Chapter 200

The filming location agreed upon with director Kakeba Hiro was an alleyway with no people around.

Not too far from there was a playground; apparently, the two scenes were to be linked somehow.

“Surprisingly, there are quite a few actors dressed in school uniforms.”

Of course, not many among them were actual high school students.

Most were adults.

It was said that the female lead and a few actresses were high school students, though.

“Who would have thought we would meet like this?”

Kakeba Hiro was a tall man with a strong, impressive face.

He was around mid-thirties, and his handsome appearance could easily pass for someone considered well-groomed.

It wasn’t for nothing that he had many female fans among younger actors.

“Ka… Kakeba Director is pleased to meet you.”

“I’m also pleased to meet you.”

Seoyeon bowed slightly and responded. Then, she contemplated whether or not to add more conversation.

It was difficult to figure out where to start since she hadn’t watched any of Kakeba Hiro’s works. Seoyeon glanced at Sora, subtly asking for help.

Having received Seoyeon’s look, Sora smoothly translated the message in a practiced tone.

“It is an honor to meet the renowned Kakeba Director from Japan. I am Sooyeon Joo, an actress from Korea. I’ve heard you mentioned the cameo role. If you guide me, I will do my best.”

Though she couldn’t understand what was said, judging from Kakeba Hiro’s expression, it wasn’t a bad comment.

‘Convenient.’

Kakeba Hiro couldn’t speak Korean, so Seoyeon could just speak casually, and Sora would translate appropriately.

Of course, if he spoke Korean, Seoyeon might have said the exact things, but since he doesn’t, there’s nothing to be done.

First, Seoyeon and Kakeba Hiro sat separately and exchanged casual conversation.

Also, present at this meeting was Yuito, the journalist who arranged this encounter. He seemed in an excellent mood at having organized the meeting and his lips were almost touching his ears.

The meeting between Sooyeon Joo and Kakeba Hiro was certain to guarantee clicks whatever way the article would be written.

“Ah, please don’t tell me anything about *The Chaser*. Let me watch it completely unprepared to feel the full impact.”

“Ah, yes! That makes sense.”

“By the way, you mentioned your surname was Furuhata, right? Thank you; it’s because of you that I’m meeting actress Sooyeon Joo.”

Furuhata is Yuito’s surname.

Though it was a bit sudden, Kakeba Hiro readily agreed because of Yuito, who lured him with Sooyeon Joo as bait.

With the picture sent through direct message, Kakeba Hiro had no choice but to bite.

Kakeba Hiro was already very interested in Joo Sooyeon.

‘I really want to see her acting.’

That’s why he hoped, though it was brief, that she would appear in a cameo role.

“So, what’s the role?”

“Since it’s a cameo, the screen time will be less than a minute. Think of it as a brief encounter with a street girl who exudes an alien vibe, something you can consider like that.”

Through Sora’s translation, a conversation was held.

However, an alien vibe?

At Seoyeon’s puzzled reaction, Sora added:

“In South Korean terms, it basically means a ‘fourth-dimensional’ character.”

“Oh, I know that already.”

More than that, she thought it was quite distinctive for a cameo.

And the reason was simple—it was a character that Kakeba Hiro had spontaneously conjured up on the spot using the outfit Sooyeon was wearing when her photo was taken as inspiration.

The moment she saw Seoyeon’s appearance from the photo, it inspired her.

‘How considerate, providing the script.’

The lines provided even had the Korean pronunciation and the content written out.

The line was only up to ten seconds.

From appearance to disappearance, it would take about one minute, as Kakeba said.

“First, take some rest before the preparations are ready.”

The brief conversation ended, and Kakeba stood up, Yuito the journalist in tow.

He had to conduct a separate interview with Kakeba Hiro, so he followed him closely.

“Well, I think we should also stay nearby.”

Walking around too much would have attracted too many gazes. Since many were already glancing curiously at Sooyeon, who was talking with Director Kakeba Hiro.

“An actress from South Korea?”

“Wow, why is she here? By the way, who is she?”

Among Japanese actors, many were curious about Sooyeon. Although there were some negative gazes, Kakeba Hiro was a truly sincere director who put his heart into his projects.

He did not casually invite someone to the set just because they were popular or a favorite actor.

He preferred those who fit his drama and could properly portray the role.

Even if they were extras.

“Didn’t she appear on a variety show recently?”

“Oh, now I remember seeing her somewhere.”

“But, what should I say…”

Some of them watching Seoyeon swallowed their saliva. As someone quietly studying her script, she was nothing short of picturesque.

