Arima Kana's Path (Part 1)

"Your life is pitch darkness!!"

　Aqua, wearing a pitch black hoodie, shouted, acting like a creepy stalker.

"(--- Ah, ah, this is probably the kind of performance I wanted to do.)"

　Whether these tears are fake or real will not be of any concern to the viewers. The same goes for me, Arima Kana.

　There is no actor who cannot cry in this play. Even if crying is not one of one's specialties, it would be a lie for an actor not to cry in this scene.

　So, I'll be hiding in my hoodie, but I'll say my lines while thanking Aqua, who'll probably be laughing.

"Even so, there is light."

　　※ ※ ※

Kana Arima was cleaning up the room in the office dormitory where she had lived for many years.

　Because she was old enough to graduate from junior high school and enter high school, her contract term had expired and she was asked to leave. To put it bluntly, she was kicked out.

　Kana may be the better off, though, as she still has the house she left behind as a child actor.

　Kana feels gloomy and sentimental as she cleans up the booklets filled with sticky notes, including practice scripts and scripts for minor roles.

　When she was in the upper grades of elementary school, she lost work from the child acting agency. Since she had been affiliated with the agency since she was young, she spent her days practicing acting while waiting for work to come, not knowing when it would come.

　Those were days when I felt like I was walking through darkness. I believed that someday there would be light, but even though I couldn't see it, I just kept practicing.

--- Someone, notice me.

　Even though I scream this in my heart, what else can I call the days when no one notices me other than hell?

　Reflecting on her arrogant attitude as a child, she practices everyday, trying to act in a way that brings out the best in those around her.

But she still can't get any acting jobs, and is called a failed child actor on the internet. If she searches job on her own name for herself, she only gets terrible results, but perhaps it's her instinct as an actress that keeps her from quitting.

　In the end, she was kicked out of the dormitory of the agency that had been taking care of her for many years.

She was left asking herself,

"What should I do next? Should I continue to cling to the world of acting?"

　Even though she had thought so, the next spring she would be attending Yoto High School, a department of performing arts. Normally, she would need to be affiliated with a talent agency, but it seemed that the name Kana Arima, the "genius child actor," was still valid even now that she was freelance.

But that's all, she has no work and is in a position where she is free to participate in rehearsals. It's not slander to say she's clinging to past glory, it's just the truth. That's just sad to Kana.

　Past glory - Ah, that would be the right word to use. But it is true that there was such a time. So what's wrong with an actor wanting to experience it again?

　As I was slowly putting away my belongings in my dormitory room at the office - mainly the scripts I had appeared in as minor roles - my eye fell on a magazine lying on the floor.

　It was a men's magazine with Hoshino Aqua on the cover.

Unlike Arima Kana, who fell on hard times, Hoshino Aqua started out as a child actor, then became a male model.

After taking a year off from dramas, where Kana had struggled in the upper grades of elementary school, he jumped straight into the role of a junior high school student and now has gone beyond being a child actor to become a promising, handsome young actor.

Even Kana can understand Aqua's talent. He has a handsome face, thin, shiny blonde hair that is unusual for a Japanese person, and a well-trained body that exudes masculinity.

Everything about him makes him stand out as an actor. If he wasn't good at acting, he wouldn't have been a hit, but he has the skill to adapt to any role.

　Furthermore, it has been decided that he will appear in a movie next year in which he will co-star with Shiranui Freel, one of the most prominent actresses of her generation.

　This is what a world of difference it is from when we co-starred as children in the early grades of elementary school...

"Ha, ha, hahahaha..."

　What is a professional workplace?

What is a connection?

I realized only now that all the things I denied at the time were things that Arima Kana needed now.

If I had realized it then, would the situation have been different?

Or would nothing have changed?

Kana didn't know. However, the reality now is that Hoshino Aqua is making great strides, and Arima Kana is even being kicked out of the agency she was affiliated with.

It makes me want to cry.

