[Anti-Gravity] 芹沢 あさひ ENG TL

[Anti-Gravity] 芹沢 あさひ

-------------------------------------------------- 1. たわむれ - Caprice --------------------------------------------------

"Heel....Arch....Tiptoes...."
Producer finds Asahi in a trance repeating these three words to herself in the Dance studio as she appears to be stepping in place. Upon Producer questioning her, Asahi explains it's a new exercise she learned from the Dance instructor to practice balancing a shift in a body's center of gravity. She proceeds to demonstrate another technique where she lifts off from the ground in a laying position using only her femur. She mentions this next one has a title that she wants Producer to guess as she demonstrates it. After complimenting her ability to learn complex moves so quickly, Asahi expectantly demands a guess at the title. Producer guesses "Twilight" and "Falling Leaves," but they both appear to be incorrect. Upon thinking about it, Asahi realizes she doesn't remember the actual name, with Producer retorting back it's not much of a quiz anymore if neither know the answer.

Changing subjects, Producer comments that Asahi seems to be enjoying her time doing Voluntary Training.
She agrees, exclaiming that there's a bunch of interesting things she's never done or been told about before. But she's really hoping for the Dance instructor to come back soon. Producer mentions that they'll be preoccupied for the time being helping produce a new stageplay, and is even overseeing the audition screening. With the highlight of the audition being an improv dance number, Asahi asks Producer to suggest a theme for her to dance to:

[Airplanes]
Asahi wonders how Airplanes can be represented in dance, with Producer agreeing while he suggested it, he couldn't quite picture it himself. Imitating flying movements don't particularly interest Asahi...but then Asahi makes a throwing gesture. With Producer confused, Asahi explains it's the motion of throwing a Paper Plane. The gears start churning in her head as Asahi begins to find the theme to pique her interest.

[Spring]
"Spring? It's not really something you can touch or that moves though," Asahi questions. Producer explains perhaps not quite the literal season of Spring, but more of the scenery that it springs forth. Asahi builds off the idea, mentioning Sakura petals and Butterflies as icons of Spring that invoke movement. She asks Producer to watch her dance to the theme of Spring.

[Amusement Park]
"Why did you start with a difficult one?" Asahi pouts. Producer apologizes, saying he didn't give it much thought and she's welcome to try a different theme. Asahi adamantly states that she will try it, imploring that it's not quite an improv practice if she rejects it. Asahi notices Producer smile in response, and asks why he did. Producer expresses his thought that Asahi is very into it. Asahi brushes it off, and begins to start the improv training.

*All the theme choices reference past SSRp events.

-------------------------------------------------- 2. 浮遊する時間 - Floating Time -------------------------------------------

Producer checks the cameras and everything seems to be in good shape. It appears that they've reserved some time in the dance hall to record the Audition video for the Stageplay. Asahi questions why he has multiple cameras, and Producer reassures her it's to ensure that they can capture all the good angles of her dance. Without skipping a beat, Asahi wants to get started as her warmup. Producer requests her to do a brief name introduction to start for the camera.
Cameras rolls.
After the first take, Producer shows her the playback, and while Asahi feels that she didn't make any mistakes, she'd like to  do another take.
Cameras rolls.
"Another take please."
Cameras rolls.
"Once more-su"
Cameras rolls.
"No good. Again."
...
Producer breaks in, asking if they're still no good? All the takes looked fine to him.
Asahi disagrees, saying the Dance instructor told her to "Control gravity," and she feels like even though she feels the weight of her own body, something is not quite right.
"Once more-su"
Cameras rolls.
....
After the take, Producer apologizes, reminding her that they don't have much time left with the room, and it's about time.
Asahi still feels unsatisfied with her performance. Producer disagrees and feels she's done plenty.
In a trance, she feels as if the floor is stuck to her back. The floor waves to the same beat of her heart.
The border between her body and the air appears to dissolve together. She feels a fluffy, floating sensation.

"Producer-san, once more, but can you turn the camera upside down?"
Producer obliges. Cameras rolls.
*Queue animation*
"That's the one."
"Let's go with that one."

-------------------------------------------------- 3. not for me ------------------------------------------------------------

An email is being read.
[To 283Production's Asahi Serizawa, after an intense period of judging review, we regret to inform that you did not qualify...]
At a cafe, Producer coincidentally runs into a man affiliated with the Stageplay production. Pleasantries are exchanged, and the man desires to speak with Producer about the decision behind the rejection. They sit down to talk, and the man discloses that Asahi was a very close contender for the selection of the role however...

Back at the office, Asahi requests for Producer to inform her about next week's schedule. Producer appears to be out of it and barely responds. Asahi reminds him that he's the one that told her to always confirm with him the schedule because things can always change. Producer breaks the bad news to her that she failed to pass the audition, so the planned schedule for next week is to be revised. Asahi ponders what wasn't enough when she felt that the audition materials were quite good.
A flashback of the words of the affiliate returns reminding Producer of the reason.
Producer feigns ignorance of the true reason, reassuring Asahi that he thought she did a splendid job, and he could envision that dance of hers on that stage.
"But I won't be on that stage."

[Let's change things up]
Producer suggests to take a break from all the concentration spent on the Audition, and asks if there's anything she'd like to do such as eat something tasty. Asahi presses on, wanting to continue trying that dance from before. After asking if there won't be any more lessons, Producer assures if that if that's what she wants to do, they can still continue it. Producer thinks there's still something of use for her to absorb from it, and for her to understand it for herself is important. She doesn't quite follow what he's implying, but she's glad she can continue to dance.

