Chapter 17

Scene 17 is the second chapter included in Volume 4 of Urakata!!

Summary
The Art Squad are busy helping Uichiro Hida of the Film Studies Club to make a film, this time at Ryuuji's family home, which is a temple. Ryuuji and his father butt heads a lot, but when Uichiro's assistant director can't make it to the shoot after all, Ryuuji is forced to step up and fill that position.

Plot
While the Art Squad is busy cleaning at the Gouda temple, Maasa laments the lack of 'summer-like' activities that she felt should have occurred over the summer break that was now almost over. As Izumi swoons over a Cyprus wood pillar, Maasa complains about the hard cleaning task and the unbearable heat, not knowing that the head priest (who is actually Ryuuji's father) was standing right behind her. He gives them a scolding about the cleaning job that they're doing while Ranmaru's monologue explains that the Art Squad had arrived at the temple in order to prepare it for a film shoot.

When Ryuuji shows up, he and his father have a strange shouting debate about the highest truth of Buddhism, which turned out to be a test of Ryuuji's knowledge. They continue to argue over things like Ryuuji's hair and the fact that they were forced to clean the temple. While Ryuuji says that he and his father are exact opposites, the rest of the members think that they are exactly alike.

Uichiro Hida, Ryuuji's old friend and member of the Film Studies Club, arrives at the temple with his crew. He and Ryuuji's father greet each other, as they get along well. Although Uichiro expresses his regrets that he couldn't help with the cleaning, Maasa knows that he's lying. Uichiro explains that his assistant director, Furi, would be arriving the day after, with the cast.

Although Ryuuji suspects that Uichiro only chose to shoot at the temple to bother him, Uichiro denies it, saying that the bamboo grove was perfect for his story which involves a murder, suspicious villagers, and a lone detective. He mentions that he was planning on making the film only 30 minutes, startling the Art Squad who think it to be an impossible task. Uichiro also suddenly requests that the Art Squad prepare mist for the murder scene which they would be shooting the next day. The entire Art Squad, including Ryuuji, knows that Uichiro is being unreasonable but Ryuuji's father eggs him on, goading him into taking on the seemingly impossible tasks that Uichiro requested. The other members of the Art Squad get a bad feeling as Ryuuji gets fired up.

As the Art Squad searches through the temple's storage room for supplies to use, the members discover Ryuuji's old toys and he explains all the trouble he used to make using them. Ryuuji spots a pasta strainer which he exclaims could be used to make a dry ice machine. Ruka explains the different types of things that can be used to create smoke effects and concludes by saying that dry ice is a good choice since it stays low to the ground like a mist. They get to work creating the dry ice machine, cutting a hole in the lid and attaching a vacuum hose.

Just then, Ryuuji's father walks in with another man, offering to lend out the pasta strainer. The Art Squad locks eyes with Ryuuji's father for a few tense seconds before Ryuuji and the rest of the members bolt off with their homemade dry ice machine, leaving Ranmaru behind to clean up. While there, he overhears Ryuuji's father talking to the man about Ryuuji, saying that he refuses to inherit the temple and that he is on the wrong path. Ranmaru briefly thinks about Ryuuji's future and his own as he walks in on the Art Squad members laughing uproariously at pictures of a shaved-headed Ryuuji from middle school when he was undergoing monk training.

Suddenly, Uichiro hears from Furi that she won't be able to come at all, since her grandfather's sickness (which she was originally away to tend to) had spread to the rest of her family and she had to stay to tend to all of them. As the crew worried about her absence, Uichiro approaches Ryuuji, asking him if he would fill in the role. Ryuuji refuses at first, but Uichiro pleads with him, explaining that there's no one else, they would run over schedule otherwise, and that above all, he cares about the film and wants to make it good. At this, Ryuuji agrees to help, his father silently watching him all the while.

As Ryuuji and Uichiro discuss (argue over) matters regarding the film, Ruka and Izumi explain the role of the assistant director to the rest of the Art Squad, saying how the assistant director acts as the bridge between the cast and crew and the director, and makes sure everything else runs smoothly so that the director can focus on the film. Izumi finishes by saying that it's a role that requires perseverance and precise communication skills. While Maasa wonders why Uichiro chose Ryuuji, Izumi simply envies the history that they have together. As Ryuuji and Uichiro continue to review the script and shot order, Ryuuji comments that Uichiro owes him since they'd probably be up all night preparing. But Uichiro says that this is Ryuuji's way to pay him back for being a traitor, which gives Ryuuji pause for a moment, before just laughing it off.

One of the crew members approaches Ranmaru, bringing his worries about the cast, who are talented but very demanding. Ranmaru worries about their situation, with demanding actors and tension between Ryuuji and Uichiro. The actors are immediately complaining and being uncooperative when they arrive, which is a bad match for the less-than-amiable assistant director, Ryuuji.

Characters

 * Maasa Rokubu
 * Tomu Tenba
 * Ranmaru Kurisu
 * Ruka Enjoji
 * Izumi Samura
 * Ryuuji Gouda