The contract negotiation took place at the headquarters of the Toho Film Production Department in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward. After both parties had officially signed the contract, they naturally went out for a celebratory dinner.
As a famous wealthy area in Tokyo, Setagaya is full of high-end restaurants. After a long search, Director Shimada finally chose an expensive Indian restaurant. In any case, no matter how much was spent, it would be paid for by the company, so there was no need to save money.
As the four of them sat down, Hikigaya Hachiman prepared to put forward some of his personal requests. In truth, at that moment, he had not yet realized just how much status he held in a film crew as the original author of an extremely popular novel.
"Director Nakajima," Hachiman began tentatively, "regarding the filming of the movie Confessions, I actually have a slightly unwelcome request." He didn't intend to directly say he wanted to cast Hoshino Aqua, wanting to first gauge the reactions of Director Shimada and Director Nakajima.
Unexpectedly, the two Toho representatives on the opposite side of the table simultaneously showed an expression of immense relief.
"To be honest, Mr. Hachiman, on the way here, we were worried you wouldn't have any personal requirements for the filming," Director Shimada said with some joy. "If that were the case, we would have been in trouble."
"Mr. Hachiman, just ask," Tetsuya Nakajima added generously. "Do you want to arrange a role for the crew? If it's only one, as long as it isn't the main heroine, it will be very convenient." According to him, even if Hachiman really wanted to insert a heroine, it would just be a little "inconvenient," but not impossible.
Hachiman was a little surprised. He hadn't expected them to not only show no rejection, but to actually be afraid that he, the original author, wouldn't make any requests.
"There's nothing surprising about this, Mr. Hachiman," Shimada explained calmly, seeing his surprise. "In fact, this is the unspoken rule that you get to enjoy with your current status. In some crews, the original authors are far less famous than you, and they've turned the set upside down without the crew having any complaints." In fact, what he said was not peaceful at all, reflecting the extreme imbalance of power in a film crew.
"Okay, I understand," Hachiman said. "Actually, what I want is the casting rights for the role of Watanabe Shuya..."
Before he could finish, he noticed that the eyes of the two men opposite him, as well as Mr. Hayama beside him, had all turned strange.
"A male?" "Are you going to arrange for a male actor to come in, Mr. Hachiman?" Shimada and Nakajima asked one after another, as if they were confirming something incredible.
"Uh... of course," Hachiman said, becoming more and more confused. "Watanabe Shuya is a boy, isn't he? Is there something strange about that?"
"Strange." "That's very strange, Mr. Hachiman." "Hikigaya-kun, that is a little strange," now even Mr. Hayama joined the other two.
It was no wonder the other three felt it was strange. In the past, when people with connections wanted to insert roles into a crew, there were only two possibilities. The first was a company promoting one of its own artists, which was very common but a category Hachiman undoubtedly did not belong to. The other situation was more personal: promoting an actor they were fond of, with the ultimate goal being something that would not pass a moral review.
So, when the people present found out that the actor Hikigaya Hachiman wanted to bring into the crew was, in fact, male, they were naturally surprised.
"Uh, guys," Hachiman said, speechless after coming to his senses. "Did you misunderstand something?" Was he really such a vulgar person in their eyes?
"The person I want to recommend is named Hoshino Aqua, an actor who is the same age as me. I swear I didn't know him before this year. I just happened to meet him and thought his temperament was extremely suitable for the role of Shuya. He originally wanted to give up the path of being an actor, but he later thought it through. I just think it's a pity for someone with his conditions not to be an actor." Hachiman explained the whole story.
"So you just value talent, Mr. Hachiman? Please forgive my shallow view of you just now," Director Shimada said, somewhat embarrassed.
"Hoshino Aqua... huh? I seem to have seen him somewhere," Tetsuya Nakajima recalled. "Oh, I remember now! He was an apprentice to a friend of mine. I've seen that kid. He has blond hair and is really good-looking. He also has a gloomy look that doesn't quite belong to his age."
"An outstanding appearance and a gloomy look that doesn't belong to his age—doesn't that perfectly match Watanabe Shuya, Director Nakajima?" Hachiman said smoothly. "Maybe his acting skills haven't been polished yet, but I think with your ability, you will definitely be able to shape him well."
"Yes, he is a very talented young man with great potential. Mr. Hachiman, you could be a talent scout," Director Shimada said. He had already searched for Hoshino Aqua on Twitter and found many photos of him from a dating reality show called "Genkoi."
"He also played a villain in a web drama called Today's Sweetness a while ago," Nakajima added, also searching for information. "His performance was very good, and it was completely different from the other actors in the drama." The more he looked, the happier he became, as if he had found a treasure.
"And he's also very good at studying," Hachiman added. "I heard his deviation score is 70, so his IQ is a bit closer to Shuya's."
"Ah? You're still in the entertainment industry with a deviation score of 70?" Director Shimada looked a little distressed. "It's a pity you're not going to a medical university to save lives in the future."
"Everyone has their own aspirations, Shimada," Tetsuya Nakajima said, unhappy with the other's stereotype that people in the "entertainment industry" were idiots. "Who says that academic masters can't be actors? In this day and age, people with high academic qualifications have an advantage in any job, even acting."
With that, the decision to insert Hoshino Aqua into the Confessions crew was made easily and happily.
"By the way, Director Nakajima, Director Shimada," Hachiman asked, "do you have any preliminary considerations for the other roles in this drama?"
"As the director, I have considered the casting," Nakajima replied. "The heroine must be played by an actress who has already won an Academy Award for Best Actress. She should be under forty years old. Her status and acting skills must be the best in the crew. We will select her directly and will not hold auditions. The rest of the roles will be decided through auditions."
"The auditions will begin as soon as possible," Director Shimada said. As the head of Toho's film production department, he had primary supervisory responsibility for the film's production process. "If possible, we hope to officially conduct the auditions on the last day of the Golden Week holiday in May. At that time, we will invite you, Mr. Hachiman, to come and give us some on-site guidance."
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