137. 'The Disciple of the Legendary Disciple' | Unauthorized Script Meeting

There was a person who became a legend.
Their disciple, as the 'successor,'
eventually becomes a legend themselves.

Then,
what should the disciple of the legendary disciple become?

While trembling in the shadow of two people.

◆ Introduction

There are many geniuses,
and there are 'legends' everywhere, in many places.
I met people who ended up becoming 'the disciple of the legendary disciple.' They are all a little lost, a little amused, and in the end, they take a small step forward.

◆ Setting

A world without special magic or abilities.
The only thing special is that
all the protagonists
are the 'disciple of the disciple' of a 'legendary so-and-so'which is a subtle title to have.
While bewildered by the legends, they find their own paths.

◆ Characters

● Episode 1 Protagonist: Mio Hoshino
A newcomer at a major hotel chain.
She is timid and makes nothing but mistakes.
Her mentor is the manager, Shiraishi.
That mentor is the legendary hotelier 'Mr. Perfect.'

● Episode 2 Protagonist: Shuto Ohara
A manager for a popular actress.
His benefactor is the vice president of the agency.
His mentor is the 'legendary luggage carrier.'

● Episode 3 Protagonist: Nonoka Tachibana
A magazine reporter. A logical person.
She respects her behavioral economics professor from graduate school.
The professor's mentor is the 'Mother of Tokyo.'

● Episode 4 Protagonist: Ryo Minase
A music college student. A young pianist who is a regular prize winner at competitions.
His mentor is a famous violinist.
That mentor's mentor was someone called the 'legendary tuner.'

◆ Each Episode

🏙️ Episode 1: Mr. Perfect

—What exists there is a perfect room, reliable food, and a warm atmosphere.

Mio Hoshino was scolded again during a room check.

'The corners of the bed sheets are sloppy. Do it again.'
The manager, Shiraishi, is as strict as ever.

The current manager, Shiraishi, is a disciple of the legendary hotelier known as 'Mr. Perfect.' Will he also inherit the name of Mr. Perfect? Mio is the disciple of that person—in other words, for Mio, 'the mentor's mentor is a legend.'

(If I ever get called that, I'll be Miss Perfect! But what does perfect even mean?)

That night, Mio happened to see it.
Shiraishi unlocked the staff-only door and entered a guest room.

(Wait... staying here? This room definitely hasn't had any guests... Could it be that they're staying here themselves just to reduce the number of vacant rooms? How dedicated.)

A little later, Shiraishi came out of the room wearing a cap and a tracksuit.
"I'm so tired today... The bed here is amazing... If I had bought some cup sake, it would be absolutely perfect," he muttered.

Mio "...Shiraishi-san... what is with that tracksuit?"

Shiraishi "!? Mio! Why are you here!"

Mio "It would be a disaster if someone saw the perfect manager looking like this!?"

Shiraishi "Wait! I... I'm just... I'm paying the fee and living here! Now that working hours are over, I'm just a guest!"

Mio "Well, I suppose that's true, but..."

Shiraishi let out a deep sigh.

Shiraishi "...My mentor was called 'Mr. Perfect,' right? He used to stay at the hotel too. And he would set up the room entirely for his own sake. Not for the guests. He'd say, 'I want to sleep comfortably.'"

Mio "...Huh?"

Shiraishi "And since it was a more lenient era than now, he didn't even pay for it. He'd get the leftovers from the buffet in the kitchen. He gave strict instructions to the kitchen staff because he wanted to eat well."

Mio "!?"

Shiraishi "But you know, the guests felt at ease 'as a result.' Because it was clear that 'someone had genuinely prepared the room.'"

Mio "...Then, what about Mr. Perfect?"

Shiraishi "Exactly. So, Mio. You don't have to 'prepare it for the guests.' Create a room that 'you can be proud of.'"

Mio nodded slightly.

—Perfection is not for someone else, but about setting your own heart in order.

The next morning, Shiraishi nodded slightly as he looked at the room Mio had prepared.

Shiraishi "Yeah. This is... good."

Mio "Are you sure?"

Shiraishi "In that case, I'll stay in this room tonight."

Mio felt acknowledged and headed home.

🧳 Episode 2: The Legendary Porter

—Which is heavier, the luggage or the heart?

Shuto Ohara, manager for the popular actress Lisa Sakaki, was exhausted.

Lisa, "Shuto, could you carry all these books for me?"

Shuto, "These... are scripts and the magazines you're appearing in... there are over ten of them."

Lisa, "I'm not being selfish. I trust you."

(That is definitely selfish...)

His benefactor, the Vice President, was known in the entertainment industry as the "Legendary Manager." And his mentor was known as the "Legendary Porter." The rumor was that every entertainer whose luggage he carried became a star.

However, the Vice President's true feelings were different.

Vice President, "Shuto, do you... really believe that rumor?"

Shuto, "W-well..."

The Vice President laughed and handed him a canned coffee.

Vice President, "The reason my mentor carried luggage was because no one knew the weight of their own burdens. That's what my mentor did."

Shuto, "...Huh?"

Vice President, "When I was a rookie manager, I believed that if I carried everything like my mentor, I'd become a star. Like an idiot. But once I started thinking it might be selfish, I started keeping a 'selfishness memo' on entertainers that could be used for a tell-all book."

