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"Sure thing," Kana replied, her cheerful voice breaking the silence. As they continued walking, her eyes lit up with curiosity. "So, what's up with your acting career?"
"Huh?" Aikara blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the sudden question.
She tilted her head, her expression shifting from curiosity to a hint of concern. "Don't take it the wrong way, but there's zero news about you in the acting industry, except for that movie we did as kids." Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, showing her genuine interest. "I mean, with your incredible skills, I would have expected to hear more about you, but there's none." Kana turned to Aikara. "Even though you told me you didn't quit acting, I can't help but wonder if you actually did."
Aikara's lips curled into a warm, gentle smile as he listened to her. He raised his hand to his chin, and did a thoughtful gesture, before responding, "Well, I... R-" Before he could finish his sentence, he got interrupted by Aqua.
"We're here." He announced, forcing Aikara's and Kana's conversation to end.
"Hey, since we're already here, let's catch up on that later!" Aikara suggested with an infectious grin spreading across his face. He smoothly glanced at Kana, who nodded in agreement.
"I agree." She said.
___
Currently, Kana, Aqua, and Aikara found themselves at Director Gotanda's house. As the trio stood before him, the director paused his keyboard clatter and warmly acknowledged their presence with a smile.
"Oh, Arima Kana." He began "Haven't seen you in a while, but you've grown." he said, his words hitting Kana like a well-aimed blow.
Caught off guard, Kana looked at Gotanda and stammered, "I-I'm... still working. I mean, compared to when I was a child actress, I'm not as... you know, demanding?"
Aikara couldn't resist teasing Kana, further worsening the situation. "Ah, the days of being an arrogant and snobby girl who made assistant directors carry her stuff and was quite uncooperative during movie shoots," he jibed, earning a glare from Kana.
"Tee-hee." Aikara couldn't help but giggle at Kana's glare, his eyes crinkling with amusement as he playfully covered his mouth.
Before Kana could retort, Gotanda interjected, "Anyway, please make yourselves at home." With one final scowl at Aikara, Kana huffed and turned away, embarking on a curious exploration of the house.
Meanwhile, Aqua settled into a chair and focused his attention on the laptop, fixated on the glowing screen before him.
Aikara, with no particular task at hand, opted to perch himself on the floor and observe the bustling individuals around him. His mind drifted away, entangled in a web of pensive contemplation.
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(Aikara POV)
As I sat alone on the floor, I couldn't help but overhear Kana and Aqua's conversation. It seemed like she was curious about why he still visited Gotanda's place despite no longer wanting to pursue acting.
If I didn't know about his desire for revenge, I would've been curious too. But since I do, I already know the reason behind it.
His plan aligns with mine; we both aim to increase our influence in the entertainment world to meet our father. However, while I plan to achieve that through acting, he intends to do so by working backstage exclusively.
To be honest, I felt a tinge of sadness knowing that he wants to work behind the scenes. I remember how much he used to aspire to act, and how much praise Ai showered on him, saying he would become an actor like me in the future.
He used to be so passionate about acting, and I want him to pursue that passion wholeheartedly. Yet, he suddenly claimed he no longer wants to be an actor. However, I'm convinced that deep down, he still desires it, judging by the way his expression lights up whenever anything related to acting comes up, despite his subsequent hesitance.
Aqua probably thinks that his indifferent demeanor will deceive me into believing his true emotions, but he can't fool me. I'm an actor with a decade of experience, and I have a sister from my previous life who does the same thing he does.
Despite my inquiries about his decision to quit, he never reveals the truth. However, based on his reactions and emotional state, I have some slight assumptions.
Anyway, although it saddens me that he won't pursue a career in acting, I won't pressure him into it. If I impersonate Ai, I'm confident I could convince him since he's easily swayed by her and would comply with all her demands. But I don't want that. I want him to rediscover his passion for acting and make that choice willingly. It's not my place to meddle in his life. He's no longer a teenager mentally, and I trust him to make rational decisions.
My role in his life is to be a supportive brother who will respect his choices, though supporting his revenge is a different matter.
Because I'm not selfish enough to impose my desires on him. I understand that everyone has their own dreams and aspirations, and it's important to respect their choices. While I may personally believe that he has immense talent and potential in the acting industry, I realize that it's ultimately his decision to make.
