SS-2 Quiet Hallway's End

For two days and two nights, I haven't seen a single soul...

Which... which way is Lungmen? Which way is home?

Dad, Mom... I'm thirsty... I'm tired...

Are those... buildings, afar?

I'm almost there... don't fall asleep...

......

Cut!

Wonderful, Nyamu! That's exactly the feeling I was going for!

An ordinary village girl leaves everything behind on a journey to pursue her musical dreams.

This scene is her darkest moment. After this, a serendipitous encounter sets her on the path to becoming Lungmen's favorite musician.

Appreciate the compliment, D~

Dunno why, but when I read the script, I found myself really identifying with the heroine.

Of course! It was tailor-written just for you, Miss Nyamu!

*Shangshu dialect* Yeah right... like we didn't rewrite it in a rush to make the New Year screening...

Huh...?

The investors saw the success of The Drummer Girl and demanded we cast you for the lead role.

Then your agency wanted the movie out for the New Year screening, so the director here made me rewrite the script in a week...

In the original ending... the girl was meant to have this phantasmagoric dream in her dying moments.

Under a blaze of dazzling lights, an unremarkable girl staggered her way onto the awards podium.

There, in her dream, she finally won everyone's recognition and made peace with everything.

That's what the ending was supposed to be! A savage, ironic satire!

Ding nei goh fai, you think that trash you wrote would've got funding like this without Nyamu's name value?

Who gives a shake about your funding? You've been kissing sponsors' asses for so long, you've forgotten how to make art!

Stories like this just don't come true! Ordinary people never just get the chance to step into the spotlight!

*Shangshu dialect* You don't know that because you're not from the countryside! Well, I am, and I know!

I'll show you, third-rate hack writer—

Guys, you could talk this out...

I've always wanted to strangle you for those garbage shots of yours, ri ni xian ren ban ban!

Puk gaai, you just see, you're the first one I kick out the door when I get rich!

Hello?? Can you not—?!

Hospital called. Director and scriptwriter got put in the same ward. In facing beds.

Both of them are in neck braces though, so all they do is stare at each other.

Still, this means we can't shoot for a while...

Well, I haven't had a proper break in a hot minute. I'd say this is a silver lining for me.

We'll contact you once we nail down an upcoming shoot schedule for you. Just be on standby until then.

(Mutters) Man, I don't know why, but that's a weight off my shoulders...

No, no, I can't relax yet—

Mom...?

Y'eat dinner yet, Nyamu? Y'all busy?

Sure I ate.

Us folks at home been having a great year for wheat. Out'n the fields afore sunup, harvestin' away till sundown.

What? Y'all don't listen when I tell ya, huh? Take it easy, slow down. Enjoy country livin'.

Jus' don't want you to go wearin' yourself too thin, sweetie. Y'get weary out there, come home and take a break.

Say, sweetie, whaddya wanna eat for the holidays? Me and Dad'll whip you up somethin'...

I ain't makin' it back for the holidays, c'mon! I'm always busiest when everyone else ain't...

That so...

(Distant voice) Mom, y'got Sis on the phone?

(Sound of running)

Sis! We saw the trailer for your new movie on TV!

Too bad there ain't any theaters around here. We wanna buy your tickets!

Heheh, hey, no sweat. I'll send y'all a copy when they print the discs!

Yay—!

You look so cool in the movie, playin' on the drums!

I'm startin' to learn drums too. Been usin' your old set to practice.

Betcha been gettin' mad crazy at the drums now, right? I wanna perform on stage one day just like you!

I... heheh, been a li'l busy lately, ain't had time to practice.

But I'm no slacker, no way! You'n me, let's knock 'em dead!

You bet! Okay, Mom's yellin' at us to go to bed. You sleep soon, Sis!

Y'all take care a'yerselves! Night!

G'night!

Miss Nyamu, the agency just received an offer for you from a major variety show.

