[CH.29] Reunion With Close Friends
**TL Notes: So as not to confuse you all, I made a list of the characters that get mentioned in this chapter that you may have forgotten before. Sumire Matsuda: MC Nao and Fumika: MC's close friends. Yoko Ando (Yoko-san): Sumire's manager. Director Kanzaki: The interviewer at Sumire's first audition and the person who paved the way for Sumire to enter the entertainment industry. |
"...Ah, Nao! Fumika! Over here!!"
Waiting in front of the ticket gate, I saw the figures of Nao and Fumika, led by an older woman, descending the stairs connecting to the subway exit. I couldn't help but raise my voice and wave my hand when I spotted them. Although I felt a little embarrassed with Yoko-san chuckling behind me, the joy of finally meeting the two of them won over. After all, it had been about a year since we last met, even though we exchanged letters frequently.
At first, I didn't notice that it was Nao and Fumika, but the moment I recognized them, they wore incredibly cute smiles and came running towards me. I was worried about them bumping into people or falling because it was a busy concourse, but the two of them skillfully navigated through the passersby and made it to me, embracing me with their momentum.
Even though Nao and Fumika were originally taller than me, there was no way I could support their charging bodies. We almost collapsed into a pile of three, but Yoko-san, who was behind us, stepped in to support us. I couldn't help but think, "Yoko-san can effortlessly support three fourth-graders; she's surprisingly powerful despite her appearance."
The older women rushed over and scolded their daughters while bowing apologetically to Yoko-san. On the side, I was being tightly embraced by Nao from the front and Fumika from behind. I was happy about it, but the heat was making me feel lightheaded. With the two of them plus the scorching summer temperature, I was afraid I might even get heatstroke.
"You both have grown so much!"
"You're cuter in person than on TV, Su-chan!"
I patted Nao's back to signal them to let go, and they finally did. Watching them reluctantly release me, Fumika moved from behind to stand beside Nao.
Since both of them were taller than me from the front, my gaze naturally tilted upward, but it felt more pronounced than usual. Huh, that's strange. I should have grown taller too, but it feels like I've been left far behind in a significant way.
I heard that Nao had reached the impressive height of 140 cm, and Fumika had grown to 138 cm. As for me? Even if I round to the nearest whole number, I'm just barely 132 cm tall, damn it.
Currently, it was summer vacation, and my original plan was to be busy with work and shoots. However, Yoko-san received complaints from Ms. Oshima about overworking me. I had been doing various small roles as an extra and participating in reenactment videos. Also, the educational channel had some breaks in their broadcast of educational dramas due to summer high school baseball coverage, so there was some flexibility. The story was moving into the fall and winter season, so there were limited scenes that could be filmed in the summer.
"Sumire-chan, we don't have much time. What should we do? Should we go to some restaurant or cafe?"
When Fumika's mother suggested this, Yoko-san checked her watch and informed me, "We have about two hours left, so it should be fine." In a previous era, Shin-Osaka Station had many cafes and restaurants, but in this time, it hadn't undergone renovation yet. Though there were some places, it was challenging to find somewhere suitable for our group of this size.
Since we couldn't find a better option, we decided to enter a popular hamburger chain, and we pushed three available tables together to create a space. Fumika, Nao, and I sat on the long bench, with Fumika sitting next to me, followed by Nao. On the other side of the tables, Fumika's mother, Nao's mother, and Yoko-san sat.
While the mothers went to place the orders, Nao and Fumika remained happily hugging my arm. They probably had a lot they wanted to talk about, but the limited time may have made them prioritize the physical connection with me. It felt like they were radiating an atmosphere of "happy and fun" to the point that I couldn't help but imagine them wagging their tails if they had any.
The mothers brought back a selection of drinks, burgers, fries, and nuggets. I thought I wouldn't be able to eat much, but with three adults around, maybe it would be fine? Unfortunately, I can't contribute much because I can only eat a small amount. I sometimes wonder if this is affecting my height, but I guess it's due to the trauma of being super overweight in my past life or a sensation that my body doesn't accept food when I eat about half full.
As we munched on our food, we discussed local matters. My classmates and former teachers were doing well, and there didn't seem to be any significant changes. Since Nao and Fumika's letters only mentioned daily events, I wasn't worried. However, what they had written was filled with longing and love, almost like a letter from a girlfriend in a long-distance relationship, which made me feel a mix of embarrassment and complex emotions.
"By the way, are you not going to see Ma-kun today?"
Nao asked suddenly, and I nodded in response. I wanted to see my dear childhood friend, Ma-kun, but the ban on approaching my hometown was still in place. If I could return to my hometown as usual, Nao and Fumika wouldn't have needed to come from a neighboring prefecture. I should apologize for the trouble.
