[4] Art of War

I walked back to my apartment, the cool night air clearing my head. The deal with Mio felt like a step forward, but I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I was just trading one cage for another.

As I strolled, I mulled over my backstory. The drunk dad and absent mom? Too close to the truth. I needed something cleaner, something that would explain my independence without inviting too many questions.

An orphanage. That could work.

I started piecing it together in my mind. Abandoned as a baby, raised in a crowded orphanage. It explained why I lived alone, why I was so self-reliant. And it gave me a built-in excuse for any social awkwardness or lack of family knowledge.

"Yeah, I grew up in Sakura Home," I practiced under my breath. "It wasn't bad, just... lonely sometimes."

I rounded the corner to my street, still working out the details. Maybe I'd aged out of the system recently. That would explain why I was on my own at fifteen.

As I climbed the stairs to my apartment, I ran through potential questions and answers. Where was the orphanage? On the outskirts of Tokyo. Why didn't I get adopted? Just never happened, I guess. Did I have any friends there? A few, but we lost touch after I left.

I unlocked my door and stepped inside, kicking off my shoes. The empty apartment suddenly felt oppressive. I leaned against the wall, letting out a long breath.

This was my life now. A web of lies, each one carefully constructed to keep people at arm's length.

I pushed off the wall and headed for the shower. As the hot water pounded my back, I tried to shake off the melancholy. This was a fresh start, a chance to be anyone I wanted to be.

So why did it feel like I was just slipping into another role?

I stepped out of the shower, the hot water having washed away some of the melancholy that clung to me earlier. As I toweled off and caught my reflection in the mirror, I was glad to see that even if my face looked a little younger, my body hadn't changed much from my past life. Same lean, toned muscles and dancer's physique that I had worked so hard to achieve before.

I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and grabbed my laptop, settling onto my worn futon. If I was going to attend high school again in this new life, I figured I should do some research on my options. A quick search brought up the website for Youtou High School, which offered both a general education and performing arts program.

Scanning through the admissions criteria, I noticed that to be eligible for the performing arts track, applicants needed to be affiliated with a talent agency. Since I would now have ties to Rising Star, I wouldn't have to stress about taking an entrance exam. One less hurdle to worry about.

I read on, intrigued by the unique structure of the performing arts curriculum. Students had much more flexibility to leave early or miss days when work required it. As long as you maintained decent grades and attended at least one class per week, the absences were excused.

Leaning back against the wall, I pictured walking the halls of Youtou High, ducking out early for photoshoots and rushing to memorize lines between classes. It would be a hectic schedule, but I was used to operating on little sleep. And the freedom was appealing after so many years under Hidetora's thumb.

Closing the laptop, I stood and stretched, feeling restless. I needed to stay focused on the here and now - making rent, acing that entrance exam, establishing myself at Rising Star. The future could wait a little longer.

I grabbed a protein bar from the cupboard and munched on it as I stared out the window. The lights of Tokyo glittered below me, this familiar yet foreign city I now called home.

I leaned against the window frame, gazing out at the glittering cityscape below. Tomorrow I'd need to get to work researching this new world's entertainment industry. I wanted to know what was popular, who the top artists were, and if there were any trends I could capitalize on with my old repertoire.

Part of me wondered if I should even limit myself like that though. I had thousands of songs memorized from my past life - timeless hits that had enthralled audiences night after night. Did I really need to conform to whatever was trendy now?

I shook my head, laughing softly at my own arrogance. Much as I might like to believe otherwise, I was still just a nobody here. A kid with a decent voice, passable dance skills, and grand dreams of stardom. If I wanted to make it big, I'd need to be smart and strategic.

Pushing off from the window, I grabbed a notebook and pen and settled onto the futon. I jotted down ideas for research topics:

Current pop music charts - What's topping the lists? Any emerging trends?

Profiles on top artists - What's their sound? Image? Typical marketing strategy?

Industry forecasts - Any new genres predicted to break out soon? Declining ones to avoid?

Talent agency landscape - Key players? Differences in their approach?

Social media analytics - Most popular platforms? Influencer marketing opps?

This life may have dealt me a fresh hand, but I still knew how to play the game. Charm the fans, win over the critics, out-strategize the competition. The rules were different here, but the path to stardom would look much the same.

