"Well, that's just how the entertainment industry is, isn't it?" Hanazawa Sakura sighed. "She's not so bad, just a little fake. She knows how to say all the right things, and she said plenty of nice things about you, but... how much of it was actually true?"
As a voice actress, it was easy for her to tell when someone was putting on an act.
"They're all like that, people like her." Shuya stretched and said lazily, "You get used to it."
"I just hope Mai-chan doesn't turn into someone like that when she grows up."
Shuya propped his chin on his hand and watched the scenery slide past outside the window.
He'd told Mai-chan earlier that adults didn't tend to be wary of children. In truth, to a great extent, he'd been talking about himself.
As an adult in soul, he really liked adorable, ambitious, and generous little girls like Mai-chan.
Wasn't it only natural to want to help a girl like that in whatever way he could?
Section 16: Calling in a Favor
When he got home a little after seven, Inoue Hikoo still hadn't returned. That was perfectly normal; making animation was a real grind.
Shuya abandoned his own mother and promptly went next door to hang out. Rena recognized it was Shuya and opened the door for him.
Rena was dressed for the warm weather, and Shuya's eyes were drawn straight to her long, pale legs beneath her shorts.
"Shu-chan, you're back?"
"Yeah, I'm home."
Shuya was suddenly moved by the ordinary scene before him. He even started imagining things.
"Shu-kun, thanks for your hard work today. Would you like to eat first? Take a bath first? Or..."
Rena smiled sweetly, gently biting her rosy lips. "Eat... me... first?"
"I'll take you up on that!"
"Ah! (Heart)"
Damn, that'd be amazing!
...If only it were real.
But...
Rena didn't say any of that.
The fact that she'd opened the door for him at night without a second thought, and had no problem showing off her pale legs, made it clear she didn't see Shuya as a man.
That was normal, too. Shuya was too young for women to be wary of him or think of him that way.
Shuya didn't have long to feel dejected before the girls... no, the Quintuplets swarmed him.
He quickly rallied.
Rome wasn't built in a day!
Successfully infiltrating the enemy's ranks was already a huge step forward.
After spending the past two or three years together, his presence in Rena's home no longer felt out of place.
Shuya went over every day as part of his slow-and-steady strategy.
He smiled and played with the Quintuplets while telling them about his day.
When he mentioned Children's Dream, the Quintuplets showed no reaction, but Rena clearly froze. Then she looked at her daughters apologetically.
Shuya said nothing, but an idea came to him.
After spending over an hour building up his affection with them, Shuya went home to sleep.
The night passed, and the next day they were recording the animation again.
Since filming the commercial would take time, Hanazawa Sakura and Shuya recorded their scenes first. Then they quickly ate lunch and headed to the filming location.
Shuya had already heard how they planned to shoot the commercial.
It wasn't difficult, just a bit of a hassle.
They'd visit several scenic locations, dress Shuya and Mai in all kinds of pretty outfits, and film them. In the end, they'd pick the best shots and put them together.
The commercial didn't require much technical skill. Its appeal was all about beauty and good looks.
A children's clothing commercial didn't need any deep meaning, either. It just needed to look polished and pretty.
By the time they reached the park where they'd arranged to meet, the film crew had already arrived. Mai-chan and her mother had just gotten there, too.
"Sorry we're late."
Hanazawa Sakura apologized first, and Shuya bowed his head along with her.
"No worries, we just got here early. It's not time yet."
A middle-aged man wearing sunglasses came over to greet them. Shuya recognized him.
Horiuchi Susumu.
He was a fairly well-known MHK television director.
Shuya had met him when he was only one year old. Back then, Horiuchi hadn't made a name for himself, but a drama he'd directed two years ago had been a huge hit. He was now a prominent director.
Of course, television directors didn't have the same status as film directors. Their presence could even pale in comparison to that of the screenwriter or producer, so Horiuchi wasn't all that famous.
Still, he wasn't so hard up that he had to direct a little commercial.
Shuya joked, "What, Uncle Horiuchi's fallen on hard times? Had to come back to shoot a commercial?"
"Haha! You little rascal. Hirai told me about that trick of yours. It won't work on me."
Horiuchi didn't mind. "I'm not picky. As long as this is taken care of, I'm happy."
He made a money gesture.
