Chapter 8

While I was desperately trying to calm down Shinozaki-san, who had been drunkenly pestering Producer Tanuki, she suddenly leaned against me and drifted off to sleep. With no other choice, I let her rest on my lap and offered an apology to Producer Tanuki.

"Sorry, it looks like Shinozaki got drunk and made a scene…"

"Well, it stung to hear, but she hit the mark… By the way, Nana-chan, how about appearing in Part Three?"

This old man. He’s not reflecting on anything. He just thinks this is his chance now that Shinozaki-san’s asleep.

"I’ll pay you double this time… no, triple."

For a moment, I wavered. But still—

"No, I’ll have to decline. If Himari, who disappeared, were to just casually reappear in Part Three, it would kill the mood completely. Like Shinozaki-san said, it would ruin the true ending."

"Hmm, you think so? But the numbers, you know…"

"If attendance goes up in Part Two, then Part Three will naturally be expected to follow. And I don’t think the audience is just coming to watch the actors. They’re coming for a good movie. If you raise the quality of Part Three, the numbers will rise on their own."

"Even so, to raise that quality, I really want you to be in it, Nana-chan."

Even if he says that, if Himari shows up in Part Three, the tragedy of the protagonist erasing his own daughter in order to change the future at the end of Part Two will be completely ruined. Apparently this was Tanuki P’s idea alone—nothing had been run by the director or staff. I could hear staff members nearby muttering, "That’s it, Nana-chan, tell him more," or "Don’t let the tanuki push you around."

"Rather than casting me, wouldn’t it be more meaningful to do something about the heroine’s acting? She’s going to be the main heroine again in the next project, after all."

"Well, yeah, I couldn’t turn down the heavy push from a big production company… and the image really did fit the heroine perfectly, so I cast her. But I didn’t think she’d be that bad at acting, hahaha…"

"I saw the previous film, but it looked like the heroine hadn’t received any acting lessons at all. Wouldn’t it be better to make sure she takes proper lessons before Part Three starts filming?"

"Mm, well, her agency’s an idol-focused production company. They seem weak when it comes to acting."

If he already knew that, then why cast her? I’d like to grill him for an hour, but unfortunately, that’s just how this world works.

Producer Tanuki sat there kneeling in seiza, groaning "Hmm, hmm" as if troubled. His suit looked like it was about to burst—he should just sit normally. Especially since Shinozaki-san’s asleep.

While I was thinking that, Producer Tanuki suddenly slapped his knee with an expression like he’d just had a great idea.

"That’s it. Couldn’t we have the heroine take lessons together with you at “SanAca”?"

"Huh? At our place?"

"SanAca," short for Sunflower Academy, is the big child-actor agency I belong to.

"Yeah, exactly. Nana-chan, you’ve often given acting tips to the other kids, right?"

"…Did I really?"

"You did~. Back during “Akane,” you even taught Kurotani-kun some acting. Like that. I want you to teach the heroine, too."

Ah, that. Sure, I gave a few tips during filming breaks, but I’ve never officially coached anyone. And is it even okay to bring in someone from another agency for lessons…?

Some agencies are pretty flexible. Like, there’s a production company formed by jidaigeki actors, where even people from other agencies can learn swordfighting. But even then, you usually have to get approval first, and it’s expected to be discreet—no spreading around that you’re training under another agency.

Well, if it’s not a direct competitor, they’re often pretty lenient.

SanAca mainly deals with child actors, and an idol-focused agency shouldn’t be much of a problem, right?

"Come on, back when it was Kurotani-kun, the director was yelling, ‘Switch him out, you idiot!’ because he was that bad. But after you taught him, he improved drastically. Can’t you lend us a hand here too? Please? Please?"

"Well… even if you say that…"

Daisho was just a kid, and the others I helped were also child actors. I’ve never taught adults before, and I doubt an adult would actually listen to advice from a kid.

While I was hesitating, Producer Tanuki clasped his hands, bowed his head while kneeling, and pleaded with me with upturned eyes. Coming from a bald, overweight middle-aged man, it wasn’t cute at all. I should just refuse.

"It hurts! It hurts! Earlier Shinozaki-san called me ‘bald tanuki,’ so my fragile glass heart is about to shatter! Ah, forcing me to sit in seiza tore my ligaments, maybe."

As if sensing I was about to turn him down, the bald tanuki clutched his chest, rolled around on the floor, and then peeked at me. Annoying.

Still, it was true that Shinozaki-san had called him names earlier. Normally that’d cause problems, but Producer Tanuki almost looked happy about it, so clearly he wasn’t taking it seriously.

"Sigh… fine. If you want me to teach, I’ll do it. But if my agency doesn’t give permission, you’ll have to give up."

"Really!? Oh, I owe you big time! I’ll make sure you get properly paid for it, don’t worry!"

Producer Tanuki sprang up, looking delighted. Of course, it was an act. But since he’s helped me a lot too, maybe I could forgive this silly bald guy and help out a little.

Besides, thinking about it carefully—this means I’d be giving private lessons to an idol. And not just any idol, but Kotori Shirasawa, the most popular member of a rising idol group.

Normally, instead of getting paid, I’d have to pay for that kind of chance.

"Please make sure you handle negotiations with her production company, Producer Tanuki."

"Of course! Great, if you’re the one training her, Nana-chan, I’m sure it’ll work out!"

"Well then, since curfew is coming up, I should be taking my leave."

"Yeah, thank you! Want me to call a taxi?"

"No, it should be easy to catch one once I step outside, so I’ll be fine. Heave-ho."

