Note: I have nothing to do with Here is Greenwood and its characters except to be a fan who enjoys the OVAs a lot. This story is my extrapolation of the storylines as seen in the OVAs. I apologize if this story doesn't quite fit in with the manga.
Someone knocked on the door.
Shinobu looked up from his textbook, frowning. After a brief moment of concentration, he smiled. "Come in, Hasukawa." He closed his book and turned in his seat.
The door opened, and his next-door neighbor stepped inside. His red hair was still damp from the baths, causing a slightly musty odor to fill the room. "Shun said you wanted to see me, senpai?" the younger boy asked.
"Please, sit down," Shinobu said, gesturing towards his bunk. Hasukawa shot him a nervous glance but did as he was told. "There's something I'd like to talk to you about. It has to do with a contest Tochizawa--"
"No."
Shinobu blinked, slightly surprised that Hasukawa had actually interrupted him. "Excuse me?"
"No," the other boy repeated. "I won't help out. If Tochizawa's involved, then he's planning another movie. And if he is, I want nothing to do with it."
"You're being unfair to him, Hasukawa," Shinobu said mildly.
"Look what happened last time!"
"What happened last time is that Greenwood's entry in the school festival came away with first prize. Besides which, you owe Tochizawa for the times he's helped you with creative writing assignments."
He continued, changing the subject as Hasukawa tried to muster up another argument. "Have you ever considered a career in acting?" Shinobu asked.
Hasukawa blinked, caught off guard. "Acting? Me?"
Shinobu opened his desk drawer and withdrew an envelope. "As a way of helping Tochizawa, I arranged for a well-known movie critic to attend the festival committee's judging of 'Here is Devilwood'. Two days after the final judging, the critic sent me a letter filled with his comments and opinions about the movie." He held up the envelope. "This is the letter. I originally asked him to focus primarily on Tochizawa's contributions to the project, namely the script and the directing. However, the critic provided a thorough, in-depth review of 'Here is Devilwood' complete with his opinions on--among other things--Aoki's special effects and your and Mitsuru's acting abilities. Would you like to hear what he said?"
Hasukawa's mouth opened and closed. He seemed to be trying to say something but nothing emerged.
"Well, I'll read it to you anyway." Shinobu cleared his throat and began. "He starts off with his evaluation of Tochizawa before moving on to everything else." There was another pause as he scanned the page. "Here we are. 'The young actors playing the roles of Lemon Herb and Tino added surprising depth and humanizing qualities to characters that might otherwise have been stagnant and uninteresting. Ikeda Mitsuru transformed what might have been a standard, overdone role--the ever successful pretty-boy champion of good--into a tarnished knight with mercenary tendencies driven by a strange, hidden agenda of his own. Hasukawa Kazuya took his role as Lemon Herb's sidekick beyond the simple-minded grunt typical to this character and remade it into Lemon Herb's nagging conscience and confused but determined follower. Both actors seem perfectly suited to their roles, suggesting deliberate typecasting on the scriptwriter's and casting director's parts. However, both actors--and Hasukawa Kazuya in particular--show great promise of success in an acting profession should they choose to pursue it.'" Shinobu stopped and looked over at Hasukawa.
The other boy was staring at the floor, a bright flush coloring his cheeks. Shinobu wasn't certain if the blush was from embarassment or joy, but it didn't really matter. Hasukawa was practically radiating his acknowledgement of the praise and his desire to earn more.
"So," Shinobu said, gazing steadily at Hasukawa, "what is your answer now? Will you help Tochizawa make his movie?"
Hasukawa blinked and stared at him, nodding slowly.
Shinobu allowed a slight smile onto his face. "Good. I'll let Tochizawa know you've agreed to act in his movie." He rose to leave, but Hasukawa shook himself out of his daze.
"Senpai, will you be in the movie, too?" he asked.
Shinobu nodded. "As a matter of fact, Tochizawa would like me to be one of the leads. He wants you to be the other main character."
