Chapter 7 : The rookie

Monday arrived far too quickly

Ayase stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse for what felt like the fifteenth time.

“Big day?” Haru asked, leaning against the doorframe with a half-eaten toast.

“Very,” Ayase sighed. " a rookie actor will be there.”

“A rookie?” Haru’s eyebrow rose. “So you’re basically babysitting?”

Ayase smacked his arm lightly. “He’s an actor, not a toddler.”

“Same difference,” Haru shrugged. “Good luck.”

Souta shuffled behind him, eyes still half-closed. “Bring snacks.”

Ayase put on her shoes, laughing. “I’m not a vending machine.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t bring them…”

She shook her head, amused. “See you tonight.”

The hallway smelled faintly of fresh tatami and someone’s miso soup. As the elevator took her down, Ayase inhaled slowly. A new week. A new project. A new actor.

She just hoped he wasn’t a diva.

---

Namilab — 9:02 a.m.

The moment Ayase arrived, she was hit with the familiar vibrant chaos of Eclipse. Designers running around with fabric samples, copywriters arguing over tagline commas, interns rushing to deliver coffees like caffeinated butterflies.

Kana appeared from behind a stack of papers like a stressed jack-in-the-box.

“Ayase! You’re here! Perfect!” she exclaimed, grabbing Ayase by the elbow. “We need you in the studio — now.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Mostly. The new actor arrived early.”

“Already?” Ayase blinked. “Is he nervous?”

“Extremely,” Kana whispered. “And his agent is… um… interesting.”

Ayase stopped walking. “What do you mean, interesting?”

“You’ll see,” Kana said ominously.

---

Photography Studio — 9:10 a.m.

When Ayase entered the studio, she saw at once what Kana meant.

The rookie actor stood near a lighting rig, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. He was tall, slim, and had a quiet presence that made him look both shy and unexpectedly charismatic. His dark brown hair kept falling into his eyes, and every time he pushed it back, he flushed faintly — like he wasn’t used to being looked at.

His name, Ayase recalled, was Aki Hayama — a newcomer discovered only three months ago.

Next to him lounged a woman on a folding chair, slumped like a cat in the sun. She wore oversized sunglasses despite being indoors and lazily scrolled through her phone.

“That’s his agent,” Kana whispered. “Yurina.”

Ayase blinked. “She looks… relaxed.”

“She’s the most ferocious person in this building when she wants to be. But also the laziest,” Kana muttered. “Duality, you know?”

Before Ayase could reply, Yurina lifted her head and waved her phone.

“Hayamaaaa,” she drawled, “stop standing like a lost puppy. You’re making the lights pity you.”

“I-I’m not—” Aki stuttered, then instantly corrected his posture like a soldier being scolded.

Ayase stepped closer with a smile. “Good morning.”

Aki turned—and froze.

Then he bowed deeply. “G-good morning! I’m Hayama Aki. Please take care of me today.”

“Likewise. I’m Ayase Fujimoto. I’ll be assisting on the visual direction.”

He straightened, rubbing his neck. “I’m still not used to being photographed much… I hope I won’t cause trouble.”

Ayase’s smile softened. “You’ll be fine. It’s just a test shoot — think of it like stretching before a big run.”

He relaxed, shoulders unclenching slightly. “That… actually helps.”

Yurina pushed up her sunglasses, eyeing Ayase like a cat inspecting a guest.

“So you’re Ayase. The one who kept this project from falling apart last week, literally.”

“A-ah— I just did my job…”

Yurina’s lips curled into a lazy grin. “Aki, she’s competent. Try not to faint around her.”

“I-I don’t faint!” he squeaked.

Ayase bit back a laugh.

Their chemistry came easily — natural, quiet, with soft smiles and nervous breaths.

And someone else noticed.

---

Ren stepped into the studio with a cool aura that froze the surrounding air by a few degrees. Normally cheerful and polite, today his expression was unreadable — or rather, very readable in a cold, distant way.

His eyes drifted toward Aki.

Then toward Ayase standing close to him.

A small, sharp tension flashed in his jaw.

Ayase noticed immediately.

“Good morning, Ichinose,” she said gently.

Ren nodded once. “Morning.”

But his gaze flicked again to Aki, who bowed awkwardly.

“Nice to meet you,” Aki said.

“…Likewise,” Ren replied, his voice cool enough to frost glass.

Takeshi whispered under his breath, “Uh oh…”

Yurina smirked. “This is going to be fun.”

---

Stylists gathered around Aki, adjusting his measurements. Ayase stood beside him, giving small notes, helping translate the creative direction into something he could visualize.

“Imagine you’re caught between night and day,” she said.

Sounds stupid...

Aki nodded, eyes following her gestures carefully. “Like a moment that’s neither dark nor bright?”

“Exactly.”

He smiled, a shy but warm smile. “You explain things very well. It makes it less scary.”

