The filming process for We Made a Beautiful Bouquet was proceeding quite smoothly.
Under Director Doi's delicate and precise control, the opening scenes of the movie were successfully completed. The process of [Yamane Mugi] and [Hachiya Kinu] going from meeting and getting to know each other to falling in love was interpreted by Michiya Gōshin and Kurokawa Akane in a way that was both realistic and moving, filled with the ecstasy and sweetness of finding "another me in the world."
That morning, after filming a few transitional shots, Director Doi held the storyboard script, rubbed his chin, and walked up to Michiya Gōshin and Kurokawa Akane, who were taking a short break. His face wore a smile that mixed artistic pursuit with a hint of teasing.
"Michiya-kun, Kurokawa-san."
Director Doi's voice carried his habitual gentleness, but his eyes shone with an unmistakable seriousness.
"The groundwork is mostly done. Next, we are entering the movie's... well, let's call it a relatively core and special part."
He flipped through the script, pointing to the content marked as "Cohabitation Life."
"What we are shooting next are some fragments after [Yamane Mugi] and [Hachiya Kinu] start living together. There are two relatively intimate shots here that need key handling."
He paused, seemingly weighing his words to ensure professional and clear communication. After all, such scenes required better cooperation from the actors to express the desired visual effect.
"One is where they are at home at night, covered by the same quilt, involving a kissing scene. It can be considered a shot metaphorically representing the utmost intimacy between lovers. The other is the scene where they bathe together in the bathtub."
He looked at the two leads, his tone becoming more solemn.
"Although these two shots might not have much screen time in the final cut, they are key nodes demonstrating the unreserved intimacy, sweetness, and intense love between a couple in the honeymoon phase. Therefore, the transmission of emotion must be accurate and natural."
The director paused, then actively emphasized the final instruction.
"We must make the content in the lens appear very aesthetic."
"So, I need the two of you to do sufficient mental preparation first and cultivate your emotions. We aren't in a rush; what we pursue is the best effect."
After listening, Michiya Gōshin's face didn't show much fluctuation. He was the creator of the script itself; he already knew the setup of these plot points and the emotions to be expressed by heart, so naturally, he wouldn't be too flustered.
He quickly reviewed the specific descriptions and emotional requirements in the script within his mind, nodded, and spoke in a steady tone.
"Understood, Director. I will adjust my state quickly."
At this moment, Michiya Gōshin's gaze turned to Kurokawa Akane beside him, carrying an inquiry and a trace of imperceptible reassurance.
"Kurokawa-san, how about you?"
After all, this was a movie set; he couldn't call her by her given name directly, as there were unfamiliar staff members all around.
However, in sharp contrast to Michiya Gōshin's calmness, Kurokawa Akane's reaction was much more vivid.
Upon hearing the keywords "kissing" and "bathing together," her cheeks were dyed with a layer of crimson at a speed visible to the naked eye, spreading all the way to the roots of her ears.
The girl subconsciously lowered her head slightly. Her thick, curled eyelashes trembled rapidly a few times like frightened butterfly wings, attempting to conceal her suddenly accelerated heartbeat and the shyness surging in her heart.
Of course, there was also a trace of excitement.
Having bravely expressed her feelings, now having to film intimate scenes made Kurokawa Akane's mind tremble somewhat.
Deep in her heart, aside from the nervousness an actor should have, there surged an indescribable torrent mixed with strong anticipation and shyness.
She could finally kiss Michiya Gōshin openly and wholeheartedly in front of the camera, rather than just pecking him on the cheek hastily like last time.
This was her first kiss.
"I... I understand too."
Kurokawa Akane's voice was fainter than usual, carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling, but she quickly raised her head, forcing herself to meet the gazes of the Director and Michiya Gōshin, displaying the attitude of a professional actor.
"I will work hard to do it well."
Director Doi noticed her slight nervousness, smiled knowingly, and comforted her.
"Relax, Kurokawa-san. I believe in the tacit understanding between you and Michiya-kun, and I also believe in our entire team. We will all work hard to create a good atmosphere and ensure the filming is conducted within a comfortable and professional scope."
After the director left to arrange lighting and camera positions, Kurokawa Akane stood rooted to the spot, feeling her face burning somewhat.
"Kurokawa?"
Hearing Michiya Gōshin's gentle voice, she suddenly seemed to remember something extremely important. She threw her head up, her voice even becoming hurried.
"Um, I'm going to go wash up first. Michiya-kun, please wait for me a moment."
"?"
Watching the retreating figure of the girl walking away quickly, this sudden move to ensure she was in her best state carried a kind of maiden-like innocence and cuteness. It made several staff members who noticed nearby unable to resist revealing good-natured smiles.