___
"Eat up!" exclaimed Gotanda's mother, extending a bowl of rice toward Kana's face.
"Uh, I'm fine." Kana began, gently pushing the bowl away from her face "I'm cutting down on sugars."
"You need to eat to grow," explained his mother. Nonetheless, she respected Kana's decision and sighed, passing the bowl to Gotanda. "You eat it, then."
"What?" Gotanda exclaimed, his tone exasperated as he eyed the portion size.
"But what a surprise," Kana remarked, capturing Gotanda's attention. "Director, I had no idea you were still depending on your parents." Her expression remained impassive, silently judging his actions.
"Hehehehe!" Aikara's giggle rang out, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he leaned in to listened to Kana's words. His lips curled into a mischievous grin, the kind that could light up a room and make hearts skip a beat. Caught up in the moment, he couldn't help but burst out, his voice brimming with charisma, "I was just about to say the same thing, director." Aikara's playful gaze shifted to Gotanda, who was looking at him in with sweat dripping down his face.
"Both of you are still the same brats that never respects you're elders. Especially you!" he exclaimed, jabbing his chopsticks in Aikara's direction. Aikara appeared taken aback, as if questioning, "Me?". Gotanda responded sharply "Yes, you! I remember when you said it's easy to guess I'm a poor budget director and you went on to insult my entire appearance."
"Oh yeah, that totally happened," Aikara said, casually resting his finger on his cheek while he playfully pursed his lips. His shoulders shrugged nonchalantly as he locked eyes with Gotanda, a mischievous glint sparkling in his gaze. "But, like, can you even blame me? 'Cause, honestly, what I said was just pure truth, you know?" He flashed a brilliant smile, radiating confidence as he effortlessly delivered his words.
"Eh!?" Kana exclaimed, her eyes widening as she instinctively covered her mouth in surprise. "You... you did that?" she stammered, her voice filled with astonishment. Aikara simply nodded, a hint of a proud smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"I never would've expected that from you," Kana continued, her tone a mixture of genuine shock and admiration. A small blush graced her cheeks as she reminisced. "I mean, despite my personality in the past, you were always so kind to me, you know?" Her gaze shifted slightly, her eyes twinkling with a mix of nostalgia and a touch of fondness.
"Well, I've always been like this," Aikara said, his voice tinged with a hint of mischief. With a subtle twinkle in his eyes and a grin that could light up the room, Aikara leaned back, crossing his arms casually.
Afterward, they continued their conversation. Kana started sharing her appreciation for homemade meals, contrasting them with her usual Uber purchases. This piqued the director's curiosity about her source of income, and she proudly revealed her earnings as a former child actor.
"Speaking of earnings, what happened to the money I paid you for your role?" Gotanda inquired as he turned to Aikara, causing Aqua to widen his eyes slightly as he shifted his gaze toward Aikara.
"You got paid?" Aqua asked in surprise.
Aikara tilted his head and let out a mischievous chuckle before responding, "Oh, I never told you, did I? Yeah, I did. If I remember correctly, it was around 67,000 yen." His eyes gleamed with a hint of mystery as he pondered the memory, his lips curling into a playful smile.
Aqua turned to the director, his questioning gaze fixed on Aikara. "You gave him a paycheck, but not me?" he questioned, causing Gotanda to awkwardly scratch his cheek.
"You were a last-minute addition, okay?" Gotanda explained, shrugging his shoulders as if to say, 'let's not dwell on the past.' "Your character didn't even exist until after I met you, so don't hold it against me."
Curious, Aqua redirected his attention back to Aikara. "So, what did you do with the money?" he asked.
Aikara flashed a mischievous grin as he playfully scratched his cheek. "Heh, you know what? I might've, uh, sorta spent it all on some anime merch," he admitted with a hint of bashfulness.
Aqua stared at him deadpan for a moment before deciding to resume his meal.
Turning the conversation, Kana, with a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes, asked Aikara, "So, do you currently have any jobs?"
Aikara beamed brightly, flashing a bright smile as his eyes twinkled with charisma. "Nope, not a single one!" he cheerfully replied.
