Chapter Text
In all honesty, if anyone had told Fuyumi 3 years ago that her silly romantic story would be turned into a movie, of all things, she probably would've laughed.
She had written the first few paragraphs as a joke. Her friend Mimi kept teasing her about being too harsh with boys, having too many expectations and she had written the start just to describe how she wanted a man to approach her.
She had no plans to show it to her editor. However, in one meeting showing her usual work, the word document had been opened and her editor had loved it.
She had begged Fuyumi to continue the story.
A year later, 'Perfect Lover' was on the shelves and it turned into the new 'Twilight' series.
Her usual picture books had always sold well, but Fuyumi found herself in the limelight after 'Perfect Lover' was out. Suddenly, her Instagram, which was only pictures of her cat and her drawings for her books, had more than a thousand followers and people were begging for a sequel.
She found herself writing one, just to ease up the fans, then a high school romance story because her publishers were begging her to do more love stories.
She never would've thought that her silly imagination filled with pure fantasies would light up so many people.
She kept doing picture books because she loved children and their innocence, but she couldn't deny the demand and kept writing love stories.
Even if in her real life, her last boyfriend was from her university days.
Which brings us to this moment. She never would've thought that the reason to meet her father after months avoiding her parents' place would be to sign a contract for Endeavor production to make a movie of 'Perfect Lover'.
"How have you been?" He asked awkwardly as his assistant checked if everything was in order.
"Good," she replied.
The office stayed silent.
"It's all good!" His assistant, Kamiji exclaimed in her usual excited tone. "Of course, your real name and your association with Endeavor production will not be mentioned."
Fuyumi nodded. She had been writing under the pen name Yukimura Fuyumi, her mother's maiden name and so far no one knew she was related to the president of Endeavor Production or the new raising star Shouto.
"Do you want to be involved in the production? Like the casting, or..."
"No," she said interrupting her father. "I'll leave it to you."
Her father nodded briefly. "We will still send you the script, so you can change things if you deem it unfit."
"We will also invite to come on set a few times," Kamiji added, "to check if you like what we did so far and also for promotional pictures."
Fuyumi nodded, albeit uncomfortable. Her fans knew her face. She often did fan meetings. She did TV appearances for her picture books on shows targetting children. But to be used as promotion for Endeavor Production was stressful. Knowing her father, he will be using the industries' big names and it would for sure give her more spotlight than wanted.
"Are you okay?" Kamiji asked.
Fuyumi realized she had been in a daze. "Yes, I'm okay."
"It's a lot to take in, isn't?" her editor, Saya said next to her. Saya had come more as moral support than actual work. Since they had been working together since Fuyumi's debut, she had become a friend more than a coworker.
Fuyumi nodded.
The rest of the meeting went over technicalities but Fuyumi had been barely keeping attention. She had the feeling her father wanted to talk to her but he didn't mention anything unrelated to work.
Wishful thinking...
-
They announced the movie to the public on a Thursday morning. Fuyumi knew so because her phone was exploding with notifications.
As promised, they had sent her the script beforehand and Fuyumi had little to edit on it. She had no clues who they had cast for the roles but it came as a shock as she watched the press conference in the comfort of her room.
"Hawks will be playing the main male role, Koyama!"
Her fans were livid, and she could understand why. Hawks was known in the industry as a player. He was charming but cocky and had various scandals under his belt. He usually did action movies more than those romantic ones so everyone had been surprised.
Especially since 'Koyama' was written as a nice 'older brother' type of man. He was this nice but clumsy guy with whom the heroine falls in love with after meeting in the flower shop. Then by coincidence, they are stuck living together and the story unfolds with a bunch of cliche happenings until the two fall in love.
She had nothing against Hawks, he was a good actor and he was easy on the eye, but with his image, he fitted way more the role of 'Tegoshi', one of Koyama's coworkers and wingman through the story.
Yet, she had said she left the casting to her father and there was no use to say anything now that the announcement was done.
Ignoring the numerous comments saying they didn't approve of the casting, Fuyumi did a simple announcement about the movie on her social media, simply stating that she was excited.
-
"Oh my god! I can't believe you're going to meet Hawks!"
Fuyumi could only laugh. It felt like the millionth time that Mimi said that.
"I love Nejire-chan too but, Hawks! You have to get an autograph for me."
Fuyumi laughed once more. "I barely will be speaking with them! I go on set, look around, they take pictures, and then I'll be gone."
"Take the chance to talk with the actors! Who knows what will happen?" she raised her eyebrow suggestively.
"Mimi!" Fuyumi almost chocked on her tea, making Mimi laugh. "It's for work! Not try to... get lucky."
"Why not both? It's been ages since you took the time to relax! You keep saying you don't have time to meet new people but when an opportunity like that rolls in, you do nothing!"
"I get what you mean," Mimi opened her mouth to retort but Fuyumi interrupted her: "I do! I swear! But a movie shooting is not the best to flirt with people, especially when they work for my father."
Mimi pouted. "Fine. But you are coming with me the next time my boyfriend is doing a futsal game."
Fuyumi refrained to groan. Mimi's boyfriend, Yagami, was an amazing guy. He was just what Mimi needed when she went to her extravaganza mind but she had no interest in futsal or having them play matchmakers with his friends. "Fine," she finished by say or else Mimi wouldn't get off her case.
"Great!" She took a big bite of her cake. "But do try to get Hawks' autograph!"
Fuyumi could only laugh.
