After all, in the original work, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Kana in front of him was played right into the palm of the male protagonist Hoshino Aqua’s hands.
What left the deepest impression on Yuji was perhaps Kana transitioning from an ‘actor’ to an ‘idol’.
Many people watching anime over here in Japan might have a misconception about the profession of ‘idol’, thinking that this profession’s appearance is incomparably glamorous.
But in reality, professions like ‘idol’ and ‘model’ belong to the lower end of the food chain in this massive industry—reaching a point where even people and dogs dislike them.
After all, most idols are industrial assembly-line products; from makeup to dance and singing training, it belongs to a one-stop production here in Japan—once this batch becomes outdated and stops making money, they just replace them with the next batch.
Therefore, unless the capital behind them brings funds into the production crew, most TV drama and movie directors would rather hire ordinary actors than hire idols.
After all, most idols might not have much trouble singing and dancing, but when it comes to Acting…
Then they’re truly sorry.
Within the industry, most idols belong to industrial assembly-line products; they have no Acting when it comes to Acting, and no line-delivery skills when it comes to line-delivery skills—idols like Hoshino Ai are simply too few.
Therefore, if idols are allowed to join a production crew, they will only make film and television works a complete mess.
This point can be seen from how most top idols in Japan want to cross-industry transition towards’singer’ and ‘actor’ directions—the status of the profession of ‘idol’ in the industry is truly too low.
Therefore, in oshi no ko, Kana transitioning from an ‘actor’ to an ‘idol’ truly required a lot of determination.
But what about afterwards?
Blinded by hatred, Hoshino Aqua spread various lies for revenge, and likewise, unconsciously hurt Kana over and over again.
Admittedly, standing from Hoshino Aqua’s perspective, avenging his mother is a quite normal thing, and no one has the qualifications to blame him.
But what about thinking from Kana’s perspective?
For the person she liked, she demoted herself from the profession of an actor to an idol, but after truly becoming an idol, she watched him suddenly participate in a variety show to officially announce a romance, then later be suddenly informed that a romantic relationship was confirmed, leading to being sidelined, and finally when they met again, Hoshino Aqua had already turned into a corpse.
Even though there were various remedies by Hoshino Aqua amidst this, when seeing Hoshino Aqua’s corpse, what kind of feelings would Kana have?
Yuji could put it this way.
In “oshi no ko”, Hoshino Aqua might be able to face anyone with a clear conscience, but he definitely let down Kana, who had always been by his side watching over him.
Yet Kana was utterly devoted to this blonde protagonist, practically serving as the epitome of an “iron-blooded Shiba Inu and a simp”.
Even the director in the plot who almost subjected Kana to the casting couch found her attitude somewhat amusing and speechless as he spoke: “You’ve been hung up on a man with a girlfriend for a year, and you can still make such a fuss and get this emotional…”
To sum it up…
Yuji couldn’t help but look at Kana in front of him.
This…
Could Miss Kana actually be a hidden masochist?
The more she gets bullied, the more she likes the person who ‘bullies’ her?
(Ah—New author!
There’s still one more chapter!
Currently writing!
Right away!
It’ll be out immediately!
Little readers, keep it up!
Vote!
Thank you!)
Chapter 4.
A Blank and Silly Smile
“You must be here for the audition too.”
“…” Yuji.
Watching Kana unceremoniously sit down right next to him, Yuji really wanted to ask her if she was this familiar with everyone right off the bat.
However…
never mind.
Yuji wasn’t petty enough to snap at an eight-year-old little girl over a few words.
So he nodded his head: “Yeah.”
His tone was neither particularly affectionate nor especially distant, counting as an ordinary conversation.
But Kana seemed to have taken an interest.
“You’re really here for the audition?
Which character are you trying out for?”
“Ryoya.”
“Ryoya?”
Hearing Yuji’s words, a look of surprise appeared on Kana’s cute face.
Because she had originally thought Yuji was here to audition for an ordinary supporting role.
But she didn’t expect that the other party was actually aiming for the position of the lead role.
Yes, the role of Ryoya belonged to one of the protagonists of the script “she and him”.
“she and him” tells the story of a stepmother and a father abandoning their children, with the older brother Ryoya taking his younger sister Junko, who was one or two years younger than him, traveling from the city to the countryside to find their biological mother, belonging to a low-budget road movie.
Yet even so, this was still a movie with an investment of 130 million yen, one that would be put on the big screen and shown in various movie theaters.
And Ryoya was even one of the lead roles, with countless child actors coveting this position.
Among them, there was no shortage of first-line child actors in the industry who had both Acting and strength.
For a child actor like Yuji who had neither fame nor capital backing behind him, standing out among so many people was basically impossible.
It wasn’t that she looked down on Yuji.
It was just that the other party’s goal…
hiss…
how should she put it…
was indeed a bit unrealistic.
But she couldn’t just tell Yuji straight up, “Impossible, a child actor like you shouldn’t overestimate your capabilities, right?”
Although she had a sharp tongue and couldn’t keep secrets, she hadn’t reached that level.
So she could only open her mouth, speaking stutteringly: “…You…this…uh…you really have quite a big ambition, c-come on…?”
Then…
Then she saw Yuji rub his temples and speak.
“Although I appreciate your comfort, your half-assed attempt to smooth things over makes me look especially miserable—seriously, don’t be like that.”
When these words were said, that was indeed the case.
It was just like playing certain shooting games where you were already 0/13, missing every single shot, performing practically as if you were disguised as a human, yet your teammates were still dryly saying, “Ah, what a pity, what a shame, bro”—you’d really want to ask them back, “Just what is a pity about it?”
Kana obviously felt a bit awkward too, and could only cough once.
“And the word ‘come on’ that you said lacked too much conviction.
Aren’t you a genius child star?
Can’t you even put on an energetic act?”
“Uh—”
Kana opened her mouth, her face turning a little red.
“That’s simply not how you comfort people.
Do I even need to teach you how to comfort someone?
Are you an eight-year-old kid?”
“Wuwu!!!” Hit in the face by this string of output, Haki Kana was finally about to lose it.
“Wuwu!!!”
“This guy!”
“I!
I clearly wanted to comfort him!”
“Yet this guy!
Why is he suddenly Acting all high and mighty and starting to lecture me?!”
“Besides, I actually am an eight-year-old child!”
“As expected!
This guy!
Is so annoying!”
“You guy—”
A cross-shaped vein popped out on her cute temple, and she was just about to get angry.
But—
“But I still have to thank you.”
Yuji raised his head.
Yes.
These words truly came from Yuji’s heart.
He could only be said to have a half-understanding of the plot of “oshi no ko”.
But as a genius child star, Kana was willing to lower her status and proactively comfort a minor child actor who had little to do with her and lacked any credentials…
Just from this single point, one could tell that she was actually a very kind person.
“Uh…”
This sudden expression of gratitude was like a direct pitch, which instead left Kana a bit at a loss.
Especially watching Yuji gaze intently into her eyes.
The anger that had just rushed up her spine and straight to the top of her head vanished completely like mist-scattered bubbles.
Replacing it was a burning sensation that flew up her cheeks.
“Y-You just need to know!”