Hasukawa blinked. "Me? Really? That's great!"
Shinobu studied his friend carefully. "I'm glad you feel that way." He reached back to his desk and pulled out the synopsis he'd gotten from Tochizawa. "Here, read this first. You'll be playing the role of Hayashi Kenichi. I'm playing the role of Tachibana Seishiro." He handed the synopsis to Hasukawa. "Remember, you agreed to participate."
The other boy took the paper hesistantly, misgiving and suspicion suddenly clouding his face. He began reading the synopsis.
Shinobu watched as Hasukawa's face underwent several transformations. First it flushed, then it paled, then it flushed again so brightly that his face seemed to be as bright and as red as his hair. It finally paled again as Hasukawa reached the bottom of the page and looked up.
"I can't do this," he said.
"You promised," Shinobu said ruthlessly. "You agreed to participate and accepted the role Tochizawa wants you to play. You're stuck with it."
"But he--" Hasukawa stammered. "He wants us to--"
"I'm perfectly aware what he wants us to do," Shinobu said calmly. "It doesn't bother me in the slightest."
"But why would you want to--"
"Why did I accept the role?" Shinobu sat down in his chair again. "I did it because it will help Tochizawa advance one more step towards achieving his dream. I also did it because members of a family do things for each other."
Hasukawa blinked. "What? I don't understand."
"Don't you? Until your brother married Sumire, you were willing to do just about anything for him, correct?"
"Well, I--"
"You did it because you loved him," Shinobu said. "After your mother died he was all you had left, and you loved him because he was both your father and your brother. Even though you're not on the best terms with him now, he's still willing to do a lot for you because he cares about you. I trust you realize that, especially after he goaded you into calling Igarashi that first time."
Hasukawa nodded. "I guess I still love him. He's my brother after all."
"It isn't quite the same for me," Shinobu said quietly. "You've met Nagisa, so you know my family isn't quite so loving."
Hasukawa shuddered. "With family like Nagisa, who needs enemies?"
Shinobu's lip twitched. "Indeed. But Nagisa isn't the only reason I don't get along with my family. Suffice it to say I've stopped thinking of them as my real family. We share the same name and the same blood, but otherwise there is nothing to link me to them. The residents of Greenwood are my family now, Hasukawa."
The other boy blinked. "We are?"
Shinobu nodded. "I care about all of you, from Aoki and Sagarii to Tochizawa and Furusawa to you, Shun, and Mitsuru. You're my family now and I do everything I can to make sure you're all happy and successful. That is why I am willing to help Tochizawa despite how he wants our characters to interact." He paused. "I hope you feel the same way, at least in part."
Hasukawa was silent for a moment. "I do," he said quietly. "Greenwood's my home now. Even though I know I can go back to my brother's house, this feels more like 'home' than anywhere else." He paused, then continued in an even softer voice. "Part of it's because you and Mitsuru and Shun are here. And the rest of Greenwood, too." He sighed. "I guess I'm like you. And I guess I'd do nearly anything to help my friends, too."
"And the movie?"
Hasukawa straightened. "I'll do it," he said firmly. "I have some reservations about it, but I'll do it for Tochizawa's sake."
"Good," Shinobu said. "I've asked Tochizawa to assemble everyone in the dining room an hour after dinner. He'll make the announcement about the movie then. In the meantime, you'd better start studying for the history test you have tomorrow."
Hasukawa knew a dismissal when he heard one. He turned and left the room. Shinobu listened until the door to the next room opened and closed. Then he got up himself and left to search for Tochizawa to tell him the news about Hasukawa.
* * *
Ikeda Mitsuru looked over at Hasukawa, sitting next to him. The younger boy seemed angry about something. No, he thought, not angry. Irritated and nervous and a little fearful. "What's wrong, Hasukawa?" he asked.
The other boy jumped, then shook his head. "Nothing, senpai," he said, slipping back into his mood. "I don't know how Shinobu-senpai talked me into this," he muttered under his breath.
