Kapitel 66: Stars in the Making
[Word Count: 2720]
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"Mama! Mama! I want head pats!" Ruby exclaimed excitedly as she ran up to Ai.
It had been a year since the Germany incident, and aside from the lingering impact on the global stage, life had settled back into a semblance of normalcy for the family. Ruby and Aqua had grown and developed, now able to talk and run around with little issue.
"Ahh~ I'm ascending to heaven~!" Ruby purred with delight as Ai lovingly patted her head.
"Ascending to heaven?" Ai questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Where did you learn such big words?"
Ruby and Aqua froze for a moment, caught off guard by the question. On the side, Leo watched his kids as nervous sweat formed a small storm on their foreheads.
"It's like you're an insane prodigy," Ai playfully theorized. "It must be genetic..."
Ruby let out a small, relieved giggle, taking the comment as a compliment, while Aqua's gaze nervously darted toward Leo, who kept his expression neutral as he watched Ruby enjoy the head pats.
Although Ai's suspicion about the twins being reborn as her babies was unlikely, Leo, on the other hand, was more perceptive than Ai gave him credit for. His gaze lingered on Ruby for a moment longer before he redirected his attention back to the TV. Aqua couldn't help but worry about the potential consequences of their past life secrets being revealed, and he didn't particularly like the uncertainty that lay ahead.
Life continued, and Ai's career as an idol was flourishing. From modeling to being a radio assistant, Ai was steadily gaining more work and recognition in the entertainment industry.
As for Leo, he worked behind the scenes as Ai's aggressive marketing director while hunting whatever devils Public Safety couldn't as a side hustle.
.
Speaking of side hustles, Ai landed a role in a TV drama.
"I'm excited for Mama's first TV drama!" Ruby said cheerfully.
"It's only a bit part, though," Aqua said casually.
"Listen, you two," Miyako interjected with gentle sternness, "I'm only bringing you along because you kept insisting..." She paused, looking at Ruby and Aqua intently. "But don't ever call Ai 'Mama' at the studio. Remember, at work, you're supposed to be my kids."
"Yeah, yeah. Mama! Mama! Pat my head!"
"Me too, Mama!"
"Mama, give me an allowance!"
The twins and Ai looked over at Leo, who sat on the passenger side, hoping he'd join in on the playful banter. He stared out the window, trying to ignore their pleading glances to avoid saying anything embarrassing, but eventually, he caved.
With a sigh and a pained expression, he joined in. "M-Mama..." he couldn't even finish the sentence, the cringe eating away at him.
"Ugh..." Miyako groaned as the embarrassing atmosphere enveloped her.
.
"I'm Ai from Strawberry Productions," Ai introduced herself to the cast with a small bow. "I look forward to working with you today."
The director, Taishi Gotanda, hovered over her, staring at her intently.
"Is something the matter, director?" Ai asked, tilting her head slightly.
"No, not really," Taishi answered bluntly.
On the side, Ruby and Aqua whispered to each other as they observed the director.
"He's kinda scary, but..." Ruby's voice trailed off as she glanced at Leo, who was speaking with the cameraman. The cameraman seemed anxious, nodding his head in response to whatever Leo was saying.
Aqua followed his sister's gaze and couldn't help but nod. "Yeah..." No matter how intimidating the director might appear, their father could outmatch him any day of the week without even trying.
"Whose kids are those?" Taishi suddenly asked, jolting the twins' attention toward him.
"Oh, they're mine," Miyako nervously answered.
"What kind of manager brings her kids to the studio?" Taishi asked with a glare, making the three of them flinch.
Before Miyako could respond, the director voiced his own assumption. "Is this part of that workstyle reform law?" he said before turning around and walking away, leaving Miyako relieved. "Times have changed," he muttered to himself. "Well, there are people who bring their dogs to work too, I guess."
.
The twins settled into the set nicely without any disruption, while Leo talked to various members of the staff.
Members of the cast coddled the twins with attention, making Aqua increasingly nervous as Ruby thrived in their adoration. Breaking free from their grasp, he made his way into the hallway.
"Oh god... I won't be able to last like this," he thought to himself.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Aqua suddenly felt someone hovering over him.
"Oh? Aren't you that manager's brat?" Taishi asked, crunching next to Aqua.
"I don't mind you being here, but if you dare start crying during the shoot and we have to stop filming, I'll throw you out," Taishi said sternly.
"Oh, absolutely not. I understand that we are mere babies, but I shall give every ounce of effort to prevent such carelessness!" Aqua said, panicking. "I am fully aware of my own limitations and the rules to be upheld in a place such as this. So please, do consider working with Ai in the future as well..." he finished with a formal bow.
"Holy, this baby can sure talk!" Taishi said somewhat amazed. "Where'd you learn to talk like that!?"
"Uh... the internet, sorta..." Aqua nervously answered, looking away.
"Holy crap, the internet is amazing!! What a progressive era we live in!!" Taishi exclaimed, picking Aqua up and holding him over his head. "I've seen prodigy child actors quite a few times, but you definitely take the cake! Are you good at acting too?"
