Too good to be true

Approaching the door to the studio, I braced myself for Zane. Would he be a mess? Would he be holding up?

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

"So it's a motion with the palm, not the entire hand?" a staffer asked Zane.

"Correct, you just need to let the ball slide into the hand kind of like catching a baseball with a glove. Anyone have a basketball on hand?" Zane asked.

"Well our job is to draw basketball, so of course," another staffer grumbled as he tossed a basketball to Zane.

Just as he described, he caught the ball in his palm and spun it around in it.

"You really not play basketball professionally?"

"Wanted to, but couldn't... Ah! Chika Tetsu!"

I was noticed.

"Hi author-kun, it's been a while, you holding up?"

"Y- Yeah. When basketball's on the mind, it's easy to forget my nerves."

"Hmm? So then could you show me how to spin the ball on my finger proper?"

Zane nodded and grabbed the ball, however, he wasn't great at spinning it on his finger.

"I'm no Globespotter, but if we were at a court, I could make the shot from the other hoop easy."

"That sounds impressive! Can I see!?"

"Ahem! We have a schedule to keep," the director grumbled.

"Yes, my apologies."

Zane seems to be in high spirits, at least on the surface. Without some poking and prodding, I won't be able to know for sure if he's alright.

Greeting my co-stars, there were some familiar faces like Mariya, but also some I hadn't worked with all that much.

"Hey, Chika. You hear what went down with Sanji a few days ago?" Mariya asked.

"No, what was it?"

"I heard our nervous virgin of an author suddenly became all serious and strict, kind of like how I can get when people aren't fit for the role. As a result, Sanji and two others were forced to sit down for an hour n' hammer out how to properly handle the role, and when they came back, all got praised."

"That certainly sounds impressive."

"Does and don't. Sanji might've gotten the role, but the other two didn't, even at their best."

"Isn't that just a learning experience?"

"To some it is, others it isn't. Gonzo just wouldn't stop complaining about how jerkish our author friend was."

"Gonzo? Gozoboro, right?"

"Ain't any other Gonzo that would be short-listed for top roles, is there?"

Gozoboro Ono, stage name, Gonzo. Like Mariya, he's known to be a perfectionist, though far more tolerant when faced with struggling talent. I haven't worked with him as much as Mariya has, so I've got no idea on what he's truly like.

"Anything I should be aware of from this?"

"Hmm? Why are you acting on edge? Ruma mill spread some shit again?"

This could get bad. I have no idea if Zane's mental state is truly as good as he claims it is. If he's seen the articles, he'd probably be paranoid as hell, but disguise it with good vibes. There's also the possibility he hasn't seen it and he's finally getting into the groove of things, in which case exposing the truth to him could come with devastating consequences. They're referring to him by name, unintentionally or not, which would undoubtably rattle a person like him. He looks like he's trying so hard to get back into the swing of life, I can't let trash like Ruma mill ruin his life.

"Hmm, all seems quiet on their site, at least in regards to you."

"What!?"

I quickly whipped out my phone, and sure enough, the articles that had previously been up were gone. I then tried to go to social media, but nothing there as well. Everything had been deleted as if it never happened.

This is too good to be true... The Usagi girl... She must have a plan...

"Oi Chika! Time to get to work!"

"Ah, my apologies."

...

Hah! I feel GREAT! I don't know why, but being in Japan these past few weeks has truly rejuvenated years of my life. I don't think I've really sat down and doom scrolled the forums once since I've gotten here, nor would I want to change that now. Wallowing in my room browsing the internet and getting depressed from all the doom scrolling is something I never want to go back to. Yeah, the news pops up occasionally with a headline that upsets me, but then I see anime store, and that headline's an after thought.

I'm even starting to regain some of the social skills I had back in high school, but still, working with so many people who have voiced characters I know is still a nerve-wracking ordeal. I still can't handle Mariya, but Chika, maybe I'll be able to hold a conversation with her. She did seem to care about my well-being, so maybe there really is some truth to her wanting to get to know me better.

Of course... me trying to spin the ball on my finger couldn't have gone any poorer. Yeah, yeah, I'm a basketball player that can't spin the ball on my finger. That's not the point of the game, making baskets is, and I can make shots consistently from across the court. I've got the arm, all I need is the angle. And that's something I'd have over being able to spin a ball on my finger any day and timeline. Maybe I should invite Chika to the arcade to show off...

$$$

"Madam Bun, why did you delete all the articles?" Kasuga asked.

"Strategy. We're going to completely reframe this whole scoop," I stated.

"How exactly will we do that?"

I snapped my fingers and the room went dark.

"Direct your attention to the video. I do a good job recreating your trip up?"

Kasuga stared intently at the video of some hired hands dressed like her and Chika having a scuffle in the rain. Thanks to those cameras being down, us sneaking over to film some incriminating footage without getting caught was easy and easy. Chika will be wishing cameras were up when this new article goes live.

As for subject Doe, I've finally got it... He's gotta be Chika's secret lover... Oh how that will piss people off. "Our queen Chika Tetsu, seduced by some foreign prick!" You'll love to see it. And once that's in motion, I'll be the last of Chika's worries when all her fans start demanding she ditch the Doe and offer an apology. And best of all, I've got all the ammo to make sure Chika Tetsu is sent to the streets. The only question now is when I press the big red button.