[36] Mirrors and Masks

3 days ago

I glanced around the classroom set, taking in the bright lighting and the cameras positioned at various angles. The other cast members - Yuki, Nobuyuki, Akane, and Mem-cho - were already seated, chatting amongst themselves.

Director Tahara clapped his hands, drawing our attention. "Alright, everyone! We're about to start filming. Now, I want you all to relax and just be yourselves. Chat, laugh, get to know each other. But keep in mind the camera angles - we've got a few fixed setups, so try not to wander too far."

He pointed to a cameraman with a handheld rig. "Ichiro here will be moving around, getting some closer shots. If he comes your way, try to have a conversation that sums up what you were talking about before. It'll make the editing process a lot smoother."

We all nodded, a mix of nervousness and excitement rippling through the group. Tahara grinned. "Great! We'll start rolling in five. Akira, Aqua - can I borrow you for a sec?"

I exchanged a glance with Aqua as we followed Tahara to a quiet corner of the studio. He lowered his voice, his expression serious. "You two are our main draw, so I'm counting on you to set the tone. Be charming, be engaging, but don't overdo it. We want this to feel natural."

"Got it," I said, flashing a confident smile. "We'll give them a show they won't forget."

Aqua nodded, his jaw tight. "Yeah, we'll do our best."

Tahara clapped us on the shoulders. "I know you will. Now go mingle, we're about to start."

As we walked away, I leaned in close to Aqua, keeping my voice low. "Ready to go, 'cousin'?"

He shot me a deadpan look. "This is going to be exhausting."

I shrugged, glancing up at the bright studio lights. "Think of it as an opportunity."

Aqua raised an eyebrow. "An opportunity for what? To make a fool of ourselves on national television?"

I grinned, shoving my hands in my pockets. "Hey, at least you're doing this as a single man. No guilt that way."

Aqua scoffed, but I could see a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Easy for you to say, Mr. I'm-Dating-A-Cosplay-Goddess."

I laughed, the sound echoing through the studio. "True, but let's be real - you know I'm the one those girls are going to be fighting over." I lowered my voice conspiratorially. "The more they talk to me, the more screen time they'll get."

Aqua rolled his eyes, but there was a glint of amusement there. "And so the Akira Hoshino ego rears its ugly head."

"Hey, it's not ego if it's true!" I protested, but I was grinning. It felt good to joke around like this, to ease some of the tension.

I stepped out into the courtyard, the afternoon sun warming my face. The chatter from the classroom faded behind me as I scanned the area, looking for a quiet spot to gather my thoughts. That's when I spotted Akane sitting alone on a bench, her eyes fixed on a book in her lap.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I found myself walking towards her. "Mind if I join you?" I asked, gesturing to the empty space beside her.

Akane looked up, surprise flickering across her face before she composed herself. "Oh, Akira. Sure, go ahead."

I sat down, leaving a respectful distance between us. "What are you reading?"

She held up the book, revealing a well-worn copy of "The Catcher in the Rye." "Just trying to get into character for an upcoming audition," she explained, her voice soft but steady.

"Ah, Holden Caulfield," I nodded. "Interesting choice. Planning to play a disillusioned teenager?"

Akane's lips curved into a small smile. "Something like that. It's for an indie film about a girl struggling with her identity in modern Tokyo."

I leaned back, crossing my arms. "Sounds intense. How are you preparing for it?"

She closed the book, her fingers tracing the cover. "Well, reading this is part of it. I'm also people-watching, trying to pick up on the subtle ways people express their insecurities."

"Like how?"

Akane's gaze swept across the courtyard. "See that guy over there?" She nodded towards a student nervously adjusting his tie. "He's constantly fidgeting with his clothes. It's a small thing, but it speaks volumes about his self-consciousness."

I followed her gaze, impressed by her observation. "You've got a good eye. Must come in handy for acting."

