After exposing the sparks of Yonagi Kei's talent to the STARS jury, especially to that arrogant Arisa Hoshi, Kuroyama Sumiji experienced a very amusing, if not interesting morning.
After watching the recordings of the preliminary auditions, he had no doubt about Yonagi Kei's overwhelming talent in the whole competition. Her entry and performance surpassed the experiences and teachings of her contemporaries, despite her novice status in the world of acting. How dare the "so-called jury" deny the rise of such a promising star?
Mundane reasons abounded as an explanation for the rejection, nothing new it seemed. It was understandable to be envious of a talent superior to what anyone would enjoy in their youth; however, Kuroyama could not fully comprehend it. Did its benefit not outweigh the itch in their wrinkled hearts? No, even if he wanted to comment on it, it would be out of place.
The only excuse he takes is about his mental health. Truth be told, she also worries about the after effects of such a risky acting method; however, her possible journey carried a much greater weight not only individually, but globally, in addition to her own long-term benefit. Besides, she would not be the first actress to suffer from it. Treatments vary and evolve. There is a solution.
Sumiji chuckled under his breath, thinking about the past and the "what ifs" never ceased to be so amusing. He could be as irreverent as could be expected, however, there are boundaries that image can't break.
His mind responded with another jocular scene for him - creating stars, relying on agencies that never raised the Japanese banner beyond Asia? Truly, Arisa had succumbed to fear. Now, neither does it imply a harsh judgment against that criterion.
He was on that side of the shore in his fearful beginnings. If he were still riding the cultural current of misguided hard effort, perhaps he would buy that story. Yes, if he had not undertaken that journey, perhaps they would get along better. Too bad the difference between the two positions met its breaking point in reality. As opposed to an apparent and a real fact; the natural prevails over time and towers over the others; appearances are only short lived and wither on a threshold. Such naïve thinking, erring on the side of optimism, would destroy today's industry.
No, it is destroying it. He knew it. That's why this was a unique moment. The occasion where he had the perfect weapon to burst the bubble of this decadent country. Who would have thought that an unknown to the industry would enjoy so much potential?
Kei Yonagi. He urgently needed her to bring new stars, hidden or disillusioned, to emerge and thus complete his desired cast. Moreover, her quality was guaranteed by having such a brutal self-taught breakthrough. The limit of his development, thanks to such a cosmopolitan vision as his, would scale different fields until he managed to play the most important "role".
— Do you want to get to work Sumiji, you're being a drag right now!
Sadly, his thoughts would never be translated to the real environment in an efficient and understandable way. It wasn't his way of speaking, though he didn't mind either. But it did cause, with some frequency, a series of misunderstandings and arguments for no good reason. Nor did his young collaborator's inordinate enthusiasm help. He didn't miss her absences, but the school term had long since begun and, after not being with his star actor around, her complaints kept circulating in the studio. Maybe, just maybe, she should consider soundproof earmuffs.
— With that attitude, we will only miss opportunities!
Sumiji felt the need to buy ear tampons, cheaper and available in good quality. Although she could, she knew it wouldn't be very effective either with her pupil as the source of the disturbance. Again, why was she there? Right, it was a company where she owns most of the equity. Sumiji hates this situation, hates not having a lot of money to be decisive sometimes.
— This is not the time for that.
— Huh? Why?!
Sumiji read his expupil's actions like the script of a play. Hiiragi Yuki did not change his competitive mode since his departure to the world. Nor when she saw the recent Japanese market, full of sexagenarian and local stars, reluctant to export new promises to the West.
A recipe for failure. A not so little known scenario, however, very ephemeral to form a real talent, beyond an anecdotal performance outside the country, capable of representing a real new trend. Like her, many other directors focused more on short-term projects, without a planned trajectory over longer times. After all, fads are not a constant that raise Asian flags, more so when it comes to films or trends related abroad. Therefore, having a sponsor, or several depending on the size of the agency, increases the sales and reach of your creations. If, with the little funding that is available, a new star manages to impose its mark; the studio has given a pleasing image to its nation. And that is what counts. The image, as nationalist and conservative cultures rightly emphasized, is a central point in its trajectory. In addition to his pocketbook.
