"I'm in Tokyo, and this is some kind of movie star comeback system?!"

Katsuji Nakamura turned his head with a hint of disbelief. "Sakamoto-san, you know how to perform battle scenes?"

Sakamoto Yu did not answer, but walked over to a stuntman and gestured to borrow the prop knife in his hand.

After thanking him, Sakamoto Yu stood up straight.

Assume a standard mid-range stance.

With the sword facing forward, grip the hilt with both hands, step forward with your right foot, and slightly bend your knee.

The assassin in the crew changed his expression, crossed his arms, and began to scrutinize the scene intently.

Katsuji Nakamura, who had filmed many battle scenes, had a keen eye for detail. Upon seeing Sakamoto Yu's posture, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

I never expected this young man to have so many skills.

Is there anything he can't do?

Just then, a cold north wind blew up the stray hairs on Sakamoto Yu's forehead.

Sakamoto Yu looked straight ahead, gripping the blade with one hand and the hilt with the other.

The left hand makes a pushing motion to push the sheath, while the right hand slowly draws the sword.

When the blade tip is three inches from the sheath, it suddenly accelerates!

He exerted force at the moment before the sword was drawn, unleashing a horizontal slash.

As the knife was drawn, a sharp, cutting sound filled the air, conveying a sense of immense power.

After the strike, he twisted his wrist, maintaining a vigilant posture with his eyes still fixed straight ahead, without looking down.

He spun the hilt at lightning speed, flinging out nonexistent drops of blood, before smoothly sheathing the sword.

The entire process was clean, efficient, and fluid.

The audience was amazed by the fluidity and the visible control of force, which was clearly the result of years of training.

It's as if I can see Sakamoto Yu repeatedly swinging his sword in the courtyard since he was a boy.

The seniors who had just finished filming and were still there showed amazement and admiration in their eyes.

Among them, older generations such as Kitaoji Kinya and Katsu Shintaro greatly admired the fact that young people learned to practice Kendo.

It's like the older generation in China seeing young people understand traditional Chinese culture.

Kitaoji Kinya said to Katsu Shintaro, "There are so few young people these days who understand kendo."

Shintaro Katsu nodded in agreement. "This kid is pretty good. He's just my type."

It's not just that Sakamoto Yu understands kendo, but more importantly, his professional spirit of thinking of the collective.

"It's so much better than those vases."

"Yes, young people nowadays, especially those idols who look like children, have no sense of duty or responsibility as actors."

This kind of "responsible and dedicated" professional spirit is exactly what these senior colleagues appreciate.

The way the two looked at Sakamoto Yu became kind and friendly.

When the assassin from the Nakamura Katsufumi production team asked for advice, he received a nod of approval.

"Although the actor's sword-drawing and sheathing techniques were very basic, it was clear that he had a solid foundation."

"It's sufficient for filming."

Seeing that the executioner had given his approval, Nakamura Katsuji breathed a sigh of relief.

The production crew can't afford to waste their time right now.

"Looks like I'll have to ask you for help again." Nakamura Katsuji rarely smiled as he walked towards Sakamoto Yu.

He patted Sakamoto Yu on the shoulder, "You kid, you've already received two technical allowances just from joining the film crew."

Sakamoto Yu resumed his usual polite demeanor.

"These are just my hobbies; I'm glad I can help," Sakamoto Yu replied modestly.

Katsuji Nakamura nodded with a smile, "There aren't many scenes left, so there's no need to revise the contract. I'll just give you the allowance when it's finished. Go and get ready."

Giving it directly means it doesn't go through the firm, implying the money is given to him alone.

This can be considered a favor and an extension of Nakamura Katsuji's authority.

Afterwards, Sakamoto Yu followed the makeup team to put on armor and apply makeup.

The final version only showed a pair of eyes and wore a mask to prevent the mistake from being exposed.

Immediately afterwards, they went to the film set to wait.

While waiting, Sakamoto Yu could feel the kindness of the staff around him.

People kept nodding and greeting him.

His public image within the production team has become increasingly stable, and his actions have greatly enhanced his personal reputation.

Besides earning more money, what he wanted was a good reputation.

The production team's approval of him is crucial in determining whether anyone will be willing to help him should any future revelations surface.

"Sakamoto-san, come over here and tell me your position for later."

On the muddy ground, Assistant Director Ishihara waved to Sakamoto Yu, who had changed into his uniform.

"yes!"

Composing himself, Sakamoto Yu quickly stepped forward with his prop sword.

..............

Meanwhile, after resolving the issue of the stunt performers, Katsuji Nakamura continued filming.

The kind of fight scenes that Sakamoto Yu didn't need him; the assistant director could handle them.

"Sawaguchi-san, Sanada-san, get ready!"

Hiroyuki Sanada and Yasuko Sawaguchi arrived at the center of the field and listened to Katsuji Nakamura explain the camera positions and stances.

Yasuko Sawaguchi had already changed into her costume by this time.

She was wearing a pink outfit and had a slender figure.

