12 Can you act?

(Third POV)

Aqua strolled wearily off the bustling film set, his young frame weighed down not by his age but by the heavy burden on his mind. "Oh God, I don't think I can keep up with this pace," he thought to himself, his fatigue evident in every sluggish step he took. Lost in his weariness, Aqua ambled absentmindedly, paying no heed to his surroundings.

Suddenly, a voice sliced through the haze of his thoughts, jolting his fatigued body back to alertness. "Oh?" the director exclaimed, spotting Aqua in his path.

In an instant, Aqua lifted his gaze and straightened his posture. "You're that polite kid's brother," he remarked, his expression turning stern as he spoke with a low voice, almost threateningly. "Your sibling assured me that you both would behave, but I'm not entirely convinced. If you start crying, I won't hesitate to kick you out."

Hearing the director's words, Aqua hastily shook his head, vigorously waving his hands in denial. "Oh, absolutely not! I fully understand that we are mere infants, but I assure you, I will give every ounce of effort to avoid any such mishap," Aqua replied with urgency, his words pouring out rapidly. He began bowing rapidly, a flurry of motion. "I am well aware of my own limitations and the rules that must be upheld in a place such as this. We humbly request your continued partnership with Ai."

The director recoiled in shock, utterly taken aback by how eloquently this young child spoke. "Holy hell! This baby sure has a way with words," he exclaimed. "Where did you learn those words?"

Aqua glanced to the side, searching for a plausible excuse. "Uh," he hesitated, then began, "YouTube, sorta."

The director's eyes widened in amazement and surprise. "Holy crap, YouTube is amazing!" he exclaimed, marveling at the progressive era they lived in. Suddenly, he scooped Aqua up, holding him close as he gushed, "I've seen prodigy child actors quite a few times, but you definitely take the cake! Are you good at acting too?"

As the director scrutinized Aqua more closely, he couldn't help but notice that Aqua possessed the looks that could make him a star on screen. "You'd make a great picture on the screen. I want you to be in something," he declared enthusiastically, setting Aqua back down and reaching into his pocket for something that piqued Aqua's curiosity.

With a flourish, the director presented his business card to Aqua. "Here's my business card," he said, placing it in front of Aqua. "Give me a call when you join a company."

Aqua stood there, stunned by the director's offer, but quickly regained his composure as he averted his gaze. "Uh, no thank you... If you're offering a job, please consider offering them to Ai, Aikara, or even Ellie," he responded.

Upon hearing the three names, the director's face took on a contemplative expression. "Hmmmm... I know who Ellie and Ai are, but who's Aikara? Is that your sister?" he inquired, trying to make sense of the situation.

Shaking his head, Aqua clarified, "No, my sister's Ruby. I'm referring to the person who spoke to you earlier." The director became puzzled. "That's the person I was talking about too, though?"

"Huh?" Aqua let out a confused noise. "Then why did you say sister? He's my brother."

The director seemed taken aback by this revelation. "That kid's a boy!?" he exclaimed, causing Aqua to give him a deadpan stare. "Did you really mistake my brother for a girl?"

Collecting himself, the director shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, nothing wrong with that," he replied. "With his looks, you can definitely call him feminine, and his long blonde hair doesn't make it any easier to identify him as a boy." He turned to Aqua with a curious look on his face. "And you mentioned giving him a job. Are you saying your brother is a child actor?"

"No, he's not. But I can testify to his acting skills." Aqua affirmed with certainty, making the director even more intrigued.

"Well, if mature baby says so, then I will keep that in mind," the director replied, shifting his attention to Ai. "Regarding Ai, if we're talking about her looks, she definitely takes the lead. If she's lucky, she might survive."

Aqua tilted his head, a look of confusion on his face. "We're depending on luck even with her looks?"

The director let out a sigh, raising three fingers in the air to capture Aqua's attention. "Alright, look," he began, walking towards the set and leaning on the window. "There are three types of actresses you can define. First, the covergirl actress. Bringing in views is their main job. The second one is the talented one, responsible for maintaining high quality and sustaining a brand through acting as a label. And the last one is a newbie, where no one expects much from their acting ability."

He continued, standing near the set and gazing out the window. "Newbies just need to bring some freshness into the scene. They also serve as an investment, providing experience for the next potential star. If any of the newbies out here today survive in the industry, it would be a huge success. That's the kind of world we live in. Only top-grade talents can survive."

Aqua smiled confidently, expressing his belief. "Then we'll be alright. When it comes to idols, Ai is top grade."

"Uh..." the director trailed off, his skepticism evident. "What's the point of being a top-grade idol if you're acting?" His words were cut short as the filming began, interrupting their conversation.

