[43] Tangled Threads

"Akira, my boy! To what do I owe the pleasure?"

His jovial tone grated on my nerves, but I forced myself to match his friendly manner. "Good evening, Kaburagi-san. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

"Not at all, not at all!" he assured me. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, it's about today's shoot," I said, trying to keep my tone casual. "Specifically, the scene with Akane and Yuki."

Kaburagi's voice lost some of its warmth. "Ah, yes. Quite the dramatic moment, wasn't it? The viewers will eat that up."

I gripped the phone tighter. "Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Is there any way we could... not include that scene in the episode?"

There was a pause. Then Kaburagi chuckled. "Akira, my boy, you know how this works. Drama equals ratings. And that little altercation? Pure gold."

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "I understand that, but... Akane's really beating herself up over it. I'm worried about how she'll handle the backlash if it airs."

"That's the nature of the beast," Kaburagi said, his tone matter-of-fact. "If she can't take the heat, maybe this industry isn't for her."

Anger flared in my chest. I pushed it down, keeping my voice level. "Come on, Kaburagi-san. Surely there's enough other content from today to make a compelling episode without that scene."

"Akira, Akira," Kaburagi sighed. "You're a smart kid. You know as well as I do that conflict sells. It's what the people want."

I opened my mouth to argue, but just then, the apartment door swung open. Marin walked in, her arms laden with grocery bags. She looked up, surprised to see me on the phone.

I held up a finger, mouthing "one minute." Marin nodded, heading into the kitchen to unload the bags.

"Listen, Kaburagi-san," I said, lowering my voice. "I'm not asking for much. Just... consider it, okay? For Akane's sake."

Kaburagi was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his tone was conciliatory. "I'll tell you what. I'll bring it up with the higher-ups, put in a good word. But at the end of the day, it's their call."

My jaw clenched. "That's not-"

"Akira, baby, who are you talking to?" Marin called from the kitchen.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to take a calming breath. "That's very generous of you, Kaburagi-san," I said through gritted teeth. "I appreciate you looking into it."

"Of course, of course," Kaburagi said, his joviality returning. "Anything for my star performer. Now, if there's nothing else...?"

"No, that's all. Thank you for your time."

I hung up, resisting the urge to hurl the phone across the room. Marin poked her head out of the kitchen, her brow furrowed.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, just some work stuff. Nothing to worry about."

Marin studied me for a moment, then shrugged. "If you say so. Now, go get changed! Dinner's almost ready."

I nodded, heading into the bedroom. I stripped off my damp clothes, tossing them in the hamper. As I pulled on a comfortable pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, I tried to shake off the frustration from my call with Kaburagi.

By the time I emerged from the bedroom, the apartment was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of curry. Marin was setting the table, humming to herself.

"Smells amazing," I said, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.

She leaned back into me, tilting her head up for a kiss. "Thanks. It's a new recipe I wanted to try."

We settled at the table, digging into the steaming bowls of curry. As we ate, Marin chattered about her day.

"Oh, before I forget," she said, pointing her spoon at me. "My dad's coming over on Sunday for dinner."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's... great."

Marin laughed at my hesitation. "Don't worry, he promised to be on his best behavior. I think he's finally coming around to the idea of us living together."

"Well, that's progress," I said. "I'll let the front desk know to expect him."

Marin nodded, then gave me a curious look. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"Do you ever, like... ego surf? You know, Google yourself to see what people are saying about you online?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uh, not really. I mean, sometimes I'll check social media after an episode airs, just to see if the fans liked it. But I try not to get too caught up in all that. Why?"

Marin twirled her spoon in her curry, not meeting my eyes. "It's just... Ruby, Kana and I were talking the other day. About how in this business, we're the product, you know? And engaging with fans is supposed to be the best way to build your brand."

I set down my spoon, giving her my full attention. "Okay, and...?"

"And, well... they were saying how they sometimes get caught up reading comments and reviews. Like, obsessing over every little thing people say about them." Marin looked up at me, her eyes wide. "It sounds exhausting. And kind of scary, to be honest."

I reached across the table, taking her hand. "It can be," I said gently. "That's why I try to keep some distance from it."

"But how?" Marin asked, her brow furrowed. "How do you stay so... unaffected?"

I leaned back in my chair, considering Marin's question. How did I stay unaffected by the constant scrutiny? Truth was, I didn't always.

"It's not easy," I admitted. "Sometimes I slip up and read too many comments. But I try to remember that most of those people don't know the real me. They're reacting to a character I play, both on screen and in public."

Marin nodded slowly. "I guess that makes sense. But doesn't it ever bother you? When people say mean things?"

I shrugged. "Sure, it stings sometimes. But I've learned to separate my worth from their opinions. Plus, for every nasty comment, there's usually a positive one too."

"Yeah, but the mean ones stick with you more," Marin said, poking at her curry.

"True," I conceded. "That's why I limit my exposure. I check in occasionally to get a sense of how I'm being received, but I don't dwell on it. And I never, ever engage directly with haters."

Marin's eyes widened. "Never?"

I shook my head. "Nope. It never ends well. Either they double down on being jerks, or you end up saying something you regret. Better to just ignore them."

"Huh," Marin said, looking thoughtful. "That's actually really good advice."

I grinned. "I have my moments."