No, it's okay to only cry in acting. Right now, I have to clean up my dorm room, which I have to move out of at the end of the month――――

"Ahh..."

　Among the many scripts, the one that fell in front of me was the one in which I first encountered Aqua as a child actor:

"That was the beginning."

　---That brings back memories.

　I met Ai on that set, and I thought to myself that i Kana would reign supreme in the entertainment industry.

I never imagined that my Co-star would reach such a high position among young male actors.

　As I was flipping through the script, my heart burning with nostalgia, something that had been tucked between the pages fell to the floor right in front of me.

"this is----"

Picking up the paper that had fallen to the floor, I found it to be a business card.

It was one of many that Kana had received. However, this one was special, with the name "Hoshino Aqua" written on it, and it was one of those business cards that would likely be fought over if it were given to them today.

　It wasn't that I wanted to hear his voice, or talk to him, but because I had compared her to Aqua earlier, I was curious, and so I ended up dialing the same phone number that was written on the business card into my smartphone.

　After a few seconds of ringing, the phone was answered by a young woman's voice.

"Hello, this is Ichigo Pro's Miyako... who is this?"

"Um... I'm Arima Kana, wasn't this Hoshino Aqua's phone number?"

　I was a bit flustered when the person who showed up was different from who I was expecting, but I managed to say my name and waited for the other person's reply.

　In fact, considering the current size of Ichigo Productions, it's probably a blessing that they weren't suddenly cut.

"Ah, Arima Kana-san... If you know this phone number, does that mean it's the business card he gave to you , when you performed with Aqua when you were kids?"

"That's true."

"Right now, the phone is connected to Aqua's manager. It's unusual to call Aqua by name on this number. So, is there something you need from Aqua?"

　Kana was at a loss for words when she heard that.

She had just happened to come across a business card with Hoshino Aqua's name on it and called her on impulse.

There was no particular purpose behind it.

　Even if Aqua had answered the phone, what would Kana have said?

I don't even know.

"Ummm---, I just wanted to talk to Aqua about something."

"Really? He's busy so I don't know if he'll call you back, but can I give him your number?"

"Ah, yes... please."

　Although I hadn't thought about what to say in particular, I felt I couldn't just not say anything, so I blurted out that there was something I wanted to tell him.

　What's more, Miyako says that she will tell Aqua without any doubt, which is surprising. I'm sure that Miyako knew about Arima Kana because she was Aqua's manager when he was a child actor.

I said that and hung up my phone.

I wondered what my face would look like reflected in her smartphone screen.

　Kana didn't have the courage to check if she looked miserable, disappointed, or relieved, so she slowly got up and began packing her belongings into the cardboard boxes she had prepared to prepare for the move.

　It may be a little late to say I was completely focused, but I continued packing my belongings into cardboard boxes without thinking about anything, when suddenly my smartphone started ringing.

　The phone number on the display was not registered in the phone book, so only the number was shown, not the name.

Because of her job, it was not uncommon to receive calls from unknown numbers, so Kana tapped the answer button as usual.

"Yes, this is Arima."

"Arima? It's Aqua."

"...…Huh?"

　I couldn't help but let out a surprised voice.

"What? I called back because I heard from Miyako that you had something to talk to me about."

"Huh?! No, what?! Are you Aqua? Hoshino Aqua?"

"That's why I say that."

　Kana's mind was a mess.

She had asked Miyako to tell Aqua to call her back, but she hadn't expected that she would get a call back that same day.

　I knew from watching the dramas and magazines that Aqua appeared in that he didn't have much time, especially since he was a junior high school student with limited time.

Still, I didn't expect to get a call so soon.

"So, what's the story?"

"--!"

I don't even know why I called in the first place.

There's nothing more to say. It was just an excuse.

So I'm at a loss for words.

"If there's nothing here, I'll hang up."

"wait a minute!"

　Kana didn't even know what she was saying.

What was she trying to say?

About leaving the agency and going freelance?

About Aqua's recent successes?

About how pathetic she felt?

