Handpicked

Morning Dramas were obviously impressive when it came to ratings. A regular TV drama was lucky to get ratings in the teens or twenties, but Morning Dramas consistently stayed above 20%.

If a Morning Drama became a huge hit, there was a good chance its lead actress would host the Kohaku Uta Gassen that year.

So it was a shortcut straight to the top.

If word got out that the new Morning Drama was casting... heh.

People would go crazy.

Horiuchi Susumu was really good to Shuya, telling him about something like this.

Still, the fact that he could tell him probably meant it was about to become public anyway, so it wasn't that important.

"The lead in a Morning Drama, huh? That's a tough one..."

Shuya understood the pressure they were under.

With all the attention a Morning Drama got, the lead was the most important role of all. They couldn't afford to get it wrong, or there'd be serious trouble.

"No, we have a few candidates for the female lead and just need to pick one. The problem is the lead's childhood scenes."

Horiuchi Susumu folded his arms. "The female lead's childhood scenes are important in this script. We need someone with strong acting skills, but most children's acting is... well. Oh, I don't mean you."

"It's fine."

Shuya didn't mind.

Horiuchi Susumu shrugged. "Anyway, Producer Aoki is using you as the model for what we're looking for. We've been searching all over for child actresses at different agencies, but haven't found a single one who fits. So everyone's worried. I came out to shoot this commercial today partly to get some fresh air. Things have been too tense at the station lately."

Shuya nodded. "That explains it. With such high standards, there can't be another kid like me, not just in Japan but anywhere in the Earth Federation."

"Exactly!"

Horiuchi Susumu slapped his hands together. "So none of us know what to do! We're all worried."

"Mm... That's rough."

Shuya answered casually, but then he caught sight of Mai-chan out of the corner of his eye, and a bold idea came to him.

"Hey, Uncle. I have a suggestion. Want to hear it?"

"Go on."

"What do you think of Mai-chan?"

Horiuchi Susumu froze. At that, he looked over at Sakurajima Mai, his eyes gradually narrowing.

He seemed lost in thought.

"Shu-chan, do you know what you're saying? If she messes up, you'll be responsible for it. You understand that, right?"

It wouldn't directly be Shuya's fault, but it would still hurt his reputation.

Horiuchi Susumu asked in confusion, "You really think that highly of her? I admit she improved quickly during the shoot just now. But as far as I know, she has no acting experience."

"I don't know either, but I have a feeling she can do it." Shuya smiled. "So, are you willing to trust my intuition? The intuition of a child prodigy?"

Shuya had perfectly embraced Japan's tradition of over-the-top, self-important declarations, delivering that line without batting an eye.

"Hmm..."

Horiuchi Susumu studied Shuya seriously. Shuya returned his gaze without wavering.

Only after a long while did Horiuchi Susumu look away.

He patted Shuya on the shoulder. "I've always thought you were an extraordinary kid. I trust your intuition."

Shuya was quite moved.

But then he smiled. "You might be reading too much into it. I'm only recommending her. I'm not saying you have to give her the role."

"...Ha, haha!" Horiuchi Susumu gave an awkward laugh. "Come to think of it, I don't have the authority to decide either! I'll have to report it to Producer Aoki."

He told Shuya, "All I can do is recommend her. Whether she gets picked is up to her."

"I just want to give her a chance. In the end, it's still up to her." Shuya waved a hand. "You've been in show business for so many years, Uncle. You know how it is. Some people only need one chance to take off."

Horiuchi Susumu looked deeply at Shuya. "I heard from that lolicon, Hirai Ryuji, that you said Mai-chan would become a great actress someday. Do you really have that much faith in her?"

Shuya gazed at Mai in the distance. She had no idea this conversation could change the course of her life.

He smiled. "Who knows? Maybe she will."

Shuya folded his arms. "Hah, I was thinking that maybe we'll be making history."

"Making history... Heh, I'm starting to get fired up!"

Horiuchi Susumu waved a fist enthusiastically.

"Oh... Uncle Horiuchi, you're not exactly young anymore. You're still that passionate?"

"Idiot! I couldn't keep doing this lousy job without that kind of passion!"

Horiuchi Susumu didn't seem embarrassed in the slightest as he shouted.

