Chapter Text
Seven years ago
The kid’s a master, even for his age. Fifteen, and he already has an IMDB page filled with Oscars, and awards alike; Best Leading, Best supporting, Best Original Screenplay, and many more. The kid scares new actors, fuck, he even makes the older ones watch their titles closely. With his contract to the Port Mafia Studios, everyone knows not to mess with any of his works.
And you know how the PMS works with their stars, its crazy! So why aren’t you dropping that invite right now Chuuya!?” The silver haired kid lunges from his booth, and slams his hands on the diners table, face locked on the red head in front of him, sipping his milkshake with an unimpressed look.
Chuuya was sick of Shirase’s yapping about his invite into PMS, sure, he knew deep down it was a stupid thought to encourage, but he also knew his ever small acting career would never flourish if he didn’t accept. But the thought of getting to meet the brunette he’s been seeing around on TV recently does make him excited, rumours run fast of this once and a lifetime acting prodigy. Plus his above average looks does spike his interests.
“I’m aware of PMS’s...reputation with their actors, but come on, you know how high their actors get!” Chuuya sets down his milkshake, a small smirk displayed on his face, “besides, who knows where I’d get working with them.”
“We’re well known here too! Our short films have been getting traction recently, and being too famous can be a headache!” Shirase counters, though his words are only met with a slight shrug of the red heads shoulders. He sighs and sits back down, “fine fine, your a hard one to move, Chuuya.” This time, he’s met with a grin.
Yuan smiled at the two boys, a small chuckle escaping her lips as they settle down, “Your such an older brother Shirase,” she glanced at the man next to her, “besides, Chuuya got an invite from the PMS, that's not an ordinary thing, he’s clearly met the talented expectations.”
“I know, but Chuuya would have to leave for that to happen, and I don’t want him to forget about us,” Shirase glances back to Chuuya.
“I would never stop seeing you guys, your my fucking family,” Chuuya grins, “and I still need to keep my high score against you in Just Dance.”
“What! Come on, that was one time, we were drunk!”
“yeah, but it gave me the best winning score ever, 43k to 10k points!”
“I’m better at the Lady Gaga song then you! What was it, ‘Born This Way’?”
“Yeah? Well we both know I’m better at the Miku song!” Shirase gasps loudly.
“Hey! You know what Yuan, maybe he should leave, give me some time to up my dancing skills!”
“HUH?? Now I am going to leave and hone my own skills, you wont know what hit ya!”
“Could you two be any louder!? The whole diner is looking at us!” The two boys stop, and settle back down in their seats, Yuan may not look it, but she throws a deadly right hook if she wants too.
“Hey Chuuya,” Yuan turns her attention to him, “You would be working with that Dazai guy, right? Since he’s our age, and with PMS.”
“Yeah? I mean, probably not right away, heck, I don’t know if I’d ever be put on the same pedestal as him, he’s won an award in every single movie he’s been in.” He finishes his milkshake, leaning back in the old diner booth, “plus, I heard the boss himself has high regards for him.”
“He sounds like a prick, if you ask me,” Shirase buts in, a small scowl on his face, “being all high and mighty never made a person humble.”
“He’s a good actor though,” Yuan protests, “and a hottie too! Didn’t you see him in his latest role?! He played himself in ‘The Setting Sun’, his makeup artist must be working overtime.” she fauns. Shirase gags, while Chuuya laughs.
“I hear he only ever gets his hair done, that he rejects makeup on himself every time,” the red head explains, Yuan grins more.
“He knows he’s hot shit.”
“You both have bad taste in men, he isn’t hot,” Shirase folds his arms, the other two glare daggers back to him, he raises his hands in a mock surrender, “just a hot take.”
-
“Dazai-san is visiting Oda-kun again this weekend, right?” A young black haired girl dressed in a red kimono, with a plush bunny in her hands. Next to her, holding the fabric of the kimono is a younger girl with golden blond hair, and a red dress.
