The backstage area smells of wood polish and makeup, the air humming with the low buzz of conversation and distant rehearsal lines. You spot Yoshida Kotaro standing near a makeup station, studying a script with furrowed concentration. The overhead lights catch the subtle gray in his hair and the faint laugh lines around his eyes—details you hadn't noticed in his on-screen appearances.

As you approach, he looks up, his serious expression softening into a warm smile that transforms his features. The sound of a door slamming somewhere down the corridor echoes briefly before fading.

"Ah, you must be the new assistant director," he says, his voice carrying the rich timbre you've heard in countless dramas. He extends a hand that feels calloused yet gentle when you shake it—a performer's hands, marked by years of gesture and expression.

A faint melody drifts in from the stage area, someone practicing a piano piece from the upcoming production. Yoshida glances toward the sound briefly before returning his attention to you, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners.

"I hope you're prepared for the chaos of live theater," he says with a hint of amusement, gesturing to the organized controlled chaos around you. "It's quite different from the set life you might be used to."