[Let's look again]
Producer tells Asahi that this challenge was a good experience to understand Asahi's potential. While it didn't result in her appearance on stage, there'll always be more opportunities to discover in the future. Asahi retorts it'd be better now, not later. Producer answers it's fine to develop the eyes to find it again, and it's up to you to make it your own. Asahi reluctantly agrees, admitting she doesn't quite follow what he's implying.

[One more time...]
Producer suggest challenging another audition role that's similar to that stage, but Asahi questions if there's even another such stage. Without a little investigating, there's no other way to find out. "In the meantime, we can continue those lessons to keep you sharp for when the opportunity arrives." Asahi asks if that's okay, and Producer further reassures her with a strange reference to Caerus*, the God of Opportunity, and his single lock of hair. Asahi perplexed, Producer explains that in order to capture an opportunity, you must be prepared for it. Asahi agrees, as long as she can continue her lessons.

*Caerus, the God of Opportunity, has a distinct feature of having only hair at the bangs. The story goes that you can only seize opportunity (or Caerus) when it's facing you, and once it passes you by, there's nothing left to grasp for.


------------------------------------------- 4. こぼれ落ちるいろ - Spilt Color -----------------------------------------

Enter Stage - Position 0.
Producer and Asahi are able to attend the dress rehearsal of the Stageplay through their connections with the affiliate.
As the dress rehearsal ends, Asahi is deep in thought soaking in the performance. Producer leaves her to her thoughts as he leaves to pay respects and pleasantries to the affiliate and staff.
On the way back, Asahi and Producer both discuss the dress rehearsal. Producer praises the stage choreography, however Asahi begins to criticize the main role dancer, pointing out flaws in their movement and the loudness of their steps during gaps in the accompanying music. Producer admits that he didn't quite notice it, but now that she mentions it, he can't disagree. She believes with more practice, the dancer will most likely improve. Asahi continues, praising the lighting design and how it illuminated the dancer. Asahi concludes that's why she failed* the audition. She states a dancer with long limbs makes for a better looking performance on this stage.
Producer flashes back to his conversation with the affiliate at the cafe, where the reason is divulged. While Asahi is on par, if not better, than the other candidate, in terms of dancing, the role calls for a dancer with long limbs.
Asahi admits that person was better suited for the role. Producer distraught, disagrees and says Asahi would be much better up on that stage. He feels regret seeing the dress rehearsal, but Asahi is glad to have seen it. She finally understands the reason.

[Of course it's not fine]
"So much was done, but it was all for naught." Asahi isn't really sure why Producer is feeling so down about this, when it was her failure after all. Producer tells Asahi that her acceptance of the circumstances is disheartening for him. Asahi is confused, so she'll leave the confusing stuff to him. However, she doesn't feel right about returning just yet, and figures they should do something fun.

[But you tried so hard]
"But Asahi didn't lose, in fact..."
Asahi isn't sure why Producer is saying something like that, when she's the one that failed the audition herself.
Even so, Asahi's manner of accepting the reason perturbs Producer. He feels it's better she didn't know the reason in the first place. Asahi believes she understands what he's implying...somewhat.

[To see the world like that]
"You're probably wondering what it'd be like if it was you up there, right?"
"I want to see a remade version of that stage with Asahi up there."
Asahi responds that there's really no point in thinking about something out of your control. It's impossible.
Producer agrees, but he still holds some resignations on the matter, and asks Asahi if she doesn't share that feeling.
Asahi, unsure if she does or not, feels like it'd be a pain if she did.

*She uses the word to fall here, which has a parallel with the theme of the event.


-------------------------------------- 5. 冬を裂く獣 - The Beast that Breaks Winter ----------------------------------------

Producer has a dream about Asahi still dancing at the dance hall.
He's awoken to the sound of his phone vibrating. It appears to be quite early, and upon checking his phone, it appears to be a message from Asahi. She makes a request to use the lesson room as early as possible before any other members come to use it. The drowsiness makes Producer's head spin. A memory of Asahi realizing why she failed* the audition reemerges before Producer, and he gets out of bed.
Early morning, the door of the Lesson room opens, and Asahi and Producer enters. Producer asks if Asahi needs anything else from him before he heads to the office, but Asahi asks him to stay. She wants to show him something.
Asahi breaks into a dance without warming up.
Producer recognizes it as the dance from the stageplay.
"In such a cold. gloomy state."
"Without any dramatic light, nor accompanying music."
"I understand."
"It was necessary that she danced here and now."
"I understand."
"This stinging brisk air..."
"Ferocious like a spring about to penetrate."

A single clapping pair of hands from the sole spectator. Producer surmises that it's the dance number from the stage from before, with a bit of a modification. Asahi is surprised he noticed. She says since she can't change the length of her limbs, she wanted to change the tempo of the dance, and added additional jumps and twirls. She's sure the Dance instructor would lecture her for changing the choreography, but if no one is around to see it, she's free to change it to her own desires. "I see, so you were dancing for yourself then. It's a shame I'm the only one that got to see it." Producer responds. "Is that so? Well, I feel relieved. Thanksu, Producer," Asahi replies. Asahi apologizes for waking Producer up so early for this. Producer agrees it's quite early, however he reassures her he's glad he was able to have front of house seats for a special performance.
"I wanted to dance even if I had no one to show it to..."
"But if someone's there to see it, it becomes like a stage, right?"