“Yup, I am, though it wont be for long, kyouka-san.” Dazai knelled down to her eye level, a smile on his otherwise stoic features, “Arakawa-sama will be around if you need anything, you know that.”
Elise looks up at Dazai by the mention of her mothers name, the five year old doesn’t look very excited but stays quiet.
“I would love to bring you both with me, but you know how stingy father gets with me visiting Oda, he would have a heart attack if you both joined me. Not that I’d mind, but it would be inconvenient if the old man died.” Dazai sighed, but the six and five year old's both seem to understand, and nod along with him.
The three stay silent for a moment, before Dazai got off his knees, and back to a standing position.
“Can you play dress up with me Dazai-san?” Elise looks up at him with a grin to evil for someone of her age.
“Uh, um, why doesn’t Kyouka join you instead?” He recovers his normal smile, though the girl doesn’t buy it.
“Kyouka-chan can also join me, but so will you!”
“I really wont-”
“I’ll call dad here if you don’t.” The kid grins again.
“Fuck, whatever, fine.” With that, the blonde skips off into the long hall, calling after them once she turns into her play room.
Dazai and Kyouka walk behind her, Dazai groaning, whilst Kyouka stays silent.
Inside the room, the walls tower taller then average, painted with fun colours, and decals of animals, clouds, and other such kid like things are stuck around the room. The floor is wood, covered in a giant fluffy carpet, and many toys strewn about haphazardly, the room looked to be well used.
Elise looks through a chest of dresses, and costumes, throwing them about when they weren’t the ones she deemed worthy.
“Aha! Okay,” she grabs a few pieces, and walks over to her two older siblings. “Dazai-san, you get this one,” her grin is evil, as she holds up a sparkly princess dress, he seems to remember it belonging to Snow White. Dazai grimaces. Elise moves on and holds up a pretty blue dress, “and this one can be yours Kyouka-chan.”
Kyouka nodded and took the dress, but looked unsure on weather or not to fully change into it, or simply put it on over top. Dazai sighed, loud and dramatic as he slipped the very small dress over top his dress shirt and pants.
“This is stupid Elise-chan.” He crosses his arms.
“No it’s not, you look stunning Dazai-san,” she giggled.
“Kyouka, you can simply put the dress over top of your kimono, if you don’t want to change.” Dazai looks down at her, she nods, slowly manoeuvring her long sleeves through the dress. Dazai sat down on a chair he had to fish out from under toys and such, pouting like a child.
“You look pretty Kyouka-chan, though it would be better without the kimono under, but its fine.” Elise smiles.
Kyouka nods. Elise looks around, then spots something atop the mess.
“I should give you guys some make up too!” She grins as she obtains a glittery pink box with a few princesses on it. She opens it up, creating a mini vanity made up of only makeup, and a small finger print covered mirror.
“What!? No, no, no, your not putting makeup on me!” Dazai flinches.
“Oh? Come on Dazai-san, I’m good at it, I swear!” She settles in front of him, a small plastic foam makeup applicator in hand, as well as a sparkly blue toned pallet.
One would think she was poisoning him by how much he avoided the applicator loaded with a shimmery dark blue. The two go back, and forth for a while, until the end, when its Dazai loss. His eyes now adorn a dark sparkling blue, and smudged pink lipstick.
“There you go. See, its not going to burn you,” Elise said sarcastically, she got a glare back in return.
“Your turn Kyouka-chan!” She ignored Dazai’s deathly glare and moved to give Kyouka her makeup. The pallet she choose did not match the dress she was given, but rather her kimono, dark reds, yellows, and blacks. Unlike Dazai, she didn’t put up a fight, adorning her red eye shadow, and pink lips naturally.
“Very pretty Kyouka-chan, and much better then Dazai-san.” Elise sighs but smiles at her masterpieces.
“Elise-chan?” A deeper voice booms through the room, the girls glance back, seeing Mori Standing there in the doorway. Contrary to the girls, Dazai freezes, hiding his face.