"It's not that we mind bringing the kids all the way here, but I can't quite accept the fact that Sumire can't get closer to her hometown. I'm not sure if anyone in town really has a good opinion of her, especially when it comes to her sister, there are quite a few people who speak ill of her behind her back," Nao's mother said, expressing her discomfort, and Fumika's mother hushed her. Nao's mother seemed to have had a bit of a rebellious streak in her youth, and her tone had a somewhat sharp edge. It was quite curious that she got along so well with Fumika's mother, who had the demeanor of an ordinary housewife. Sometimes, it's the opposites that form a great pair.
Still, it seemed my older sister was somewhat of a misfit in our hometown. Perhaps, if it weren't for my involvement, she would be just a regular person. Because I had become slightly famous, rumors about her had spread, making her stand out negatively. In a small town, rumors could spread within half a day.
"If I don't go back, our house remains peaceful. My parents are probably thinking of various solutions, but there are many complications. If we rush or force something, my sister might become even more obstinate," I explained.
"Are you not feeling lonely, Sumire-chan? Just remember not to push yourself too hard," Fumika's mother asked with concern, but honestly, I didn't have the luxury of feeling loneliness. Of course, I felt sad about not being able to see Nao and Fumika, but I didn't feel any sadness about not being able to see my parents. This was probably because I had once left home in my past life, but unfortunately, I had to return to my parents' house due to an illness.
Seeing that I seemed perfectly fine, the two mothers finally relaxed their expressions, heaving sighs of relief. From there, I talked about the liveliness of the dormitory and shared stories from my filming experiences, and time flew by in no time.
Today, I wasn't visiting home but was here for work. Thanks to the success of the educational drama in terms of viewership and content, I was invited to a segment of the evening news on the public broadcast's main channel. The evening news on public television had a segment where regional stations had their own broadcast times, and someone from the Osaka Broadcasting Corporation, knowing that my hometown was in Kansai, made me the offer.
My role, which started as a semi-regular, has been receiving a lot of praise, and it feels like I'm being treated like a lead character now. I'm genuinely happy that the character I'm portraying is well-received by the viewers, but I can't help but feel some anxiety about whether I'm really up for it.
We were about to disband after leaving the restaurant and heading to the taxi stand to go to Osaka Broadcasting Corporation. However, Nao and the others took the time to see us off all the way to the taxi stand. It would have been more convenient for me to part ways with them there and take the subway, but I had mixed feelings of gratitude and apology. Still, even if it was just for a few more minutes, I was happy to be with them.
With me in the middle, holding hands with Nao on one side and Fumika on the other, we slowly walked together. When I said, "You'll come visit again, right?" they responded enthusiastically, "Next time, we'll come to Tokyo!" Hearing those words, their mothers couldn't help but smile wryly. It's probably a financial headache because travel expenses can add up.
At the taxi stand, a few taxis were waiting, and there was no line, so we could get a taxi quickly. I let go of Nao and Fumika's hands and turned to face them, waving with a smile. Both of them had somewhat sad expressions, but without making any demands, they waved back and said, "See you later."
As we settled into the back seat and Yoko-san informed the driver of our destination, the taxi started to move at a relaxed pace. I continued waving until the four of them disappeared from the rear window and then sat back in my seat.
"They were adorable kids, just as expected from Sumire's friends," Yoko-san remarked.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Cute kids tend to attract other cute kids. With a bit more polishing, both of them could easily model for magazines."
Yoko-san said this, but personally, I didn't want Nao and Fumika to get involved in this industry. It might be a selfish wish, but I hoped they would grow up in a carefree environment outside the entertainment world. While there are good people in this industry, there are also mean-spirited individuals. I had experienced it when I was a substitute model.
Perhaps my thoughts showed on my face because Yoko-san peered at me and chuckled, giving me a pat on the back as if to encourage me.
"Now, let's focus on work. I think you already know, but make sure to shift your mindset."
I must have been unusually flustered to hear Yoko-san say something like that when she normally doesn't. To gather my thoughts and refocus, I lightly patted my cheeks with both hands and replied firmly, "Yes."
After a while, we arrived at Osaka Broadcasting Corporation, and I immediately had a meeting with the program staff. I had my hair and clothes touched up and passed the time. Then I was called by the assistant director and moved to the studio, where I smoothly went through the guest segment.
After repeating my bows and greetings, I took a deep breath in the elevator.
"I wonder what to do today. It's a hassle to catch the bullet train back now. Let's stay overnight," Yoko-san suggested.
"I'm fine with that, but are you sure about work, Yoko-san?" I asked.
"It's okay, it's okay. Sometimes I need to unwind too," she replied.
As we chatted about these trivial matters and made our way to the lobby, I noticed a man sitting on one of the provided chairs whom I recognized. At first, I only thought he looked vaguely familiar, but as I got a clearer view of his face, I hurriedly ran over to him and greeted him with a bow.
"It's been a while, Director Kanzaki."
"It's been a long time, Sumire-chan... You didn't have to rush over like that," Director Kanzaki said with a wry smile as he slowly got up from his chair.
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