As he watched Ai act, the director couldn't help but be drawn in by her movements. It wasn't just her looks or charisma; it was the subtleties in her positioning and slight movements that caught his attention.

"Her acting is average, but she draws me in," he remarked, prompting Aqua to puff out his chest in pride. "Right?" Aqua asked, seeking validation. "She mentioned earlier that on stage, you have to look your best to everyone, from every angle. But here, there's only one person, one camera to focus on. It's the same with MVs. Rather, it's where Ai shines the most."

The director let out an impressed whistle. "So she's treating it like an MV. What a progressive era we live in."

Aqua's excitement grew as he spoke enthusiastically. "The quality of her MVs is over the top. You should totally check them out! I'll even lend you a copy."

________

(Director's POV)(I'm sorry, I don't know his name yet)

After witnessing Ai's performance, I cast a final glance at the mature baby, instructing him to reach out to me in the future if he displayed any interest in collaborating on one of my projects. With that, I bid him farewell and embarked on my way toward the actors' room.

At present, my intention is to confirm the mature baby's claims regarding Aikara's acting abilities. Depending on his demeanor and maturity, I might consider granting him a role in my upcoming movie.

Speaking of roles, the mature baby's words echoed in my mind. Granting Ai or Ellie a part in the film seemed like a plausible notion. Frankly, after observing the idol's acting prowess today, I couldn't shake off the feeling that she would be a perfect fit for the role. While her acting skills may not be exceptional, her captivating presence would undoubtedly leave the audience enthralled. Talent to captivate the audience is a pretty rare talent, and it's not as if she couldn't refine her acting abilities over time.

As for Ellie, I contemplated bestowing a role upon her as well. Having worked with her in a previous movie, I believe she possesses adequate talent to fulfill the requirements of the character. Moreover, casting both Ellie and Ai would draw a larger audience and attract more sponsors to the project.

At this moment, Ellie and Ai can be regarded as the primary pillars of B-Komachi. Ellie's cool and straightforward persona on stage, which contrasts Ai's energetic, air-headed, and spirited nature, creates delightful and comedic moments online, further amplifying their popularity. The beauty of their dynamic lies in the fact that their distinct personalities do not overshadow one another. Notably, Ellie's pre-existing fame serves as an advantageous asset.

Having debuted as an idol at the tender age of twelve and later venturing to America at thirteen, Ellie maintained her presence in the entertainment industry abroad before returning to our homeland.

Therefore, with both of them cast in the movie, I am confident that I will attract sponsors who express keen interest in my project.

Temporarily setting aside my thoughts, I positioned myself in front of the actors' room, the place indicated to me by the mature baby as Aikara's whereabouts. It was time to witness if he truly had the acting skills the mature baby had described.

As I pushed open the door, a sight greeted my eyes—a group of ten actresses encircled Aikara, their attention undeniably fixated on him. They were giving him treats, candy, and even pocket money as he interacted with them with a bright smile on his face.

Woah, that baby sure is good. He can gain their attention just like that? Even I find myself being drawn to him. Based on that alone, I will recruit him if I can for a cameo just like mature baby. But, I want to see if he can act, if he can, then I will make the role I had in my mind a reality and make him a supporting character.

"Hey Kid!" I shouted, making everyone turn their attention toward me "Come with me, I want to tell you something." I gestured for him to come here and he nodded with a bright smile as he started skipping toward me.

"Bye bye Nee-chans!" He shouted as he waved at them enthusiastically "Thanks for giving me treats, I'll make sure to treasure this. I want to stay but this mister wants something with me so I have to leave. But I'll make sure to remember you guys."

All the actresses waved back at him affectionately, overwhelmed at how adorable he is right now.

"Tsk" I clicked my tongue at this display. I was never fond of children who act cute, it brings unpleasant feelings to my stomach, though I don't know why.

Arriving in front of me, he smiled as he tilted his head curiously "So mister, what do you want to tell me?"

I let out a small grin "I just want to ask you something. Can you act?"

The kid tilted his head curiously "Can I hear the details, mister?"

________

(Third person POV)

Presently, the director and Aikara found themselves standing a few feet apart in a secluded room, away from the bustling film set. It was a space where they could engage in a private conversation, undisturbed by the prying eyes of others.

With a significant height difference between them, the director had to lower his head considerably in order to meet Aikara's gaze. There was an air of anticipation surrounding their interaction.

"So, is this location suitable?" inquired the director, seeking Aikara's confirmation. Aikara nodded in response, indicating his approval. "Good. Now, let me explain the scene to you. As we discussed earlier, if I am impressed by your acting abilities, I will offer you a role in my upcoming movie, on the condition that Ellie is also cast."

Aikara's eyes widened with excitement as he exclaimed, "That's fantastic! Thank you so much!" His little hands clapped together, expressing his genuine gratitude and joy.