“Whats going on in here?” Mori takes a step in, his hair to his shoulders, dressed in his normal suit and coat, his scarf not on at the moment.
“Just playing dress up!” Elise crosses her arms, to that, Mori fauns.
“Oh of course! How adorable you two are!”
Elise smiled pridefully, while Kyouka stays silent, and nods.
“I even got Dazai-san to join us!”
“Hmm?” Mori glanced at the cross legged boy next to Kyouka, dressed in a Snow white dress, hiding his face. “Is that so,” his tone shifted to one with more annoyance.
“Dazai.” He flinches
“Yes, father.”
“What are you doing dressed like that, and is that makeup I see?” The room tenses up, nobody moving a muscle.
“Yes, father.”
“Stand up.”
Dazai stood, turning to Mori’s direction, met with a crisp slap across the face. The two girls stay quiet, lowering their heads even.
“This isn’t how I raised you! Men don’t wear dresses, nor makeup!” Mori yells at him, returning his hand behind him. Dazai nods.
“Good, then I should expect you to be done playing dress up, and to work like the real man you are.” He scuffs, turning on his heel back to the door, “you’re to go back to your room, and to clean up yourself. Do I make myself clear?” he turns his head ever so slightly. “I want you in my office in thirty, no less, no earlier. Got it?”
“Yes. Mori.”
Mori nods, and walks out, leaving the room in a terribly awkward and tense state. The mark that now adorns Dazai’s cheek grows redder as the seconds tick by, he didn’t stick around long, leaving shortly after shedding the dress, leaving it on the messy floor, lost in all the rest.
-
“Chuuya-kun, its nice to meet you face to face.” Mori sat at his office chair, elbows resting on the wooded desk, his fingers interlocked. “I have heard much about you.”
“Thanks, I guess? I’ll be honest and didn’t think the films I played in would get to you.” Standing with his hands in his pockets, much more laid back then anyone else in the room.
Mori let out a low chuckle, “I see many movies Chuuya-kun, if one only saw the good, and well known movies, how would I recruit rising stars like yourself?”
“Suppose that makes sense,” he shrugged.
“So you are interested in signing with us? We all see great potential in you.”
Chuuya, not used to such praise, shrugs it off, “thanks again, and yeah, I can see myself here.”
“Excellent Chuuya-kun.” He hums out, “now, I’m sure you read the fine print, but in it says that for younger actors, they must be under a mentor, for many reasons, but I digress.” he stops and a girl in a long and stunning kimono walks in, her auburn hair done up in an intricate way.
“Ah, Kyouyo-sama, nice of you to join us,” he motions for her to stay.
Chuuya’s eyes widen, the Kyouyo, master from a young age, and quickly rose through the ranks once she hit her twenties, that Kyouyo!?
“Chuuya-kun,” Mori’s voice pulled Chuuya from his trance, “Kyouyo will be your mentor, after much thought, she seems to be the best suited for you.”
“Its a pleasure to meet you lad,” she bows her head to him, Chuuya does the same.
“Just one more thing Chuuya-kun.”
“Yeah?”
“We’re going to partner you up for your first few films, be it voice acting or actual acting. Just so you can get the feel of how spaces like these work.”
Kyouyo pauses, “you didn’t put him with...” Mori nods.
“lovely,” her tone sarcastic.
Just as planned, a knock upon the offices wooden doors rings out, “come in,” Mori answers to it. The doors open slightly, and a brunette steps in, dressed in a suit missing its jacket, his hair messy and short.
“Ah, Dazai-kun, glad you could join us as well, let me fill you both in.” Dazai walks over next to Chuuya, who again, is wide eyed by all the national celebrities around him, though he notices a red spot against Dazai’s cheek.
“Chuuya-kun, this is Dazai, I’m sure your aware of him, hes made quite the name for himself, isn’t hat right Dazai-kun?”
“Suppose so Mori,” he shrugs, “and why am I here with this kid?” Chuuya's genuine adoration quickly takes a one eighty.
“What was that?”
