Chapter 33: The Wrap Party
Inside the Ginza izakaya *Kaifutei*, warm lighting and traditional Japanese decor created a relaxed, cozy ambiance. The entire second floor had been booked out for the occasion. The long tatami tables were piled high with an assortment of dishes, ranging from classic yakitori skewers to exquisite sashimi platters.
Pushing open the sliding door to the private room, Hikaru Hoshino saw that a sizable crowd had already gathered. The main cast, the directing team, and staff members from various departments–totaling about thirty people–had congregated, filling the entire space with the low, pleasant hum of lighthearted conversation.
"Good evening, Hoshino-senpai," Teppei Nishikawa greeted naturally upon spotting Hikaru. He was dressed in a sharp, dark blue suit today, looking remarkably put-together and far more formal than his usual self.
"You're dressed quite formally today," Hikaru responded with a smile.
"Well, it is a banquet after all," Teppei scratched the back of his head. "This happens to be the best set of clothes I own."
Koromo Shiranui turned around as well. She wore an elegant, understated long dress today; though it wasn't a formal evening gown, it looked highly appropriate for the venue.
The group smoothly slipped into small talk, with Hikaru primarily asking questions regarding the final stretch of the movie.
Before long, the remaining members arrived in succession. Ai wore a simple, cream-white knit sweater paired with dark trousers, looking exceptionally fresh and natural. Barely five minutes after she entered the room, Aqua stepped inside, dragging Ruby along by her hand.
Ruby wasn't a cast member, nor did she hold a nominal credit in the production crew like Hikaru did. The sole reason she was present was because Aqua felt it would be a bit pitiful to leave her home alone, so he had simply brought her along for the ride.
"Yo, Aqua. Long time no see," Kana Arima greeted proactively upon spotting him.
Aqua couldn't help but deadpan, "Didn't we literally just see each other at the football match?"
"Good evening, Aqua-kun, and Ruby-chan," Akane Kurokawa also politely greeted the siblings.
Once every single person had arrived, Director Gotanda stood up. He had traded his usual rumpled, faded work clothes for a crisp, clean white shirt, making him look energized and easily ten years younger.
Gotanda clapped his hands, radiating a rare, high-spirited confidence. "Everyone, being able to successfully wrap production today is entirely thanks to the hard work of every single person in this room. Before we begin dining, I'd like to say a few words."
Silence descended upon the room as everyone converged their attention onto the director. The crew members who had been whispering moments ago ceased their chatter, causing the private room to instantly grow much quieter.
"This film, *Ghost Syndrome*, carries the collective blood, sweat, and tears of everyone present. From the initial script creation and project approval to today's final wrap, we have spent several months on this journey. Thank you all for your absolute support," Director Gotanda said, offering a deep, solemn bow.
"Over the next two months, we will plunge entirely into post-production, aiming to host the premiere screening this December."
A confident light gleamed within Gotanda's eyes; he possessed immense faith in this project.
"To be completely honest with you all, once the premiere concludes, I will coordinate with the distribution company to submit the film to the selection committee. Our ultimate target is next year's Japan Academy Film Prize!"
Thunderous applause erupted across the room as everyone was swept up by the director's sheer confidence and ambition.
Koromo Shiranui also stood up to deliver a speech as the representative of the investors. "I am incredibly honored to be a part of a piece that possesses such depth and warmth. Director Gotanda's genius commands my deepest respect, and the masterful performances delivered by the actors present are nothing short of breathtaking. I am confident that this film will not only earn recognition from award committees but will also capture the hearts of the audience, cementing itself as a timeless classic in Japanese cinema history."
Another wave of applause echoed, driving the atmosphere to an even higher peak.
*She really is a high-society lady through and through, even if her usual airheaded demeanor makes her seem a bit unreliable,* Hikaru thought to himself while clapping.
"Alright, let's loosen up and thoroughly enjoy the night!" Director Gotanda raised his glass high.
With the speeches out of the way, the banquet officially commenced. The production crew dove into the food and drink, seeking out familiar faces to chat with, and restoring a lively, bustling energy to the entire private room.