She had applied light makeup, but her face was expressionless, as if she was a little distracted.

"Sawaguchi-san, are you alright?"

"Huh?" Sawaguchi suddenly realized, then nodded. "I'm fine."

Katsuji Nakamura sensed something was wrong and frowned slightly.

"Do you need to rest for a while?"

"No, no need, I can do it." Zeguchi quickly shook his head, clutching the script in his hand, and took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

"Hmm." Nakamura glanced at her one last time, and for some reason, he had a premonition that today's filming would be delayed.

After settling back into his seat on the monitor, Katsufumi Nakamura raised the megaphone and shouted, "All departments, prepare!"

"Action!"

Yasuko Sawaguchi stood still and took another deep breath.

It's just a scene, right? I've done it with Sakamoto-san before, and it went very well.

There shouldn't be any problems with the official filming this time.

The camera starts working, and Sanada, playing Matsudaira, is wielding a wooden sword and sparring with his subordinates.

The scene shifts to outside the door, where Sawaguchi's character, Hachihime, is running excitedly towards them.

Hiroyuki Sanada reads his opening lines: "Why have you come back? I have already written a letter of divorce, abandoning you."

His delivery of lines is very solid; his tone, pauses, and emotions are all on point.

Can't fault it.

But as Zeguchi looked at him, an inexplicable sense of unease welled up inside him.

wrong.

not like this.

The sound of Sakamoto Yu reciting that line came to her mind.

I recall the deep affection Matsudaira concealed beneath his cold exterior.

"Stop!" Katsufumi Nakamura immediately picked up the megaphone and shouted.

"Sawaguchi-san, your reaction is too slow. Let's do it again."

Everyone stopped moving and returned to their places as usual.

The second time, Sawaguchi tried hard to get into character.

She closed her eyes and recalled Sakamoto Yu's demonstration.

"Action!" Katsushi Nakamura's voice echoed across the set.

"You don't need to come back!"

When that emotionally charged voice rang out, her eyes gradually welled up with tears.

But when he opened his eyes, he saw Hiroyuki Sanada's face.

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, cooling down the nascent longing he had felt.

She delivered her line a beat too early.

"Cut." Nakamura's voice rang out again, his tone devoid of emotion.

On the fourth time, she stopped halfway through reciting it.

"...Sorry, I forgot my lines."

Katsuji Nakamura frowned and looked at Sawaguchi.

"Sawaguchi-san, did you go and act with Sakamoto-san?"

"Huh?" Zeguchi was stunned. She panicked and nodded subconsciously.

Katsuji Nakamura frowned even more deeply. That shouldn't be the case.

This has never happened before.

"Try to recall what it felt like to act opposite Sakamoto-san." Nakamura Katsuji had no choice but to let Sawaguchi try to find the feeling himself.

"Take a five-minute break."

Sawaguchi watched blankly as everyone dispersed, then went to a corner by himself.

The manager handed over a water glass. "Sawaguchi-san, are you alright?"

Sawaguchi shook her head and looked at Hiroyuki Sanada in front of her.

Why?

Sanada-senpai's acting was flawless. In fact, one could say his performance was even more "standard" than Sakamoto Yu's.

But standards don't equal...being moved.

The moment that word popped into his head, Zekou froze.

"Sawaguchi-san, you seem a little off today." Sanada walked towards her at that moment.

Sawaguchi forced a smile, suppressing the mixed feelings in his heart.

"Sorry, I'll adjust it."

Sanada gave a very gentlemanly smile. "Would you like to rehearse a scene with me?"

He still has a good impression of Yasuko Sawaguchi.

Sanada was very satisfied with her playing his wife.

Moreover, he wasn't without his own thoughts. The two were roughly equal in billing, and he was somewhat looking forward to the possibility of something happening between them.

However, he did not expect that his invitation would be met with a firm rejection.

"Thank you, Sanada-san. I'd like to adjust it myself again."

Sanada's smile froze on his face, then he quickly changed the subject, "That's good, I'll go and wait for you."

"Okay," Sawaguchi replied politely.

Five minutes later...

Sawaguchi closed her eyes, and this time, she tried to treat the person in front of her as Sakamoto Yu.

When he opened his eyes again, Sanada in front of him had transformed into Matsumoto, who looked like Sakamoto Yu.

This time, however, her filming went exceptionally smoothly.

The emotions were full and the behavior was appropriate for the character.

Nakamura's expression relaxed slightly behind the monitor, and he nodded a little.

Finally, it's correct.

The two scenes took a total of twenty minutes, and they were basically done in one take.

"Okay, scene change!"

"Sawaguchi-san, you're in good shape! Keep it up." After offering this encouragement, Nakamura left to continue filming other scenes.

Sanada was also amazed by Sawaguchi's acting skills. Recalling the affection and tenderness in the other's eyes when he looked at him earlier, he was momentarily dazed.

Hope rekindled in my heart; maybe they were just being reserved.

I was just about to go find Sawaguchi to talk to him under the pretext of "rehearsing a scene" when I discovered that he had already left.