Even Michiya Gōshin, seeing her solemn manner of taking oral hygiene to the extreme, felt it was somewhat amusing.
"No need to be so nervous..."
At this moment, Kato Megumi suddenly walked up to Michiya Gōshin's side. In her hand, she was holding a disposable salt-flavored toothpaste and a blue toothbrush.
"Michiya-san, do you want to go wash up as well?"
"...Alright, I'll go too then."
Michiya Gōshin tilted his head to look at Kato Megumi and noticed her other hand was holding a small green bottle, so he was somewhat curious.
"What is this?"
"Mouthwash. After the kissing scene is finished later, Michiya-san can use this."
"...Kato."
"What is it?"
The short-haired young girl raised her head, looking at his face gently. Although her expression was calm, a strange light flickered in her eyes.
"You really are thorough."
Michiya Gōshin did not refuse her suggestion, taking the toothpaste and toothbrush and walking into the washroom.
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A moment later, everything was ready.
The first scene to be filmed was the "quilt cover kiss." The set was arranged in a bedroom with a warm atmosphere, with a plain cotton quilt spread over a double bed.
Michiya Gōshin and Kurokawa Akane had both changed into comfortable loungewear and were sitting side by side on the bed, the pale yellow quilt covering them up to their waists.
"Action!"
The clapperboard sounded, and the camera focused on the two.
According to the script, it was currently night. The two had just finished a busy day and were leaning against the headboard chatting about trivial matters, the atmosphere warm and tranquil.
As they chatted, Kurokawa Akane's gaze landed on Michiya Gōshin's profile, which was outlined by the soft halo of the bedside lamp. Her eyes gradually became deep and filled with love.
After a while, Michiya Gōshin actively leaned in closer. Kurokawa Akane seemed to sense it and also turned her head slightly, her eyes holding the same tenderness and a trace of shy anticipation.
The two faces slowly approached under the lens.
At this moment, Kurokawa Akane could clearly feel Michiya Gōshin's warm breath brushing over her cheek. She could even count his eyelashes, which were close at hand and trembling slightly.
This is filming...
This is filming...
She chanted silently in her heart, her heart beating wildly in her chest like a drum. After a moment, when Michiya Gōshin's face slowly drew near, Kurokawa Akane subconsciously went to meet him.
However, perhaps due to lack of experience, or perhaps because the emotions in her heart were too complex, the girl's movements went somewhat out of control.
She accidentally bumped into Michiya Gōshin's lower lip, and even with a bit of force, took a bite on the corner of his lips.
"Mmph..."
Michiya Gōshin let out an extremely light muffled groan. His movements paused immediately. He glanced at the system panel that suddenly popped up and instantly felt somewhat speechless.
[Production Queue 2: Advanced Research]
[Experience: 36/100]
[Experience: 37/100]
"Cut!"
Director Doi immediately yelled cut. His tone carried no blame, but rather understanding.
"Kurokawa-san, relax a bit. Don't use so much force. You are lovers coming to kiss, not to gnaw. Let's do it again."
Consequently, Kurokawa Akane's face exploded in red instantly, practically about to drip blood. Even her neck was dyed pink. She hurriedly retreated backward, ashamed to the point of having nowhere to hide.
"So-sorry, Michiya-kun, I... I didn't mean to."
Michiya Gōshin rubbed his lower lip. It was a bit numb there, but nothing serious.
Looking at Kurokawa Akane's appearance of wishing she could burrow into a crack in the ground, he felt her reaction at this moment was authentically cute.
So he lowered his hand, smiled gently, and comforted her.
"It's okay. Don't be nervous, Kurokawa. Relax and just follow my rhythm."
His tolerance and composure were like a gentle breeze, slightly blowing away Kurokawa Akane's embarrassment. The girl put down her hand, took a few deep breaths, tried hard to calm her wildly beating heart, and nodded vigorously toward the direction of Michiya Gōshin and the director.
"Mm! I'll adjust properly."
The second take began.
This time, Kurokawa Akane tried hard to suppress the surging waves in her heart, attempting to throw herself into it more relaxedly.
The two approached again and pressed together. The contact this time was much gentler, but perhaps because Kurokawa Akane was still somewhat stiff, or the grasp of the angle wasn't perfect, although the kissing shot looked fine, Director Doi was pursuing that naturally flowing love.
"The feeling is seventy or eighty percent there, but it can be softer. Be more immersed, Akane-san. Try giving him a little response."
Director Doi instructed from behind the monitor.
Thus, the third time, the fourth time...
