"Forty-seven missed calls. A scandal exploding across every screen. And only one person who came to the door."
Minase Ren has it all—the face of a generation, a top-floor penthouse, and a "national sweetheart" image built to perfection. But when a tabloid drops photos of him in a secret date with his co-star, the internet turns on him overnight. There's just one problem: the photos are fake. And no one wants to hear it.
Trapped in his apartment, drowning in hate and missed calls from the peopl
In the Night of the Scandal, With You - The Industry's Shame — The Light That Vanished, and the Resolve to Keep Going Nonetheless
The sky over Shibuya was blanketed in thin clouds.
Ren stepped out through the entrance of Aozora Tower and gave the receptionist a light nod, just as he always did. For a split second, her smile seemed to stiffen.
(Probably just my imagination.)
Ren told himself so.
He pressed the elevator button. His fingertip was cold.
A month and a half since the scandal.
Ren's world had gone quiet, as if someone had muted it. Every job had vanished. Commercials were pulled, and his lead role in the film *Confession of Blue* was wiped clean. The agency announced he was "refraining from activities," and Ren simply came to this building day after day, killing time in an empty dressing room.
"Good morning."
He opened the door to the fifth-floor dressing room. No one there. Same as always.
Ren sank onto the sofa and pulled out his phone.
The moment the screen lit up, his finger froze.
At the top of the news app was a face he knew all too well.
Platinum blond, almost silver. Cold ice-blue eyes. A tiny diamond stud in his right ear.
Himuro Kei.
*"Himuro Kei Confirmed as New Lead in Film 'Confession of Blue'!"*
Ren had tapped the article before he even realized it.
A video began to play. Press conference footage.
"I'm Himuro Kei, and I've been chosen to take on the lead role in *Confession of Blue*."
On-screen, Himuro wore a flawless smile. Only the left corner of his mouth lifted, just slightly. That old tic of his.
"I'm truly sorry that Minase Ren had to step down."
Himuro's voice was refined, composed.
"But this industry runs on ability, you see."
Himuro tilted his head slowly toward the camera.
"I believe Minase has real acting talent. He's a genuinely wonderful actor."
A beat.
"It's just, his character... well."
Himuro laughed.
Raising only the left corner of his mouth.
"Fufu."
A ripple of small laughter spread among the reporters.
Ren's grip on the phone tightened.
His fingers went white.
(My character... is that right?)
Deep in Ren's chest, something hot and seething churned.
(What the hell would you know about me?)
On-screen, Himuro was still smiling.
"From here on, I intend to support this film properly. Everyone, I hope you'll cheer us on."
Applause.
Ren slammed the phone onto the sofa.
"...Damn it."
His voice was shaking.
Anger, frustration, and a helplessness he couldn't do a thing about churned inside him.
Ren clenched his fist. His nails bit into his palm.
(I didn't do anything.)
(So why—)
(Why are you standing where I should be?)
He turned on the dressing room TV. Every channel was running the news of Himuro's conference.
*"Himuro Kei Slams Minase Ren!"*
*"'His character, well'—Himuro's barb stuns the studio"*
*"On social media: 'Minase is finished'"*
Ren grabbed the remote.
He tried to turn it off.
But his fingers wouldn't move.
On-screen, Himuro was smiling.
Ren just kept staring at that smile.
"...Like hell I'm finished."
Ren's voice reached no one.
Hinata stood alone on the emergency stairwell of Aozora Tower, clutching his phone.
His fluffy light-brown hair swayed in the cold wind. His large, clear black eyes now held a fierce light.
The screen showed a voice recorder app.
The red record button was blinking.
(This is the right thing to do.)
Hinata drew a deep breath.
(I'll record everything Kamiya says.)
(As evidence, to protect Ren.)
Hinata's hand trembled slightly.
The old scar on his right wrist gave a faint throb beneath his sleeve.
(I'm scared.)
(But I won't lose.)
Hinata slipped the phone into his chest pocket.
The recording had already begun.