Her cheeks warmed. “I’m glad.”

Ren watched from the side, pretending to scroll on his phone but very clearly glaring at the scene in front of him.

At one point, Aki wobbled when the stylist asked him to stand on a low platform. Ayase instinctively grabbed his arm.

“Careful!”

Aki steadied himself, face red. “S-sorry — I’m clumsy…”

“It’s alright. Just take your time.”

They were close. Very close.

Ren stood up so abruptly his chair screeched.

Takeshi nearly jumped out of his skin. “Ren-san?!”

“Just stretching,” he said with forced nonchalance.

Yurina snorted. Loudly. “Right. Stretching. Looked more like steam coming out of your ears.”

Ren glared at her. Yurina gave him a lazy peace sign.

---

Everyone gathered to review the visual style for the perfume.

The screen displayed the Eclipse concept: dark blues blending into gold, the poetic fusion of shadows and sunrise.

Ayase stood beside Aki, pointing at the silhouettes. “The idea is subtle transformation. You don’t need to act — just feel the atmosphere.”

Aki nodded. “I think I understand.”

Their shoulders brushed lightly. Aki jolted like he had been electrocuted.

Ayase pulled her hand back. “S-sorry!”

“N-no! I’m sorry! I just— I mean— I don’t mind—”

She laughed, unable to help it.

Ren sat across the table, arms crossed, staring at them like he was watching a crime scene.

Takeshi leaned toward him cautiously. “Ren-san… are you okay?”

Ren’s voice was smooth but clipped. “Perfectly fine.”

Yurina, feet kicked up on the table, smirked. “You sure? Because your aura says ‘jealous ex-boyfriend’.”

Ren nearly choked. “What?!”

Aki flinched at the volume. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” Takeshi reassured him immediately. “Ren-san is just… loud today.”

Ren shot him a betrayed look.

---

Ayase found herself sitting beside Aki in the break room. He picked at his bento nervously.

“Is it always this lively?” he asked.

“You get used to it,” she laughed.

He took a timid bite, then looked at her. “I’m glad you’re here. I was worried I’d mess everything up.”

Ayase softened. “You’re doing great, Aki.”

His eyes widened, warm and earnest. “Really?”

“Really.”

Aki smiled — bright and genuine.

Ayase felt her chest flutter.

On the other side of the glass wall, Ren walked by, saw the moment, and nearly tripped on his own feet.

Takeshi, walking behind him, burst into laughter.

“Oh wow,” he cackled. “You’re not even hiding it anymore.”

Ren glared. “Hide what?”

“The fact that you look like someone stole your favorite toy.”

“I do not—”

“You do,” he said lazily, patting his shoulder. “Don’t worry. Emotions happen to the best of us.”

Ren muttered something unintelligible and stormed off.

---

In the afternoon, the studio dimmed as the lighting team prepared a soft blue glow.

Aki stepped onto the backdrop, the Eclipse bottle in hand. He exhaled shakily.

Ayase stood behind the camera. “Just breathe. Think of a quiet night turning into morning.”

Aki met her gaze — and something in his posture shifted. He relaxed, expression softening into calm confidence.

The photographer clicked rapidly. “Beautiful! Yes — that’s it!”

Ren watched from the side, jaw clenched so tight Takeshi feared it might crack.

Ayase approached Aki between shots to adjust his collar. Her fingers brushed his neck lightly.

Aki froze, flushing crimson. “T-thank you…”

“No problem,” she said gently.

Behind them, Ren’s eye twitched.

Yurina leaned toward him lazily. “Careful. If looks could kill, you’d be arrested.”

Ren inhaled sharply. “I’m not—”

“You soooo are,” she smirked. “But don’t worry. Aki’s too dense to notice.”

Ren glared. “That’s not the problem!”

“Oh?” Her grin widened. “So there is a problem.”

Ren fell silent, cheeks slightly red.

Yurina chuckled triumphantly.

---

When the shoot wrapped up, Ayase walked Aki toward the elevator.

“You did amazing today,” she said.

Aki smiled shyly. “Only because you helped me.”

“You would’ve managed even without me.”

“I don’t think so,” he said softly. “I… felt calm when you were near.”

Her heart skipped.

Before she could respond, Ren appeared behind them like a storm cloud.

“Ayase,” he said, voice tight, “we need to discuss tomorrow’s schedule.”

Ayase blinked. “O-oh. Okay.”

Aki smiled politely. “I’ll see you tomorrow then, Ayase-san.”

“See you, Aki.”

The elevator showed her reflection: Aki’s soft smile, Ren’s cold stare, and her own slightly confused face caught between the two.

As the doors closed, Yurina walked by, hands in her pockets, smirking like a fox.

“Well, well,” she said to Ren, “this is going to be interesting.”

Ren scowled.

Yurina winked.

Ayase’s heart beat unevenly.

Something had shifted — and she wasn’t sure where it was leading.

End of chapter 7