[Production Queue 2: Advanced Research]
[Experience: 39/100]
[Experience: 40/100]
[Experience: 41/100]
This seemingly simple kissing scene, due to Kurokawa Akane's initial little accident and the subsequent pursuit of the "perfect feeling," was filmed repeatedly five or six times.
Every approach was a sweet torment and an ultimate experience for Kurokawa Akane.
The girl could clearly feel Michiya Gōshin's temperature, could smell the clean and refreshing scent on him, and could feel his gentle strength.
From the initial rawness and nervousness to gradually relaxing later and starting to try responding clumsily, she found herself becoming increasingly greedy, seemingly wanting to establish a more real emotional connection with the other party.
Rather than playing a role.
After about an hour of filming, Kurokawa Akane's cheeks constantly glowed with a moving flush, and her eyes became more watery due to the repeated intimate contact.
Michiya Gōshin, meanwhile, maintained professionalism and patience throughout. He cooperated seriously every time, occasionally whispering a word or two of simple encouragement or adjustment suggestions during the intervals when the director yelled "Cut."
Finally, after who knows how many takes, the image in the monitor reached the effect Director Doi wanted.
—That was a natural and affectionate kiss, filled with the thick honey-sweetness of a couple in the honeymoon phase. The two under the lens seemed to truly be a cohabiting couple immersed in the river of love; every subtle expression and body language spoke of their love for each other.
"OK! This take passes! Very good!"
Director Doi shouted with great satisfaction. The staff on site also invariably breathed a sigh of relief and revealed smiles.
The moment Kurokawa Akane heard "passes," her entire person almost collapsed from exhaustion, but a huge sense of accomplishment and an indescribable sweetness surged from the bottom of her heart.
She stole a glance at Michiya Gōshin and found he was looking at her. His gaze was gentle, seemingly carrying a trace of praise, causing the girl's heartbeat to uncooperatively skip a beat again.
After a short rest, closely following was the second scene—"Bathtub Shared Bath."
The scene switched to a bathroom arranged warmly, filled with steam.
To ensure the actors' comfort and privacy, as well as the filming effect, the bathtub was filled with warm water at a suitable temperature, and a large amount of white bubble bath had been added. The water surface was covered with a thick layer of foam, perfectly obscuring the situation beneath the water.
Regarding costumes, Kurokawa Akane, as the actress, put on a flesh-colored base dress made of special material. The dress wouldn't become transparent when wet, ensuring absolute safety.
She only needed to expose her shoulders and above from the water surface. Some soap bubbles were cleverly placed on her shoulders, creating the effect that she was bathing.
As for Michiya Gōshin, being the actor, the scale requirements were naturally relatively looser. He needed to take off his top, revealing his entire upper body.
When Michiya Gōshin, assisted by staff, took off his loungewear and revealed his lean and muscular upper body, an extremely slight, suppressed sound of inhaling and a subtle commotion clearly rang out on the set.
Since being discharged from the hospital, Michiya Gōshin had started persisting in exercise and action training again, so his figure was maintained extremely well.
It wasn't an overly exaggerated muscular type, but an inverted triangle figure with smooth lines and perfect proportions. Broad shoulders, firm pectoral muscles, well-defined abs, and a tight, narrow waist. Under the warm-toned lights of the bathroom, he seemed to be plated with a layer of soft light, filled with masculine power and beauty, yet without appearing overly aggressive.
After seeing this scene, the female staff members present, from the young script supervisor to the experienced costumer, had their gazes involuntarily attracted over. Although they quickly shifted their eyes away or lowered their heads to pretend to be busy out of professional ethics, the amazement and appreciation in their eyes were hard to conceal.
Even Kurokawa Akane, standing by the bathtub preparing to get into character, was obviously stunned for a moment upon seeing Michiya Gōshin's bare upper body at close range.
Her eyes stared straight for an instant, then red clouds flew up her cheeks again. She shifted her gaze away somewhat flusteredly, her heart beating like a drum.
"All personnel in position! Prepare to start!" Director Doi's voice broke this subtle atmosphere.
Michiya Gōshin stepped into the bathtub first, sitting down in the foam-filled water. The warm water washed over his lean waist and abdomen.
Then it was Kurokawa Akane. She took a deep breath, and with the other party's signal and assistance, carefully stepped into the bathtub, sitting down opposite him.
The bathtub was indeed not large; their legs unavoidably touched gently underwater.
"Action!"
The lens began to capture the interaction between the two in the bathtub. According to the script, they should be chatting relaxedly, splashing water at each other playfully, enjoying the sweet leisure of lovers' cohabitation life.
Water ripples undulated, foam floated.
Underwater, where the lens couldn't see, because the space was narrow, their bodies would have slight friction and contact from time to time.