We finished our dinner, the conversation drifting to lighter topics. As we cleaned up, I couldn't shake the nagging worry about Akane. I hoped Kaburagi would follow through on his promise to talk to the higher-ups.

Later that night, as Marin slept peacefully beside me, I found myself scrolling through Twitter. Despite my own advice, I couldn't resist checking the reactions to the latest LoveforReal episode.

Most of the tweets were positive, praising the chemistry between the cast members. But as I scrolled further, I started seeing more critical comments. Some viewers thought the show felt too scripted. Others complained that certain cast members weren't getting enough screen time.

My thumb hovered over a tweet about Akane. The user had posted a screenshot of her looking uncomfortable during a group scene, captioned with a snarky comment about her lack of personality.

I closed the app, setting my phone aside. This was exactly why I tried to avoid this stuff. It was all too easy to fixate on the negative comments, even when they were outnumbered by positive ones.

I glanced at Marin, her face peaceful in sleep. She looked so young, so vulnerable. I thought about her earlier questions, her concerns about engaging with fans online. How long before she started seeing comments like the one about Akane?

The entertainment industry could be brutal, especially for young women. I'd seen it firsthand in my previous life with Hana.

I couldn't shield Marin from all of it, but I could try to prepare her. To help her develop the thick skin she'd need to survive in this world.

{Aqua's POV}

I sat at my desk, the glow of the computer screen illuminating the dimly lit room. My eyes scanned the information I'd gathered on Akira Hoshino, cross-referencing it with what I knew about my mother, Ai. The similarities were... unsettling.

Both orphans. Both thrust into the entertainment industry at a young age. Both possessing an uncanny charisma that drew people in like moths to a flame.

I pulled up a photo of Akira, studying his features. The resemblance to Ai was undeniable. Same eyes, same smile, same... everything.

My gaze drifted to the small plastic bag on my desk. Inside, a single strand of Akira's hair. I'd snagged it during one of our filming sessions, telling myself it was just curiosity. But now...

I picked up the bag, turning it over in my hands. Was it right to get this tested without Akira's consent? This wasn't like the situation with Kaburagi. Akira had nothing to do with Ai's death.

But if he was my brother somehow...

A knock at my door startled me out of my thoughts. I quickly shoved the bag into my desk drawer.

"Come in," I called.

Ruby poked her head in, her bright smile a stark contrast to the darkness of my room. "Hey, Aqua! Whatcha doing?"

I minimized the browser windows on my computer. "Just some research. What's up?"

Ruby bounded into the room, flopping onto my bed. "I was thinking we could watch a movie or something. You've been cooped up in here all day."

I glanced at the clock, surprised to see how late it had gotten. "Yeah, I guess I have. Sorry, I've just been... preoccupied."

Ruby sat up, her expression turning serious. "Is this about Akira?"

I froze. "What do you mean?"

She rolled her eyes. "Come on, Aqua. I'm not blind. You've been obsessed with him ever since we saw him . What's going on?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. How much should I tell her?

"It's... complicated," I said finally.

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Try me."

I turned back to my computer, pulling up the files I'd been looking at. "Okay, look at this. This is Akira's background, as far as I've been able to piece together. And this," I opened another window, "is what we know about Mom's early life."

Ruby leaned in, her eyes widening as she scanned the information. "Holy crap," she breathed. "They're almost identical."

I nodded. "Yeah. And that's not all. Look at these photos."

I pulled up side-by-side images of Ai and Akira at similar ages. Ruby gasped.

"They could be twins," she said.

"Exactly," I said. "Which is why I've been wondering..."

Ruby's head snapped up. "You think he might be our brother?"

I shrugged. "Half-brother, maybe. We don't know anything about Ai's family. It's possible she had a sibling we never knew about."

Ruby was quiet for a moment, processing this. Then she asked, "Have you talked to him about it?"

I shook my head. "No. I... I'm not sure how to bring it up. 'Hey, I think you might be my long-lost uncle, want to get a DNA test?'"

Ruby snorted. "Yeah, that might be a bit much." She paused, then asked, "So what are you going to do?"

I hesitated, then slowly opened my desk drawer. I pulled out the plastic bag with Akira's hair.

Ruby's eyes widened. "Is that...?"

I nodded. "I got it during filming. I've been debating whether or not to get it tested."

"Without his permission?"

"I know," I said. "It's not... ideal. But if he is related to us, don't we have a right to know?"

Ruby bit her lip. "I don't know, Aqua. It feels kind of... invasive."

I sighed, setting the bag back on the desk. "You're right. I just... I can't shake this feeling that he's connected to us somehow. To Mom."

Ruby was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "Why don't you just talk to him?"

I blinked. "What?"

"Talk to him," she repeated. "You guys are friends now, right? Maybe if you open up to him about Mom, he'll open up about his past. You might find some answers without having to go behind his back."

I leaned back in my chair, considering her words. It was so simple, yet it hadn't even occurred to me. Maybe I was too used to operating in the shadows, always assuming the worst.

"You might be right," I said slowly.

Ruby grinned. "Of course I am. I'm the smart twin, remember?"

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, yeah. Don't let it go to your head."

She stood up, stretching. "So, movie night?"

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Ruby."

As we headed out of my room, I cast one last glance at the plastic bag on my desk. I'd leave it there for now. Maybe I wouldn't need it after all.