Shuto, "...That's dangerous."

Vice President, "But I realized something. The more successful you become, the heavier your luggage gets. Scripts, magazines, cosmetics, and lately, batteries and handheld fans. Pressure, jealousy, schedules... So I carried them. That's all. Carrying them doesn't make you a star. It just makes things 'lighter.'"

Shuto, "...Vice President..."

Vice President, "My mentor wasn't really a manager, he was just a porter. He knew that rookie entertainers didn't realize their luggage would get heavier as they became successful. He knew that only by having someone carry it for them would they feel lighter. Their hearts, too. And then, they would start to feel grateful to those around them."

Lisa poked her head out of the dressing room.

Lisa, "Shuto, I have a favor to ask. Could you... carry my luggage, just a little bit?"

Shuto "...Understood. I won't take it all, but I'll carry a little bit."

Lisa "...I see, thanks. I'll carry the script myself."

Shuto thought to himself.

(So that's what it means to be a luggage carrier... it's not about the weight, it's about being there for someone.)

🔮 Episode 3: The Mother of Tokyo

—It's not the future that's being divined.

Magazine reporter Nonoka Tachibana was not happy with her interview subject.

Nonoka "'The Mother of Kinshicho'...? Guiding successful people through fortune-telling? That's not logical at all."

Her mentor, a professor of behavioral economics, said:

Professor "Nonoka, wouldn't you like to meet the 'legendary original'? As part of my fieldwork, of course."

The professor's own mentor turned out to be a street fortune-teller who would tell the fortunes of customers sitting next to him at bars to get them to buy him drinks. That person was the original 'Mother of Tokyo'.

Half-dumbfounded, Nonoka met the person at an izakaya.

Professor "Master. It's been a while. This is my student; could you tell her fortune? As the 'Mother of Tokyo'?"

Fortune-teller "It's been a long time since I've been called that. Well now, young lady, tell me your date of birth. Oh, you're a 'Pegasus'!"

Nonoka "Animal fortune-telling!?"

Fortune-teller "Then read this manga. It will change your life."

Nonoka "Eh, a manga!? Saint Seiya?"

Fortune-teller "And since I told your fortune, you're buying me a drink."

Nonoka "Haaah!?"

The fortune teller laughed.

Professor, please buy Nonoka-kun a drink. You see, I used to think that behavioral economics could explain all human behavior, arrogantly so. After meeting my mentor, I learned that sometimes, people aren't moved by logic alone. That was a bit frustrating, too.

Fortune Teller, 'Heh, the future isn't something you can predict. But you know, people just want someone to give them a push when they're lost.'

Nonoka, '...Is that why you use manga?'

Fortune Teller, 'That's right. Stories move people, after all. Now, how about that shochu and water? Are you two drinking?'

Nonoka, who drank the shochu and water heartily, suddenly felt a warmth in her chest.
It might have been the alcohol.
Fortune telling is the act of offering 'something' to someone who is lost.
Because of that, people take action, and sometimes they succeed as a result.

The moment she thought that,
she felt she understood what the professor meant.

Nonoka, '...I'll write the article. As a "fortune teller who moves the lost."'

Fortune Teller, 'That sounds good. You're cut out to be a reporter.'

Nonoka (Wait, I didn't even tell her I was a reporter?)

🎹 Episode 4: The Godly Tuner

—That person's tuning can even harmonize a person's heart.

Music student Ryo Minase has been called a talented pianist.
However, at some point, his hands started shaking whenever he performed.

His mentor, a violinist, always says:

Mentor, 'My mentor was called the "Godly Tuner." He was a legendary person who could even tune a person's heart.'

Ryo, 'I know. I also know he's retired. If he were still active, I'd want him to see me too.'

Mentor, 'Shall I put in a word for you? You seem to be at a standstill.'

Ryo, 'Huh!? Are you sure?'

Ryo went to meet the Godly Tuner.
He was a gentle old man.

Ryo, 'N-nice to meet you. My name is Ryo Minase.'

Old Man, 'You're nervous, aren't you? Then sit at that piano over there. Let me see your shoulders.'

A light tap on the shoulder.
That was all.

Old man "Yes, that's it. Good luck with the competition."

Ryo "...Huh? Is that all?"

Old man "Yeah. The shoulder is a switch for the heart, you see."

Ryo "The... heart's switch?"

Old man "When someone tells you 'it's okay to be here,' people strangely start to produce sound. I can play the piano, but I'm not very good at it. All I could do was tap my student's shoulder in the wings of the competition stage."

A warmth slowly spread through Ryo's chest.

On the day of the performance.
Mentor "I've had my mentor tap my shoulder many times, too. He told me that even though I had talent, I was afraid of something. I know the pressure of wanting to live up to expectations all too well."

Ryo said to his friend before the performance.

Ryo "Hey, could you tap my shoulder for a second? Oh, gently."

Friend "Huh? ...Like this?"

Ryo "Thanks."

He placed his hands on the keys.
The sound came out quietly and straight.

(I see. It wasn't about 'someone else's hand,' but about 'giving myself permission.')

Ryo's performance quietly and warmly enveloped the venue.

🖊️Epilogue

The reality of legends is always small, trivial,
but somehow kind.

The disciples of the disciples do not inherit the legend.
They reach their own answers.

Kubota Yamada