Mitsuru suppressed a grin. He knew exactly how Hasukawa felt. Shinobu had a bad habit of convincing people--usually against their better judgment--to do something they would never ordinarily think of. Either that, or he plunged headlong into a project, forcibly dragging anyone around him into it. Like the production of "Here is Devilwood." He hadn't had the time to participate, but Shinobu--and, to be fair, Tochizawa--had managed to coerce him into going along with the plan. To be fair, though, he'd dragged Shinobu into schemes of his own, like the prank the entire dorm had played on Hasukawa when he first arrived at Greenwood.
Hasukawa's roommate, Kisaragi Shun, dropped down onto the seat next to him, leaning around Hasukawa to wave. "Hi, senpai!" the boy said cheerfully. He took one glance at Hasukawa's face, then scrambled around to sit on Mitsuru's other side. "What's wrong with Suka-chan?" Shun asked, using the nickname he'd coined on Hasukawa's first night in the dorm.
"Shinobu convinced him to participate in Tochizawa's new movie," Mitsuru whispered to him. "I think he's having second thoughts now."
Shun shook his head sadly, making his long hair sway. "He didn't have a chance," he said softly. "Shinobu-senpai always gets what he wants." Some long strands of hair fell across his face and he tossed his head, flinging his long hair back. "So, what's Tochizawa's new movie about?" he asked, changing the subject. "All he said when he came to my room was to attend a meeting in the dining room tonight."
Mitsuru shrugged. "I only know what Shinobu told me," he said. "As I understand it, this new movie isn't a fantasy like 'Here is Devilwood'. Shinobu said it's a modern drama, but he wouldn't elaborate."
"Well, we don't have to wait much longer," Shun said, pointing across the room. "Look."
Mitsuru turned and saw Shinobu entering with Tochizawa. They both headed towards the front of the dining room. Tochizawa suddenly dropped back, allowing Shinobu to take charge of the meeting.
The moment Shinobu stopped and faced his audience, everyone fell silent.
"Thank you for coming," he said, his quiet voice nonetheless carrying all the way to the back of the room. "I realize that many of you have homework to do and tests to study for, so we'll make this as brief as possible."
Mitsuru suppressed a smirk at the groans that arose. Somehow he and Shinobu--and, surprisingly, Hasukawa and Shun--had very little trouble studying for exams despite all the strange and confusing twists their lives took. Others in the dorm weren't so fortunate.
"Tochizawa," Shinobu continued, "wants to enter a film contest, but to do so he needs your cooperation. Based upon the success of Greenwood's festival-winning 'Here is Devilwood', which was the culmination of the entire dormitory's cooperation and hard work, he would like to solicit your assistance and cooperation on this new project." He gestured to Tochizawa. "I'll let him explain the film." Shinobu stepped to the side as the younger boy took his place.
"Unlike 'Here is Devilwood,'" Tochizawa began, "the new film I'd like to produce will be a modern drama set in a school very much like Ryokuto Academy. I don't anticipate needing extensive composite work, props preparation, or special effects, but I will need everyone's assistance in making this movie as good as if not better than 'Devilwood'."
Mitsuru nodded. A lot of the work done on 'Devilwood' had Aoki scrambling to add special effects via computer to the film, minimizing the amount of work the main characters--namely himself and Hasukawa--had needed to do. Aoki had actually spent more time working on it than all the live actors combined. This new film was likely to be a greater challenge to everyone involved.
"What's it about?" someone called from the side.
Tochizawa held up a sheet of paper. "I've written this synopsis, and I'll read it to you." He waited until everyone was quiet before beginning.
"Okay. 'Tachibana Seishiro, a young man from a respected but rigid family, has defied his father's wishes and enrolled in a school halfway across the country. Cut off from his scornful, angry father and malicious siblings, Seishiro uses the funds provided by his late grandparents and late mother to sustain himself at the school. A year later, the president of the school assigns him a new roommate, Hayashi Kenichi. Kenichi is an orphan and a Ward of the State, placed in the school by the government and placed under Seishiro's mentorship by the school president. Seishiro and Kenichi's relationship changes from mentor and protege to friends as close as brothers, and then goes further as their feelings change and they fall in love with each other. After enduring numerous hardships and obstacles to their relationship, the two finally make love in their dormitory room.'" Tochizawa looked up. "I'm calling the movie 'Dawn of Love' for now."