Hinata descended the emergency stairs and headed for the executive floor on the eighth.
The corridor was silent.
The heavy carpet swallowed his footsteps. Old posters lining the walls traced Aozora's history.
Hinata stopped in front of Kamiya's office.
His heart was pounding.
(It's fine.)
(I'll handle this.)
He knocked.
"Come in."
A gentle voice came from inside.
Hinata opened the door.
"Excuse me."
Kamiya sat beyond the desk, smiling amiably.
His black hair, threaded with gray, was slicked back in a perfect pompadour as always. His sharp, narrow eyes were smiling—and not smiling at all.
"Ah, Tachibana-kun. You came."
Kamiya gestured to the sofa.
"Have a seat."
Hinata sat facing Kamiya.
He straightened his back. He clenched the hands in his lap so they wouldn't shake.
"So, how about it? Have you thought about what we discussed?"
Kamiya folded his hands and fixed his gaze on Hinata.
Hinata's words caught for a moment.
In his chest pocket, the phone kept recording.
"...Yes."
Hinata gave a small nod.
"I'll break up with Ren."
Kamiya's narrow eyes opened just slightly.
"I see. A wise decision."
Kamiya nodded, satisfied.
"I always thought you were a clever boy."
Kamiya rose and walked to the window.
The city of Shibuya spread out below.
"Tachibana-kun. Your father's debt to Kagero Finance. The threats from that man Sakakibara."
Still facing away, Kamiya spoke slowly.
"Your past won't disappear. But if I protect you, no one ever has to know."
Kamiya turned around.
"Cut ties with Ren, and I'll make it all go away. Your past, your relationship—I'll keep it all locked in my heart."
Hinata looked into Kamiya's eyes.
Smiling.
But those eyes were like a snake cornering its prey.
"...Thank you."
Hinata forced the words out.
(The recording's working.)
(Every word of this is being captured.)
Hinata's heart pounded violently.
"Now then."
Kamiya returned to stand before Hinata and sat down again.
"There's one more thing I want to say to you."
Kamiya's voice dropped, just a little.
"What would that be?"
"Tachibana-kun."
Kamiya stared hard into Hinata's eyes.
"To begin with, you're not worthy of Ren."
Hinata's body went rigid.
"A romance between a manager and a talent—it's a disgrace to the industry."
Kamiya was smiling.
"Ren is our flagship actor. A national star. And that man is sneaking around playing house with his male manager. Don't you find that absurd?"
Hinata lowered his eyes.
"You're only dragging Ren down. Because of you, Ren grows weak. Because of you, Ren can't show his true strength."
Kamiya's words pierced Hinata's chest one by one.
"To Ren, you're nothing but dead weight."
Hinata's vision blurred.
(No.)
(I'm not dead weight to Ren.)
(I just want to support him.)
"Well, you've already decided to break up. I'll say no more."
Kamiya stood.
"Thank you for coming today. I'm grateful for your wise judgment."
Kamiya clapped Hinata on the shoulder.
Hinata couldn't lift his head.
"Excuse me."
Hinata said it in a trembling voice and left the office.
The door closed.
Hinata walked down the corridor.
His legs tangled.
He braced a hand against the wall.
And then he slid down, crumpling to the floor.
"...Ngh."
Tears spilled over.
(A disgrace to the industry.)
(Dead weight.)
(Not worthy of Ren.)
Kamiya's words echoed over and over in his head.
Hinata pulled the phone from his chest pocket.
The screen was still recording.
With trembling fingers, he stopped it.
Saved.
Hinata checked the data.
"...I didn't delete it."
He murmured softly.
He wiped his tear-soaked face with his sleeve.
"I won't lose."
Hinata clutched the phone to his chest.
"I'm going to protect Ren."
His voice dissolved into the silence of the corridor.
Night.
Lumiere Tower, a luxury condominium in Minato.
Ren's apartment was pitch dark.
Only the pale blue glow of the TV dimly lit the room.