"It's impressive how proud he is about that," Gotanda commented, prompting Aikara to turn towards him and give him a thumbs-up, his smile growing even wider.
"I see," Kana responded. "Then, would you be interested in joining a drama?" she asked, capturing Aikara's attention. Resting her chin on both hands, she perked both elbows on the table, wearing a cunning expression. "Currently, I'm cast as the heroine in a particular production, but there are still a few open roles. Should I talk to the higher-ups for you? Though I'm sure you'd have a good chance if you auditioned."
Aikara flashed a charismatic smile, his eyes gleaming with confidence as he spoke, "If you can pull it off, that'd be great." His fingers danced along his chin, his face slightly scrunching up in thought. "But, you know, there's this tiny thing that might make it a bit tricky... her."
"Her?" Kana tilted her head curiously.
"Oh, you mean you don't know?" Gotanda chimed in, catching Kana's curiosity.
"Not know what?" she inquired.
"You really don't, huh?" Gotanda scratched the back of his head. "Well, since it's common knowledge in the acting industry, I don't see any harm in telling you," he explained, leaving Kana perplexed.
"Wait, hold on a sec. If this thing you're blabbering about is supposed to be 'public knowledge,' then why the heck am I completely clueless about it?" Kana raised an eyebrow,
"It's probably because it's more widely known among directors rather than the actors themselves," Gotanda replied. "Anyway, the person the kid is referring to is Ellie. She always prevents Aikara from landing a role, and she consistently succeeds."
Kana couldn't help but let out a gasp, her eyes widening in surprise. "Eh? Are you seriously talking about that legendary actor?" she blurted out, her voice filled with amazement. Gotanda simply nodded in response, confirming her disbelief.
With genuine concern etched on her face, Kana turned her gaze towards Aikara. Her brows furrowed slightly as she asked, "What on earth did you do to earn her wrath? Did you like, kill her dog or something?"
"Secret~" Aikara whispered playfully, placing a finger to his lips as his hands gracefully moved into a shushing position, a mischievous glimmer present in his eyes.
Kana turned towards the director, hoping he would have some insight into what Aikara did to earn her wrath. However, the director shook his head in confusion. "Unfortunately, even I am unaware of what he did to earn her anger. Only those two are privy to that information."
"I see." Kana let out a sigh and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes filled with empathy. "Still, color me surprised that she's not getting roasted online for pulling a 'don't-you-dare-cast-Aikara' move on the directors."
"That's because she's not actually doing that," Aqua chimed in, causing Kana and the others to look at him curiously. "Is threatening the only strategy that comes to mind?" he bluntly asked.
"Wha?!" Kana exclaimed, a hint of offense evident in her expression as she arched an eyebrow.
"Using common sense, it's clear she isn't resorting to threats. Despite being a famous actor, she's still part of the entertainment industry, where even a single scandal can ruin a career. She's well aware of this, so she must be employing a different approach to ensure the directors keep quiet. If she used threats, what would stop them from leaking the information online? Instead, she must be offering something that convinces them not to share it, and that something is her acting. If you look at all the shows, movies, and commercials Aikara has auditioned for, you'll notice that Ellie is involved in most of them. For the few that don't feature Ellie, it's plausible that she used money to sway the decision-makers," Aqua explained in a casual tone.
Kana's eyes widened in surprise as she listened intently to the explanation. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and she nodded with a hint of admiration. "That actually makes sense," she remarked, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity. "I had no idea you were so smart."
"It's just common sense," Aqua replied, returning to his meal.
"You always underestimate yourself, kid," Gotanda remarked, but Aqua chose to ignore it and continued eating.
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A.N
End of chapter.
Aqua showing off his big brain.
Some of you may have noticed, but what Ellie did was actually slightly unrealistic.
Not all directors will do that because of their morals.
And some directors are much worse and will take advantage of her such as threatening her to act again unless she wants it to be leaked. In fact, some might sexually assault her(This is most likely possible in real life but no! I won't let that happen in my novel. I don't want it to be too dark.)
Just think that all the auditions Aikara went too, the director was just a morally grey individual who accepted her proposal yet was honorable enough to not use her again.
You could also make the argument that Ellie was charismatic enough.