Caw-caw- caw-caw-
The bleak crimson sunset seeped in through the gap in the blackout curtains.
Along one wall of the room, there were rows upon rows of familiar photos and posters of a man.
Rough, crooked paper cutouts that looked as if they had been printed out and pasted on by hand were tangled together haphazardly, creating a grotesque sight.
"Kaoru-sama. Kaoru-sama. You’re so beautiful. Kaoru-sama."
A voice thick with phlegm. Teeth yellowed with what looked like years of not being washed flashed ominously in the monitor’s light.
Within those bloodshot eyes, red with a sickly, jaundiced madness, the brilliant blond hair and beautiful features of the man shimmered like a mirage.
On the monitor, his expression was always cold and indifferent, but a faint smile seemed to linger at the corner of his mouth.
It was a signal of love that only that person could recognize.
"Kaoru-sama. Kaoru-sama. Kaoru-sama. You are smiling for me, right? Ahh- Kaoru-sama."
Bang bang bang!
At the sound of someone pounding on the door in irritation, the bloodshot eyes turned toward the front door.
"When are you going to pay the rent!!!!!! Huh? How many months has it been already!!!"
"……."
Like a pill bug living in the shadows, the figure curled up into a ball and held its breath in silence.
Crunch, crunch-
The sound of nails being bitten filled the room.
"Damn it! I should just call the police! I will!"
As the irritated voice faded away, the curled-up body slowly uncoiled and looked back at the monitor.
< Kamiki Kaoru wins Best Supporting Actor at the Tokyo Television Drama Award! >
< The new prince who follows in the footsteps of Takuya Kusanagi? >
< Kamiki Kaoru accepted to Tokyo University’s Faculty of Law! >
Like a dazzling star suspended in the sky, countless people were captivated by him, admiring him, longing for him, wanting to reach him.
He was supposed to be theirs alone!
The gaze filled with anger and resentment soon sank into darkness.
"But it’s all right. Kaoru-sama. You keep smiling for me. That’s enough for me."
Desire. Obsession. Lust. Excitement. Madness.
Those countless emotions churned together in a voice that trembled with anticipation, in stark contrast to the pitch-black eyes.
The man with the brilliant blue eyes slowly brought his mouth toward the monitor and murmured, "My love. Stay with me always. Forever."
Caw-caw- caw-caw-
In place of an answer, the cawing of a crow drifted in from outside, slipping through the blackout curtains.
The crimson sunset gradually lost its light and vanished into the darkness that was growing wider and wider.
-
"Whether a fetus can truly be recognized as having inheritance rights depends on doctrine and precedent..."
"……."
Listening to the whispers of the many students in the same lecture hall, Kaoru let out a quiet sigh.
In particular, the female students were so busy staring at Kaoru that they could barely follow the lecture, let alone look at their books properly.
The male students were no different. Since the start of the semester, they had been trying to curry favor with Kaoru in every way possible.
Although Kaoru had been too busy to go on the MT, he had heard from a fellow student from Kaisei High School that it had felt almost like a school trip, with not much to remember beyond self-introductions and icebreaker games.
As expected of a bunch of bookish students who only studied, they hadn’t played drinking games or anything like that; most of them got drunk after a few cups of fruit wine or beer and passed out.
Only a few rowdy types with strong tolerances had kept drinking one after another, commiserating over how boring it was.
"U-um... maybe we could have lunch together or something..."
"Ah, sorry. I have to leave first because of my schedule."
"I-I see..."
Kaoru apologized with genuine regret to the female student who had gathered her courage to ask him to lunch, then picked up his bag and stood.
"Phew..."
"Kitagawa."
A tall male student wearing glasses, a cigarette between his lips, greeted Kaoru as he came out of the lecture building.
With piercings in his ears, a flashy patterned shirt, ash-brown dyed hair, and bracelets and rings piled on in abundance, he gave off an unmistakably unconventional vibe.
The handsome, rough-looking student handed Kaoru his notebook with an expression full of complaint and said, "This is the last time, so remember that."
"You said that last time too, didn’t you? Thanks, as always. Put it on my tab."
"Haah... You really haven’t changed since freshman year. A super actor, and the best you can do is shake down a classmate for notes."
"Hahaha."
Kaoru laughed and lightly patted his old high school classmate on the shoulder.
They hadn’t been in the same class since first year of high school, but they had ended up at the same university, in the same faculty: Kitagawa Tomoya.
The combination of this story-filled, rough-around-the-edges friend and Kaoru, who usually had a cold and indifferent expression, was something as unexpected as the Sahara and the Antarctic.
Students openly watched the two tall, eye-catching men talking in front of the liberal arts building.
Some pretended not to look, some pretended to be on their phones, some pretended to be talking with friends, and some pretended to have urgent plans.
