Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

Chapter 83: Crushing the Dimension
"Don't worry, the three of you. I am well aware of the importance of 'Man'yo Kazama' to the final episode. So, I did not recommend the actors randomly..."

Facing the questioning gazes of the three people, Nakano held the tea that was originally brewed for Kawasaki Airi, took a sip silently, and tried to start explaining.

"Of course it wasn't a random recommendation, but an 'internally selected' one. I heard from a familiar staff member that the person you recommended to play the role of 'Manyo Kazama' without authorization was an amateur actor who had worked with you in a facial mask commercial but had no experience in TV dramas."

"It looks like he's the young man who just left, right?"

"How is your partiality different from the previous director's decision to allow the investors to arbitrarily stuff a bunch of 'vases' into the production based on their taste?"

"How can I trust you to be in charge of the last episode?"

But Kawasaki Airi did not intend to give him a chance to refute and started to criticize him non-stop.

"Director Nakano, the 'regular clothes' makeup test for 'Man' Kazama's' has been completed. Please take a look first."

At the same time, the makeup artist with excited eyes came to the office door and interrupted everyone's conversation.

"The venue hasn't even been cleaned yet, and you're already arranging makeup trials for the characters? Director Nakano, I absolutely don't agree with your approach..."

Hearing these words, Kawasaki Airi stood up from the sofa in anger.

After the makeup artist turned and left, Xia Fan, dressed as a warrior, appeared at the door.

"Sorry, are you in a meeting? I'll wait outside for a while..."

Because this is a comic-adapted drama aimed at females, everything is based on "beautiful, strong and miserable" as the only standard. The "appearance-destroying" hairstyle is naturally like "contraband" in this drama.

At this moment, Xia Fan was wearing a flowing black and gray short gown and a white kimono, which perfectly outlined his tall and firm figure.

The medium-short hair with golden highlights makes his handsome features and fair skin look particularly noble.

The most special thing was his scarlet eyes wrapped in beautiful contact lenses. Although he showed no emotion, he was gleaming with bloodthirsty light.

Xia Fan had a blank expression on his face, with one hand casually placed on the hilt of the sword, his shoulders naturally tilted slightly, and his whole body naturally exuded an evil aura.

"You...you are..."

Kawasaki Airi's face flushed and she looked at Xia Fan at the door with rapid breathing.

"Teacher Kawasaki, please don't be angry. If you are not satisfied, I will immediately suspend Xia Fan's audition and find other actors to try later..."

Director Nakano winked at Xia Fan, indicating that he should go out first, while comforting Kawasaki Airi.

"No, keep trying... This is exactly the 'Manyo Kazama' in my mind!"

But Kawasaki Airi took a step forward and grabbed Xia Fan's sleeve.

"This is just 'daily attire'. How beautiful would it be if it was 'military uniform' or 'Rakshasa' costume?!"

Her eyes lit up as she looked Xia Fan up and down, and she did not forget to take out the "beautiful photos" of "Kazama Manye" in different styles from her mobile phone to show everyone.

Being able to draw female-oriented works like "The Withered Chrysanthemum and the Sword", the author herself, Kawasaki Airi, is naturally also a senior fan of BL.

Perhaps it was because Xia Fan was naturally good-looking, and director Nakano had a keen eye, his evil and handsome make-up and appearance did not have the inevitable "awkwardness" that is common in live-action comic adaptations.

On the contrary, it feels like the character "Kazama Manyo" has broken through the dimensional wall with one foot and walked from the two-dimensional to the three-dimensional.

"Wait, you are, Xia Fan?"

At the same time, Sakamoto Hide, who was sitting inside, called out his name. "Why don't you just write songs and come to act in a web drama?"

It has been two months since the "Tokyo Newcomer Music Awards", and Xia Fan was dressed in this "two-dimensional" outfit again, so he only recognized the other person now.

"Sakamoto-kun? I'm just doing a part-time job as a photographer. You're a singer, so aren't you here too?"

Xia Fan asked back with an innocent look on his face.

"I...I agreed to come here to play a cameo role just to sing the theme song of this drama."

"If I had known that 'Hijikata Toshizo' would live to the last episode, I should have played the role of Yamanami Keisuke who was the first to die!"

When asked about this, Sakamoto Hide's face suddenly became indignant.

Although he cannot be compared with monster musicians like Xia Fan who wrote "Sakura" and "Red Lotus", his "Don't Want to Leave Bed" is still holding on to the fifth place in the "Tokyo Newcomer Music Award", which is also a good result.

But since he has already debuted as a "singer", he can't polish out new works in a short time.

In order to get more opportunities to sing songs, Sakamoto Hide was forced to return to his old job of acting to open up a path for his musical dream...

Then, I fell into the pit of the bad ending of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword".

"What? This guy, who is a music producer by profession, actually came to act instead of doing his job?"

Hearing the conversation between the two, Rika Shirakawa, who was standing next to them, covered her forehead weakly.

As a professional actor, she doesn't usually pay much attention to the pop music market. In her mind, music producers should be unkempt otakus who stay in the studio every day.

"Teacher Airi, please control your obsession with looks. Didn't those 'vase models' in the past also trick you with their handsome makeup photos?"

"If it's just 'good looking but not practical', it won't save the reputation of the last episode."

Although Shirakawa Rika also admitted that Xia Fan's "Manye Kazama" look was 100% restored, and his appearance level was far higher than those of the previous models...

But the painful experience in the previous episodes when she was actually acting opposite someone reminded her all the time that she should not be deceived by the glamorous appearance and ignore the importance of acting skills.

"That's right. Although this guy's temperament and image completely match the 'Manyo Kazama' in my mind. But Manyo Kazama's evil charm and gentle personality hidden in her madness are not something that an ordinary actor can interpret, let alone a novice."

"So, for the sake of prudence, I decided to exercise my contractual rights and withdraw the authorization for "The Broken Chrysanthemum and the Knife"."

Recalling the many bad reviews of the previous dramas and even the tragic scene where her personal blog was destroyed, Kawasaki Airi calmed down and returned to her original intention.

"Teacher Kawasaki, your concerns are understandable. How about we make a bet..."

"I will continue to take over the filming, but the final result needs your approval before it can be put on the platform. How do you think?"

Nakano pondered for a moment and boldly made a new proposal.

"Betting? Do you know how much extra money the investors will lose if the film cannot be broadcast after it is shot?"

This made Shirakawa Rika, who was standing by, completely unable to understand.

"Don't worry, I will go and convince the platform. Mr. Kawasaki, please consider this as one last chance for me, the actors, and The Broken Chrysanthemum and the Sword."

When talking about filming, Nakano changed his submissive look and his eyes became very determined.

(End of this chapter)