Gotanda tracked down Hikaru. "The movie is hitting theaters at the end of the year. How is the theme song coming along? I certainly don't want you dragging down the rest of the crew."
Hikaru gave a confident toss of his head. "What kind of talk is that? If you hadn't filmed at such a snail's pace, I would have wrapped it up ages ago."
"Heh, you cheeky brat. So your creative progress literally mirrors the shooting schedule, does it?" Gotanda gave Hikaru a heavy, companionable slap on the shoulder.
"We just had Wagyu a few days ago, and now we're feasting at an izakaya again. I wonder if I'm going to gain weight," Ai murmured with a touch of anxiety.
Gotanda looked entirely bewildered. "Wagyu? Where is there Wagyu?" His gaze rapidly darted across the various food platters on the table, failing to spot any.
"Hikaru treated the cast of the reality show to a Wagyu restaurant," Ai explained.
"You insufferable rich bastard," Gotanda muttered, feeling a bit salty.
"The beef was incredibly delicious," Koromo added, continuing to pop meat into her mouth. "Actually, I possess a secret to maintaining my figure."
Ai's interest was instantly piqued, her eyes lighting up beautifully. "What secret? Teach me!"
"It's quite simple; you just have to exercise absolute control over your diet," Koromo stated matter-of-factly. "If I eat too much today, I simply eat very little tomorrow. Since I attended a banquet today, I will only eat one meal tomorrow."
Ai's expression instantly warped into a trace of horror, looking as though she had just heard something utterly terrifying.
On the other side of the room, Aqua, Ruby, Kana Arima, and Akane Kurokawa had huddled together, colloquially known as the kids' table.
"Ah, now that the movie is wrapped, honestly... doesn't this mean I'm completely out of work again? When on earth am I going to land a new gig?" Kana Arima lamented with a self-deprecating sigh.
"I'm in the exact same boat. My agency hasn't secured any new auditions for me either," Akane sighed heavily. "My manager told me to shift my focus back to the theater troupe for the time being, comforting me that new opportunities will eventually come around."
The two girls, who normally didn't get along particularly well, found themselves plunged into the exact same pool of dejection at this moment.
Aqua offered a calm, rational analysis. "Things should turn around once the movie hits theaters, shouldn't they? After all, our screen time in the film isn't minor. If the director's project truly manages to win awards, our market value will bound to skyrocket along with it."
"You sure are optimistic. But I can't afford to wait that long; my mother is pulling strings everywhere trying to forcefully market me. I'm terrified that before the movie even releases, my reputation within the industry will be completely shot," Kana's tone was laced with helplessness.
"In that case, wouldn't it be fine as long as you find another acting gig to fill the gap during this period? Would you like to come to our theater troupe? We perform at the theater every single month, even if the audience turnouts aren't massive. With your caliber of acting, handling theater performances would be an absolute breeze," Akane offered experimentally.
Kana let out a bitter laugh. "See, that's exactly it... acting ability isn't actually that important at all. If it were, I wouldn't have ended up stuck in a rut like this..."
"If you want to achieve success in the entertainment industry, acting ability truly isn't the deciding factor; what matters most are resources and connections," Aqua's voice remained flat and even. "However, if you possess resources and connections, coupled with a jaw-dropping level of acting talent, then you have the prerequisites to become a massive star. Connections can be built over time, but the raw talent for performance... that is something decided the moment you are born."
He directed his gaze toward Kana Arima. "I deeply admire your talent, Arima. So, please stop selling yourself short."
Kana froze, her voice carrying a trace of self-abandonment as she blurted, "I get it! I get it already!"
"You're one to talk, Aqua! You're clearly an incredible actor yourself, so why do you always act so humble? Overwhelming humility like that is bound to tick people off!"
Watching the two of them bicker, Akane couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, noting that Kana had successfully broken out of her slump.
Meanwhile, Ruby watched the three of them squabble and carry on, finding them incredibly noisy.
*What is up with these people? They're all acting like undiscovered geniuses, throwing around words like acting, talent, and connections. What on earth are they even going on about?!*
Ruby screamed silently from the depths of her soul.
*I haven't even made my official debut yet!*
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