly.
Will: “…is that a no?”
Will: “That’s a shame…! And here I was thinking luck was on my side.”
OO: “…?”
Will: “Nothing. Come on, let’s go to the next place.”
For a second, Will had looked crestfallen, then he guided me further into the film studio.
Ch. 5: An Unexpected Weakness
I went around the film studio, guided by Will, and after the initial events, I continued to experience fear and terror.
After that, any time something happened, my heart would leap, and I felt myself nearing the limit of what I could handle.
I reigned in my emotions, and felt Will’s nonchalant gaze on me.
Will: “I was thinking, I’m really glad I brought you here. And, well, I’ve been able to take really detailed notes on your reactions so…shall we take a break?”
OO: “Y-yes please.”
Will: “There’s a rest area just a little further ahead.”
I was thankful for Will’s consideration, though he showed it in his own unique way, and I walked beside him.
Then…-.
OO: “Ouch…”
I felt a pricking sensation in my fingertip.
Will: “What’s wrong?”
OO: “It seems I snagged my finger on something on the set…”
The walls of the hallway were adorned with a crucifix motif, and a pointed guardrail leaned against the wall.
(Was it from that?)
I could see a small cut on the inner part of my index finger, bleeding.
Will: “You okay? Let me——-b-b-blood!!”
Will jumped at seeing my finger.
OO: “Eh, Will!?”
Will quickly paled and crouched down.
OO: “Are you alright?”
(What happened?)
I looked around…and a little distance from us was a lounge chair where Will laid down.
After a little while, Will straightened up, still covering his eyes.
Will: “Sorry. Here I said I’d show you around and then this happened…I’m not so good with blood…”
OO: “Eh…”
What he had said surprised me, and I watched him as he put his hand to his forehead.
OO: “But, your movies have so much blood and stuff in them…”
I remembered the horror movie I’d seen in the editing studio.
OO: “And what about your full body tattoo?”
I pointed to the tribal designs peeking out from under the sleeve of his suit jacket.
Will: “This is just body paint. Stabbing your own skin is no joke! As for the movies, yeah there’s blood, but it’s all fake. I can’t do the real stuff. I start feeling sick the second I see it…”
OO: “You can tell the difference between the fake and real blood?”
Will: “Of course I can! They’re totally different!”
(Totally different? I guess so. Still, I’m surprised…to think there would be this kind of side to Will.)
Will: “Right, is your cut okay?”
OO: “I’m alright, the bleeding’s stopped.”
Will: “Good…but just to be safe, we should have someone on staff look at it right away.”
OO: “It still hurts a little…”
I took out a handkerchief to hide the cut so I could check it and Will couldn’t see it.
Will: “Thanks for that. There’s a first-aid station, so let’s get someone to look at it right away.”
Will smiled at me as he started to stand up.
Will: “I’m fine now…”
He said as much, but his face still looked a little paler than usual.
Even so, seeing him smile at me like that, I could feel his own unique, kind consideration coming through.
(I thought he was an odd one but…)
Knowing this unexpected side of Will, I couldn’t help the small smile that formed on my lips, unnoticed by him.