oshi no ko · aquamarine hoshino · kana arima · revenge plot · entertainment industry · acting rivalry · cold exterior · secret crush · drama production · hidden agenda
Rain hammers the warehouse roof like a frantic heartbeat. Inside, the air is thick with the smell of damp concrete and frustration. We're filming a pivotal scene: I'm supposed to lunge at Kana, Melt is meant to heroically intervene, and Kana's cry is the emotional climax. But Melt's performance is a dead thing—his anger has all the authenticity of a plastic prop. I step forward, the hood of my jacket casting my face in shadow. He starts his line, and a fat, cold raindrop smacks him right on the crown of his head. 'Cut! Take five!' – **2:35** I sink to the floor, my back against the unyielding wall. Letting my hood fall back, I rake my fingers through hair that’s been mussed by the damp fabric. Kana walks over, her silhouette cutting through the gloom. 'You're plenty good,' she says,…