Mori moves on quickly, “as you are both the same age, and I would say equal in abilities more or less, Its been decided that you two shall be paired for a while.”
The two look at him shocked.
“what! Mori, I cant work with such a slug, don’t you think id get slowed down by him?!”
“Hey! I’m getting up there, and I know how things work. Also I’m not a slug!”
“With that height you are”
“Don’t mock my height jackass, I’m only sixteen, I’m still growing!”
“Then you aught to drink more milk, might help you grow.”
“I’m not short!”
“Maybe your lactose intolerant, that’s why your so short,” he sighs, “I’m sorry you haven’t been able to grow because of it.”
“I’m not lactose intolerant!”
“Are you sure its a good idea to put these two together? I fear no work being done at all.” Kyouyo sighs, having moved next to Mori’s desk while the two fought.
“Only a diamond can polish another diamond, Kyouyo.”
She looked down at him, then nodded, glancing back at the boys.
“Plus, with you teaching Chuuya-kun, I can see him going far in the industry.”
“I’m honoured you think that highly of me, Mori-sama.”
“Its not that I think highly, Kyouyo-sama, but your numbers tower higher then many of this company's, Dazai excluded.” She nods at his words. “It would be a shame to discard your skills, Kyouyo.”
-
The room was very traditional, compared to the modern feel of the PMS buildings, it’s like walking through a portal. Tatami mats over the wooden floors, low cushions for chairs around the table, where a teapot and two cups sat, a katana on display with a glass cover over top adorns a wooden dresser, and tapestries painted with beautiful designs displayed on every wall. Kyouyo was a traditional woman, in terms of looks, she often went for traditional kimonos and hairstyles to match, with her jewellery styled in an older fashioned way.
“Welcome to my side of the executive suites, Lad,” she motions around as she sits down next to the table, “come sit.”
Chuuya follows behind, sitting down across form her, feeling a bit out of place with his more teen rock look. She pours both of them a cup of tea, the smell creating a lovely aroma around the two.
“Mori has told me that your latest film was what really caught his eye,” she says, sipping her tea, Chuuya nodding along. He went to sip his tea as well, but ultimately burnt his mouth.
“Shit, that’s hot,” he’s met with a glare, quickly learning that swearing in her presence isn’t ideal. She continues.
“I will admit I haven’t seen it myself, though Mori is never wrong about whom he signs, so don’t mess this up now.” he nods.
“What I do know of the film, ‘the Sheep’, is that it was independently filmed, and edited by you, and a group of friends. Tell me about the film.”
Chuuya nodded slowly, “Well, I suppose ‘The Sheep’ was a tragedy, we all knew that as a theme, that’s one often brought with romance, though we never explored that side of it in the film.”
“What a take, but if done poorly, may lead to strange outcomes.”
“We sort of knew, but overall, it was a passion project, none of us knew it would get as big as it did, I mean, not huge, but you get the point,” she nods in confirmation, so he continues. “I have watched some of your films, ‘The Golden Demon’, with its loss and such, it sort of drew me closer to heartfelt films.”
“flattery doesn’t bring you far with me, lad.”
“It wasn’t flattery, Kyouyo-sama, more like...adoration?”
“Carry on.”
“So, we filmed a movie based on trust, and how easily someone can manipulate it. But it also had an underlining thought of blindly following a leader, and where that could get you. The idea was that a group of kids were given up by families, or had lost them, so they ban together as ‘the sheep’. One was stronger then the rest, yet humble, he didn’t want to be called king, but everyone around them said otherwise. The group made a name for themselves, till the king was thought to be conspiring with the enemy, and instead of tossing them from the group, they killed them.”
“A strange idea there lad, and what part did you play?”
“The king.”
“So you must have acted out a good sounding spy, or do you believe he wasn’t conspiring?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, from the way you explain the story, it seems as if you left a part blank, either for watchers to fill in, or you simply forgot. But you said it was thought that the king conspired, but never confirmed it. Did he?”
