Thanks for reading! And for reviews! Oh you guys are gems!
As lovely as continuing the previous story would be, it's not possible while doing The Prince's Concubine. Probably. Most likely. If I get a foothold in which direction I want it to go I'll continue it. Maybe.
To help combat Japan's plummeting birth rates, the government has made marriage mandatory by age 25. If you're having trouble finding the perfect partner, the government pays for new hopefuls to attend a dating retreat where they spend a month with other suitors.
"So, what should I say?"
"Just introduce yourself, give your age, profession, and anything interesting about you. We want to distinguish each person so that they're easier for the audience to identify. We'll prompt you by asking questions and then we'll splice up the material."
"… makes sense. It seems similar to a talk show."
"Have you ever seen the Bachelor or shows where they switch between the interviews and the events of the show?"
"Can't say that I have."
"It's fine. Most people here haven't. Just be yourself and let us do the rest."
"Alright. Then I'll go ahead and start."
"Please do."
"Hello, I'm Mogami Kyoko. I'm nineteen years old and am currently a novice actress at LME and a part time waitress. As for anything distinct about me?... I don't have a lot of hobbies, though I do enjoy sewing. Most of my free time is spent either acting or working at the restaurant."
"And what made you come to the Courting Retreat?"
"… Do I have to answer that question?"
"Yes."
"Do I have to give an honest answer?"
"…it would be preferable. Your dates and daily lives are going to be filmed and later shown to the world. If you want them to know you for who you are, it would be better to be true to yourself."
"I guess… Fine… well... I'm here because I've given up on love. I was hurt a while ago and while I've mostly gotten past it, I still don't like the idea of putting my heart in someone else's hands. I'd rather find a partner I can have a mutual respect for without requiring love to be in the mix."
"Couldn't you have found that anywhere? Why come here?"
"Ha… do you think it's that easy to find someone who is willing to marry into a loveless marriage? No, since I have to marry, I figured I might as well get it over with."
"Then since your first love, you've never been in love before?"
"…"
"Mogami-san?"
"Sorry I just… I'd rather not answer that question."
"Fair enough. You can let it out in a later interview if you'd like."
"Or never mention it again…"
"What was that?"
"Nothing! So, what else should I talk about?"
The Director checked the name 'Mogami, Kyoko" from his list. He was nearly done interviewing everyone for the reality TV show Crimson Threads. It was an extremely popular show following one of the government courting retreats. They constantly had new people coming in and out, always providing new juicy material. Every month new participants would come and he always made sure to do the first personal interview himself.
Most people had been happy once they'd realized they been 'randomly' selected to participate in Japan's reality TV show. He'd stationed cameras to film their reactions then brought them to the Room of Truth, a windowless, soundproof room where all personal interviews would be conducted.
"I've got quite a few interesting ones this month," he thought to himself, thinking of all the interviews he had done. There was everything from doctors, to high school drop outs. Then there was one materialistic woman with some serious personality issues. Those always made a reality TV show more interesting. Especially when there were good looking men to fight over, which there were plenty of those.
One handsome man in particular would cause quite the stir on the show. The director could hear the money clinking into his bank account when news of that person came out.
There was a knock on his door.
"Come in," said the director, still dreaming of his bank account.
The door opened, and the director's first instinct was that the man had to be lost. They wore a baggy dark t-shirt with a button-up shirt that didn't match. He was also in desperate need of a decent haircut, a ball cap doing nothing to hide unruly hair. To top it all off, his face was hidden behind an atrocious pair of glasses. It was as if the words 'nerd' and 'neet' had jumped out of the dictionary and made a baby.
The man took a second to push his glasses further up his face.
Yup, definitely a nerd.
"Hello," said the man. "I'm supposed to come see the director."
"That would be me," said the director. "I'm sorry son, but I think you're lost. This is where I'm doing interviews for those in the Crimson Threads TV show."
"Then this is where I'm supposed to be," said the man. "I'm a participant."
"No, you're not," said the director. "I've only got one more name on my list, and it's not yours."
"How do you know that?"
"Because your name is not Tsuruga Ren."
Silence.
The director raised an eyebrow. He had expected some sort of sputtering refusal. Some sort of acknowledgment other than this stretched silence. Was he going to have to call security and haul this guy out of-
It clicked.
The height, cleverly disguised in a stooped posture. The perfect dictation, voice slightly altered to make it unrecognizable. The reason he had been able to get past the director's security…
This man could only be one person.
"Wait a second!" said the director. "Are you serious, are you- this is brilliant. Please tell me this is what I think it is."
The man gave a grin, and that was definitely not the grin of a nervous nerd.
"I thought it may be a good chance to improve my acting," said the nerd. "As well as create an interesting spin if everyone in Japan knows who I was, except those in the show."
"We are doing this." The director was already setting up his camera. "I can already see the stir this is going to cause. 'Beloved actor hidden in 'plain' sight. Can the women see past the plain exterior and see the gem within?' Our ratings are going to be amazing!"
The director clamored for the nerd to sit down, adjusting the camera just so. It all had to be perfect. To be amazing, because Japan was going to see something they had never seen before.
"Alright," said the director with an exaggerated flick of his hand. "You know how this works. Show Japan your charm!"
The nerd turned to the camera, light blinking red to show it was recording.
"Hello Japan," said the nerd, coolly taking off his glasses. Without the offending accessory, it was easy to see the man beneath. The smile that held a hint of mischievousness. It was that same smile that had so thoroughly captured the hearts of Japan. "My name is Tsuruga Ren, and I'm here to find the love of my life."
Guys, I just don't know what to do with myself. I need to stop.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!