“Good, good, that’s it! Perfect! You’re doing great, Arima-san! Amazing! Now let's move on to the next section, I think…”
In the dance studio, a woman wearing half-rimmed glasses was filled with excitement, praising the girl in a gorgeous dress on the stage who was surrounded by her peers. However, her eyes were fixed on the notebook in her hand.
The girl on stage was named Arima Kana, a former famous child star in Japan! But, that was all in the past.
As a child star, she could easily get whatever she wanted from her family and industry insiders just by doing whatever she wanted. But this also led to her arrogant personality. As she grew older, her popularity declined, and she was no longer the center of attention as before.
Now, she was nothing more than a free artist who couldn't even get the worst announcement, and no agency wanted to sign her.
Fortunately, she was lucky enough to receive an audition notice yesterday. The audition time was today!
The other party was a major director in the industry! If she could seize this audition opportunity and get the lead role, she could regain her popularity! Then, she would be able to stand under the spotlight again, in the gaze of everyone who admired her!
With these thoughts in mind, Arima Kana decisively stopped the woman:
“Ano, please pause for a moment. I have an audition today, so I need to leave now. Sorry, Fukada Sensei.”
As soon as the girl finished speaking, the woman’s previously happy face instantly fell. She glanced at the girl on stage, said nothing, and pursed her lips, signaling for the girl to leave.
Seeing this, Arima Kana bowed to the woman and then left the studio.
As soon as Arima Kana left, the woman couldn’t help but burst out in anger:
“Such delusions! Just after being praised a few times, she dares to give me a cold shoulder! Does she really think she can star in a movie just by going to an audition!”
“That’s right, that’s right, ridiculous!”
“She’s just a washed-up child star, don’t mind her. Let’s continue our practice. Come on, one, two, start!”
The people around seemed to be dissatisfied with Arima Kana as well, echoing her sentiments.
Outside the training room, Arima Kana leaned against the door, clearly hearing the malicious words the people inside said about her. The words “washed-up child star” were like a knife piercing her heart, making her breath catch.
Biting her lower lip, Arima Kana turned and left without hesitation.
She had to prove herself, prove that she was not a washed-up child star!
...
“Oh! Ladies, welcome to the audition! Please follow the numbers on your cards and wait for a moment.
The director is in the room. We will randomly select roles for you to perform. After the performance, please exit through the other door of the room.”
Inside the Tokyo Tower, a group of beautiful women wearing glamorous clothes and varying degrees of makeup, showed no disdain for the short, greasy, lecherous man in front of them. Instead, they obeyed his instructions and sat down in the prepared seats.
Ichika, meanwhile, had also changed into a new set of everyday clothes. She stood out amongst the group of women in vibrant dresses, her bare face radiating youthful charm, overshadowing the surrounding makeup-clad beauties.
Sitting on the seat, Ichika nervously clutched the number card in her hand. She was lucky to have drawn number three, so it wouldn’t be long before her audition.
However, for a first-time audition, Ichika couldn’t help but feel a surge of anxiety. Even deep breaths didn’t seem to help.
“No way! Ichika, you’re so nervous, what are you going to do later?!”
Rubbing her face, Ichika thought to herself.
Just then, a gentle question reached Ichika’s ears:
“You look very nervous?”
Hearing the voice, Ichika turned to see a girl sitting next to her, wearing a white dress with a purple jacket over it, a beret atop her wine-red short hair.
Looking at the girl’s appearance, her fair skin, delicate nose and cherry lips, large, round eyes with wine-red pupils, you could tell at a glance that she was a very endearing girl.
And from the looks of her age, she seemed to be not much older than Ichika.
Facing a peer, Ichika relaxed a little and showed a wry smile, saying,
“Yes, it’s my first audition. I’m a bit nervous.”
“It’s your first time, huh? To be selected by a big director for your first time, you’re so lucky!”
Hearing this, the girl first showed surprise, then sighed with envy at Ichika’s luck.
“Well, it’s thanks to my manager.”
Ichika chuckled and said.
Upon hearing Ichika’s explanation, the girl was stunned for a moment, looking Ichika up and down and asking,
“I’m Arima Kana, what about you?”
“I’m Nakano Ichika.”
Ichika didn’t beat around the bush and readily revealed her name.
Arima Kana nodded, then continued to ask,
“Looking at your appearance, you must have just signed with an agency, right?”
“Yes, I just joined the agency, I didn’t expect to get such a good opportunity so easily.”
Seeing Arima Kana asking, Ichika nodded emphatically. She couldn’t believe that she, a newcomer who had just joined the agency, could so easily get the chance to audition with a major director. If she hadn’t kept it a secret from her family, she would have burst out laughing when she received the news.
Upon receiving confirmation, Arima Kana’s eyes sparkled.
As soon as she saw Ichika’s nervous demeanor, Arima Kana was sure she was a newcomer. However, a new signee could get such a good opportunity, it was really… enviable!
“That’s great, having an agency to help you, your future will be very smooth.”
Arima Kana smiled and waved her hand, feeling envious of Ichika while also feeling sad for herself.
She used to have so many opportunities, just like Ichika. But… now, she was forgotten, dropped by agencies, becoming a free artist, even her family… Now, she was alone…
Lost in such desolate thoughts, Arima Kana no longer had the heart to continue the conversation.
Ichika sensed the shift in Arima Kana’s mood, unclear as to what happened, she simply nodded and did not continue the conversation, quietly waiting for the audition.
Soon, it was Ichika’s turn to audition. With Arima Kana’s encouraging gaze, Ichika walked into the audition room.
Standing on stage, Ichika saw only one corpulent director in the room, took a deep breath, and was about to introduce herself, but the director raised his hand.
Ichika, still confused, froze for a moment, about to speak, when suddenly, hordes of rats came rushing from all directions.
Before Ichika could scream, the swarm of rats had surrounded her. Then, plumes of black mist emanated from the rats, surging into Ichika’s nostrils.
Inhaling the black mist, Ichika felt dizzy and lightheaded. She opened her mouth and tried to shout for help, but then she “boom” collapsed unconscious. She only vaguely heard a few sentences:
“Hee hee, the Old Rat Lord will be satisfied! Take her down and lock her up.”
“Next, Arima Kana!”
......
This is the last chapter for today! I’m going to sleep after finishing it.