Hearing her older cousin's sudden question—delivered like a plot twist no one saw coming—Mio gripped her phone tightly, biting her lip and staying silent.
Seeing her silence, Miki understood exactly what was going on.
Sure enough. She hasn't told her family.
But if she had told them, Mio wouldn't be able to stay peacefully in Tokyo right now. She'd probably be dragged back home faster than a side character getting written out of the show.
Remembering Uncle Takahashi's attitude—the kind of rigid, old-school mindset that belongs in a historical drama—Miki felt a bit helpless. She couldn't help but sigh, then comforted her cousin:
"It's okay, Mio. I won't tell Aunt and Uncle about this. You can go to the audition with peace of mind. I didn't call you because... I just wanted to confirm with you. Some things... keeping them in my heart and guessing is really exhausting."
She paused, then added seriously:
"Threatening my own younger sister is something I'd never do. That's just disgusting."
Hearing this, warmth spread through Mio's heart—like a healing spell in the middle of a boss fight. But the tormenting pain inside her didn't lessen. She no longer bothered controlling her tone or pretending in front of Miki. Lowering her gaze, she said faintly:
"Actually... even if I don't tell them, it's useless."
"Hmm? Why do you say that?"
"Seiya told me that this drama has a very tight schedule. They'll be filming and broadcasting at the same time..."
Understanding what she meant, Miki pursed her lips and fell silent. She subconsciously put herself in Mio's shoes—if I were her, what would I do? It felt nearly impossible. But she still tentatively asked:
"So... what are you going to do?"
"I haven't thought about it yet..."
Mio took a deep breath, then added:
"Miki-nee, do you have time tomorrow night?"
"Ah, yes. I have the day off tomorrow."
"Then let's meet up and talk about it."
After hanging up the phone, Mio got out of bed. She stepped barefoot onto the cool floor and walked over to open the window.
She gazed outside, watching the crescent moon slowly get swallowed by drifting clouds—like a dramatic scene transition in a late-night anime. Then she exhaled. She stood there watching until dawn, when the sky turned pale, before finally returning to bed and falling into a restless sleep.
But she didn't sleep for long before being jolted awake by a nightmare.
In her dream, she still didn't have the courage to tell her parents she wanted to be an actress. She secretly participated in the drama, and her father found out when it was broadcast.
"You disgrace! When did I ever give you permission to do something so shameful?!"
Her father cursed her over the phone, then dragged her mother all the way to Tokyo to find her on set. He beat her severely in front of everyone and then announced their estrangement as father and daughter in front of a pack of reporters.
Overnight, all sorts of rumors about her exploded across the internet like a Fire Blast with 100% accuracy. News of her borrowing online loans and dating Shiratori Seiya was also exposed. Almost the entire internet was cursing her name, saying she only got the lead role by seducing the scriptwriter—calling her shameless, an unfilial daughter, a homewrecker.
Her acting career ended before it even began. Because her reputation was ruined, Shiratori Seiya saw no future in her. Eventually, he broke up with her.
"You've disappointed me too much, Mio."
"Heh heh... I told you long ago. You're just a substitute for me..."
"He never liked you. It was all your wishful thinking!"
Hojo Shione's venomous face suddenly pressed close—like a yandere final boss—and Hasegawa Saori, wielding a long sword, also closed in!
"No..."
"I didn't..."
"Seiya, I tried so hard. I don't want to let you down..."
"Don't... don't leave... don't abandon me... don't kill me..."
"NO!"
Mio cried out, eyes snapping open. She sat bolt upright in bed, cold sweat soaking through her back and clothes, everything sticking uncomfortably to her skin.
Staring at the pale morning sky outside her window, she was completely lost in thought.
Normally, whether nightmares or sweet dreams, they would fade away quickly. But this time—her father's curses, the online bullying, Seiya's abandonment, and Hojo Shione and Hasegawa's pursuit from her dream—all of it was seared into her mind like a permanent status debuff.
Mio clenched her fists tightly, her fingernails digging into her palms. The pain constantly stimulated her nerves, keeping her grounded in reality.
"How is this possible..."
She murmured, then sighed and got out of bed, heading for a hot shower.
The hot water barely managed to extinguish some of the turmoil burning in her heart—like pouring water on a campfire but missing a few embers. She wasn't in the mood for breakfast and only drank two small sips of water.
Glancing at the time, she realized it was still early. Remembering that Shiratori Seiya usually went for a morning run around this hour, she put on some makeup—enough to hide the exhaustion—and headed outside.
She wanted to see him.
She already had an idea of how to deal with her father.