I hoisted Shinozaki-san, still asleep, onto my shoulders in a sack-carry. A princess carry would’ve been nice, but with our height difference, this way is more stable.

Still carrying her, I slung both our bags onto my free shoulder, put on my shoes, and stepped out of the tatami room.

"Well then, please excuse me. And thank you again for your continued support of Hanasaki Nana."

I bowed as I said it—thunk. A dull sound followed. Looked like Shinozaki-san’s head hit the table. She didn’t wake up, so it should be fine.

"Good work… Oh, that reminds me, Nana-chan, I have a favor to ask."

"…What is it?"

Something besides the acting lessons? I wish he’d keep it short, since I’ve got Shinozaki-san on my back.

"That line, you know—the last one. Could you say it for me?"

"The last line… ‘See you, Papa,’ you mean?"

"No, no, not that one! The one before it—‘I love you, Papa!’"

Ugh… I want to sock him, but my hands are full with Shinozaki-san. The bald guy’s looking at me expectantly, which is annoying. Guess I’ll just say it quickly and get out of here. With Shinozaki-san still slung over my shoulders, I gave a sweet smile and—

"I love you, Papa."

"Ooohhh! That’s it! Perfect! Nana-chan, you have to be in Part Three!"

"I told you, I’m not."

Leaving the izakaya, I found a line of taxis waiting at the stand outside, so I got one right away. I shoved Shinozaki-san into the back seat, gave the driver the address, and quickly put on my wig and glasses.

If I went straight home, I’d just barely make curfew. But if I detoured to Shinozaki-san’s house, I’d blow past it by a long shot. I couldn’t just abandon a drunk woman, so—too bad for me—looks like I’ll be bringing her back to my place.

The next morning, after waking up, I did my usual jog on the treadmill, worked up a light sweat, then headed to the living room. There, just like yesterday, Shinozaki-san was kneeling in a dogeza.

"...I’m so sorry. To think I got drunk and collapsed while entrusted with your precious child… what a disgrace…"

"We already heard the circumstances from Nana-chan, so please don’t worry about it."

Smiling gently as she said this, Mom had already finished preparing breakfast. She had even made a portion for Shinozaki-san.

Yesterday, when I carried her home on my back, Mom had been shocked, but once I explained that an oolong highball had been mistakenly brought to her table and she drank it without realizing, only to get completely drunk, Mom laughed and sighed in exasperation.

Dad can really hold his liquor, and Mom’s a total bottomless pit. I’ll probably end up inheriting that too, but until I’m of age, I’m sticking to kids’ beer. It’s just carbonated apple soda, but I like drinking it when I want to enjoy the atmosphere.

I avoid non-alcoholic beer because the packaging looks too much like the real thing. If someone snapped a photo of me drinking it, the tabloids would probably run with a headline like: 『Nana-chan drinking underage!?』.

"...I want to die."

"Shinozaki-san, do you remember what happened yesterday?"

She nodded silently. So, it seems she does remember. Well, unless you’re blackout drunk, it’s rare to forget everything anyway.

"...I want to die."

"Come on, Mom made breakfast. Let’s eat."

I pulled the completely dark-sided Shinozaki-san, who could only repeat "I want to die," to her feet and sat her down at the dining table. I’d planned to tease her about her drunken antics once she woke up, but seeing her this deflated, I didn’t have the heart to kick her while she was down.

Today’s breakfast was Japanese-style: grilled salmon, boiled spinach, a small bowl of simmered vegetables, and miso soup—your classic ichijū-sansai set meal.

Dad and Kazuki were already at the table, so once everyone was seated, we all said "Itadakimasu" and began eating.

A well-balanced breakfast is the fuel for the day. By the time she finished, even the sluggishly eating Shinozaki-san looked a bit better.

"Gochisousama deshita."

"Glad you enjoyed it. Shall I make some tea?"

"No, I should really head home for now. I’m terribly sorry for all the trouble I caused."

"Oh, not at all. If anything, Nana’s always troubling you. If you’d like, you’re welcome to stay over any time."

After chatting with Mom, Shinozaki-san slung her large shoulder bag over one arm and headed for the door. That’s when I remembered something I hadn’t told her yet, so I called out to her back.

"Oh right, Shinozaki-san. We’re planning to have Shirazawa Kotori-san come to SunAka for lessons, so could you check with the agency about it?"

"…The heroine from 『Ore no Na wa』, right? How did it come to that…?"

"Well, Producer Tanuki asked me to give her some acting coaching before the filming of the next project starts."

"…You agreed without asking again, didn’t you?"

"No, no, this time it wasn’t my fault. You see…"

I explained what had happened after she passed out.

"Ouch, ouch! Earlier you even called me a 'bald tanuki,' so my fragile glass heart is about to shatter! Ahh, and since you forced me into seiza, I might have torn a ligament!"

Rolling around the living room, I imitated Producer Tanuki’s whining. Even the little glance toward her with a vexed expression was spot-on.

Shinozaki-san turned bright red, trembling, then finally slumped her shoulders.

"I’ll talk to the agency about it… I want to die."

And with that, she trudged off home.

After she left, Mom and Dad scolded me with, "You shouldn’t tease adults like that."

I mean, I only did it to make things clear.

That evening, Shinozaki-san contacted me. It turned out instead of Shirazawa-san being called to SunAka, I’d be going over to the other agency’s office instead.

Apparently, they’d pay proper instructor fees, but in exchange, they also wanted me to coach several others as well.

"The instructor fee won’t be that much, so I’ll cover part of it out of my own pocket…"

Shinozaki-san said this apologetically, but I declined.

I’m always troubling her anyway. Helping clean up her mess once in a while isn’t so bad.