[CH.78] A Conversation With Yoko-san and Entering Middle School
After the meeting, instead of being taken back to the dormitory as usual, I thought it would be better to have a proper discussion, so I had Yoko-san drop me off at the office.
Even though there is no night shift today, unexpected offers sometimes come in a bit late, so there are people at the office until a somewhat late hour.
"Huh? Yoko-san, wasn't it a straight return for Sumire-chan today?"
"Haha, we had a brief meeting to attend. Is it okay if we use one of the private rooms?"
The staff lady, who was flipping through a thick file, called out to us, and I responded with a wry smile, thanking her for permission. Although I can't imagine there are others having late-night meetings in private rooms at this hour, it's good to confirm. After receiving confirmation that we could use the room, I thanked her and led Yoko-san inside.
"Yoko-san, take a seat. Come on, over here."
Prompting Yoko-san, who seemed somewhat downhearted for some reason, to sit down, I took a chair on the other side of the desk. Maybe Yoko-san thinks I'm going to blame her, but I've already said what I wanted to say during that meeting. What we discuss here is more like a confirmation.
"Sumire, I'm sorry. Today was truly a misjudgment on my part. If I had properly listened, I would have realized that this plan would place too much burden on you. Instead of immediately taking the matter to the director when the offer came in, I should have consulted with you and heard your opinion."
"Yoko-san, you don't need to apologize anymore. It's true that I wanted to hear about it in advance, but since Ms. Azusa gave her permission, and it's a project from an acquaintance, I think it's unavoidable."
I responded with a wry smile and a few waves of my hand to assure her that I wasn't angry. However, what concerns me more is how much Yoko-san knew about the details of the project.
"How did you hear about this plan from Mr. Nishijima, Yoko-san?"
"He told me he wanted Sumire to participate in a band project this time. He mentioned that you had played the piano before, and although practicing the keyboard would be necessary, he assured me that it wouldn't be as burdensome as during that movie shoot."
As expected, it turns out that Mr. Nishijima only conveyed the convenient aspects to Yoko-san. When I asked if she knew the detailed content, it seems he mentioned wanting to do something like a documentary about a girls' band with a focus on friendship. Viewers tend to support those who are working hard, and for me, gaining popularity without infamy would be an unexpected blessing.
It's understandable that she might hesitate to delve into the details of an offer she hasn't accepted yet, considering that it might strain the relationship with a longtime acquaintance.
Watching the interaction between Mr. Nishijima and Yoko-san when I first met them, it seemed like they were on familiar terms and spoke casually. However, there's a possibility that he might have looked down on Yoko-san a bit. Whether this is due to the age difference or some other factor is unclear. If he thought that by giving a superficial explanation to Yoko-san and obtaining her approval, he could easily handle the rest, that's a bit unforgivable.
Since he only told us what suited our interests, even if Yoko-san had informed me in advance, there's a chance I might have given my approval without much thought.
This is purely my imagination, but I feel like in the entertainment industry of this era, there are a lot of insiders who underestimate women. Yoko-san, who works actively and speaks her mind, might have been perceived as cheeky. Perhaps it was an action stemming from strange pride, like thinking, "I've been taking care of her for a while, so I can make her listen to what I want to say." I'm not entirely sure.
"As for me, when someone pulls off a trick like that, I can't help but worry that I'll be forced into similar situations in the future. So, I'd like to decline this job. And while completely cutting ties might be difficult, I think it's better to distance yourself from Mr. Nishijima."
Engaging in a direct confrontation wouldn't lead anywhere, so by expressing the refusal to take on this job, our dissatisfaction should be clear. Considering Mr. Nishijima's pride, even among men working in the entertainment industry, he might consider me, who embarrassed him instead of Yoko-san, as an adversary. I can easily ignore sarcasm or insults, and if personal feelings start interfering with work, I can consult with Ms. Azusa, who supports me. It happened in my past life as well, people obstructing the work of someone they dislike due to personal reasons... even though it benefits no one.
Since it's still in the realm of possibilities, there's no use worrying too much. If it actually happens, we can think about it then. Yoko-san promised to thoroughly discuss even the offers that come from her acquaintances, and I consider that sufficient. While there's no need to become overly suspicious, developing a habit of consulting someone when in doubt is a good idea.
From my perspective, I appreciate Yoko-san's consideration to "establish achievements in paths other than acting, just in case." It's absolutely necessary to have a contingency plan. As we discussed our future plans in a short meeting, Yoko-san kindly drove me back to the dorm. She mentioned that she would explain the situation to Ms. Azusa, and seeing Yoko-san looking downcast and expecting to be scolded, I encouraged her before getting out of the car.
