Ai readily agreed, and not long after, Director Gotanda received calls from President Rentarou and President Ichigo.
The purpose of the calls was simple.
"No! Director! No matter how much of a director you are, this is just wrong, isn't it!? What were you thinking, trying to keep making Kaoru, who is faithful to his family, appear in a drama like this…"
"Director Gotanda. Let's meet and talk. There’s a public parking lot on the outskirts of Tokyo. It’s closed right now, but come alone first and let’s have a talk…"
Facing the pressure from the heads of the agencies representing the most famous celebrity in the Japanese entertainment industry, Director Gotanda, who had already anticipated this, calmly explained the situation.
What he had shown Kaoru was not the finished script, but only a script packet at the synopsis stage, and he emphasized that it was still being revised and that it was absolutely not about a well-off family being torn to pieces, but about a "justified affair."
Even then, when the reaction still wasn’t great, Director Gotanda took a hard drag from the cigarette he was smoking, triggering his awakening boost(?) and declared with all the spirit of a real man.
"President. There will absolutely be no situation where Kaoru and Ai get dragged through the mud. If there is, then I, Taishi Gotanda, will take responsibility."
Of course, as a real man who also had the human side of knowing how to compromise with reality, Director Gotanda spent about three seconds after that declaration shaking his leg like a madman and regretting his own mouth for making such a reckless promise.
But rather, that serious spirit left both Rentarou and Ichigo speechless, and after thinking it over, they said they understood and ended the call.
Picking up the cigarette again with trembling hands and smoking it, Director Gotanda revised the final script with the desperate spirit of twisting himself in every possible way to make it work.
Of course, the framework did not change. In other words, it was a polishing process of "removing what should be removed and adding what should be added."
After all, by common agreement, it was a plot that had no flaws from the very beginning.
The artistic spirit he had once unleashed when he threw down his challenge, determined to bury himself in independent films, had by now reached a perfect state of rapture through a razor-thin tightrope walk between survival and artistic expression.
After finishing two straight days of all-nighters for the first time in a long while, Director Gotanda contacted Aqua— the "precocious baby"— and asked whether his parents were at home.
Then he immediately printed out the final script, made a script binder, and hurried straight to the Hoshino house.
Thud!
Director Gotanda, with dark circles under his eyes, set the thick final script packet down on the table and tapped it lightly while muttering in a corpse-like, exhausted voice.
"Eight episodes total, fifty minutes each. Four hundred minutes. It might end up being plus or minus thirty minutes, but we’ll know once we get there. Once the broadcaster finishes confirming it, we’ll go straight into the rest of the casting."
"…slurp."
"Kaoru. Want me to pour you more milk tea?"
"Huh? No. You drink more. I’m full."
"Eeeh— I know you want more. Should Ai feed you?★"
"…Are you even listening to me right now!?"
The old bachelor Director Gotanda had spent two nights throwing his life on the line to get this far… and now, watching the married couple flirting right in front of him, he cried out like a man spitting blood.
Kaoru cleared his throat and nodded.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Well, I did work hard."
"Hehe—★ Director! When do we start filming?"
"……."
"Once the main and supporting cast are set and the contract with the broadcaster is finished, we’ll start preparing. The exact schedule will come later, though."
Thanks to her husband explaining things kindly in place of Director Gotanda, whose face had gone the color of dirt at the thought of having to repeat himself—
"Ooooh! I’m excited! I’m excited! My heart’s already pounding—★"
Ai clenched both fists and made her starry eyes sparkle with anticipation and excitement.
Her first comeback work after childbirth and child-rearing was going to be a drama where she appeared together with Kaoru as a married couple!
On top of that, since this was a new challenge completely different from the works and roles she had played before, the motivation of the "actor" Ai was already soaring into the sky.
Kaoru, seeing the eyes of his wife now brimming so clearly with passion and drive, felt a delightful happiness as both a fellow "actor" and as her husband.
How long had it been since he had felt this tingling anticipation toward a work, not just as a job, but as something he would be doing together with his wife?
And to think the person sharing this pleasant feeling with him was the wife he loved.
"Eeeh— why? Fufufu~ Why are you suddenly smiling~?"
"No. Nothing."
"Why~? Why did you suddenly smile while looking at me~!"
Ai, meeting Kaoru’s eyes, made her starry eyes sparkle at the husband who was grinning at her.
Old bachelor Director Gotanda looked back and forth between Kaoru, whose eyes were dripping with honey, and Ai, who blushed at his gaze and smiled bashfully, and clicked his tongue bitterly.
"……."
Why was it… that he was the only one doing all the hard work—
"Why do those two look so happy?"
That day, Director Gotanda’s lonely side felt even colder than usual.
-
< [Exclusive] Director Taishi Gotanda’s next project is a drama… broadcasters rush to court him >
< [Breaking] Director Taishi Gotanda returns with a drama, not a film… scheduled to air this summer? >
As the planning materials and script for the work 【The Bird That Flies Through the Sky】, the project marking the return of master director Taishi Gotanda to drama, were delivered to major broadcasters such as Fuji TV, NHK, TV Tokyo, and TBS—
Exactly four hours later, exclusive and breaking news articles began popping up one after another as if they had been waiting for it.
