At first, the director had only given Seiya the chance to appear thanks to Kana Arima's request—and because Seiya didn't ask for any payment.
After all, the role itself was just that of a background extra. The acting requirements could have been high, but they could also have been almost nonexistent.
If they wanted a child who could face a lunging wolf without flinching, that was nearly impossible to find.
But if they only needed someone to swing a sword wildly, they could handle it in post-production—by cutting the scene into shots of the wolf or the actor's back.
In short, as long as it was a child—boy or girl—it didn't matter.
But after seeing Seiya's performance earlier, the director changed his mind.
He realized that Seiya's appearance was outstanding—he had the makings of a child star. Combined with the "kendo boy" setting, it would be a waste to cut his face out of the scene.
That was why, before filming started, the director kindly gave Seiya several reminders.
Of course, even if he admired Seiya's potential, there was only so much he could do.
If Seiya failed to pass multiple takes in a row, there was nothing he could do to help.
Film reels cost money, and everyone's time was precious—they couldn't keep reshooting endlessly.
If Seiya could deliver, the director would give him close-up shots; perhaps Seiya could even begin to make a name for himself through this film.
But if not, then his face and reactions would simply be cut and edited out later.
"Action—!"
With the director's shout, the handlers gave the trained dog its signal.
The police dog—made up to look like a wolf—immediately sprinted toward Seiya and Kana.
Large dogs already resembled wolves, and with the props team's makeup artistry, the charging animal really did look like a snarling beast.
"Ah! Don't come near me—!"
Kana, the child actress who could cry on cue in under ten seconds, was truly terrified this time.
Seiya could tell right away—it wasn't acting.
After all, the script didn't include a scene where Kana fell to the ground in fear.
But since the director hadn't called "cut," that meant her fear fit perfectly with the flow of the story—perhaps even improving it.
(In that case, it's my turn to act now!)
According to the script, when the "wolf" attacked, Seiya was supposed to charge forward, only to be swatted away by the creature's paw.
The director's only real instruction was: "Don't look scared. Just swing the sword randomly."
But for a national kendo champion like Seiya, swinging carelessly with a shinai was harder than it sounded.
(So all I need to do is hit its paw, then act like I'm blown away, right?)
Once he understood, Seiya's eyes suddenly changed. His entire aura shifted.
And the director, watching closely through the camera, froze on the spot.
He had expected Seiya—just a five-year-old kid—to show at least some fear when facing such a "large beast."
But what he saw in Seiya's eyes… stunned him completely.
What kind of look was that?
What kind of expression was that?
How could a mere five-year-old face a lunging "wolf" with such firm, unshaken determination?!
Was this really a five-year-old child?!
How could someone that young possess such steely composure?
Before the director could even recover, Seiya moved—leaving everyone on set speechless.
He wasn't just swinging the sword randomly.
When the "wolf" lunged, Seiya's small frame shot forward like a cannonball, gripping the shinai taller than himself, and swept it horizontally toward the wolf's paw.
"No matter what happens—I will never back down!
Grandpa once told me... the sword in my hand exists to protect the weak!"
As he swung, Seiya shouted the only line his character had in the entire film, his tone firm and powerful.
After receiving the power-sharing from the other-world version of himself, even in this five-year-old body, he wasn't afraid of a harmless police dog—
even if it had been a real wolf, he could've handled it.
But as soon as his strike landed, Seiya suddenly remembered—
according to the script, his character was supposed to lose and get knocked away!
So, midair, he deliberately leaned back, making it look like he was thrown by the wolf's counterattack.
"Harano! Give that dog the signal—have it go at the boy again!"
The nearby crew froze. According to the script, the scene should've ended already!
"Don't just stand there! I'm the director—do as I say!
Didn't you see it? That kid's a gem buried in the sand!
Did you see the emotion in his eyes and his movement just now?
That wasn't something a five-year-old should be capable of!"
Hearing that, the staff instantly understood—the director wanted to give Seiya more screen time!
That kind of thing didn't happen often, but when it did—it was entirely within the director's authority.
"Whistle—!"
The handler blew his whistle and gestured. The "wolf," which had just turned toward Kana, suddenly shifted its focus back to Seiya.
Meanwhile, Seiya—who had been lying on the ground, ready to exit the scene—froze when he saw the "wolf" coming for him again, with the camera still pointed his way.
(What the hell?! This isn't in the script I got!)
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