Shuya burst out laughing.

TV directors like Horiuchi Susumu had a tough life. Their status was far below that of film directors, but they had just as much work to do.

They also had producers and scriptwriters breathing down their necks. TV dramas were often promoted as the latest masterpiece by some scriptwriter or producer, while the director was overlooked.

"You little brat!"

Horiuchi Susumu ruffled Shuya's hair.

"Shameless! Someone's picking on a kid!"

Shuya protested loudly, and the grown man and the little boy began fooling around, drawing everyone's eyes.

Everyone couldn't help smiling warmly at the sight.

Hanazawa Sakura was smiling too, but she noticed the envious look in Mai's mother's eyes.

She didn't have to guess. Mai's mother was jealous of Shuya's connections in show business.

...Mai-chan was such a good girl. How had she ended up with a mother like that?

Poor thing.

Hanazawa Sakura glanced at Sakurajima Mai.

People like Mai's mother were common in the industry. She wasn't exactly a bad person, and she genuinely thought she was doing what was best for her daughter.

But... was it really right to force her own ideas on her child?

Hanazawa Sakura knew it wasn't.

Mutual respect was what was best for both of them.

...Mai's mother, you might not realize how serious this is yet.

But this kind of behavior will inevitably come back to bite you.

Children aren't their parents' possessions...

Hanazawa Sakura shook her head and didn't presume to lecture her when they barely knew each other.

Besides, Mai's mother wouldn't have listened.

All they could do was let things take their course. If a chance came along to help, that would be the most she could do.

Shuya and Horiuchi Susumu had been fooling around, but they were still professionals when it came to work. After an afternoon of filming, they finished the entire shoot.

"Thanks for all your hard work today."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Everyone exchanged polite words.

Ms. Lin relayed Blaise's words. "The shoot went really well. Shu-chan goes without saying, and Mai-chan was also much better on camera than we expected."

"Thank you."

Mai bowed modestly.

Ms. Lin said, "By the way, about the outfits from the shoot... You can take them home if you don't mind."

"Hm? Is that okay?"

Shuya asked.

"Of course."

Ms. Lin nodded, and Blaise smiled along with her.

"Um..."

Mai looked at her mother, but Shuya had already said, "Thanks. Then I won't stand on ceremony!"

He thanked Blaise as well, and she told him not to worry about it.

Their company was huge, and these clothes were nothing to them.

The staff helped load the clothes into the two cars.

Then, while Hanazawa Sakura and the others were saying their final goodbyes,

Shuya slipped over to Mai unnoticed and asked sheepishly, "Mai-chan, could I take a few of the evening dresses? I want to give them to someone."

"Sure."

Mai nodded without giving it much thought.

Section 18: Handpicked

When she heard Shuya, Maeda Saori, who was helping load the clothes into the car, smiled and asked, "Shu-chan, are they for the Quintuplets again?"

"Who else would I have to give them to?"

Shuya replied.

Mai asked curiously, "The Quintuplets?"

"My neighbors. They're good friends."

Of course, Shuya wasn't about to tell everyone that he thought of them as his daughters.

"Wow... That's amazing."

Mai was very interested. Quintuplets were incredibly rare.

Shuya smiled but didn't answer. He just picked out five dresses in the same style but different colors.

"You can take more if you want,"

Mai said. Her family was well off, so she didn't mind giving them away, and she also wanted to repay Shuya for his kindness.

"No need. If I take too many, she won't accept them."

Shuya smiled.

Mai was curious about the "her" Shuya had mentioned. Why did he smile so beautifully whenever he talked about her?

But Shuya didn't explain.

After Shuya carried the clothes back to his family's car, Hanazawa Sakura and the others still hadn't returned. Horiuchi Susumu came over first.

"Um, Mai-chan, are you interested in acting?"

Horiuchi Susumu asked first.

"Hm? That fast?"

Shuya was surprised. It seemed they really were in a hurry to cast the role.

"Huh?"

Mai was also taken aback by the sudden question, but she quickly composed herself. "I love it. My mother even hired a teacher to teach me before."

"Is that so? Then if you're free right now, would you like to audition? Our station is casting for a Morning Drama."

Mai-chan: "...Huh??? M-Morning... Drama?"