The director replied with a nonchalant tone, saying, "No problem, kid." However, curiosity piqued his interest, and he couldn't help but ask, "But I'm curious, why do you specifically want to meet Ellie? Couldn't you arrange a meeting through your mother, who manages Ai who is a groupmate of Ellie? I'm sure she could facilitate a meeting between you two if you're a fan."

Aikara's smile wavered slightly as he confessed with a hint of shyness, "It's not that simple, really. I, um, just don't feel comfortable interacting with her, you know? So, if I'm a part of this movie, I can admire her from a distance without the need for direct interaction." He glanced downward momentarily before meeting the director's gaze once more. As he spoke, his hands fidgeted nervously with the hem of his shirt, revealing his contained yet palpable energy.

"I understand," acknowledged the director. "However, that won't be possible unless you can deliver a convincing performance." Even though he said that, the director already decided to include Aikara in the film, even if it were just a brief cameo, due to his undeniable charisma, regardless of his acting skills.

"Great! So, what scenario would you like me to portray?" Aikara inquired, his eyes brimming with curiosity.

The director pondered for a moment, scratching his cheek as he contemplated his options. In truth, he already had a specific role in mind for Aikara, but he couldn't help but wonder if the young talent would live up to his expectations.

"Okay, imagine this. You were a child who had a loving family until one day your mother mysteriously disappeared, leaving you and your father bewildered and confused. The reasons behind her sudden departure remained unknown, but your father, overwhelmed by the loss, threw himself into his work as a coping mechanism. However, the weight of his responsibilities eventually took a toll on his health, and he ended up hospitalized, leaving you alone in the family home.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months as you bravely faced the challenges of living independently at such a young age. One fateful day, while you were diligently cleaning the house, you caught a glimpse of a faint figure—your mother's silhouette. The image was hazy and indistinct, almost like a ghostly apparition. You couldn't help but wonder if it was a figment of your imagination or a true manifestation of your long-lost mother's presence.

As the silhouette became clearer, you heard her gentle voice whispering words of forgiveness and understanding. Overwhelmed by emotions, tears streamed down your face."

The director paused for a moment to let Aikara sink the information in "Do you understand for now." Aikara's head bobbed in understanding "Yes mister, please continue."

"Okay." The director began "I want you to keep that scenario in mind and act as that kid. You will impromptu it and I want you to act out the scene of the kid seeing his mother's silhouette. Can you do it?"

Aikara's confidence shone through as he affirmed, "I can." With a deliberate motion, he closed his eyes, allowing the atmosphere to settle around him. Time ticked by, stretching into a minute that seemed interminable. Just as the director planned to give up on Aikara and say it's fine, Aikara opened his eyes, and there was a newfound intensity in his gaze. His expression transformed, conveying a mix of vulnerability, longing, and hope. His voice quivered slightly as he spoke, as if he was on the verge of tears.

As he began to act out the scene, Aikara's body language portrayed a child burdened by the weight of his circumstances. His shoulders slumped, conveying the heaviness of his solitude and the struggles he had endured. With delicate movements, he reached out his hand, as if trying to touch the ethereal figure before him, while tears welled up in his eyes.

Aikara's voice trembled as he spoke the lines, filled with a mixture of disbelief and longing. "Mom... is it really you? I've missed you so much. I don't understand why you left, but I forgive you. I just want you to know that... I still love you."

With every word, Aikara's emotions poured out, resonating deeply with the character he was portraying. His performance felt genuine and heartfelt, capturing the essence of a young child yearning for the love and presence of his mother.

The director watched in awe, realizing that Aikara had exceeded his expectations. Aikara's ability to convey raw emotion and connect with the character was astounding. It was clear that he had a natural talent for acting.

As Aikara finished the impromptu scene, a silence hung in the air, filled with the weight of the emotions that had been brought to life. The director slowly clapped his hands, a wide grin forming on his face.

"That was good, kid. Welcome aboard and I look forward to working with you."

Aikara, who broke out of character, gave him a small smile "I'm also looking forward to it."

Little did they know, this was a defining moment for Aikara—a turning point that would set the stage for his remarkable career in the entertainment world. The world itself was blissfully unaware of the impending rise of a true star, as Aikara stood poised and ready to illuminate the darkness with his radiant talent. The stage was set, and all eyes were about to bear witness to the awe-inspiring ascent of a luminous new star. Aikara was ready, more than ever, to step into the spotlight and shine.

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Author's note

Phew, end of chapter 12, it's so much longer than I planned at a whopping 2800 words.

I'm tired, so I don't have much else to say.

But here is a photo of Aikara with and without a wig.

(With wig)

(Without wig)

Look forward to the next chapter!