"Ah, that idol... well, her face is definitely outstanding. If she's lucky, she might survive."
"Her face is outstanding, but she needs luck?"
I understood what Director Gotanda Taishi was saying.
In acting, no matter how pretty or handsome your face is, you can't become a top-tier actor.
Rather, many people with unique looks become top actors through hard-earned acting skills, but I know that in this world, if you rely solely on your looks and try to become an actor, no matter how hard you work, you'll only reach the level of a second-tier actor at best.
I thought this opinion might be the same in any world, so I quietly agreed with Director Gotanda's words.
"Listen well? Actors are divided into three types."
"First, there are the star actors who are expected to draw in audiences and also serve as advertising pillars, so their income is good."
"Next, there are the skilled actors who ensure the quality of the work and maintain the brand's label."
"And finally, the rookie actors. No staff expects acting skills from these actors; they're just there to provide freshness on screen. Honestly, there's also the purpose of giving experience to actors who might become the next stars. In a way, it's an investment by the entire industry."
Seeing Aqua make a confused expression at Director Gotanda's words, I decided to explain further.
"Aqua, so think of it this way: all those rookie actors are in a stage where they're receiving investment. If any of those rookie actors fail to gain either public popularity or on-set favor, they'll have their spots taken by the next batch of rookies."
It would be easier to call it a relationship of taking and being taken. I didn't voice this last thought out loud. It was my not-quite-considerate consideration, thinking there was no need to reveal such a dark aspect yet.
"Huh? You seem to know a lot about this industry. Do you have some experience?"
"No, it's just that working in security, you naturally pick things up."
I've done it a lot in my past life too. But I can't say that to someone who might think I'm crazy.
"Well, that's how it is, kid. In this world, if even one out of all the rookies on set survives, that alone is a huge success."
"Only the top-tier in any field survive."
"Hmm~~~ Then it should be fine. Ai is a top idol, right, Yume?"
Looking at Aqua gazing up at me confidently, I chuckled and patted Aqua's head.
"Yeah, Ai is definitely top-tier."
Whether that's as an idol or as an actor, I don't know, but in my opinion, Ai won't become top-tier in anything. At least not as she is now.
But, if by some chance she gains more confidence in her own emotions and breaks free from the 'lies' of her current self, then no one will be able to stand in her way, and she could enjoy her peak and rise to the pinnacle as a super top-tier.
So, I wish she'd find happiness soon, but I don't see anyone around her who could make that happen.
By the way, I've assigned employees from my department at our company to watch Kamiki Hikaru. To prevent any tricks, different members monitor him daily and report to me, and since there don't seem to be any special meetings or incidents yet, I've continued to order surveillance with peace of mind.
I left Aqua by the director's side and went to find the makeup artist. After finishing her makeup, Ai looked at me and said,
"Well, I'm off!★"
"Yeah."
Aqua would probably watch Ai act from beside Director Gotanda.
And Director Gotanda would come to understand why Aqua said that and why I internally thought Ai was still in an ambiguous state, not quite top-tier in anything yet.
"Shot 74 is ready~! Okay, slating shot 74! One, two, three!!"
"Clap!!"
Ai's acting began, and naturally, everyone's eyes were captivated by her.
The distance between me, Director Gotanda, and Aqua was quite far, but with my physical abilities, if I focused a bit on my hearing, it was close enough to hear.
"Hmm, honestly, her acting is just so-so, but for some reason, she subtly grabs your attention."
Of course. Others say Ai's talent is for being an idol, but I declare that Hoshino Ai's talent is not for being an idol.
Hoshino Ai's talent is the ability to perfectly control the charisma that emanates from her.
That's why, whether she's an idol or an actor or does anything else, she uses that charisma to captivate attention, and people around her naturally call her top-tier, but if she can break free from those lies holding her back, I declare that Ai can be top-tier as an idol, as an actor, or in whatever she does.
"Right? She said this earlier: 'On stage, you have to look cute from every angle to everyone, but here, it's enough to look cute to the camera. If it's okay with MV-like techniques, isn't that a field I'm confident in?'"
"MV sense, huh? Is that the era now?"
"It's really well made, so you have to watch it!?"
Aqua, when you get flustered, you naturally drop formalities like Ruby does. I wish you'd understand my heart and become a kid who uses consideration towards elders.