Her mind was so confused that she didn't know what to say.

"Hmm... Then let's talk slowly. Tomorrow at 5pm at Ichigo Pro's office."

"Huh?"

　The phone went dead with a click, and Hoshino Aqua's phone number and the message "call ended" were displayed.

"Huh?"

　Just when she thought she had received a call from Hoshino Aqua, for some reason, the next person she was called was Ichigo Pro.

Kana Arima's brain couldn't keep up with the rapid turn of events.

　The next day, at 5pm, Kana Arima was standing in front of the building where Ichigo Productions' offices were located, surprised that Aqua had taken the time to remind her via SMS.

　Until ten years ago, it was just a room in a building, but after graduating, each member of B-Komachi, the idol division of B-Komachi, went off to their own fields of expertise in the entertainment industry and became successful.

Ai, in particular, from the actress division, was destined to be a hit, just as Kana had imagined as a child. In the world of dramas, she was a leading actress who could play any role.

As the number of employees increased and Ichigo Productions expanded in size, it began to establish its headquarters in its own building, and the entire building in front of where Kana stands became Ichigo Productions.

"(...Aqua is here, right?)"

　Kana confirmed that the address written in the SMS was her current location and that the current time was just before the time she was to be called, and then, after checking that her outfit didn't look out of place since she was going to a production company, even if it wasn't an interview, she fired up and headed toward the Ichigo Productions building.

　When I gave my name at the reception desk at the entrance, Aqua had already made a reservation, so I was given my admission pass without any problems and was shown to the conference room that Aqua had likely specified.

I was told to wait while they called Aqua, so I obediently sat in a chair prepared in the conference room and waited.

"Sorry, were you waiting?"

　After waiting for a few minutes, I heard the sound of the door opening and someone coming in.

I was sure it was a voice I had heard many times on TV.

"Ahh――――!?"

　As I tried to continue, I gasped.

The last time she met Aqua in person was probably when she was in the lower grades of elementary school, before Kana's work began to decrease.

Up until then, he was shorter than Kana, had a high-pitched voice, and seemed like a cute boy with the smile of an angel.

But the Aqua in front of her now was easily taller than Kana, and his voice had changed to a deep, masculine one, perhaps due to a change in his voice.

He was probably in training, as he was wearing a shirt and workout pants, so his physique was easily visible, and it was clear that he was working out but not too much without affecting his modeling.

He had become so much more masculine from the Aqua she remembered, that she couldn't help but gasp.

　No, I had thought it was interesting when I saw it in magazines.

I could understand it because he was normally included among the good-looking models in magazine slogans.

But seeing it in person had a completely different impact.

"It's been a while, Arima? What's up?"

"Well, it's nothing."

　Looking puzzled when Arima stopped calling his name midway, he sat down in the chair opposite her.

"So―――Did something happen?"

"――――"

　Just those words made my excited heart freeze to below freezing in an instant.

　To be honest, she couldn't think of anything to say, even after spending a whole day thinking about it.

Should she just tell him the truth about the current situation? But what good would it do to Aqua if she told him that?

　Aqua is also an actor.

It would be troublesome to talk about a failed child actor.

Did you call to complain?

Unfortunately, Arima Kana and Hoshino Aqua are not in that kind of relationship

"You're quitting the agency, aren't you?"

　Kana looks down and refuses to say anything, but suddenly Aqua drops a bombshell.

Was it his kindness that made him tell her she was quitting? To be precise, she was being forced to quit.

"Y-You!? How did you know――――"

"Well, Arima's agency is a child actor agency and has an age limit, and there's no talk of her transferring, so it's only natural, right?"

　I was speechless at Aqua's mercy.

Aqua knew about my current situation.

That was a shock.

I didn't want him to know how miserable I had fallen.

"...? Isn't it about wanting to join Ichigo Pro? I thought you came to ask for advice using an old connection."

"Huh?"

　I wonder if she would be confused by the unexpected news.

I hadn't thought about it that way.

