Chapter 2 : the actor's request

The morning after the meeting felt strangely heavy. 

Ayase walked into the office clutching a canned coffee, praying no one would mention yesterday’s disaster.

No such luck.

Kana was already waiting by her desk, grinning.“You’re famous! The whole floor’s talking about you.”

Ayase groaned. “Why?”

“You argued with Ren Ichinose. People dream of meeting him, not verbally sparring with him.”

“I didn’t argue,” Ayase muttered. “I corrected him.

“Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that.”

Before Ayase could hide under her desk, Mr. Sudo appeared, his face unreadable.“Conference room. Now.”
Her stomach dropped. I’m fired, aren’t I?
Inside, two men waited — Takeshi and, of course, Ren Ichinose himself, wearing sunglasses indoors like a celebrity cliché.
Ren looked perfectly calm, scrolling through his phone. Takeshi gestured toward a chair.

“Sit, Fujimoto.”

She obeyed, clutching her tablet like armor.

Ren finally spoke. “Your new design — the one you edited last night. I saw it.”
Ayase blinked. “You… what?”
He lowered his sunglasses slightly. “It’s good.
Her mouth fell open.
Mr. Sudo almost fainted with relief. “Wonderful! So we’ll go with Fujimoto’s concept, then?”
Ren nodded once. “Yes. But—” His eyes met Ayase’s. “I want her to oversee the rest of the campaign personally.”
Ayase froze. “M-me?”
Takeshi smiled faintly. “It’s his condition. He wants direct collaboration.”
Ren shrugged. “If my face is on it, I care how it’s shown.”
Mr. Sudo beamed. “Then it’s settled!”
Ayase wanted to protest — but Ren was already walking out.

By lunch, the whole office knew.Ayase was officially assigned to work side-by-side with Ren Ichinose for the next two months.

Kana nearly burst from excitement. “Do you realize what this means? You’ll be breathing the same air as him daily!”
“Yeah,” Ayase said weakly. “And probably losing my sanity.”
The first photoshoot took place three days later in a minimalist studio.Ayase arrived early with design samples, still wondering why him, why me, when a familiar voice called.
“Fujimoto!”
She turned. Takeshi waved from across the set.
“It’s been a while,” he said softly. “Since high school, right?”
She smiled. “Seems so. You haven’t changed much.”
He laughed. “I look like I’ve slept two hours since teenage hood. I definitely changed.”
His expression then softened. “Dont worry everything will be fine.”
Before she could answer, Ren walked in — surrounded by makeup artists. He looked ethereal even in plain clothes, but his eyes carried that same cool distance.
When their gazes met, he nodded slightly. “Morning.”
Ayaka blinked. He greets people?
The shoot began. Flash after flash captured Ren’s poised expression — perfect jawline, flawless angles, everything meticulously controlled.
But when Ayase reviewed the photos, something felt wrong.
“They’re too polished,” she said quietly. “He looks… untouchable.”
The photographer frowned. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”
Ayase shook her head. “No. The perfume’s concept is ‘Eclipse’ — warmth behind the dark. We need something softer.”
Everyone hesitated. Then Ren spoke from the set, surprising them all.“Let’s try it.”
He turned toward Ayase. “Tell me what you want.”
Her heart jumped. “I—uh… maybe less direct eye contact. Look away, like you’re thinking about something real. Something… you miss.”
Ren studied her for a moment, then closed his eyes.
The next photos had a completely different tone — gentle, human.
Ayase watched, half-dazed, as the arrogant actor transformed in front of the lens, following her quiet instructions like it was second nature.
When the photographer finally said “Cut,” Ren glanced at her again. “Better?”
Ayase nodded slowly. “Much.”
Takeshi watched from behind the monitors, smiling to himself. So he listens to her.
After the shoot, Ren lingered while everyone packed up.
“You’re not what I expected,” he said suddenly.
Ayase looked up from her tablet. “And what did you expect?”
“Someone who’d say yes to everything I said.”
She smirked. “Sorry to disappoint.”
Ren almost smiled. “Don’t apologize.”
For a brief second, the atmosphere softened — until her phone buzzed.A message from Haru:
|The landlord came. We’re short on rent again this month.|
Ayase’s stomach twisted. She quickly locked the screen, forcing a smile. “I should get going.”
Ren noticed the change but didn’t comment. “See you tomorrow, Fujimoto.”
She hesitated. “You remembered my name.”
“Of course.” He turned away. “You’re hard to forget.”
Her pulse skipped. She told herself it was just politeness. Probably.
Outside, Tokyo’s evening lights shimmered in the rain. Ayase hugged her folder close, thinking about her chaotic life — work deadlines, unpaid bills, and now… Ren Ichinose.

She should’ve been exhausted. Instead, she felt oddly awake.

From a few steps behind, Ren watched her silhouette disappear into the crowd, umbrella tilting against the rain.
Takeshi came up beside him. “You really plan to work with her that closely?”
Ren’s expression didn’t change. “She sees me differently. It’s refreshing.”
Takeshi frowned slightly. “Just remember — she’s not part of your world.”
Ren’s eyes lingered on the fading crowd. “Maybe she should be.”
End of Chapter 2