[CH.62] New Friend
**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 Yoko Ando (Yoko-san): Sumire's manager. Azusa Oshima: Sumire's mentor. Toyo-san: An elderly maid who works for the Oshima-san Yumiko Kurita (Yumi): Sumire's senpai at the dormitory. Ai Shinonome: Sumire's senpai at the dormitory. |
"I'm Haruka Sasaki. Nice to meet you."
The newcomer, who came with her mother, said this bluntly, bowing her head in a nod. Later, I found out that she was extremely nervous, which led to her speaking in such a manner. It was surprising at first, but after talking to her, she seemed like a generally good-natured girl, albeit a bit reserved.
Her mother, in addition to Ms. Azusa and Toyo-san, bowed repeatedly, saying, "Please take care of my daughter," even to me and Yumi-san, before returning to their hometown.
"She seems like a good mom."
"...Just overly worried."
When I instinctively said that, Haruka-chan turned her face away and spoke. However, her cheeks were slightly tinged with red, and it conveyed not just concern but also a slight fondness for her mother. She seemed a bit contrary, and thinking that, a small smile welled up within me.
"You don't have to use polite language with me, we're the same age. Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Sumire Matsuda. I'd be happy if we could get along."
Reaching out her hand a bit forcefully, I shook Haruka-chan's right hand with both of mine while introducing myself. Although her expression didn't change much, I felt her cheeks loosen just a bit. Well, if someone suddenly tells you to leave where you've been living and start living with strangers in Tokyo, a typical elementary schooler would feel anxious. I'd be happy if my presence could provide her with even a small sense of relief. She's same-age as me, so I'd like to become friends if possible.
After that, I guided her around the dorm, focusing on places she would likely use frequently, such as the bath and rehearsal space. As for her room, Haruka-chan and her mother had just finished arranging it, so there was no need for a tour. After strolling around the dorm, we relaxed and enjoyed some tea together.
Since she didn't like black tea, I brewed a slightly sweet "café au lait" for both of us and placed it on the table. Blowing on it to cool it down, she looked like a cute kitten. But still, many people entering this dorm seem to have a well-groomed appearance, whether it's Maho-san, Natsumi-san, or Yumi-san. Even Ai-san is a beautiful woman, and the girl in front of me, Haruka-chan, is undoubtedly a lovely girl. It's a bit sad to feel visually inferior, but what I was born with can't be changed now. I can only make efforts, as an ordinary person, to improve my appearance to some extent.
While sipping tea, I was able to hear about her past. She's from the Chubu region and was a member of a local children's theater group. Even within that group, Haruka-chan was recognized for her potential, participating in local commercials and hosting segments on local news programs, introducing local products and restaurants.
Already having some exposure, someone among the staff must have brought the news that there was a "promising child" to Tokyo, and it probably reached Ms. Azusa's ears. Despite being busy, Ms. Azusa, who has a light-footed approach, immediately went to meet Haruka-chan. She set up an impromptu audition and, after watching her perform, promptly invited her to join the agency. As someone involved in acting myself, it's genuinely exciting to see such a skilled recruiter as Ms. Azusa making a swift move like that. We might have lessons together in the future, and I'm looking forward to seeing her performances.
That night, Ai-san bought a cake, and we had a small welcome party for Haruka-chan, deepening the camaraderie among the dorm residents. However, Haruka-chan seems uncomfortable with getting too close too quickly, so I'd like to take our time becoming friends. Ai-san, being somewhat impatient in such matters, was hugging and touching a lot, which made Haruka-chan cautious.
I don't think there was a need for Ai-san to hug me just because she was being avoided, but she looked so downhearted that I let Ai-san do as she pleased. Yumi-san, who saw this, smiled wryly and offered to take over, but she was promptly declined. I think Yumi-san, who is becoming more feminine with each passing day, with her gentle curves, would definitely be more comfortable to hug than someone like me, who is thin and lacks flesh. Despite Ai-san insisting that she preferred me, she didn't let go until the party was over.
The next day, I took Haruka-chan to my school, and the teachers greeted her. Considering that she had just moved to Tokyo and was unfamiliar with the city, plus the fact that she didn't have any friends yet, they placed her in the same class as me. Apparently, Ms. Azusa had already pulled some strings, and I was a bit surprised. It seems that Touka is also in the same class, so if she's there, the class will probably be well-managed, and there's nothing to worry about.
When I moved into the dorm, it was during the summer vacation, and there was special training by Ms. Azusa, but as the new school term is approaching, and considering that it's not good to push too hard, Haruka-chan's special training is scheduled for the summer vacation. While I was a complete amateur, Haruka-chan, having been part of a children's theater group, already had some basic skills. Thinking about it, maybe there's not much difference in acting skills between us. I need to work hard to keep up.
Even though Haruka-chan has some experience with shoots in her hometown, it seems that neither Ms. Azusa nor Yoko-san is considering the impractical idea of making her debut as a substitute for a child actor who suddenly couldn't perform, as was the case with me. Yoko-san, without any remorse, says, "That was an unavoidable situation, but for some reason, I thought Sumire could do it." We need to keep a close eye on Haruka-chan to make sure she doesn't get pushed into appearing in commercials or dramas without proper preparation, just like me.
Haruka-chan will continue her lessons for a while, and on days when I have work, she will accompany me to the set to observe. She will be in a position similar to a bag carrier or an assistant, although I don't make her carry stuff or do odd jobs. The decision was made by the adults without consulting me or Haruka-chan, so neither of us had the right to refuse.
