It was always a pleasure for Rantarou to put make-up onto the actors. He'd always been satisfied with the completion of a new look or hair-do. It made the person look refreshed and ready for action as they walked across the screens in confidence.
There was always one particular actress he'd always enjoyed though.
Kaede Akamatsu. A girl with a face and talent all known through the entire country of Japan she earned not only a high status, but a high paycheck too. Being on covers of multiple magazines, a star on other TV shows, and starring as the lead on nearly ever major film.
She wasn't a snobby actress either. Optimistic and cheerful while always wishing everybody a good day of hard work and progress, but sometimes a little bossy. Nevertheless she radiated the room with her smile and was able to take on any role she was given successfully without fail.
Rantarou loved working with her. She'd sit still and was always prepared for what Rantarou would do. Never flinching, complaining, or blinking he'd never have to spend so much time with her make-up. That wasn't the only reason why he loved her though.
Kaede was also very interesting to him.
They seemed to be each other's favorites. She'd always come to him during breaks and sneak in snacks on set for them to share. She'd ask him what his techniques were with hair and make-up. A few times taking the longer strands of his own hair and making simple braids on them. Smiling all the way through.
They'd talk about other topics too though. A one subject conversation was never very fun, but the way Kaede spoke with enthusiasm with any subject they spoke about was absolutely mesmerizing to Rantarou.
She'd find strange ways to piece topics together. Going from one to the next. Words flowing as smoothly as her body movements and sentences as she was on stage. She was so different from the personas she'd play on air yet similar to them at the same time.
He loved that about her. And eventually he'd grown to love all of her.
Rantarou would try to be gentle with her. Play with the ends of her long golden hair or take any excuse to re-examine her face and touch it. Dragging his fingers across her cheeks or getting their faces close together when he applied eye liner on her. Even grasping onto her hand when he would paint her nails, a warm feeling going over him when she admired the new color in the light in awe.
They'd became close enough friends that he would be invited personally by Kaede to attend events and walks with her. Being her personal escort or just coming for moral support. She'd used her persuasive skills with words to get her to do mostly whatever she had wanted.
It had been a few years since they had become friends. Coming close and talking almost every single day, relying on one another.
So now, five years later since their established friendship had Rantarou finally decided to confess to her.