She shrugged, a hint of modesty in her gesture. "It's just practice. I bet you do the same thing when you're preparing for a role."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Nah, I'm more of an instinct guy. I read the script, get a feel for the character, and then just... go with it."

Akane raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's all?"

"Well, maybe not all," I admitted. "But I find that overthinking can sometimes kill the spontaneity of a performance."

She nodded slowly, considering my words. "I can see that. But don't you worry about missing important nuances?"

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "Sure, sometimes. But I think the key is to find a balance. You want to understand your character, but you also want to leave room for those unexpected moments that can make a scene really come alive."

Akane tilted her head, her eyes studying me with newfound interest. "That's... actually pretty insightful. I always thought you were more of a..."

"Pretty face?" I finished for her, grinning.

She blushed, looking away. "I didn't mean..."

"It's okay," I laughed. "I know what people think. And hey, if it gets me roles, I'm not complaining."

Akane turned back to me, her expression serious. "But doesn't it bother you? Being judged on your looks rather than your talent?"

I shrugged. "Sometimes. But I figure as long as I'm getting opportunities to act, I can prove myself through my performances."

She nodded, a look of understanding crossing her face. "I get that. It's not always easy to be taken seriously in this industry."

"Tell me about it," I sighed. "But hey, that's why we've got to stick together, right? Us actors against the world."

Akane laughed, the sound surprisingly melodic. "I'm not sure if I'd go that far. But it is nice to talk to someone who understands."

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the others mill about the courtyard. Then Akane spoke again, her voice hesitant. "Can I ask you something, Akira?"

"Shoot," I said, turning to face her.

"Why did you agree to do this dating show? I mean, you're already pretty famous from 'Sweet Today'."

I leaned closer to Akane, my eyes darting to the camera hovering nearby. "Why did I agree to this show?" I repeated, a smirk on my lips. "Well, that's a secret."

I stood up smoothly. "But who knows? Maybe you'll find out if you stick around long enough."

Akane's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked up at me. "That's not really an answer, you know."

I shrugged. "Where's the fun in giving everything away at once?"

With that, I turned and sauntered across the courtyard towards Aqua, who had just finished talking to Yuki. As I approached, I could see the strain in Aqua's smile, the tightness around his eyes.

"Having fun?" I asked, clapping him on the shoulder.

Aqua's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Oh yeah, it's a blast," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I chuckled, leaning in close to whisper, "Come on, cousin. At least try to look like you're enjoying yourself."

Aqua rolled his eyes. "Easy for you to say. You're eating this up."

I grinned at Aqua, keeping my voice low. "Can't let my first job as a member of Strawberry Productions fail now, can I? Besides, someone's gotta be your wingman."

Aqua's eyebrows shot up. "Wingman? I thought we were supposed to be rivals here."

"Oh, we are," I said. "But what kind of cousin would I be if I didn't help you out a little?"

Aqua snorted. "Right. Because you're just so selfless."

I clutched my chest in mock offense. "You wound me, dear cousin. I'll have you know I'm the very picture of generosity."

"Sure you are," Aqua said, rolling his eyes.

I threw an arm around his shoulders, steering him towards the group of girls chatting near the entrance. "Come on, let's mingle."

As we approached, Mem-cho's eyes lit up. "Akira! Aqua! We were just talking about you two."

"Oh?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "All good things, I hope?"

Yuki giggled, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Maybe. Maybe not. You'll have to stick around to find out."

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms. "Well, now you've got me intrigued. Care to share?"

Nobuyuki, who'd been hovering nearby, stepped closer. "We were debating which one of you is the better actor."

"Ooh, dangerous territory," I said, laughing. "What's the verdict so far?"

Akane spoke up. "I think you both bring different strengths to the table. It's hard to compare."

"Well said, Akane. What do you think, Aqua? Shall we settle this with a little acting challenge?"

Aqua's eyes narrowed. "What did you have in mind?"

I tapped my chin, pretending to think. "How about... improv? We could act out a scene right here, right now. The others can judge."