-
Fuyumi fidgeted at the corner of the set. The main actors had yet to arrive but most extras were in place, waiting for orders.
Fittingly, the first scene they were filming was the meeting between the two main characters in the flower shop. The setting was exactly how she had imagined it and she was in awe.
"Nejire-chan, entering the set!"
Fuyumi could barely breathe as the one they called a 'fairy' entered the set, saying her greetings to everyone.
"And this is Yukimura Fuyumi, the one who wrote the book, and her editor," the director said, pointing Fuyumi and Saya's direction.
"Wow! I'm so glad to meet you!" Nejire said, taking Fuyumi's hands. "Your hair is so pretty! Is this natural?"
"Nejire-chan!" A girl with short pink hair in a suit hissed. "Focus!"
"Oh. Sorry! But it's nice meeting you! I hope we'll do justice to the book!"
"Thank you!" Fuyumi managed to reply as the girl with pink hair in a suit pushed Nejire on set. Fuyumi wanted to giggle.
"The way she acts is the same as you see on TV!" Saya whispered and Fuyumi could only acquiesce.
Once Nejire was in position, the director said a couple of directives before he said: "Action!"
Nejire was perfect for the role. Although Fuyumi had always seen a little of herself in 'Harumi', the main character of her book, Nejire had the softness and innocence to play the timid yet motivated heroine.
They did a couple of takes before the director seemed satisfied.
"Hawks entering the set!"
There was only one word to describe Hawks' entrance: friendly. He said hi to literally everyone, even high-fiving some of the staff.
If he indeed knew everyone, it was no surprise that his attention got on Fuyumi and Saya.
"And who are those two beautiful women?"
Fuyumi blushed and she knew by the little squeal Saya had made, she wasn't the only one affected.
"This is Yukimura Fuyumi, the author of the book and her editor."
Fuyumi was about to say her greetings but the words died in her throat as he slowly looked at her from head to toes and back. Fuyumi was sure that if it was any other man, she would've been insulted by this. But as his eyes went back to meet hers, she couldn't deny the blazing fire in the pit of her stomach.
"No one told me the author was so pretty," he said, a charming smile on.
"It wouldn't have changed the content of the story, whatever I look like," she managed to reply.
"True! But I would've asked to meet you earlier," he winked and Fuyumi's blush deepen. "I hope you'll like what you see!" He said cheekily, going toward the set.
"I understand now why he has so many scandals..." Saya murmured. Fuyumi turned her attention to her editor. "If he had looked at me the way he looked at you, I would've given myself right there. And I'm married!"
Fuyumi gave away a scandalized look. "Saya-san!" she hissed.
"What? Don't tell me you didn't feel that!"
Fuyumi didn't give her the satisfaction of replying and looked where the director was giving last directives. A make-up artist was making sure that Hawks' hair was perfectly slicked back, and gave him glasses. He put the glasses on and smiled at the director, giving a thumbs up.
"Action!"
The two actors bumped into each other.
"Sorry, did I hurt you?" Hawks said as Koyama, his tone incredibly gentle. It made her heartbeat rising.
"No... I'm sorry too... I wasn't looking," Nejire as Harumi said, blushing.
"Your knee!" Koyama exclaimed, going down on one knee to look where Harumi had a tiny injury. "You should check it, I'll ask the shop assistant if he has anything..."
"You don't have to...!"
Koyama was already turning to talk with the shop assistant, asking for alcohol and a bandaid. He made sure Harumi was sitting down on a bench before he disinfected the wound and added the bandaid.
"You didn't have to do all that..." Harumi mumbled, still blushing.
Koyama gave a warm smile, "I wanted to."
"And cut!"
Fuyumi blushed. She had been so engrossed in the scene! It had been a silly fantasy of hers when she had first written it for Mimi but seeing right in front of her eyes, she felt shivers.
The director asked to redo the scene a couple of times before they entered a break.
"How was it, Miss author?" Nejire asked as soon as her eyes fell on Fuyumi.
"Unreal..." she said truthfully. "I never wrote this with the hope of having it in a movie... or even someone other than my best friend reading it so seeing it like this was... wow."
Nejire smiled. "It's great!"
"Heya!" Kamiji said, popping from nowhere. "I'm glad you are having fun, Fuyumi-san! Can we take a picture as a promotion? Then you can stay to watch more or you are free to go."
Fuyumi pondered. "I do want to watch more, if possible. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, sure! But we want to take the picture now that everyone is here and the actors are in costumes."
Fuyumi nodded.
Kamiji turned to Nejire and Hawks. "We will take a picture for the official movie page and various social media."
They both nodded. Fuyumi was unsure where to put herself in this.
"The one who brought this to life should be in the center," Hawks said, winking at her.
She had already been attracted to Hawks but once he had the glasses, she could only see Koyama and it made her weak. She blushed and looked away.
She found herself in between the two actors, in front of the fake flower shop.
She could only her hope her cheeks were not too red and her smile was not too awkward.
They took various pictures before Kamiji approved them, smiling. She left as suddenly as she arrived, promising Fuyumi that she would send them to her. The actors were hushed to change clothes and staff started to buzz, preparing the next scene.
"I also have to leave," Saya said, "I have a meeting."
"It's okay! I'll just stay for another scene and leave."
"You are sure?"
Fuyumi nodded. "Go do your job!"
Saya gave her greetings to the director and other staff before leaving.
Fuyumi felt a little restless to be alone but as the actors reemerged with new clothes on, she knew she wanted to see the most she could.
Anyway, what could happen?