Chapter 140

“I see.” She was acting oddly cheery so as not to worry me, but it only added to my concern. “It wasn’t about my acting. It wasn’t about me. And that’s when I realized that this is how you must have felt.” “Stop worrying about me.” I wanted to comfort her, but the words wouldn’t come out. She had failed audition after audition and now this. How could anyone have guessed the CEO of an agency would personally contact her when he wasn’t even interested? I almost told her she should’ve joined Mr. Matsuda’s instead of being stubborn… But I swallowed the words back down. Relying on her connections was the last thing she’d want to do right now. “It seems like I do still have a chance to get in…” “Don’t say any more. I understand.” Everything I’d heard at the restaurant had been true. Fushimi’s voice was distorted by tears. “I finally got a role, in your movie, and someone noticed me. Should I really let it end like this…?” “Stop worrying about me. I don’t think you wasted an opportunity or anything.” I got the feeling Himeji had played a big role in all this. Fushimi’s childhood friend was an active celebrity, and she’d lost a part in a play to her by a hair. How could she not let it get to her? How could she not get desperate after failing so many times? “There aren’t that many popular actresses who were super active even in high school, are there?” I said. “Himeji just got a head start because she was an idol first. You shouldn’t worry so much about it.” I rubbed her back as she began to sniffle. “Sorry… I’m sorry. I always cause you so much trouble…,” she said. “No. I’m the one causing you trouble.” Once she calmed down a little, I told her to call home. She phoned her dad right away and told him I was with her. It was late, almost midnight. “You went out with Ai today, right?” Fushimi pouted. “How was it? Did you have fun? Even though I was having a miserable time?” “I didn’t know that would happen.” “You look like you had a lot of fun… You sure you weren’t bewitched by her boobs?” Fushimi furrowed her brow and looked at me with a face full of spite. “What’s her chest have to do with me having fun?” “Did you flirt?” “No.” “You’re lying.” “Wha?” “I can smell her perfume on you…” She stood up and started walking away. “Ai’s special to you, isn’t she?” Fushimi sounded angry, though her voice was flat. She’s special to you, too, isn’t she? I thought as I followed her, though I didn’t say it out loud. “I’m going home!” she said. “Don’t follow me!” “You were just crying, and now you’re angry with me? Come on, I’ll see you off. I’m not leaving until I know you’re safe at home.” “Ugh! Don’t bother!” She puffed out her cheeks like a child and sped up like she was trying to escape me. “C’mon, don’t be immature…” “You’re the child, you dummy!” “Don’t yell.” “I’m not yelling!” she shouted. Her steps were heavier than usual, too. “I thought you’d be too depressed to go on…” Despite her anger, I was relieved to see her so full of energy. “Are you here just to make me mad? Well, you’re doing a great job.” “I’m not. I was trying to cheer you—…” I stopped myself. If I said that, she might realize that I’d already known what happened. My fears ended up unfounded, though. “Okay, then. Come and cheer me up.” “O-oh?” Once put on the spot, I wasn’t sure what to do. “Um… Don’t worry!” I said. “Everything’s gonna be okay! You can do it next time! You’ve got this!” I started clapping, like I was cheering on a sports team. “Not quite what I was imagining.” She cocked her head and giggled. “Oh well. I don’t appreciate Ai marking you with her smell, but I’ll accept your encouragement.” She really held a grudge… I saw her home, and we waved good-bye. I hope she was able to pull herself back together. Now that I’d heard everything from Fushimi directly, I found it even harder to forgive that rotten lowlife.