Capítulo 70: Chapter 70: Immersion
From the moment Sae Otani, played by Akikawa Kyusuke, entered the classroom, the topics discussed by the students noticeably shifted.
What had started as trivial and irrelevant everyday chatter invariably turned into discussions related to Sae Otani.
The cheerful students began talking to Kotani Sae, while the introverted ones quietly watched and listened to him.
As Kotani Sae went about his tasks, he responded one by one to the topics his classmates brought up.
At the same time, he didn't neglect the quieter students. In the midst of the conversation, he skillfully brought up topics to engage them as well.
It was clear to everyone that Sae Otani, known as the class leader, was undoubtedly the center of the group.
In just a few minutes of classroom scenes, Sae Otani's popularity as a character had been firmly etched into the hearts of the audience.
---
After school ended, Sae Otani, a second-year high school student, left the school building.
On his way home, many students from other classes greeted him as they passed.
Then the scene shifted again.
This time, the stage displayed an apartment that looked old and dilapidated. The yellowed walls and worn-out furniture made it clear that the living conditions of the residents were far from ideal.
In the center of the room was a little girl, seemingly a primary school student, sitting by a rickety table and doing her homework in the light streaming from the window.
Her clothes had obviously been washed countless times, with the colors and patterns now faded and blurred.
"Big brother should be back soon~"
The little girl murmured softly to herself, occasionally glancing toward the door.
At this moment, the audience realized that this was Sae Otani's home.
Many in the audience hadn't anticipated this.
The seemingly glamorous Kotani Sae at school was, in fact, living in such challenging circumstances at home.
This realization brought new concerns to the audience.
Would Akikawa Kyusuke's striking presence and expressive acting make Sae Otani seem out of place in his impoverished surroundings?
---
The sound of a key turning in the door echoed from the speakers.
The little girl, hearing this, lit up with joy, her face radiating happiness.
She jumped from her chair and ran toward the entrance.
"Big brother!"
She called out gleefully.
The door opened, and she leaped into the arms of Sae Otani, who had just arrived home.
Kotani Sae hugged his sister with one arm and gently patted her head with the other, his expression full of tenderness.
Once again, Sae Otani, played by Akikawa Kyusuke, appeared before the audience.
As they watched Kotani Sae holding his sister and tenderly patting her head, the audience collectively felt that this was no star, but an ordinary older brother deeply loved and cherished by his sister.
---
The makeup and appearance of Akikawa Kyusuke remained the same as in the school scene.
His features were still as flawless as a piece of art.
But something was different.
The radiant, diamond-like aura of Sae Otani had vanished, completely blending into the modest surroundings of his home.
At home, Kotani removed his school uniform, donned an apron, and began cooking.
When dinner was nearly ready, another woman, middle-aged and slightly frail-looking, entered the apartment.
Through Sae Otani and his sister addressing her, the audience learned that this was their mother.
Once the meal was prepared, the three sat down to eat together.
Despite their poor living conditions, the atmosphere during the family meal was harmonious and warm.
The little sister shared her dream of becoming a doctor and helping patients in the future.
The mother mentioned that in two more years, they could save enough money to move into a better apartment.
Kotani Sae himself expressed confidence in securing a scholarship to a national university, ensuring he could study for free.
He promised that after graduating, he would make life better for his mother and sister.
The happy atmosphere during the meal, paired with the proud look on Sae Otani's mother's face as she spoke about her son, made it clear to the audience:
Kotani Sae was not just the pride of his school but also the heart of his family.
---
The family dinner scene ended, and what followed was heart-wrenching.
Sae Otani was found dead in his room.
His terrified mother screamed and called the police.
After a preliminary investigation, the police concluded that Sae had taken his own life.
However, both his mother and sister vehemently rejected this conclusion.
"How could Sae, who had been planning a better future just last night, commit suicide?"
The police, sensing something amiss, couldn't find any leads. Left with no other choice, they turned to Detective Quinn, who happened to be in town.
The audience was moved to tears as they watched Sae's mother and sister sobbing, desperately explaining to the police and detectives how extraordinary and lovable Sae Otani had been.
---
Although Sae Otani appeared alive in only two scenes, the audience had fallen in love with his character in such a short amount of time.
As a result, Sae Otani's death left a much deeper impact on the audience than the previous two deaths in the play.
Detective Quinn, played by Yoko Okino, resumed her investigation.
On the fourth day after Sae Otani's death, his grieving mother received a handwritten letter from him, sent two days earlier.
At this point, the police in the play realized something shocking:
Like the previous two cases, this was a serial murder.
The fifth act ended with Detective Quinn uncovering the mystery behind Sae Otani's death and beginning to investigate the conspiracy of the deceased victims' posthumous letters.
---
As the curtain slowly fell, marking the end of the fifth act, the audience erupted into the most passionate discussion since the start of the play.
Some speculated about the killer's methods.
Others cursed the murderer for taking the life of someone as outstanding as Sae Otani, believing the culprit to be an antisocial psychopath.
After a long period of discussion, the audience was collectively stunned.
What they had previously worried about—whether Akikawa Kyousuke's star-like presence would clash with the humble setting of Sae's home—had been completely forgotten.
They had been entirely immersed in the story.
(End of Chapter)
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