Countless gazes brushed past the two students, but the pair chatted casually as if they didn’t care.
Tomoya flicked the ash from his finished cigarette into a trash can and pushed up his glasses with his middle finger before saying, "Shohei said he wants to catch me sometime soon. Kaoru, are you okay?"
"Yeah. I heard. But I’m busy with my schedule."
"Tch. That damn schedule. Try settling it with theater tickets or something. I won’t let you off the hook."
Instead of answering, Kaoru smiled brightly, the usual indifference gone from his face, and lightly patted Tomoya’s shoulder.
"I’ll go."
"...Suit yourself."
Tomoya tossed out the words like a sulk and shoved his hands into his pockets. Watching his friend walk off with his bag on his back, Tomoya let out a snort of laughter and muttered, "Busy as ever, same as always."
-
< The idol group B Komachi’s single album Sign Is B sets a new record for the longest stay in the Oricon chart’s top 100 >
< Sign Is B surpasses 900,000 cumulative album sales... an astonishing record climbing back up the charts! >
< The story of seven cute girls, B Komachi’s dazzling leap forward. >
< Following April, May also ranked first in album sales growth. From "underground idol" to "heavenly idol," they’re soaring high! >
< B Komachi prepares a new comeback song... "See you soon!" >
< B Komachi member Ai confirmed for a popular variety show, XMAP XMAP Bistro. >
< Weekly PICK: Singing, acting, and charm all complete... everything about the popular idol Ai >
< The movie The Beginning of It, nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay... why did director Gotanda choose Ai again? >
Like the flashy headlines on newspapers laid out at a street stall, B Komachi’s popularity soared, sending its stock-like momentum skyrocketing.
As summer began in earnest, the released supernatural horror film The Beginning of It also received good reviews and box office results beyond breaking even.
Ai’s eerie yet sorrowful performance as a ghost with a tragic backstory was praised by audiences as well.
From there, work came pouring in from every direction: commercials, magazine interviews, cover models, CFs, and more.
Tickets for B Komachi’s live performances became hard to get, and the venues kept growing larger, starting at a minimum of 1,000 seats, so the group’s recognition itself rose noticeably.
"Sign Is B!"
"Waaaaahhhh!!!"
"Ai! Ai!"
"Sign Is B!!!!"
Ai struck her signature wink and pose, answering the fans’ fervent cheers and love.
With that pink aura and charisma, the fans were all captivated, waving their glow sticks and shouting her name.
As if responding to that popularity, most of the products promoted through B Komachi sold out or saw a surge in orders.
Ichigo Production, which had effectively been a one-man company since the Budokan concert, expanded its staff even further, showing exactly what it meant to row while the water was high.
As if shaking off all the frustration of the past, Ichigo worked day and night to keep B Komachi and Ai’s explosive momentum going, adjusting schedules nonstop.
Miyako also helped from home as much as she could while taking care of the twins, supporting her busy husband’s work in every way possible.
Thanks to that.
- Hiiing... Kaoru... so today makes it day 28..."
Ai complained to her husband in a tearful voice over the phone. I couldn’t see her, but just from her voice I could tell how sad she was.
Kaoru, sounding regretful too, managed a smile and deliberately raised his energy to comfort her.
"I’ll call more often. Don’t worry, Ai. If you miss me, just bear with it a little longer, okay?"
- Hiiing- It’s not enough anymore just to talk on the phone. What do I do? I know Kaoru’s working really hard too, but... I keep getting anxious. Why am I like this...? Hiiing. I want to see you, hold you, kiss you.
"Haha. We’re thinking the same thing, aren’t we?"
Kaoru turned his gaze and looked at Rentaro, who was quietly making a slashing motion across his throat, then said to Ai with an apologetic tone, "I think I need to go soon. Ai. I love you. Do well at the recording!"
- Mm... Ah! Wow! I’m nervous-☆ It’s our first variety show recording! The other members are super nervous too! Oru-chan! Cheer me on a lot so Ai can do her best!
"Cheering, huh... Sure. Just show them exactly who you are. Like Hoshino Ai, always bright and always smiling."
- ......Hehe♥ Got it! I’ll do well and come back! Bye! Bye-bye! I love you! Mwah-!
"Yeah. I love you."
After hanging up, Kaoru walked over to Rentaro and said, "We’re leaving right away, right?"
"...Haah. Yeah."
"Why are you sighing like that?"
"……."
Rentaro clicked his tongue with a bitter expression and got into the driver’s seat.
He was a veteran when it came to industry work, but when it came to romance, Rentaro was hopeless, and Kaoru and Ai’s lovey-dovey phone calls were nothing short of torture for him.
