Possessed 10 Million Actors

"After the filming of ‘Let's Become an Actor' concluded without any issues, on the way back home, Jang Sunho, seeming content, spoke to Jinseok, who had buried himself into the car seat.

"Actor-nim, do you happen to remember the act actress ‘Inoue' that Director Katahiro mentioned when we had dinner before?"

"Inoue… Oh, yes. The Japanese actress the director mentioned, whom he coincidentally met when he came to Korea? He gave her contact, but there's been no response."

"Yes, but during the shoot just now, I received a text. Inoue, the actress, has finally reached out to Director Katahiro."

"Oh, that's good."

"Yes. So, we're planning to have an audition soon…"

Jang Sunho tapped the steering wheel with his fingertips, his actions suggesting he was contemplating something.

"Actor-nim, do you happen to have a passport?"

"A passport?"

In the midst of discussing auditions, I unintentionally blurted out the question about a passport.

"Yes. It seems like we might need to have the audition in Japan. Because Director Katahiro is looking for a specific actor, and all the supporting roles are Japanese actors. It seems more advantageous to find actors locally rather than those active in Korea."

"Oh, I see…"

"But I don't have a passport."

I had no reason to go abroad, so I didn't have a passport. Did he catch on to my thoughts? Jang Sunho calmly said,

"If you don't have one, you can get it issued. It usually takes about 4 to 5 days, so you can go tomorrow."

"Alright, I understand."

I was a bit worried, but hearing Jang Sunho's calm voice reassured me. Just as I was about to lean back into the car seat and relax.

"By the way, Actor-nim, you might be surprised when you go to Japan."

Jang Sunho spoke with a voice mixed with laughter.

"Your popularity as an actor is quite high in Japan."

***

I once saw a photo in an old article with the title ‘Overseas Reactions to Hallyu Stars.'

Fans gathered in droves at the airport, bodyguards surrounding the star, who, wearing stylish sunglasses, smiled and navigated through the crowd.

It was a truly magnificent photo. Fans are enthralled by the star, and the star providing fantastic service to such fans.

So, I made up my mind that if I ever became such a star, I would definitely do the same.

But…

"Now that I'm actually in that situation… I can't gather the courage at all."

Tokyo International Airport in Japan.

In front of the last glass gate, I couldn't even bring myself to step inside.

"There are so many people…"

In the front row were people holding cameras that looked fit for journalists, and behind them were people holding placards, though the writing wasn't visible from afar.

If I stepped through this gate, it felt like they would press the shutters, waving their placards as if they had been waiting for me.

Scratching my head while asking Jang Sunho, who was standing beside me,

"They're all fans of Actor Kang Jinseok."

"Oh, yes… But how did they know I would be here today?"

"I leaked the information. It's your first overseas schedule, so it should be grand, right?"

"Going grand, and possibly too grand…"

Looking at him with an uneasy gaze, Jang Sunho smiled again and said,

"The photos will spread quickly on social media. It's necessary to show that we're attracting this level of fans. We've also deployed many security guards, so there shouldn't be any safety issues."

"Alright…"

Peeking through the gap in the glass, I continued to survey the outside. Fortunately, security guards with a physique similar to Jang Sunho's were firmly holding their positions.

"It's time. Let's start going out slowly."

Jang Sunho checked his watch and said.

Just before going out the door, I glanced at my reflection in the glass next to me. Sponsored ‘NIKE' sneakers, ‘ADIDAS' competition pants from the same company, and ‘OS FASHION' hoodie.

And for some reason, under the rabbit ear hat given by a girl on the plane, there I was, unable to pull myself together, nervous, holding a fluffy, rabbit-shaped plushie hanging below the hat.

Staring blankly at my reflection, I grabbed the round, fluffy bundle that looked like a rabbit's hand. As I did, the rabbit ear on the hat bounced up.

As Jang Sunho approached the gate, the automatic door opened. Jang Sunho went out first, and I followed him outside.

"Squeeeal!"

"Jinseok, you're adorable! What's with that hat?!"

"You're so handsome."

"Look at me here, just once!"

"Here too!"

And as we stepped out of the door, the cheers were so loud it felt like a wall of sound.

I was mentally preparing myself, but it didn't help at all. If I looked here in response to requests to see me, there were requests from the opposite side as well.

I turned my head in all directions. Due to nervousness, my grip tightened on the rabbit plushie, and the rabbit ears on my head were standing upright with all their might.

While I was trying to put on a natural smile,

"Hurry, please pass quickly. If there's an accident, it'll be a big problem."

An agent controlling the scene said. Feeling like I had lingered too long, trying to provide fan service, I hurried my steps.