"Well then, if our schedules align, please let me know. I'll go apologize together with the staff who were present today. You don't need to apologize, I'll make sure to apologize sincerely."
"Maybe it's calculated, but I'm still a green actor. It might actually increase the chances of being liked if the person involved goes to apologize. If I leave it all to you, and they think, 'Who does this presumptuous kid think she is?' I might end up disliked even more, you know?"
Going to apologize together makes us seem like partners who share both hardships and joys. When I jokingly mentioned this, Yoko-san showed her usual smile.
A car came up behind us, and since it would be inconvenient to stay parked here forever, Yoko-san said, "Well then, good night," and smoothly drove off. A parking space had been set up a bit away, likely created for times when visitors came to see Ms. Azusa, just like when I visited a while ago. I wondered if Yoko-san might forget to talk to Ms. Azusa and just go home. With that concern in mind, I opened the sliding door of the front entrance and headed towards the dorm.
Despite the unpleasant incident, the spring break, during which I felt the momentum of my upcoming work as a new middle school student, came to an end.
Before school started, Yoko-san and I went to apologize to the mentioned staff and conveyed our decision to decline the offer. I had expected to be scolded severely, but instead, they seemed more sympathetic towards us, offering words of comfort like, "It must have been tough."
On the staff's side, their anger seemed to be directed more towards Mr. Nishijima, who had boasted that my participation was almost a guaranteed condition for the project. They warned us that the cancellation of the project was being blamed on us and that Mr. Nishijima was spreading rumors about us causing its failure. Unfortunately, the staff had also been sharing Mr. Nishijima's complaints behind the scenes with various industry professionals, and the word from multiple staff members was spreading faster than Mr. Nishijima's negative reputation. It seemed like they viewed his behavior as irresponsible scapegoating.
"Thank you for the information. If the situation continues to escalate, our agency will consider legal actions and issue a warning," Yoko-san said with a dignified demeanor, bowing quietly. There was no trace of the vulnerability she had shown that night, and it was evident that she had completely let go of the situation.
We don't know what will happen with Mr. Nishijima's future actions, but from our perspective, we would like to consider this matter closed. We've had some unpleasant experiences, and we can't keep getting involved in such matters forever.
While engaging in several new projects and going about my daily life, the day of the entrance ceremony arrived in the blink of an eye. I was hoping to somehow delegate the task of delivering the freshman representative speech to someone else, but my work kept me too busy, and I ended up doing it myself. I managed to give it my best shot as the freshman representative. Whether such offers will come in the future is uncertain, but practicing the role of an exemplary student in a school drama isn't a challenge.
Looking at the rows of new and current students lined up on stage, I noticed that, apart from parents, there were only girls. While this school accepts male students until the end of middle school, it seems that even with a high academic ranking, there is no perceived benefit in enrolling in a private school without an escalator system. There haven't been many male students here until now, it's practically like an all-girls school.
Before heading to school, Haruka and I had talked about how nice it would be if we were in the same class, but unfortunately, we ended up in different classes. The school was divided into six classes from A to F, and I was placed in Class A, which seemed to gather students who were accepted through recommendations or had to consult about missing school due to various reasons. Haruka, despite having similar conditions, was assigned to Class C. There is no implication that Class A is exceptional or Class F has the lowest ability, so please don't misunderstand.
After the entrance ceremony, when we entered our respective classrooms, the teacher's self-introduction transitioned to student introductions. Since the teacher had given us the topic of introducing ourselves with our names and what we wanted to do at this school, I had mentioned that I wanted to balance school life and entertainment activities.
"Is 'entertainment activities' like wanting to become a celebrity?"
"Well, I might have seen that girl's face on TV."
"Since she mentioned it in the self-introduction, maybe she's going to become a celebrity in the future?"
With a nod and a slight bow, I took my seat, and I overheard whispers around me. With my keen ears, there didn't seem to be any malicious intent in the words I heard, and I thought I managed to handle it well.
As I listened to other students' introductions, I realized that this class had a diverse range of talents. There were people aiming for the inter-high in track and field, a student who achieved a special selection in an art exhibition that elementary school students could apply for, and someone who became the national champion in a softball competition for elementary school girls. About half of the students had entered through recommendations or had some kind of talent. However, it seemed challenging to fill an entire class with such talented individuals, and there were also ordinary students expressing their hobbies, interests, or a desire to find something they wanted to do.
Wishing them all the best in finding something they could be passionate about, I couldn't help but feel a bit sad at my own reaction, which was akin to looking at my niece with an auntie's supportive perspective.
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