I really just want to grind for entries related to crossover anime/manga.

She looked down, her short purple hair falling down and partially obscuring her expression. Only her blue eyes shone brightly when she looked up at Genkawa Yu, who was talking to the director not far away.

After a brief but efficient prop familiarization session, the entire crew entered the crucial formal filming process, starting with the first episode.

Today's main goal is to complete the core part of the first game of "Desire Grand Prix" and establish the initial images of several main characters, especially the mysterious and powerful first impression of [Ukiyo Eiju].

The huge studio was divided into several functional areas, using clever set design and lighting to simulate the seemingly ordinary corner of the city in the script, which was actually a dangerous game venue.

Director Nakazawa held a microphone in his hand, giving a final pep talk. He stood next to a makeshift command platform, clutching the storyboard, his voice not loud, but exceptionally clear to every member of the creative team.

"The first episode sets the tone!"

"Go for it, everyone! Make sure you do your best!"

"Alright, get ready to start filming!"

Filming began as scheduled.

First, there's Masashi Sato as [Kagekazu Sakurai]. He's wearing a slightly shabby suit that symbolizes his job search troubles. After filming his interview scene, he walks heavily down the carefully arranged street.

His performance was relaxed yet captivating; his furrowed brows and unfocused gaze perfectly captured the confusion and helplessness of young people under the pressure of reality.

Then, the Desire Grand Prix began, with suit actors playing low-level demons making their entrance with heavy and threatening steps.

These costumes are grotesque and bizarre in design. Although they look a bit clumsy when viewed on set, the special effects will give them more impact when they are officially broadcast, making them a terrifying presence on the screen.

When the enemy's figure appeared in the camera's view, Sato Masa immediately became frightened.

His acting was quite good. Following the martial arts director's design, Sato Masa clumsily dodged the attacks of the "evil disciples," staggering and making numerous mistakes when counterattacking. He was almost "hit" several times, perfectly portraying the panic and helplessness of an ordinary college student who was suddenly drawn into a death game.

Although filmed without special effects, the actors' immersive performances and the cooperation of the costume actors were enough to create a tense and suspenseful atmosphere on set.

The plot progressed, and soon it reached a crucial juncture.

The camera switched angles as if it were already prepared, and the crew quickly cleared a path. On top of a half-collapsed concrete pipe prop in the set, a figure had quietly appeared.

It is Yu Genkawa who plays [Eiju Ukiyo].

He changed into his signature black trench coat, his posture upright.

Genkawa Yu turned his head slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the noise and lights of the scene, directed towards a distant dimension that only he could understand.

That posture didn't resemble that of a savior about to engage in battle, but rather that of an observer who happened to be passing by.

Then, he slowly lowered his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the one-sided "hunt" below.

After their gaze swept past the hideous demon costumes, it finally landed on "Sakurai Keikazu," who was surrounded and looked disheveled.

At that moment, Genkawa Yu's expression began to change, and a unique emotion naturally covered his originally handsome face.

The corners of his mouth twitched upwards in a barely perceptible, slight curve.

"Perfect! That look! Hold on!"

Director Nakazawa couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation behind the monitor, then suppressed his excitement and gave a loud order.

"Next shot, [Hidetoshi Ukiyo] enters, action crew in position!"

According to the established procedure, the next step should be for [Ukiyo Hidetoshi] to leap down from the height and use a set of carefully choreographed moves to neatly eliminate the evil thugs threatening "Sakurai Kagekazu".

The action team had already practiced extensively to ensure safety and adherence to the classic "heroic entrance" paradigm.

However, just as the production crew was preparing to give hand signals and the martial arts instructor was about to give Yu Genkawa a final safety check and rhythm reminder before filming began, Yu Genkawa, who had been standing still on the pipe, suddenly moved.

Instead of jumping as scripted, he landed gracefully on the protective mat below with a push of his hand, and then walked straight to the area where director Nakazawa and the action choreographer were.

This action immediately attracted the attention of many people on set.

Kazuto Masahiro, who plays Michinaga Azuma, and Toru Asakura, who plays Yone Kurama, both looked over, because according to the script, it was soon time for Hidetoshi Ukiyo's action scenes and his moment in the spotlight.

"Director Nakazawa, action choreographer,"

Genkawa Yu's voice was steady, neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the people around him to hear clearly.

"Regarding the upcoming battle scene... I have some personal, albeit humble, thoughts that I would like to share and ask for your guidance."

Director Nakazawa and the action choreographer were both stunned for a moment.

However, he did not stop Yuan Chuanyu, but simply raised his hand to signal him to continue, his eyes filled with inquiry.

Genkawa Yu's gaze swept over the stunt performers next to him, who were already in their ready positions and wearing heavy demon apprentice costumes.

These people are all experienced special effects or stunt performers. Even through their suits, you can feel their calm and capable aura.

"In the script, [Ukiyo Hidetoshi] should completely crush these novice demons, and even have a 'game-like' mentality towards them."

Genkawa Yu spoke slowly and clearly, “The set of movements we designed before had great visual effects and a clear rhythm, but I was thinking that if we wanted to further highlight the effortless power of [Ukiyo Eiju], we might make the combat environment seem more realistic.”

He paused, looked at the action director, and spoke sincerely.

"What I mean is, not changing the action design, but adjusting the texture of the confrontation. Could you teachers playing the demons please make your intentions more pronounced when you attack? The rhythm can be tighter, the coordination can be more tricky, and give me some real pressure that requires improvisation?"

Genkawa Yu's meaning was clear: he hoped that the stuntmen of the opposing team would not be too "cooperative" but would instead create a more realistic atmosphere of encirclement, thereby highlighting the composure of [Ukiyo Eiju] in the face of danger.

The action director frowned slightly; his professional caution made him prioritize safety.