They had seen plenty of good-looking actors while working in the entertainment industry, but she stood out.

“Seriously, even if she can’t act well, that kind of look makes up for it, doesn’t it?”

“Looking her up, I heard she’s known as a genius actress in Korea.”

“Honestly, given her looks, it makes sense to call her a genius actress.”

There’s an old saying that handsome actors often lack acting skills.

Especially when young, despite some shortcomings in acting, one could rely heavily on their looks.

Put another way, even if the acting wasn’t great, the face could save it.

Therefore, most people accepted while still doubting her acting skills. Considering her features, they believed her acting might not be that crucial.

“Hmm, but I’ve heard she can’t speak Japanese at all. Will that be okay?”

“I heard her lines are not too long, but even if she mispronounces a few words, the scene might feel weird.”

Whispers floated around the set as the actors eyed the one quietly standing. That person was none other than the female lead of the currently filming drama, ‘First Love Moment.’

Koto Reika, a pure-featured girl who suited the role of female lead, was just nineteen this year.

Renowned for her acting among her peers, her pride was equally high.

“But really, why specifically this scene?”

“Since I have to appear alongside the Korean actress.”

Of course, it’s natural that the female lead would appear in one scene.

However, it was honestly burdensome.

Because it was merely a cameo role with few lines, visuals would inevitably stand out more.

“Let’s win with acting ability.”

“Yes, Reika-san.”

Recently, she was considered the most promising actress, and several aspiring actors were present at the set just to follow her.

Though their words calmed her slightly, the irritated feeling didn’t fully dissipate.

“What is she even doing?”

There was still some time before the filming. Because Seoyeon said she needed time to study the script and practice.

Why does she need practice for just one minute?

Her lines weren’t lengthy either.

“An eccentric alien girl. And she rudely reprimands the male lead.”

The scene was this:

CusaKabe Kentō and Sato Mio, accidentally spending late hours together, get into a minor quarrel over a misunderstanding from the morning.

Kentō, sitting alone in the park, wonders if he should apologize to Mio when a group of women approaches him, clearly flirting with his good looks.

However, as they chat, Mio, who’d been watching from a distance, suddenly sprints in and chases them away, bringing the scene to an end.

A pretty minor happening, not too crucial.

“Just for that?”

When observing quietly, she was handing the script to Sora, a Japanese girl, and keeping her rehearsing repeatedly. Why didn’t she read it herself and instead have another actor do it?

“Ah, maybe she’s not an actress?”

“Is she a manager? Or simply an interpreter?”

If she were the same level of actor, it seemed disrespectful to treat her like a serving maid.

Calling herself a genius actress, her pride must be sky-high.

Meanwhile, Mio thought this while observing.

“Reika-san.”

“Yes?”

“The girl over there, the one reading the script. She knows her.”

“Really?”

Upon hearing the story, it seemed she was indeed an actress, a hopeful one at that.

“Because I worked part-time at a theater. I seem to have briefly met her then.”

“But why is she with the Korean actress?”

“She said something about becoming an action actress and went to Korea… Well, she seemed a bit strange.”

A strange girl.

Apparently, she criticized Japanese action acting, thinking it didn’t match her expectations, and then left for Korea, fleeing in a sense.

“So, it’s actually a good thing.”

Reika smiled faintly and said.

“Even in Korea, all she managed to do was maid-like jobs…”

As she spoke, she suddenly froze—Sooyeon Joo’s eyes were directly fixed on her.

It wasn’t clear when she had turned her head.

“Surely, she couldn’t have overheard what I just said?”

No way.

Considering the distance, and the surrounding noise before filming began.

“Besides, she doesn’t understand Japanese anyway.”

Even if she did hear, she probably wouldn’t understand. That intense red gaze of hers then turned back toward Sora.

Finally, Reika could let out a sigh of relief.

“Wow… She’s kind of scary, isn’t she, Reika-san?”

“Whether she’s a genius actress or not is unsure, but she definitely… the atmosphere.”

Hearing the other actors’ words, Reika couldn’t help but agree. Somehow, Sooyeon Joo gave a somewhat eerie impression.

***

“We will now start filming,” announced Director Kakeba Hiro as he returned.

The busy staff scurried around,

and Seoyeon disappeared for a moment to change into her costume. Once fully dressed, the filming would commence.

“Miss Narumi, have the preparations with Seoyeon’s lines been going well?”

