"Ryouji!" at the sound of his name, Ryouji turned to find Junichi, the guy he started to get close to at the set playing as Kuroda Kanpei, ran towards him before threw himself on the chair next to him. Ryouji watched the time on his wrist before he looked up to Junichi.
"What's up? Is it time yet?" he asked as he took the last bite of his onigiri. They're on a break before the next scene started since it's their first month working on this TV series.
"No, it's not that. Have you heard? They're dismissing Hayasaka and will replace her with a new actress, " He heard Junichi let out a big sigh before rolling his eyes dramatically. "That means all our works the last month is pretty much a waste. We might need to re-take the whole scene with this new girl" Junichi shook his head in disbelief as Ryouji looked up feeling slightly irritated at the news. He lost his appetite all of sudden. What a joke!
"What's wrong with Hayasaka? Did something happen?" He asked as Junichi shrugged.
"Who knows? That girl is not exactly the best actress either and I think the director just not too happy with her." Junichi sighed.
Ryouji took a deep breath as he looked around the set noticing the tension from the crews.
"Anything you know about the new girl?" he asked as Junichi took a sip of his water and shrugged.
"Just some kind of model and no acting experience before this. Must be pretty and probably that's how she got here and not for her skills", Junichi laughed as Ryouji smiled at his mocking remark.
Junichi sometimes would make fun of artist that doesn't have a strong acting background simply because he's been trained in Japan Action Club since he was much younger and felt unfair that some people just landed a role when they didn't even work as hard to get it. It's just another reason why Ryouji respect him a lot. He knew how hard Junichi has worked and how badly he wanted to be in this industry.
He, himself was actually a singer who turned into actor after landed a few roles and since his singing career wasn't taking off too well. So when they first met, Junichi was giving him quite a hard time especially since he got the lead role despite the fact that Junichi got more experiences and actually older in age compared to him. But then he proved to Junichi just how hard he worked on his lead role and they got closed after a few scenes. On their break between the scenes, Junichi would guide him and teach him more on the martial art technique he could use since he actually the only one that has no background on it.
"Guys! Could all of you please gather here for a moment? There's something we need to inform you", Takamura, the head of production, called out through his megaphone making everyone stopped what they're doing and started gathering around.
Ryouji stared at what's left of his last piece of onigiri before he chuck it in the bin nearby and stood up as Junichi did the same. They headed towards the crowds. The TV series involved quite a large production with many stuntmen in the making.
"As some of you may have heard already, due to some issues that we can't disclose, we're letting go Hayasaka who played Momozono Miki as off today. We don't see any point in keeping her longer if she's not staying for the rest of the contract." He announced with everyone started whispering and people's taken by surprise as Hayasaka also played the main role in the series. Dismissing her would mean a great deal to everyone's work at that point.
"Quiet please! Quiet!" Takamura tried to calm the crowd as the chattering subsided.
"May this is also treated as a warning to everyone here that we could easily replaced you no matter what role you had. But as of tomorrow, everything will resume as per normal. We already had a replacement for Momozono Miki and she would join us tomorrow for the shooting. Of course we will need to re-take some of the scenes", he said as the chattering began again.
Ryouji saw Junichi rolled out his eyes as Shigeki and Sanpei approached them.
"Is that mean we need to re-take the whole thing?", Shigeki who played Aoyama Saburo whispered as Junichi took a deep breath "yup!".
"We'll continue to take some of the fighting scene in goggle suits. So the main actors could leave for the day. There's no point in taking any other scene until tomorrow", Takamura said as the four of them nodded before heading back to their chairs.
"What a waste of a day!" mumbled Shigeki as everyone else nodded.
"Ok then see you all tomorrow and hopefully that girl will stay long enough", Ryouji said as they all laughed.
"It's your fault Akama. You probably keep staring at her legs the whole time we shoot", teased Shigeki referring him by his on-screen name. Apart from Junichi whom he also called on the first name basis, everyone else at the set referred him by his on-screen name to make things easier.
"It's not my fault. Apart from her legs, there's nothing else to look at", he smirked as they all laughed before he headed out of the hall.
He was so busy with his own thoughts he didn't see a girl walking his way. They bumped into each other and heard her screamed in surprised as she fell on the ground.
He quickly extended his hand to help her up and noticed just how pretty she looked not to mention looking very young. He wondered if she's anyone sister that came for a set visit.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking. Are you ok?" he asked her as she looked up and smiled. She has a very nice smile and round eyes which quite mesmerising as he found himself staring at it.