Director Gotanda himself, with his usual rough and indifferent face, didn’t pay it much mind, but both President Rentarou and President Ichigo were keenly focused on the next articles that would come out.
And exactly two hours and thirty minutes later.
< [Exclusive] Kaoru and Ai to appear together for the first time in Director Gotanda’s next project >
< [Breaking] Kamiki Kaoru♥Hoshino Ai to co-star in Director Gotanda’s next drama >
< [Breaking] "The king’s return": Kaoru and Ai’s comeback work confirmed as Director Taishi Gotanda’s next project >
< "Higher than the highest peak," "the sky beyond the sky," "the star’s return"… news of Kamiki Kaoru♥Hoshino Ai’s joint appearance sends related stocks surging together >
< Ratings guaranteed, where will Director Gotanda’s work go… the business world perks up its ears for sponsors >
The moment the media reported Kaoru and Ai’s joint appearance as exclusive and breaking news, Japan’s peaceful Monday afternoon began heating up like magma in an instant.
< The entertainment world is in an uproar… advertisers smile and broadcasters frown at the return of a master and a star >
< Who will get it? Fierce behind-the-scenes battle among broadcasters over Director Taishi Gotanda’s next project >
< "You’ve got to avoid the downpour." Broadcaster producers adjusting drama time slots are in tears >
< Stani-On says, "There will be an official announcement later… thank you to the fans who have been waiting for Kaoru" >
< Ichigo Production says, "It is customary to wait for the official media announcement later… we are sorry and grateful to the fans who have been waiting for the comeback work" >
< First-ever top-star couple to appear together… fans focus their attention all at once, and the internet buzzes >
< The return of a master and a giant star… what on earth will the collaboration between Kamiki Kaoru and Hoshino Ai look like? >
As exclusive articles broke and follow-up stories poured out one after another, cable channels and entertainment-focused YouTube channels, sensing that something unusual was happening with Director Gotanda’s drama, quickly began live broadcasts on the topic.
Newspaper and magazine reporters with their own pipelines into the broadcasters also used every network and source they had to figure out what exactly Director Gotanda’s drama would be about.
"R-Ruby."
"Eeeeh— no idea, no idea— Ruby doesn’t know anything at all~ Bebebe—"
Since friends and teachers had kept asking her from lunchtime onward, Ruby simply covered both ears and got up from her seat to run away.
Aqua was the same—
"Haa… Director Gotanda called me, and…"
"He, he called you?"
"Ooooh!"
"That’s all he asked: whether my parents were home. I don’t know anything beyond that."
"……"
He sipped the fruit-and-vegetable juice his mother had personally made with love and care, and kept up the act of knowing nothing.
Even with the disappointed, impatient looks from his friends, Aqua didn’t so much as blink.
As an "actor," and for the sake of his parents, casually talking about the work behind their backs was absolutely not a good decision.
And that attitude…
"Ame!"
"Even if the teacher asks me, I don’t know anything. I didn’t even know Director Gotanda came to our house because I was asleep."
At Ame’s innocent answer, her blue eyes sparkling, the homeroom teacher lowered her head deeply and swallowed her tears.
Of course, that innocent answer was also a highly calculated strategy chosen by Ame.
"Just like Dad said, everyone keeps asking me. I’m not saying anything!"
The clever Ame, taking after her mother and grinning with a little-devil smile, covered her mouth with both hands to protect the fun secret she alone knew at school.
And so, after the three siblings each held out with fierce denial at school for two days…
< [Exclusive] Director Gotanda-Kaoru and Ai’s comeback work 【The Bird That Flies Through the Sky】 officially set for Fuji TV’s Getsuku slot… >
< [Breaking] This year’s most anticipated work, 【The Bird That Flies Through the Sky】, scheduled to air this summer… >
Fuji TV, which had been criticized as the "Getsuku era" fading away due to the overall decline in TV ratings brought on by the rise of OTT services and YouTube, made a bold decision to entrust all production authority to Director Gotanda and threw down the gauntlet to rise once again as the undisputed strongest force in drama.
From the tug-of-war of the "production committee" that determined the budget, to the love calls from companies seeking sponsors.
There were few in the industry who did not know that with both the director and the lead actors, it was a "cheat code" that would capture box office success, buzz, and artistic merit all at once.
< "【The Bird That Flies Through the Sky】 will be filmed as a 100% pre-produced project" … What are the pros and cons of pre-production as it becomes an industry norm? >
<【The Bird That Flies Through the Sky】 Kaoru and Ai’s comeback news already has Korean and Chinese broadcasters buzzing… competition for broadcasting rights heats up >
The reason Director Gotanda chose a 100% pre-produced format from the start… honestly, there wasn’t much of a reason.
"Pab-ba-!"
"I like Mom~★ Amber likes Mom more than Dad~★"
"No. You’re still smiling at me. Sons are on Dad’s side."