"Uh no... I don't act..." Aqua nervously admitted.
"You'd make a good picture on a screen. I want you to be in something," Taishi said, making Aqua anxious before putting him down and reaching into his jacket. "Here's my business card. Gimme a call when you join a company."
"Uh no thank you," Aqua declined the card. "If you're offering a job, please offer them to Ai."
"Oh, you mean that idol?" Taishi said, remembering her introduction. "If we're talking about looks, she definitely takes the lead. If she's lucky, she might survive."
"We're depending on luck, even with her looks?" Aqua asked, feeling confused.
"Alright, look, there are three types of actresses you can define," Taishi said, raising three fingers. "The first one is the Covergirl actress, bringing in views and an audience is her main job. The next one is the talented one. They maintain the quality of the show, but their main job is to sustain a brand by acting as a label. The last one is the newbie. No one expects much from their acting ability, they just need to bring some freshness into a scene."
Aqua let the information sink in, and Taishi was too invested in his explanation, both of them too captivated to notice Leo leaning on a wall, listening in.
"It's also to give experience to the next potential star. They're an investment, so to say. Will they sell? Will people like them? If they fall short, either way, the next newbie will steal their spot," Taishi explained.
A chuckle broke the focus of their conversation as they looked over to see Leo walking up to them with a smug expression.
"Hate to break it to you, Mr. Director, but Ai fits into those molds perfectly," Leo said, picking up Aqua. "Down to the T."
"Is that right?" Taishi asked, meeting Leo's gaze.
Leo's usual Yakuza aura was overshadowed by his smugness as a prominent smirk adorned his face.
"Of course," Leo affirmed. "As a Covergirl, Ai naturally draws attention. Put her face on any product, and you're guaranteed it'll sell."
Before Taishi could respond, the next scene was announced. "Cut 74, ready."
As they watched Ai in action, it became evident that she possessed a unique charm that transcended conventional acting skills. There was an enchanting quality to her performance that went beyond mere technique. It was as if she had a magnetic pull, effortlessly captivating the audience's hearts.
"Her acting might be considered average, but there's something about her that just draws you in," Taishi confessed, gazing thoughtfully out of the window.
"Right?" Leo and Aqua chimed in, looking smug to all hell.
"Under normal circumstances, most, if not all, of Ai's scenes might get cut to avoid overshadowing the main lead," Leo shared, leaning back with Aqua nestled comfortably in his arm.
"What!?" Aqua expressed, shocked. "They'd cut out her parts just for that?"
"Well, in the business, you have to protect your current investment," Leo explained, maintaining his smug smile. "You wouldn't want another promising star to steal the spotlight."
"Under normal circumstances..." Taishi repeated, curious about Leo's choice of words. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
Leo merely gave him a closed-eyed smile. "Don't worry about the little stuff, Mr. Director. Leave that to the pros."
Taishi regarded Leo with a raised eyebrow before ultimately shrugging it off. "Fair enough..." he conceded.
Leaving Leo and Aqua in the hallway, Taishi entered the filming room to oversee the rest of the shoot.
"Papa, what are you going to do?" Aqua asked, genuinely curious.
"What I do best," Leo replied, his smirk taking on a slightly darker tone. "Speaking of which, I might need to throw you under the bus, Aqua."
Hearing Leo's ominous words, Aqua looked up at his father, a mixture of shock and concern crossing his face. "Eh?"
"We'll likely need to continue working with Mr. Director if we want to give Ai a bigger spotlight, and that might involve offering him a favor in return," Leo explained casually, but Aqua still seemed confused.
Leo chuckled at Aqua's perplexed expression and pulled out the director's business card, which he had discreetly taken from the man's jacket earlier. "Remember, he said he wanted to work with you. So, how about we propose casting you in a movie he's currently working on? We can leverage that favor to secure bigger roles for Ai, maybe even a lead role. I'd rather work with a better-known director, but I rather avoid accidentally having people label Ai as an industry rat."
Aqua pondered his father's suggestion; it did make sense in the grand scheme of things. However, there was a significant hurdle—he didn't want to be an actor.
"Wouldn't Ruby be a better choice?" Aqua asked. "She's a better actor than me."
"True," Leo admitted. "but there is such a thing as overacting, you know. If she's going to follow in Ai's footsteps, she still has some things to learn before going pro. You, on the other hand, don't seem to care much about that, so I'll gladly throw you head first into the wolves." He grinned playfully.
As Aqua stared at Leo with a mix of shock and disbelief, Leo pulled him close to whisper something in his ear.
"Besides, between you and me, I heard Mr. Director is looking for a creepy kid for a role. So, it should be a piece of cake for you," Leo whispered cheerfully, unintentionally, or maybe internationally pricking Aqua's pride.
As Aqua processed his father's words, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirled within him. He hadn't expected to be in this position, but he couldn't deny that this opportunity could greatly benefit Ai's career.
Reluctantly, he understood the weight of his decision.
