Chapter 14:

Chapter 14 : teasing

Everyday you, Shining you

Ren had finished changing out of his costume when he stepped out of the makeup room and caught sight of Takeshi leaning casually against the corridor wall. The agent was tapping at his phone.

Ren slowed. His gaze drifted, instinctively, toward the main office hall.

Ayase wasn’t there of course. But he’d seen her earlier talking with Takeshi. Close. Whispering. Almost conspiratorial.

Ren didn’t do jealousy.

Or… he wasn’t supposed to.

But for the last hour, an uncomfortable itch had been living under his skin.

“Hey,” Ren said casually—too casually—as he approached his agent. “You were talking with Ayase earlier.”

Takeshi looked up, blinked once.

Then smirked.

“Oh? Ren. Didn’t realize you were keeping track of Ayase’s conversations. Should I start sending you updates?”

Ren’s ears felt suspiciously warm. “I don’t keep track. I just… saw you two.”

“Mhm.” Takeshi pocketed his phone.

“Takeshi.”

“Yes?”

Ren exhaled, annoyed at himself more than anything. “I just want to know if everything is okay. She looked serious.”

“Ah, so that’s what this is about.” Takeshi grinned knowingly.

Ren stayed quiet.

Takeshi’s grin widened. “You really don’t see it, do you?”

Ren raised an eyebrow, defensive. “See what?”

“You’re interested in her.”

Ren opened his mouth. Closed it. Tried again.

“…I’m… curious about her.”

“Curious,” Takeshi repeated, tapping his chin as if evaluating a rare animal. “That’s the kind of word middle-school boys use when they steal glances at their crush.”

Ren frowned. “I don’t crush.”

“You don’t?” Takeshi tilted his head. “Then why are you asking me about a conversation you only overheard with your eyes?”

Ren groaned. “Can you just tell me what you two were talking about?”

Takeshi laughed, leaning back against the wall. “Relax. She wasn’t asking about you.”

Ren didn’t know if he should be relieved or disappointed.

“It was about her friend,” Takeshi continued.

“Which one ?”

“Minami Kana”

“ah”

“You know about her?”

“I overheard them once. They are like besties .” Ren crossed his arms. “Is she in trouble?”

Takeshi shrugged. “ her new boyfriend is a journalist and we both know that journalists are like wild raccoons. Cute from far away. Dangerous near trash.”

Ren snorted. “That’s oddly poetic for you.”

“I’m a man of depth,” Takeshi declared proudly.

Ren gave him a look.

“Depth comes in many forms.”

Ren shook his head but smiled. “So Ayase is worried.”

“Yeah. She thinks Kana’s heart might be in danger.” Takeshi paused. “Ayase is… protective.”

Ren’s gaze softened. “She is.”

Takeshi noticed.

“Ohhh, there it is,” he teased. “That tone. Soft like mochi. You’re gone, Ren. You’ve fallen.”

Ren stiffened. “I haven’t fallen.”

“You’re halfway underground.”

“I’m not—”

“You want to know more about her? Fine.” Takeshi pressed a hand to his chest dramatically. “I will share my deep, ancient wisdom.”

Ren rolled his eyes. “Please don’t.”

“Ayase is hardworking to the point of self-destruction. She cares too much. She carries her brothers, her work, everyone. So if someone—let’s say a famous actor with a permanently grumpy face—were to like her… he’d better not play with her.”

Ren went silent.

Takeshi watched him carefully, still smiling but with sincerity behind it.

Ren’s voice came quieter. “I don’t play.”

“I know.” Takeshi clapped his shoulder. “I just needed to be sure.”

Ren nodded once.

Takeshi smirked again. “Also, if you ever try to confess, you’ll need my help.”

“I won’t—”

“You will struggle,” Takeshi said. “I can already see the scene. You’ll freeze. You’ll overthink. Ayase will panic. The world will burn.”

Ren ran a hand down his face. “Takeshi, can you stop narrating imaginary disasters?”

“No. I’m your agent.”

“That has nothing to do with this.”

“It has everything to do with this.”

Ren groaned again, turning to leave.

Takeshi called after him, sing-song: “Ren~ You like her!”

“Goodbye, Takeshi.”

“I’ll plan your wedding speech!”

“GOOD. BYE.”

Takeshi cackled as Ren stormed off with ears very, very red.

---

Elsewhere in the city, far from the bright sets and teasing agents, Kota wiped the edge of his glasses and checked the time.

His friend was late.

As usual.

They met in a small ramen shop tucked between a convenience store and a karaoke bar. Neon lights flickered through the window, tinting the table pink and blue.

Finally, someone slid into the seat across from him.

“Yo,” the newcomer said, tossing a camera bag down. “Busiest day of the week. Three idols, two scandals, and one actor who kept hiding behind plants.”

Kota suppressed a smile. “You were always good at catching people in their worst moments.”

“I don’t catch. They reveal themselves.” The man shrugged. “So. You dragged me here. Big scoop?”

Kota leaned forward. His expression sharpened.

“You heard of a project called Eclipse?”

The friend blinked. “Eclipse? No. Should I?”

Kota lowered his voice. “It’s the internal name for a major collaboration between Namilab and a top-tier actor.”

“Oh? Who?”

Kota smiled slowly. “Ichinose Ren.”

The paparazzi’s eyebrows shot up. “Ren? That man doesn’t do risky campaigns. That’s… big.”

Kota nodded. “Exactly.”

He reached into his bag, pulling out a notebook.

“The problem is, the company has the project buried under layers of secrecy. The staff aren’t talking. But I got confirmation that something huge is brewing. Something that could shake his career.”

The paparazzi whistled. “And you want in.”

“Of course.” Kota tapped his fingers on the table. “But I need access. Something from the inside. Someone who can help me figure out what Ren is doing, why the secrecy, why the sudden intensity around the ad team.”

His friend leaned back. “You found someone, right? That’s why you look like a cat that stole a wallet.”

Kota’s expression shifted—subtle, calculating.

“I met a woman,” he said lightly.

“Aha. Here we go.”

“She works in the advertising team. Smart. Sharp. Trusted by everyone.”

“Oooh, dangerous type.”

Kota nodded thoughtfully. “I’m… getting close to her friend. Kana.”

The paparazzi stopped stirring his ramen.

“…Getting close how?”

Kota shrugged with an air of innocence. “She’s kind. Sweet. Easy to talk to.”

“And she has access.”

Kota didn’t answer.

His friend sighed. “You’re playing with fire. You know that, right?”

Kota leaned forward again, eyes gleaming with ambition. “This is the story, Daiki. A project under deep secrecy. A top actor. High stakes. Every agency in Tokyo would kill for this scoop. And I’m right next to the people who know.”

Daiki crossed his arms. “You sound obsessed.”

“Dedicated,” Kota corrected coldly. “This could be the biggest piece of my career. And if I need to bend a few lines to get close—”

“You mean a person.” Daiki arched an eyebrow.

Kota’s expression flickered—just for a moment.

Something like guilt.

Then it vanished.

Daiki clicked his tongue. “This is dirty even for you.”

Kota didn’t deny it.

“I keep dating Kana.”

Daiki stared. “And if she finds out why you’re really with her?”

Kota’s smile faded. His voice dropped, colder.

“She won’t.”