An idea not very compatible with Sumiji. Don't misunderstand him; money is always welcome, but such unpolished work is never to his liking. Not for nothing, he lacks a godson or, in this case, goddaughter whom he forges with knowledge beyond the land of the rising sun; be it director or actor. He won't take that responsibility with just anyone, years of travel means insider information only fit for a talented person in his sense of the word.
Hachiman didn't count, Soichiro's son was a different category (quirk) carried by Yuki; an amalgam that served to propel her young director into broader scenarios quickly and defiantly. Interestingly, she didn't add to the count either; she only taught him for three years in a specialized institution until he decided to go abroad again. Now, how was his progress lately? Maybe he should send them to his first big fish? No, it is not yet time to analyze his situation. Sumiji was clear, he will evaluate it later, at this moment, he needs to stay focused.
— What would you do if you found a diamond in the rough... that you knew would revolutionize history?
— Well... I would hire him and help him on his way to the top, but I don't think you... I mean, we haven't seen anyone like that.
Sumiji hesitated to ask what he meant, but ignored him and went on with the main topic. He couldn't get rid of the idea: he found a possible main character for his masterpiece. His joy could explode at any moment.
— It does exist.
His companion's expression, similar to other occasions, did not fail to show his bewilderment with wide-eyed amazement. Oh, he envies the youth for that sense of awe; an inspiring experience that was lost with time. Sumiji claims not to be able to wonder too much as before. A bit boring for him, but that comes with being a globetrotter who disavows Japanese idiosyncrasies.
— After so much searching, it looks like luck is on my side.
— Wait, time out, time out, time out, we need to meet with the afternoon announcers! At least remember the schedules beforehand. Hey, are you listening? Where are you going this time?
— What does it look like to you?
The files and documents next to the monitor have the necessary information on some well-known directors, along with the plays they may be directing throughout the season... In addition, some agencies' calendars are easy to find posted online. Other scattered papers highlight the kind of teaching capable of standardization for novices outside the acting environment. Sumiji did not skimp on more subtle methods of convincing, not as invasive as her first encounter. Well, not verbally at least.
He had no doubts about their future relationship. Everything looked like a cooperation between the two, an undeniable fact at this point. That girl only rejected him because of the shock between acceptance and rejection. Or maybe his enthusiasm scared her away; yes, it was also possible. It wouldn't be the first time it had happened with any partner. He had a feeling it wouldn't be the last either.
Before taking the key to his van, his assistant, Hiiragi Yuki, stopped him at the door. With an x formed by his two hands, he slowed his advance. His enthusiasm would be flattered, were the circumstances different.
— What are you doing?
— Keeping you from doing something crazy.
— I don't know what you're talking about. I need to go out and get a diamond in the rough before some vulture takes it.
— You haven't seen yourself in years? You're in your thirties. You can't ride around in a van and not look suspicious. Plus considering your lousy dress sense, you know you look like a deadbeat!
— Tch. So, will you let me go? I don't have all morning to argue with you.
— Look, I know you won't like the idea, but you can contact people her age to convince her. Someone young must owe you a favor or we can go together to let her know.
An idea popped into the headmaster's head after pondering for a few moments, while his pupil was hawking things unintelligible to him. The smile appeared on his mouth and he rubbed his beard with pride. Who knew? He didn't need to get his hands dirty and, even if he failed, he would already have an excuse to avoid his companion's suggestions.
— Ho, I know who to call to take care of it.
— Who is it?
— Soichiro's brat
— Hachiman? But he said he didn't want us to contact him this week.
— He came to me before… Once again it makes no difference.
—When was it?
— Yesterday. Yeah, he must remember what he looks like, too.
—Really? How did you blackmail him?
— I told him I wouldn't call him again on my own initiative. What a naive brat.
