Chapter 58

Chapter 58: With such a beautiful girl, even Naoki-san couldn’t help it

“If it involves BURNING Agency, then we’ll have to trouble Daitomo-san again.”

Although there had been conflicts before, those were issues with STARLIGHT Agency. BURNING Agency’s acquisition had been purely a business matter, without personal feelings involved.

Moreover, even if friction existed, it was only with Kikuchi Etsurō from the public relations department. BURNING Agency was large, and the planning department would never refuse an opportunity to make money.

“Alright, leave it to me,” Yoshimura Daitomo nodded.

To arrange an artist’s schedule, naturally one had to contact the artist’s manager.

In an era before mobile phones and before pagers became widespread, Yoshimura Daitomo could only call BURNING Agency directly, leave a message with reception, and schedule a return call from Higuchi Kanako’s assistant, Koyanagi Marin.

The scheduling went smoothly. Once Koyanagi Marin learned it was a short drama, she immediately agreed.

For a small project between parties that had previously cooperated well, even an assistant could make the decision.

In “Beauty Jar,” the female lead was actually the “beautiful woman” who appeared later—the protagonist’s girlfriend—who only had a few scenes.

Ito Shūichi did not want to complicate matters and directly asked a young makeup artist from the crew to fill the role, shamelessly saying, “Rena-san, you’ll be acting as a couple with a handsome guy like Naoki. This is a rare opportunity.”

Yoshimura Daitomo made a cameo appearance as the bald middle-aged neighbor, while Ito Shūichi handled the opening sequence himself.

They even saved on actor payments.

Aside from several specially invited performers and the group of “beautiful women” found by Yoshimura Daitomo, everyone involved in the production—including Nagayama Naoki—received no compensation.

After spending another day or two preparing props such as the small “Beauty Jar,” everything was finally ready.

The crew rented a simple apartment as the filming location and prepared to begin shooting.

When Higuchi Kanako and Koyanagi Marin arrived by taxi at the set, they happened to be filming Nagayama Naoki’s scene.

From the neighboring room emerged a large group of beautiful women. Wearing a sweatshirt, Nagayama Naoki stood at the doorway looking extremely surprised.

Yoshimura Daitomo, playing the bald uncle, wore a sleeveless undershirt, shorts, and slippers.

Escorted by rows of beautiful women lining both sides of the corridor, he struggled to reach the door, then turned around and gestured for silence. All the women immediately quieted down.

“Thank you all for your company. Please go home now.”

The women dispersed one after another, each returning home.

Nagayama Naoki maintained a look of astonishment.

“CUT. Very good. This take is done!” Ito Shūichi announced decisively.

Higuchi Kanako greeted the director, slightly nervous.

“Sorry, Shūichi-san, filming has already started. Are we late?”

“No, Kanako-san. We were only shooting Naoki’s scenes for now. You don’t appear in the earlier parts, so we scheduled you to arrive at this time.”

Ito Shūichi hurried to arrange the next scene.

“Naoki-san, explain the later script to Kanako-san.”

“Hey, isn’t that the director’s job?” Nagayama Naoki muttered as he walked over.

“You brat, get over here and explain. That’s a director’s order!” Ito Shūichi transformed into a tyrant on set.

“Alright, alright.” Nagayama Naoki complied. “Kanako-san, long time no see.”

Higuchi Kanako, slightly anxious watching the lively exchange between actor and director, said softly, “Naoki-san, you shouldn’t talk back to the director. Be careful he gets angry.”

“It’s fine. Shūichi-san wouldn’t dare get angry.” As the main investor and male lead of the short drama, Nagayama Naoki spoke with confidence.

If the director lost his temper, he could always withdraw funding.

“By the way, Kanako-san, do you know what we’re filming?”

“Not really. Marin-chan only told me it was a simple short drama and that I would play the female lead. Do you have a script, Naoki-san?” Higuchi Kanako looked completely uninformed.

“Haha, you accepted without knowing anything? Be careful your agency might sell you off,” Nagayama Naoki joked.

“That wouldn’t happen. I only agreed so easily because Marin-chan said it was with Shūichi-san and Naoki-san, whom I’ve worked with before,” Higuchi Kanako replied politely, clearly more experienced now.

After brief small talk, Nagayama Naoki returned to the main topic.

“This time, you’ll still be acting as my girlfriend.”

Hearing this, a faint blush appeared on Higuchi Kanako’s face.

“The overall story is called ‘Beauty Jar.’” Nagayama Naoki then explained the general plot.

“The story and settings are simple, so there isn’t a full script. Just follow the director’s instructions while acting.”

“Alright!” Hearing how short the story was, Higuchi Kanako was surprised. “What a novel story. Did you come up with it, Naoki-san?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“Because the director asked you to explain it,” she answered cleverly.

Filming afterward progressed smoothly. Since the two leads had previously played a couple, they quickly found their rhythm again.

Only during the first scene using the “Beauty Jar,” when Higuchi Kanako appeared wrapped in a bath towel, did Nagayama Naoki become slightly embarrassed. All other scenes felt natural.

After the initial misunderstanding scenes, their beach outing, dates, and home interactions were lively and convincing.

“CUT. Alright, Naoki-san, Kanako-san, today’s filming is basically finished,” Ito Shūichi informed them.

The next shoot would be tomorrow. According to the forecast, it would rain, which could be used for filming the rainy ending scene.

“Well then, Kanako-san, see you tomorrow.”

Nagayama Naoki and Ito Shūichi still needed to return to the studio—not only for editing but also to shoot the third short drama.

On the ride back, the three main creators shared one car while the rest of the staff rode in a van.

Ito Shūichi began teasing Nagayama Naoki.

“Naoki-san, your face turned red during filming earlier.”

“What?” Nagayama Naoki did not react immediately.

“The scene where Kanako-san appeared wrapped in a towel,” Ito Shūichi joked. “Your face turned bright red instantly. It looked great on camera.”

Nagayama Naoki forced himself to stay calm.

“Ah, that’s actually an acting technique. Hold your breath for several seconds and suddenly lower your head—your face turns red quickly.”

“Oh? That impressive? Your acting skills have improved a lot, Naoki-san.”

Driving the car, Yoshimura Daitomo joined the teasing. After agreeing jokingly, he suddenly changed the topic.

“Naoki-san, you’re not still an innocent boy, are you?”

“You two middle-aged guys, what nonsense are you talking about? Focus on the upcoming shoot!”

Although he had dated several girlfriends in his previous life, this nineteen-year-old body reacted far too easily.

“Hahaha.” ×2

“With such a beautiful girl standing in front of you wrapped in a towel, even Naoki-san couldn’t help it,” they laughed.

When men become close friends, their conversations inevitably drift toward this kind of teasing.