But she still hadn't decided whether she could actually go through with it... She thought that maybe just seeing him—hearing him tell her over and over again, "It's okay, I'll always be with you, just trust me"—would make her heart a little stronger, a little more resilient.
Her heart wasn't strong to begin with. Without Shiratori Seiya, she wouldn't have even dreamed of becoming an actress in the first place.
Unfortunately, reality often differs from expectations—like when you're expecting a romantic confession and instead get a filler episode. She waited downstairs at Shiratori Seiya's place for a while, but he didn't come down. She went up and rang the doorbell—no response.
After thinking for a moment, she decided to wait downstairs, constantly glancing toward the intersection like a character waiting for a quest-giver to spawn.
After a while, Shiratori Seiya's figure appeared in her sight. A smile unconsciously bloomed on Mio's face—a genuine, unguarded smile.
But the next moment, when she saw Hojo Shione standing right beside him, the smile on her face instantly froze. Then her expression turned grim.
You're sick and you won't see a doctor, but you've got plenty of energy to cling to a nearly married man, huh?
So shameless.
Watching the two of them chatting and laughing together—like a scene straight out of her nightmare—jealousy surged in Mio's heart like a tidal wave. She kicked a stone by her foot hard, then plastered on a forced smile and walked over.
After stinging the other woman with a barrage of sharp words—each one like a well-aimed kunai, Mio's mood improved considerably.
So what if you came early? Just a loser. Didn't I win again this time?
After chasing the other person away, she chatted with Shiratori Seiya. And when she heard him tell her about her older cousin—and truly, as expected, repeatedly say that he would accompany her—her heart couldn't help but feel a little more at ease.
It's just... this jerk really doesn't know when to take a hint.
She'd offered him a kiss, and he didn't want it. Did he think she was the shameless one?
Fine. He won't get one even if he wants one later! She won't give him one!
...Probably.
After they parted, she asked someone to buy commemorative dolls in the afternoon and was busy until evening. As dusk gradually fell like a watercolor filter, she carried her bag and rushed to the yakiniku restaurant she'd agreed upon with Miki.
During the meal, the two of them casually discussed what had happened the night before while listening to the satisfying sizzle of meat on the grill—but they didn't dive deep into how to actually solve the problem.
Miki mostly asked Mio when she had decided to become an actress and how she had met Shiratori Seiya.
Mio naturally didn't tell the whole truth. She only said that the two of them had accidentally discovered they were both interested in this area—he liked writing scripts, she wanted to be an actress—so they decided to move forward together.
And when Miki asked about the training notes, Mio thought for a moment and, this time, didn't lie. She explained that Shiratori Seiya paid for her to go to training and accompanied her tirelessly every day, putting in a tremendous amount of effort.
Although her older cousin had simply asked a question, as Mio spoke, she couldn't help but feel a desire to show off—a tiny, prideful bloom in her chest, something even Mio herself didn't fully realize.
After hearing her recount all the details, Miki looked at the young girl in front of her with complex eyes. A bitter smile appeared on her face as she sighed:
"Mio, I have to say... I'm a little jealous of you right now. You really are lucky."
Hearing her older cousin say that, joy swelled in Mio's heart like a balloon at a festival. She took a sip of warm tea to hide the upward curve of her lips—classic tsundere move.
"It's alright... Actually, it's not that great. It's really tiring..."
Mio waved her hand dismissively, then met Miki's gaze. After a moment of hesitation, she blinked her eyes—the kind that could charm any protagonist—and said:
"Miki-nee... can I ask you a question?"
Knowing that the real topic was finally beginning, Miki put down her chopsticks. Her red lips formed a gentle smile as she looked at Mio and said:
"Go ahead, Mio. I'll answer anything you ask today."
"Hmm..."
Mio nodded, picked up a chopstick, dipped it in water, and drew little circles on the table—a nervous habit she'd picked up from who-knows-where.
"What has kept you going, Miki-nee? What's sustained you all the way to where you are now?"
"Even though Aunt and Uncle didn't strongly object to you becoming a model back then, they weren't exactly supportive either, right? I remember you said last time that these past few years... haven't been smooth. So what is it that makes you so persistent?"
"That question..."
Meeting the girl's burning gaze, Miki's eyes became somewhat hazy. She raised her hand and habitually touched her prominent collarbone, a gesture Mio had seen a hundred times before. Then she paused and said:
"If I absolutely have to give a reason... I don't really know why I'm still here. I originally thought that with my figure and looks, and all my passionate effort, I could succeed. But I kept hitting walls. The number of times I actually succeeded..."
She shook her head and chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"My biggest 'success' was a T-stage modeling performance organized by an off-campus company back in university. But not many people even showed up to watch..."