Though he still harbored doubts and insecurities, he knew he had to step up, for Ai's sake. Swallowing his pride, he made up his mind to embrace the role that destiny had placed upon him.
.
One month later, it was finally time for the final product to be shown on TV. The family gathered on the couch, their anticipation palpable. The twins and Ai were eager to see their mother's performance on the screen, while Leo sat quietly, taking a sip from a flask he held.
"Here it comes!" Aqua exclaimed, unable to contain his anticipation.
"We took so many shots!" Ai chimed in, her eyes gleaming with pride.
"I can't wait to see Mama's acting!" Ruby chimed in with a bright smile.
"..." Leo said.
Yeah, The excitement in the room was contagious.
Finally, the news segment concluded, and the TV show began. The opening sequence showcased scenes from the school, and eagle-eyed viewers could spot Ai smiling in the background.
"Ah, there she is!" Ruby spotted her first.
"Zoom in!" Aqua demanded, wanting to get a clearer view.
However, just as the camera shifted to focus on the main characters, it cut Ai out of the frame entirely.
"..."
An awkward silence ensued, and before the twins could voice their complaints, Leo calmly spoke up.
"Give it a minute," he said, taking another swig from his flask.
Curious, the twins looked at their father, then back at the screen. True to his words, as the show progressed, Ai's character reappeared, now sharing the spotlight with the "main characters". Her presence had a captivating effect, drawing attention whenever she graced the scene.
The show eventually concluded, and the family sat in awe of Ai's performance. Despite her limited screen time, Ai managed to steal the show, leaving a lasting impression on the viewers and reaffirming her innate ability to command attention with her unique charm.
"You did great, Mama!" Ruby praised, beaming with pride.
"Yeah, it was amazing!" Aqua added, admiration in his eyes.
Leo's lips curled into a subtle smile, proud of his wife's accomplishment. In the end, it didn't matter if Ai had a few minutes less on screen, for her presence had left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who watched her perform.
As they basked in the warmth of the family moment, Leo couldn't help but think about the actions he took to get Ai her rightful screen time.
"S-Sir, you have to understand. We're doing this for the betterment of the other actors," an executive stuttered nervously.
The room felt uncomfortably cold yet charged with tension. Leo sat at the head of the ovular table, his feet kicked up in a position of authority.
"And I told you, if your actors can't compare to a mere background character, that's your problem," Leo responded calmly. "You made a poor investment, suck it up."
"S-Sir, but..." Before another executive could voice their opinion, Leo raised his hand, ready to snap, causing the room to flinch in fear.
"Ok! Ok!" one executive panic-strickenly agreed. "W-We'll do it."
The other executives wore looks of contempt, but they couldn't deny their colleague's words.
Leo nonchalantly dropped his feet from the table and got up to leave.
"Good. Your 'investments' will have the entirety of the opening scenes to make their impact. If they fail to do so, that's on you," Leo stated firmly, walking towards the door.
As he opened the door, Leo looked back at the executives. "I'm sure it goes without saying, but please treat this matter with the utmost discretion. We're always watching," he warned before finally leaving the room sending shivers down the executive's backs as they felt an unnatural heat in their chest.
.
Back with his family, Leo finished his drink before getting up.
"Spectacular performance, Ai," Leo complimented, his tone warm. "You're well on your way to stardom."
Doki Doki!
Ai's heart fluttered, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink. The stars in her eyes shimmered, and she struggled to find her words. "Th-Tha..."
"Hmm?" Leo tilted his head, curious about her sudden hesitation.
Shaking her head, Ai gathered her nerves. "T-Thank you."
Leo looked at Ai with a puzzled expression, but a small smile appeared on his lips. "Sure, anytime."
He then turned his attention to Aqua, signaling him to follow with a wave of his hand. Aqua looked at Leo with confusion, but ultimately complied and followed him to the kitchen.
Picking up Aqua, Leo set him on the counter and proceeded to rinse out his flask.
"Congrats, you've been cast," Leo informed, pouring water into the flask.
"Cast?" Aqua nervously questioned.
Leo nodded, meeting Aqua's gaze. "Taishi cast you for his low-budget film."
Aqua nervously swallowed, realizing he had forgotten about that opportunity.
"Will you be there?" he asked, his nerves evident.
"Nope," Leo replied, keeping his response brief.
"Are you busy?" Aqua pressed.
"Dunno," Leo shrugged. "I don't even know when filming starts. I told him to call Miyako for that. I've had my fill of watching actors and film crews, so you'll have to handle it on your own for the most part."
Realizing that Leo wouldn't be present on set made Aqua even more anxious.
"Either way, you've got this," Leo encouraged, patting Aqua's head reassuringly. "You're an alright liar; you just need to work on maintaining eye contact."
But Leo's encouragement didn't help ease Aqua's nerves. If anything, it intensified his anxiety.
"So he can see through my lies, is that it..." Aqua nervously thought to himself. If that were the case, how much longer could he hide the fact that he was reborn?
Time was ticking, and a lie walked on short legs.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein