Let's Make This Show Great

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(Third POV)

Inside the vibrant atmosphere of Karaoke Can, Aikara and Kana found themselves engrossed in lively conversation, discussing a myriad of topics as the music played softly in the background.

Kana's voice reverberated with anger as she shot a fierce glance at Aikara. "Shut up! She really said something like that!?" Her frustration intensified, her fist clenching tightly as she struggled to contain her emotions. "I hope she just disappears!"

Aikara's face cracked into a mischievous grin as he playfully retorted, "Well, your acting did take a hit." His tone was lighthearted as he subtly shrugged his shoulders and winked, teasing Kana with a playful jab.

Reacting to his teasing remark, Kana pointed her finger directly at him, her expression filled with a mix of irritation and determination.

"I have a valid reason for that, you know?" she exclaimed, her voice still carrying hints of anger. "I'm not trying to boast, but finding high schoolers who can act as well as I can is no easy feat."

"Is that so?" Aikara responded, tilting his head slightly in curiosity. "Then why did your acting come off as mediocre?"

Nonchalantly, he pierced through Kana's defenses with his remark, causing her to clench her fist in frustration.

"Ugh, it's because I've been holding back," Kana conceded, her anger dissipating as her voice softened. "The drama's aim is to cast attractive newcomers to appeal to a female audience who swoons over pretty boys. Acting prowess isn't their priority. However, such an approach tarnishes the essence of the title, which is why they've chosen me, known for my acting skills, as the lead."

Aikara nodded, his expression showing understanding, as he casually commented, "Ah, I see now why your acting seemed lackluster." He closed his eyes, crossing his arms, and a faint smile played upon his lips. "If you acted too well, it would shift the focus onto you, which the directors want to avoid as they're trying to promote the appeal of the pretty boys."

He turned his gaze to Kana "Am I right? Actually, no need to tell me, I'm sure I'm right." His smug statement earned a small chuckle from Kana as she crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, well, as confident as always," she remarked, a touch of jealousy seeping into her words. She let out a soft sigh, her eyes momentarily glancing away before returning to meet the gaze of the person she was speaking to.

"You pretty much got it right," she admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of self-awareness. "Knowing my less-than-stellar acting skills stem from those reasons, will you give me back my credit of being a good actor?"

"No way." Aikara grinned mysteriously, tilting his head slightly downward, allowing his hair to cast a shadow over his eyes. He spoke deliberately, his words flowing out slowly and softly. Yet, there was an undeniable magnetism in his voice that could captivated everyone's attention.

"Actors... they're like the ultimate beings, you know?" Aikara's gaze met Kana's, his eyes brimming with excitement as he delivered his next lines. His smile grew brighter, teasingly playful.

"They're like these enchanting creatures, shining with the magic of lies. With an awesome mask, they can fool anyone. Each word they utter, it's like casting doubt on what's real and what's not, for the viewers. That's what it truly means to be an actor." Aikara's voice carried a mesmerizing charm, drawing Kana deeper into his words.

He looked up at Kana, his eyes filled with excitement as he brightly smiled.

"Actors are really amazing aren't they?!" He exclaimed, his tone full of pride in what he said. "Once you can fool the entire world, even your coworkers that you are the character you embody, then that's the exact moment you're a first rate actor."

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(Aikara POV)

"Then that's the moment you're a first rate actor." I told Kana.

The perception of actors has evolved within me over time, and now I find them truly remarkable. They possess the ability to deceive the entire world, and I hold pride in that as an actor myself.

Of course, I didn't always think this way. There was a time when I held no pride in being an actor, resenting the act of wearing a mask that concealed my true self, leading me to deceive others. However, my perspective underwent a significant transformation due to a special someone.

Hoshino Ai.

She's my mother, and I find her acting truly admirable.

She captivates the world with her words of love, even though her motives may be driven by greed, just like mine. Yet, she never grew to resent the facade she presented.

To her, lies are the ultimate expression of love.

