I Thought This Was a Slice of Life

She was completely overwhelmed by this explosive news.

"That's right, Shu-chan recommended you to us. I just called back to discuss it, and the producer is very interested. We'd like to hold an audition right now; if you're interested, you can come back to the TV station with us."

Shuya reminded her, "Mai-chan, you should go ask your mother."

"Ah, oh, um... eh?"

Mai-chan, looking completely bewildered, trotted back and tugged on her mother's hand.

"What's wrong, Mai?"

"No, well... I don't really know what's going on, but... can I go to an audition for a Morning Drama?"

Mai's mother: "???"

A while later, the group said goodbye to the sponsor and piled into the director's large van, which was packed with filming equipment.

"Shu-chan, thank you so much, really... I don't even know what to say."

Mai's mother spoke to Shuya with extreme enthusiasm.

She knew her daughter had encountered a benefactor.

"It's alright, it mostly depends on her own performance."

Shuya was very modest; he couldn't guarantee that Mai would be selected.

He didn't really like Mai's mother, feeling she was far too utilitarian.

However, Shuya didn't confront her; he simply used a professional smile to brush off a few comments before turning to Horiuchi Susumu with a helpless expression: "So, why do I have to come along? I'm not the one auditioning."

"Hm? Didn't I tell you? Aoki and the higher-ups have already handpicked you for a role, so we might as well go chat about it now."

Shuya: "..."

He looked toward his own mother and found Hanazawa Sakura also wearing a "..." expression.

She was completely dumbfounded.

Mai's mother shook her head; people really couldn't be compared!

Her own daughter still had to audition, while this boy had already been handpicked.

That's the entertainment industry for you... popularity and connections really are the most important things.

Shuya was silent for a moment before tentatively asking, "What if I said I wasn't interested?"

"Then... I suppose..." Horiuchi Susumu said solemnly, "I would have to perform a dogeza."

It happened again! How much do you people in the Japan Administrative District love performing a dogeza!

Shuya let out a dry laugh: "Fine then, I'll take a look at the script first. Actually, I've been quite busy lately; I have some anime voice acting to do."

"No problem, we're not in a rush either; we're still in the preparation stage." Horiuchi Susumu shook his head, then asked curiously: "I heard your father's company is going bankrupt again?"

Hanazawa Sakura coughed awkwardly.

Shuya replied: "Yeah, that's why I'm going to save the day."

"You really have it tough."

Horiuchi Susumu sighed along with him. As a director who was neither fully famous nor obscure and was often pushed around by those above him, he understood how Shuya felt.

Shuya remained calm: "It's nothing, I'm used to it. I'll help out where I can."

"Shu-chan is so mature. If only my son were as sensible as you."

Shuya gave Hanazawa Sakura a strange look: "I actually don't think many kids would be as 'sensible' as me. Honestly, I don't even know how much of the money from this endorsement deal I'll get to keep..."

"Son, how about I leave you this much this time?"

Hanazawa Sakura held up five fingers.

"Five million?"

"Fifty thousand..."

Shuya: "...Deal."

He agreed through gritted teeth and held his forehead: "You're lucky you're my mom. If anyone else dared to snatch my hard-earned money like this, I would have hired a lawyer to go after them already."

"Shu-chan is the best."

Hanazawa Sakura gave Shuya a fierce kiss.

Mai glanced at him secretly with envy.

It wasn't that she liked Hanazawa Sakura, but she had never been treated so tenderly by her own mother. Her relationship with her mother was nowhere near as good as the one between Shuya and Hanazawa Sakura.

Horiuchi Susumu smiled and said to Hanazawa Sakura: "Ms. Hanazawa, you really have a wonderful child."

"No, no, don't let his appearance fool you, he actually likes older—"

"Mother?"

Shuya looked at Hanazawa Sakura with a forced smile. She quickly swallowed the rest of her sentence and let out an awkward laugh to brush it off.

Shuya wiped the sweat from his brow; Hanazawa Sakura had almost blurted out that he liked Rena.

The others in the car were curious, but no one was tactless enough to dig into someone else's secrets.

People like that generally don't last long in the entertainment industry.

The remaining time passed in awkward small talk.

When the group arrived at the MHK headquarters, someone was already waiting for them.

Horiuchi Susumu said in surprise, "Producer, why did you come out to wait?"

Aoki Shin said with a beaming smile, "I haven't seen Shu-chan in so long, so I came over early to take a look. Besides, I have nothing else to do right now."

"Uncle Aoki, you really like me... are you a lolicon?"

"Oh ho ho, your words are as poisonous as ever! It's truly reassuring."

Aoki Shin was another man in his thirties, of average height, with a slight paunch, looking like a very harmonious person.

Shuya was quite familiar with him as well.

"Come, come, give me a hug!"

Aoki Shin affectionately picked up Shuya and spun him around. Shuya said with disgust, "Can you not do that? I don't like middle-aged men. Can you swap in a beautiful older sister instead?"

