I was Thrown into an Unfamiliar Manga

All filming wrapped up around 6 PM.

Compared to having waited all day, the time I actually worked was barely a blink, but it was a valuable experience in its own way.
Though the drama only aired for one hour on TV, the actual filming site put in far more time and effort to produce it.
Should I say there was a kind of heat in the air? The passion from the people creating the drama was also a good stimulus for me.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I wanted to become an actor.
I just thought, someday I’d like to have a job where I could work joyfully like this.
On the way home.

Just like in the morning, I boarded the tour bus that the broadcasting station had chartered.
The only difference this time was that someone else was sitting next to me.
He awkwardly greeted me.

"Ah, hello."
The man was the actor Yamada Junpei, who had suddenly ad-libbed during the warehouse scene while playing the delinquent gang leader.
He looked to be in his early to mid-twenties.

Seeing his awkward expression as he greeted me, I realized I was being misunderstood again, so I spoke up first.
"I’m younger than you, so feel free to speak casually."
At that, Mr. Yamada stared at me with dazed eyes for a moment.

"How old are you?"
"I turned seventeen this year."
After hearing my answer, Mr. Yamada suddenly started acting chummy and began talking about all sorts of personal things.

I thought to myself, "He’s pretty brazen for someone we just met," and listened to him with one ear and let it out the other.
"Man, you saved my life back there."
"I didn’t really do anything."
"You went along with my best ad-lib in that long take scene. If you hadn’t, the director would’ve chewed me out for overstepping as a rookie."

"Haha…."
He seemed like the type who just said whatever came to mind, so I gave an empty laugh and avoided his gaze.
"But hey, are you planning to become an actor? If you have any questions, just ask. I’ll tell you everything I know."

When I heard that, I shook my head.
"No, I just came to do a part-time job. I don’t have any plans to become an actor."
"Really? That’s a shame. If you were aiming to be an actor, I was going to pass on all my acting know-how."

In the end, Mr. Yamada kept talking non-stop until the bus reached the NHK broadcasting station stop.
I regretted engaging with him.
If I’d known he was this much of a chatterbox, I would’ve just pretended to be asleep.

After getting off the bus, Mr. Yamada waved his hand vigorously and said we should meet again if we ever had the chance.
I’ve always had this feeling, but it seems I’m weak against people who approach me without a sense of distance like that.
I clearly got on the bus at dawn while watching the sunrise, and now, seeing that the sky had grown dim, I decided to reward myself a little for working hard today.

"Thank you! Come again!"
After all, fried chicken on the way home is irresistible.
***

Two weeks later.
Episode 7 of The Blue: Academy Youth Apocalypse, in which I appeared as a minor role, aired on NHK.
According to Rika’s explanation, the drama’s storyline came from volume 4 of the original work, and it was an episode where the main character “Agito,” who had just become a teacher earlier that year, bravely stormed into a den of delinquents to save his classmate “Sato Yuzuru,” a runaway girl who had fought with her parents.

Well, like most youth dramas, it had its share of cringey moments, but that’s to be expected.
Keeping that in mind, it was actually pretty watchable.
No—if I’m being honest, it was a well-made piece.

It had less of the excessive emotion typical of Japanese dramas, so it felt more realistic, and above all, the story itself was well-structured and engaging.
The actor who played Agito, whom I met on set, had struck me as more of a gentle type, but the character he portrayed on screen looked strikingly similar to that guy Goto.
About 50 minutes into the episode, the scene I appeared in finally came up.

It was the scene where Agito charges into the delinquents’ hideout alone to rescue Sato Yuzuru (Minato Naoya), who had been captured by the gang. The dark warehouse setting, complete with props like oil drums and metal cages, made it look like a demon king’s castle.
And there I was, sitting at the far end of the warehouse, wearing a long, customized gakuran and a torn student cap.
I’ve felt this before, but seeing myself from an objective perspective like this—my face really looks terrifying.

I’d sat there expressionless, trying to create a serious mood, but it came across way more gangster-like than I expected.
At first, Agito and the blonde delinquent (Mr. Yamada) grabbed each other by the collars while surrounded by henchmen. Then, as I watched them from behind, I slowly rose to my feet.
With my right hand in my pocket, I walked toward the two and said:

"Let him go."
Then, the camera zoomed in on the two faces I hadn’t been able to see clearly from my position.
Their expressions had gone pale, as if they’d just encountered a tiger in the mountains.