I had never contemplated it from that perspective before. I always believed that lies were the only means by which someone like me could receive love. Thus, I held no pride in my acting; it simply served as a means to an end.

But now, I realized something. Acting itself is a form of me showing love. It a manifestation of just how much I put effort into making others love me due to me loving them.

This realization changed my perception on acting, and I don't feel hate for it anymore. Instead, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride when I step into a role. When people witness my performance and love me, even if it's based on a mask, I no longer feel sadness for being entangled in my web of lies.

Because acting is the manifestation of my love, and I want everybody in the world to see it.

After all, Hoshino Aikara and Noah Anderson are both greedy like that.

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(Third POV)

"What the hell are you saying?" Kana retorted after hearing Aikara's explanation. "You didn't answer my question at all."

Aikara spread his arms wide, his expression earnest yet passionate. "I did, Kachan. To be a good actor is to act wonderfully and fool the entire audience. Sure, not everyone has the acting skills to do it, but I still think anyone giving all their effort to fool the audience is a good actor. But you're clearly not giving it your all; you purposely limit your skills because you worry too much about other factors such as popularity, reputation, and sales."

Kana's frustration grew as Aikara's words deeply pierced her soul, evoking memories of the criticisms she faced as a child actor. She let out a heavy sigh and reached for the cup on the table, gripping it tightly. In a moment of raw emotion, she downed its contents with fierce determination, then slammed it back onto the table.

A self-deprecating tone colored her words as she spoke, her voice tinged with bitterness. "You're right! I'm just a bad actor right now, someone who worries too much about others!"

Aikara's smile faded as he witnessed Kana's reaction, his eyes filled with empathy. He reached out and gently placed his hand on top of hers, offering a comforting touch. "Kana, I didn't mean to hurt you," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. "I just want you to embrace your true potential as an actor."

Kana looked up, meeting Aikara's gaze, her eyes reflecting a mix of vulnerability and resilience. "Embrace my true potential? How kind of you," she replied, her tone laced with a touch of sarcasm. "I want to do that too, but it's not as simple as you think. From my years of experience in the entertainment industry, I've realized one thing. Good performance and creating good work are different. If I act too well, then the flaws of the other actors will be more obvious, making the overall product suffer. I want to make this show 'watchable,' so I'm willing to put on a subpar performance myself. Even if it means sacrificing my reputation as an actor."

Kana turned to Aikara, studying his reaction, and couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at his shocked expression. "Was it that surprising?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Aikara recovered from his initial surprise, a smile gradually spreading across his face as he gave her a thumbs-up. "Yep, super surprising!" he exclaimed with a charming grin, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Leaning back and lightly hitting the seat, he continued, "I still remember those days, you know? When you were all snobby and mean to everyone, including me." He playfully raised an eyebrow, recollecting those moments. "You used to dish out insults like nobody's business. But now, to hear that you're sacrificing yourself... well, that's definitely unexpected." He let out a soft chuckle.

His eyes shimmered with mischief as he delivered his words. "Still, I gotta say, I'm glad you finally decided to change for the better. Sacrificing yourself for others may not always be the wisest move, but hey, I'll give credit where it's due – your character development into becoming a nicer person is pretty impressive!" As he spoke, he tilted his head slightly and gave a playful wink.

Kana's cheeks flushed in embarrassment after hearing Aikara's words , not from any romantic feelings towards him, but simply from the rarity of receiving genuine compliments, as she had grown accustomed to hate comments from the internet.

Though that embarrassment quickly faded as she glanced downward, her voice taking on a subdued tone. "Thanks for the compliment," she murmured, her words tinged with a touch of vulnerability. "It's been a while since I heard something like that. But honestly, it's not entirely true. I've just learned to be realistic, you know?" Her hand flicked through the air dismissively, a gesture of self-reflection.

"I came to realize that what truly matters to me is the ability to connect with others," she continued, her voice growing more resolute. "In the past, I used to flaunt my acting skills without considering anyone else. Sure, I was able to sell myself well, but I neglected the people around me. Eventually, when I reached my peak, the job offers started disappearing. There are kids out there who are even better at acting than me, and it hit me that I needed to give them a reason to keep hiring me. That's why I'm now easy to work with." Kana finished her explanation.