Whenever he sat across from a woman, he had no idea what he was supposed to say, and how on earth was he supposed to deliver those cringeworthy, cheesy lines that only a handsome guy like Kaoru could pull off so naturally and kindly?
Kaoru’s charm, which had made the ace member of the hottest idol group in the business fall head over heels for him for no less than four years, felt to Rentaro, who had seen it up close more than anyone, like an ideal named Kaoru that was too high and too wild to ever reach, like a star in the distance.
"As I always say, all you need is confidence, Rentaro."
Kaoru offered the same comforting words he had given him countless times before, feeling sorry for him. Objectively speaking, Rentaro had fair skin, a decent height, and above all, a youthful, delicate face that didn’t look like someone in his mid-thirties at all, the kind of face that made people want to protect him.
But even if you spoon-fed him the answer, Rentaro would spit it right back out... and Kaoru couldn’t do anything about his romantic ineptitude. Besides, Ai had been his first and last love, so there wasn’t much advice he could offer anyway.
"……Right."
Rentaro, on the verge of tears, stepped on the accelerator and headed to the film set.
The film Kaoru had newly been cast as the lead in, You in the Time That Falls Like Rain, had already caused a huge stir from the production stage.
The project was directed and produced by Tsukasa Kawamura, a female director who had successfully handled the latter half of Usurper and was one of the giants of the Japanese film industry.
Aragaki Satomi, one of the most famous actresses in the current Japanese entertainment industry, had also been cast as the female lead, and the supporting cast was filled with well-known actors as well, making it a work that breathed new life into Japan’s stagnant film industry.
More than anything, the rumor that Director Tsukasa Kawamura had aggressively pushed for Kaoru’s lead casting from the production stage onward was already a hot topic.
It was the sharp eye of Director Tsukasa, who had seen through Kaoru’s potential after his astonishing performance in Usurper, a performance that had excited the heart of a master despite his young age.
Likewise, when Rentaro received the casting offer and read the script, he fell to his knees and burst into tears again on the spot.
Even now, when he should have been maintaining his dignity in front of more than ten employees, the only person who could soothe the overly emotional president was Kaoru.
"……."
Kaoru set the script down and looked out the car window for a moment.
When he first read the scenario, the feeling it gave him was one of wistfulness.
It was a film about a boy who, by chance, is struck by the "raindrops that turn back time" falling on the last day of August and struggles in the past to save his mother, who died in an inexplicable accident.
Raindrops that turn back time. For Kaoru, who had experienced losing someone he loved right before his eyes, it was a subject that stirred a strange emotion.
To express the boy’s heartbreaking figure as he disappears from the past the closer he gets to the person he is trying to save, like falling rain slipping through his hands and vanishing.
To express the boy’s determination to defy fate and move forward in order to save the precious person he loves.
Kaoru quietly closed his eyes and immersed himself in the world of the script, building it in his mind.
-
Fuji TV’s flagship variety show, XMAPxXmap, which carries Monday nights every week.
It was a hugely popular program where the members of XMAP, arguably the greatest five-man group in Johnny’s history, let themselves go and approached viewers in a friendly way, delivering laughs through skits, songs, games, and talk segments.
Moreover, just seeing the legendary idol and handsome actor Takuya Kusanagi show his unrestrained, easygoing, and candid charm as he let himself be made a fool of was enough to guarantee ratings every time.
Of course, the guests invited were also people with both recognition and fame. In Korea, even famous Hallyu stars like Park Donggeon, VoA, and Choi Byeongheon had appeared.
And there.
Proudly!
B Komachi members were set to appear. Of course, it wasn’t a solo appearance. Just as the female guests and male guests were split apart, Ai and two members were on the female guest side, while on the male guest side, Nakayama Junichi, who had previously appeared with Kaoru on Coming Closer to You: Love Line School and was now joining a new romance drama, appeared to promote it.
Ai’s starry eyes sparkled as she looked over the set. The members who appeared with her, Takamine and Nino, were both extremely tense, taking the water bottles Ichigo handed them and letting out deep sighs.
"It’s okay. You can do this. Don’t be nervous."
"Y-yes..."
"Ai! It all depends on you."
"......Mm! I’ll do my best!"
Takamine and Nino both stared blankly at Ai, whose starry eyes shone with confidence in this extreme situation.
But unlike her confident starry eyes, her legs were trembling.
At Ai’s very honest display, President Ichigo silently pushed up his sunglasses and nodded.
"Ai is human too, President."
"That’s right."
"……."
Seeing Ai’s reaction, the members covered their mouths and laughed.
Just as Kaoru had said, Ai had gradually peeled away the shell of the "perfect idol" that had bound, confined, and suppressed her, and had approached the members.
At first, it had been incredibly difficult, and she had no idea what to do.