Recording starts tomorrow at 8pm, and it's slated to run into the early morning. Are you available?

That's sudden, wouldn't you say...

Well... the other guest they're inviting on is Miss Sora. The idol girl.

She's about even with you in terms of fanbase, and she's well-regarded both inside and outside the industry.

It's a great opportunity for exposure, and I know the schedule's a little tight, but the agency would really love for you to be on the show...

......

Okay, tell them—Nyamu's looking forward to working with them all.

Great. That's a wrap for today, then.

Good night, Miss Nyamu. Sweet dreams.

(...Well, at least I'm getting sleep tonight.)

How many months since I practiced last...?

...Where'd my sticks go?

...Screw it. See what's on TV, then call it a day.

Hello to all my fans! Fresh new talent Nyamu here!

I just starred in The Drummer Girl, airing in theaters now! It's a super intriguing movie, and I hope you'll all see it on the big screen!

My dream's to be the best drummer in Lungmen—no, in all of Terra!

......

Come with Nyamu! Let's be the mes we wanna be~!

......

I've gotta leave some things behind sometimes. I'm a pro, that's what that means... I know that.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I now introduce our celebrity guest tonight—Sora!

Hi there on the left! Hi there on the right! And hi there down the middle!

Hi, all! I'm everyone's idol, Sora from Monster Siren Records!

Just look at how excited they are!

I really am glad you love me so much!

But I'm sure you're all expecting our other guest who's joining us last-minute tonight, because I know I am! I'm a huge fan of hers!

Ooh, you can't wait either, can you?

Alright, let's give a big warm welcome to—Miss Nyamu!

Good even-nyamu-nyamu~!

Hello to all my fans, Nyamu here~! I'm so happy to see you all!

Show me your pass! No entry without one!

If you're not staff or registered, stand outside and stop squeezing through!

Diu, there's just too many people!

Sora...! Nyamu! I love you!!

Hey, stop that guy—don't let him get inside!

...This place is an utter mess.

Why are there so many people...?

...I don't see any chance of infiltrating inside.

Hey, little lady. Wanna head inside and see the stars?

Huh?

Whose fan are you? Sora's, or Nyamu's?

Whichever it is, I've got methods. I can get you in to see her.

...Why are you assisting me?

Hey, no need to be nervous now.

It won't cost you that much... Yeah, here's the price.

...I don't have the money.

Hey, this is a bargain price as is! No haggling!

That doesn't change the fact that I don't...

(Dubious doesn't begin to describe this man... but I really don't see any alternative right now. If I don't seize this chance...)

(I'll just have to trust him for now.)

(Digs through her pockets)

Here, this is it... all the money I have on me. What do you make of that?

Deal! Follow me.

Staff-only access...?

Yeah. We'll head in through here.

What about the visitor's pass?

Don't have any.

So you're a staff member?

Nope.

Then how do we get in? What do you intend to do if someone catches us?!

I said I've got methods! You want to see the stars up close or not?

(Whisper) Puk gaai, he heard us...

(Whisper) He's coming this way! We have to hurry before he—

Hey! What the hell are you doing here?!

Wargh—!

I told you to be on standby with the backup equipment!

Oh, stagehands don't matter, huh, is that your opinion? What's your plan when the prop crew needs backups and you're sitting on them, huh?!

......

You little punk, skiving off like that.

Hey. No need to be so harsh. Look at her, she's scared so bad she can't even talk.

Don't just stand there, then! Get back to the set!

...Understood.

Young lady, the set's that way...

Don't tell her!

Let's see her come back and beg when she can't find it! I'll dock her pay for any losses from holding us up!

You gotta do your best!

O-Okay...

Well, go! Move it!

Whoof. Hard to make a living these days, isn't it...

Hey, hey. How's the sitch over there?

All good here.

All good here.

Good. Keep on truckin'.

Argh—job's got me so damn busy my head's explodin'!