"There he goes!"

"Chase him!"

"Grab the rabbit!"

Fans with placards and large cameras in hand started chasing me from the front row. Maybe it was my mood, but the placards they held felt like hunters' clubs, and the large cameras felt like guns. I was a rabbit running away from them.

"This way."

"Yes."

Thanks to the excellent security guards, I could board the van without any problems. Jang Sunho followed me and got into the passenger seat.

Jang Sunho turned towards me and said, "Now that the introduction is over, shall we go to work?"

***

Toho Corporation. The company that originally took charge of "The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World" was now embroiled in unexpected controversy.

"Kang Jinseok came to Japan for the ‘The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World. What's going on? Is this true?"

"Yes. Relevant content is continuously being posted on social media and internet articles."

"No, I didn't even know Kang Jinseok entered the country. I mean, did he come for ‘The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World'? Is that right?"

In the face of the senior's reprimand, an employee broke into a nervous sweat. They didn't know well either. The information that Jinseok came to Japan for the audition was just a rumor circulating in Korea.

"He came for the work directed by Katahiro."

At that moment, Honda, who had been on the phone in front of the meeting room for a long time, spoke. He was the highest-ranking person in this meeting room.

"I confirmed it with Director Katahiro. We agreed to produce our self-funded project in Korea."

"Funded by Korea?"

"Yes. It seems to have originated from OS International in Korea."

At the mention of ‘OS International,' the employees in the room exchanged knowing glances. They all knew how significant OS International was.

Honda, looking at his cell phone, muttered in an irritated voice,

"This project. Wasn't it originally supposed to be ours?"

"…?"

"What happened while I was briefly on a business trip to the U.S. for it to turn out like this?"

Though he didn't appear visibly angry, everyone in the meeting room knew that Honda was quite upset.

When no one answered even though he had asked, Honda turned to the employee in front of him.

"Maki, you were in charge of the finances for this project, right?"

"Yes, yes. Vice President."

"What kind of trouble happened for Katahiro's director to say he was ‘rejecting' it?"

"That… to be honest, it didn't end on good terms between us. At that time, ‘Absolute Unlicensed Counseling' was selling so well that we hesitated to create a similar romance work, citing the difficulty of making something comparable."

Honda said with a puzzled expression.

"So, just because there was a successful work before, you were told not to create a similar one? By the director?"

"Yes."

"This is insane. What kind of ridiculous excuse is that? Are you all employees of a film company? No, whose idea was this?"

"…"

"Wait, does the president know about this incident?"

The employees avoided each other's eyes. While they had reported to the president, they didn't have the courage to bring it up to Honda.

Seeing the atmosphere, Honda massaged his temples as if his head was throbbing with pain.

"The president knows as well."

"Yes."

"Ugh, this Director Yeongam is really… Why did he approve it without saying a word to me?"

Honda sighed helplessly. Not wanting Honda's frustration and anger to escalate, a close employee who usually got along with him began to console him.

"Assistant Manager, don't worry about things that are already over. Let's hear what we've prepared first. We recently had a meeting with the author of ‘Becoming the Spirit King,' which is doing well on ‘Becoming a Writer.'"

"Why is that important now? Our work is being taken by another company, causing such a mess!"

"No, it's not that…"

"Do you have your wits about you or not? Tsk."

Though it was a derogatory remark, the employee didn't show any signs of resentment. After all, he had played a part in discarding ‘The Way They Chose.'

"Everyone, do you understand who Director Katahiro is?"

After massaging his throat, Honda, seemingly bothered, opened his mouth.

"He is a director who knows how to capture the ‘true' essence of Japanese emotions. I'm sure I gathered everyone here and clearly mentioned it before my business trip to the United States. Don't you remember?"

The employees didn't answer, but they all nodded in apparent agreement. Honda, not pleased with their reaction, sighed again and continued.

"Let's assume for a moment that this work becomes successful. Not only in Japan but also in Asia, Europe, and the United States, becoming a sensational piece. Then, how ridiculous will we look, just like you argued about ‘Absolute Unlicensed Counseling.'"

"… "

"Our company will be criticized by the Japanese media for having no foresight. Director Katahiro will probably give interviews. Of course, it won't be positive for us."

Although it was all a ‘supposition,' as Honda spoke, the atmosphere in the meeting room worsened.

"Even if spilled water cannot be recovered, if you lick the floor, you might save your throat."

"Assistant Manager, that's…"

Someone tried to express their dissatisfaction, but seeing Honda's resolute attitude, they swallowed their words.

"Let's focus on ‘The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World.'"