Chapter 44 - I am Aoi Haruki. - Entertainment Prodigy

I'll post an extra chapter every 300 Power Stones. Good luck with that!

Goal for the next extra chapter: 450/600 (I think its impossible, right?)

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POV: Kyo

As soon as I finished acting, I looked forward and slowly wiped away the tears I had shed. All four of them were staring at me in silence, unable to believe what they had just seen.

'That was a new feeling for me. An incredible feeling.'

I had never experienced anything like it before.

It was as if I had traveled to a completely different world and truly become Sota Mizuno. Everything felt so real in my mind. 'Does this have something to do with my "Acting" skill being Rank S?'

I smiled in satisfaction and waited for them to say something.

Then the old man I had spoken to earlier—the investor—started clapping.

Clap~~ Clap~~ Clap~~

I didn't understand what was happening, but soon the others did the same.

This time, I wiped my face with my shirt, and then the man finally spoke.

"That was incredible. It's the first time I've had the chance to see something like that in person. Your acting was so perfect that I thought I was watching someone else. I thought I was seeing Sota Mizuno."

Wait, he read the script? Well, if he's an important investor, that makes sense.

"The look of disgust on your face as you stared at Minami—it was as if you were truly looking at her. What were you imagining and thinking at that moment?"

They all looked at me expectantly, wanting me to explain what I had felt. After thinking for a moment, I sighed and said, "I wasn't feeling anything—I just did it. I imagined Minami in front of me, and I imagined myself as Sota. It's like he took over my body for a moment. I can't explain it in detail."

"I see," said Takumi, the director. "I was truly impressed."

"Thank you, Director." I bowed my head in gratitude.

"Kyo Evans, I truly thank you for letting me witness something so beautiful," said Hiroshi Kanto, the writer. He was older and smiled gently at me. "Your performance was perfect. When I wrote that scene, this is exactly what I had in mind… your expression, your voice, the emotion you conveyed. Have you really never acted before? Never done theater? Nothing at all?"

Hearing so much praise made me a little embarrassed, I admit.

But I smiled and confidently replied,

"I've never taken acting classes, but I've practiced a few times in the shower and in my room. I'm glad I was able to show you something that satisfied you."

"Satisfied? We're more than satisfied! Not only are you good-looking, but you have incredible talent! You've never taken acting classes and can do that? We can't leave you out of this project!" the investor said.

"Director, Writer—Kyo Evans will take the role of Sota Mizuno. I want him in this series. Honestly, I'd even give him a bigger role, but all the actors have already been cast."

"Hahaha, that's fine." He got a little too excited.

Then I asked,

"So I passed, right? The audition."

All four of them laughed, as if I had asked a silly question.

I looked back and saw my mother covering her mouth, her eyes filled with tears. Then she lowered her hands and gave me a big smile. I could read her lips—she said, "Congratulations! You did it!"

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As soon as I left the room with my mother, I started hearing them discussing my performance inside, so I moved closer to the door and listened.

"That kid gave me chills. I've never seen someone embody a character so easily like that. That can't just be a method acting technique, can it?" It was the investor's voice.

Then I heard Director Takumi Hayashida. "I don't know if that was method acting, but it was impressive. When I recommended him, I thought he would be good—but not at this level."

"Your intuition is very sharp, Director. Maybe you sensed something different about him the moment you saw his photo—something you can't even explain."

Listening to their conversation, I smiled.

Then my mother approached me from behind and asked, "What are you doing here? Are they talking about you?"

"Something like that. I think I left quite an impression."

"You left an impression on me too. What was that back there? Watching you made me want to hug you! You really looked like you were angry and suffering!"

"Even I don't fully understand what I did back there. Maybe it's just an innate talent?" I chuckled and walked toward the elevator. Then I took out my phone and sent a message to Rina.

[The audition just ended. They should've told me I'd be the only one—I thought there would be other actors.]

[In the end, everything went well. They were very impressed with my performance.]

A few seconds later, Rina replied:

[I'll be at the building entrance in five minutes.]

I took the elevator down, and exactly five minutes later, Rina showed up.

I got into the car with her and my mother, and she said, "Congratulations. I knew you would pass, but I didn't expect you to impress the director and the writer."

"You should've seen him in there—I was completely shocked," my mother said excitedly.

I smiled wryly and said, "Well, now I just have to wait for filming to start. In the meantime, I'll focus on finishing the last volumes of Oregairu."

"Oregairu? What's that?" Rina asked, confused.

Right… they don't know I'm a writer.

In fact, not even Rikuya or anyone else at the company knows that I'm a writer. I should talk to Rikuya about that.

"Kyo, is it really okay to tell them?"

"Tell us what? Are you hiding something important?" Rina asked.

The driver, Daiki, was also curious.

Huff…

I let out a sigh and said,

"Do you know Overlord? I'm the author, Aoi Haruki."

"You!?" Rina shouted in shock.

She startled Daiki, who almost lost control of the car.

"Rina, could you not scream all of a sudden!? You almost got us killed!"

"Did you hear what this kid just said!? He said he's Aoi Haruki—the author! That author!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but calm down, okay?"

Rina completely lost her composure.

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Chapter 44 - Chapter 44 - I am Aoi Haruki.