— But aren't you the one who called him?
— It wasn't me who suggested it. It was his cruel manager, puj, then you deal with it.
— SUMIJI?
— Oi, Hachiman, I need you to return a favor.
The people were walking towards their morning activities. Their journey passed without any memorable mishap. Whether it was the weather or the drowsy conversations themselves, the memorable scenery of the metropolis passed unnoticed, like a mere gray background.
Next to the masses, a young man with messy hair was checking, for the umpteenth time, the latest call on his cell phone. Dressed in his freshly pressed uniform, and with a posture that diminished his height, his presence is ignored despite his recent rise in value in the acting market; a fact for which he maintains a conflict between pride and cynicism, who knew Max Cofee would use him to anchor himself to the younger generation?
He himself called it a blunder on the part of the marketing department. He wouldn't mind such a mistake, unless it was something important and valuable. Max Cofee obviously meets all those requirements. His instant complaint alarmed management and the whole plan around the new campaign. In the end, while they continued to go for this fresh look, their focus was not as much on the new audience.
Hachiman recalled that moment with happiness. Now, he thinks that youth is a very well made-up and indescribable lie for him. How was it possible to increase consumption with the use of his image? No, the more important question in his hormone-flooded brain was how did no one notice his presence at this point? The promotion was in its middle phase, already about four months in operation, so his face had already been on almost every corner of the internet and some buildings in Tokyo. In Chiba, though, he found only three advertisements on his way to school.
While Hachiman prided himself on his ability to understand human behavior, he admitted that, in this particular case, he was never certain of getting it right. He wasn't complaining either; one more defeat only served to alert him to the future. He could always learn.
Worse now, considering the new proposals from the enthusiastic marketing and advertising team; the future consequences would end with the tranquility of a walk to the train station from his home.
— I still have a month left to think about it. Well, I had. With NINIyama-san's nonsense, it's over.
With the sudden new indication, Hikigaya Hachiman walked around looking everywhere. Out of moral duty, he tried his best to comply with Sumiji's command. There was no option of refusal, nor any convenient excuse that he could paraphrase in the moments that the call lasted. Kuroyama Sumiji, for some strange reason, ordered him to bring the young girl named Yonagi Kei to his studio.
Apart from sounding like a kidnapping, he understood that the motives behind this hasty decision lay in Sumiji's obsession for a new "asset" to enhance his film interaction. He could understand her anxiety, he also witnessed her audition, after causing a scene with another candidate. Moreover, he had witnessed Kuroyama-san's unnatural expectations at the time. However, this time he understood the motivations more clearly.
The feeling of discomfort and anguish was etched in his body as he watched that "real" performance. His mind framed each of the events that took place in that small room, from his natural gestures to the changing atmosphere and directed entirely towards that deceptive act. Whether he wanted to or not, his memory worked perfectly to emulate those extravagant and false behaviors that he hated until recently. He couldn't label them that way anymore, not with that level of approach to reality.
Now, from the description he received from her uniform, plus the data blurted out by kuroyama, along with how old she was, Hachiman deduced that the girl in question was in his grade, and also in his school otherwise why would he even ask for her help without her intervention? Unfortunately, that was as far as his superficial reasoning went. It just fell to "luck" to find her and convince her to follow him.
By this time, perhaps a presence so distant from the normal young Japanese student would be distinguishable. However, that is too much to ask for him. In fairness, Hikigaya Hachiman has outgrown any conscious approach to the female environment. Even if she was a complete stranger, embarrassment and awkwardness could arise unexpectedly.
In the end, it all boiled down to putting in considerable effort to, even with luck on her side, meet that young stranger. To Sumiji's misfortune, Hachiman was not willing to actively work at it. Not after remembering the last incident with introductions to girls his own age. Again, what bug had bitten him that day?
— Yonagi-san?
To his bad luck, the force of socialization had already permeated his body, hence not saying hello was never an option.
— Yes, who are you?
Good morning, afternoon or evening
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