Then, Yuito the journalist approached Sora softly,

initially thinking she might’ve mistaken the person since she was usually called ‘Sora’ after moving to Korea, rather than ‘Miss Narumi.’

“Narumi-san, I see. And Seoyeon-san is an actress…”

Sora chuckled faintly at the distinction.

After all, she hadn’t yet appeared in any proper dramas. She had only acted in minor roles in small plays or as an extra. Her big break came with her role in *Mine*.

Only after *Mine* would Sora call herself an actress.

“Yes, she seemed to have memorized the script in less than ten minutes.”

“Oh, that’s fast then. So, what have you been doing since?”

“Working on the script? It seemed like you were practicing together, but that’s different, right?”

Ah, that point confused her a bit too.

When she heard from Seoyeon later, she understood the reason.

“Ah, that was…”

Just then, Sora began to explain,

“Wow!”

Suddenly, someone let out an exclamation.

Turning to see what was going on, Seoyeon, dressed in her alien-inspired outfit, had arrived.

“Wow, it really suits her well.”

Previously, at the hotel, she only seemed to be wearing clothes casually, but today, with full makeup, her appearance was flawless.

Apparently, her features complemented unusual outfits effortlessly.

Or perhaps, she seemed to fit the alien image well.

“First, we’ll start with a light take.”

Everyone nodded with Director Kakeba Hiro clapping his hands, as he explained. Usually, filming doesn’t happen in one or two takes; it often takes much longer.

Seoyeon’s eyes darted quickly to identify the camera positions.

But, there was no real need for that.

In Japanese drama productions, there weren’t as many cameras as in Korea.

“Primary cameras are high-end, but low in number.”

To start with, the number of staff was much less.

There just weren’t enough to handle different angles with cameras.

“It must be a budget issue.”

Generally, the budget allocated for drama production is much higher in Korea than in Japan.

This difference is evident from just the filming set.

The alley, an open space with a playground,

which seemed unremarkable at first glance, but after reading the script, revealed it was not quite the “perfect” filming location, likely due to very restricted filming permits from local councils.

Seoyeon took a deep breath and observed the other actors standing at their assigned spots one by one.

Looking at them, she remembered the drama she’d watched since the day before:

*First Love Moment.*

The tone of that film was something she applied in her mind.

Though it wasn’t Korean drama, Japanese drama.

The difference between the two wasn’t simply about equipment.

“I’m just a cameo.”

Her appearance time was only one minute.

Just a face and a few lines.

Still, she had no intention of taking it too lightly.

Even though the cause might have been selfish, the work of an actor is an entirely separate matter.

“Ah, I don’t know! Kusakabe-kun, do as you like!”

“Sato, how dare you!!”

Exaggerated actions and quarrels, differing much from typical Japanese dramas.

Still different compared to the Korean way of acting.

Overlapping the drama from yesterday, Seoyeon moved her lips.

The intonation earlier mentioned by Sora, and the subtle nuances in the actors’ dialogue, she mimicked them with her tongue.

Tone.

The drama’s unique style.

One might describe it as selecting paint pigments.

The fitting color pigment for acting.

Others could be different, but to Seoyeon, it was extremely familiar and natural.

“What is it?”

When it was Seoyeon’s turn.

The actors set to appear alongside her flinched.

They noticed that the previously expressionless girl’s face had been infused with color.

A slightly eerie yet unpleasant alien girl.

Her presence seemed markedly different, and the previously moving feet hesitated.

“Didn’t you ask earlier why I was only reading lines?”

Sora responded upon seeing this.

“In reality, she was practicing since before receiving the script, even while in the hotel.”

“Practicing, you say?”

When responding to the earlier question posed by Yuito, who had already focused all his attention on Seoyeon,

holding his pen and notebook ready,

not letting a single scene escape.

“Yes, in other words, the tone of the acting.”

“…the tone of the acting?”

“And pronunciation.”

The lines existed, and the method of reading was known, but since it was Japanese, understanding its unique intonation was necessary.

The emotions embedded in the words.

For this reason, Seoyeon listened to Sora’s reading of the script multiple times, analyzing the character.

Merging Japan’s acting tone with Korea’s appropriately.

“What, handsome older brother? Are you alone?”

The eerie girl’s voice.

A bit more exaggerated and over-the-top than usual.

But it wasn’t awkward.

Eerily cute and somewhat insignificant alien girl.

Presenting her color.

Maintaining just the right balance to not overwhelm.

And soon,

even extras without names had everyone’s attention fixated on them.

---