Audition by Ryu Murakami Read Free Book Online

‘You’re teasing me.’
        ‘No, it’s true. You know, I’m pretty proud of that kid. For all he suffered as a child, he’s maturing into an incredibly thoughtful and compassionate young man. Do you remember what you wrote in that essay, the part about learning to accept death? Well, all three of us have been through something very similar. Which I think is why you and I were able to understand each other so completely, right from the start.’
        Asami nods and smiles and lifts the glass of cognac to her lips  . . .
        A yank on the leash brought Aoyama back to earth. They’d crossed paths with a female poodle, and Gangsta had made an aborted dash for her. Now he looked up at Aoyama as if to ask what in the world was wrong with him tonight. It wasn’t until he noticed Gangsta goggling at him that Aoyama became aware of the goofy smile on his own face. Just thinking about Yamasaki Asami had caused the muscles to relax into a grin.
        And yet he still knew nothing about her, really.
     
    ‘Sorry,’ Yoshikawa said to the girl he’d chosen to receive the applicants, ‘but would you ask the next person to wait just a bit? We’ll take a five-minute break.’
        They were in a drab meeting room that Aoyama remembered well from his years at the agency. They’d begun at one p.m. and had already seen seven candidates. The interviews were scheduled at ten-minute intervals, but most of the candidates arrived somewhat ahead of time and were asked to sit in the corridor, where chairs had been placed, and wait for the girl to call them.
        Yoshikawa, feeling that it was best to make things as stressful as possible for the applicants, had chosen ‘the hottest young lady in Marketing Section Two’ to act as receptionist. A male staff member worked the video and Polaroid cameras, and Yoshikawa and Aoyama conducted the interviews.
        ‘Yokota wanted to be here, too, but I turned him down,’ Yoshikawa had said earlier, as he handed Aoyama a printout of the time slots and names. ‘I assumed you wouldn’t want a third party joining us.’ Aoyama had looked at the printout, but his eyes registered only the name Yamasaki Asami. She was number seventeen, scheduled for three-fifty p.m. His interest in the others was minimal, a fact which after seven interviews hadn’t escaped Yoshikawa’s notice.
        ‘Aoyama, listen, you’ve got to ask some questions too. If only for appearances’ sake.’
        The applicants all bowed deeply before entering the room, and most were so nervous that you could see their fingertips – sometimes even their shoulders – trembling. The receptionist led them to the chair facing their inquisitors, and again they bowed before sitting down. Yoshikawa’s coldly businesslike manner towards them was probably intentional, and he varied the questions seemingly at whim.
     
    Your name?
    Age?
    Height?
    Ever worked in films or television before?
    What do you like to do in your spare time?
    Do you go to discos and clubs?
    Seen any interesting movies lately?
    Which actresses do you like, or would you like to emulate?
    What would you do if you were handed ten million yen?
    Who designed that dress?
    What do you think is your best attribute?
    Do you like Korean barbecue?
    Can you smile for us?
    May I ask you to stand up and walk across the room and back?
    What if you got this role and your boyfriend was opposed to your taking it?
    May I ask what your father does?
    Do you like to read?
    Who’s your favourite novelist?
    Do you read a newspaper every day? Which section do you turn to first?
    What foreign country would you most like to visit?
    Which do you like better, cats or dogs?
    What type of man do you particularly dislike?
    What sort of music do you listen to?
    Do you like vintage rock?
    Which do you prefer, the Eagles or the Stones?
    Do you listen to classical music as well?
    Do you know who the three tenors are?
    Which is your favourite, Carreras, Domingo or Pavarotti?
    Can