A wave of noise swept across the dining room as students whispered to their neighbors.
Mitsuru was surprised. Tochizawa's new script was definitely more provocative and controversial than his previous one had been. He wondered whom he'd managed to snare into the two leads.
"I've already consulted with the two students I'd like to play Seishiro and Kenichi," Tochizawa continued. The entire room fell silent. "The role of Tachibana Seishiro will be played by Shinobu-senpai, and the role of Hayashi Kenichi will be played by Suka-chan."
Mitsuru's eyes widened. He turned and stared at Hasukawa. The younger boy glanced at him, then gave a sheepish nod, flushing a deep red. He felt a movement on his other side and knew that Shun was looking around him. Mitsuru swallowed and looked back towards Tochizawa. Shinobu had joined him in the front. His eyes met his roommate's for a moment, and Mitsuru knew that Shinobu had, indeed, agreed. A strange nervous feeling arose in his stomach.
"I have spoken with Hasukawa," Shinobu was saying, "and we have both agreed to play these roles. Both of us feel that this is the right thing to do to help Tochizawa advance another step towards achieving his dreams. I hope that all of you will also do your part to make this movie a success."
There was more murmuring in the audience. "You said it was a contest," someone shouted. "What's the prize?"
"The grand prize is 10,000,000 yen."
There was a collective gasp, then absolute silence. Mitsuru himself didn't know what to say. 10,000,000 yen was a huge prize. Shinobu hadn't said a thing about such a large amount.
"Tochizawa has already agreed to let me determine the spending of the prize money," Shinobu continued. "After covering all incurred expenses, each person who participates in the production of the movie will receive a reasonable amount of the money, probably about 10,000 yen each. Everything that is left will be used on renovations to Greenwood." He turned slightly, focusing on someone to the side. "I was thinking that we should use the funds to build a shed for Furusawa to park his motorcycle in each night instead of breaking more stairs."
Laughter echoed around the room, since everyone who lived on the upper floors knew Furusawa had broken another step earlier that day.
"Furthermore," Shinobu added, "we can build it large enough to hold other people's bicycles or motorcycles should they wish to bring those with them the next time they return from visits home."
Loud cheers met this last statement. Then someone shouted out, "Are all the roles going to be--" Silence suddenly fell. "You know, will they all be--I mean--" The voice trailed off in confusion.
Shinobu shook his head. "The only roles that will involve such intimate interaction will be mine and Hasukawa's. The rest of the roles are all supporting and will require little sacrifice on your parts."
"I wish he'd told me that before I agreed to act in the movie," Hasukawa muttered. Mitsuru shot his friend a sympathetic look, but the uneasiness that had arisen earlier kept him from saying anything.
"Please meet with Tochizawa to find out what roles he'd like you to play," Shinobu instructed. "Otherwise, thank you for coming." He turned and headed towards the door.
Mitsuru jumped up, leaving Shun to deal with Hasukawa. He rushed after his roommate, catching him just outside the dining room. "Shinobu!"
The other boy turned to look at him. "Mitsuru."
"Shinobu, are you sure about this?" Mitsuru asked as they started towards their room. "Are you sure you want to play this role? This 'Seishiro'?"
Shinobu shrugged. "I have no problem with it. Hasukawa might--"
"I'm not talking about that part," Mitsuru snapped impatiently. "I'm talking about the part involving Seishiro's family. Will you be able to handle that?"
Shinobu stopped. "Oh," he said softly. "That."
"Yes," Mitsuru said. "Will you be able to handle the memories that your role is sure to bring up?"
