"Good, good, just like that! Perfect! Arima-kun, you did very well! Excellent! Next, let's move on to the next segment. Let's see…"
In the dance training room, a woman with half-rimmed glasses had an excited expression on her face, praising the girl in the center of the stage, dressed in lavish clothing and surrounded by peers, while her eyes were fixed on the notebook in her hand.
The girl on the stage was named Arima Kana, once a famous child star in Japan! But that was only in the past.
As a child star, at first she received recognition from her family and people in the industry with minimal effort, but that also developed her arrogant personality. As she grew older, her popularity declined, and she was no longer in the spotlight like before.
Now she was just a freelance artist who couldn't even get the worst offers, and no agency was willing to sign her.
Still, she was lucky. Yesterday she received a call for an audition, and the audition was today!
On the other side was a big director from the industry! If she could make the most of this audition opportunity and get the lead role, she could regain her popularity! Then she would stand under the spotlight again, in the admiring gaze of everyone!
Thinking of that, Arima Kana decisively interrupted the woman:
"Ano, please, let's stop for a moment. Since I have an audition today, I must go now. I'm sorry, Fukada-sensei."
As soon as the girl's words fell, the woman's previously cheerful face immediately darkened. She glanced at the girl on the stage, said nothing, pursed her lips, and gestured with her hand for the girl to leave.
Seeing that, Arima Kana bowed to the woman, then stepped down from the stage and exited the training room.
As soon as Arima Kana left, the woman could not help but curse loudly:
"What a foolish daydream! I just praised her a few times, and she already dares to show me attitude! She really thinks she'll get the role just by showing up for the audition!"
"Exactly, exactly, how ridiculous!"
"She's just a former Kyūso child star, no need to deal with her, let's continue with the practice, come on, one, two, let's start!"
The people around her also seemed quite displeased with Arima Kana and joined in unison.
Outside the training room, Arima Kana leaned against the door. She heard every harsh word that people inside said about her. That phrase, "Kyūso child star," felt like a knife driven into her heart, tightening her breath.
Biting her lower lip, Arima Kana turned and left without hesitation.
She wanted to prove herself, to prove that she was absolutely not a Kyūso child star!
…
"Oh!! Ladies, welcome to the audition! Please line up according to your assigned numbers and wait a moment.
The director is in the room. Later, roles will be assigned randomly for performance. After performing, please exit through the other door of the room."
Inside Tokyo Tower, a group of beautiful women, dressed in glamorous clothing and with varying degrees of makeup, showed no disgust toward the short, small-eyed, perverted man in front of them. Instead, they obediently sat in pre-prepared seats according to his instructions.
Ichika, who had changed into newly bought casual clothes, stood out among the brightly dressed women. Her unadorned face radiated youthful vitality, surpassing the heavily made-up, seductive figures around her.
Sitting in her seat, Ichika nervously gripped the card with her number. She was lucky; she drew number three, which meant her turn for the audition would come soon.
However, Ichika, who was attending an audition for the first time, could not stop her heart from pounding, and even deep breathing did not help.
"This won't do! Ichika, you're this nervous, what will you do later?!"
Rubbing her cheeks, Ichika thought to herself.
At that moment, a very gentle voice reached Ichika's ears:
"You seem very nervous?"
Hearing the voice, Ichika turned her head and saw the girl sitting next to her, dressed in a dress, a purple jacket, and a beret on short, burgundy hair.
Looking at the girl's appearance—her fair skin, delicate nose, cherry lips, and large, round eyes with faint, wine-red irises—it was clear at first glance that she was a very cute girl.
Moreover, judging by her age, she didn't seem much older or younger than her.
Faced with someone her age, Ichika relaxed a little, showed a bitter smile, and said:
"Yes, it's my first time at an audition, so I'm a little nervous."
"First time? And already you were chosen by a big director on the first try, how lucky you are!"
The girl, hearing that, first showed surprise, then admired Ichika's fortune.
"It's okay, my agent helped me."
Ichika smiled and said.
Hearing Ichika's explanation, the girl first paused, then measured Ichika from head to toe and asked:
"My name is Arima Kana, how should I address you?"
"I'm Nakano Ichika."
Ichika did not hesitate and generously said her name.
Arima Kana nodded, then asked again:
"Judging by the look of it, Nakano, you must have just signed with an agency, right?"
"Yes, I just joined an agency and didn't expect to get such a good opportunity."
Seeing Arima Kana ask, Ichika nodded firmly. She hadn't expected that she, a newcomer who just joined the agency, would so easily get an opportunity to interview with a big director. Had she not been hiding it from her family at home, she probably would have laughed out loud when she heard the news.
Receiving the affirmative answer, something flickered in Arima Kana's eyes.
As soon as she saw Ichika's nervousness, Arima Kana knew she was a newcomer. But for a newly signed newcomer to get such a good opportunity, it was… enviable!
"That's great. With the agency's help, your career will go very smoothly."
Arima Kana smiled and waved her hand, envying Ichika, but at the same time feeling sorrow for herself.
She too had once had many opportunities like Ichika, but… now, forgotten by people, rejected by agencies, and a freelance artist, even her own family…!
Now she was completely alone…
Thinking gloomily, Arima Kana lost the desire to continue the conversation.
Ichika noticed the change in Arima Kana's mood. Not knowing what had happened, the girl just nodded, did not continue the conversation, and quietly waited for the audition.
Soon it was Ichika's turn. Encouraged by Arima Kana's gaze, Ichika entered the audition room.
Standing on the stage, Ichika looked at the only person in the room, the director with a large belly. She took a deep breath, preparing to introduce herself, when she saw the director raise his hand.
Ichika, still a little confused, paused, preparing to speak, when suddenly rats swarmed from all sides.
Before Ichika could scream, the swarm of rats had already surrounded her, and then a black mist began to pour out from them, flowing into her nostrils.
Ichika, inhaling the black mist, felt dizzy and weak. She opened her mouth, preparing to call for help, when with a dull "boom" she fell to the ground and lost consciousness. In the mist of consciousness, she vaguely heard a few words:
"Hehe, Kyūso will surely be satisfied! Take her and lock her up."
"Next, Arima Kana!"