Kana had thought that if she continued acting, someday she would be scouted by an agency.

　So I never thought about going out and join it myself.

Aqua asked me :

"It seems like I misunderstood something -- what should you do?"

"What should I do...?"

"The question is, should you join Ichigo Pro?"

"Huh?! Wait a second! You're moving too quickly!"

　I didn't know what to say, but I made an appointment anyway, so when I showed up, I was approached by someone trying to recruit me into their agency.

Kana was so overwhelmed that her head was in a state of confusion.

Aqua :

"But I thought it would be difficult to talk about this over the phone."

"Generally, you don't have the authority to make that judgment, do you?!"

"No, I've already got permission from Miyako-san. All that's left is Arima's will."

　I was speechless for the second time. Apparently, before I knew it, he had already gotten permission from Miyako, the vice president.

There was only one day between yesterday's phone call and today's meeting in the conference room.

And yet, he had already gotten permission? Normally, wouldn't they check someone's acting ability before they let them in?

"N-no, I don't want your permission, I only spoke about it on the phone yesterday..."

"I've seen all of the productions that Arima has been in.

I can vouch for her abilities as an actress."

"Even if you guarantee it, have you―――― watched all of the works I've been in?

Why!? I――――"

　The title of "fallen actor" weighed on her like a weight.

Once her prime was over, everyone abandoned her - first the staff, then her family, and finally her manager.

They stopped watching her.

It was even worse on the internet, where consumers gather to see her acting.

They treated her like someone who was already finished.

Everyone saw Arima Kana as the genius child actor of her time, but not the Arima Kana of today.

　As proof of that, she had lost her job, and had simply continued to practice in the darkness, with the word retirement flashing in her mind over and over again this past year――――

"Do I need a reason to follow someone who gives a good performance? I think highly of Kana Arima as an actress."

　Aqua said in a tone that said,

" thats a matter of fact."

Hoshino Aqua, one of the most popular actors today, had a high opinion of Arima Kana.

It was unbelievable.

However, Aqua, standing right in front of Kana, said it with a straight face, as if he had no doubt about what he was saying.

"Really? Is my acting really good enough for you to appreciate it?"

"I've been watching Arima's work for a long time, and I've been studying directing under him (Taishi Gotanda ) .

I think you can trust my judgement a little more."

　It felt as if those words filled something inside Kana.

Perhaps they were words she had always wanted someone to say to her.

　I wanted someone to see my performance.

I wanted them to say it was amazing.

I had been struggling in the darkness, not knowing what was in front of me or what was behind me, wanting those words.

And now---it felt like my efforts had paid off.

"Hey, why are you crying?"

"Huh?"

　I hadn't even noticed it.

But I could definitely feel tears running down my cheeks.

Before I knew it, my tear ducts had collapsed in an instant.

　Maybe it was because I was so upset by the succession of unexpected events.

Even though I am good at crying, I have no way of stopping the tears that flow naturally. What's more, even if I try to stop the tears, they won't stop.

"Hey, idiot, has an actress ever rubbed her eyes with her sleeve?"

　As if by instinct, Aqua came around to Kana from the other side, handed the handkerchief she had been holding into her hand, and stroked her back soothingly.

　Kana stopped wiping her eyes with her sleeve and instead held a handkerchief to stop the tears from flowing.

"I'm sure there were a lot of things going on, but I don't think Arima's efforts were in vain. The only thing at fault is the producer.

Let's work together again."

　Those words brought tears to her eyes again.

How many times would she have to let this man make her cry today?

Kana could only nod silently, and the tears seemed unlikely to stop anytime soon.

________________________________________

Before the final episode of Sweet Today, here is Arima Kana's journey to becoming a member of Ichigo Production.

It's gotten too long so this is a two-part story. I'll try to post it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

Thank you for always reporting typos and omissions. It's a big help.

If you don't mind, please leave your thoughts on comment and ratings on review. It's encouraging, so I'd be happy if you could give me even a few words of feedback.

#3.385 words count