But one of the crew members called him out. "Really? Then why did I hear you only took the job because Shu-chan was going to be in it?"
"Damn it, don't go spreading that around! I don't want to get laughed at like that lolicon!"
Horiuchi joked shamelessly. It seemed yesterday's joke about Hirai Ryuji had spread.
Shuya gave Horiuchi a knowing smile, and the two of them finally broke down:
"Hahahaha!"
A bunch of men (plus one child on the outside) laughed like idiots.
After they'd finished laughing, Shuya waved Mai-chan over.
"Um...?"
Mai walked over cautiously, feeling uneasy as everyone looked at her.
Shuya casually took her little hand and said to Horiuchi and the crew, "This is Mai-chan, a good friend of mine. Please look after her from now on. I think she's got a lot of potential!"
"Oh-ho, I see. Shu-chan's little girlfriend?"
Horiuchi tossed out the joke without a second thought.
"Not at all. We're really good friends."
Shuya didn't take it seriously, and Mai knew they were joking, too. She just smiled sweetly. "I look forward to working with you!"
Mai was clever enough to understand that Shuya was introducing her to the important people. He was helping her fit into the circle.
In other words, he was bringing her along to have fun.
"Oh, what an adorable girl. No wonder that guy turned into a lolicon."
Horiuchi poked fun at Hirai Ryuji again.
Then he thumped his chest and said to Mai-chan, "If Shu-chan's introducing you, then of course I trust you. I look forward to working with you."
Shuya also told Mai, "Don't worry, Mai-chan. Uncle Horiuchi may not look very reliable, but he's actually an excellent director. You'll definitely learn a lot if you talk to him."
"Oh-ho, I'm surprised Shu-chan thinks so highly of me. Uncle's truly touched."
Horiuchi put on an obviously fake look of excitement.
"You flatter me."
Shuya nodded just as insincerely, putting on a grown-up air.
"..."
"..."
They looked at each other, both feeling awkward.
Horiuchi pushed his sunglasses up his nose, looking uncomfortable. "L-let's get started."
"Right."
Shuya ran a hand through his hair.
The shoot went smoothly that day. Mai made a few little mistakes, but they were quickly corrected, and Horiuchi couldn't stop praising her.
As for Shuya's performance, there wasn't much to say. Everyone would've been surprised if he'd made a mistake.
There wasn't much worth mentioning about the shoot itself. After two hours, they took a short break, mindful of the children's stamina.
Shuya had wanted to chat with Mai, but her mother pulled her aside to talk. He turned to look at Hanazawa Sakura, who was on the phone.
Judging by how sweetly she was smiling, he didn't need to guess who she was talking to: Inoue Hikoo.
Shuya didn't want to sit there listening to lovey-dovey talk. He spotted Horiuchi smoking nearby with a worried frown and went over.
"Uncle, why not tell me what's got you down? It might cheer me up."
"You little rascal."
Horiuchi glared at him and stubbed out his cigarette.
He hesitated, but eventually said, "It's nothing much. I'm just worried about work. You know Aoki Shin, the producer at the network, right?"
Shuya nodded. "Uncle Aoki? Of course I know him."
The Aoki Shin Horiuchi meant was a well-known television producer. Shuya had appeared in dramas he'd produced. Shuya's roles had all been supporting ones, but they were important characters with lines, too.
"So?"
Shuya wondered why Horiuchi had brought him up.
Horiuchi glanced around before speaking cautiously. "...Don't tell anyone, but the network's already planning its next Morning Drama. They're worried about casting right now."
"Oh, I get it! I won't tell anyone."
Shuya nodded emphatically.
...A Morning Drama.
This was big news, after all!
Section 17: Perhaps They'll Make History
A Morning Drama was a fifteen-minute series broadcast on MHK's general channel in Japan Administrative District from Monday to Saturday at eight in the morning.
Morning Dramas usually starred women and told inspiring stories about their struggles.
By telling Shuya that the Morning Drama was casting, Horiuchi was showing him a great deal of trust.
To understand what he'd just said, you first had to know what the lead actress in a Morning Drama represented in Japan Administrative District.
Fame. Recognition. A chance to rise to the top overnight!
A chance to be known throughout the entire district, and even by people in the surrounding districts!
Before you continue