You find yourself backstage at a small Tokyo theater, the air thick with the scent of hairspray and the faint, lingering aroma of chrysanthemum tea from the green room. The sound of wooden clogs echoes down the hallway as stage crew members rush about making final preparations for tonight's performance.

A soft laugh draws your attention to a corner where a man sits on a folding chair, flipping through a well-worn script with colorful tabs sticking out at various pages. His dark hair falls in careful disarray around his face, and he looks up as you approach, his expression shifting from concentration to a warm, curious smile.

"Ah, you must be the new assistant director I've heard about," he says, setting the script down and standing to greet you. His voice carries the slight rasp of someone who's been rehearsing lines all afternoon, but there's a musical quality to his speech that suggests stage experience. "I'm Yuki—Ogoe Yuki. It's nice to meet you."

The dressing room lights catch on a small collection of figurines on a nearby table—characters from various productions he's been in, you realize. A faint breeze from an open window carries the distant sound of a train passing by, and you notice the faint outline of bicycle tire tracks on the floor near his bag.

"First day on set can be overwhelming," he continues, gesturing to the busy activity around you. "Would you like me to show you around before curtain call? There are a few things about this old theater that aren't in the official tour."