Mem-cho clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh, that sounds fun! Can we participate too?"

"Of course," I said, grinning. "The more, the merrier. Any suggestions for a scenario?"

Yuki's eyes gleamed mischievously. "How about... a love triangle?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Starting off spicy, aren't we? Alright, I'm game if everyone else is."

Aqua sighed, but I could see the competitive spark in his eyes. "Fine. Who's playing what?"

Nobuyuki stepped forward. "Yuki, want to be our leading lady?"

Yuki blushed but nodded. "Sure, why not?"

I clapped my hands together. "Perfect. Let's set the scene. We're at a... high school reunion. Yuki's our former class president, torn between her high school sweetheart - that's you, Aqua - and the bad boy who always had a crush on her from afar - yours truly."

Aqua rolled his eyes. "Of course you're the bad boy."

I winked at him. "Just playing to my strengths, cuz."

We took our positions, with Yuki standing between us. I nodded to Mem-cho. "Care to give us a countdown?"

Mem-cho grinned, holding up her hand like a clapperboard. "Action in 3... 2... 1... Go!"

I immediately slouched my shoulders, adopting a cocky smirk as I sauntered towards Yuki. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss Perfect herself. Long time no see, princess."

Yuki's eyes widened as she slipped into character. "Akira? I hardly recognized you. You've... changed."

I leaned in close. "Not that much, sweetheart. Still the same troublemaker you remember."

Aqua stepped between us, his posture stiff and proper. "Excuse me, but I believe you're making my wife uncomfortable."

I raised an eyebrow, looking Aqua up and down. "Wife? Don't tell me you actually married this stick in the mud, Yuki."

Yuki bit her lip, looking torn. "Aqua's been good to me, Akira. He's stable, reliable..."

"Boring," I finished for her. "Come on, princess. Don't you ever wonder what could have been if you'd taken a walk on the wild side?"

Aqua's eyes flashed with anger. "That's enough. Yuki, let's go."

But Yuki hesitated, her gaze flicking between us. "I... I don't know. Akira, why are you doing this now?"

I took a step closer, my voice softening. "Because I never stopped thinking about you. All these years, I've been trying to be the man you deserved. And now... now I think I finally am."

Aqua grabbed my shoulder, spinning me around. "Back off. She made her choice."

I smirked, not backing down. "Did she? Or did she just settle for what was safe?"

Yuki's voice cut through. "Stop it, both of you! I'm not some prize to be won. I'm a person, with my own thoughts and feelings."

We both turned to look at her, surprise etched on our faces.

Yuki took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "Aqua, I love you. You've been my rock for so long. But... but I can't deny that there's always been a part of me that wondered about Akira."

Aqua's face fell. "Yuki..."

She held up a hand. "Let me finish. Akira, you represent everything I never let myself have. The excitement, the danger. But I'm not that girl anymore. I've grown up."

I nodded slowly, respect creeping into my voice. "I can see that."

Yuki looked between us, her expression resolute. "I need time. Time to figure out who I am now, and what I really want. Can you both give me that?"

Aqua and I exchanged a glance, then nodded.

"Cut!" Mem-cho called out, breaking the spell.

We all relaxed, dropping our characters. The others burst into applause.

"That was amazing!" Nobuyuki exclaimed. "You guys really got into it."

I bowed playfully. "Thank you, thank you. We aim to please."

Aqua shook his head, but he was smiling. "Not bad, Akira. Though I think Yuki stole the show at the end there."

Yuki blushed. "Oh, stop. You two were incredible. I just followed your lead."

I grinned, throwing an arm around Aqua's shoulders. "What can I say? We make a good team, cousin."

Aqua shrugged me off, but there was no real annoyance in the gesture. "Don't push it."

As the others continued to discuss the impromptu performance, I caught Akane watching us with a thoughtful expression. I raised an eyebrow at her, and she quickly looked away.