Currently, my regular jobs include being a child model for a magazine, and I'm working on two dramas. I also have ongoing commitments like shooting sequels for previous commercials and appearing on TV variety shows. I have the role of the younger sister of the heroine in the romantic drama, so I'm not the main character, but I got a role that is easy to remember for the viewers. I play the character who listens to complaints and advice while observing the older sister in high school struggling with her first love. It's a comedy, so the atmosphere on set is always enjoyable, with laughter erupting from time to time during filming.
The other drama I'm working on is a detective drama where I was called in as a substitute after a long time. It has a relatively conventional plot where a seasoned detective collaborates with colleagues to solve a case. My role comes in the last 5 minutes of the drama. I play the daughter of the detective who comes home after work, welcoming him and serving a late-night meal. Initially, they had arranged for a cooking specialist to prepare the dishes, and all the child actor had to do was focus on acting. However, the directorial staff decided to go wild with it.
They consulted the cooking specialist, and it was decided that the daughter character, played by the child actor, would cook. The girl who had already been cast in the role had never cooked before, and when she protested officially through the agency, saying that if they forced her to do something she couldn't, she would quit the role, it created quite a commotion. But by then, it was already widely known, and it couldn't be revoked. They started looking for a child actor who could cook, and that's how the offer came to me. It's a bit of a lucky break for me to get more work, but for the predecessor, it must have been quite a predicament.
However, for me, it's a fun job because I get to do acting and learn various cooking techniques and recipes from the cooking specialist. My previous life's cooking experience was ultimately self-taught through watching cooking shows or trying out someone else's recipes secretly, so getting formal instruction from someone is genuinely exciting. This way, I can make delicious meals for everyone in the dorm the next time I have to cook. I even find myself thinking about cooking for my parents, Nao, and Fumika someday.
We've already finished shooting three episodes, and the teacher and other staff who teach me cooking have given positive feedback on the dishes I made. However, the person who insisted on forcing the policy of having the child actor cook always complains to me, saying things like, "Did you really make this?" or "It looks too perfect, lacks interesting elements." It seems they wanted dishes that truly looked like a child made them, with uneven vegetables and an unappetizing appearance. Even though the other staff members supported my opinion, and it was officially decided that I could cook normally, I still get complaints and sarcastic remarks every time. Apparently, Yoko-san was with me at the time, and she heard the staff's comments. She seems to have been protesting to higher-ups, so we're still observing the situation.
I'm still doing my best as a magazine model, but my efforts are being hampered by the fact that my body isn't keeping up with my growth. My current height is about 140 cm, and rounding it up finally gets me to the 140 cm mark. By the way, I asked the health teacher before spring break, and the average height for sixth graders is around 146 cm. Considering that, I'm still quite small, and my weight hasn't increased much. This is a serious problem, and to make matters worse, the newcomer Haruka, who is the same age, surpasses the 150 cm mark. Whenever we're together, I look even younger, and it's a shock every time. Having Haruka, who is a healthy and superior child, as a comparison is quite tough for me, and it feels like I'm constantly dealing with my complexes.
It seems there's an unspoken rule in this magazine that once you graduate from elementary school, you also graduate from this job. However, I've secretly received suggestions that they'd like me to continue if my height doesn't grow much. It's more convenient and efficient for the shooting side to retain someone familiar with this shooting location, like me, rather than starting from scratch with a newcomer. But my height is sure to grow properly, probably, maybe.
"Sumire-san…, are you..."
"If it's hard to call me that, you can just use my first name. I call you Haruka too."
We've spent quite some time together recently, and I've noticed a slight pause when she addresses me. So, I suggested that we call each other by our first names without honorifics. Haruka said it's not hard for her, but not using honorifics seems to make us closer, and it makes me happy. My cheeks loosen up too.
"Sumire, you're amazing. You work a lot, but you give your best without cutting corners. I worked while living in my previous place, but I couldn't do it properly like you."
Ah, this is how a regular elementary school student should be, right? In the age of the internet, there might be elementary school kids who gather various information and develop self-awareness, but in the early Heisei era like now, even adults live in a relatively narrow world. Moreover, the narrow perspective of children who can only learn from adults living in that limited world is not hard to imagine. If we talk about childlikeness, children of this era might have the upper hand. Oh no, the conversation got off track.
"Hmm, I'm just doing what I want to do. But since I'm called for work, my acting generates money. If I'm receiving money, I want to provide work that's worth that amount, and I want the people who gave me the job to be satisfied. Thinking that way naturally makes me serious about my work, and I feel motivated to do my best."
"Sumire, are you working for the money?"
"That's one aspect, but the main reason is that I love acting. So, I go through unnecessary hardships, live alone in Tokyo away from my family... Well, there are various reasons, but let's save that for another opportunity."
I decided to keep it vague because revealing such complicated matters right after we met might not be appropriate. Haruka, not to mention Haruka herself, seemed to sense something and nodded vaguely, changing the subject.
Sitting side by side in the back seat of Yoko-san's car, we continued to chat about school, hobbies, and other introductory topics. Our relationship was still at the early stages of acquaintance, and there were many things we didn't know about each other. Maybe someday, as we spend more time together, I'll share my circumstances with Haruka. But for now, it's important to get to know each other better. While thinking about these things, I listened attentively to Haruka's words and nodded in agreement.
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