“Mr. Genkawa, I understand your thinking from an acting perspective, but real combat means uncertainty and risk. Our rehearsed choreography is designed to ensure filming efficiency and everyone's safety. Can your reaction speed and physical stamina keep up with this kind of improvisation? What if there's a mistake…”

After all, Yu Genkawa is the main rider and the biggest star in the cast. If anything happens to him, it will have a huge impact.

"Please rest assured on this point. I would not have made such a proposal if I could not do it."

Yuan Chuanyu wasn't intentionally trying to increase the difficulty; he just wanted to see what the limits were for himself now that he had [physical modification].

"Before filming, I underwent intense physical training to prepare for the realistic performances that might be required. Moreover, I have absolute confidence in the professionalism of all the teachers. I just want this first battle to better convey the unique essence of the character 'Hidetoshi Ukiyo' and to establish the image more quickly."

Genkawa Yu's words were well-organized, demonstrating both his deep understanding of the role and his confidence in his own and his colleagues' abilities.

The stuntmen playing the demons exchanged glances through the observation windows of their costumes.

For actors who spend years filming formulaic action scenes, encountering a lead actor willing to try more realistic interactions is a fresh challenge and a professional recognition.

Director Nakazawa stroked the stubble on his chin and pondered for a few seconds.

He actually knows Genkawa Yu very well, and knows that he is not the type to do anything recklessly just to get attention.

Since this idea was proposed, although it increases the difficulty of filming and carries some risks, if successful, it will undoubtedly make the appearance of [Hidetoshi Ukiyo] more memorable, and may even become a famous scene at the beginning.

"it is good!"

Director Nakazawa finally made up his mind and nodded firmly.

"Genkawa-kun has such aspirations, of course our crew will support him! Naruse-san, your action choreography team, adjust immediately! Speed ​​up the attack rhythm, make the coordination more realistic, and bring out the ferocity of the 'Demon Disciple'! But..."

He turned to the stunt performers, his tone serious.

"Safety first! Check all the protective measures, and always be mindful of your offensive intentions, understand?"

"understand!"

The action director, Naruse, and the actors of the Demon Quest responded in unison.

The atmosphere on set changed instantly. The originally routine preparations were infused with a slightly risky tension because of Genkawa Yu's bold suggestion.

The staff inspected the protective mats more carefully, and the crowd watching from the sidelines subconsciously moved closer.

The scene continued, and at this point, Asakura Toru, who had already appeared in the scene, also appeared in his original position according to the script.

【Kurama Mion】 and 【Sakurai Kagekazu】 were the first to see him transform. According to the plot, they were currently looking in the direction of 【Ukiyo Hidetoshi】 with shocked expressions.

Genkawa Yu walked back to his starting position and stood next to the concrete pipe.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.

When he opened his eyes again, all distracting thoughts had been filtered out, leaving only the unfathomable calmness of [Floating World Eiju] and his arrogant confidence in his own strength.

He even moved his neck and wrists slightly, making a faint cracking sound, like a beast making its final preparations before a hunt.

"Episode 1, Scene 7, Take 2, Action!"

The clapper sounded crisply as it fell.

Almost simultaneously, the stuntmen playing the demons moved!

This time, their growls were more realistic; they were no longer mechanically lunging forward, but rather presenting an encirclement with a simple tactical intent.

Two people feigned an attack from the front to draw attention, while the other three approached silently and quickly from the flanks and rear!

Their movement was noticeably faster, and their arm-waving (arms in holsters) movements were more decisive, creating a whistling sound in the wind.

As for Director Nakazawa, he was staring intently at the monitor screen, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knees.

Yu Minakawa, who was in the center of the encirclement, reacted quickly the moment the first demon attacked with its claws.

His reaction was not to dodge dramatically, but to shift his body to the left by about ten centimeters with extreme precision. The sharp claw that whistled through the air almost grazed the front of his trench coat!

He did not immediately retaliate; his footwork was agile, and he moved lightly through the seemingly impenetrable net of attacks.

The second demon attacked the lower body from the right with a sweeping leg kick, but Genkawa Yu seemed to have foreseen it. He lightly touched the ground with his toes and took a small hop to avoid the attack range. When he landed, he seemed unusually stable.

The third demon attacked from behind. Without turning his head, he simply pushed his shoulder blades back slightly and leaned forward, skillfully deflecting the force of the attack and causing the demon to stumble.

A block! A real block has occurred!

Faced with the fourth demon's attack aimed straight at his face, Genkawa Yu no longer dodged completely. Instead, he raised his left arm and used the outside of his forearm to precisely block the inside of the opponent's wrist, producing a dull thud that was not loud but exceptionally solid.

His body didn't even sway. Instead, he used the force of the block to turn around, and his right elbow, like a cannonball, struck the chest and abdomen of the fifth demonic apprentice in a very tricky angle.

"boom!"

"hiss--!"

"So fast!"

"Mr. Genkawa, do you know martial arts? Your movements are so fluid!"

A chorus of suppressed gasps rose from the sidelines.

Sato Miyabi's eyes widened as if she were seeing Genkawa Yu for the first time.

Masahiro Kazuto's eyes also showed obvious surprise, and Asakura Toru's lips parted slightly, but his surprise was less than that of the others, because in his eyes, Genkawa Yu had always been someone who could surprise people.

The martial arts director, who had been holding the script, felt a little relieved, but his gaze became even more focused.

Yu Genkawa's physical coordination and judgment of the battle situation far exceeded the level of an ordinary young actor, and were even comparable to some experienced action actors.

It seems he really put in a lot of effort during his previous training.

This "enhanced" siege lasted for about ten seconds. After all, the battle between Kamen Rider is not a fight between humans and monsters. The previous action scenes were just a prelude. The real battle is after the transformation.