Agito, the protagonist, took it a step further and gulped nervously.
As expected of a seasoned actor—his performance was top-tier.
Then, Mr. Yamada threw in a fiery ad-lib.

"Boss! That bitch Sato sold out Komuro to the pigs to save herself! You’re really gonna let her go?!"
I was startled by his unexpected ad-lib and turned to look at him, but my expression on camera came across like I was saying, ‘A subordinate… talking back?’
After that brief act of insubordination, Mr. Yamada turned his gaze away with a frightened look and let go of Agito’s collar.

"Tch. Take her."
Then the actor playing Agito looked back and forth between us and quickly helped Minato Naoya, who had been lying on the floor, to her feet and rushed out with her.
That was the end of episode 7.

"……."
They’re ending it there?
I shivered at the PD’s terrifying cliffhanger technique.

***
At that very moment—
Comments on episode 7 of The Blue: Academy Youth Apocalypse were pouring into the viewer forum.

======================================================================
1. Anonymous VIP poster: 2017/06/14(Wed) 18:23:18.47 ID:BlackCOW
Why the hell is there a real delinquent in the drama?
2. Anonymous Office Worker
That look in Agito’s eyes at the end… there’s no way that was acting. I think he was genuinely terrified.

3. Anonymous High Schooler
Yo, that dude looks sick? Lemme borrow him real quick.
4. Anonymous University Student
Gaaah! Stop! That scene brought back my high school trauma!
5. Anonymous Store Clerk
That actor at the end? He’s a local high schooler in our area.

6. Anonymous Office Worker
5
With that face and that body, he’s a high schooler?
7. Anonymous Store Clerk
Yeah, he’s actually super model student-y. I heard he’s never missed the top spot in his grade since entering high school.

8. Anonymous University Student
Smart and athletic? The world’s not fair.
9. Anonymous VIP poster: 2017/06/14(Wed) 18:43:23.41 ID:BlackCOW
Well, at least his face is a bit haggard.
10. Anonymous University Student
Oh, thank god. He’s probably small down there too, right???

11. Anonymous High Schooler
But if what the store clerk says is true, doesn’t that mean he has nothing to do with the drama world? How’s he so good at acting?
12. Anonymous Store Clerk
It wasn’t acting. He’s one of our regulars. He’s always got that vibe when he keeps his mouth shut.
13. Anonymous High Schooler
He’s always like that? If I ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) ran into him randomly in town, I’d shit myself on the spot.

14. Anonymous Office Worker
I’ve already got my diaper on.
15. Anonymous University Student
That presence was insane. Think he’ll show up in the drama again? With that face and that aura, he’d be perfect for a noir film.
16. Anonymous Office Worker
He’s the type who’s too strong—like, you can’t even imagine him losing.

17. Anonymous High Schooler
???: I want… to know defeat.
18. Anonymous VIP poster: 2017/06/14(Wed) 19:08:37.12 ID:BlackCOW
17
Bro, can you lay off the manga?

======================================================================
"Hehe, that’s my senpai."
Minato Naoya, lying on her bed and reading through the viewer forum, couldn’t suppress the smile slipping between her lips.

It had been an impulsive act, all because she wanted others to realize how amazing her senpai was.
And just as she had intended, people were starting to pay attention to the individual named Kim Yu-seong.
If she continued slowly raising his public recognition like this, surely his popularity would snowball.

And when that time came, even her mother wouldn’t be able to object.
Even if she and senpai were in a relationship.
Breathing a little heavily, she looked at the pictures stored in her smartphone gallery—her treasured memories with senpai.

She would become someone worthy of senpai.
And until then, she couldn’t confess.
For now, she’d be content carrying around photos of senpai’s muscles as a charm.

But in the future—
If she became someone worthy of him, she would face him head-on.
And ask him to accept her as his bride.

As she imagined that yet-unseen future, Minato Naoya whispered the words she still hadn’t managed to say to his face.
"Senpai… I love you♡"