"That's fine. It's not exactly your fault. I was busy looking at this and didn't see you coming either." She sounded so cute too just like those anime's voice. He smiled as she pointed out the piece of paper she was holding.
"Who are you looking for? Maybe I could help point you to the right direction", he said as she passed him the paper. She looked relief as she nodded gratefully.
"Oh! You're looking for Takamura. He's actually at the hall right now but his office is just here. You're in the right place. Just missed a few steps", he smiled as he pointed a room with Takamura's name written on it.
She chuckled and bowed in gratitude towards him. "Thanks for your help. I never been here before that's why it get so confusing. Thanks again", she said as he smiled knowingly.
"No sweat" He waved at her before heading towards his motorbike parked across the street without waiting for her response.
"Akama!" called Shigeki who also known as Aoyama around the set. With too many crew and people around, unless they're very close and comfortable with each other, they all decided just to call each other with their on-screen name to make life easier. It also made the work and lines much easier to deliver since a couple of time Ryouji almost said 'Junichi' instead of 'Kuroda' during take and they had to re-take the scene when that happened.
Ryouji turned as he saw Aoyama grinned widely.
"Morning Aoyama", he smiled at his co-star as he took a look around the wardrobe. He started to get sick of those shirt, jacket and pants that he had to wear them most of the time. He sighed as he put them on while Aoyama already changed and threw himself on his chair.
"Have you seen the new Miki? I have to be honest that I wasn't happy to re-take the whole scene", Aoyama said as Ryouji raised his eyebrows and snorted cutting him off.
"But after seeing her I think it might be just worth it. She's very cute! I'll do the scene over and over again if I had to", Aoyama grinned as Ryouji chuckled.
"She's that cute huh?" he grinned as he saw Sanpei aka Kijima approaching them with a big smile on his face.
"Not just cute. Super cute and she looked like cutie honey in that outfit", Kijima chimed in and grinned as Ryouji gave a short laugh. He shook his head in disbelief as Aoyama and Kijima grinned at each other before slapping each other's back in brotherhood mode.
"Cutie Honey? That Manga? Well.. That explained how she gets to kick Hayasaka out of the role then." Ryouji laughed at the thought of Cutie Honey's image kicking Hayasaka.
"She's much younger too of course", Kijima added.
"I don't understand why you both so excited when we actually had to repeat everything. Do you guys realise that? I don't know if a cutie honey look-alike worth all that trouble not to mention the cost of production." Ryouji shook his head looking amused.
"You haven't seen her yet. I'm sure you would change your mind too. Just don't monopolise her with your pretty face. Leave some room for us to get to know her better." Kijima winked as Ryouji snorted.
"Don't worry. I'm the least interested in some young girl looking like cutie honey. I like my woman mature enough and old enough to have a proper date than holding hands with a teenager", he winked back at them making them both laughed as he looked in the mirror to see if he needed more hairspray before putting on his goggle bracelet.
"Guys! Good news. We don't have to do the whole re-take. Just those that had five of us", Junichi approached them as he grabbed the hairspray can adding a few good spray as he looked into the mirror. With so much running, jumping and falling going on a good hair spray would at least keep them looking not as if a truck run them over.
"That means.. You! Lucky bastard!" Junichi glared at Ryouji. "You're pretty much saved since episode 3, you weren't with us until the last scene. Aren't you lucky or what?" Junichi said as Ryouji shrugged nonchalantly.
"Have you seen her? I heard she's quite a looker and made quite a buzz among the stuntmen", Junichi punched Ryouji lightly on the arm as Ryouji smiled at the thought that he could dodge re-taking the whole climbing scene again.
"You guys.. The whole scene we're actually together is not that much and most of it just episode 2 that needs to be re-take and a bit of episode 1. And the voice over works, we won't need to repeat it so really I don't know why you fuss about it so much. You should thank them to change Miki to a cuter version. At least coming to work won't be as boring anymore", Aoyama grinned as Junichi rolled his eyes at him making Kijima laugh at the sight.
"Haven't you seen a cute girl before? Man! Go on dates more, will you?", Junichi shoot a look of exasperation towards Aoyama as Ryouji laughed.
"Uhm, excuse me." An animated voiced startled them all.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Takamura asked me to introduce myself to all of you since we're going to work together from now on." The four of them turned in unison to find a girl in Miki's outift.
"My name is Megumi Ogawa. Starting from today, I will played as Momozono Miki. Look forward to be working along with all of you", she bowed deeply as Ryouji stared at her. It's the girl he bumped into yesterday. She's the cutie honey?