Even when she gathered the courage to approach them, the members pushed Ai away first and rarely tried to understand her sincerity.
But Ai did not give up.
Time will solve it. If you show them who you really are, they’ll surely understand your sincerity and open their hearts.
Always keeping Kaoru’s loving advice as a support in some corner of her heart, Ai, trembling and afraid and awkward though she was, calmly took her time and showed the members her sincerity.
Of course, that old conflict could not be resolved entirely.
Ai also had many truths she could not tell the members, and President Ichigo’s blatant favoritism had not improved at all; if anything, it had only gotten worse.
But.
At the very least, Takamine and Nino noticed Ai’s courageous and sincere heart, threw off their prejudice and tinted glasses, and were finally able to take the hand Ai had bravely extended to them.
Ai, who always seemed so confident and like the "ultimate idol" everyone looked up to, was also.
Just a girl their own age, someone who got nervous, made mistakes, and sometimes got angry and disappointed just like they did.
Takamine’s eyes sparkled as she clenched both fists tightly and said resolutely, "E-even so. If we’re together, we can do it!"
"A-Ai-chan! After this, do you maybe want to go get an autograph from Takuya-sama together? I can’t go by myselfyyy-!"
"Eek! N-now that you mention it, me too! My mom and older sister are huge fans! They told me I absolutely had to get one!"
"Yeah! Don’t worry! I’m sure he’ll give us autographs as a service! If he asks for money... the president will pay for it!"
"……."
Ichigo remembered Miyako’s repeated instructions and pushed his sunglasses up again.
Miyako told me to make sure I got an autograph... Should I have the girls get one for her too? It’d be embarrassing to go myself.
There was no way Takuya Kusanagi, who was also rumored to have a great personality, would ignore an autograph request from a guest, would he?
Ichigo broke out in a cold sweat as he wrestled with his inner conflict.
How many nights had he stayed up for this day?
A miracle. A miracle. A miracle. A miracle where all the forces of this world opened the path of great fortune toward Ichigo Production!
Ichigo rubbed his sweaty hands on his thighs and said, tense with nerves, "You girls. First and foremost, mind your words. Second and foremost, mind your words. Remember that an idol’s speech and behavior are as good as life itself. Since you’re in front of your seniors and legends... keep your heads straight. Ai, especially you, will get a lot of questions. Answer as politely as you can, got it? The XMAP members will lead the way, so just do your own part well..."
Knock, knock, knock-
When there was a knock on the waiting room door, Ichigo, assuming it was staff, said in a casual voice, "Come in."
After hearing Ichigo’s answer, the waiting room door opened—
"Hwaeep?!"
Nino’s eyes flew wide open and she let out a startled shriek.
Takamine was also shocked stiff and hurriedly stood up from her seat.
Ichigo also shot to his feet.
The person who opened the door and came in was none other than Takuya Kusanagi.
As expected of Takuya Kusanagi, who was famous for being easygoing on set and for approaching staff and guests first to greet them and put them at ease.
He had personally come to the waiting room for the sake of the much younger girl guests.
With his deep double eyelids, his mature aura, and a face that had become even more refined after passing thirty, the waiting room was instantly filled with Takuya’s presence.
"Hello? Ah, are you the representative of B Komachi?"
"A-ah, y-yes, yes, yes! I’m Saito Ichigo, the representative of Ichigo Production. It’s truly an honor to meet you!"
"Hahaha! The pleasure is all mine!"
Ichigo shyly offered a handshake as if he had met a nobleman, then blushed and muttered softly, "U-um, if it’s not too much trouble, could I maybe ask for an autograph..."
"Ah! Of course! I came here partly to greet the members who are appearing today, so I’d be happy to do that. Hahaha!"
With a refreshing smile that matched his dazzling looks and perfect personality, Takuya Kusanagi drew praise from Ichigo, Takamine, and Nino alike, who all shyly murmured their admiration.
"……."
Except for Ai, who somehow looked sulky.
'Kaoru is more handsome.'
Ai, who naturally thought her husband was more handsome, let her starry eyes sparkle and, after shaking hands with the others, bowed politely to Takuya Kusanagi as he approached her with a surprised expression, offering him a friendly smile laced with a little lie.
"Hello! I’m Ai from B Komachi-☆"
"Ah, nice to meet you! Hahaha. Miss Ai, my eldest daughter is a big fan of yours. So..."
Takuya Kusanagi smiled shyly, took a marker and a sheet of paper from his pocket, and handed them to Ai.
"Could I ask you for an autograph too?"
"……."
That changed everything.
Ai’s brilliant starry eyes sparkled once more, and with her usual bright smile, she shouted at Takuya Kusanagi, showing him the best fan service as the "ultimate idol."
"Of course-☆"
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