On the filming set of the prestigious period drama Eternal Blossom, the atmosphere was thick with a strange, idle energy. Today was supposed to be the official wrap-up day. There was only one final, relatively simple scene remaining before the production could be called a success.
However, strangely enough, no cameras were rolling. Instead, the entire crew, from the lighting technicians to the A-list leads, was huddled around various tablets and smartphones, staring intently at the latest update of Jujutsu Kaisen.
"Oh my god, I'm literally dying!" Arthur H. burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking as he watched the "Sworn Brothers" sequence between Aoi Todo and Yuji Itadori.
"What's so funny, man?" Nathaniel C. asked, though he was also grinning.
"This! This is true friendship!" Arthur pointed at the screen. "In the vast sea of humanity, a single glance and a shared taste in pop stars can forge a bond stronger than blood. That is the kind of fate we all dream of!"
Nathaniel C. wiped a slightly moist eye, his tone surprisingly earnest. "It's funny, but it's also... real. It hits you right in the soul. You can't fake that kind of chemistry."
Sophie Vane chimed in, her voice full of admiration. "People always say that the first impression is everything, but Teacher Leo Vance takes it to a whole new level. Honestly, watching him perform and seeing how he handles the narrative... I feel a connection. After we wrap this scene, I've decided. I'm going to find Leo for his next project. I heard he's casting for The Outcast, and I feel like I need that kind of challenge to truly grow as an actress."
Seraphina glanced at Sophie, her expression a mix of surprise and skepticism. "He's actually directing it? I remember his only previous credit was as an assistant director on that absolute disaster Dream Pursuing Circle. It was basically a vanity project where he was just a name on a piece of paper. And let's be honest, it was the lowest-rated film in history."
Sophie didn't back down. "I'm not sure about his past, Seraphina. But look at the official Jujutsu Kaisen socials. He's selecting roles nationwide for his new drama, and the first stop is the Imperial Capital Film Academy. I'm heading there in two days."
Seraphina shook her head, a small, amused smile playing on her lips. Inwardly, however, things were more complicated. After binge-watching JJK these past few days, she found Leo Vance inexplicably charming. It was the character of Gojo, she told herself. It had to be.
But for a brief moment, she felt a pang of regret. If she had known Leo was this talented, this visionary maybe she wouldn't have been so cold when he @'d her about "practicing kissing scenes" a year ago.
Still, her professional pride remained. The skill set of a director is a world away from an actor, she thought. He's only in his early twenties and he wants to act, direct, and produce? He's too greedy. A snake trying to swallow an elephant.
"Sophie, you really are a Gojo-simp," Daisy teased from the side. "Even that 'Bully of the New York Circle' is obsessed with him now."
Sophie didn't look away. She looked up at a sixty-degree angle towards the sky, her voice full of a fangirl's conviction. "Leo Vance might have a bad reputation, but geniuses are always envied by the mediocre. I think the 'Hellraiser' was just a mask."
"Don't you dare sneak into the audition line without telling me," Daisy chuckled. "I won't compete with you for a lead, but I might want a cameo!"
Finally, Director Evelyn saw that the episode had ended. She clapped her hands loudly, breaking the spell. "Alright, alright! We've been delayed for an hour because of Gojo Satoru! Everyone back to positions! Finish this scene, and then we wrap!"
The next day, Leo Vance arrived at the bustling Central Business District of LA. This was the new headquarters of Celestial Peak Entertainment.
The company structure was finally taking shape. He had high-level managers handling the day-to-day, allowing the creative engine to start humming.
Leo immediately met with the marketing department. "I want merchandise launched yesterday. Cards, keychains, acrylic stands, high-end figures. I want Gojo Satoru on every shelf in the country."
He knew the financial potential. That morning, while scrolling through social media, he'd seen unofficial Gojo blindfolds selling ten thousand units on secondary markets. His heart practically bled; that was money he hadn't made yet.
Even more bizarrely, he saw listings for "Gojo Satoru's Worn Socks" and "Authentic Silver Hair Strands" selling for thousands of dollars. People were actually buying them. Leo felt a mix of horror and amusement his popularity had officially reached the "Cult Leader" stage.
After conducting a few more interviews for the Influencer and Actor departments using his System's talent-rating feature, Leo felt the foundation was solid.
It was time. He was ready for the next evolution: The Outcast (Under One Person).
The following day, after a quick lunch, Leo packed a single suitcase and headed to the airport with Riley Evans.
The official auditions were scheduled for the day after tomorrow, but Leo wanted to arrive early.
On the flight, as the attendant brought him a ginger ale, she didn't just give him a napkin. She gave him a folded note.
[Available for calls anytime: 136-3XXX-XXXX. (Teacher Leo, I'm your biggest fan!)]
Leo shook his head helplessly. Are flight attendants really this bold now? he wondered, tucking the note away before Riley could see it and start another round of pinching.
(UCLA).
The campus was in a state of absolute fever. The news that Leo Vance was coming to scout for a new project had sent the students into a frenzy.
However, it was a strange kind of frenzy. Not everyone actually wanted to audition. Leo's reputation as a "Bad Director" from his Dream Pursuing days still lingered in the academic circles. Many students loved watching him as Gojo, but the idea of working under him as a director was terrifying. It was a classic case of loving the dragon from a distance but fearing its fire.
But the "Gojo Trend" was undeniable.
At 4:00 PM, near the academy gates, a fifty-year-old security guard sighed as he watched the student body.
Out of every ten boys walking past, seven had dyed their hair shocking white to imitate Gojo Satoru. One or two had gone for pink to mimic Itadori. Even the girls were sporting bleached short hair or Nobara-style bobs.
"Hey! Hey! You there!" The guard pointed at a student who looked like he was walking through a fog. "Young man! Take that blindfold off! There's dog poop right in front of you!"
"I'm the strongest.. I don't need eyes to see the--"
Squish.
The student stopped dead. He felt a warm, sticky sensation under his shoe. He immediately ripped off the blindfold, his cool "Gojo persona" evaporating instantly. "GOD DAMMIT! Whose dog did this?! This is a crime! These are designer sneakers!"
He wasn't the only one. Multiple students were bumping into walls or having to be led across the street by their less-obsessed classmates because they refused to take off their eye masks. For a brief period, passersby genuinely wondered if the Film Academy had been converted into a school for the visually impaired.
On the other side of the city, at the airport...
Leo Vance stepped off the plane, his sunglasses glinting in the light. He had no idea he was about to enter a campus full of white-haired students who couldn't see where they were going.
The auditions for The Outcast were about to begin, and the world wasn't ready for what Leo had planned next.