He saw Aoyama and Kijima grinned as they bowed back and noticed Junichi seemed speechless at the sight of her.
She seemed to recognise him too as her eyes sparked. "Ah! You're the guy from yesterday. Thank you again", she bowed as the rest of the guys peered at him suspiciously. It made him chuckled.
"It's nice to finally meet you Miki. Here on the set it would make things easier if we just stick to our role name since we still don't know each other that much. It will help a great deal and after a while we might be able to remember each other names correctly. But for now, I guess I'm calling you Miki. Hope that's ok with you", Ryouji said as Megumi looked taken a back before smiling sweetly.
"Sure. I don't mind at all. I'm still new at this so which one are you? Goggle Red is it?" she asked making him chuckled again.
"Ah... Goggle Red would be Kazuo Nibori. I'm Akama. Goggle Red's real person. The one you'll be most likely to work along the most compared to Goggle Red", Ryouji extended his hand towards her as she hesitated before finally took it.
"Kuroda", Junichi made a salute gesture at her as she smiled back acknowledging.
"Aoyama", chimed Aoyama.
"Kijima", chimed Kijima.
"Great! You're right, this way it will be so much easier when saying the line without confusing the real name and role name", she laughed as they all smiled and nodded.
"And sorry to make you repeat some of the scene. I promised to do my best", she said as Kijima patted her shoulder lightly.
"Don't sweat it! We're all learning too. You'll be fine", Kijima reassured her.
"Places everyone!" They heard Takamura screamed through the Megaphone from the set location nearby.
"Let's go! Its time", Ryouji said as he walked out ahead of the others.
They arrived shortly at the future lab setting taking the first episode's scene where everyone was recruited for the first time to join Goggle V force since it's a scene where Miki's spot needed to be repeated.
As Ryouji watched them one by one coming out from that slide he can't help but noticed her once again. She's definitely looking way younger than the previous Miki and her figure also more child-like than woman-like. Her small face looked way too innocent and naïve compared to the previous Miki and those eyes.. Damn! He thought to himself. He can't seem to find a way to take his eyes off her but he quickly focused as Prof. Honggo was saying his line.
"What am I doing? She's young, too innocent looking for my liking and don't even have a figure of what a woman should be according to my book. Get a grip Ryouji. Its work! Be professional and be a man about it. She's just a girl who happened to be cute", he told himself quietly as he watched them all from behind Prof. Honggo.
They all sighed in relief and Junichi gave her a warm smile as the word "CUT" was announced loudly. "You did well, Miki! First take and so far we don't need to repeat it. Not that we have much line but 'Goggle Black' anyway but still.." he shrugged. "Well done", he grinned as she looked pleased.
"Ok everyone! That was good enough. Now places!", Takamura yelled as they all went out behind the rolling door where they took the ending of the episode scene pretending they all just came back from a long hard day of fighting.
They all chuckled as they wait for instruction feeling just how ridiculous but that's how it works anyway. Soon enough they went in again and embracing all the computer kids as if they haven't seen them five minutes ago.
"CUT! That was good enough. While we're at it, continue to episode 2 then." Takamura yelled as everyone looked at each other. There's few takes on episode 2 which taken place at Korakuen amusement park but there's also scenes where it's taken on the future lab so they're doing that instead.
Before long they all head back to the hall where everyone had their own appointed cubicle as their personal space.
"Ah! Akama.. We're all going for a drink after this with Miki so we can get to know each other better. Are you coming?" Kijima asked as Junichi raised an eyebrow at Ryouji and he saw Miki was looking at him as well.
"You guys go ahead. I'll pass this this time", Ryouji said as he shook his head, grab his sling bag before put it around him and walked out.
He knew they would talk behind his back as this is not the first time he turned down their social outing invitation but he couldn't care less. He's really there to work and not hoping to make a lifetime friends.
"Don't mind him, Miki. He's hardly hang out with us. It's nothing to do with you. I think it's just kind of person he is", assured Aoyama as she saw Miki staring at his back before it disappeared behind the big door.
"He's not that bad actually. Just knew his priority and couldn't care less about pleasing others as much as you two", Junichi grinned at Kijima and Aoyama as they all packed their stuff and made their way to the car park.
"He was actually a singer instead of actor. I guess the experience probably made him a bit bitter. Although he did quite ok in his previous acting work", Kijima said as Miki listened and didn't say anything.