Chuuya takes a moment to think, its true they probably forgot about that plot hole, but none the less he tried to think of an idea.
“I’m not quite sure now, Kyouyo-sama, I had always pictured them as being good, that they didn’t go against the group, but we never really explored why he might have been thought to conspire.”
Kyouyo nodded, “good, its not up to the creatures to always fill in holes, some ideas are to be created afterwards via the watcher,” she sets down her finish cup of tea. “The best movies make you think afterwards. If a movie answers every question you may have, while that’s good for story reasons, it often leaves a bland movie.”
“I didn’t think of that.”
“That, lad, is what I’m here to teach you.”
The two sit in a comfortable silence, Chuuya finishing his own tea, then offered more by Kyouyo.
“Tell me about Dazai.” Kyouyo raises an eyebrow to his request.
“Dazai? What about the lad?”
“Just anything, he’s an ass, and I have to work with him, so it makes sense for me to understand what he’s like.”
She nods, “Dazai is a spirited fellow, at least, to his siblings and those he’s close with, many newer recruits, and B-listers, he doesn't have a care for.”
“So he’s arrogant?”
“I wouldn’t call it that, but prideful about his works, possibly. The lad is talented, I’m sure you’ve seen films he’s starred in.”
“I have, yes.”
“I did see your expressions when we both entered the room, excitement mixed with nervousness, really, its the correct way to feel. Being an actor of your origins, then getting invited up to PMS with no other training in the past, its quite the accomplishment, Chuuya-kun.”
“Thanks,” he says sheepishly.
“Mori-sama isn’t one to lie about talent, at least, most of the time, hes passionate about PMS and wants it to succeed, as do I. But for him to say that your at a similar level to Dazai-kun, or at least, could be, I’m honoured to be your mentor.”
Chuuya wasn’t used to such praise, ever, so from two people he’s admired for so long, Kyouyo being even higher then Mori, it feels awesome.
“Dazai-kun has surely noticed it by now, but is to stubborn to admit such feats. Though, the fact that he’s willing to talk to you with such emotions right out the gate, is promising.”
“What will my training extend to?”
“A good question, first, we shall start with the basics, acting is often learned more on jobs then in personal time, so I wont work much on it here, instead, we will focus on PR training you, and internet training, with a sprinkle of etiquette.”
“Etiquette how?”
“You are a man of beauty, so I would like it to be reflected in how you present yourself, dressing well, sitting posture, walking with a lighter step, and so on.”
“Oh, lovely,” the rocker kid shudders in thought.
“You can start now, first off, when sitting on items such as these cushions, you must never cross you legs, only ever kneeling. Got it?” Chuuya quickly shifts position.
“yes ma’am.”
“Good. Next, you hands should either be on your lap, holding a cup, or a fork for eating, never should you arms be up, and perched on a space for food.” Chuuya sighs mentally.
- an hours earlier
“Your trick with Elise-chan wasn’t very exciting, Dazai-kun” Mori and Dazai stayed behind as Kyouyo and Chuuya went ahead. “You know where I stand with such ideologies.”
Dazai nodded, silent.
“Good, I want that mark covered up, so I suppose I’ll get Arakawa-san to give you some makeup, solely to cover it. Now, I don’t want you to mess up this deal with Chuuya. He’s a promising rising star, and I want you to basically shadow him. Make sure he’s in line, and learning. Understood?”
“Yes Mori.”
“Nor must he find out about me being your father.”
“Not like I would want that out.”
“Oh your so silly Dazai-kun, but do keep that mentality.” He grabs a folder off his desk, “I have gotten you both roles in a recently popular manga to anime adaptation, just working as voice actors first. I have bigger plans for the future.”
“How exciting,” his words laced in sarcasm. Making Mori huff out a low laugh.
“I’m glad you’ve agreed to such thoughts at the moment, we’ll let Chuuya settle in, by the time your both or close to seventeen, well get the voice acting set up.”
“What anime is this for?”
Mori gives him a small smile.
“Storm Bringer.”