Ren was sunk into the sofa.
A can of beer in his hand.
On the screen, footage of Himuro's conference played again and again.
*"I believe Minase has real acting talent. It's just, his character... well."*
Himuro's laughter.
Ren drained the beer in one gulp.
He let the empty can roll to the floor.
It clattered, a dry, hollow sound.
"...It's over."
Ren stared up at the ceiling.
His deep amber eyes caught the TV light, glinting dully.
Then—
Ding-dong.
The intercom rang.
Ren didn't move.
Ding-dong.
Again.
Ren rose sluggishly and headed for the door.
He opened it.
Hinata was standing there.
His light-brown hair was mussed by the night wind. His large black eyes were red and swollen.
"...Hinata."
"Ren."
The moment Hinata saw Ren's face, tears spilled over.
"Come in."
Ren let Hinata inside.
The two sat side by side on the sofa.
On the TV, Himuro was still smiling.
"You were watching this?"
"...Yes."
"He's good. Way better than me."
Ren laughed, mocking himself.
"Ren."
"It's over, Hinata."
Ren said quietly.
"My career is finished. There's no place left for me anymore."
"That's not true."
"It is."
Ren pointed at the TV.
"Look. The world chose him. They don't need me anymore."
"Ren."
Hinata took Ren's hand in both of his.
"I'm going to end all of it."
Ren looked at Hinata's face.
"What are you talking about?"
"I recorded Kamiya's words."
Hinata pulled out his phone.
"Now I have proof that Kamiya set you up."
"Stop."
Ren's voice sharpened.
"If you do that, your whole past comes out."
"I don't care."
"I do!"
Ren shot to his feet.
"Your life will be over! Your father's debt, Kagero Finance, Sakakibara—all of it gets dragged into the open!"
"If it's to protect you, I don't mind."
Hinata looked straight into Ren's eyes.
"I don't care if my past comes out. I want to protect you."
Ren was speechless.
"Hinata..."
"If it means you can't smile anymore, I'll lose anything."
Hinata's tears wouldn't stop.
"If you can act again, that's all I need."
"...You idiot."
Tears welled in Ren's eyes too.
"I want to protect you too."
Ren's voice shook.
"If you're gone, what am I supposed to do?"
"Ren."
"Without you, I'm nothing."
Ren pulled Hinata into a tight embrace.
Hinata's body was small and warm.
"...I'm sorry."
Ren whispered against Hinata's ear.
"I said terrible things to you again."
"No."
Hinata wrapped his arms around Ren's back.
"I know you were thinking of me."
"Hinata."
"Ren."
The two held each other quietly.
On the TV, Himuro was still smiling.
But neither of them could hear that voice anymore.
Around the same time.
At Kamiya's mansion in Setagaya.
Kamiya sat deep in a leather chair in his study.
A wine glass in his hand.
He picked up his phone and dialed a number.
After a few rings, the other end answered.
"Hello, Iwatsuki-kun. It's me."
The man on the line was Iwatsuki Makoto, editor-in-chief of Scoop Japan.
"Is that matter progressing?"
Kamiya swirled his wine glass.
"Ah, I see. Good."
Kamiya smiled broadly.
"Crush Ren's press conference. At the venue, report an additional violence scandal."
Kamiya's voice was serene.
"The photos are ready. That incident at the editorial office. Use them well."
Kamiya took a sip of wine.
"Also, I'll clear it with President Narumi Reiko. Have her push forward with terminating Ren's contract."
Kamiya's narrow eyes curved into a thin smile.
"Ah, I'm counting on you."
Kamiya hung up.
Then he looked out the window.
Tokyo's nightscape glittered.
"Minase Ren... you're finished."
Kamiya raised his wine glass to the moon.
The deep crimson liquid glowed eerily through the moonlight.
Kamiya wore a look of perfect composure.
He had no way of knowing that Hinata had recorded him.
Kamiya's victory seemed unshakable.
But behind that smile, a small yet certain gear had begun to turn in reverse.
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