"Haha, what are you saying? If there were a beautiful older sister, would it ever be your turn? I would have gone for her already!"

Aoki Shin chuckled.

Shuya looked disdainful. "You? Do you have as much cuteness as me?"

"Do you have as much money as I do?"

"OK! You win."

Shuya shrugged.

Aoki Shin stroked his mustache triumphantly.

Aoki Shin and Shuya were very close; one could say Shuya was his benefactor.

Two years ago, when Aoki Shin served as a producer for a Morning Drama for the first time, he ran into a major problem.

As everyone knows, Japanese dramas are filmed while they are being broadcast, rather than being filmed in their entirety beforehand.

That was where the problem lay.

A child actor with an important role fell seriously ill and was completely unable to film.

The one who saved Aoki Shin, who was so panicked he was ready to hang himself, was none other than Shu-chan.

Section 19: Everyone is a Lolicon

Aoki Shin seeking out Shuya to save the day back then wasn't a coincidence; Horiuchi Susumu had acted as the intermediary.

Before meeting Aoki Shin, Shuya had already met Horiuchi Susumu through filming commercials.

At that time, Shuya hadn't taken on any television dramas yet, so Aoki Shin hadn't thought of him.

It wasn't until Horiuchi Susumu approached Shuya with the mindset that there was no harm in trying that it happened.

Shuya didn't refuse, considering the money, and his first work on television being a Morning Drama was also a great resume builder.

Even though it was the smallest of bit parts, he still got to show his face for a few episodes.

Shuya's appearance not only saved Aoki Shin from having to hang himself but also indirectly helped a bunch of Staff Members, so he had a good reputation within MHK.

Afterward, he practically became their go-to child actor, frequently called in for guest appearances.

His popularity also rose rapidly through numerous works.

Currently, Shuya was developing very well in acting, voice acting, modeling, and commercials.

If it weren't for his spendthrift parents holding him back, he wouldn't have to worry about money at all.

After Aoki Shin finished talking to Shuya, he smiled and greeted the others. He glanced at Mai-chan, and his eyes lit up: "So this is the girl Shu-chan recommended? Her appearance is quite good!"

As soon as he said this, he quickly clarified: "Don't misunderstand, I'm not a lolicon like Hirai; I'm just evaluating from a producer's perspective."

Hirai Ryuji continued to suffer from a damaged reputation.

Shuya felt quite sorry for Uncle Hirai, but he really couldn't help but laugh.

"Producer-san, hello."

Mai greeted him with a face full of smiles.

Shuya could tell at a glance that this was a professional, fake smile, but he had to admit it was highly effective; even Aoki Shin, who was used to seeing beauties, wavered for a moment.

There is no need to think this is an exaggeration; after all, everyone in the Japan Administrative District is a lolicon.

"Alright, stop staring. Let's go in for the audition quickly."

Shuya pushed Aoki Shin toward the door.

"Ah? Right, right, let's go."

Aoki Shin led the group to a conference room.

This was an impromptu audition, and since Mai was the only candidate, they didn't use a dedicated room, just finding a random conference room.

There were already people in the conference room, and as soon as Shuya entered, he was warmly welcomed by everyone; they were all old acquaintances.

Mai and her mother watched in surprise as Shuya blended in without the slightest sense of awkwardness, wondering to themselves who else there was that Shuya didn't know.

In truth, the entertainment industry is both vast and small; people often skyrocket to fame and new faces emerge constantly, but the Staff Members behind the scenes are not so easily changed.

Especially the famous Staff Members, as there are only a handful of such people.

Aoki Shin and Horiuchi Susumu were among those who had truly made a name for themselves.

Shuya had a good relationship with them, which would be a great help to him in the future.

"So, what is this Morning Drama going to be about?"

After Shuya finished greeting everyone one by one, he finally got to the point.

"Have you ever heard of Ms. Asagami Miin?"

Aoki Shin said with a serious expression, "This Morning Drama is based on her life."

Shuya pondered for a moment and said quite honestly, "I haven't heard of her."

"That's fine. It's normal for someone your age not to have heard of her, but Ms. Hanazawa should know who she is."

Hanazawa Sakura nodded, "She was a famous female writer who rose to prominence during the war. She published many outstanding articles after the war as well and was a renowned anti-war literary figure. She even won the Berno Peace Prize and a literary award; she is a truly great writer in the Japan Administrative District."

"I see."

Shuya nodded; this was a blind spot in his knowledge.

Aoki Shin said, "Ms. Asagami's life was legendary. When she was a child, it was during the time when America launched a massive invasion of Hokkaido. Hokkaido fell rapidly, and the populace fled toward Tokyo in droves. The citizens not only had to hide from American soldiers amidst the chaos of war, but they also had to avoid routed soldiers and bandits."

"During the middle and late stages of the war, they also had to avoid the three-way battlefield involving the special forces sent by Great Hua to provide support, the local military, and the American troops. The situation could be described as a complete mess."