Theater「箱, Hako?」 is the forty-sixth chapter of the Oshi no Ko manga series. It is written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari. It was released in Weekly Young Jump on June 10, 2021.[1]
Summary[]
Director Kindaichi announces to the cast that the rehearsals are put on hold while they wait for a new script. the announcement leaves Akane disappointed as she was hoping to get all the time she can to rehearse since this is a stage around production. Aqua then ask what stage around is referring to. His co-stars are shocked by his ignorance and question how he visualize what he is doing. Akane points out that he does not like stage play, Aqua explains that he does not dislike them but he thinks the need for changing sets messes with the pacing and he finds the acting exaggerated. While Akane admits he is right, she argues that mindset is outdated. Given they now have free time, Akane take Aqua out to a date at the theater to change his mind.
The two go to watch the stage play about table tennis in a Stage Around venue. Aqua is first surprised by the monitors going all the way round and the fact that they open up. He then experience the effects and the sensation of it all. When the play is over, Aqua admits to Akane that the play is a lot more exciting than he expected, pointing out the massive difference that the Stage Around venue provides compared to a traditional play, citing the monitors that allows film direction to be used in the play, the rotating audience seating that allows several stages to be prepared in advance, and the quality of the play along with the performance, which Aqua said movies cannot replicate. Akane giggles the more he praise the play and she expresses her relief that he expresses enjoyment out of it but he has now decided to give it a chance.
Producer Raida then appears, approaching them since he saw them coming out of the play. Raida reveals that he is part of the production for this play as well. He explains that one can judge the audience's reaction by looking at their faces. People tend to smile if they like the work and Aqua had a great face coming out, which made him happy. Akane asks Aqua to show it for her but he dismisses her request and asks Raida about the state of the Tokyo Blade script, and Raida updates them about the demand that Abiko made to fire the scriptwriter Goa, and to rewrite the script on her own. Aqua says that Abiko would not be able to do so, since she probably would have the same reservations about theater as he did, not knowing the script makes full use of the stage around venue, along with praising the play he just watched. Raida points out that the play they have just watched is also written by Goa as well. Raida goes on to praise him being a hard worker and his script always bring out smiles from the audience as they leave before admitting that he doesn't want to fire Goa and that there is nothing he can do. However Aqua reminds him that as the producer of the show, he is the only one who can do something about it.
On their way home, Akane states that she still feel like Goa's script is good even if she thinks the script has problems when she compares it to the manga. Aqua says that the problem lies within the breakdown of communication between Goa and Abiko, and if things clear up between the two of them, the play should come out better. Aqua then plans to do something to help as he makes a call on his phone.
Characters[]