I flipped to a new page and started listing songs from my past repertoire that might work in this new era. The soaring ballads and smooth R&B numbers would probably still appeal to the lovelorn and lonely. But I'd need some higher energy dance tracks too, something I could really showcase my moves with.

As I scribbled down ideas, I caught myself smiling. There was something undeniably thrilling about getting to reinvent myself. Shedding old skins, trying on new masks - it was like an endless masquerade party where the only limit was my imagination.

A yawn escaped me as I glanced at the time. It was getting late, and I'd need to be rested for whatever tomorrow held. I tucked away my notebook, then brushed my teeth and washed my face.

Sliding under the covers, I thought about this second chance I'd been given. A new name, a new city, a new identity - it was all mine to mold as I saw fit. The past would always be a part of me. But it didn't have to define my future.

I could hardly wait to step into the spotlight once more. But this time, it would be as Akira Hoshino. Rising star, man of mystery, charming chameleon. The crowds would adore me, my rivals would envy me, and the industry would have no choice but to reckon with me.

Tomorrow, the work would begin. But tonight, I'd rest easy knowing this time, I was writing my own destiny. The stage was set. Now it was time for Akira Hoshino to take center stage once more.

I woke up early the next morning, eager to start researching this world's entertainment scene. After a quick breakfast of rice and miso soup, I opened my laptop and pulled up the music charts. Scanning the top hits, I noticed a few familiar trends - catchy melodies, slick production, lyrics about love or heartbreak. But there were also some surprises, like the prevalence of rap and hip-hop. I jotted down notes as I listened:

Upbeat tempo, syncopated rhythms

Lyrics focus on confidence, success, luxury

Heavy use of synthesizers and vocal effects

Next I searched the names of some actors I recalled from my past life, but found no results. I shifted my research to the most popular actors and movies of today. The top stars were all young, classically handsome leading men. But the critical darlings seemed to be those with more character in their faces, like the brooding actor Sosuke Yamada.

I queued up Yamada's latest drama film, a gritty crime story. His acting was subtle yet impactful, able to convey complex emotions with the slightest shift of expression. I could see why he was so acclaimed. As the credits rolled, I added to my notes:

Subtlety and nuance valued over theatrics

Non-linear storytelling and moral ambiguity popular

Characters with depth preferred over archetypes

I spent the rest of the morning alternating between listening to current hits and watching clips of trending shows and actors. By the time my stomach started rumbling for lunch, I had pages of notes analyzing the dominant aesthetics, themes, and talent.

As I washed down my convenience store onigiri with green tea, I smiled to myself. This entertainment world had its differences, but at its core it was much the same - hungry for new stars, susceptible to carefully crafted images, eager for the next big thing. And I planned to be that next big thing.

Over the next few days, I continued my research in every spare moment. I felt like a master strategist plotting my conquest of this unfamiliar new kingdom. Late at night, lyrics for potential songs sprang into my head, fusing modern hip-hop cadences with my soulful melodies. In the shower, I practiced facial expressions and gestures inspired by Yamada's nuanced style. I was determined to absorb everything about this world so I could take it by storm.

By the end of the week, I was overflowing with ideas but also exhausted from my obsessive cram session. As I brewed some coffee Friday morning, I decided a change of scenery might help energize me. I headed out and eventually found myself strolling through Yoyogi Park. The fresh air and greenery cleared my mind.

I took a seat on a secluded bench near the lake, sipping my coffee as I watched a pair of ducks waddling along the shore. This world was bigger than just its entertainment, I reminded myself. There were simple joys to be found, if you knew where to look.

As I headed home, feeling refreshed, something occurred to me. In studying this world so intently, I had gained invaluable insight. But real connection comes from immersing yourself in experiences, not just observing from a distance.

If I wanted my art to truly impact people, I couldn't just analyze trends in some detached, scientific way. I needed to live and breathe this culture, walk its streets, see through its eyes. Only then could I create something authentic, something that cut through artifice and spoke right to the heart.

I quickened my pace, excited by this realization. The research had given me direction, but now it was time for the real work to begin. No more hiding in my apartment studying the world like a subject in a petri dish. From today onward, I'd be venturing out into the thick of it, embracing everything this new home had to offer.

This world was my oyster now. And I couldn't wait to start shucking it open.