Nyamu's just too damn popular! Got a Nyamu fan on every corner...

Nyamu must be having a tough time too...

You know how Miss Sora gets up before the sun's risen to practice? And how she's running around place to place to repay her fans' love. She always looks beat when I see her after dark.

Miss Nyamu rose to stardom so quickly. Got her own channel, her acting commitments, her show bookings...

She used to post videos of drum practice, but lately she hasn't been uploading them at all...

You're a Nyamu-chan fan, huh?

Yeah... I got into drums in the first place because of her videos.

Sometimes I watch the old uploads when I'm feeling like giving up.

I wonder if she can still make music with joy these days. Like she did in The Drummer Girl.

......

Uh! Sorry, I got carried away talking.

The most important thing is to keep Sora safe! Let's get back to work and keep our eyes sharp.

Easy there, ain't all that much stress. I got some new toys here. These babies can automatically identify unauthorized visitors—

You're kiddin' me...

Two suspicious figures in Area A! Drones out!

I should never... have trusted you!!

I'm just as lost as you! This never happened to anyone I sneaked in before!

When'd they get all this surveillance and dronepower?!

Shoot, the drones are catching up! Run! Runnn!

(Strange sound)

Heheheh-heh-heh.... hah-hahahahah!!

—!

Hahahahah-hah! This is so much fun!!

(Joyful cry)

Well? Are you enjoying this girl's sweet dream?

She seems SMITTEN with all the love being showered on her. I don't think she eeeever wants to leave!

You're responsible for all this?!

I thought I made it clear when you challenged me—this was never going to be easy.

I demand you let me see her!

Well, that's not hard. Just go straight down the corridor, aaaaall the way down, and you'll find her!

If I were you, though, I'd want to see about losing these things behind you first!

(Chirping in agreement)

She's runnin' towards the set! Sora's in danger! Stop her!

...Dammit!

Yūtenji, I want you to wake up!!

Track her motions, zoom in—

Good, a little closer, focus her face, pan over those pale lips.

...Perfect.

A-Amazing...

I can't believe it! You were born to act!!

Heheh. I only really got a hang of this one recently.

I practiced in front of a mirror night after night, trying to understand the thoughts of a doll.

Understanding a doll? Wow, now that sounds pretty out there, haha...

It must have taken so much hard work to nail the performance, Miss Nyamu!

...Well, I always think I've still got a long way to go.

Everyone around me is blessed with these incredible abilities.

There's famous child actors who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

There's people who fall into the deepest pits and still carry on shining bright.

I run until I can't run anymore, just to barely catch up to them...

I have a trick or two up my sleeve, but in front of their talent, really, I have nothing.

So when so many people love me, love someone so mediocre and ordinary like me, I have to work ten times harder just to answer their appreciation.

Miss Nyamu... you're incredible as is.

I'm sure everyone here will agree with me when I say—we all love you.

Yeah... thank you, everybody.

What an emotional scene, folks. It's been wonderful having our two incredible guests on set this evening.

Say, while we're in the mood, I just had a little idea—

Will the two of you do us the honor of reenacting that classic scene from The Drummer Girl?

Sure!

—Come down from the roof!

No! These are my dreams! I'll shout them at the top of my voice from the highest point around!

But—but—you only just decided to buy a drum set!

What if you end up giving up on drums? People will laugh at you!

I've made up my mind! I'll play drums the rest of my life! I'll play until my hands won't move anymore!

My dream's to be the best drummer in Lungmen—

No, in all of Terra!

...Huh?

......

W-What happened?

Miss Nyamu??

Y'all guard Sora! Someone's kidnapped Nyamu! I'm after them!

What kind of 'sweet dream' is this?

You lost your drums, you lost your friends, you lost yourself. Even if countless people adore you now, can you still call this your dream?

Where is my sharp-witted, silver-tongued Yūtenji-san?

But—but...

Nyamu. It's time to wake up.