By the way, what Aqua said to Director Gotanda was something Ai had said to me first. Ai probably thought only I was there, but since I didn't let Ai know that Aqua was nearby, I figured Aqua must have heard it too.
Just as we were about to leave after the shoot ended safely,
"Hey, you there, the manager. Can I talk to you for a bit?"
"Are you referring to me?"
"Yeah."
"Understood. Miyako, please take care of Ai, Aqua, and Ruby."
"Ah, okay."
Miyako took the three and went ahead to the car, and I started a conversation with Director Gotanda, who had called me.
"By the way, don't you think it's a waste to keep a face like yours just as a manager?"
"Well, I haven't really thought about it."
"I see. Then I have nothing more to say. Go on ahead."
"Understood. Thank you for your hard work today."
"Yeah, well, I have a feeling one of you or the kid will contact me."
"Is that so."
He probably set up a framework to draw Aqua into this drama. No matter how much Ai's shooting captivates everyone, her scene is only one shot, after all.
Clearly, he hasn't been spinning his wheels in this industry for years for nothing. There's quite a cunning side to this business.
After finishing the conversation with Director Gotanda, I was the one driving back. Of course, Ai was in the passenger seat, and on the way back, I thought dozens or hundreds of times that I should knock her out or something to make her stop talking non-stop.
One day, a month after the shoot ended, Ai, Aqua, Ruby, and I were sitting in front of the TV.
The reason we were all gathered watching TV was solely to see Ai in this drama, but unfortunately, I didn't particularly want to watch it.
Well, that's because...
"Ah! It's on air!"
"Hmm~ we shot quite a lot."
"I'm looking forward to Mama's acting!!"
"Oh, this is the scene!"
"Ah, Mama!"
"Ugh, zoom in closer!!"
"Huh!? Is this all!?"
"She only appeared for a brief moment!!!!"
Listening to Ai, Aqua, and Ruby's rapid-fire conversation, I understood why I hadn't bothered to focus on watching.
Well, that's because Director Gotanda clearly thought of it as a setup to draw either me or Aqua in, and of course, Aqua used my smartphone with the business card from before to call someone.
Naturally, knowing who it was, I didn't stop him.
*********
Third-person: Hoshino Aquamarine
Aqua hurriedly used Yume's smartphone to call someone, and the person on the other end was, of course,
"Oh... precocious baby."
Gotanda Taishi, the director in charge of Ai's drama shoot.
"Hey, Director!! You didn't use Ai at all!"
"Ah~ that definitely came out well, but it's a shame, I tell you."
"Then why!?"
Aqua was about to ask why most of Ai's scenes were skipped if they came out well, but the words from the director were, as expected, the cold wall of reality.
"The lead actress is someone the production company is pushing as a 'too cute and skilled actress.' But if there's a face even better than hers in the same frame, what do you think would happen? Strategically, it already causes problems, doesn't it?"
The inner thoughts of Hoshino Yume, watching Aqua on the call, and the words (thoughts) of Director Gotanda Taishi on the phone matched.
"Ai came out too cute in that frame."
Ai stood out too much in that frame.
"So, with hopes from above too, we cut it down as much as possible in the editing stage."
"What... what does that mean?"
"Screen time is decided by the power balance between companies. Think of it as an accident and accept it, kid."
"I don't get it."
Aqua, who didn't understand or didn't want to understand Director Gotanda's words, couldn't accept it, but the unavoidable wall of reality couldn't be stopped.
"Even if you don't get it, what can you do? It's good to dream of the entertainment world, but don't do the stupid act of dreaming in the entertainment world. This isn't a place for art; it's just a place for business."
"But, well, I understand your point and feel sorry about it. So, although it's not exactly a substitute,"
"I want to give work to Hoshino Ai, whom you spoke so highly of. Of course, it's related to a movie, so you won't have complaints, right?"
As Hoshino Yume had thought, Director Gotanda was already prepared, and Aqua had gotten caught in that director's net.
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah, of course, but..."
Director Gotanda Taishi on the call wore a sinister smile that anyone could see, and said,
"The condition is that you and Hoshino Ai's manager, both of you, appear."
"Wh..."
Aqua had already been caught in the net of the fisherman named Gotanda Taishi.
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