Shinobu shrugged again and started moving. "I'll be fine. You should really worry about Hasukawa, Mitsuru. You know he--"
"I know he has issues!" Misturu snapped. "I know how much trouble he's had with his brother's strange ways, and I still remember how he reacted to that joke you and I played on him during his first summer here. But I'm worried about you! He isn't the one with the strong spiritual powers. You are! And I'm afraid of what will happen to you and anyone around you if you lose control!"
Shinobu stopped and gazed steadily at him. "I won't lose control," he promised. "What's more, I'll be careful of Hasukawa's sensibilities and emotions. However, I think that you're going to have more to worry about on that score."
Mitsuru blinked. "Me?"
His roommate nodded. "Let me tell you about the part Tochizawa has in mind for you." He closed his eyes. "Inayoshi Mikuro is Seishiro's and Kenichi's friend and classmate. He falls in love with Kenichi, but the younger boy only likes him, reserving his love solely for Seishiro. Jealous and angry, Mikuro kidnaps Kenichi and, after pouring his heart out to Kenichi, beats him and tears his clothes from him." Shinobu paused. "In the end, Mikuro rapes Kenichi."
Mitsuru's jaw dropped. "But I'd never--"
"That's the point. You would never do that to Hasukawa, but Mikuro would do that to Kenichi."
Mitsuru shook his head. "I don't think I could even act it out," he said softly. "I couldn't do that to Hasukawa." He looked up when he felt Shinobu's hand on his shoulder.
"Mitsuru," his roommate said softly, "I know that you and Hasukawa are closer because of everything that happened while he was pursuing Igarashi. I know you love him nearly as much as you love your brother, Sho. I can only imagine how hard it will be to lend realism to your beating of someone you care about, even if it is only pretending. Playing Mikuro will require you to be both physically and verbally abusive of Kenichi, alias Hasukawa." Shinobu smiled slightly then. "But Hasukawa loves and trusts you enough that he won't feel upset about what you say and do to him while in character."
Mitsuru shook his head slowly. "I don't know," he whispered. "Will he really understand?"
Shinobu nodded. "Everything will be fine as long as you let him know that you aren't Mikuro and that everything Mikuro says has nothing to do with your real feelings about him." Mitsuru didn't resist as Shinobu slowly turned him around and pushed him back toward the dining room. "Ask Tochizawa for a copy of the script as soon as possible," his roommate said, "then go over the scenes involving Kenichi and Mikuro with Hasukawa. Everything will be all right."
Mitsuru didn't say anything, then sighed and nodded. It was all he could really do, he told himself. He liked Hasukawa--loved him like a brother, he supposed, as Shinobu asserted--and as long as they both knew that they were only fulfilling roles in a movie, everything would be all right.
He straightened and returned to the dining room, immediately heading towards the large mass of boys. "Tochizawa!" he shouted. "I want a word with you!"
* * *
Shinobu let out a ragged sigh as he watched his roommate disappear back into the dining room. Tremors shuddered through his slender frame, his bottled rage finally finding an outlet--however limited--for expression.
It had been all he could do to keep his emotions in check. Listening to Tochizawa's description of his--no, Seishiro's--family had brought back unwanted memories, much as Mitsuru had suspected they would. The Tachibana family only remotely resembled the Tezuka family, but there were enough similarities to cause his memories to surge to life. Memories that weren't pleasant in the least. His dear, older sister Nagisa fit prominently into most of them, what with all her attempts at belittling her younger brother. It had taken a great deal of control to keep himself from rising to her baiting. His relationship with his older brother, Akira, wasn't what it could have been, and his stern, strict father who insisted on perfection and success in his youngest child was hardly a bonus.
To be honest, he thought, the Tachibana family actually sounded more civilized and likeable than his own. At least Seishiro's sister wasn't kidnapping his friends or holding young children hostage against his good behavior.
Shinobu sighed. He wouldn't let the memories get the better of him. He'd have them all under control when Tochizawa shot Seishiro's schism from his family.
He would.
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