"Eeeh~ but Amber’s body is honest~ I like being hugged by Mom more~♥"
Kaoru was like that, and Ai was like that too. Amber was now at the age of celebrating her first birthday, and there was Aqua, Ruby, and Ame as well.
It was a special consideration for the Kaoru-Ai couple, who didn’t even use a housekeeper for the sake of their three children and always made sure to take care of them personally no matter how busy they were.
And honestly, for him as both director and producer, the pre-production format was much easier.
It wasn’t even a long-running drama, but an eight-episode series, and not only was there a script packet with the ending already completed, but it was also possible because he trusted veteran actors Kaoru and Ai, who were famous for one-take shooting without NGs.
And the enormous production budget—almost on the level of a historical epic for a drama returning after nearly a hundred years(?)—
also played a part in moistening Director Gotanda’s crumpled, dry, life-drained heart.
< 【The Bird That Flies Through the Sky】 casting work begins in full force… the actors receiving Director Gotanda’s love calls draw attention… >
The moment an article broke saying casting would begin in earnest just one day after the show was confirmed for Fuji TV’s Getsuku slot, tension naturally began to hang over the entire industry.
From rookie actors to famous names everyone would recognize, people waited for casting in order to catch the eye of the notoriously picky and difficult Director Gotanda.
< [Exclusive] 【The Bird That Flies Through the Sky】 casts "Yoshikawa Yuriko" as Kaoru’s wife! >
< [Exclusive] Received Director Gotanda’s love call… "Yamazaki Takeru" confirmed for 【The Bird That Flies Through the Sky】 >
"Yoshikawa Yuriko," who was praised as carrying on the lineage of Japanese actresses and had swept awards at domestic and overseas film ceremonies with her outstanding acting and bold nude scenes, was cast as Kaoru’s wife.
Likewise, the famous actor "Yamazaki Takeru," who had been active everywhere, succeeding in both films and dramas with his excellent visuals and acting, also confirmed his appearance.
In addition, as famous actors who were already firmly established as lead roles in other works even without Kaoru and Ai were successively cast in supporting roles, the level of public interest naturally exploded even further.
And among them, the spotlight had no choice but to focus on Yoshikawa Yuriko.
The fact that ten years ago she had appeared with Ai in the same youth drama at an academy, and that she had matched acting with Kaoru as his scene partner during his cameo appearance, resurfaced, and the surprising connection of now taking on the role of Kaoru’s wife for the first time in his acting career heated up public curiosity and interest.
Of course…
"……."
"A, Ai?"
"Kaoru. You’re happy, right? Hehe— yeah, yeah~ I met Yoshikawa-san before at a drama awards ceremony and talked with her, and she had a great personality, too~ She had such a huge actor aura~★ She feels really different from when we filmed that drama together back then, doesn’t she~?"
"……."
She was clearly praising the actress playing the opposite role.
But Kaoru, sensing the depths of the boiling "killing intent" surging within those starry eyes, swallowed dryly.
Kaoru knew better than anyone why Yoshikawa Yuriko was drawing this much attention.
Up until now, throughout his acting career, he had never deeply portrayed a love line with any actress—that is, a relationship that was "formed" as lovers or husband and wife.
Even when he did play a love line, it was always okay only up to holding hands, and any physical contact beyond that never happened, so from the viewer’s perspective it was always disappointing.
That was why fans had even given Kaoru the somewhat ridiculous nickname 【The Prince of the Empty House】.
Of course, that had only been possible because Kaoru had carefully examined the scripts from the start and chosen only works without deep romance genres or love lines.
Behind that, there was probably also his special situation of becoming a father at fifteen—but still—
As expected…
"Mm~? Nervous? Excited?"
Ai, her starry eyes glinting coldly, asked Kaoru with her usual star-bright smile.
But Kaoru only smiled calmly and took a sip of miso soup.
"No. Not at all."
"Eeeh~ You can be honest with Ai~★★★"
Ai, shining with deep affection for her husband pressed tightly into her starry eyes, placed a rolled omelet on top of Kaoru’s rice and asked once more in a soft voice, but—
"Not at all."
Kaoru set down his miso soup and lifted his rice bowl, maintaining the most perfect composure of both his past life and present life, and declared firmly.
Watching their father, who without a single tremor stuffed the rolled omelet into his mouth while facing his mother’s subtle question, as bright as starlight as always, the twins…
"……."
"……."
…looked into each other’s eyes while breaking out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, little Ame still hadn’t noticed and was eating happily.
But for the twins living through both a past life and the present, this was by no means an easy situation!
'Mama… scary. Her eyes are smiling. Her mouth is smiling too. She’s the usual Mama, but why do I feel a chill down my spine…!'
'As expected of Father. Even in this ridiculous pinch, he’s calmly eating as an "actor" itself…!'
Aqua and Ruby quietly continued their meal while observing the cute(?) love quarrel between their favorite and second-favorite right beside them.
Praying with all their hearts that the filming of this drama would end safely.
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