Chapter 55: (Episode 6) (The One Immersed in the Role)
"What do you think of Kurokawa's acting?" Hikaru Hoshino asked, swaying his head back and forth.
"It's great. Far better than mine," Aqua answered after a moment's thought. "Her performance actually gives me the sensation of being transported into the script. It's like she completely merges with the character. Even among 'method' actors, there aren't many who can reach that level."
"Exactly," Hikaru nodded. "I believe her talent will also be very helpful for solving this case. Therefore, the 'organization' has decided: you are to go and negotiate with Akane Kurokawa. Get her to help us find Ishigami's hiding place."
Aqua was stunned. "What does good acting have to do with solving a crime? How on earth did you link those two things together?"
"Oh, never mind that," Hikaru urged. "I trusted you once, so why don't you trust me for once? My judgment of people is never wrong."
The blond toddler sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. "Fine. I'll trust you this once."
"But Akane's state has been a bit problematic lately. You can clearly feel a sense of negativity. I don't think she's in a position to help."
Mentioning Akane's recent state made Aqua turn somber as well. As a doctor in his past life, he was naturally empathetic; even if he wrapped himself in a cold exterior, one could still glimpse the gentle core within.
After considering it carefully, Aqua decided to act. "Leave it to me. I'll get Akane back to normal."
Hikaru glanced at his phone. "Make it quick. Resolve the Ishigami matter in the next two days, then focus on filming. The festival starts in a few days."
Warm sunlight spilled from above, carrying the morning's vitality. Ai was still sleeping in her room; because of yesterday's massive fright, she was sleeping deeply and hadn't noticed that the two children had already snuck away.
"There's supposed to be heavy rain the day after tomorrow. Talk about rotten luck," Hikaru lamented. "Beautiful weather is slipping away, while we'll have to fight a life-and-death struggle against a villain in a harsh environment. Neither heaven nor earth is on our side; the key to success or failure rests entirely on your shoulders!"
Aqua shot Hikaru a look. "Stop putting the pressure on me. I'll finish the mission."
"Well then, I'm off."
The tiny child set out on his own journey. Beside him, Ruby instinctively wanted to follow, but Hikaru grabbed her back.
"You going along will only have the opposite effect. Just stay here with me."
Ruby struggled violently. "No! I don't want to! I want to follow Aqua!"
Hikaru said with a grin, "Ai will be with us, too."
Ruby weighed the choice between her mother and her brother for a brief three seconds before diving into her mother's metaphorical embrace without hesitation.
"Hmm? You're asking how your recent performance has been?" Gotanda wiped sweat from his brow and smiled. "It's wonderful. Perfectly flawless. Whenever it's your solo shots, you almost always pass on the first take. In yesterday's scene, even Arima, who was acting opposite you, had several NGs, but your performance was remarkably stable."
"By the way, don't tell her I said that, or she'll definitely nag me again."
"Maintain this state, and we'll wrap up soon."
Akane Kurokawa thought back on Gotanda's evaluation and felt something was wrong.
*Is my performance really that good? That's not what Mom said during our video call a few days ago.*
"Akane, are you okay? Your complexion looks terrible."
"Why don't you ask the crew for some time off? That Mr. Gotanda shouldn't make things difficult for you."
Hearing this, Akane Kurokawa forced a smile. "I'm fine. I'm doing great. Filming here is very happy."
She didn't notice at all that the smile on her face was hideous, looking almost as if she were about to cry. Come to think of it, wasn't her situation similar to Ai Kitajima's?
She, too, had experienced bullying from others.
*"Her 'good girl' act is all just a performance, isn't it?"*
*"With that 'the world revolves around me' look on her face... in the end, she's just a rich girl from a wealthy family. She doesn't understand what hard work means, does she?"*
*"Does anyone actually like her?"*
To pass censorship, Gotanda's adapted script didn't actually go into much detail regarding the bullying Ai Kitajima faced. At this moment, the insults Akane Kurokawa was hearing and the cold violence she was experiencing...
Were actually her own.
Because she was still young, it was rare for her kindergarten classmates to speak ill of her behind her back. But in the Lalalai theatrical troupe, the teenage actors slightly older than Akane—having felt their space for survival squeezed—said things in private that were quite cruel.
*"I always feel like she thinks she's 'different from everyone else,' like she's a genius. She probably doesn't understand other people's pain, right? (Hydrangea Theater)"*
*"Seems like she has no friends."*
*"She feels like the type who can't get along with those around her and just drifts further away alone. She's a fool who doesn't look before she leaps."*
...
*"Self-centered woman, there's no place for you here anymore!"*
Akane Kurokawa quietly left the hotel and went to the primary school where the crew was filming. Using her appearance, she easily blended in.
Step by step, Akane climbed to the rooftop of the school building.
The shot of Ai Kitajima jumping from the rooftop hadn't been filmed yet. Upon arriving here, she instinctively began to imagine the scene of Ai Kitajima's fall.
—*Like a butterfly with pierced wings, Ai Kitajima collapsed before everyone.*
If she were to jump... what would it look like?
It probably wouldn't be as poignantly beautiful as a movie protagonist. After all, she was neither a butterfly nor did she have wings.
"I'm so tired." Akane stood on her tiptoes, trying to rest her chin on the low railing.
She had indeed just had a suicidal thought, but she immediately discovered a helpless reality—with her current height, she couldn't actually jump over.
Aqua pushed open the door and rushed up, panting heavily.
"Calm down! Please, just calm down. Don't do anything stupid!"
He dashed forward, wanting to pull Akane Kurokawa toward him.
To his surprise, she avoided him with a light, airy movement.
"What's this?" Akane giggled. "Did Aqua-kun think I was going to do something?"
"I just came here early to familiarize myself with the set and look at the scenery."
"Really?" Aqua stared into Akane's indigo eyes. "Is that really it?"
"Then why are you crying?"
"Eh?"
Akane touched her cheek blankly, then stared at her hands with wide eyes.
On her fingers, tiny water droplets reflected the colorful light of the sun, like a vibrant rainbow appearing after the rain.
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