"If at first it was just ignorant, reckless self-confidence... now, I guess it's more like—if I don't keep going, I won't know what else I'm supposed to do with myself. If I stop persisting... what meaning does my life even have?"
"So I suppose... persistence itself is the meaning of my life."
She paused, then looked at Mio with serious eyes—the kind that carry the weight of experience.
"Honestly, I don't actually recommend you go into this line of work, Mio. Because effort alone isn't enough. Even for someone like you—there are so many people just as beautiful, and even more hardworking, out there."
"Luck and opportunity... they're just too important."
"But it seems like you, Mio, aren't exactly lacking in luck."
She glanced at Mio with evident envy, and curiosity about Shiratori Seiya stirred in her heart again. So she asked:
"I really didn't expect Shiratori-kun to be so talented. He's still so young, yet he can write a script that a TV station is willing to invest real money in."
"And... he seems very devoted to you? It really seems like he loves you..."
Love?
Hearing Miki say that, Mio recalled his gaze toward Hojo Shione that morning—the way his eyes had lingered—and his attitude when facing Hasegawa Saori. She shook her head, choosing not to hide her feelings, and said directly:
"He doesn't love me that much."
As her acting skills gradually improved and her understanding of people's psychology deepened, she had become more and more able to feel the difference in how Shiratori Seiya treated her versus others.
Her words surprised Miki. Her narrow eyes narrowed further—though in an elegant, not creepy, way—and she tilted her head quizzically.
"Not love?"
"Hmm..."
Seeing Mio nod, Miki nodded thoughtfully, then asked again:
"Mio... what do you think love is?"
"This..."
Hearing her question, Mio opened her mouth—then closed it. For a moment, she couldn't answer.
"Do you think Aunt and Uncle love you?"
"I don't know..."
Seeing Mio shake her head, Miki continued:
"Maybe you're a bit frustrated with Uncle right now, so let's not talk about him for the moment. But Aunt certainly loves you, right?"
"Yes."
Mio didn't deny it this time. She raised a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear—a small, self-soothing gesture.
If her mother didn't love her, then she'd be truly miserable.
"So, Mio... do you think Aunt would fully support your dream of becoming a star?"
"She would... she would, right?"
Mio had wanted to answer with certainty, but after thinking carefully, she realized her mother might not be able to fully support her—not with her father standing in the way.
"Would Aunt spend that much money to send you to an artist training agency? Would she accompany you for hours every day, devote most of her time to you, and diligently write training notes for you every day—just to support your dream?"
"..."
Hearing that question, Mio pursed her lips. She couldn't speak. Doubt crept into her heart.
Does he really love her?
But if he really loved her... then what about Hojo and Hasegawa?
Was this jerk really that generous with his affection?
Couldn't he just love her alone?
Scumbag.
Seeing Mio remain silent, Miki smiled softly.
"If this isn't love... then I don't know what love is."
"Maybe his way of showing emotion isn't all fiery and dramatic—he doesn't say sweet, flowery words. But his actions already speak louder than any confession scene."
Miki knew that her younger sister had never really been in a serious relationship before. But precisely because of that, she figured Mio would be confused about matters of the heart.
A moment of silence hung between them. After all, today they were here to help Mio, so Miki spoke again:
"So... you also mentioned earlier that Shiratori-kun said he would go back with you, right? Then why not trust him a little more? Lean on him a little more?"
Hearing this, Mio snapped back to reality. She looked at Miki, shook her head, and said in a calm, steady tone:
"No. I don't plan to do that."
"Actually... I do trust him. But if I completely rely on him for everything... that would be too much for me to accept."
"Hmm? Then Mio, what are you going to—"
Before she could finish the word "do," Mio suddenly held her phone up in front of Miki and said:
"Before I came here, I already texted Father that I'm going back tomorrow. I also told Mother about wanting to be an actress. I've booked a train ticket for tomorrow morning. I'm going back to explain everything to them."
Looking at the message already sent on the phone screen—proof that Mio had already taken the first step—Miki couldn't help but widen her eyes. She stared at the young girl in front of her with a shocked expression.
"Miki-nee, you're absolutely right. Actually... before this, he was always the one taking care of me and working hard for my dream."
"But that's not right, is it? It's my dream, after all. Even if he loves me... he shouldn't have to do that much for me."
Meeting her older cousin's gaze, Mio put away her phone and smiled at her—a relieved, genuine smile. Her beautiful eyes shone with determination, the kind you see in the final episode when the heroine finally stands on her own.
"Miki-nee... didn't you say I was very lucky? Meeting him really is my luck. I've always known that he actually has expectations of me. And precisely because of that... I can't let him down, can I?"
"So this time... it's my turn to fight for my own dream."