Aikara's eyes widened with a glimmer of astonishment as he listened intently. "Wow, that's quite a profound realization," he exclaimed, his voice carrying a hint of awe. "To understand the significance of collaboration and creating an environment where others can shine, that's a remarkable shift in perspective."

"Though I would like you to act your best, I'll just accept it for now." He said "But don't say you're not kind, Kana. Being easy to work with and considering the needs of others is an act of kindness in itself. You've grown and evolved as a person, and that deserves recognition."

Kana couldn't help but smile at Aikara's words. It was refreshing to have someone compliment her for her character, even though she herself doesn't believe it. She raised an eyebrow playfully, enjoying their banter. "Well, aren't you full of surprises today? I didn't expect you to be so perceptive and insightful."

Aikara casually tilted his head to the side, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. With a charismatic grin stretching across his face, he effortlessly shrugged his shoulders as if the world was his playground. "Hey, what can I say? I guess I have my moments of wisdom," he quipped, his voice laced with a playful tone.

Leaning in slightly closer, he lowered his voice to a conspiratorial tone. "And maybe, just maybe," he continued, the words dripping with a teasing playfulness, "I've been paying more attention to you than you think." As he spoke, a small smirk played at the corners of his lips, amplifying the charm that seemed to radiate from him effortlessly.

"Just kidding~" Aikara said immediately after as he did a peace sign, his smirk turning into a grin. "How could I possibly pay attention to you more than you think if we only reunited yesterday? Still, that was pretty sexy of me if I do say so myself." Aikara nodded in approval as he rubbed his chin.

With a twinkle in his eyes, he turned his gaze towards Kana. As he observed her reaction, he noticed a delicate blush creeping across her cheeks, transforming her into a captivating shade of red, reminiscent of a ripe tomato. His lips curved into a mischievous grin, and he tilted his head ever so slightly, exuding an air of irresistible charm. "Look at you, all flustered," he murmured, his voice a velvety whisper. "Seems like my charisma never fails~"

Kana coughed lightly, trying to regain her composure. "No way. I just got surprised, that's all," she said, her tone slightly defensive. Seeing Aikara maintaining that grin on his face only added to her frustration. "Anyway, filming is tomorrow!" She quickly changed the topic, eager to shift the focus. "We're skipping the table readings and going straight to filming after just one round of rehearsals, so good luck! Though I'm sure you won't need it."

Aikara flashed a dazzling smile as he casually remarked, "The schedule sure is messy, huh? Only one rehearsal? Well, no biggie. I'll just work my magic and steal the spotlight effortlessly with my irresistible charisma."

With a hint of mischief in his eyes, he raised an eyebrow and playfully brushed his hand through his hair, exuding confidence and charm. "And hey, you never know. Maybe, just maybe, thanks to my acting, you won't have to put on a lousy performance on purpose" Aikara said, his tone carrying a hint of confidence.

Kana's eyes brightened, and a gentle smile spread across her face as she leaned on the table, radiating confidence. "That'd be great," she responded warmly. "I'll be counting on you tomorrow." With a burst of enthusiasm, she raised her fist in the air, prompting Aikara to mirror her gesture with a grin, engaging in a playful fist bump.

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A.N

End of chapter.

And before any of you talk about it, no, Kana doesn't have any romantic feelings for him in this chapter, she merely got embarrassed and blushed. And Aikara too, he doesn't have any interest to her, he was merely teasing her.

And before any of you misunderstands, I'm not trying to say that Kana will never be his romantic interest, I'm just saying she didn't blush due to romantic feelings but because of embarrassment, because who would actually gain a crush on someone just because of a compliment?

And, it looks like Aikara has come to accept being in a mask because of a certain donut. I feel happy for him, he'll continue to lie, just like he always did, even if he ends up paying the price for it one day.