Kurokawa Akane could feel the heat transmitting from Michiya Gōshin's skin and the seemingly absent touches in the water. She only felt waves of current-like numbness spreading from the points of contact, making her mind waver somewhat.
Perhaps it was the superimposition of emotions inside and outside the play, or perhaps she was infected by the misty, ambiguous atmosphere at this moment, but a bold thought suddenly was born in Kurokawa Akane's heart.
Underwater where no one could see, using the cover of the water ripples, she quietly extended her slender, long legs. Like a flexible water snake, they crossed the narrow distance between the two and gently circled Michiya Gōshin's waist.
This sudden move caused Michiya Gōshin's body to stiffen imperceptibly for an instant.
"?"
[Production Queue 2: Advanced Research]
[Experience: 43/100]
What's wrong?
Michiya Gōshin wanted to use eye contact to ask the other party's meaning, but Kurokawa Akane's face still wore a playful smile, as if that bold move just now was merely the character's impulsive playfulness.
Because they were still filming, Michiya Gōshin reacted quickly. His face revealed a doting smile belonging to [Yamane Mugi], as if he completely accepted her "little movements."
This kind of secret underwater interaction between the two, although the lens couldn't capture it at all, tangibly affected their surface performance.
That natural intimacy, love, and a trace of seemingly absent tension flowing between lovers instantly became fuller and more real, almost overflowing the screen.
Through the monitor, Director Doi's eyes lit up. He seemed to keenly capture the subtle change in the aura between the two; it was a chemical reaction far more vivid and moving than the script's setting.
"Good, good, good, keep it up, push forward..."
Just then, Kurokawa Akane seemed to be completely immersed in the interaction with Michiya Gōshin.
Looking at Michiya Gōshin's handsome face carrying water droplets and foam, looking at his gentle eyes that seemed capable of sucking her in, a strong emotional impulse surged into her heart.
She maintained the posture of entangling underwater, leaned her body forward slightly, crossed over the floating foam, raised her head, and suddenly leaned in again.
"Mmph..."
"Mm?"
This was a sudden kiss in the bathtub.
Michiya Gōshin was caught somewhat off guard by her successive improvisations, but his strong professional ethics made him react immediately and respond quickly.
The lens captured this scene perfectly.
amidst the hazy steam and dreamy foam, a pair of people in love pressed together selflessly in the bathtub. Water ripples gently undulated beside them, the light and shadow were soft, and the entire image was as beautiful as a meticulously painted movie poster, filled with extreme romance and intimacy.
After about a minute or more, Director Doi's voice rang out, carrying hard-to-suppress excitement and thrill. He even stood up from behind the monitor.
"Fantastic! This shot! Perfect! This kiss in the bathtub! It's simply a stroke of genius!"
Filming paused.
After this segment of content was finished, Kurokawa Akane slowly left Michiya Gōshin's front, as if waking from a dream.
Although she was very brave just now, at this moment, the girl's cheeks were as red as a ripe tomato, and her eyes were still somewhat intoxicating.
After hearing the director's question, Kurokawa Akane took a deep breath, tried hard to calm her chaotic heartbeat, looked bravely at the director, and spoke with a voice that wasn't loud but was clear.
"Director, this was... was something I suddenly thought of just now. I felt that in this situation, the feelings between [Yamane Mugi] and [Hachiya Kinu] are already very intense. Such a spontaneous kiss should be able to better express the intimacy and love between them."
Hearing this, Director Doi revealed a huge, appreciative smile on his face. He nodded vigorously.
"Exactly! Kurokawa-san, your on-the-spot improvisation was too outstanding. You completely grasped the emotional core of the character. This is exactly the feeling! That uncontrollable intimacy during the honeymoon phase! This take is excellent, we're keeping it!"
Then he turned to Michiya Gōshin and also gave a thumbs up.
"Michiya-kun, your cooperation was also very good. The reaction was timely and very natural. The performance of you two today greatly exceeded my expectations. This shot is really great."
A round of soft applause, carrying admiration and goodwill, rang out on the set.
Everyone was won over by the two leads' devoted performance and Kurokawa Akane's brave and inspired improvisation.
Michiya Gōshin looked at Kurokawa Akane beside him, whose eyes were sparkling despite her shyness, and his heart also moved slightly.
He had to admit, her improvisation just now indeed injected a more real and moving soul into this scene.
And... it also carried the girl's hesitation-free love.
He cast a glance at her that carried approval and a bit of complex meaning.
And after receiving his gaze, the flush on Kurokawa Akane's face deepened, but the corners of her mouth couldn't suppress rising, revealing a happy smile.
"Let's continue."
"...Mm."
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